The Assassins by Alan Bardos (best novels in english txt) 📗

Tisza looked a little piqued by Johnny's glib analysis, but decided to rise above it. 'The Germans have given us unconditional support to act as we see fit, but they don’t think the Russians will interfere in our bid to get justice for our dead Heir. However, if Russia does object to any military action we take against Serbia, I would like to be able to demonstrate that we were acting purely in self defence against the aggressive actions of a foreign state.'

'And what if we can't find anything?' Johnny asked, 'I've told you that Gavro and the rest were acting on their own.'

Tisza continued to look annoyed by Johnny’s informal style of address, much to Johnny’s amusement. Breitner spoke, to save Tisza's fury. 'What we need, Johnny, is clear, definite evidence of the role Serbia played in the assassinations of the Heir and his consort.'

'If you can find evidence to confirm your claims that the Serbian Government wasn't directly involved in the assassination, so much the better. We might be able to prevent a war, but I don't think it’s very likely that you will find anything. What we are concerned with here is demonstrating the rightness of our cause,' Tisza stated.

'I see,' Johnny said. He definitely didn't like the sound of that, but the easiest thing was to play along. If he refused to go, Johnny didn't doubt for a moment that Breitner would drag him back to Sarajevo in chains.

'Count Berchtold, the Imperial Foreign Minister, is sending a special emissary, Friedrich von Wiesner, to investigate the assassination in Sarajevo and to ascertain what role the Serbian Government played in it,' Tisza continued.

'And you want me to help him somehow?' Johnny asked.

'Dr Wiesner is a diligent and conscientious official, but he is a lawyer not a specialist on the South Slav people. I think your insight into the assassins might be useful in gaining further information from them,' Tisza answered.

'I’m sure there will be a use for you. We could even send you to Belgrade. As an English citizen you could go there and speak to the leaders of the Black Hand, as an unofficial intermediary,' Breitner said indifferently. Johnny looked around at him in horror, realising that Breitner really didn’t care what happened to him.

'You will, of course, receive the thanks of a grateful nation for your services,' Tisza said, in the same way he'd thank a servant for polishing his boots, and then pointed at the door.

'When do we leave?' Johnny asked Breitner as they left the Ballhausplatz and made their way past the romantic splendour of the Hofburg Palace into Michealerplatz.

‘There is a special train laid on for us in the morning.’ Breitner said, distracted as they turned onto Herrengasse.

‘So I can still attend that function at the British Embassy?’

‘I’ll send your apologies. We have an early start and we should prepare for the investigation in Sarajevo,’ Breitner said.

‘We can do that on the train. Really, there is no need for me not to go. I mean, it is in the honour of the Archduke and it will be shocking bad form if I don’t go. I might even be able to find out what the thinking is in London about your little Balkans predicament.’

Breitner gave him a preoccupied look as they returned to the Hotel Klomser. ‘Go if you must, Johnny. You’ll only get in my way if you stay.’

Chapter 42

Johnny relaxed in the warm embrace of the Diplomatic Service, free to enjoy the restrained elegance of the British Embassy in Vienna, surrounded by the sparkle of a well organised function. There was no way he would go back to Sarajevo, not for anything. He’d received his letter of commendation and something special was formulating in the back of his mind. Even if Libby wouldn't play along, Johnny had an idea innovative enough to dazzle his superiors.

Most significantly, Johnny didn't have Breitner with him to stop him drinking. It was a welcome change after the hardships he'd endured and no more than he felt he deserved.

Pinkie was helping Johnny along nicely with the champagne, making sure that the waiters didn't miss him as they circulated the room. Pinkie had even provided Johnny with a frock coat for the occasion; Johnny was amazed by how much of a decent chap he was turning out to be.

'Look, Johnny, I'm sorry about this,' Pinkie said, as he passed him another glass of champagne. 'Awfully sordid to talk shop I know, but we're rather in need of a translator and I seem to remember you talking Russian to that Trotsky chap… would you mind? It's for the Chief.'

'I'd love to.' Johnny flushed - he'd been drinking and hadn't intended to sound quite so keen.

'Yes, quite.' Pinkie tried not to grimace at Johnny’s exuberance and led him to Sir Maurice de Bunsen, the British Ambassador in Vienna, who was happily conversing in French with his Russian counterpart, Nikolai Shebeko and their respective staff members about some business in Persia. They didn't appear to need Johnny and so he began to search the crowd for Libby.

'You! Yes, you. Kindly pay attention and translate what His Excellency is saying.' Johnny looked back and saw that de Bunsen and the cream of Vienna's diplomatic core were staring at him in silent rage. The Russian Ambassador had started to speak in Russian.

Johnny apologised to de Bunsen and broke into the fluent Russian of his early, happy childhood. 'I'm sincerely sorry, Your Excellency. Please forgive my eccentricity.'

The Russian Ambassador frowned. 'In answer to Sir Maurice’s question, we intend to consolidate our position in the Middle East in order to defend against German encroachment on our interests in that region. Germany’s association with the Ottoman Empire is a direct threat to Russia's aim of acquiring the Bosporus Straits and Constantinople. We will not allow them to