The Assassins by Alan Bardos (read novel full .TXT) 📕

Lenin and Marx,’ Jovo said, picking up the book. ‘Now hopefully, I can broaden my knowledge and find the true meaning of freedom. Revolution is more than a slogan; it is a change in the way you behave and feel.’

‘It seems you have made a good start on your studies,’ Ilic said. He was about to question the youth more on the true nature of revolution, but Gavrilo interrupted him.

‘So you got those bruises in a police cell?’ Gavrilo asked. He seemed to be testing the stranger to see if he was someone he could mould, as Ilic knew he’d been doing with Trifko Grabez.

‘Jovo certainly did. I saw it myself,’ Pusara said proudly, turning back from the waitress. ‘The flunky who beat Jovo up told me that that is what happens to those who insult the Governor!’

‘It was worth it to take on the Governor; I don’t think I’ve met anyone quite so pompous,’ Jovo said, gleefully.

Ilic wondered if this stranger might be someone who could be used as a decoy and water carrier. He seemed essentially a harmless boaster, like Nedjo, but his heart appeared to be in the right place and if it wasn’t, Ilic would give him enough rope too hang himself.

*

Johnny followed Gavrilo and Ilic as they walked down Appel Quay. They’d been talking to him all day, taking it upon themselves to explain their world view. Johnny was doing his best to play along, repeating what the attractive woman in the park had told him. Their idea of social progress and his were very different; they wanted everyone to live in mud huts with little in the way of comfort other than the idea that they were living in equality.

'I am a peasant's son and know how life is in the villages. The peasantry must be made aware of their social inequalities,' Gavrilo said. ‘There must be sweeping change through revolution.’

'Do you really believe we could achieve such a revolution? Marx said that revolution is not possible with a peasant population.' That was about the only thing Johnny could remember from his time as a schoolboy revolutionary.

'If the Austro-Hungarian Empire was thrown into turmoil, such a revolution would be possible,' Ilic said. 'Their Empire is like a broken pot held together by string. One good kick and it will fall apart.'

'Once that is achieved we can create a society held together by a free and natural bond of fraternity, as Kropotkin suggests,' Gavrilo said.

'But could we accomplish something like that?' Johnny asked eagerly. He was actually interested. He'd read these things, but being with people who believed them was a whole new experience for him.

They entered a cafe garden further down Appel Quay and a tall, suave man wearing a peaked sports cap watched them as they walked through. He was laughing and joking with a group of girls and Johnny thought enviously that he was enjoying the attention.

Gavrilo and Ilic greeted him but there seemed to be some tension between them. Ilic introduced him. 'Jovo, this is Nedjo Cabrinovic.' Johnny nodded, recognising the name from Breitner’s briefing.

'He serves our cause by promenading his girlfriends along the embankment,' Gavrilo said, cutting Cabrinovic to the quick.

'Are you too serious for such things, Gavro?' Nedjo asked, in a slightly mocking tone, which made the girls laugh.

Gavrilo didn't look pleased by the comment and pushed his way into the cafe and ordered coffee. They didn’t seem to have much else to do apart from hanging around in down-at-heel cafes. Johnny knew this one.

It had an intimidating aura. He recognised the murals of the bloody medieval battles between armoured knights and elaborately dressed Turks. He’d been here before but this time no one stared at him and Johnny started to relax. He was being accepted and he hoped that all he had to do now was keep his mouth shut and pick up enough scraps of information to pacify Breitner, and then this whole sorry affair would be over.

Ilic gave Johnny a stern look, almost sensing his thoughts. Johnny tried to look as sullen as he could in response, which seemed to be their way. 'You ask how a revolution would be possible, Jovo? It is possible by following Zerajic's example.'

‘Zerajic, the man who shot at the former Governor on the Emperor’s Bridge?’ Johnny asked.

'He is our role model,' Gavrilo replied.

‘Now he is mine,’ Johnny said. He got the feeling that they wanted to guide him and he knew enough to let them. He was enjoying the sensation of being part of something bigger than himself again.

'When Gavro was a schoolboy he lodged with my mother and me,' Ilic continued. 'We'd sneak out and listen to our great leader, Vladimir Gacinovic speak - he'd been at school with Zerajic in Mostar.'

'Gacinovic instigated a revolution in our souls, with more than just words - he had a plan of action,' Gavrilo said. 'We were to follow Zerajic’s act of courage and take revenge ourselves, as individuals, against those who would oppress our people.'

‘In this way will a revolution be born, through our sacrifice.’ Ilic said. ‘As Zerajic’s sacrifice inspired us, so will our actions inspire those of our people to rise up. Although that may not be possible until we have laid the foundations for revolution.’

Gavrilo glared at Ilic. ‘The Governor actually got out of his carriage and kicked Zerajic as he lay bleeding to death in the mud.’ Gavrilo said, fighting to control his rage. ‘And you talk of “laying foundations”. We must act, there is no time for words.’

'I've seen his skull,' Johnny said, to quieten them. The last thing he wanted was for them to start squabbling. 'I've seen Zerajic’s skull. The Chief of Detectives has it as an ink pot on his desk.'

‘He will be revenged.’ Gavrilo's eyes flared, but before his outrage could fully consume him,