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

Breitner was thankful to see that von Harrach, the owner of the car, had taken Breitner’s own previous place on the left hand running board of the car next to the Archduke, to shield him from any further attempt on his life. The last attack had come from the riverside of Appel Quay; it stood to reason that they could expect another from that direction on the return journey.

Breitner glanced along the motorcade and saw that the Lord Mayor and the Chief of Police were sitting in the first car, so he made his way towards them to offer his services.

The car pulled out just as Breitner got to it, much to the amusement of the municipal officers on the steps behind him. The second car drove past quickly and then the Archduke’s car lurched in front of him, and to his dismay, Breitner saw that Johnny had dressed himself up as a chauffeur and was driving. He tried to signal to von Harrach, but he was too busy looking along the embankment to pay him any notice.

Breitner jumped onto the running board of the next car in the procession, ignoring the shooting pain in his hand and clung on for dear life. He had a fairly good idea of what Johnny was up to and was determined to prevent the errant young Englishman from causing him any further embarrassment.

*

Johnny pulled at the chauffeur's jacket, which he was finding a bit loose. He'd been relieved to find it on the front seat where Loyka must have left it to examine the back of the car, but he was starting to wonder if he'd ever wear clothes that fitted again.

All he needed was a chance to talk to the Archduke in person and make him see sense. Although Johnny was starting to question the soundness of his plan, the Archduke hadn't appeared to be in a mood to be trifled with when he climbed into the car. Johnny wondered if driving away from Kati might not have been a bit rash. It may even have been the biggest mistake he'd made so far.

The last time Johnny had driven a car he’d been in Montmartre with Libby and had ended up wrapping Sir George's shiny new Austin Phaeton around the art nouveau railings of Abbesses Station. Johnny was glad that they were going in a straight line along Appel Quay. He was finding the high wooden steering wheel of the Graf & Stift quite awkward and the gear mounting was unfamiliar, which had caused him a bit of a problem as they set off, but he seemed to have got away with it, apart from a few angry curses from the Governor.

Johnny looked out across the river at the grand dome of the Emperor's Mosque and almost swerved. Trifko Grabez was standing by Emperor's Bridge, but he made no attempt to attack the car from Bogdan Zerajic’s historic position. If they’d turned onto the bridge, as General Varesanin had, it might have been a different story.

Johnny steadied himself - so far so good; all he had to do was follow the cars in front. Von Harrach was hanging onto the other side of the Graf & Stift, behind the passengers, and was more concerned about assassins than who was driving.

The two cars in front began to slow down and turn right into Franz Josef Street, following the course that Johnny had seen in the newspaper. He slowed to do the same. He saw the familiar advert for Torley Champagne on the corner of Schiller's delicatessen, and struggling with the steering wheel, managed to execute a half decent turn into the narrow street. He started to straighten up to follow the two cars as they approached the tight, left-hand turn, where the road bent into the main part of Franz Josef Street.

Johnny heard a snort of consternation from the back seat. 'What is this - Franz Josef Street? Stop, this is the wrong way.' General Potiorek tapped Johnny on the shoulder, sharply. 'We are supposed to be going to the hospital via Appel Quay!'

Johnny stopped instantly in front of the delicatessen and was not sure what to do next - he had thought they were going to the museum. He stared at the people lined up along the street. They all seemed to think that this was the route the Archduke would be travelling, as had the drivers of the first two cars. Johnny wondered if this might be the moment he was waiting for to talk to the Archduke while the people in charge established what was going on.

‘Come on! Get us back onto Appel Quay - what’s the delay?’ Potiorek demanded. Johnny abandoned his plan and reached across for the gear stick mounted next to him on the running board. Out of the corner of his eye he could see the Duchess, sitting directly behind him and waving at the people beside them on the pavement.

Johnny crunched the gears as he struggled to find reverse, attracting von Harrach’s attention. 'Who the devil are you?' von Harrach said, as he leant in over the front passenger seat, keeping his voice down so as not to be overheard by his esteemed passengers. ‘You’re not my driver! Where's Loyka?’

'Your driver was taken ill, Herr Colonel.' Johnny involuntarily rubbed his bruised knuckles. None of this was helping him find reverse.

'Nonsense!' Von Harrach looked around at the crowd in front of him and realised that this wasn't the best time to have the discussion. 'Just get us out of here.'

*

Breitner’s car stopped suddenly on the corner of Franz Josef Street. His wounded hand gave out under the sudden jolt and he fell off the running board, flat on his back. Fumbling on the side of the car he managed to stagger back onto his feet. An unfamiliar feeling of panic swept through him as