The Danger. Part 35

Chapternineteen.

RAINCAMEAGAIN,atfirstinbigheavyindividualdrops,splashingwithsharp tapsonthedeadleaves,andthenquitesooninadownpour.Istoodupandlet therainactasashower,soakingmyhair,runningdownmybody,coldandoddly pleasant.

Idranksomeofitagain,gettingquitegoodatswallowingwithoutchoking.How reallyextraordinaryImustlook,Ithought,standingthereintheclearing gettingwet.

Mylong-agoScottishancestorshadgonenakedintobattle,whoopingandroaring downtheheatherhillsideswithswordandshieldaloneandfrighteningthesouls outoftheenemy.Ifthosedistantclansmen,Highlandborninlong-gone centuries,couldchoosetofightasnaturemadethem,thensoshouldIsettle forthesamesternnessofspiritinthisday.

IwonderediftheHighlandershadbeenfortifiedbeforetheysetoffby distillationsofbarley.Itwouldgiveonemorecourage,Ithought,thanchicken soup.

Itwentonrainingforhours,heavilyandwithoutpause.Onlywhenitagain begantogetdarkdiditeaseoff,andbythenthegroundroundthetreewa.s.so wetthatsittingonitwasneartoamudbath.Still,havingstoodallday,I sat.Ifitrainedthenextday,Ithoughtwryly,themudwouldwashoff.

Thenightwasagainlongandcold,butnottothepointofhypothermia.Myskin driedwhentherainstopped.Eventually,againstalltheodds,Iagainwentto sleep.

Ispentthedampdawnandanhourortwoafteritfeelinggrindinglyhungryand drearilywonderingwhetherGiuseppe-Peterwouldevercomeback:buthedid.He cameasbefore,steppingquietly,confidently,throughthelaurelscreen, wearingthesamejacket,carryingthesamebag.

Istoodupathisapproach.Hemadenocomment;merelynotedit.Therewasa fuzzofmoistureonhissleekhair,amatterofahundredpercenthumidity ratherthanactualdrizzle,andhewalkedcarefully,pickinghiswaybetween puddles.

ItwasTuesday,Ithought.

Hehadbroughtanotherbottleofsoup,warmthistime,reddish-brown,tasting vaguelyofbeef.Idrankitmoreslowlythanonthedaybefore,moderately trustingthistimethathewouldn'ts.n.a.t.c.hitaway.HewaiteduntilI'd finished,threwawaythestraw,screwedthecaponthebottle,asbefore.

"Youareoutside,"hesaidunexpectedly,"whileImakeaplaceinside.Onemore day.Ortwo."

AfterastunnedmomentIsaid,"Clothes..."

Heshookhishead."No."Then,glancingattheclouds,hesaid,"Rainisclean."

Ialmostnodded,aninfinitesimalmovement,whichhesaw.

"InEngland,"hesaid,"youdefeatedme.Here,Idefeatyou."

Isaidnothing.

"Ihavebeentolditwasyou,inEngland.Youwhofoundtheboy."Heshrugged suddenly,frustratedly,andIguessedhestilldidn'tknowhowwe'ddoneit."To takepeoplebackfromkidnap,itisyourjob.Ididnotknowitwasajob, exceptforthepolice."

"Yes,"Isaidneutrally.

"Youwillneverdefeatmeagain,"hesaidseriously.

Heputahandintothebagandbroughtoutamuchcreased,muchtraveledcopyof thepictureofhimself,which,asheunfoldedit,Isawtobeoneofthe originalprinting,fromwaybackinBologna.

"Itwasyou,whodrewthis,"hesaid."Becauseofthis,IhadtoleaveItaly.I wenttoEngland.InEngland,againthispicture.Everywhere.BecauseofthisI cametoAmerica.Thispictureisherenow,isitnot?"

Ididn'tanswer.

"Youhuntedme.Icaughtyou.Thatisthedifference."

Hewasimmenselypleasedwithwhathewa.s.saying.

"Soon,Iwilllookdifferent.Iwillchange.WhenIhavetheransomIwill disappear.Andthistimeyouwillnotsendthepolicetoarrestmymen.This timeIwillstopyou."

Ididn'taskhow.Therewasnopoint.

"Youarelikeme,"hesaid.

"No."

"Yes...butbetweenus,Iwillwin."

Therecouldalwaysbeamoment,Isupposed,inwhichenemiescametoacknowledge anunwillingrespectforeachother,eventhoughtheenmitybetweenthem remainedunchangedanddeep.Therewa.s.suchamomentthen:onhissideatleast.

"Youarestrong,"hesaid,"likeme."

Thereseemedtobenopossibleanswer.

"Itisgoodtodefeatastrongman."

ItwasthesortofbuzzIwouldhavebeengladnottogivehim.

"Forme,"Isaid,"areyouaskingaransom?"

Helookedatmelevellyandsaid,"No."

"Whynot?"Iasked;andIthought,whyask,youdon'twanttoknowtheanswer.

"ForFreemantle,"hesaidmerely,"Iwillgetfivemillionpounds."

"TheJockeyClubwon'tpayfivemillionpounds,"Isaid.

"Theywill."

"MorganFreemantleisn'tmuchloved,"Isaid."ThemembersoftheJockeyClub willresenteverypennyscrewedoutofthem.Theywillholdoff,they'llargue, they'lltakeweeksdecidingwhethereachmembershouldcontributeanequal amount,orwhethertherichshouldgivemore.Theywillkeepyouwaiting...and everydayyouhavetowait,yourisktheAmericanpolicefindingyou.The Americansarebrilliantatfindingkidnappers...Iexpectyouknow."

"Ifyouwantfoodyouwillnottalklikethis."

Ifellsilent.

Afterapausehesaid,"Iexpecttheywillnotpayexactlyfivemillion.But therearemanymembers.Aboutonehundred.Theycanpaythirtythousandpounds each,ofthatIamsure.Thatisthreemillionpounds.Tomorrowyouwillmake anothertape.Youwilltellthemthatisthefinalreduction.Forthat,Ilet Freemantlego.Iftheywillnotpay,Iwillkillhim,andyoualso,andburyyou hereinthisground."Hepointedbrieflytotheearthunderourfeet."Tomorrow youwillsaythisonthetape."

"Yes,"Isaid.

"Andbelieveme,"hesaidsoberly."Idonotintendtospendallmylifein prison.IfIamindangerofit,Iwillkill,toprevent.i.t."

Ididbelievehim.Icouldseethetruthofitinhisface.

AfteramomentIsaid,"Youhavecourage.Youwillwait.TheJockeyClubwill paywhentheamountisnottoomuch.Whentheycanpaywhattheirconscience...

theirguilt...tellsthemtheymust.Whentheycanshrugandgrittheirteeth,and complain...butpay...that'swhattheamountwillbe.Atotalofaboutonequarter ofonemillionpounds,maximum,Iwouldexpect."

"More,"hesaidpositively,shakinghishead.

"IfyoushouldkillFreemantle,theJockeyClubwouldregret.i.t,butintheir heartsmanymemberswouldn'tgrieve.Ifyoudemandtoomuch,theywillrefuse...

andyoumayendwithnothing...justtheriskofprison...formurder."Ispoke withoutemphasis,withoutpersuasion:simplyasifrecitingmoderately unexcitingfacts.

"Itwasyou,"hesaidbitterly."Youmademewaitsixweeksfortheransomof AlessiaCenci.IfIdidnotwait,didnotreducetheransom...Iwouldhave nothing.Adeadgirlisnouse...Iunderstandnowwhatyoudo."Hepaused."This time,Idefeatyou."

Ididn'tanswer.IknewIhadhimfirmlyhookedagainintothekidnapper'sbasic dilemma:whethertosettleforwhathecouldget,orriskholdingoutforwhat hewanted.IwasguessingthattheJockeyClubwouldgrumblebutfinallypay halfamillionpounds,whichmeantfivethousandpoundspermember,ifhewas rightabouttheirnumbers.AtLibertyMarketwewould,Ithought,haveadvised agreeingtothatsortofsum;fivepercentoftheoriginaldemand.Theexpenses ofthiskidnapwouldbehigh:tryingtoohardtobeattheprofitdowntozero wouldbedangeroustothevictim.

Withluck,Ithought,Giuseppe-PeterandIwouldintheendnegotiatea reasonablepriceforMorganFreemantle,andtheseniorstewardwouldreturn safelyhome:andthat,Isupposed,waswhatIhadbasicallycometoAmericato achieve.Afterthat...formyself...itdependedonhowcertainGiuseppe-Peterwas thathecouldvanish...andonhowhefeltaboutme...andonwhetherheconsidered meadangertohimforlife.

WhichIwouldbe.Iwouldbe.

Ididn'tseehowhecouldpossiblysetmefree.Iwouldn'thavedone,ifIhad beenhe.

Ithrustthestarklyunbearablethoughtaway.WhileMorganFreemantlelivedin captivity,sowouldI...probably.

"Tomorrow,"Giuseppe-Petersaid,"whenIcome,youwillsayonthetapethatone ofFreemantle'sfingerswillbecutoffnextweekonWednesday,ifthreemillion poundsarenotpaidbeforethen."

Hegavemeanotherlongcalculatingstareasifhewouldreadmybeliefs,my weaknesses,myfears,myknowledge;andIlookedstraightbackathim,seeing theobverseofmyself,seeingthedemonbornineveryhuman.

Itwastruethatwewerealike,Isupposed,inmanyways,notjustinage,in build,inphysicalstrength.Weorganized,weplotted,andweeachinourway soughtbattle.Thesamebattle...differentsides.Thesameprimaryweapons...lies, threats,andfear.

Butwhathestole,Istrovetorestore.Wherehewantonlylaidwaste,Itriedto rebuild.Hecrumbledhisvictims,Iworkedtomakethemwhole.Hissatisfaction layintakingthem,mineinseeingthemfree.Theobverseofme...

Asbeforeheturnedawayabruptlyanddeparted,andIwasleftwithanurgeto callafterhim,tobeghimtostay,justtotalk.Ididn'twanthimtogo.I wantedhiscompany,enemyornot.

Iwasinfinitelytiredofthatclearing,thattree,thatmud,thatcold,those handcuffs.Twenty-fouremptyhoursstretchedahead,abarrenlandscapeof lonelinessanddiscomfortandinevitablehunger.Itbeganrainingagain,hard slantingstuffdrivennowbyarisingwind,andItwistedmyhandstogripthe tree,hatingit,tryingtoshakeit,tohurt.i.t,furiouslyventingonitasurge ofrawunmanageabledespair.

Thatwouldn'tdo,Ithoughtcoldly,stoppingalmostatonce.IfIwentthatway, Iwouldcrackintopieces.Iletmyhandsfallaway.Iputmyfaceblindlyto thesky,eyesshut,andconcentratedmerelyondrinking.

Aleaffellintomymouth.Ispat.i.tout.Anotherfellonmyforehead.Iopened myeyesandsawthatmostoftherestofthedeadleaveshadcomedown.

Thewind,Ithought.But.i.tookholdofthetreeagainmoregentlyandshookit, andsawatremorrunupthroughittothetwigs.Threemoreleavesfelloff, flutteringdownwetly.

Twodaysagothetreehadimmovablyresistedthesametreatment.Insteadof shakingitagainIb.u.mpedmybackagainst.i.tseveraltimes,givingitshocks.I couldfeelmovementinthetrunkthathaddefinitelynotbeentherebefore:and undermyfeet,undertheearth,somethingmoved.

Isc.r.a.pedwildlyattheplacewithmytoesandthencircledthetreeandsat downwitharush,rubbingwithmyfingersuntilIcouldfeelahardsurfacecome clear.ThenIstoodroundwhereI'dbeenbefore,andb.u.mpedhardagainstthe trunk,andlookeddownandsawwhatI'duncovered.Aroot.

Onehastobeprettydesperatetotrytodigupatreewithone'sfingernails, anddesperatewouldbeafairdescriptionofAndrewDouglasthatrainyNovember morning.

Let.i.tpour,Ithought.Letthissoddensoakinggloriousraingoonandon turningmyprisonintoaswamp.Letthisnicegloriousfantasticloamymudturn liquid...letthisstubbornlittletreenothaveataproot.i.tsownheight.

Itrained.Ihardlyfelt.i.t.IclearedthemudfromtherootuntilIcouldget myfingersrightaroundit,tograsp.Icouldfeelitstretchingawaysideways, tuggingagainstmytug.

StandingupIcouldputmyfootunderit;ak.n.o.bblydarksinewasthickasa thumb,tensingandrelaxingwhenIleanedmyweightagainstthetreetrunk.

I'vegotallday,Ithought,andallnight.

Ihavenootherchance.

Itdidtakeallday,butnotallnight.

Hourbyhouritwentonraining,andhourbyhourIsc.r.a.pedawayattheroots withtoesandfingers,baringmoreofthem,burrowingdeeper.ThemovementI couldmakeinthetrunkslowlygrewfromatrembletoaprotestingshudder,and fromashuddertoasway.

Itestedmystrengthagainstthetree'sowneachtimeinasortof.a.gony,for fearGiuseppe-Peterwouldsomehowseethebranchesmovingabovethelaurelsand arrivewithfearsomewaystostopme.Isc.r.a.pedanddugandheavedinsomething verynearfrenzy,andthelongeritwentonthemoreexcruciatinglyanxiousI became.GiventimeIwoulddoit.Giventime...Oh,G.o.d,givemetime.

Someoftherootstorefreeeasily,somewereheartbreakinglystubborn.Water filledtheholeasIdug,blockingwhatIcouldsee,hinderingandhelpingat thesametime.WhenIfeltoneparticularlythickandknottyrootgiveupthe contestthetreeabovemelurchedasifinmortalprotest,andIstoodupand hauledat.i.twitheverypossiblemuscle,pushingandpulling,wrenching, thudding,lyingheavilyagainstthetrunk,digginginwithmyheels,feelingthe thrustthroughcalvesandthighs;thenyankingthetreethiswayandthat, sideways,likeapendulum.

Abunchofbeleagueredrootsgavewayalltogetherandthewholetreesuddenly toppled,takingmedownwithitinroughembrace,itsbranchescrashinginthe rainontoabedofitsownbrownleaves,leavingmebreathlessandexultant...and still...still...fastened.

EverysingleroothadtobeseveredbeforeIcouldgetmyarmsoutfromunder them,butIdoubtifbarbedwirewouldhavestoppedmeatthatpoint.Scratching andtugging,handsdowninwater,kneelingandstraining,Ifoughtforthat escapeasI'dneverthoughttofightinmylife;andfinallyIfeltthewhole rootma.s.sshiftfreely,atangledclumpofblacklysproutingwoodytentacles, theirgripontheearthallgone.KneelingandjerkingIgotthemupbetweenmy arms,uptomyshoulders...androlledfreeintoapuddle,ecstatic.

Ittooknotsoverymuchlongertothreadmyselfthroughmyownarms,soto speak,bottomfirstthenonelegatatime,sothatIendedwithmyhandsin front,notbehindmyback;anunbelievableimprovement.

Itwa.s.stillrainingandalso,Irealized,beginningtogetdark.Iwentshakily overtothelaurelsontheoppositesideoftheclearingfromwhere Giuseppe-Peterhadappeared,andedgedslowly,cautiously,betweentwoofthe glossygreenbushes.

Nopeople.

Itookadeepbreath,tryingtosteadymyself,tryingtomakemykneeswork efficientlyinsteadofwantingtobuckle.Ifeltstrainedandweakandinno shapeforbarefootcountryrambles,butnoneofitmattered.Nothingmatteredat allbesidethefactofbeingfree.

Icouldhearonlywindandrain.Iwentonandcameshortlytoasketchyfence madeofstrandsofwirestrungbetweenposts.Iclimbedthroughandwalkedon andsuddenlyreachedthetopofanincline,thewoodslopingawayinfront:and downthere,throughthetrees,therewerelights.

1wentdowntowardsthem.I'dbeennakedsolongthatI'dstoppedthinkingabout it,whichwa.s.somewhatofamistake.Iwasconcernedonlytogetawayfrom Giuseppe-Peter,feelingthathestillmightfindmegoneandchaseafter.Iwas thinkingonly,asIapproachedwhatturnedouttobeaverysubstantialhouse, thatI'dbettermakesureitwasn'twhereGiuseppe-Peterwasactuallystaying beforeIrangthedoorbell.

Ididn'tgetasfarasringingthebell.Anoutsidelightwa.s.suddenlyswitched on,andthedooritselfopenedonachain.Apaleindistinguishableface inspectedmeandasharp,frightenedfemalevoicesaid,"Getaway.Getawayfrom here."

Istartedtosay"Wait,"b.u.t.thedoorclosedwithaslam,andwhileIhovered indecisivelyitopenedagaintorevealthebusinessendofapistol.

"Goaway,"shesaid."Getawayfromhere,orI'llshoot."

Ithoughtshemight.Ilookedatmyselfanddidn'taltogetherblameher.Iwas streakedwithmudandhandcuffedandbare:hardlyariotasavisitorona darkeningNovemberevening.

Ibackedaway,lookingasunaggressiveasIcould,andpresentlyfelt.i.tsafeto slideawayagainintothetreesandreconsidermywholeboringplight.

ClearlyIneededsomesortofcovering,butallthatwastohandeasilywere branchesofevergreenlaurel.BacktoAdamandEve,andallthat.ThenI'dgot togetahouseholder-adifferentone-totalktomewithoutshootingfirst.It mightnothavebeentoodifficultintheGardenofEden,butin twentieth-centurysuburbanWashington,D.C.,aproperposer.

Furtherdownthehillthereweremorelights.FeelingslightlyfoolishIpicked atwigoflaurelandheldit,andwalkeddowntowardsthelights,feelingmyway asitgrewdarker,stubbingmytoesonunseenstones.Thistime,Ithought,I wouldgomorecarefullyandlookforsomethingtowraproundmebeforeItackled thedoor:asack,atrashbag...absolutelyanything.

Againeventsovertookme.Iwa.s.slitheringindarknessunderasheltering canopy-roofpastdoublegaragedoorswhenacarcameunexpectedlyroundahidden driveway,catchingmeinitslights.ThecarbrakedsharplytoastopandItook astepbackwards,cravenlyreadytobolt.

"Stoprightthere,"avoicesaid,andamansteppedoutofthecar,again bearingapistol.Didtheyall,Ithoughtdespairingly,shootstrangers?Dirty nakedunshavenhandcuffedstrangers...probably,yes.

Thisnativewasn'tfrightened,justmasterful.Beforehecouldsayanythingelse Iopenedmymouthandsaidloudly,"Pleasegetthepolice."