The Furies by Irving McCabe Read Free Book Online Page A

with a questioning shrug. The chief’s expression was grave as he stared down at the colonel, but after a moment his face softened and he smiled.
    â€˜Of course, Colonel,’ the chief said soothingly. ‘Captain Bayer and I will stay close to the Archduke until he is safely back in Illidza. But you need treatment at the hospital. So please lie back and don’t worry. Major Arnstein and Lieutenant Flieger will go with you.’
    Relief appeared on Merizzi’s face as he nodded, closed his eyes, and his head sank down onto the pillow again.
    Followed by the chief, Gabriel stepped out of the ambulance, secured the rear door, and watched the vehicle drive west towards the garrison hospital. He bent down to retrieve his jacket from the road, shook out the creases and brushed off the dirt it had picked up; then he looked around him.
    The fire in Merizzi’s car had been extinguished and the vehicle pushed to the far side of the Appel Quay, where it now stood, occasional wisps of smoke still coming from the engine compartment. The crowd on the pavement had largely dispersed and there was only the chief and himself, standing on their own in the middle of the embankment road.
    â€˜So what do we do now?’ Gabriel asked.
    The chief’s face was taut, his expression serious, as he pulled out his pocket watch. ‘The next scheduled part of the royal tour is a visit to City Hall, where the Archduke is due to be welcomed by the mayor of Sarajevo.’ He looked east along the embankment, past Schiller’s café and the Latin bridge opposite. ‘It’s likely they’ll decide to cancel the visit and head straight back to Illidza, but I suggest we go to City Hall to find out for certain. It’s only a five minute walk from here.’
    Gabriel nodded and followed the chief back onto the pavement. The two men began to walk briskly back towards Schiller’s, but as they neared Franz Josef Strasse the chief suddenly stopped and pointed ahead of them. ‘Wait a minute,’ he said. ‘Isn’t that the Archduke’s car?’
    They were only thirty yards from Schiller’s, and just as the chief had said, a dark green convertible was driving fast along the embankment road towards them. As it neared the junction with Franz Josef Strasse, Gabriel could see the green feathers of the Archduke’s helmet and the duchess’s white dress in the back of the car, and General Potiorek still sitting in the front passenger seat. Standing on the silver running board outside the vehicle was an officer in a pale blue uniform, who Gabriel recognised as Colonel Harrach, the Archduke’s advisor. Another car, a dark blue convertible with two men seated in the front and two women in the rear, was following behind.
    â€˜Thank goodness,’ the chief said, and Gabriel saw the smile of relief on his face as they stood watching the two-car convoy approach. ‘It looks like they’re heading back to Illidza.’
    But as it drew level with Schiller’s café and the Latin Bridge, instead of carrying straight on the embankment road towards them, the Archduke’s car slowed and began to turn into Franz Josef Strasse. Gabriel was surprised: why on earth were they going that way? Then he saw General Potiorek turn towards the driver and shout something at him, and the car came to a sudden stop, directly outside Schiller’s café.
    â€˜You bloody idiot,’ Potiorek bellowed, and even at this distance Gabriel could hear the anger in his voice. ‘You should have continued straight along the Appel Quay. Hasn’t anyone told you the tour is over?’
    Apparently not, thought Gabriel, feeling sorry for the driver, who seemed genuinely surprised and flustered at Potiorek’s tongue-lashing. Gabriel watched as the poor man tried to reverse the car into the embankment again, the dark blue convertible behind also backing up to give him space to manoeuvre.
    And then