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."