Pucinelliglancedacrossatthebuilding."Thekidnappersopenthewindows sometimesforashortwhilewhenweswitchoffthesearchlightsatdawn.The blindsarealwaysdrawn,eventhen.Therearenopeoplenowinanyoftheother apartments.Wemovedthemfortheirownsafety."
Downontheroadtherewaslittlemovement.Mostoftheofficialcarshadbeen withdrawn,leavingagooddealofemptys.p.a.ce.Fourcarabiniericrouchedwith gunsbehindthepairstillparked,theirbodiestense.Metalbarriersdownthe streetkeptafewonlookersatbay,andthetelevisionvanlookedclosed.Oneor twophotographerssatonthegroundinitsshade,drinkingbeerfromcans.On thebugthecolickycryinghadstopped,butnooneseemedtobesayingvery much.Itwa.s.siesta,afterall.
Withoutanywarningayoungwomanwalkedfromtheapartmentscarryingababyand shieldinghereyesagainstthebrillianceofthesunlight.Shewasvery disheveledandalsoheavilypregnant.
Pucinelliglancedasifstungathiswrist.w.a.tch,said,"They"reearly,"and jumpedoutofthevan.Iwatchedhimthroughthedarkgla.s.sashestrodewithout hesitationtowardsher,takingherarm.Herheadturnedtowardshimandshe begantofall,Pucinellicatchingthebabyandsignalingfuriouslywithhishead tohismenbehindthecars.
Onescurriedforward,hauledthefaintingwomanunceremoniouslytoherfeetand hustledherintooneofthecars.Pucinelligavethebabyasicklook,carried itatarm"slengthinthewakeofitsmother,and,havingdeliveredit,wiped hishandsdisgustedlyonahandkerchief.
Thephotographersandthetelevisionvancametolifeasifelectrified,anda youngplumpmanwalkedthreestepsoutoftheapartmentsandslowlyraisedboth hands.
Pucinelli,nowshelteringbehindthesecondcar,stretchedanarmthroughthe window,removedabullhorn,andspokethroughit.
"Liefacedownontheroad.Legsapart.Armsoutstretched."
Theplumpyoungmanwaveredasecond,lookedasifhewouldretreat,andfinally didashewasbid.
Pucinellispokeagain."Staywhereyouare.Youwillnotbeshot."
Therewasalongbreath-holdinghush.Thenaboycameout;aboutsix,inshorts, shirt,andbrightblueandwhitetrainingshoes.Hismotherfranticallywavedto himthroughthecarwindow,andheranacrosstoher,lookingbackoverhis shoulderatthemanontheground.
Iswitchedupthevolumetofullonthebugintheapartment,b.u.t.therewas stillnotalking,simplyafewgruntsandunidentifiablemovements.Aftera whiletheseended,andshortlyafterwardsanothermanwalkedoutintothe street,ayoungishmanthistimewithhishandstiedbehindhisback.Helooked gauntandtottery,withstubbledchin,andhestoppeddeadatthesightofthe spreadeagledkidnapper.
"Cometothecars,"Pucinellisaidthroughthebullhorn."Youaresafe."
Themanseemedunabletomove.Pucinelli,againexposinghiswholebodytothe still-presentthreatofthegunsintheapartment,walkedcalmlyacrossthe road,tookhimbythearm,andledhimbehindthecarholdinghiswife.
ThepsychiatristswatchingbesidemeshooktheirheadsoverPucinelli,not approvingsuchstraightforwardcourage.Ipickedupapairofbinocularswhich werelyingonthebenchandfocusedthemontheoppositewindows,butnothing stirred.ThenIscannedtheonlookersatthebarriersdownthestreet,andtook inaclose-upofthephotographers,b.u.t.therewasnosignofthemanfromthe highwaycarpark.
Iputdownthegla.s.ses,andtimegraduallystretchedout,hotandsilent,making mewonder,makingeveryonewonderifbysomedesperatemischanceatthelast minutethesurrenderhadgonewrong.Therewasnosoundfromthebug.Therewas stillnessinthestreet.Forty-sixminuteshadpa.s.sedsincethemotherandbaby hademerged.
Pucinellispokethroughthebullhornwithfirmnessbutnotaggression."Bring outthechild.Youwillnotbehurt."
Nothinghappened.
Pucinellirepeatedhisinstructions.
Nothing.
Ithoughtofguns,ofdesperation,ofsuicide,murder,andspite.
Pucinelli"svoicerangout."Youronlyhopeofeverbeingreleasedfromprison istocomeoutnowasarranged."
Noresult.
Pucinelli"shandputthebullhornthroughthecar"swindowandreappeared holdingapistol.Hepushedthepistolthroughhisbeltinthesmallofhis back,andwithoutmoreadowalkedstraightacrossthestreetandinthroughthe dooroftheapartments.
ThepsychiatristsgaspedandmadeagitatedmotionswiththeirhandsandI wonderedifIwouldeverhavehadthenerve,inthosecirc.u.mstances,todowhat Pucinelliwasdoing.
Therewerenoshots:nonethatwecouldhear.Nosoundsatall,justmore long-drawn-outquiet.
Thecarabinieribehindthecarsbegantogrowdangerouslyrestiveforlackof theirleaderandtolookateachotherforguidance,wavingtheirguns conspicuously.Theengineerinthevanwas.m.u.tteringominouslyunderhisbreath, andtherewa.s.stillsilencefromthebug.Ifnothinghappenedsoon,Ithought, therecouldbeanotherexcited,destructive,half-c.o.c.kedraid.
Then,suddenlytherewasafigureinthedoorway:astrongburlymancarryinga littlegirllikeafeatherononearm.
BehindhimcamePucinelli,gunnowhereinsight.Hepointedtothefirst kidnapper,stillspreadeagled,andthebigmanwithasortoffurious resignationwalkedovertohimandputthesmallchildontheground.Thenhe loweredhisbulkintothesameoutstretchedatt.i.tude,andthelittlegirl,only atoddler,stoodlookingathimforamomentandthenlaydownandcopiedhim, asifitwereagame.
Thecarabinieriburstlikeuncorkedfuriesfrombehindthecarsandbristling withgunsandhandcuffsdescendedonthep.r.o.nefigureswithnosignsof loving-kindness.Pucinelliwatchedwhilethekidnappersweremarchedtothe emptycarandthechildreturnedtoherparents,thencamecasuallybacktothe opendooroftheambulanceasifhe"dbeenoutforastroll.
Hethankedthenegotiatorandthepsychiatristsfromthere,andjerkedhishead tometocomeoutandfollowhim.Idid:acrosstheroad,inthroughthedoorof theapartmentsandupthestonestaircasebeyond.
"Thebigman,"Pucinellisaid,"wasupthere,"hepointed,"rightatthetop, sixthfloor,wherethestairsleadtotheroof.Ittookmesometimetofind him.Butwehadbarricadedthatdoor,ofcourse.Hecouldn"tgetout."
"Washeviolent?"Iasked.
Pucinellilaughed."Hewa.s.sittingonthestairswiththelittlegirlonhis knee,tellingherastory."
"What?"
"WhenIwentupthestairswithmypistolreadyhesaidtoput.i.taway,theshow wasover,heknewit.ItoldhimtoG.o.downintothestreet.Hesaidhewanted tostaywherehewasforawhile.Hesaidhehadachildofhisownofthatage andhe"dneverbeabletoholdheronhiskneeagain."
Sobstuff,Ithought."Whatdidyoudo?"Iasked.
"ToldhimtoG.o.downatonce."
The"atonce,"however,hadtakenquitealongtime.PucinellilikeallItalians likedchildren,andevencarabinieri,Isupposed,couldbesentimental.
"Thatpoordeprivedfather,"Isaid,"abductedsomeoneelse"sdaughterandshot someoneelse"sson."
"Yourhead,"Pucinellisaid,"islikeice."
Heledthewayintotheapartmentthathadbeenbesiegedforfourandahalf days,andtheheatandstinkofitwereindescribable.Squalortookonanew meaning.Apartfromthestenchofsweatandthedecomposingremainsofmeals therewereunmentionableheapsofclothandragsandnewspaperintwoofthe threesmallrooms:thebaby,incontinentatbothends,haddonemorethancry.
"Howdidtheystandit?"Iwondered."Whydidn"ttheywashanything?"
"Themotherwantedto.Iheardherasking.Theywouldn"tlether."
Wesearchedourwaythroughthemess,findingtheransomsuitcasealmost immediatelyunderabed.AsfarasIcouldtell,thecontentswereuntouched: goodnewsforCenci.Pucinelligavethepacketsofnotesasourlookandpoked aroundfortheradio.
Theownersoftheapartmenthadonethemselves,standingopenlyontopofa televisionset,butPucinellishookhisheadoverit,sayingitwastoo elementary.Hestartedamethodicalsearch,comingacrossiteventuallyinsidea boxofBuitoniinakitchencupboard.
"Hereweare,"hesaid,brushingoffpastash.e.l.ls."Completewithearplugfor privatelistening."Asmallishbutelaboratewalkie-talkie,aerialretracted.
"Don"tdisturbthefrequency,"Isaid.
"Iwasn"tbornyesterday.Norwasthemangivingtheinstructions,Ishouldn"t think."
"Hemightnothavethoughtofeverything."
"Maybenot.Allcriminalsarefoolssometimes,otherwisewe"dnevercatchthem."
Hewoundthecordwithitsearpiececarefullyaroundtheradioandput.i.tbythe door.
"Whatrangedoyouthinkthathas?"Iasked.
"Notmorethanafewmiles.I"llfindout.b.u.t.toofar,Iwouldthink,tohelp us."
Thereremainedthepistols,andthesewereeasy:Pucinellifoundthemona windowsillwhenheletuponeoftheblindstogiveusmorelight.
Webothlookeddownfromthewindow.Theambulanceandthebarrierswerestill there,thoughthedramahadgone.Ithoughtthattheearlierhostofofficial carsandofhighlyarmedmencrouchingbehindthemmusthavebeenafearsome sight.Whatwiththatthreateverpresentandtheheat,thebaby,the searchlights,andthestench,theirnervesmusthavebeennearexplodingpoint thewholetime.
"Hecouldhaveshotyouanytime,"Isaid,"whenyouwalkedoutacrossthe street."
"Ireckonedhewouldn"t."Hespokeunemotionally."ButwhenIwascreepingup thestairs..."hesmiledfractionally"...Ididbegintowonder."
Hegavemeacoolandcomradelynodanddeparted,sayinghewouldarrange transitfortheransomandsendhismentocollectandlabelthepistolsand radio.
"You"llstayhere?"heasked.
Ipinchedmynose."Onthestairsoutside."
Hesmiledandwentaway,andinduecoursepeoplearrived.Iaccompaniedthe ransomtothebankofPucinelli"schoosing,followedittothevaultsand acceptedbankandcarabinierireceipts.Then,onmywaybacktocollectthe Cencirunabout,ImadearoutinecollectcalltomyfirminLondon.Reportsfrom advisors-in-the-fieldwereexpectedregularly,withwisdomfromthecollective officemindflowinghelpfullyback.
"Thegirl"shome,"Isaid."Thesiegeisover,thefirstransom"ssafe,andhow aremysnapsdoingofthesecond?"
"Listswithyoutomorrowmorning."
"Right."
TheywantedtoknowhowsoonI"dbeback.
"Twoorthreedays,"Isaid."Dependsonthegirl."
Chapterfive.
ALLESSIAWOKEintheevening,feelingsick.Cencirushedupstairstoembrace her,camedowndamp-eyed,saidshewa.s.stillsleepyandcouldn"tbelieveshewas home.
Ididn"tseeher.IlariasleptallnightonanextrabedinAlessia"sroomat herauntLuisa"ssuggestion,anddidseemgenuinelypleasedathersister"s return.Inthemorningshecamedownwithcomposuretobreakfastandsaidthat Alessiafeltillandwouldn"tgetoutofthebath.
"Whynot?"Cencisaid,bewildered.
"Shesaysshe"sfilthy.She"swashedherhairtwice.Shesaysshesmells."
"Butshedoesn"t,"heprotested.
"No.I"vetoldherthat.Itmakesnodifference."
"Takehersomebrandyandabottleofscent,"Isaid.
CencilookedatmeblanklybutIlariasaid,"Well,whynot?"andwentoffonthe errand.Shehadtalkedmoreeasilythatmorningthanatanybreakfastbefore, almostasifhersister"sreleasehadbeenalsoherown.
Pucinelliarrivedmid-morningwithanote-takingaide,andAlessiacame downstairstomeethim.StandingtherebesidehiminthehallIwatchedthe tentativefigureonthestairsandcouldclearlyreadherstrongdesireto retreat.Shestoppedfourstepsfromthebottomandlookedbehindher,but Ilaria,whohadgoneuptofetchher,wasnowheretobeseen.
Cenciwentforwardandputhisarmroundhershoulders,explainingbrieflywhoI was,andsayingPucinelliwantedtoknoweverythingthathadhappenedtoher, hopingforcluestoleadhimtoarrests.
Shenoddedslightly,lookingpale.
I"dseenvictimsreturnwithhecticjollity,withhysteria,withapathy;all withshock.Alessia"sstatelookedfairlyparforthecirc.u.mstances:amixture ofshyness,strangeness,weakness,relief,andfear.
Herhairwa.s.stilldamp.SheworeaTshirt,jeans,andnolipstick.Shelooked adefenselesssixteen,recentlyill;thegirlI"dseenundressed.Whatshedid notlookwastheglossydarlingoftheEuropeanracetracks.
Cenciledhertothelibrary,andwescatteredaroundonchairs.
"Tellus,"Pucinellisaid."Pleasetelluswhathappened,fromthebeginning."
"I...itseemssolongago."Shespokemostlytoherfather,lookingseldomat Pucinelliandnotatallatme;andsheusedItalianthroughout,thougha.s.she spokeslowlywithmanypauses,Icouldfollowherwithease.Indeeditoccurred tomefleetinglythatI"dsoakedinagooddealmoreofthelanguagethanI"d arrivedwith,andmorethanI"dnoticeduntilthen.
"I"dbeenracinghereonourlocaltrack...butyouknowthat."
Herfathernodded.
"Iwonthesixo"clockrace,andtherewasan.o.bjection..."
Morenods,bothfromCenciandPucinelli.Thenote-takingaide,eyesdowntothe task,kepthisshorthandbusilyflowing.
"Idrovehome.IwasthinkingofEngland.OfridingBrunelleschiintheDerby..."
Shebrokeoff."Didhewin?"
Herfatherlookedblank.Atthetime,shortlyafterherdisappearance,he"dhave beenunlikelytonoticeaninvasionofMartiansinthebackyard.
"No,"Isaid."Fourth."
Shesaid,"Oh,"vaguely,andIdidn"tbothertoexplainthatIknewwherethe horsehadfinishedsimplybecauseitwa.s.shewhohadbeengoingtorideit.
Ordinarycuriosity,nothingmore.
"Iwashere...insightofthehouse.Notfarfromthegate.Isloweddown,to turnin..."
Thecla.s.sicspotforkidnaps;rightoutsidethevictim"shouse.Shehadared sportscar,besides,andhadbeendrivingitthatdaywiththetopdown,a.s.she alwaysdidinfineweather.Somepeople,I"dthoughtwhenI"dheardit,made abductiontoosimpleforwords.
"Therewasacarcomingtowardsme...Iwaitedforittopa.s.s,sothatIcould turn...but.i.tdidn"tpa.s.s,itstoppedsuddenlybetweenmeandthegate...blocking theway."Shepausedandlookedanxiouslyatherfather."Icouldn"thelpit, Papa.Ireallycouldn"t."