Royal Flash fp-2

by George MacDonald Fraser

  "I think Karjuss has convinced you that you're in a most devilish mess. If we choose, we can shut you up for ever, and your own ambassador, and your government, would be the first to say 'Amen'. Considering the charges, I mean."

  "Trumped-up lies!" I shouted. "False blasted witnesses!"

  "But of course. As you yourself said, a dastardly plot. But the point is—you're caught in it, with no choice but to do as you're told. If you refuse—the charges are brought, you're convicted, and good-night."

  And the insolent young hound grinned pleasantly at me and blew a smoke-ring.

  "You devil!" cries I. "You—you dirty German dog!"

  "Austrian, actually. Anyway, you appreciate your position?" Oh, I appreciated it, no question of that. I didn't understand how, or why, they had done this to me, but I was in no doubt of what the consequences would be if I didn't play their infernal game for them—whatever it was. Blustering hadn't helped me, and a look at Rudi's mocking face told me that whining wouldn't either. Robbed of the two cards which I normally play in a crisis, I was momentarily lost.

  "Will you tell me why you've done this—why to me? What can you want of me, in heaven's name?"

  "There is a service—a very important service—which only you can perform," says he. "More than that I can't say, at the moment. But that is why you were brought to Munich—oh, it was all most carefully planned. Lola's letter—dictated by me, incidentally—was not altogether inaccurate. 'Most delicate' really sums it up."

  "But what service could there possibly be that only I—"

  "You'll have to wait and see, and for heaven's sake stop expostulating like the victim in a melodrama. Take my word for it, we didn't go to so much trouble for nothing. Now, you're a sellsible man, I'm sure. Will you bow to the inevitable, like a good chap?"

  "That bitch Lola!" I growled. "She's up to the neck in this— this villainy, I suppose."

  "Up to a point, not up to the neck. She was the means of getting you to Germany, but it wasn't her idea. We employed her assistance—"

  "'We'? Who the devil's 'we'?"

  "My friends and I. But you shouldn't be too hard on her, you know. I doubt if she bears you any ill-will—in fact, I think she's rather sorry for you—but she knows which side her bread is buttered. And powerful as she is, there are those in Germany whom even she finds it wise to oblige. Now, no more silly questions: are you going to be a good boy or aren't you?"

  "It seems I've no choice."

  "Excellent. Now, we'll have that crack in your head seen to, get you a bath and some clean linen, and then—"

  "What then?"

  "You and I will make a little journey, my dear Flashman. Or, may I call you Harry? You must address me as Rudi, you know; 'dirty dog' and 'devil' and 'swine' and so on are all very well between comparative strangers, but I feel that you and I may be on the brink of a really fruitful and profitable friendship. You don't agree? Well, I'm sorry, but we'll see. Now, if you'll come along, I have a closed carriage waiting which will take us to a little place of mine where we'll have you repaired and made all klim-bim, as the Prussians say. Devilish places, these jails, aren't they; no proper facilities for a gentleman at all… ."

  Well, what could I do, but trot along at his heels with a mouthful of apprehension? Whatever 'they' were up to, I was in for it, and in the meantime there was nothing to do but go with the tide. With my sure instinct, I knew that the "service" I was being blackmailed into was sure to be unpleasant, and quite likely damned dangerous, but my queasy guts didn't interfere with my logical process. I'm a realist, and it was already in my mind that in whatever lay ahead—a journey, initially, according to Rudi— some opportunity of escape must surely present itself. Unless you are actually locked up, escapes are not as difficult as many folk think; you simply bolt, seize the first available horse, and go like hell for safety—in this case probably the Austrian frontier. Or would Switzerland be better? It was farther, but Rudi and his sinister friends probably had influence in Austria. And they would not reckon on me trying a forced ride to the Swiss border.

  "Oh, by the way," says Rudi, as we left the police office and he handed me into a carriage, "to a man of action like yourself it may seem that an opportunity will arise of giving me the slip. Don't try it. I would kill you before you'd gone five yards." And he smiled genially as he settled himself opposite me.

  "You're mighty sure of yourself," growls I.

  "With cause," says he. "Look here." He gave his right arm a shake, and there was a pocket pistol in his right hand. "I'm a dead shot, too."

  "Naturally," says I, but I decided it was probably true. Anyone who keeps a pistol in his sleeve can usually use it.

  "And, in all modesty, I'm probably your master with the sabre as well—or with a knife," says Master Rudi, putting his pistol away. "So you see, it wouldn't pay you to run for it."

  I said nothing, but my spirits sank a few notches lower. He was going to be an efficient watch-dog, rot him, the more so since he believed me to be "a man of action". He knew enough of my reputation, no doubt, to put me down as a desperate, dangerous fellow who didn't give a damn for risks. If he'd known me for the poltroon I was he might have been less alert.

  So in the meantime, I was at the mercy of Freiherr Rudolf von Starnberg, and if I'd known him then as I knew him later I'd have been even more nervous than I was. For this gay, devil-may-care youngster, with his curly head and winning smile, was one of the hardest cases I've ever encountered—a thoroughly bad, unscrupulous and fatally dangerous ruffian—and, as you can imagine, I have known a few. Not many of them, scoundrels that they were, delighted in wickedness for its own sake, but Rudi did. He enjoyed killing, for example, and would kill laughing; he was without shame where women were concerned, and without pity, too. I dare say there may have been crimes he didn't commit, but it can only have been for want of opportunity. He was an evil, vicious, cruel rascal.

  We got on very well, really, I suppose, all things considered. This was not just because I shared most of his vices, but because he believed erroneously that I shared his only virtue, which was courage. He was too young to know what fear was, and he imagined that I was as big a daredevil as he was himself—my Afghan reputation was pretty glorious, after all. But in addition I must admit that he could be a good companion when he chosehe had a great fund of amiable conversation and a filthy mind, and loved the good things of life—so it was not difficult to get along with him.

  He was all consideration that first day. At the house he took me to there was a most competent French valet who dressed and bathed my head, provided me with a bath and a suit of my own clothes—for they had brought my baggage from my hotel—and later cooked us both a most splendid omelette before we set off for the station. Rudi was in haste to catch the train: we were bound for Berlin, he told me, but beyond that I could get nothing out of him.

  "Wait and see," says he. "And while you're waiting, I'd be obliged if you would stop talking French and practise your German—you're going to need it."

  With that mysterious instruction I had to be content—and I had to be obedient, too, for devil a word of French would he say or listen to from then on. However, with a bottle of hock inside me, the unknown future looked a little less bleak, and when we boarded the evening train I was at least momentarily resigned to my situation. Time enough to start fretting again when we reached Berlin.

  The journey took us three days, although nowadays you would do it in a matter of hours. But those were the early years of railways, and the line between Munich and Berlin was not complete. I know we did part of the trip by coach, but I can't recall where; one night we spent in Leipzig, certainly, but I was paying no great heed to my surroundings. As the miles went by my apprehension was growing again—what the devil did "they" want me for? I tried several times to pump Rudi, but without success.

  "You'll find out in good time," was all he would say, with a knowing grin. "I'll tell you this much—I'd do the job in a moment if I had the chance. I envy
you, indeed. But you're the only man for it—and don't fret: it's well within your powers."

  That should have cheered me up, but it didn't. After all, my powers, so far as he and the world knew them, were all concerned with war, slaughter, and heroism, and I wanted none of that if I could help it. But I had sense enough not to let him get a glimpse of my lily liver; no doubt, if my worst fears were realised, he'd see all he wanted of it, in time.

  We spent much of our time in the train playing picquet and ecarté, and recognised each other as fairish sharps, but neither of us was able to take much interest in the game. I was too inwardly nervous, and he was too busy keeping an eye on me—he was one of these extraordinary folk who can be on the hair trigger of action for days and nights on end, and not once in that journey was there a decent chance to take him unawares. Not that I'd have dared to try if there had been; I had got a healthy respect for young Rudi by now, and didn't doubt that he would shoot me without the slightest hesitation, and take his chance on the consequences.

  So we came to Berlin, on a night of bitter snow and wind, and there was another coach at the station to whirl us away through the busy lamp-lit streets. Even with our fur-collared coats, and rugs and hot bricks, it was damnably chilly in that coach after the warmth of the train, and I wasn't cheered by the fact that our journey was obviously not going to be a short one-that much was clear from the fact that we had a couple of hampers of food with us and a basket of bottles as well.

  It lasted another three days, what with snow-choked roads and the coach shedding a wheel, and damned uncomfortable it was. I guessed we were travelling west, at about twenty miles a day, but beyond that there was nothing to be learned from the dreary German landscape. The snow stuck to the windows, and the coach was like an ice-house; I cursed and grumbled a good deal, but Stamberg sat patiently in his corner, huddled in his greatcoat, whistling softly through his teeth—his observations were either insolently cheerful or caustic, and I couldn't decide which I disliked more.

  It was towards evening on the third day that I awoke from a doze to find Rudi with the window down, peering out into the dusk. The snow had stopped for the moment, but there was a keen wind whistling into the coach, and I was about to tell him brusquely to shut the window before we froze, when he pulled his head in and said:

  "Journey's end, thank God. Now for some decent food at last and a proper bed."

  I leaned forward to look out, and I've seen cheerier prospects. We were rolling slowly up a long avenue of trees towards a huge, bleak house, half mansion, half castle; in the fading light, with the wintry sky behind it, it looked in silhouette like the setting for some gothic novel, all towers and spires and rugged stonework. There were lights in some of the windows, and a great lantern shone yellow above the pointed archway of its main door, but they served only to exaggerate the ancient gloom of the place. Childe Flashy to the Dark Tower came, thinks I, and tried not to imagine what lay within.

  It proved to be a match for the exterior. We were shown into an immense, stone-flagged hall, hung round with faded tapestries and a few old trophies of arms and the chase; there were archways without doors leading out of it, and in keeping with a general air of medieval ghastliness, there were even torches burning in brackets on the walls. The place felt like a tomb, and the ancient butler who received us would have made an excellent gravedigger.

  But what daunted me most of all was the presence in the hall of a strapping trio of fellows, all of military cut, who welcomed Rudi and weighed me up with cold, professional eyes. One was a massive, close-cropped, typical Prussian, whose fleshy face was wealed with a great sabre cut from brow to chin; the second was a tall, supple, sinister gentleman with sleek black hair and a vulpine smile; the third was stocky and stout, balding and ugly. All were in undress uniforms, and as tough-looking a set of customers as you could wish for; my spirits sank even farther as I realised that with this crew on hand my chances of escape had dwindled out of sight.

  Rudi performed introductions. "My friends Kraftstein "—the big Prussian clicked his heels—" de Gautet "—a bow from the sinister Scaramouche—" and Bersonin "—the bald ugly one barely nodded. "Like you and me, they are military men, as you see. You'll find they are devoted to your welfare and er … safekeeping," says Master Rudi pleasantly, "and any one of them is almost as tough as I am, nicht wahr?"

  "Ich glaube es," says the sleek de Gautet, showing his teeth. Another confident bastard, and decidedly unpleasant.

  While he and Kraftstein stayed talking with Rudi, I was conveyed to a room on the second floor by Bersonin, and while he kept a bleak eye on me I was graciously permitted to change, wash, and eat a meal which the ancient butler brought. It was tolerable food, with an excellent Rhenish, and I invited the taciturn Bersonin to join me in a glass, but he shook his head. I tried my German on him, but getting nothing but grunts for my pains I turned my back on him and devoted myself to my meal. If he wanted to play the jailer, he could be treated like one.

  Presently back comes Master Rudi, very debonair in a clean shirt, freshly-pressed breeches and polished boots, with the Brothers Grimm, Kraftstein and de Gautet, at his heels.

  "All fed and watered?", says he. "Capital. I can see you two have been getting along famously. I trust our good Bersonin hasn't overwhelmed you with his inconsequential chatter. No?" He grinned impudently at Bersonin, who shrugged and scowled. "My, what a madcap he is," went on Rudi, who had evidently dined, too, and was back at the top of his most amiable form. "Well, come along with me, and we'll see what other entertainment this charming establishment can offer."

  "All the entertainment I want is to find out what the devil I'm doing here," says I.

  "Oh, you haven't long to wait now," says he, and he con ducted me down the corridor, up another stairway, and into a long gallery. Just as we set foot in it, there sounded from somewhere ahead of us the unmistakeable crack of a pistol-shot; I jumped, but Rudi only grinned over his shoulder.

  "Rats," says he. "The place is thick with 'em. We've tried poison and dogs, but our host believes in more direct methods. There he goes again," he added, as another shot sounded. "They must be out in force tonight."

  He paused in front of a stout, metal-studded door. "Here we are," cries he, throwing it wide, and waving me in. "Your patience is rewarded."

  It was a fine, spacious room, far better appointed than anything I had seen so far, with carpet on the flags, a bright fire in the huge grate, solid-looking leather furniture, several shelves of books round the panelled walls, and a long, narrow polished table running down the centre under a brilliant candelabra. At the far end of the table sat a man, his feet cocked up on the board, reloading a long pistol, and at the sight of him I stopped as though I had walked into a wall. It was Otto von Bismarck.

  6

  In a lifetime that has included far too many unpleasant surprises, I can think of few nastier shocks than that moment. Strange as it seems, from the very start of this German affair, Bismarck had never even crossed my mind—probably because I didn't want to remember him. Having done the dirty on him in England with John Gully, I'd had no wish ever to meet him again—especially at such a disadvantage as now. Well, when you've caused a man to be cut up by a prize pug, and made him look an idiot into the bargain, you bar renewing his acquaintance in a lonely castle with four of his hired thugs ushering you into his presence.

  Equally alarming was the discovery that he was at the bottom of the plot that had snared me: if it had looked sticky before, it looked a lot worse now.

  "Welcome to Schönhausen, Mr Flashman," says he, with the vaguest curl of a smile at the corner of his mouth. "Pray be seated."[24]

  Bersonin set a chair for me at the table end opposite Bismarck, and then took station by the door. The other three stood by the fireplace, Rudi leaning against the overmantel. Bismarck studied me along the table's length: he looked as nasty as ever, with those pale blue eyes and his arrogant stare. His face had roughened up a bit, though, since I first knew hi
m, and he was sporting a heavy moustache; booze and guzzling had added a good deal of flesh to him, especially about the neck.

  My heart was thumping like a hammer, and as always when I am scared half out of my wits my face was going red. Bismarck misread the signs.

  "You don't appear pleased to see me," says he, laying aside his pistol. "But then, why should you? There is a score to settle on my side; I still miss a tooth, thanks to your pugilist friend." He paused, while I quaked. "However, don't imagine that I contrived your coming all the way here from England just to settle a personal difference. It happens, amazing though it may seem, that I need you. What do you think of that?"

  "My God," says I, "if that's so, why the devil didn't you ask me, like a civilised human being, instead of going through that damned charade in Munich? Of all the ridiculous, dangerous— yes, and damned bad-mannered—"

  "Don't be a fool. We will not pretend that if I had asked you, you would have come. It was necessary to use guile and force, in turn, to ensure your presence here. And to further ensure that you would be—pliable. For you have been left in no doubt what will happen to you if you do not do exactly what I require."

  "I've been left in no doubt that I've been bloody well kidnapped! And assaulted and falsely accused! I've been left in no doubt that you're a damned villain. And—"

  "Shall we leave these vapourings?" he broke in harshly. "You know something of what I am, and I know exactly what you area brutal, lecherous ruffian. Yes, but with certain abilities, which you will use as I direct."

  "What the devil is it you want, curse you? What use can I possibly be to you?"

  "That is better. Give him a brandy, Kraftstein, and a cigar. Now then, Mr Flashman, you will listen to me, and what I tell you will never be repeated—never, as you love your life."

  As I think back on it now, it is still difficult to believe that it happened—that I really sat in that long room, with a glass and a cigar, while that cold, masterful man who was to be the greatest statesman of his age, outlined to me the amazing plan which was to be the first, small stepping-stone in his great career. It was mad, incredible nonsense, but it is true. Bismarck then was nothing—in the political sense, anyway. But he had dreamed his dreams (as Lola had told me years before) and now he was setting about in that cold, German certainty, to make them realities. Strange, isn't it, that without me he could not have begun as he did? He needed the lecherous, brutal ruffian (an incomplete description, but Bismarck always was a great one for half-truths).