‘Sorry I have to keep you waiting,’he said, almost apologetically. ‘But I, in turn, have to wait a call.’
‘More organization,’ van Effen said. ‘Quite admirable. But there is one area in which your organization falls down.’
‘Inevitably.’ Agnelli smiled. ‘In what respect?’
‘No heating in this vehicle.’
‘An oversight. Maria?’
‘It’s by the radio.’
Agnelli reached under the seat and, not without some effort, brought up a large wicker basket which he placed on the seat between van Effen and himself. He opened the lid to reveal a rather splendidly appointed picnic basket.
‘What you would have expected, Mr Danilov. A picnic basket for the Sunday-school picnickers. If we cannot have external warmth at least we can provide some of the internal variety.’ The contents of the basket tended to bear out his claim. Apart from two rows of gleaming glasses and packets of sandwiches neatly wrapped in cellophane, it held a very Promising variety of bottles. ‘We thought we might have something to celebrate this evening,’ he said, again almost apologetically, ‘and I do think we have. A schnapps, perhaps, Mr Danilov?’
Van Effen said: ‘I unreservedly withdraw my remarks about your organization.’
Agnelli hadn’t even had time to begin to pour the schnapps when the transceiver buzzer rang. He clamped on the headpiece and acknowledged the call then listened in silence for almost a minute. Then he said: ‘Yes, they are foolish. They have no place to go. So a little persuasion to tip the balance? Call me back in one minute.’ He took off the headpiece. ‘WeLl, who’s the volunteer to press the button?’ There were no volunteers. ‘Well, then, I suggest you, Mr Danilov. You’re the man who prepared the charges so, of course, we’ll all blame you if the explosion turns out to be a damp squib or, alternatively, the palace falls down, so perhaps it’s only fitting that you press the button also. That way the rest of us will all feel blameless while you — ,
He wasn’t given time to complete his sentence. Van Effen stabbed the button and less than two seconds later, deep and muffled like a distant underwater explosion but very unmistakable for all that — to anyone with normal hearing, the sound must have been audible up to a kilometre away — the reverberation from the detonating amatol rolled across the square. Van Effen took the bottle from Agnelli’s unresisting hand — Agnelli, not smiling and with lips parted, seemed to be seeing something very far away — and poured himself a schnapps.
‘Seems I’ll just have to congratulate myself. A nice loud bang but the royal walls still stand. As guaranteed. My health.’ ‘That was splendid,’Agnelli said warmly. He was back on his own usual smiling balance again. ‘Perfectly splendid, Mr Danilov. And no damage after all that noise. Unbelievable.’
‘Perhaps a little royal wine spilt on the royal tablecloth.’ Van Effen made a dismissive gesture. ‘I don’t want to seem unduly modest — not in my nature, really — but that was next to nothing. Next time — if there is a next time — something a little more demanding perhaps.’ ‘There’ll be a next time. That I promise. And a little more exacting. That I also promise.’ He paused to sip some schnapps as the others, obviously excited and elated, turned to congratulate van Effen, then held up a hand for silence as the buzzer rang again.
‘Ah! You heard it also, did you? Very, very satisfactory. Mr Danilov is a man of his word. ‘He was silent for almost a minute then said: ‘Yes, I agree. I’d been thinking along those lines myself. Most fortuitous, most … Thank you. Ten o’clock then.’
He replaced headpiece and microphone, then leaned back in his seat. ‘Well, now, time to relax.’
‘You relax,’ van Effen said. ‘Not me. If you’re not moving on, I am.’ He made to get up and a puzzled Agnelli caught his arm. ‘What is wrong?’
‘There’s nothing wrong with me. It’s just, as I’ve told you, that I’ve got a very acute sense of self-preservation. As soon as the police come to their senses — if they ever lost them, they’re a pretty efficient bunch hereabouts — they’re going to start questioning everyone within eyesight of the palace. I should imagine — no, I’m certain — that a minibus with eight odd characters such as us parked in a rainstorm in the Dam would be a prime target for questioning.’ He shrugged off Agnelli’s hand and rose. ‘I’ve an acute aversion to being questioned by the police. A criminal — and we are criminals — has to be some kind of retarded lunatic to remain in the vicinity of his crime.’
‘Sit down. You’re right, of course. Foolish of me — one should never let one’s guard down. Helmut?’
Paderiwski, who was obviously in full agreement with van Effen, drove off at once.
Back in the room they had so recently vacated, Agnelli sank into an armchair. ‘Thank you, ladies, thank you. Schnapps would be fine. Now, perhaps, Mr Danilov, we can relax.’
‘Safer than where we were. But relax? For me, no. Still too close. Instinct? Plain cowardice? I just don’t know. Anyway, I have an appointment tonight. Nine-thirty.’
Agnelli smiled. ‘You were pretty sure that you were going to keep that appointment?’
‘I never had any reason to doubt it. No, that’s not quite accurate. I never had reason to doubt that the arranging of the explosion was a simple matter. I had ample reason to question your ability to get us in and out undetected. But, then, I had no reason beforehand to be aware of your rather remarkable organizational ability. I’ll have no doubts about you again.’
‘Nor we of you — not after tonight’s performance. I had mentioned the possibility of finding a permanent niche with us. That’s no longer a possibility, it’s a guarantee if you’re still of the same mind.’ ‘Of course I’m of the same mind. Tonight, you had a free demonstration. Now, I would appreciate some steady employment.’
‘The point I was about to raise. I think you arc now entitled to be taken into our confidence.’
Van Effen looked at him in silence, took a thoughtful sip of his schnapps and smiled. ‘Not, I feel certain, your full confidence. You are not about to tell me your ultimate aims. You are not going to tell me how you came together. You’re not going to tell me how you are financed or by whom. You are not going to tell me where you stay-although, if we’re to work together in however limited a capacity, you’ll have to give me some intermediate contact phone number. You’re not even going to tell me why, in what would appear to be an otherwise highly organized set-up, you require my services at such a late date.’ Agnelli was thoughtful. ‘That’s a lot of things you seem to be certain that we’re not going to tell you. How come?’
Van Effen let a little impatience show. ‘Because that is precisely the way I would behave myself. The need-to-know principle. I’m sure I don’t have to remind you of that again. What I do believe — is that you are about to let me into your very limited confidence about your immediate operational plans. No abnormal prescience on my part. You have to. If, that is to say, I’m to be of any use to you.’
‘Correct on all counts. Tell me, Mr Danilov, are you in a position to acquire explosives?’
‘Good God!’
‘Is that so extraordinary a question to ask of an explosives expert?’ ‘My astonishment was not at the fact that you ask me. I’m surprised that — well, that such an organized group should embark upon what I take to be an ambitious project without the essentials to hand.’ ‘We have some of what you call the essentials. We may not have enough. Are you in a position to help?’