Bellini listened silently as Camillo translated Philpott’s request, then spoke in a barely audible voice, his eyes never leaving Philpott’s face.
‘Under the circumstances, Signore Bellini feels he has no alternative but to resign. It is a small price to pay for the safety of Europe and its peoples. I will represent Signore Bellini at this meeting. He feels he has nothing more to contribute.’
‘I understand,’ Philpott replied softly.
Bellini got to his feet and walked to the door. Philpott stared after him. A broken man. He had merely passed on Calvieri’s demand but he still felt a sense of guilt. It was a feeling he couldn’t seem to shake off.
Camillo closed the door behind Bellini, then turned to Philpott.
‘Calvieri seems to think that by forcing Signore Bellini to step down it will bring the chances of a coalition between the PCI and the Red Brigades that much closer to fruition. He couldn’t be more wrong. We may not be a popular government, but we are loyal to each other. And especially to Signore Bellini. We’ll close ranks at the top. The Red Brigades won’t get a look in. Our deputy Prime Minister, Signore Vietri, will see to that. He hates the Red Brigades more than anyone else in the cabinet. Calvieri’s in for a big surprise. A very big surprise.’
Philpott closed the folder in front of him. If it were up to him he would tell Camillo where Vietri’s true loyalties lay. But it wasn’t. He had already chided Kuhlmann for interfering in Italy’s domestic problems. Not that Camillo would believe him anyway. Not without proof. He suddenly remembered Paluzzi’s words. Alberto Vietri will never become Prime Minister of Italy. Camillo may yet be right. Calvieri could well be in for a big surprise.
The meeting had been convened in a soundproof room down the corridor from the conference hall. The fifteen leaders were all present, along with the aides who had represented them at the morning briefing (it cut out the need for translators for those leaders who didn’t speak English, minimizing the chances of a security leak).
Philpott felt like a headmaster as he stood in front of them detailing the demands he had received from Calvieri. There was a moment’s silence after he had finished speaking, then the room was filled with the sound of angry voices as the delegates conferred, outraged at the audacity of Calvieri’s demands. Philpott allowed them to let off steam. After all, they were politicians. Finally he clapped his hands, bringing them to order.
‘We have to discuss this rationally if we’re going to reach any kind of decision.’
‘Where is Signore Bellini?’ a voice called out.
Philpott looked at Camillo and indicated that he should answer.
‘Signore Bellini is meeting the rest of our delegation. He won’t be attending the opening ceremony. He feels it would be better if one of his senior ministers was there from the start. I have already informed the chairman.’ Camillo gestured to the Swiss President, who nodded in agreement. ‘He has asked me to represent him at this meeting.’
Philpott raised his hand before anyone could speak.
‘I can understand how you must all feel about the way Signore Bellini has been treated, but it’s neither the time nor the place to discuss it. We must address the second of Calvieri’s demands, the payment of a hundred million pounds to the five terrorist groups.’
The Dutch Prime Minister raised a hand to catch Philpott’s attention.
‘Do you believe he would press the button if his demands were not met?’
‘Yes,’ Philpott replied bluntly.
‘He’s a madman!’ someone called out.
There was a murmur of agreement.
Philpott shook his head.
‘No madman could have pieced together an operation like this. It’s been meticulously planned down to the last detail. Every loophole’s been plugged. We’re not dealing with some two-bit hoodlum here. He’s probably more intelligent than most of us in this room. And that’s not something I’d say lightly.’
‘Couldn’t your people launch a commando-style operation on the room and recover the vial?’ the Norwegian Prime Minister asked.
‘Out of the question,’ Philpott replied. ‘The room has no windows. The only way in is through the door. And that would have to be blown. When I left the room Calvieri had his finger on the button. All he would have to do is press it if we made any attempt to storm the room.’
‘These questions aren’t getting us anywhere,’ the British Prime Minister snapped irritably. ‘If Colonel Philpott thought there was a chance of recovering the transmitter intact he would have told us already. Obviously there isn’t. It’s something we have to accept. And the sooner we come to a decision, the sooner the wheels can be set in motion to get the vial back safely.’
Philpott nodded gratefully to the Prime Minister. They went back a long way. One of the Prime Minister’s first tasks on coming into office had been to forward Philpott’s curriculum vitae, together with a personal letter of recommendation, to the Secretary-General of UNACO for consideration as Director. He never knew whether the letter had helped to sway the Secretary-General’s decision but he had always been grateful for the Prime Minister’s unswerving belief in him. It had made his job that much easier.
‘I can only advise you,’ Philpott said, looking around slowly at the faces in front of him. ‘The final decision rests with you. And as the Prime Minister has said, we don’t have much time. It’s imperative that you reach your decision as soon as possible.’
‘What choice do we have?’ the British Prime Minister said. ‘It’s not as if we’re dealing with a hijacked aeroplane or a kidnapped businessman. We’re dealing with a lethal virus which could potentially kill millions. A virus without an antidote. If it were just our lives at risk, I’d certainly say we should stand firm against the demands. But it’s not. Much as it goes against everything I believe in, I say we pay the ransom.’
‘One hundred million pounds in the hands of terrorists,’ the Austrian Chancellor said, breaking the sudden silence. ‘They will be able to buy enough arms to carry out horrendous attacks across Europe. It will snowball into a bloody conflict, you mark my words.’
‘Do you think I want to contribute to their coffers?’ The British Prime Minister’s eyes were blazing. ‘None of you has campaigned more vociferously than I have to unite our countries in the fight against terrorism. It sticks in my throat to have to pay one penny to these murderers, but I don’t see that we have any choice.’
‘You misunderstand me, Prime Minister,’ the Austrian Chancellor said defensively. ‘I was not criticizing you, it was merely an observation. In fact, I wholeheartedly agree with what you say.’
‘A hundred million is a small price to pay for the safety of our people,’ the Swedish Prime Minister added. ‘We will pay our share of the ransom.’
‘The French Government, too, will pay its share of the ransom,’ the aide announced on behalf of the Prime Minister.
Philpott raised his hands as the noise intensified around him.
‘It’s no use everyone talking at the same time. There’s an easy way to settle this. Is there any government who will not pay its share of the ransom?’
There was silence.
‘I’ll pass your decision on to Calvieri. Naturally we’ll do everything in our power to find the vial before the deadline but I have to admit our chances of doing so will be remote, to say the least. The search will have to be undertaken in complete secrecy if we’re not to alert Calvieri and provoke a catastrophe. It’s the only way we can prevent the press from getting hold of the story.’
‘We understand that,’ the Swiss President said, speaking for the first time. ‘The money will be ready for the five o’clock deadline.’