Instead of fighting back and trying to regain the upper hand, Jon tried to concentrate on one thing. One small step. Even though he couldn't feel his physical body, he tried with all his might to move his left foot backwards. He pictured it scraping along the floor of the dais, centimetre by centimetre, further and further back. It filled his thoughts. One small movement.
More and more loose objects were being swept along: leaves, stones, planks, branches and signs all rushed past him at an ever-increasing speed.
One step.
'Is this far enough, Campelli?' shouted Remer jubilantly. His voice was barely audible in the wind.
A pain at the back of his head sliced like a bolt of lightning through Jon's consciousness. He was lying on his back at the foot of the dais. His fall down the steps had made him drop the book that had been holding him captive. He couldn't see where it had landed.
Eight Lectors remained by the podium. Jon stared at them. He now understood why the other Lectors had been so terrified of his powers. The air felt electric; the smell reminded him of the metallic odour of leaky batteries.
Jon tried to stand up but a sharp stab in his left foot made him groan aloud with pain. He looked down. His foot was turned at a strange angle. Even thinking about moving his foot made it hurt.
'What's going on?' said a nervous voice behind him.
Jon turned and caught sight of Patrick Vedel, only two metres away.
'We have to get out of here,' said Mehmet.
Katherina nodded, but she couldn't take her eyes off Henning's lifeless body.
'Did you hear what I said?' Mehmet stepped in front of her so they made eye contact. His gaze was steady and insistent.
'Jon,' said Katherina. 'We have to take Jon with us.'
They went over to the railing and looked down at the floor below. The electrical activity seemed to have increased. They heard the constant, dry crackling of discharges and the sparks were lasting longer than before.
As they watched, yet another one of the Lectors fell away from the circle surrounding the podium. His white robe might just as well have been empty. He fell to the ground without a sound. A dark liquid spread across the floor from the body.
'We have to go down there,' said Katherina firmly.
'Wait.' Mehmet grabbed hold of her.
Beneath them Jon's body began swaying. Katherina gasped and put her hand to her mouth.
At that moment Jon fell backwards, toppled off the dais, and landed on his back with a horrible thud. The book he was holding disappeared into the shadows. He lay still for a moment – much too long, it seemed to Katherina – but then he started moving again. He lifted his head and managed to prop himself up on one elbow and look around.
Katherina sobbed with relief. Her emotions had been on a rollercoaster for the past couple of days, and she knew that soon she wouldn't be able to stand any more. Even though she wanted to run down to Jon at once, her body refused to obey her. She was shaking so hard she could hardly stay on her feet.
'He's okay,' said Mehmet with a grin. He put his hands on her shoulders and gave them a squeeze. 'He's okay,' he repeated.
Down below Jon had turned towards the shadows behind him and a figure had stepped into the light. Katherina recognized the man with the red hair. They couldn't hear the exchange of words that followed, but Jon was clearly upset, though evidently unable to stand up. The man with the red hair squatted down next to him, but Jon pulled away and began looking about.
'A book,' Katherina decided. 'He needs a book.'
'What sort of book?' asked Mehmet.
'It doesn't matter,' she replied. 'Just find a book and I'll try to get his attention.'
Mehmet disappeared.
'Jon!' shouted Katherina as loudly as she could. 'Up here!'
Jon looked about in confusion. The man with the red hair stood up and let his gaze sweep over the terrace.
'Up here!' she called, waving her arms over her head.
Jon raised his eyes and finally caught sight of her. Even though he was some distance away and the light was bad, she could see that he recognized her. A big smile spread across his face. The man with the red hair straightened up and put his hands on his hips. Jon used this momentary distraction to seize the man by the ankles and yank on them so his body fell backwards. Jon then scuttled away on his hands and knees. Katherina couldn't understand why he didn't stand up.
Mehmet was back with a book.
'Here,' he said. 'It was the first one I could find.'
Katherina took it from him and again called Jon's name.
He turned around in time to see her waving the book. He nodded eagerly and she tossed it down to him. It landed a few metres away and he struggled to reach it. In the meantime the man with the red hair had hauled himself to his feet.
It was the anger that kept Jon conscious. His body was drained of energy. It required the greatest effort for him to make the slightest movement. The pain in his foot didn't make things any easier, but at least it helped to keep him alert.
At the sight of Patrick Vedel, Luca's murderer, Jon had to restrain himself from assaulting him on the spot. But his position, lying on the floor and presumably with a broken ankle, didn't give Jon the best advantage, so he made himself stay calm.
'What's going on?' asked Vedel again, squatting down next to Jon.
'Your boss has lost his mind,' replied Jon. He looked around. There was nothing within reach he could use as a weapon.
Vedel's eyes flickered. 'Remer knows what he's doing,' he said. 'He's doing what's best for the Order.'
'He's in the process ofannihilating the Order,' snarled Jon. 'Can't you see that? He's gone too far.'
Vedel shook his head. 'No, the Order is his life, our life.' He stared with admiration at his boss. 'He'll do anything to preserve it.'
'Yes, he'll even kill for it,' said Jon.
Patrick Vedel gave him a searching look.
'What's the life of an old bookseller worth compared to this?' said Jon bitterly, as he maintained eye contact with Vedel. Jon could see that the man was trying to work out whether he knew the truth or not.
Vedel lowered his eyes. 'It was necessary,' he said.
'You went too far,' said Jon. 'Just like now. Who do you believe that Remer is thinking of right now, himself or the Order? I've been where he is. I know the answer.'
Vedel clenched his teeth. 'He would never-'
'Jon!'
Jon recognized Katherina's voice and looked around. Vedel stood up and did the same.
She called his name again. This time it sounded as if her voice were coming from overhead, and Jon caught sight of her on the terrace above. A huge feeling of relief washed over his body.
'That bitch!' yelled Vedel in annoyance.
Jon's anger flared up again, giving him renewed strength. He reached out for Vedel and grabbed him round the ankles. With a violent yank, he pulled the Lector's legs out from under him, making him fall heavily on his back.
Jon pushed and dragged himself away from Vedel as fast as he could. He hadn't gone more than five or six metres when he heard Katherina calling him again. She was waving a book. Out of the corner of his eye Jon saw that Vedel had stood up and was coming towards him.
The book landed a couple of metres away from Jon and he struggled to reach it as Vedel came closer. It was a small, slim, leather-bound book. Jon opened it with shaking hands. He might still be able to get out of this situation.
Vedel stopped when he saw the book Jon was holding.
'Now, just take it easy,' he said, holding up the palms of his hands. 'There's no reason to…'
Jon's courage sank as he read the first words.
The book was in Italian. It wasn't possible. Not here, not now.
The expression on Vedel's face changed from nervousness to relief. 'Not a book to your liking?' he asked and laughed.
Jon turned his attention back to the book. He did know Italian, after all. It had been a long time since he'd read the language, and he doubted he knew it well enough to protect himself, but he had to try.