The Oracle by Valerio Massimo Manfredi Page A

immediately.’
    ‘But nothing’s happened.’
    ‘I’ve spoken with car twenty-six. The boy they were following entered the British embassy, and shortly thereafter a car with a plain-clothes agent was seen leaving the embassy. He’s headed in your direction. They may interfere, it’s happened before. I don’t want problems. Arrest them and bring them here.’
    ‘Will do. Over.’
    They entered the courtyard, went up the external staircase and banged at the door.
    ‘Open up. Police.’
    Claudio jerked awake and Heleni shook out of her slumber as well. The pot was boiling on the stove and the room was filled with the delicious smell of broth. The two young people looked at each other with an expression of agonized panic.
    ‘Someone told them where we are!’ gasped Claudio. ‘Fast, outside the bathroom window. There’s a terrace: from there you can get into the attic apartment; it’s empty.’
    He turned towards the door: ‘Just a minute! I’m coming!’ He helped Heleni get up and urged her towards the bathroom, trying to help her up on a chair so she could get out the window.
    ‘I can’t do this!’ she cried. ‘I’ll never make it, Claudio. Let them take me.’
    ‘Open this door or we’ll knock it down!’ the policemen were yelling from outside.
    ‘I’ll distract them. You do what I told you to do. Leave the attic apartment through the back door and cross the street; there’s a little church right there, Aghios Dimitrios. Hide there and wait for me.’ He closed the bathroom door and went towards the main door, which was already swaying under the blows of the police outside.
    ‘Where’s the girl?’ they shouted, pointing their pistols at him.
    ‘She left with her parents an hour ago.’
    The officer slapped him hard: ‘Where is she?’ Claudio didn’t answer. The other went to open the bathroom door, but Claudio lunged after him and landed a punch to the nape of his neck, knocking him out cold. The first officer tried to hit Claudio with the butt of his pistol, but Claudio saw it coming out of the corner of his eye, slipped to the side and tripped him. The man fell down hard on to the floor but managed to spin round, and jumped up, pointing his gun straight at Claudio.
    ‘I’ll blow your brains on to the wall if you make a move.’
    Claudio put his hands up, backing off. The policeman struck him in the stomach, again and again, until he doubled over in pain, then drove a knee up into his face, splitting his lip. Claudio collapsed to the ground, mouth and nose bleeding. The other man had got up and now kicked open the bathroom door. He saw the chair near the window and looked out. Heleni was dragging herself weakly across the terrace, towards the attic. He pointed his gun at her: ‘Come back this way, baby, we have to talk.’
    The car from the British embassy arrived a few minutes later. The driver parked and began to get out, but then ducked back in quickly, lowering his head: two men were coming down the side stairs. One was holding a girl under his arm: she was pale, with black-rimmed eyes, stumbling at every step. The other dragged a semi-conscious boy, his face and clothing covered with blood. They got into a car parked on the other side of the street and took off. The British agent turned on his radio: ‘Hello?’
    ‘James Shields here. Well?’
    ‘Sorry, too late. The police were just accompanying them out as I pulled up. What should I do?’ asked the agent.
    Silence on the other end.
    ‘Sir, if you send me a couple of guys from special services, we could head them off before they get to destination.’
    ‘No. Come right back. There’s nothing more we can do.’
    Shields turned to Norman: ‘I’m sorry, son. They were arrested by the Greek police just before our operative got there. I’m very, very sorry.’
    Norman covered his eyes: ‘Oh my God!’ he said. ‘Oh my God.’
    T HE CAR ENTERED police headquarters. The officer at the wheel got out and opened the back door.