Read Online Acts of the Assassins by Richard Beard - Free Book Online
Authors: Richard Beard
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Baruch says. ‘Especially here in Jerusalem. Plan ahead if you like, but accidents will happen.’
Gallio remembers Baruch at Alma’s school, offering to handhis daughter into the Range Rover. He’s had a big day for remembering how the world turns.
‘The guards dragged James onto the exercise ground,’ Baruch says. ‘They haven’t seen a beheading for months, and none of them wanted to miss the action. While they enjoyed the spectacle Peter walked away.’
‘He walked away.’
Cassius Gallio requests an interview with the two militiamen responsible for the salami and hastening the execution. One of them is short, the other tall and they haven’t washed in a week. But what’s done is done, and for Gallio these men represent an opportunity. He treats them like intelligent human beings.
‘How did the two disciples behave, while you had them locked up? I want to hear what you made of them. As people, what were they like?’
The guards look at each other. ‘Not very funny.’
The shorter one nods, crushes his hands into his armpits. ‘Neither of them had much of a sense of humour. No real banter.’
‘Two older brothers in a room,’ the tall one says, pleased with his observation. He excavates an ear with his little finger, assesses the gunge that comes out. ‘Serious types.’
‘Did you hear specific conversations?’
‘Death.’ The guards nod at each other, agreed. ‘The Galileans talked about death, their favourite subject. Both of them said they were happy to die, but neither wanted to go first.’
‘Naturally.’ Baruch straightens the crease in his trouser, insists on being present at the interview, but he’s leaning against a wall and he’s bored. ‘Who in their right mind would want to die first?’
‘They both did. It was weird. Both the disciples volunteered. They argued about it.’
‘You said the opposite, that neither of them wanted to go first.’
‘That’s how it started. They both wanted to go first, which meant going first was unkind to the other, because that’s what the other one wanted.’
‘So it was kinder to go second,’ the taller one says, scratching his head. He leaves the residue from his ear in his hair. ‘They both wanted to die after the other. Out of kindness.’
They look puzzled. ‘If that makes sense.’
‘Which ends up being completely normal,’ Cassius Gallio says. ‘I’d want to go second too, if it were me.’
Their brains continue to grind as Baruch hovers behind them. ‘Who actually did the deed, took his head off?’
The men don’t want to say, in case there’s a punishment. But they do want to say, in case there’s a reward. Gallio pities them their inner struggle so he speaks up—with Baruch in the room he can save them from a fatal mistake. ‘If you remember anything else, you let us know.’
‘Via the usual channels,’ Baruch adds.
Cassius Gallio yawns. ‘Jet lag. I’m sure you have an Attempt To Locate out for Peter. I’m going back to the hotel. This isn’t my case.’
‘I know,’ Baruch says. ‘I let you talk to the guards as a favour, for old times’ sake. Reckon they’re telling the truth?’
‘No idea. I don’t have the clearance to risk an opinion.’ A thin-shouldered man in a blue tracksuit follows Cassius Gallio through Jerusalem, settles himself in the hotel lobby while Galliochecks in and drops his bag with the concierge. Gallio takes the lift to his floor, walks past his room, finds the stairwell and leaves through the basement parking garage.
Behind, in front, left, right. Gallio looks up, sometimes down, making sure he’s alone. Baruch knew Gallio had arrived at the airport, and Valeria would have known that too. Yet still they went through the routines for a secret meetup. She must be worried that someone, other than Baruch and his people, is watching. Whoever it is, they must be good.
Gallio takes random lefts and rights through the evening city, and he’s amazed at the number of
Gallio remembers Baruch at Alma’s school, offering to handhis daughter into the Range Rover. He’s had a big day for remembering how the world turns.
‘The guards dragged James onto the exercise ground,’ Baruch says. ‘They haven’t seen a beheading for months, and none of them wanted to miss the action. While they enjoyed the spectacle Peter walked away.’
‘He walked away.’
Cassius Gallio requests an interview with the two militiamen responsible for the salami and hastening the execution. One of them is short, the other tall and they haven’t washed in a week. But what’s done is done, and for Gallio these men represent an opportunity. He treats them like intelligent human beings.
‘How did the two disciples behave, while you had them locked up? I want to hear what you made of them. As people, what were they like?’
The guards look at each other. ‘Not very funny.’
The shorter one nods, crushes his hands into his armpits. ‘Neither of them had much of a sense of humour. No real banter.’
‘Two older brothers in a room,’ the tall one says, pleased with his observation. He excavates an ear with his little finger, assesses the gunge that comes out. ‘Serious types.’
‘Did you hear specific conversations?’
‘Death.’ The guards nod at each other, agreed. ‘The Galileans talked about death, their favourite subject. Both of them said they were happy to die, but neither wanted to go first.’
‘Naturally.’ Baruch straightens the crease in his trouser, insists on being present at the interview, but he’s leaning against a wall and he’s bored. ‘Who in their right mind would want to die first?’
‘They both did. It was weird. Both the disciples volunteered. They argued about it.’
‘You said the opposite, that neither of them wanted to go first.’
‘That’s how it started. They both wanted to go first, which meant going first was unkind to the other, because that’s what the other one wanted.’
‘So it was kinder to go second,’ the taller one says, scratching his head. He leaves the residue from his ear in his hair. ‘They both wanted to die after the other. Out of kindness.’
They look puzzled. ‘If that makes sense.’
‘Which ends up being completely normal,’ Cassius Gallio says. ‘I’d want to go second too, if it were me.’
Their brains continue to grind as Baruch hovers behind them. ‘Who actually did the deed, took his head off?’
The men don’t want to say, in case there’s a punishment. But they do want to say, in case there’s a reward. Gallio pities them their inner struggle so he speaks up—with Baruch in the room he can save them from a fatal mistake. ‘If you remember anything else, you let us know.’
‘Via the usual channels,’ Baruch adds.
Cassius Gallio yawns. ‘Jet lag. I’m sure you have an Attempt To Locate out for Peter. I’m going back to the hotel. This isn’t my case.’
‘I know,’ Baruch says. ‘I let you talk to the guards as a favour, for old times’ sake. Reckon they’re telling the truth?’
‘No idea. I don’t have the clearance to risk an opinion.’ A thin-shouldered man in a blue tracksuit follows Cassius Gallio through Jerusalem, settles himself in the hotel lobby while Galliochecks in and drops his bag with the concierge. Gallio takes the lift to his floor, walks past his room, finds the stairwell and leaves through the basement parking garage.
Behind, in front, left, right. Gallio looks up, sometimes down, making sure he’s alone. Baruch knew Gallio had arrived at the airport, and Valeria would have known that too. Yet still they went through the routines for a secret meetup. She must be worried that someone, other than Baruch and his people, is watching. Whoever it is, they must be good.
Gallio takes random lefts and rights through the evening city, and he’s amazed at the number of
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