Hesmiledbriefly,aglimmerintheeyes."Threesons,twodaughters,one...

expected."Hepaused."Andyou?"

Ishookmyhead."Notyet.Notmarried."

"Yourloss.Yourgain."

Ilaughed.Hebreatheddeprecatinglydownhisnoseasiftodisclaimthe disparagementofhislady."Girlsgrowintomamas,"hesaid.Heshrugged."It happens."

Wisdom,Ithought,showedupinthemostunexpectedplaces.Hefinishedhiseggs asoneatpeacewithhimself,anddrankhiscoffee."Cigarette?"heasked, edgingapacketoutofhisshutpocket."No.Iforgot.Youdon't."Heflicked hislighterandinhaledthefirstlungfulwiththedeepreliefofadedicated smoker.Eachtohisownrelease:CenciandIhadfoundthesamethinginbrandy.

"Duringthenight,"Isaid."Didthekidnapperstalktoanyoneelse?"

"Howdoyoumean?"

"Byradio."

Heliftedhisthinfacesharply,thefamilymanretreating."No.Theyspokeonly toeachother,tothehostagefamily,andtous.Doyouthinktheyhavearadio?

Whydoyouthinkthat?"

"IwonderediftheywereintouchwiththeircolleaguesguardingAlessia."

Heconsidereditwithconcentrationandindecisivelyshookhishead."Thetwo kidnappersspokeofwhatwashappening,fromtimetotime,butonlyasifthey weretalkingtoeachother.Iftheywerealsotransmittingonaradioanddidn't wantustoknow,theyareveryclever.Theywouldhavetoguesswearealready listeningtoeverywordtheysay."Hethought.i.toverabitlongerandfinally shookhisheadwithmorecertainty."Theyarenotclever.I'velistenedtothem allnight.Theyareviolent,frightened,and..."hesearchedforawordIwould understand"...ordinary."

"Averageintelligence?"

"Yes.Average."

"Allthesame,whenyoufinallygetthemout,w.i.l.l.youlookaroundforaradio?"

"Youpersonallywanttoknow?"

"Yes."

Helookedatmea.s.sessinglywithagooddealofprofessionaldispa.s.sion."What areyounottellingme?"hesaid.

IwasnottellinghimwhatCenc.i.p.a.s.sionatelywishedtokeepprivate,anditwas Cenciwhowaspayingme.Imightadvisefullconsultationwiththelocallaw, butonlythat.Goingagainstthecustomer's.e.xpressedwisheswasatthevery leastbadforfuturebusiness.

"Isimplywonder,"Isaidmildly,"ifthepeopleguardingAlessiaknowexactly what'sgoingon."

Helookedasifsomesixthsensewasbusydoubtingme,sototakehismindoff itIsaid,"Idaresayyou'vethoughtofstungrenadesasalastresort."

"Stun?"Hedidn'tknowtheword."What'sstun?"

"Grenadeswhichmoreorlessknockpeopleoutforashortwhile.Theyproduce noiseandshockwaves,butdonopermanentdamage.Whileeveryoneis semiconscious,youwalkintotheflatandapplyhandcuffswherethey'reneeded."

"Thearmyhasthem,Ithink."

Inodded."Youarepartofthearmy."

"Specialunitshavethem.Wedon't."Heconsidered."Wouldtheyhurtthe children?"

Ididn'tknow.Icouldseehimdiscardingstungrenadesrapidly."We'llwait,"

hesaid."Thekidnapperscannotlivethereforever.Intheend,theymustcome out."

Cencistaredmoroselyatalargecardboardcartonstandingonthedeskinhis office.Thecartonborestick-onlabelssayingFragileinwhitelettersonred, b.u.t.thecontentswouldhavesurvivedanydrop.Anydrop,thatis,exceptoneto kidnappers.

"Fifteenhundredmillionlire,"hesaid."Thebanksarrangedforittocomefrom Milan.Theybrought.i.tstraighttothisoffice,withsecurityguards."

"Inthatbox?"Iasked,surprised.

"No.Theywantedtheircasesback...andthisboxwashere."Hisvoicesounded deathlytired."Therestcomestomorrow.They'vebeenunderstandingandquick, b.u.t.theinterestthey'redemandingwillcrippleme."

Imadeamutegestureofsympathy,asnowordsseemedappropriate.ThenI changedintomychauffeur'suniform,carriedtheheavycartontothecar,stowed itinthetrunk,andpresentlydroveCencihome.

Weatedinnerlateinthathouse,thoughmealswereoftenleftunfinished accordingtotheanxietyleveloftheday.Cenciwouldpushhisplateawayin revulsion,andIsometimesthoughtmythinnessresultedfromneverbeingableto eatheartilyinthefaceofgrief.MysuggestionsthatCencimightprefermynot livingasfamilyhadbeenmetwithemphaticnegatives.Heneededcompany,he said,ifheweretostaysane.Iwouldpleasebewithhimasmuchaspossible.

Onthatevening,however,heunderstoodthatIcouldn'tbe.Icarriedthe Fragileboxupstairstomyroom,closedthecurtains,andstartedthelengthy taskofphotographingeverynote,flatteningtheminaframeofnonreflecting gla.s.s,fouratatimeofthesamedenomination.Evenwiththecameraona tripod,withbulkfilm,withcablereleaseandwithmotordrive,thejobalways tookages.ItwasonethatIdidactuallyprefernottoleavetobanksorthe police,butevenafterallthepracticeI'dhadIcouldshiftonlyaboutfifteen hundrednotesanhour.Largeransomshadmeshufflingbanknotesinmydreams.

ItwasLibertyMarketroutinetosendtheundevelopedfilmsbyexpresscourier totheLondonoffice,wherewehadsimpledevelopingandprintingequipmentin thebas.e.m.e.nt.Thenumbersofthenoteswerethentypedintoacomputer,which sortedthemintonumericalorderforeachdenominationandthenprintedoutthe lists.Thelistswerereturned,againbycourier,totheadvisorinthefield, who,afterthevictimhadbeenfreed,gavethemtothepolicetocirculateto allthecountry'sbanks,withapromisethatanytellerspottingoneofthe ransomnoteswouldberewarded.

Itwasasystemwhichseemedtousbest,princ.i.p.allybecausephotographyleftno traceonthenotes.Theproblemwithphysicallymarkingthemwasthatanything thebankscoulddetect,socouldthekidnappers.Bankshadnomonopoly,for instance,inscanstorevealfluorescence.Geigercountersforradioactivepin dotsweren'thardtocomeby.Minuteperforationscouldbeseenaseasilybyany eyesagainstabrightlight,andextralinesandmarkscouldbespottedby anyone'smagnification.Thebanks,throughsimplepressureoftime,hadtobe abletospottracerseasily,whichputchemicalinvisibleinksoutofcourt.

Kidnappers,farmorethoroughandwithfearalwaysattheirelbows,couldtest obsessivelyforeverything.

Kidnapperswhofoundtracersontheransomhadtobeconsideredlethal.In LibertyMarket,therefore,themarkingsweputonnotesweresodifficultto findthatwesometimeslostthemourselves,andtheywerecertainlyunspottable bybanks.Theyconsistedoftransparentmicrodots(thesizeofthefullstopsto whichweappliedthem)whichwhenseparatedandputunderamicroscoperevealed ashadowyblacklogoofLandM,b.u.t.throughordinarymagnifyinggla.s.ses appearedsimplyblack.Weusedthemonlyonlargerdenominationnotes,andthen onlyasaback-upincasethereshouldbeanyargumentaboutthephotographed numbers.Todatewehadneverhadtorevealtheirexistence,astateofaffairs wehopedtomaintain.

Bymorning,fairlydroppingfromfatigue,I'dphotographedbarelyhalf,the bankshavingtakenthe"smalldenomination"instructionalltooliterally.

LockingallthatmoneyintoawardrobecupboardIshoweredandthoughtofbed, butafterbreakfastdroveCencitotheofficeasusual.ThreenightsIcouldgo withoutsleep.Afterthat,zonk.

"Ifthekidnappersgetintouchwithyou,"Isaid,ontheway,"youmighttell themyoucan'tdrive.Sayyouneedyourchauffeur.Say...um...you'veabadheart, somethinglikethat.Thenatleastyou'dhavehelp,ifyouneededit."

Therewa.s.suchanintensesilencefromthebackseatthatatfirst.i.thoughthe hadn'theard,buteventuallyhesaid,"Isupposeyoudon'tknow,then."

"Knowwhat?"

"WhyIhaveachauffeur."

"Generalwealth,andallthat,"Isaid.

"No.Ihavenolicense."

Ihadseenhimdrivingroundtheprivateroadsonhisestateinajeepononeor twooccasions,thoughnot,Irecalled,withmuchfervor.Afterawhilehesaid, "Ichoosenottohavealicense,becauseIhaveepilepsy.I'vehaditmostofmy life.Itisofcoursekeptcompletelyundercontrolwithpills,butIprefernot todriveonpublicroads."

"I'msorry,"Isaid.

"Forget.i.t.Ido.It'saninconveniencemerely."Hesoundedasifthesubject boredhim,andIthoughtthatregardingirregularbrainpatternsasnomorethan anuisancewastypicalofwhatI'dgleanedofhisnormalbusinessmethods: routinefastandfirst,planningslowandthorough.I'dgatheredfromthingshis secretaryhadsaidinmyhearingthathe'dmadefewdecisionslately,andtrade wasbeginningtosuffer.

WhenwereachedtheoutskirtsofBolognahesaid,"Ihavetogobacktothose telephonesatthehighwayrestauranttomorrowmorningateight.Ihavetotake themoneyinmycar.Ihavetowaitforhim...forhisinstructions.He'llbe angryifIhaveachauffeur."

"Explain.He'llknowyoualwayshaveachauffeur.Tellhimwhy."

"Ican'triskit."Hisvoiceshook.

"SignorCenci,hewantsthemoney.Makehimbelieveyoucan'tdrivesafely.The lastthinghewantsisyoucrashingtheransomintoalamppost."

"Well...I'lltry."

"AndremembertoaskforproofthatAlessiaisaliveandunharmed."

"Yes."

IdroppedhimattheofficeanddrovebacktotheVillaFrancese,andbecauseit waswhattheCencichauffeuralwaysdidwhenhewasn'tneededduringthe morning,Iwashedthecar.I'dwashedthed.a.m.ncarsooftenIkneweveryinch intimately,butonecouldn'ttrustkidnappersnottobewatching;andthevilla anditshillside,withitsgloriousviews,couldbeobservedcloselyby telescopefromamileawayinmostdirections.Changesofroutinefrombeforeto afterakidnapwereofpowerfulsignificancetokidnappers,whowereoften betterdetectivesthandetectives,andbetterspiesthanspies.Thepeoplewho'd taughtmemyjobhadbeendetectivesandspiesandmorebesides,sowhenIwasa chauffeur,Iwashedcars.

ThatdoneIwentupstairsandsleptforacoupleofhoursandthensettoagain onthephotography,stoppingonlytogoandfetchCenciattheusualhour.

ReportingtohisofficeIfoundanotherboxonthedesk,thistimeannouncingit hadbeenpa.s.sedbycustomsatGenoa.

"ShallIcarryitout?"Iasked.

Henoddeddully."Itisallthere.Fivehundredmillionlire."

Wedrovehomemoreorlessinsilence,andIspenttheeveningandnightas before,methodicallyclickinguntilIfeltlikeazombie.Bymorningitwas done,withthemicrodotsappliedtoafewofthefifty-thousand-lirenotes,but notmany,throughlackoftime.Ipackedalltherubber-bandedbundlesintothe FragileboxandhumpeditdowntothehalltofindCencialreadypacingupand downinthediningroom,whitewithstrain.

"Thereyouare!"heexclaimed."Iwasjustcomingtowakeyou.It'sgetting late.Seveno'clock."

"Haveyouhadbreakfast?"Iasked.

"Ican'teat."Helookedathiswatchcompulsively,somethingIguessedhe'd beendoingforhours."We'dbettergo.Supposewewereheldupontheway.

Supposetherewasanaccidentblockingtheroad."Hisbreathingwa.s.shallowand agitated,andIsaiddiffidently,"SignorCenci,forgivemeforasking,butin theanxietyofthismorning...haveyourememberedyourpills?"

Helookedatmeblankly."Yes.Yesofcourse.Alwayswithme."

"I'msorry..."

Hebrusheditaway."Let'sgo.Wemustgo."

Thetrafficontheroadwasnormal:noaccidents.Wereachedtherendezvoushalf anhourearly,butCencisprangoutofthecara.s.soonasIswitchedoffthe engine.FromwhereI'dparkedIhadaviewoftheentranceacrossadoublerow ofcars,thedoorwaylikethemouthofabeehivewithpeoplegoinginandout continually.

Cenciwalkedwithstifflegstobelostamongthem,andinthewayofchauffeurs Isloucheddowninmyseatandtippedmycapforwardovermynose.IfIwasn't careful,Ithought,I'dgotosleep...

Someonerappedonthewindowbesideme.Iopenedmyeyes,squintedsideways,and sawayoungishmaninawhiteopen-neckedshirtwithagoldchainroundhisneck makinggesturesformetoopenthewindow.

Thecarratherirritatinglyhadelectricwindows:Iswitchedontheignitionand pressedtherelevantb.u.t.ton,sittingupslightlywhileIdidit.

"Wh.o.a.reyouwaitingfor?"hesaid.

"SignorCenci."

"NotCountRieti?"

"No.Sorry."

"Haveyouseenanotherchauffeurhere?"

"Sorry,no."

Hewascarryingamagazinerolledintoacylinderandfastenedbyarubberband.

IthoughtfleetinglyofoneofthepartnersinLibertyMarketwhobelievedone shouldnevertrustastrangercarryingapapercylinderbecauseitwa.s.sucha handyplacetostowaknife...andIwondered,butnotmuch.

"You'renot.i.talian?"themansaid.

"No.FromSpain."

"Oh."Hisgazewandered,asifseekingCountRieti'schauffeur.Thenhesaid absentlyinSpanish."You'realongwayfromhome."

"Yes,"Isaid.

"Wheredoyoucomefrom?"

"Andalusia."

"Veryhot,atthistimeofyear."

"Yes."

IhadspentcountlessschoolholidaysinAndalusia,stayingwithmydivorced half-Spanishfather,whoranahotelthere.Spanishwasmysecondtongue, learnedonalllevelsfromkitchentopenthouse:anytimeIdidn'twantto appearEnglish,IbecameaSpaniard.

"Isyouremployerhavingbreakfast?"heasked.

"Idon'tknow."Ishrugged."Hesaidwait,soIwait."

HisSpanishhadaclumsyaccentandhissentencesweregrammaticallysimple,as carefulasmineinItalian.

Iyawned.

Hecouldbeacoincidence,Ithought.Kidnapperswerenormallymuchtooshyfor suchadirectapproach,keepingtheirfaceshiddenatallcosts.Thismancould bejustwhatheseemed,awell-meaningcitizencarryingamagazine,lookingfor CountRieti'schauffeurandwithtimetosparefortalking.

Couldbe.Ifnot,Iwouldtellhimwhathewantedtoknow:ifheasked.

"DoyoudrivealwaysforSignor...Cenci?"hesaidcasually.

"Sure,"Isaid."It'sagoodjob.Goodpay.He'sconsiderate.Neverdrives himself,ofcourse."