by Alan Bardos
Enver Pasha stopped pacing. ‘Yes, what do you have in mind, Major Breitner?’
***
Johnny clenched his fists ready to defend himself against any attempt Talat might make to disembowel him with his bare hands.
'As I see it, Excellency you can either discuss the future of your capital when you meet the official representatives, or you can wait for the Royal Navy to blow you to kingdom come.'
Talat gave Johnny a venomous glare that reminded him of his stepfather and turned his bowels to liquid. 'Your Royal Navy is yet to break through. I would not be so confident if I were you.'
'Do you want to take that risk, Excellency? Is that worth five hundred thousand pounds to you? To see if the Royal Navy, the most powerful force afloat, will blast its way past a few ancient forts? Neutrality is your only viable option, the Russians are at your rear, the Royal Navy at your front. All I ask is that you meet our representatives, you can renegotiate terms and be paid three million pounds, sterling.’
Talat smiled and exhaled smoke, acknowledging that the offer had just been reduced again. Johnny went to speak, but Talat held his hands up, before he could reduce the amount again.
'I can see there is no point discussing such matters with an underling. I will meet with the emissaries sent from London, but they cannot be permitted to enter the country. The Minister of War would disrupt the talks. They must therefore take place away from the influence of Enver. Once they have been concluded, I will present our little Napoleon with a fait accompli.’
‘Perhaps you might consider meeting the British representatives somewhere else?’ Johnny turned to Esther, not sure what to suggest now the new strategy had actually worked.
‘Excellency, might I propose Dedéagach, on the Bulgarian coast? It is neutral ground, easily accessible by rail for yourself and our representatives, who are I believe currently in Salonika, and it has a British consulate that could safely host the discussions.’ Once again Johnny couldn’t understand why such a self-assured and accomplished woman would throw herself away on a dullard like Breitner.
'Very well, I shall meet them there on the 15th March.’
Johnny unclenched his fists and started to breathe. Somehow, he had carried the day. He led Esther out of the house and towards her car. He was in need of something diverting.
‘Well, shall we celebrate?’ Johnny asked. ‘I haven’t really explored this part of the city, maybe you could show me some of the sights?’
‘I don’t think that would be appropriate,’ Esther said. ‘Besides, someone needs to get word to our representatives that they are meeting Talat.’
Johnny opened the car door for her and stepped inside. ‘Fair enough, I’m sure your chauffeur will be able to take you to see Abraham without my assistance.’
He closed the door and hurried off before she could answer. He’d only asked her out of courtesy, the last thing he wanted was a sedate evening of polite conversation.
Johnny turned to wave her off then walked to the end of the street. A figure stepped out of the shadows in front of him and rested his hand on a parked car, blocking the pavement. Johnny steadied himself then realised it was a rather dapper Turkish officer.
'One moment, please, sir,' the officer said in perfect German.
‘Yes, what is it?’ Johnny asked, affecting his best Prussian diplomat.
‘Have you just left the residence of his Excellency Talat Pasha?’
‘What of it?’
‘I need to check your credentials.'
‘What the hell for? Can’t you see I’m in a hurry?’
‘It won’t take a moment, sir, it is purely a matter of routine.’
Johnny handed him his papers. The policeman passed them to someone in the shadows behind him, while Johnny looked around for a café.
'So you are Herr von Jager, and how predictable of you not to see a lady home?'
Johnny choked, taken by surprise at the familiarly accented English. Before he could speak, a hood was thrust over his head and he was seized. Johnny instinctively started to flail and felt his fist connect with bone before being thrown onto the floor of the car with a knee on his back and his hands tied.
Chapter 28
Johnny was bundled out of the car, up some stone steps and into an echoing void. The hood was pulled off and he was reassured to see Breitner. He’d certainly been in the wars, with a ruddy great scar down the side of his face, which looked ludicrous under his pince-nez.
‘Jó estét, Uram Swift,’ Breitner said in rapid Hungarian.
‘And good evening to you, Mr Breitner,’ Johnny replied in English, disorientated. He was in the lavish hallway of a grand house.
‘Please forgive the theatrics with the hood. It was my associate’s innovation. He thought it inappropriate for you to be seen arriving here.’ Breitner switched to German. ‘Lieutenant Swift, I don't think you were formally introduced to Major Avin Toprak.’
Breitner indicated the Turkish officer who had accosted Johnny in the street. He now had a large red swelling over his right eye. He stepped forward and slapped Johnny around the face. Johnny took it with good grace, returning the favour with a kick to the shin.
Major Toprak screamed and snatched a riding crop from a rack by the door. Breitner stepped in front of him before he could take a swing.
‘Toprak please, let us not be distracted from our purpose.’ Toprak glared at Johnny and lowered the crop.
‘Is this all about the Ambassador’s champagne? I did replace it,’ Johnny said.
Breitner smiled sardonically and led Johnny into an opulent study furnished with a grand piano and a gold throne on a dais. Fine tapestries hung from the walls, but it was portraits of Frederick the Great and Napoleon that dominated the room. Placed exactly in the middle of them, reclining on a divan, was a small man in his early thirties. Johnny supposed women would find him striking. He looked like he should have been giving tango lessons to old ladies in Brighton Pavilion.
‘I take it you’re Enver Pasha?’ Johnny asked, trying not to sound impressed. If he hadn’t been quite so short or clean-cut, Johnny might have considered him competition. ‘Shouldn’t you be sitting on your throne?’
‘Alas, it is my wife’s wedding throne, she is of the blood.’ Enver signalled to Major Toprak, who slapped Johnny in the face again.
‘Your Turkish is quite horrible,’ Enver continued, before Johnny could retaliate. ‘It might be suitable for bargaining with pimps and street vendors, but not between gentlemen.’
‘We could speak in French, the language of diplomacy,’ Johnny said, hoping that Enver would see him as a diplomat, rather than a spy.
‘No, German, I think. After all you did pose as a German official, in your talks with my dear colleague Talat Pasha,’ Enver said in fluent German. ‘But you are in fact a British agent, sent here to undermine my alliance with Germany?’
‘I prefer the term envoy.’ Johnny tried to keep his voice even. Breitner, the little sneak, had evidently worked everything out.
‘Don’t play at semantics with me, do you know what we do to spies? It is, shall we say, medieval.’ Enver kept his face impassive. There wasn’t an ounce of pity in the man. ‘I see my words have struck home. Good. I will not let you or anyone else stand in the way of my destiny. I will defeat your navy and win a great victory.’
Johnny glanced at the painting of Napoleon and realised why Talat had referred to him as the little Napoleon. It seemed Johnny was ever destined to meet men who believed they were the reincarnation of Napoleon.
‘Tell me, what have you offered Talat to undermine our alliance with Germany?’ Enver asked.
Johnny composed himself. He hadn’t after all been the captain of the school rugby team for nothing. ‘I’ve simply been calling on Talat Pasha to gain a better understanding of the political situation in the Ottoman Empire and its relationship with Germany.’
‘You asked Talat that?’ Enver appeared amused.
‘He is not a man of great des
tiny, like yourself,’ Johnny said. ‘To quote Napoleon, “great ambition is the passion of a great character”.’
Enver retorted with a dry laugh and steepled long, finely manicured fingers. He glanced at Breitner, seeming to come to a quick decision. Johnny recognised the look. He’d seen it often enough on gamblers betting everything on the spin of a wheel.
‘It is perfectly obvious you were sent here to make an offer to Talat to end our alliance with Germany. I think it only fair that you put the same offer to me.’
‘Forgive me, Excellency, but are you not in favour of an alliance with Germany?’ Johnny tipped his head towards the portrait of Frederick the Great.
‘My personal admiration of Germany aside, the current arrangement we have with the German Empire is purely a marriage of convenience. We are both out for what we can get from the other. As of late, that has been rather one way. We entered the war on their side, and they have sent aid, but precious little munitions, leaving us vulnerable to Allied attack.’
‘Excellency, please,’ Major Toprak said, in response to Enver’s candour. Enver held his hand up to silence him.
‘Do not misunderstand me, Mr Swift, I don’t doubt our defences, but without the shells to destroy your ships, our guns are quite useless. Now if there is a way to save my country, then I would like to hear it.’
Johnny tipped his head towards the portrait of Napoleon, evasively. ‘So are you erring on the side of France and her allies, Excellency?’
Enver’s polish began to melt and a flicker of anger burnt in his eyes. ‘Don’t test my patience, Mr Swift, how much did you offer Talat to make peace?’
He raised a hand and Toprak brandished the riding crop. Johnny glanced around the room, wondering if it would matter if he told Enver what the offer was. He might even be genuinely interested. Johnny supposed the money would help him with the upkeep of his house, which wouldn't be easy on a minister’s pay.
Johnny couldn't see any other way of getting out of this. ‘We have offered Talat four million pounds.’
‘Has he accepted your offer?’
‘Yes Excellency. He’s agreed to meet our representatives in Bulgaria to discuss the matter.’
‘And what is there to discuss?’
‘The future sovereignty of Constantinople seems to be the main concern. May I report that you are also interested in the offer?’ Johnny asked.
‘Yes, I think you can,’ Enver said.
‘Really?’
‘Yes, go and report to your government that I won't interfere with the negotiations and I will consider their terms to end my alliance with the Central Powers.’
Johnny grinned at Breitner, who under his reserve, must have been bloody angry. In spite of his best efforts, Johnny’s skilled negotiation and hard currency had outwitted him.
‘My car will take you back to town,’ Enver said.
‘Thank you, Excellency. I shall leave the city tomorrow and make a report of your interest to the official representatives,’ Johnny said.
‘Major Breitner, perhaps you could arrange for Mr Swift’s exit from Constantinople. I understand things have been a bit fraught at the station,’ Enver asked.
Breitner remained stone-faced. ‘I believe there is a train tomorrow afternoon.’
Chapter 29
Breitner led Johnny Swift through Sirkeci station. The clamour to leave Constantinople was starting to die down, now that the Allied fleet was being held.
‘How have you been, Breitner? That's quite a scratch you’ve got there.’ Johnny said as he strolled along without a care in the world.
‘I have missed your subtle attempts at levity, Johnny.’
‘I mean, you weren’t particularly good looking to start with, now you’ve ruined what little you had.’
‘I was lucky, very lucky.’ Breitner had shot the Cossack before he could bring the full force of his sabre down, but his horse had trampled him. Breitner’s mouth filled with the metallic taste of blood at the memory.
‘There aren’t any hard feelings, are there, Breitner, about what’s happened with Enver? I mean if the Ottoman Empire made peace, it would leave Austro-Hungary in a difficult position.’
‘On the contrary, Johnny, you have done a great service. If Turkey makes peace, Austro-Hungary will have to follow suit or be overrun.’ Breitner forced himself to remain pokerfaced. ‘It would not strictly speaking be honourable, but at least it would end the war.’
They approached the ticket barrier and Breitner showed the guard a special pass he’d obtained from Enver’s staff and they walked down the platform, towards the train.
‘I’ve been seeing a lot of Kati’s sister, Esther. You were right, she really is quite a woman. I mean plotting against your government like that.’
Breitner felt a twinge of fear at the mention of what Esther had done. ‘I don’t wish to discuss Miss Weisz.’
‘What about her sister, Kati, do you know where she is?’
‘You only think to ask that now? She’s in Holland, safe as far as I know.’
They stopped at the carriage where Breitner had reserved a seat for Johnny. Johnny offered his hand formally. ’Good luck, Breitner, I won’t worry about you too much if you’re on an embassy staff.’
Breitner shook his hand. ‘Who can tell what the future might bring? Watch out for yourself. I hear these negotiations can be perilous.’
Johnny chuckled. ‘You don’t know the half of it, Laszlo, old man.’
With Swift safely on his way, Breitner reported to Enver Pasha at his office in the Sublime Porte. The Minister of War kept him waiting, making a show of going through papers with Major Toprak before acknowledging him.
‘Major Breitner, what can we do for you?’
‘Pardon the intrusion, Excellency, I have come to report that the English interloper, Johnny Swift, has left Constantinople.’
‘Let us hope our little ruse works and he relays the news of our apparent shell shortage, putting us at significant strategic advantage.’
‘Indeed.’ The boldness of his plan still startled Breitner.
‘Don’t look so worried, Major. The Germans will supply us with the ordnance we require. A direct request has been sent to the Kaiser, himself.’ Enver stood up and put his hands behind his back.’
‘It is also best to allow the peace negotiations to drift on,’ he continued. ‘Keeping Talat occupied and out of my way.’
Enver began to pace around his office. ‘Besides which, the British are determined to undermine the negotiations themselves. They will never give Talat what he wants, and he will never agree to their terms and while he argues it out, I will do what Napoleon could not and defeat the Royal Navy.’
Enver sat down and returned to his paperwork. Major Toprak steered Breitner towards the door. ‘Thank you for the information, Major Breitner, you can now return to your functionary duties at the embassy. Some of us are lucky in love and some of us are lucky in war.’
Toprak sneered at Breitner. While he returned to place settings and ribbon cutting, his rival for Esther’s hand would be going to war.
‘One moment Toprak,’ Enver called. ‘Herr Breitner, you have been of great service to me. Perhaps I could reward you in some way?’
Breitner stood to attention and dared not to hope. ‘I am a soldier, Excellency, and ask only that I be allowed to serve in some way.’
‘I see, perhaps I could request that you be attached to a frontline unit as an adviser of some description?’ Enver asked.
‘I would be honoured to serve in any way I can.’ Breitner kept his breathing steady. ‘But I understand there is a fortification guarding the straights of particular strategic value, Fort Anadolu Hamidiye 1, if…’
Enver waved his hand, to demonstrate that his request was a trifle. ‘Think nothing of it, we need every man we can get, but surely you must want something else? If not for yourself then for a friend?’
Breitner found Esther in the bazaar greeting room of her house. ‘Are you here t
o arrest me? I heard what you did to Mr Swift.’
‘No, I have not, my dear Esther.’ Breitner tried to smile.
‘Have you come to scold me then, Laszlo, to call me a traitor for plotting with the enemies of your beloved monarchy?’
‘I understand why you did it, for your mother’s country... to save your father’s dream. It is war and we must choose sides.’ Breitner managed a smile.
‘I see, so what is it you want of me?’ she asked.
‘Enver Pasha has agreed to the negotiations. I assume your accomplices have told you.’
‘Have you informed the Austro-Hungarian government?’ Esther shot back at him coldly.
‘Enver is using the negotiations as part of a ruse.’
She looked sceptical. ‘Why would you tell me that, Laszlo?’
‘Because I want to be honest with you, Esther, and because I trust you. You can warn Talat, warn the British. It might make a difference, it might not, all that matters is that we are on the same side.’
Breitner doubted whether telling her would make any difference to the Allied plans. The British were hell bent on forcing the Dardanelles, and if what Enver said was true the negotiations were doomed from the beginning, but in Breitner’s heart, it made every difference.
‘You know I think that is the first sentimental thing that I have ever heard you say, Laszlo.’
‘I cannot be the sum total of my regrets. I said before that I would like to renew our engagement and I wish to honour that statement.’
‘You want us to marry?’ She had an edge to her voice that Breitner found uncomfortable.
‘Yes...’
‘Even though I’ve been working with a foreign power?’
‘Will you, will you be my wife?’
‘Of course.’ Esther arched an eyebrow, surprised that he would doubt her answer.
Breitner seized her, kissing the lips he’d been dreaming of for so long. Then with all his will power pulled himself back.