by Tony Jenkins
“Could Tigo have returned here without you knowing and fired his rifle at me?”
“If he returned, he would surely come to see me and I was here when you were attacked, but I did not meet with him.”
“We have met Tigo and we know that he is a violent man, unlike you. We were at Tigo’s village when he agreed to have two Roma crucify his brother and we could see that he hated his older brother.”
“He did not tell me you were there, but said his brother had killed the son of a Roma chief after taking their food and a bed. Two men came and killed him on the orders of the chief and Tigo was afraid to stop them.”
Jack spoke in English to Demeter to tell him that Gunari had been told part of the truth by Tigo, who could well be the shooter.
“We know what really happened in Romania and you have not been told the truth. Tigo decided that his brother should be given to the two French Roma, who then crucified him before killing him. With his older brother dead, he was no longer a threat to Tigo as the chief and he could take his brother’s treasures. When you went to the mountains with Tigo and taught him to shoot, did you teach him other things which you learned as a soldier?”
Gunari shook his head and appeared surprised that he had been misled by his friend and explained why he had helped Tigo.
“I was a good soldier and always was first in the special training classes, but others who were not good were promoted and I was not because I am a Roma. I was sent to Budestin to find out if a report by some Hungarians about a killing were true. Tigo welcomed me and it was good to be among my people again and I decided to use my training to help them. Tigo wanted very much to learn all he could from me and when we were together in the forest, I taught him to prepare and to plan instead of acting with anger, or fear. He said nothing about your family, or Hungary, but I think now he was more clever than I thought. He took advantage of my goodwill towards our people to learn what would help him to get what he wanted.”
Demeter thanked Gunari for his honesty and he and Jack drove back to the refinery office, where an unexpected visitor was waiting for them. Jack recognised the senior policeman immediately from their last meeting at Demeter’s mansion, after he had wounded two would be assassins.
“It’s good to see you again Major Herceg, but I assure you that I have not shot any of your countrymen since we last met.”
With a smile on his face the policeman nodded his head and responded.
“It is now Colonel, since you two gentlemen helped to expose Commissar Radics, who has now been replaced by my boss and I am his deputy. When we last met, I congratulated you on wounding the two Roma in police uniforms, who attacked my men and tried to kill you Demeter. Once again, I am in your debt and perhaps, now I can repay you with some information.”
Demeter was surprised that the senior policeman had travelled from Budapest to talk to them and was first to respond.
“Our congratulations to you Colonel, and it is always a pleasure to meet you.”
Herceg acknowledged the cordial greeting and congratulations by giving Demeter a short bow and a beaming smile, before explaining the purpose of his visit.
"Yesterday, I had a visit at Police HQ in Budapest from two Romanian police officers, Major Chisca and Lieutenant Bumbesco. There were two very brutal murders in Romania when a police commissar and a soldier were killed. Bumbesco is obviously a very clever man and he traced the murderer to a small Roma village called Budestin. A Hungarian called Renko Veres was killed there and you two gentlemen were present when this happened. You returned to Hungary and reported the incident and Commissar Radics had already requested that the Romanians extradite Veres, because he had killed your sister and others. After Radics read your report that Veres was dead, he wrote to the Romanian authorities with the information and cancelled his earlier request for the extradition of the man, Veres. Commissar Dalca decided that soldiers should be sent to Budestin and one was killed, as well as a young boy and the mother of the chief when the village itself was destroyed. It was Tigo, the chief of Budestin who then murdered the Romanian commissar and soldier in revenge.
“Bumbesco shot and wounded Tigo and nearly captured him, but he escaped into the forest on a horse. The Romanians found a mass of documents in Tigo’s house, which he had gathered from his brother and they incriminate some of our own government officials. They are now being investigated. As a result of questioning witnesses, Bumbesco also believes that Tigo made a promise to his dying brother that he would continue the vendetta against the Pusztai family. In return, he was told where Veres kept his money and documents hoard. Bumbesco is convinced that because you Demeter, reported the killing of his brother to the Hungarian authorities, his mother was killed and his village destroyed. He asked me to warn you that Tigo has money, is armed and may well come to Dunakeszi to try to kill you. Unfortunately, Tigo has been taught to shoot by a Romanian soldier, who is still missing.”
Demeter and Jack saw the shock as the news registered on each other’s faces and Jack asked for details of the two killings in Romania. Both men were horrified when Herceg described the hanging from a tree and burial alive. Jack was first to speculate on a possible link at Dunakeszi.
“Demeter was riding with his fiancée and her horse was shot dead. I wondered if it was a bad miss and Demeter was the actual target, but now we know he probably was. Tigo could well have been the shooter. We have just been speaking to a Romanian ex-soldier named Gunari, who admits to having taught Tigo to shoot and he is probably the missing Romanian soldier that Bumbesco mentioned to you.”
“It seems that Bumbesco was right and Demeter and possibly you Jack are now top of his revenge list. We don’t know how serious his wounds are, but he will need time to recover before making his way to Hungary. Tigo was shot in a Romanian forest six weeks ago and if he intends to come after Demeter, he could well have made his way here and may not expect to find you here as well Jack. The Romanians will probably want to question their lost soldier, who is an army deserter. Do you know how to contact him?”
“Yes, he seems to be settling in at the local Roma village and is beginning to speak Hungarian.”
Demeter had taken an immediate dislike of Tigo when they met the arrogant chief at his village and was delighted when Jack had put the bully flat on his back when he had suddenly tried to hit him. After Tigo’s brother was killed, Demeter, Jack and a Roma from Dunakeszi left the village together with the two French Roma and Tigo seemed glad to see them go. At the time, it seemed to be the end of a trail of murders, but it had led to the start of another rash of killing.
Having warned them of the danger, Colonel Herceg was anxious to return to his new position at Budapest Police Headquarters and the men shook hands and thanked the policeman for passing on the full details of Tigo’s barbaric activities in Romania. Although offered extra police help to protect them, both Demeter and Jack decided that a lone assassin was better dealt with by anticipating his actions and out thinking him. After watching the police car drive away from the office, the two friends began to plan what they needed to do to protect themselves and to make their preparations. As they shared a meal together in the evening, Demeter admitted that after fearing for his life since he was a teenager and thinking the threats had finally ended, he was shocked that it was now beginning all over again. Jack told him that between them they must either kill, or capture the renegade Romanian and finally end the vendetta on the Pusztai estate.
Chapter 23
Transformation
Tigo had been suspicious of the big man from the moment he found him with his vardo at the roadside outside his village and he now wished he had turned his rifle on him, instead of the wild boars. When the old Mercedes lorry suddenly swung to the left as the front tyre blew out, he stood alongside as the wheel was being changed. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the vardo come to the crossing and turn south, away from the Moinești road. Rudi was using his absence to leave Pasiti and could be going to talk to the police about hi
m and the killing at Budestin, after that vermin Pesha blabbed about it. He had seen the reward notices in many villages and torn down every one he saw.
He would make sure that Pesha was not able to say any more when he caught him, but first he must stop Rudi. He would have to run back and collect his horse and then take the short cut through the forest to catch him. He ran all the way back to Pasiti and quickly saddled his horse before galloping off to chase after Rudi, who would only make a slow pace with the heavy vehicle. When he reached the road going south, he checked the soft surface and could find no wheel tracks, so the man had not passed. He wondered if Rudi had stopped, or turned around and gone to Moinești instead, so riding close to the tree line he headed back towards the crossroads.
After ten minutes, he saw the vardo ahead, with the horse grazing alongside, but there was no sign of Rudi. He led his horse into the forest so that he could get closer without being seen, or heard. After tethering his horse, he moved into the trees across the road from the vardo with his loaded rifle and looked for movement. There was no noise and no sign of Rudi, but the vardo door was open and he moved quietly through the trees until he was directly opposite. Just inside he could see some sort of curtain, but nothing was moving. He waited, but there was still no movement and he was sure that Rudi must be inside the vardo, but out of sight. Remembering what he had been taught, he fired five of the six shots in the magazine, spacing them carefully to cover a wide area inside the vardo, but kept one shot to cover any movement. After the loud noise of the gunshots, silence returned and only the horse was affected as the sudden noise startled it into straining against its tether. Again, he waited with the gun reloaded and ready to fire. He was then surprised to see a small car race up and stop alongside the horse with the driver crouched down inside and out of sight. Tigo guessed that the driver must have heard the shots and was protecting himself, but why did he not just drive away, unless he too was an enemy.
Tigo aimed his gun at the car and waited. A flash of coloured movement showed just outside the car front and Tigo reacted with two shots, but then he heard bullets zipping into the trees where he was standing and one struck his shoulder. He ran into the forest for his horse and then there were more shots and he felt a blow to his upper leg. Climbing up into the saddle he rode slowly away and headed in the direction of his village. When he approached through the trees, he saw the police outside his house. He was bleeding badly and knew he must have his wounds bound before he could start making the long ride to safety.
He tethered the horse in the trees and made for old Lala’s house. She had been old when he was still a teenager, but she knew the old remedies and how to make her balms and powders from plants only she recognised in the forest. When she saw him and the blood she was startled, but he covered her mouth and told her he would pay her well if she helped him. She bound his wounds and covered them with her own remedy to prevent infection. He thanked her and gave her the money he had promised, then told her he was making for Moinești, knowing she would tell the police.
Hearing voices outside, he peered through a window and saw a tall, dark haired man standing outside in hunting clothes and speaking with two policemen outside his house. The policemen were listening carefully and saluted as the man walked into his house. Tigo had only ever seen policemen in uniform, but although the man was dressed like a hunter, he had an air of authority about him and was definitely a leader. Watching the man walk into his house, Tigo felt sick in his stomach as he realised the policeman must be going to search it. Anxious to chase after Pesha, he had left all the papers taken from his brother in a cupboard and now they would be found. His horse was tethered at the back of Lala’s house, but at any moment someone might recognise it and alert the police. Waiting until the policemen had moved away, Tigo edged out of the house, untied his horse and led it into the forest.
It was painful to walk as he kept out of sight of the police and made sure he was well away from the village before mounting his horse. Being careful to try and avoid reopening his wounds, he managed to pull himself up into the saddle and ride away. His wounds hurt and he knew that his people would no longer fear, or obey him. He was now an outcast with a price on his head and every policeman in the area would be looking for him. He knew he must change his name and his appearance, but first he had to find somewhere to shelter until he regained his strength. His only hope was to ride as far as he could before the police had time to arrange a wide search, or close off the area.
After riding for over three hours through the darkness, he found it difficult to stay in the saddle and knew that soon he would have to stop. Riding out of a copse of trees, he saw ahead of him a single storey house and alongside an old barn with a sagging roof. Sliding from his horse, he edged open the wooden barn door and walked inside with his horse. There was an old plough horse in a stall and a bag of hay alongside. He managed to tether his horse and spread some hay for it to eat before collapsing onto the floor and instantly falling asleep.
As dawn broke, he was suddenly awakened by someone kicking his buttocks and as he looked up in the half light, he saw a figure above him holding a shotgun and glaring down at him. Forcing a smile, he raised his hands and slowly got to his feet as his aching body reminded him of the hours spent in the saddle. Looking at the elderly man confronting him, he offered his apologies.
“I am sorry to have used your barn, but it was late at night and I had ridden for many hours until I was too tired to ride any further. I will pay you for the hay and shelter for last night.”
The man watched as Tigo took some notes from his pocket and held them out. The man cradled the gun under one arm and eagerly reaching out to take the money. Tigo quickly drew his knife and stepping forward drove it into the farmer’s chest. The man dropped the gun and clutched at his wound, but his heart was pierced and he collapsed to the barn floor as he gave out his last breath. Tigo wiped his knife on the farmer’s shirt, picked up the money and shotgun, checked it and was surprised to find there were no cartridges in the barrels. He dropped it on the hay and picked up his own gun before making his way to the farmhouse to check if there was anyone else inside.
The door was partly open and Tigo moved carefully into the large kitchen with his gun ready to fire, but there was no one in the house and Tigo knew that he had found his haven. He would be able to hide here and give his wounds time to mend before leaving Romania and joining up with Gunari in Hungary. There were chickens outside in the yard, which should give him eggs and he knew many ways to cook a chicken. He also found flour, coffee and some other bagged food in a cupboard. His last meal had been breakfast, which he had the day before when he drove off after Pesha. His stomach was now so empty it was aching and he went out to the yard and caught a chicken. After wringing its neck and plucking the feathers, he was soon roasting it over a fire in the kitchen range.
After the hot chicken meal and some coffee, he felt stronger and even lost some of the pain after his night ride. It also helped to bolster his determination to escape to a new life well away from Romania. He knew he had first to bury the farmer and then explore the farm and buildings to make sure it was safe to use for the week, or so, before he was fit enough to move on. He dug out a patch of long grass and after laying the thick turf to one side, prepared a grave for the farmer in the earth beneath. The man was heavy and Tigo was not yet strong enough to lift him to his shoulder and instead had to drag the body from the barn. After toppling it into the grave, he threw earth on top until it was level and stamped the surface down with his boots. His last job was to carefully replace the long grass turf and water it in. Within days the grass would have recovered and would blend in with the rest of the area so that there would be no sign of the grave.
After spending an hour walking around the fields and buildings, Tigo could find no livestock, apart from the plough horse and knew the farmer had grown only arable crops. He led both horses out of the barn and left them to feed on the grass in a meadow behind the house. There was al
so a field of potatoes and he dug up a good supply and laid them out to dry in the yard. They should provide him with meals for a week, or more. On a shelf in the kitchen he found a pack of twenty-five 12-bore cartridges for the shotgun, which he would be able to use to shoot rabbits and supplement his food supply. He was relieved that he had found shelter and enough food to sustain him until his wounds healed.
Searching the rooms, he discovered letters and other papers in a drawer, which showed that the famer’s name was Corel Borel and he seemed to be living alone. There was also an old and badly creased National Identity Card showing a younger Corel Borel. At the bottom of another drawer were photographs of the farmer with a woman alongside, but Tigo thought she could have died, or left the man. He also found letters from a Borel family living in Bistrita. If there were any callers, he would have to convince them that he was looking after the farm for Borel, who was visiting relatives in Bistrita. If they became suspicious, he could always dig another grave.
Exercise would help him to regain his strength and he did some work around the farm each morning. Tigani people were adept at make do and mend and he repaired the barn door and farmhouse porch, as well as weeding the potato field. Cleaning the windows and sweeping and tidying up the house altered the appearance of neglect that previously dominated. A week passed and he had shaved off his beard and cut his long hair so short that he could feel the cold air on his scalp. Having been previously shielded from the sun by his thick beard and shoulder length hair, his chin and neck were pale compared to the rest of his face. By sitting with his head tilted towards the sun each day, he was slowly getting more colour on his face and head. He needed to hide having removed his beard and long hair. He was trying to make himself look more like the photograph of Corel Borel on the farmer’s National Identity Card after bending it so that one of the creases made the year of birth too hard to read.