Too Slow to Die

by Tony Jenkins

  Chapter 32

  Revelation

  Gunari was wearing his warmest clothes, but even after covering himself with a small canvas sheet for protection whilst waiting for Tigo to arrive, the biting cold and chilling wind still seemed to cut right through him. He had never liked horses and normally used his car to travel and show that he was a person of standing. Tonight, he had been forced to borrow a horse and it seemed to know that its rider was inexperienced and no animal lover. It shied away when he took the reins and required constant use of the spurs to move it in the right direction. Anxious to avoid being stranded, he made sure that the animal was very securely hobbled in a sheltered spot to be ready for his return.

  Finally, he heard voices and watched as two figures arrived on horseback and made their way on foot to their chosen position below him. After they had laid the two sets of explosives, each waited alongside their respective positions to be ready to light the fuses. Panna was crouched where he would be first to recognise Demeter’s familiar car and would signal Tigo. Both men would then light their fuses and climb up the hill to take cover. As the two men concentrated their attention on the road below. Gunari climbed carefully down from the hilltop and laid his own charges above them. His work done, he was glad to return to his primitive shelter and watch the Tigani men and his horse.

  Gunari was waiting for the first explosion before pressing the button on his battery-operated detonator. His hands were so numb that he knew he would not have been able to cope with lighting a fuse. Although he had shown Tigo how to use explosives, he had craftily explained only how to operate them with the old-fashioned burning fuse method. His natural instinct had always been to ensure that he kept the best material and skills to himself. Suddenly two explosions sent a wall of snow rolling down the hillside, growing bigger as it poured across the road. Then Gunari’s two explosions followed and another wave of snow hurtled down and carried away the two men sheltering below him. Satisfied that his work was done, Gunari wasted no time in rolling up his tarpaulin and scampering back to the horse he had left tethered amongst the trees on the hilltop. The warmth from the horse beneath gradually helped to bring back circulation in his legs as he rode towards the safety and comfort of his home.

  A giant wall of snow had swept over the car buried beneath as the bulk of the avalanche surged past and over it before tumbling into the River Danube below. Fortunately, Demeter had managed to steer the car well into the hillside edge of the road and their lives were saved. By driving slowly over the snow-covered road, they had been at the extreme edge of the avalanche aimed at them, since Tigo had timed the explosions on the car’s normal speed to have maximum effect. Before they could attempt to climb out through the car windows, there were more explosions and yet another wave of snow poured over the car roof and trapped them inside the Mitsubishi. Relieved that they had survived a deliberate attempt on their lives, they accepted that they would have to wait until help arrived to dig them out. They could not risk using the car heater by switching on the engine because of the danger of being poisoned by the exhaust fumes trapped under the snow cover. Instead, they shared out their clothing to fight off the freezing cold. Demeter used his phone to call the refinery office, explain what had happened and organise a rescue group. He also produced two bottles of Tokaji wine he was taking home.

  An hour later, a team of workers arrived and one side of the car was quickly cleared to allow the three men to escape. They were quickly wrapped in warm blankets and given hot drinks. Not only had the wine warmed them, it had also left them less apprehensive about their entombment. The work to clear the road continued and the crushed and lifeless body of Panna was discovered. Now, the perpetrators of the avalanche could be guessed, since Demeter recognised the Botos man and knew that he must have been helping Tigo. A second body was then found and although badly injured, this man was still alive. He was carried to an ambulance and transferred to the local hospital. Demeter followed with his two companions.

  The sole survivor had been treated and was badly bruised and bandaged, but despite his changed hairstyle, they immediately recognised Tigo. The doctors told them that with such serious injuries, he would certainly never walk again. Petru was first to speak to the man he had spent so many months pursuing.

  “Why did you kill Commissar Dalca and Sergeant Major Dinescu in Romania?”

  With a startled expression on his face, Tigo muttered that he did not know who these men were and had nothing to do with their deaths. As Petru explained what had been done to his countrymen, Tigo’s face showed that he had guessed who had been responsible for the killings. He had also guessed who was responsible for setting off the explosives intended to kill him and Panna. He told them that when Gunari arrived at his village, they immediately took to each other and went hunting in the forest. Gunari showed him how to shoot, track animals and make his way without leaving signs for others to follow. He also showed Tigo how to use explosives, which they had found in a second world war abandoned German camp. When they returned and found Budestin village burned to the ground by soldiers, Gunari went berserk and told him how he hated the army for despising him as a Tigani. He swore he would get his revenge, but when they parted, Tigo thought his friend had moved to Hungary and he had never mentioned killing any commissar or soldier. He explained how he and Panna were swept down the hillside by explosives placed above them, which must have been set off by Gunari, who wanted them blamed and silenced.

  Jack produced the note found in the vardo and shrugging his shoulders, Tigo explained that it was just urging him to kill the foreigner, that is, Jack. Gunari saw Jack as a real threat and wanted him out of the way to protect his position in Dunakeszi. All three were stunned to learn that the quietly spoken advisor to the local Tigani communities was a ruthless killer as well as certainly being responsible for setting the explosive charges at the mine and refinery. In his loyalty to his people, he had also persuaded them to leave their village so that they could not be punished and had succeeded in diverting the rail line.

  Jack and Petru persuaded the mine security team to take them back to the Pusztai mansion to collect their rifles before going to Gunari’s house. The local police were happy to cooperate with the large local employer and avoid risking their own men. Jack insisted that Demeter remain behind and allow trained hunters to capture Gunari, who would surely hear about the survivor of the avalanche and expect them to come for him. Demeter was not happy about being left out of the chase, but Jack reminded him that Tigo was unlikely ever to trouble him again and Gunari had murdered two Romanian officials and was top of their police wanted list.

  After riding back to his house through the snow, Gunari was stiff with the cold, but triumphant for having got rid of the fool Tigo. The bad-tempered horse was less troublesome when it sensed it was on its way back to the comfort of its stable. He had been told by his contacts at the refinery that the foreigner Jack and the Romanian policeman would also be in the car with Demeter. Tonight, he had eliminated all those who threatened his new life in Dunakeszi and the new leader of the mining company would certainly need his help. There was a knock at his door and old Botos wanted to talk to him. After taking him into his house, he was stunned to hear that Panna was dead, but Tigo had survived and been taken to hospital. He knew that his secrets would all be revealed, as Tigo would guess who had set off explosives above them. Sending Botos back to his home, he moved quickly to load his prize possessions into his car, together with a rifle and ammunition. He would drive as far as he could towards the border and then travel on foot to cross into Romania and hide out in one of the Tigani villages. If he was stopped, he was prepared to shoot his way through, or die in the process. He knew that in spite of all his work and planning his new life in Dunakeszi was now finished and did not want to spend the rest of his years in prison, if he was not executed.

  As he drove out of the village, he noticed two of the mine security cars driving towards his house. When he saw the cars stop and then turn around
and begin to follow him, he accelerated to try to get as far ahead of them as possible. The only route was along the river road, which he knew had now been cleared of the avalanche snow. The following security cars were catching up and he had to drive faster to hold his lead. He was not a good driver and the roads were slippery, which forced him to grip hard on the steering wheel to hold the car in the middle of the road. When he reached the river road, he could see in his mirror that the security cars were close behind. Turning into the sharp bend where Demeter’s car had been buried, he realised that he was going too fast. Instinctively, he stamped on the brake pedal, which immediately caused the car to begin skidding sideways across the road. Horrified he watched as it crashed through the roadside fence and plunged down into the River Danube below. Suddenly, there was black water all around him and then it began filling the car. Frantically he tried to force open the car door, but the weight of water was too great and it was immovable. The icy cold water rose slowly up his body and to find air to breath he had to stretch almost to the car roof, but then the car was filled with water and he could breathe no more.

  Jumping out of the security cars, Jack and Petru walked to the smashed fence and looked down towards the river below, but could see only blackness. Petru stamped his foot in frustration and turned to Jack.

  "Damn, I wanted to take that man back to my country to be tried and executed for his crimes, but drowning in the icy Danube waters is I suppose a fitting end. It will also avoid raising our unfair treatment of the Tigani people, which must have driven him to become a murderer. When he and Tigo returned to find Budestin had been destroyed by soldiers, his years of frustration must have boiled over and he took his revenge on those he considered responsible. Dalca had a bad reputation from his time serving the communist regime, but Dinescu was just doing his duty and following orders.

  Tigo must have killed the farmer Butaco and buried the body and although his was not the hand which slit his brother’s throat, by allowing it to happen, he caused the deaths which followed. Even after being shot twice, he still managed to escape and made it to Dunakeszi much sooner than we expected.

  It was fortunate that he was a poor shot, but nearly killed your lady Theresa and also shot Aranka. He will never ride, or walk again, but will he spend the rest of his life in a Romanian prison, or here in Hungary? My hope is that Hungary will return him to his own country. We are indebted to you Jack for your help in finding the real killer of our citizens."

  Putting his arm around the shoulders of the Romanian policeman, Jack thanked him for his help in tracing the renegade soldier. After so many years, the threat to the lives and property of the Pusztai family had finally been ended. Now, Demeter could marry his niece Theresa and perhaps Jack would take his wife and family, with young Paul Pusztai to the wedding. He had already made up his mind that any future foreign travel would only be for showing his family the many beautiful overseas cities and beaches of Europe. He would also now be able to spend most of his time with his family in Liverpool and might even begin working on new ideas to expand his company.