A World to Win

by Mary Lancaster

  There was uproar in the crowd, panic among the obviously propertied burghers, though I could also see a gleam of hope or of thoughtfulness in other faces. Lajos sat down again on his step. There was a faint smile on his lips as the conflict raged around him.

  I felt a surge of emotion rise in my throat: he was still shaking people up, still pushing one step closer to his dream. It really didn’t matter who was in power. He would always be against them...

  “He’s mad,” Katalin whispered wonderingly in my ear. “Lajos has finally gone raving mad.”

  “Not he,” I said unsteadily.

  Already, Pal Nyári the radical noble, was holding up his hands for peace. “No, that is not justice!” he began, and under cover of his refuting speech, I watched Petöfi slip down the steps till he stood a couple below Lajos, speaking urgently and angrily to him. Still sitting, Lajos looked up at him, his lips curving further. He reached out and took the scabbard of Petöfi’s huge sword in his fingers, placing it significantly on his own neck.

  An icy, prophetic shiver ran through me. Petöfi was staring at him. For a second, neither moved, then the poet abruptly wrenched the sword from Lajos’s hold and leapt back up the steps to stand beside Vasvári. Lajos gazed after him for a moment, then turned back to the crowd.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  For perhaps two days after this meeting, there was panic in the city, but when it became apparent that no one, even Petöfi, seriously intended redistributing property, it died away, leaving only an uneasy memory in many minds — and a severe rift in the radical camp. According to Mattias, Petöfi had grown distinctly cool towards Lajos, while Vasvári wouldn’t so much as speak to him. Even then I thought it a bad omen for the revolution. But then real disaster struck.

  Coming downstairs for breakfast one morning, I found György the porter endeavouring to prevent an early morning caller from gaining admittance. Since I was sure György knew his job better than I did, I at first paid no attention to the incident, merely casting a cursory glance as I crossed the hall. However, that one glance made me pause, for the caller was an army officer swathed in a military cloak, and I knew his face very well. His foot was in the door, but since György was quite capable of dealing with that, I moved swiftly to intervene.

  “Is there a problem?” I asked innocently, then appeared to recognize the caller with surprise. “Why, Captain, how unexpected! Come in at once — it’s all right, György, I am up and about as you see, and willing to receive!”

  As I babbled, I registered shock at the sight of Alex, for he looked dreadful: it was no wonder György had refused to let him in. His face was unshaven and pale, his hair dishevelled, and his eyes red with sleeplessness and full now not only of tragedy but of utter despair.

  I led him quickly into the nearest room.

  “Don’t worry,” I said low. “No one uses this room so early in the day. Alex, what is it? What is the matter?”

  He sank into a chair without a word or regard to courtesy, passing his hand wearily yet somehow vaguely across his eyes.

  “I’ve deserted,” he said flatly.

  I blinked, but he added nothing, so I murmured inadequately, “Oh dear,” and sat down opposite him. After a few moments, he spoke again, with an obvious effort.

  “I just came to see Katalin before I leave the city. I have to escape, you see.”

  “You had better tell me,” I said quietly, then: “Better, still, I’ll go and fetch Katalin first.”

  This I duly did. Coming back into the room with her, I was made even more anxious by the fact that Alex was still sitting just where I had left him. He hadn’t moved at all, but he did raise his head when we came in, and at sight of Katalin he jumped to his feet, took one stride to meet her running figure, and crushed her in a convulsive embrace.

  “Oh Alex,” she whispered. “What have you done? What have you done?”

  “You must hate me now; I am dishonoured...”

  “Never,” she said vehemently. I thought it time to intervene.

  “We must decide what to do,” I said, deliberately matter-of-fact. “Katalin, sit down. Alex, tell us what happened.”

  They sat very close together on the sofa. I disposed myself on the foot-stool nearby, facing them, and Alexandru told his tale.

  “Last night,” he began, “we knew a group of students and other youths planned to create a disturbance outside Baron Lederer’s house.” Baron Lederer, Austrian commander of the Buda garrison, reviled as an enemy of the revolution ever since he had lied to the Committee of Public Safety about having no weapons in store... “You know the sort of thing, the ‘katzenmusik’ at which the Viennese excel!” A faint, painful smile passed over his face and died. “Lederer planned a surprise for them. He filled his house with infantry and had the cavalry standing by.”

  “And you refused to go?” I suggested.

  “No. I went. How could I object to defending my commanding officer from a mob?” He shrugged. “I admit I thought he was over-reacting a little, but I suppose these katzenmusik concerts are rather frightening for those on the receiving end.”

  “And did the mob come?” Katalin demanded.

  “Oh yes, it came. A large crowd of youths armed with nothing more offensive than their own powerful lungs, some drums and anything else they could find that would make a noise. And they certainly made a horrendous din. In any case, as soon as they had formed up outside the house, Lederer gave the signal for the lights to be put out. But then he — he — actually ordered us to attack.”

  “To attack?” I was startled. “With weapons?”

  “With drawn swords. From the other side, the cavalry rode them down.”

  I drew in my breath. That was senseless, unforgivable...

  Katalin was staring at Alex. “But you didn’t? Couldn’t you have pretended?”

  “No,” he said simply. He didn’t even smile at her naiveté. “I found I could not. They were young, defenceless, only angry at what they saw as injustice.” He lifted his huge, tortured eyes to hers. “Katalin, I knew some of them! One of them was a student called Isaak Klein whose father was beaten in the anti-Jewish riots... How could I kill my unarmed friends? And for nothing!”

  “What did you do?” I asked slowly.

  “Nothing. When the others charged out of the house, I stood still. I didn’t command my men; they simply charged with the others. I stood like a stone. Lederer saw me. He just stared with infinite contempt, and I knew I could expect no mercy either. I didn’t really care then, with the awful thing being done outside. I remember feeling relief at having finally made one decision. I walked out of the house as the crowd dispersed. I even stepped over injured bodies and just kept walking, all night... I think it was probably hours later before I realized that just by staying away I had also technically deserted. I should go back and be shot, but I find I don’t want to die.”

  Katalin was pressing his hand over and over, her eyes full of terror for him.

  “And the people at Lederer’s house?” I asked him fearfully. “Were they killed?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t imagine the soldiers had much stomach for killing unarmed civilians, but some were certainly hurt. You can’t charge a crowd of people from two sides and not have casualties. There was blood...”

  “There will be more over this,” I said with prophetic dread. “Listen, Alex, Lederer must be in the wrong to have ordered such an attack. You will surely be treated with leniency because of that?”

  “I doubt they’ll wait to ask questions. You can’t have soldiers who are liable to disobey orders as they see fit. I would be dead before an enquiry could begin — if one was ever going to.”

  “Oh there will be an enquiry,” I assured him. “Lajos for one won’t rest...” I paused. “Have you seen Lajos?”

  He shook his head. “They would look for me there: they know he is a friend of mine — I’ve even been warned against intimacy with him! No, I only came to say good-bye to Katalin...”

&nbs
p; “No,” she cried, casting herself into his arms again. “Where will you go? Oh Alex...!”

  “I’m not sure. To Transylvania, I hope. There must be something I can do there for my people...”

  While this exchange had been taking place, I had been listening with only half an ear, for one certainty was forming in my mind. “We must speak to Lajos,” I said firmly. “He will know what best to do.” Katalin nodded slowly, but now I was frowning: two women arriving unattended at the Pilvax to see Lajos would cause just the sort of curiosity we had to avoid... “We must get Mattias to help,” I said abruptly.

  And ten minutes later, leaving a morose and slightly dazed Alexandru behind us, hidden in the Little Room with Katalin’s maid, the faithful Ilse, guarding him, we departed for the Pilvax, properly escorted by Mattias who was hotly indignant on Zarescu’s behalf.

  By the time we entered the coffee-house, my heart was beating uncomfortably, and it had little to do with Alexandru’s problem. I had not spoken to Lajos since the day of the anti-Jewish riots. I had not even exchanged glances with him, let alone thanked him...

  “He isn’t here,” Katalin said flatly. “The only time...!”

  “Just wait,” Mattias recommended, pushing her in front of him. When we were seated and the waiter had gone off to fetch coffee, he added, “Petöfi and Jókai are here and Vasvári has just come in. He’ll be here soon.”

  To make sure, he went over to speak to Petöfi, and came back with the news that Lajos was indeed expected and would be informed immediately that Mattias wanted him. In the end, we had to wait nearly half an hour, and then he strode in looking as disreputable as ever, throwing a casual word of greeting to the waiter and heading straight towards Petöfi’s table. However, his watchful eyes found us as he moved, and just for a second, I thought his step faltered.

  “Lajos!” came Petöfi’s indignant voice. “Have you heard about last night’s outrage?”

  “Petöfi won’t remember to tell him,” Katalin said in an agonized voice, as Lajos sat down with his friends and immediately entered into the discussion. “Mattias, you must bring him over...”

  “Hold on, for pity’s sake!” said her harassed brother, and sure enough, after about ten tense minutes, Lajos stood up and came towards us. He walked quickly and he was frowning and serious. I wanted to run away. I wanted to take his desperately tired face in my hands and kiss away the heavy lines.

  “Good morning,” he said civilly, his eyes resting equally briefly on both Katalin and me before turning on Mattias.

  “Lajos, you have to help us,” Katalin said impulsively and his gaze swung back to her in surprise.

  “Of course,” he said, taking the chair which Mattias pulled towards him, and sitting down beside me. His elbow almost touched mine, but his steady, dark eyes were on Katalin. “What can I do?”

  She took an unsteady breath. “It’s Alex,” she said tragically, and Lajos’s frown quickly deepened.

  “What about him?”

  Swiftly, and with commendable if surprising conciseness, she told him.

  Lajos’s breath caught. “Who knows he is at the palace?”

  “Just us.”

  “None of your servants?”

  “Only Ilse, my maid, who is quite loyal. Oh and György the porter, but Katie bribed him.”

  For the first time since he had sat down, his eyes came to rest on me, and it was almost a shock to see the amusement in them. “How practical of her,” he observed.

  “Can you help him?” I asked bluntly, and he began to drum his fingers thoughtfully on the table. However, before he could speak, there was an interruption. Someone burst, rather than walked, into the café, crying, “There are soldiers in the street! I think they’re coming here!”

  Babble broke out, mostly defiance, but Lajos stood up, breaking through it. “How many?”

  “About six.”

  “Well,” said Lajos reasonably. “You can’t close down the Hall of Liberty with just six men, can you?”

  Petöfi laughed. “Nor with six hundred! Sit down, man and have some coffee.”

  Lajos turned back to us briefly. “I expect they’re looking for Alex, so it would be as well if they didn’t see us together. I’ll come to the palace later.” And then he was gone, back to his friends.

  He had barely sat down again before the soldiers entered. Silence fell in the café. All heads turned to face them as they stood still, examining the room unhurriedly. There were four of them. Presumably two were outside, guarding the entrance. A waiter bustled up to them.

  “Gentlemen, how may we help you? A table?”

  “No. We seek one Lajos Lázár.” My stomach lurched unpleasantly. It was my fear coming true, that Lajos would inevitably be arrested one day... By his accent, the soldier was German; however, it was not his nationality but the name he spoke which caused the threatening rumble within the café.

  Lajos rose to his feet quite casually.

  “I’m Lázár,” he said carelessly. And at once Petöfi and Vasvári stood with him — it seemed all quarrels among them were over. Then everyone at their table stood too, and then every man in the coffee-house, including Mattias. Lajos’s lip twitched, but he said with perfect gravity, “What can I do for you?”

  And the officer, looking rather taken aback by this unanimous display of solidarity — which would certainly have made it impossible to arrest Lajos without bloodshed — said in a blustering way, “You will tell me, if you please, if you are acquainted with one Captain Alexander Zarescu?” Stupidly, I couldn’t help being relieved.

  “Alex?” said Lajos with well-feigned surprise. “Yes, of course.”

  “Do you happen to know where he can be found?”

  “No,” said Lajos gently. “You should ask at the castle.”

  “We have come from the castle!”

  “Ah. Then I’m afraid I cannot help you. I haven’t seen him for several days.”

  The officer took a step nearer him. Instantly, there was a movement from those at Lajos’s table. The officer’s eyes flickered to them and back to Lajos. “Are you quite sure of that?” he said.

  “I believe I said so,” Lajos responded with just a touch of hauteur.

  “It would be better for Captain Zarescu if he were found now,” the officer said quietly.

  “Be assured, I shall tell him so, if I see him.”

  The officer stared at him for a long moment, then cast another penetrating glance around the room before turning on his heel. He barked out an order to the soldiers and they departed as smartly as they had entered. Lajos watched them until they had gone; then he turned and made a flourishing bow to the café’s patrons.

  “Gentlemen, I thank you for your support!” They gave a rousing cheer, overcome by the ease of their victory over the soldiers whose true purpose none of them had fully understood. Only Petöfi, as the cheers died away, said curiously, “What has Zarescu done?”

  “Nothing dishonourable — you may be sure of that,” Lajos said curtly, resuming his seat.

  Mattias stood up. “Come on,” he said decisively. “Let’s go home and wait for Lajos.”

  * * * *

  It was after five o’clock before any news reached us. Without warning, the door of the Little Room quietly opened and Lajos sauntered in, casually pushing it shut behind him again. Despite the undramatic, almost careless nature of his entrance, we all gaped at him speechlessly for several seconds. He paused, amusement registering in his dark eyes as he regarded us. It was Alex who spoke first.

  “You know, if I were a Szelényi, I would worry about the ease with which you go in and out of my house.”

  We had been sitting on the floor like children, but now Katalin sprang to her feet, going quickly to Lajos. “Lajos, what has happened? Is he safe?”

  Lajos took the hands which she impulsively held out to him, saying at once, “Yes, he is safe.”

  “Oh thank God!” she cried, relief causing her to press his hands with something approaching
rapture. Beside me, I felt Alex sag, and I laid my hand encouragingly on his arm.

  “Save your gratitude,” Lajos warned. “I said he is safe, for now, but there can be no pardon before an enquiry.”

  “What do you mean?” Katalin frowned. Lajos led her across to where the rest of us sat, and squatted down beside us, meeting Alexandru’s half-hopeful, half-anxious gaze. Alex swallowed.

  “What happened?” he asked, then: “The Devil, where are my manners? Whatever happened, thank you for what you have done!”

  Lajos took his outstretched hand, briefly gripping it, then said, “I presume you heard about this afternoon’s meeting? The people were furious, more enraged than I have seen them — and of course, Petöfi was magnificent, denouncing Lederer and the Cabinet with a glorious lack of discrimination! ‘I would not trust my dog, let alone my country to such a Cabinet!’ he bellowed. Anyhow,” he added, catching sight of Katalin’s impatient face, “it was easy to get the crowd on your side, and to get myself on the delegation which went to the Cabinet to make the people’s wishes plain.

  “They were meeting in Batthyány’s house at the time, but they must have known of the demonstrations, for they received us at once. Petöfi told them that we wanted immediate elections, an enquiry into last night’s atrocity and the punishment of those responsible. Batthyány agreed at once. I think they had expected us and agreed in advance what they were prepared to grant. So, whatever else comes out of last night, we have been promised an Assembly within two months.”

  “Well, that is good news!” Alex said, distracted in spite of himself. Mattias grinned approval while Katalin stared at the men indignantly.

  “They have trouble with priorities,” I told her kindly.

  “They have trouble keeping to the point!” Katalin exclaimed.