Алистер Маклин - Red Alert

‘The Red Brigades don’t kill senselessly, Mr. Graham. There’s always a reason for our actions.’ Calvieri took a sip of brandy, then placed his glass on the coaster in front of him.

‘You may think we’re just a group of terrorists out to spread anarchy and revolution. It’s not the case. We have aims and ambitions like any other political organization. We have a strong following, especially amongst the working classes.’

‘You did, until you killed Aldo Moro in ’78,’ Sabrina cut in quickly. ‘You’ve never managed to regain that level of support since.’

‘Granted, killing Moro was a mistake. It gave the authorities a martyr and we lost an important hostage who could have brought us a lot of money. But that was a long time ago. We have won back that support, irrespective of what the Government would lead the world to believe. This country has had to endure an endless succession of inept, corrupt governments, none more so than the present communist government under Enzo Bellini. The balance of payments is the worst in living memory, unemployment is up fifteen percent and tens of thousands of Italians are living below the poverty line.’

‘The perfect climate for revolution,’ Graham said.

‘The perfect climate for change,’ Calvieri retorted. ‘The people have lost faith in the politicians, both the Christian Democrats and the PCI, the Communist Party. It’s time to brush aside the dead wood and replace it with a new, dynamic force in politics capable of putting this country back on its feet again.’

‘In other words, the Red Brigades,’ Sabrina concluded.

‘Not necessarily, no.’ Calvieri watched the puzzlement in their expressions. ‘Of course there are those Brigatisti who won’t settle for anything less than the overthrow of the democratically elected government, in the blinkered belief that the Red Brigades could seize power in the ensuing confusion.’

‘Like Zocchi?’ Sabrina said.

‘He was the worst. But there are others, some even on the committee. And these are the ones the authorities highlight in the media, making us all out to be bloodthirsty, revolutionary anarchists whose only law comes from the barrel of a gun.’

‘You’re their spokesman, surely that gives you a platform for your own views?’ Sabrina said.

‘I wish it were that simple. The Red Brigades only make the news when they fall foul of the law. That’s the only time the media want to know me. Of course I try to put across the other side of the story, but once the interview gets back to the studio it’s butchered by the editors and by the time it reaches the television news I’ve been quoted completely out of context. The media depend on viewing figures to survive, and sensationalism seems to be the way to achieve them. I can’t win.’

‘So what are your aims, if not the violent overthrow of the government?’ Graham asked.

‘Don’t get me wrong, I’m not opposed to the violent overthrow of the government. Especially this government. If a volunteer was needed to put Bellini out of Italy’s misery I’d be glad to put the gun to his head and pull the trigger. It’s just not a viable proposition, not here in Europe. That’s where the militants and I disagree. Are the armed forces and the police just going to stand by and let us topple the government in a blaze of gunfire? Of course not. We have to be realistic. The answer is a coalition.’

Graham sat back and folded his arms across his chest. ‘Tell us about it.’

‘We want the working classes to have a say in the running of the country. At the moment they don’t, which is why there is such an unacceptably high level of unemployment. What I’d like to see in the foreseeable future is for the PCI to take on board two, maybe three, Brigatisti and give them a portfolio in the government.’

‘With an eye on the Red Brigades finally running the country?’ Graham said.

‘It’s a nice thought but we just don’t have the experience to run the country by ourselves. Again, that’s where the militants and I disagree. I think it would work. The PCI have the experience and we have the input of ideas which have been sadly lacking in the past few governments.’

‘You’re overlooking one point,’ Sabrina said. ‘Some years back the PCI denounced you as “common terrorists”. What makes you think they would agree to a coalition?’

‘The Christian Democrats are currently ahead in the polls because of the way the PCI have wrecked the economy. At this rate the PCI don’t stand a chance of being returned to power at the next election. But with the support we have amongst the working classes we could not only win them the next election, but the one after that as well. That’s not something to be taken lightly.’ Calvieri finished his brandy. ‘It’s all hypothetical at the moment. We do have contacts inside the PCI but the final decision would lie with Bellini and his senior ministers.’

‘And if they don’t agree to your terms they’ll become “legitimate targets” like Moro and Tarantelli?’

Calvieri smiled at Graham.

‘They’re already legitimate targets. So you see, the sooner they agree to meet us, the better it will be for all concerned.’

‘Blackmail,’ Graham muttered. ‘I might have guessed.’

‘I prefer to call it common sense,’ Calvieri replied.

Over the loudspeakers came the request that Michael Graham contact the switchboard immediately. He crossed to the house phone at the end of the bar. The call was from Kolchinsky.

‘Commissioner Kuhlmann and Major Paluzzi have just got back,’ Kolchinsky told him. ‘We’ll have that meeting now.’

‘Your room?’

‘Yes. Is Sabrina with you?’

‘Yeah. And Calvieri.’

‘I told you to leave Calvieri alone,’ Kolchinsky said sharply.

‘Sabrina was having a drink with him. What was I supposed to do, sit at the next table?’ Graham raked his fingers through his hair. ‘Do you want us to bring him along?’

‘No, just the two of you. We won’t be able to talk freely if he’s there. Sabrina can brief him later.’

‘Okay. We’ll be up in a couple of minutes,’ Graham said, then replaced the receiver and returned to the table.

‘Sergei?’ Sabrina asked, looking up at him.

‘Yeah, he wants to see us right away.’

‘Does that include me?’ Calvieri asked.

‘No. Sabrina will brief you later if there’s anything you need to know.’

‘It’s so refreshing to work in an atmosphere of trust and cooperation,’ Calvieri said bitterly.

‘I’d prefer to call it common sense,’ Graham replied with a forced smile.

They took the lift to the third floor and walked the short distance to Kolchinsky’s room. Sabrina knocked. Kolchinsky opened the door and ushered them inside.

‘I hear you’ve been drinking with the enemy,’ Paluzzi said with a smile.

‘Not by choice, believe me.’ Graham went on to explain what Calvieri had told them about the possible coalition between the Red Brigades and the PCI.

‘I’ve never heard about it before,’ Kuhlmann said.

‘I’m not surprised,’ Paluzzi replied. ‘It’s not exactly something the PCI want the world to know about. At least not yet.’

‘So you’re saying there will be a PCI-Red Brigades coalition at the next election?’ Graham said in amazement.

‘It’s certainly a possibility. As Calvieri said, the PCI don’t stand a chance of being returned to power. They need the extra votes. And the Red Brigades are capable, in theory, of giving them those extra votes.’

‘But surely the Italian people wouldn’t accept the coalition?’ Sabrina said.

‘I don’t have to tell you how bad our economy is at the moment. And it’s getting worse by the day. The people have lost faith in the politicians. Can you honestly blame them? They want hope for the future. And if a PCI-Red Brigades coalition can offer them that hope, they’ll be voted into power.’