Ю Несбё - Macbeth

Macbeth placed his forefinger under his chin and stared into the air pensively. ‘I didn’t consider it overly harsh.’

‘There you go. That’s exactly what I thought. You didn’t mean to be harsh! You and I, we want the same things, Macbeth. What’s best for the town. To get the wheels moving, to bring down unemployment. A lower jobless rate we know from experience will bring down crime and hit the drugs trade, which in turn reduces property crime. Soon prisoner numbers are drastically down, and everyone asks themselves how Chief Commissioner Macbeth has achieved what none of his predecessors managed. As you know, a mayor can only serve two terms of office. So after I’ve been elected, hopefully, and then finished my second term, it’s a new man’s turn. And then perhaps the town will feel this is the kind of man they need, someone who has produced results as a chief commissioner.’

‘More coffee?’ Macbeth poured the brown liquid into Tourtell’s already full cup until it ran over into the saucer. ‘Do you know what my friend Banquo used to say? Kiss the girl while she’s in love.’

‘Which means?’ Tourtell said, staring at the saucer.

‘Feelings change. The town loves me now. And four years is a long time.’

‘Maybe. But you have to choose your battles, Macbeth. And your decision now is whether to challenge the incumbent mayor — which historically seldom leads to success — or wait for four years and be supported in the election by the departing mayor — which historically very often leads to success.’

‘That kind of promise is easily made and more easily broken.’

Tourtell shook his head. ‘I’ve based my long political career on strategic alliances and cooperation, Macbeth. Kenneth made sure that the chief commissioner’s office had such extensive powers that I as mayor was — and am — completely dependent on the chief commissioner’s goodwill. Believe me, I know a broken promise would cost me dear. You’re an intelligent man and you learn quickly, Macbeth, but you lack experience in the complicated tactical game called politics. Instant popularity and a couple of juicy sound bites on radio aren’t enough. My support isn’t enough either, but it’s more than you can hope to achieve on your own.’

‘You wouldn’t have come here to persuade me not to throw my hat in the ring for the upcoming elections if you didn’t see me as a serious challenger.’

‘You might think so,’ Tourtell said, ‘because you still don’t have enough experience of politics to see the bigger picture. And the bigger picture is that when I continue as mayor and you as chief commissioner over the next four years, then the town will have a problem if its two most powerful men have had an agonising electoral struggle which makes it difficult for them to work together. And it would also make it impossible for me to support your candidature later. I’m sure you understand.’

I’m sure you understand . Ever so slightly condescending. Macbeth opened his mouth to object, but the thought that was supposed to form the words didn’t come.

‘Let me make a suggestion,’ Tourtell said. ‘Don’t stand for election, and you won’t have to wait four years for my support.’

‘Oh?’

‘Yes. The day you arrest Hecate — which will be an immense victory for us both — I’ll go public and say I hope you’ll be my successor at the elections in four years. What do you say to that, Macbeth?’

‘I think I said on the radio that Hecate isn’t our top priority.’

‘I heard you. And I interpreted that as you saying you didn’t want the pressure that Duncan put on himself and the police by making such optimistic and all-too-specific promises. Now, the day you arrest him will simply be a bonus. That’s what you’ve planned, isn’t it?’

‘Of course,’ Macbeth said. ‘Hecate’s a difficult man to arrest, but if the opportunity should offer itself—’

‘My experience, I’m afraid to say, is that opportunities don’t offer themselves,’ Tourtell said. ‘They have to be created and then grasped. So what’s your plan for arresting Hecate?’

Macbeth coughed, played with his coffee cup. Tried to collect his thoughts. He had noticed he could suddenly have difficulty doing this, as though it were too much: there were too many balls to keep in the air at once, and when one ball fell, they all fell, and he had to start anew. Was he taking too much power? Or too little? Macbeth’s eyes sought Seyton’s, who had sat down at the coffee table, but there was no help to be found there. Of course not. Only she could help him. Lady. He would have to give up the drugs, talk to her. Only she could blow away the fog, clarify his thinking.

‘I want to lure him into a trap,’ Macbeth said.

‘What kind of trap?’

‘We haven’t got the details worked out yet.’

‘We’re talking about the town’s number-one enemy, so I would appreciate it if you keep me informed,’ Tourtell said and stood up. ‘Perhaps you could give me the plan in broad outline at Duncan’s funeral tomorrow? Along with your decision regarding the election.’

Macbeth took Tourtell’s outstretched hand without getting up. Tourtell nodded to the wall behind him. ‘I’ve always liked that painting, Macbeth. I’ll find my own way out.’

Macbeth watched him. Tourtell seemed to have grown every time he saw him. He hadn’t touched the coffee. Macbeth swivelled on his chair to face the picture. It was big and showed a man and a woman, both dressed as workers, walking hand in hand. Behind them came a procession of children and behind that the sun was high in the sky. The bigger picture. He guessed Duncan had hung it; Kenneth had probably had a portrait of himself. Macbeth angled his head to one side but still couldn’t work out what it meant.

‘Tell me, Seyton. What do you think?’

‘What I think? To hell with Tourtell. You’re more popular than he is.’

Macbeth nodded. Seyton was like him, not a man with an eye for the bigger picture. Only she had that.

Lady had locked herself in her room.

‘I need to talk to you,’ Macbeth said.

No answer.

‘Darling!’

‘It’s the child,’ Jack said.

Macbeth turned to him.

‘I took it from her. It was beginning to smell, and I didn’t know what else to do. But she thinks you ordered me to take it.’

‘Good. Well done, Jack. It’s just that I needed her advice on a case and... Well...’

‘She can hardly give you the advice you need in the state she’s in right now, sir. May I ask — no. Sorry, I was forgetting myself. You aren’t Lady, sir.’

‘Did you think I was Lady?’

‘No, I just... Lady usually airs her thoughts with me and I help in any way I can. Not that I have much to offer, but sometimes hearing yourself say something to someone can clear your mind.’

‘Hm. Make us both a cup of coffee, Jack.’

‘At once, sir.’

Macbeth went to the mezzanine. Looked down into the gaming room. It was a quiet evening. He saw none of the usual faces. Where were they?

‘At the Obelisk,’ Jack said, passing Macbeth a cup of steaming coffee.

‘What?’

‘Our regulars. They’re at the Obelisk. That was what you were wondering, wasn’t it?’

‘Maybe.’

‘I was in the Obelisk yesterday and I counted five of them. And spoke to two of them. Turns out I’m not the only one spying. The Obelisk’s got its people here too. And they’ve seen who our regular customers are and have offered them better deals.’

‘Better deals?’

‘Credit.’

‘That’s illegal.’

‘Unofficially, of course. It won’t appear in any of the Obelisk’s ledgers and if they’re confronted they’ll swear blind they don’t give credit.’