Into the Lion's Den (54 page)

“Is it big?” Guntram dared to repeat his question, while sitting in the private jet. He had been almost bouncing with excitement, happy to leave Zürich for something that wasn't related to school. Nothing wrong could happen in Rome. Constantin had no interests in the city and the time he had been there, he had loved the museums and St. Peter's.

“Pardon me?”

“The castle where we're staying: San Capistrano.”

“Yes, I suppose so. It's a family residence. One of the oldest we have. It was built around the XIII century and was used as fortress, monastery and from the XVII century onwards, as private residence for the Molinari family and ours. We inherited it, so to speak around 1675, I don't remember exactly, as donation from the first Griffin's consort to our founder's heir. Theodobald von Lintorff and Francesco Molinari are buried there, in the chapel.”

“How so?”

“When my family left Mecklemburg after the Thirty Years War, they went to Rome to ask for the Pope's protection. They were one of the last resisting against the protestant heresy, but we lost. We were clever enough as to keep our gold safe in Venice and Rome and the Pope granted his protection to us because of our services during the Teutonic Order times. Theodobald moved to Venice and he started to rebuild our Order along with many more exiled noblemen, changing our strategy. We will never support again an earthly government as they can only betray us, only our mother the Church. Of course, the pope sent a young and clever bishop to oversee what the Lintorff were doing because all this trade and banking, most appropriate for Jewish than for true Christians, couldn't be too good.

Francesco Molinari was one of his illegitimate children and I think he was a very clever man, immediately realising how fast the world was changing. While Theodobald was a ferocious warrior, he was a clever businessman and thought that we could obtain much more if we were supporting our own people and the newly born industry. We lent money to private people for much less than what the Fuggers or others were asking to Nation States. The money went into overseas trade, transforming manufactures and science. Francesco devised the idea that we all should form a society to protect our interests from Protestants and Muslims at this time. Later we realised that the Protestants were not so bad and good for the business and we accepted to do business with them. Our main problem was those Masons trying to destroy everything we believed in.”

“Theodobald and Francesco got along and he was named consort in 1656. They lived together for more than twenty-six years and Theodobald asked to be buried next to him after his early death, at forty-two years old.”

“That means he was a diplomat at seventeen?” Guntram asked very shocked.

“You were made general with fifteen if you were of noble birth, Guntram. Girls were married from thirteen years onwards,” Konrad chuckled softly. “Anyway, I believe that controlling a German nobleman in disgrace

-forced to work like a commoner-was not exactly a very sought after job. Being Ambassador to the Dux was a good position. Funny how history turns out, a second rate job, designed to keep a bastard busy and away from Rome, where he could have started to conspire against his father, was crucial to create a driving force in Modern Society. This young Italian established most of the rules we operate under and convinced my ancestor to start a new era. No one but us, remembers him, but I would dare say that we are who we are thanks to him. Industry was the future as we learned in the battlefield. We have to thank for that lesson to King Gustav Adolphus.”

“He and the Polish who threw out a Governor of the window, igniting the conflict,” Guntram said softly.

“They're more famous than poor Francesco,” Konrad smiled. “Good managers are never famous, but they're more important than good warriors, Guntram. You should never underestimate the power of the second line. A consort is an advisor, much more than momentary sexual adventure. He can yield a lot of power if the Griffin allows it. Some of them were very powerful, others preferred to step aside. Some of them were women and even participated in the meetings, some were lovers, others just advisers. My grandfather's consort was British and he convinced many of his fellow citizens to join us. Nothing between them, ever. I met him once when I was twelve years old and he was very old, living in England. According to my father, extremely clever man. His grandchild, Stephen Saint Claude is my CEO in London.”

“Konrad, I still don't understand why you need me.”

“Sometimes you don't need to understand things, just act upon them, Guntram.”

“I have no education; I'm not intelligent enough and have no money that could support you.”

“I don't need such things; I need others that you can provide. I need a personal companion, a Griffin's consort, but not an adviser for the Order. You will never be a part of our meetings or decisions, Guntram. Learn that from now onwards. Many years ago I swore to never let my personal life interfere with my duties as
Hochmeister
. It was a very hard lesson for me and I will not forget it. You can look after my children, teach them to be good and honourable persons, but you will never decide upon our policies.”

“I never wanted to be an advisor to anyone. I can't even advise myself! I haven't accepted your offer so far. Frankly, I don't believe that you could need me and I think that you're after something more. Life taught me that so much sugar is bitter in the end.”

“I'm not a sweet man and my offer is honest. You fulfil the requirements well.”

“Are you aware that I will not be able to “support you in the bedroom”? That even your doctor forbade me to have sex?” Guntram said very cynically, irked at his speaker's coldness in the subject.

“I only ask you that you respect, obey and are honest to me. Nothing else. The rest might come or not.

It's immaterial at this point,” Konrad answered very stiffly and then the idea came to his mind. “As I said, I can get

“bedroom support” anywhere else. I travel a lot, Guntram,” he said carefully, gauging the boy's reaction. Guntram's involuntary suffocated gasp, along with his pupil’s contraction confirmed what he suspected. The boy was already considering his offer and was hurt by his sentence.

“Of course, my Duke, but wouldn't you prefer to have something better at home? Something that could accommodate you?” Guntram retorted with a tense voice, unable to control his anger.

“No, a third person would be bad for the children. Our relationship must be sound in every aspect and fighting over some petty jealousies can't be good. If I ever share my bed with someone it would be for keeps. There are very nice hotels for the other matters. Mixing things is never good.”

'Does he live in this century? Taking your affairs to hotels? Lord, how old fashioned can he be?' “Most people nowadays have relationships and do it at home. Some of the parents were allowing his children to bring their girlfriends home for the night,” Guntram chortled in disbelief.

“Yes, girlfriends, not fiancées. There's a difference.”

“No one does things like that any longer.”

“How long do today's couples last? Half of the marriages dissolve after two years. This is because people don't consider things in advance.”

“And going to a hotel is better? How so?”

“The one you're with understands immediately that you're not seriously taking her or him. If they want something more, they refuse to come with you.”

“No one thinks on those lines, Konrad. You want to do it and you… just do it!”

“Really? Let me ask you a personal question. Where was your first time with Repin? Because he was your first one, right?”

It was Guntram's turn to blush deeply. “I don't see how this can be related to the subject,” he answered nervously.

“Answer the question and allow me to further elaborate.”

“Almost first time in my 19th birthday, in his flat in Buenos Aires and the real one in London, at Ilchester Place. I even saw you that day.”

“Were you ever in a hotel with him?”

“Yes, once for holidays in Montecarlo. Two nights,” Guntram laughed dryly.

“But you were an established couple?”

“We had been together for six months or so.”

“Then, I'm perfectly right in my assumptions. He considered it as a serious game and kept you in the upfront for his men. If you would have been just an adventure, he would have put you in a nice flat in London or taken you to a hotel in Buenos Aires, just to try the merchandise,” Konrad said with a broad smile. “How is it that you saw me in London? I don't remember seeing you.”

Guntram was glad to change the subject and answered quickly. “I was going out with Massaiev and you were arriving to a meeting because of Argentina's default. You were coming out of your car and I stood in the garden as I didn't want you to see me.”

“Why so?”

“You destroyed a full country just to make some money. You smuggled money out of it.”

“This is what he told you? Incredible.”

“Didn't you?”

“No, I lost money like many of us. We are recovering it with the many investments done in the midst of the crisis, but my main interest in the region is Brazil. We provided some solutions for the local oligarchies but nothing else. As usual, Repin was covering my name with mud.”

“Do you know that the soup kitchen where I used to work got no money from the state for five months?

We used to feed two hundred fifty children per day. How do you feel about it?”

“Don't blame me for your own government's lack of efficiency. You elected them, not I. Does this happen in our side?”

“You can't compare Europe with Latin America!”

“Yes, your elites are corrupt to an incredible point, ours are better controlled.”

“We are poor! We don't have any kind of industry! You Europeans kept our people like that!”

“First, you're European and descend from a long line of rulers. Second, don't give me the usual romantic story of ‘we are poor people, sitting on top of one of the richest natural resources country in the world, exploited by you, mean Europeans.’ You all started by selling raw materials in the XIX century. What did you do with the profits?

Industrial development? Infrastructure? Schools? Nothing. The Swedish also started by selling wood and timber in the XIX century but they reinvested their profits and now are a powerful industrial country. Norway's case is very similar.

Japan was a Feudal country till the XIX century. Even Russia and China; both paid a horrible price to become what they're now. Where were the Latin American elites? In Paris.”

Guntram was silent, his brain searching for arguments to refute the banker, but none came. “Still, it doesn't give you the right to go against people who never attacked you.”

“Guntram, if they had a fraction of my power, be sure that they would be against me. I keep a defensive strategy but if I see an opportunity, I seize it. Repin was very glad to be invited to the party and I guess he wants to establish some operative bases in Argentina.”

“You might be right, he was very good friends with Federico's mother, a Senator. I saw many well known people in his house,” Guntram admitted slowly. “They all wanted money from him.”

“That's the usual story for us. No one likes us for ourselves but for our check books, but that's a lesson I refuse to accept or believe in.”

“Pater Bruno or Pater Patricio in Argentina gave everything they had for unknown people. I met many others like them. You should be more out, Konrad; most people are not like you say. They have nothing compared to you, but give their work, time or money freely and gladly. It's not the amount what matters, but how you do it.”

“Maybe that's a lesson I'm interested to learn,” Konrad said in a soft voice, gauging carefully the boy's reaction. A nervous smiled played in the youth's lips and he blushed, returning all his attention to a “The Economist”

issue over the mahogany table. 'He does not oppose my advances. I have chances to get him in my bed too.'

St. Petersburg

July 15th 2004

It had taken almost a month for Constantin to recover his calm nature. He had spent the time visiting several of his most troublesome business associates and the trail of bodies was becoming too large to be ignored by the Russian Authorities. Oblomov's concern increased with each passing day as, even if a firm hand was good for the business, too much attention from the press was very counterproductive. The photo of an exploded car on every newspapers' front page was too much for the populace. After all, the man had been just a second line Morozov's figurehead, a well known and respected lawyer and even had a foundation for missing children!

It was time to speak with his friend.

'Perhaps giving Guntram to Lintorff was not such a good idea.'

The black Mercedes stopped in front of Constantin’s mansion and the chauffeur opened the door for him, but Oblomov remained for a long time inside the car, still thinking on what he would tell to Constantin. By sheer luck he had stopped his friend from killing Olga. 'We still need the bitch and getting rid of her now, is too much! We'll get the police knocking on our door!' He had to send her to a house in Romania because Constantin was more than ready to do it with his own hands the minute he came back from London. He had nearly shot Massaiev for bringing a Macedonian boy—or was he from Albania?—with similar features to Guntram's, but not his quality, and “Do you think I can settle for less now?” Constantin roared after stabbing the boy without giving him a chance to show his skills. That had been a truly long night for everyone.

'It was a very bad idea to let the boy go. Even with a depression, he was keeping the boss happy. We have to find a way to recover him after the year is over, and I don't care if I have to drag him by the ear all the way from Switzerland. Why did he have to fight with Constantin? He was happily living in bliss before. Fucking woman!'

The butler led him to the library where his friend had been locked the whole morning, skipping lunch and working like a madman. The servant knocked the door fearfully, but there was no answer.