Chapter 10
The thirty minute drive gave Amanda ample time to regret her sharp words with Lee. Studying the rain that pelted the windshield, she realized he must be frantic with worry. He was right - she was way out of her element in a foreign country where she didn't know the people or the language. But, heaven help them both, she just couldn't go home without knowing he was safe.
Jozsef stopped the car a short distance from the river dock. "This is it, Mrs. King. The ferry leaves in fifteen minutes."
Taking a deep breath, she zipped up her coat and listened carefully as he offered his final instructions. "Remember, Tamas Lazar and his German Shepherd will meet you on the other side of the Danube River. The man is big." Jozsef gestured with his hand. "You know - very tall. His white hair, white beard, and stooped shoulders tell of his 73 years. Just walk up to Tamas and kiss him on both cheeks and call out the dog's name - Suzie."
"Suzie?" Amanda snorted. "Why on earth would someone choose such a childish moniker for a strong, muscular guard dog?"
Jozsef laughed. "In Hungary, we like to give our pets American names. It is cute, yes?"
"Does Suzie bite? Oh, never mind." Amanda dismissed any anxiety she may have about a large intimidating canine.
"Good luck, Mrs King. I will arrive back here in two hours to meet the return of the ferry. Szia."
"Szia." Amanda gave Jozsef a faint nod, pulled up the hood of her parka, and exited the car into the pouring rain. Running through the deep puddles in the uneven pavement, she hurried to blend in with the small crowd of people waiting on the dock.
SMK-SMK-SMK
"Ahh-choo." Amanda sneezed as she leaned away from the cold wet nose that sniffed her hair. Suzie occupied the entire backseat of Tamas's small Russian Lada sedan, and the pooch was now busy checking out the American.
"Ahh-choo." Amanda sneezed again. Her allergy pills would come in handy about now. While her sensitive nose usually tolerated dogs, the enormous canine, with a mass of wet fur, was too much for her immune system, especially in the tight confines of the car.
"Sit," Tamas commanded.
Amanda jumped at the sudden reprimand that obviously wasn't meant for her.
Suzie obediently went through the motions of sitting, only to stand again after her haunches barely made contact with the vinyl seat.
So far, the four legged creature was better company than the quiet Tamas, who seemed lost in thought as he maneuvered his vehicle along the narrow, winding road toward Visegard. No doubt he was sizing up his American charge, even without the benefit of conversation.
The only noise was the heavy panting emanating from the very damp Suzie, who restlessly circled the backseat. The dog managed to break the serious mood by occasionally licking her master's neck with her long tongue and periodically showering the occupants with vigorous shakes of her rain soaked fur coat.
Finally, Tamas spoke. "Mrs, King, you have come a long way. I hope you like what you see in Hungary." His voice resonated with kindness, enhanced by his flawless command of the English language.
"I do, indeed. Although, I've only seen the sights from the Chain Bridge, while speeding across the Danube in a taxi cab." Amanda returned Tamas' smile. He seemed pleasant enough. Maybe now, the tremors in her hands and knees would subside.
"Ah, the Chain Bridge is a wonderful beginning. Before night falls, allow me to show you the river valley from the high perch of a royal fortress. The area is rich in history with tales of great royal leaders and fierce battles. King Matthias' palace was built in Visegrad in the fifteenth century. His Renaissance edifice lies between the Lower Castle and the Citadel. During royal festivities, red wine, instead of water, flowed from the red marble well."
Pulling to a stop at the foot of an imposing hill, Tamas beckoned for Amanda to accompany him on a brief tour. With Suzie running ahead, the elderly Hungarian gently tucked her hand into the crook of his arm and assisted her in climbing the steep steps to the ruins of the Visegrad fortress. Thankfully, the persistent rain showers seemed to have stopped, giving them a welcome respite in the gathering dusk.
From the high perch, Amanda gazed at the mountains and the Danube Bend below them. She couldn't help but contemplate her predicament. How on earth did a suburban mom from Arlington, Virginia end up at a former seat of royal power to plan an escape from a communist country?
Amanda shook her head at the incongruity. Life was indeed stranger than fiction. Sighing, she let the gentle peace of the gloaming penetrate her spirit. As she embraced her inner strength, she prayed for the wisdom and courage to do whatever it would take to get Lee safely back to the United States.
Hearing Tamas clear his throat, she turned to speak to the gentleman. "Your country is very beautiful. Thank you for bringing me here." Gracing him with a smile, she silently signaled her readiness to proceed with the real intentions of their meeting.
"Mrs. King, the Petraks have told me a great deal about your situation, but I want to know you better. Then I will decide on the feasibility of an escape. Tell me about yourself and what you are doing in such a dangerous business." Tamas again offered his arm as they descended the steps of the fortress.
Obviously the pretense of sightseeing was over. With each step, she mentally prepared to share her background with Tamas. Hopefully, he'd take her seriously and want to help.
"Well, it's a long story, sir. You see, I'm just a housewife turned spy. I'm the divorced mother of two young boys - Phillip's twelve and Jamie's ten. I accidentally met my partner at a train station when I dropped off my boyfriend. Well, actually, Lee wasn't my partner at the time. And, in truth, he sometimes reminds me that I'm not his official partner. I mean, I'm trained, but I'm not an actual agent."
Tamas nodded, motioning for her to get to the point.
Taking a deep breath, Amanda got her ramble into gear. "Well, you see, a guy in a waiter's uniform grabbed me on a train platform. It was Lee. He was on a case, and some men were chasing him. Apparently, he was desperate, because he placed a package in my hands and told me to get on the train and give it to the man in the red hat. But I didn't want to get on the train, because I didn't know Lee yet, and I was wearing a nightgown. Of course, I had a coat over the gown, but still, no one rides a train without a ticket. That didn't phase Lee, because he begged me to get on the train anyway, and, as luck would have it, the conductor was right there to ask for the ticket as soon as I got onboard. And, worst of all, there were twenty-five men in red hats."
"And, to make a long story short, I couldn't hand off the package, so Lee had to track me down at a fast food, curbside restaurant to ask for it back. Then he invited me to attend a Halloween party, for which I was hideously underdressed. Well, wouldn't you know it, the bad guys were there, too, and they chased us through a parking garage. We got away in a maintenance cart, but Lee was captured the next day. I finally found him being loaded into a helicopter, so I pretended to have a gun and distracted the captor. Lee told me to get in the whirly bird and we took off. I'd never flown one before, but it was just like my dishwasher. All I had to do was give it a good kick. And, the rest is Scarecrow and Mrs. King history."
Stopping abruptly, Amanda hung her head with embarrassment. "I'm sorry. I don't know why I'm tripping over my gift of gab at such a critical moment. I'm sure my story didn't make a bit of sense."
Silence hung over the pair while the Hungarian stared in obvious surprise. Suddenly his wrinkled face broke into a smile, and a low rolling rumble escalated into a loud burst of laughter. "Ah, Mrs. King, I am enchanted. You remind me of my wife when she was young. Erzsebet could get more words out in one breath than anyone I ever knew."
Perking up at the sound of merriment, Suzie barked her approval and nosed her way between the two. She wiggled with delight when hands reached out to stroke her coat. "See, Mrs. King, even my dog applauds you."
Amanda relaxed as she buckled herself into the front seat of the car. She felt secure in the presence of Tamas Lazar. Every instinct told her to trust him with her life and the life of her partner.
Once again the rain returned, and Tamas strained to see beyond the inadequate windshield wipers. Slowing the small Lada sedan, his eyes darted toward his companion. "Mrs. King, you must realize how difficult it will be to hide a tall, disabled American spy in any vehicle I use to cross the border." Tamas' tone was serious. "I want it to be perfectly clear how dangerous such an attempt will be."
Amanda closed her eyes, envisioning the hardship Lee would have to endure in a very risky escape attempt. "Tamas, could you try to slip Mr. Stetson over the border away from the actual guarded crossing?"
"Nem." Tamas shook his head. "There is a mile wide warning area between Hungary and the actual Austrian border. It is rigged with sensors to alert the Hungarian patrol. Even if we made it to the electric barbed-wire fence, guards would quickly be on us. They would most definitely shoot to kill. Besides, we could not drive across the rough terrain, and, from what I understand, Mr. Stetson is too weak to walk very far. Nem, I need to fool the guards at the gate. Let me think on this for a day, igan? I will devise a plan."
"Yes, Tamas, I mean 'igan'." Amanda studied the worn face of the seasoned patriot before deciding to turn the interview on him. "Sir, you don't have to do this. Why are you willing to risk your life for an American?"
Tamas' eyes looked haunted as he shook his head. "Ah, Mrs. King, I do this for the family I have lost and the freedom they sought. You see, I have no one left. My father and brothers lost their lives during the Hungarian Revolution in 1956. The Soviets massacred thousands of men, women, and children in Budapest, while the western allies stood by and did nothing." Tamas dabbed at his wet eyes before he continued. "My mother and wife are also dead now. I have no children to worry about my choices. All I have left is the cause of freedom."
Amanda nodded knowingly. She really did trust the man. "Tamas, I'm sorry for all you have lost, but I share your love of freedom. I want you to know that I do what I do because I want to make a better world for my sons. I'm sure I can speak for Mr. Stetson when I say 'thank you' for risking everything for him."
Tamas permitted a smile to grace his wrinkled face, before he abruptly switched back to conspirator mode. "We will give your friend more time to gain back his strength. I will communicate with you through the Petraks. But, remember, the sooner he can leave, the better. He is bound to be discovered in the Budapest apartment."
Amanda offered a warm smile. "I really do understand."
Sooner than expected, Tamas deposited Amanda back at the ferry dock. As she exited the car, he gently grasped her arm. "Mrs. King, I hope your colleague appreciates what you do for him. I find you to be a brave and caring lady. It is my great pleasure to make your acquaintance."
SMK-SMK-SMK
Amanda felt her anxiety increase as the ferry approached the opposite bank of the Danube. With the rain now coming down in torrents, she fought to keep her composure in check as the little vessel shuddered against the wrath of Mother Nature. All she wanted was to be met by Jozsef and returned to Lee's bedside. She knew he had probably calmed down by now. Certainly he would only feel relief when he saw her again.
Despite her weariness, she tried to remain vigilant of her surroundings. The other passengers seemed indifferent as she sat forward on her seat and watched the rain beating against the glass enclosure. Sensing movement to her right, she turned her head slightly, just enough to catch a tiny flash of metal. Sure enough, a shiny object protruded from a young man's jacket, apparently holstered to the waistband of his jeans. She didn't have to look twice to know it was a gun. Soon, he was joined by another man who started moving in her direction. Every instinct warned her of impending trouble.
Pretending not to notice them, she gracefully rose to her feet and began walking nonchalantly in the direction of the ladies lavatory. With the beat of her heart drumming loudly in her ears, she made her way down the port side of the boat. To her dismay, she discovered the men were not only following her, but quickly closing the distance.
Suddenly, the taller of the two rushed from behind and grabbed her arm, shouting in Hungarian. "Rendorseg." With brute force, he yanked her backwards.
Determined to fend off the attack, Amanda twisted and turned, trying to break his hold. She had no way to discern what they wanted. Was this a robbery? An abduction? Or, the possible capture of an American spy? Looking around in desperation, she saw everyone else ignoring the spectacle.
"Rendorseg! Megallni, az amerikai." Whipping out a badge and pulling a gun from under his jacket, the second man shouted in broken English, "Stop, Police."
She studied them with horror. Undoubtedly her cover had been blown. Did it also mean Tamas, the Petraks, and Lee had already been discovered?
Amanda resisted as the assailants shoved her out on the deck and propelled her swiftly along the side railing. Pelted by the rain, she could barely keep her footing on the slick surface. Her captors gripped her tightly as the boat made its turn toward the dock.
"Nem, nem," she argued in vain, struggling against both of them with all her might. Without a doubt, she needed to break free before they reached shore. Otherwise, there would be no reunion with Lee and no going home to her family.
Apparently, the police intended to escort her off the ferry as soon as it docked. The only thing that separated them from the gangplank was an elderly person, slowly shuffling toward them from the opposite direction. Wide as she was tall, the woman had shoulders like a defensive linebacker for the Washington Redskins. Laden with packages, a huge tote bag and a cumbersome umbrella, the poor soul was oblivious to the roadblock she presented to the approaching threesome.
The police waved impatiently for her to stop and turn around. "Megallni, megallni," they shouted.
Ignoring them, the woman kept coming, her rotund body looming like a Mack truck going the wrong way on a one way street.
Just as the woman met them head-on, they were forced to press their backs against the railing, permitting the intruder to squeeze through the bottleneck. Enduring the wait, the men flanked Amanda on both sides, keeping a firm grip on both her arms.
"Bocsasson meg, bocsasson meg, bocsasson meg," the old women muttered in some repetitious form of apology. Her considerable girth brushed against their bodies, and her wide umbrella stabbed their faces. Amanda and the police leaned backward over the railing, trying to avoid being poked in the eyes.
By now, the officers were angrily shouting at the clueless woman. "Gyorsan," they demanded in vain.
Wedged between the wall and the trio clinging to the rail, the woman paused to adjust her load. Setting down the packages, she reached to close the offending umbrella. "Sajnalom," she offered in way of apology.
Before her ample arms could gather her things together, the ferry boat lurched in the rough waters, causing everyone to lose their balance. Grabbing for purchase, the police dropped their guard. While regaining their footing, they never saw what was coming.
"Oomph." The umbrella slammed into the gut of the first surprised policeman, followed immediately by the swinging tote bag that caught the second officer full in the face.
Amanda saw her chance. Pulling her arms free, she dared an end run around the police. Then, throwing caution to the wind, she rushed along the slippery deck. Daring a look backward, it was apparent the old woman was running, too. Amazingly, the human nuisance turned out to be a male, abandoning his disguise as he sprinted after her.
"Megallani, megallani," warned the police as they opened fire. Bullets whizzed by their heads.
Before she could think, Amanda felt a meaty hand reach out and tug her toward the railing.
"Jump," he yelled. "Jump now." Pulling her with him, the mysterious rescuer assisted her over the barrier. Together they leaped into the dark chasm.
"Oh my gosh," echoed through the blackness. Falling rapidly, the two were quickly swallowed by the cold, murky deep of the Danube.
To be continued