TWENTY-FOUR
Pereira declares there were three of them, in civilian clothes, pistols in their fists. The first to enter was a weedy little runt with a moustache and brown goatee. Political police, announced the weedy runt with an air of authority, we have orders to search this flat, we’re looking for someone. Let me see your identity cards, demanded Pereira stoutly. The weedy runt turned to his companions, two dark-suited thugs, and said: You hear that, lads, what do you think of it? One of the pair pointed his pistol straight at Pereira’s mouth and hissed: How’s this for identification, fatty? Come come, lads, said the weedy runt, I won’t have you treat Dr Pereira that way, he’s a leading journalist, he writes for a respectable newspaper, perhaps a shade too Catholic, I won’t deny that, but with the right political alignment, and now Dr Pereira, stop wasting our time, we haven’t come for a cosy chat and wasting time isn’t our strong point, anyway we know you’re not involved, you’re a worthy person, you just didn’t know who you were dealing with, you went and placed your confidence in a shady character, but I’ve no wish to get you into trouble, just let us get on with our work. I am the editor of the culture page of the Lisboa, spluttered Pereira, I want to speak to someone, I want to telephone to my editor-in-chief, does he know you’re here at my house? Come off it, Dr Pereira, replied the weedy runt in mellifluous tones, do you imagine that before we carry out police operations we inform your editor-in-chief, what can you be thinking of? But you’re not the police, insisted Pereira, you’re not official, you’re not in uniform, you have no authority to enter my home. The weedy runt smirked at the two thugs over his shoulder and said: The master of the house is recalcitrant, lads, I wonder how we can make him see reason. The man covering Pereira with his pistol landed him a terrific backhander that sent Pereira reeling. Now now Fonseca, that won’t do, said the weedy runt, you mustn’t maltreat Dr Pereira, otherwise you’ll scare him out of his wits, he’s a delicate fellow in spite of being so big and fat, he’s in the culture business, he’s an intellectual, Dr Pereira must be persuaded gently else he’ll piss in his pants. The thug called Fonseca lashed out with another backhander and Pereira staggered again, he declares. Fonseca, said the weedy runt with another smirk, you’re a sight too rough, I’ll have to keep my eye on you mate, or you’ll spoil all my good work. Then he turned to Pereira and said: Dr Pereira, as I was saying we’ve got nothing against you, we’ve only come to teach a little lesson to a young man who’s here in your flat, a person who requires a little lesson because he doesn’t know the true values of his country, he’s lost touch with them, poor chap, and we’re here to help him find them again. Pereira rubbed his cheek and mumbled: There’s no one here. The weedy runt cast a glance around the place and said: Careful now Dr Pereira, don’t make things hard for us, this young man’s your guest and we only want to ask him a few questions, it’s only a matter of a brief interrogation to see that he regains his sense of patriotism, that’s all we want to do, that’s all we’ve come for. Then let me ring the police, insisted Pereira, let them come and take him to headquarters, that’s where they carry out interrogations, not in people’s homes. Come now, Dr Pereira, said the weedy runt with his ghost of a smirk, you’re not being in the least bit cooperative, your flat is ideal for a private interrogation like ours, your caretaker is away, your neighbours have moved to Oporto, it’s a nice quiet evening and this building is a perfect joy, so much more discreet than a police station, don’t you think?
He flicked his fingers at the thug he’d called Fonseca, who shoved Pereira roughly into the dining-room. The intruders took a look around but there was no one there, only the table laid for dinner and the remains of the meal. An intimate little dinner, Dr Pereira, said the weedy runt, I see you’ve been having an intimate little dinner with candles and all, how romantic. Pereira made no answer. See here Dr Pereira, said the weedy runt in mellifluous tones, you’re a widower and you don’t go with women, as you see I know everything about you, it’s not that you fancy young men now, is it? Pereira passed a hand across his cheek again and said: You are the last word in infamy, this whole thing is infamous. Come now Dr Pereira, continued the weedy runt, a man is but a man as you know very well yourself, and if a man comes across a nice blond youngster with a pretty bit of arse on him it’s more than understandable. Then, suddenly spitting out the words: Must we turn the place upside down or would you care to collaborate? He’s in there, said Pereira, in one of those rooms through there. The weedy runt gave orders. Fonseca, he said, don’t be too heavy-handed, I don’t want problems, just give him a little lesson and find out you know what, and as for you, Lima, behave yourself, I spotted that cosh tucked inside your shirt, but no head-blows, mind, what I want is a ribs and kidney job, where it hurts but doesn’t leave marks. Just as you say, Captain, grunted the two thugs. They went through and shut the door behind them. Well then Dr Pereira, said the weedy runt, we’ll just have a little chat while my assistants get on with their work. I want to call the police, insisted Pereira. The police?, smiled the weedy runt, but I am the police, Dr Pereira, or at least I’m standing in for them, because at night even our policemen have to sleep, you know, our police protect us all the livelong day but at night they go to beddy-byes because they’re asleep on their feet, what with all the criminals there are around, people like your guest here who’ve lost their sense of patriotism, but tell me, Dr Pereira, what made you get yourself into this mess? I haven’t got myself into any mess, retorted Pereira, I simply engaged an assistant for the Lisboa. Of course, Dr Pereira, of course, said the weedy runt, but you really ought to have made enquiries beforehand, you should’ve consulted the police or your boss and given them the particulars of your so-called assistant, do you mind if I help myself to a cherry?
Pereira declares that at this point he got up from his chair. He had sat down because his heart was racing, but now he got up and said: Those were cries, I tell you!, I want to see what’s going on in my bedroom. The weedy runt jerked up his pistol. I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Dr Pereira, he said, my men have a delicate job on hand and you wouldn’t find it pleasant to watch, you’re a sensitive man Dr Pereira, an intellectual, and what’s more your heart’s not strong, there are sights that just aren’t good for you. I want to ring my editor-in-chief, persisted Pereira, let me ring my editor-in-chief. The weedy runt gave him a sarcastic leer. Your editor-in-chief is fast asleep by this time, he replied, very likely in the arms of a beautiful woman, you know, your editor-in-chief is a real man, Dr Pereira, he’s got balls, not like you who go looking for young blondies with pretty arsepieces. Pereira took a step forward and slapped the man’s face. The stunted weed struck him a sharp blow with the pistol, and blood started dribbling from Pereira’s mouth. You shouldn’t have done that, Dr Pereira, said the stunted weed, they told me to treat you with respect but there’s a limit to everything, it’s not my fault if you’re such an imbecile as to hide traitors in your home, I could easily put a bullet through your windpipe and I’d do it with pleasure, the only reason I don’t is that they’ve told me to treat you with respect, but don’t take advantage, Dr Pereira, don’t take advantage or I might forget myself.
Pereira declares that at this point he heard another strangled cry and that he hurled himself towards the door. But the stunted weed got there first and shoved him back. For all his bulk this shove sent Pereira reeling. Listen to me Dr Pereira, said the weedy runt, don’t force me to use my gun, it’d be a real pleasure to put a bullet through your windpipe or maybe your heart, which is your weak spot, but I’m not going to because we don’t want any corpses, we’ve only come to give a little lesson in patriotism, and you could do with a spot of patriotism yourself come to that, seeing as in your paper you never publish anything but Frog writers. Pereira sat down again, he declares, and said: It’s only the French writers who’ve shown any guts in times like these. Allow me to inform you that Frog writers are a load of shit, said the weedy runt, they should all be put against the wall and shot and then pissed on. Y
ou’re a vulgar lout, said Pereira. Vulgar but patriotic, replied the weedy runt, I’m not like you, Dr Pereira, I don’t exploit Frog writers to vent my antipatriotic sentiments.
At that moment the door flew open. The two thugs came out. They seemed breathless and nervous. The kid didn’t want to talk, they said, so we gave him a lesson, we had to get tough and maybe we’d better scram. Have you overstepped the mark?, asked the weedy runt. Don’t know, replied the one called Fonseca, but we’d better take off. And he sprang for the door, his companion at his heels. Listen Dr Pereira, said the weedy runt, you haven’t seen us here, don’t try to get smart, forget all about your new chums, just bear in mind that this was a friendly visit, because next time we come it might well be for you, have you got the message? Pereira locked the door behind them and listened until their footsteps faded away, he declares. Then he rushed to the bedroom and found Monteiro Rossi sprawled on the carpet. Pereira gave him a gentle tap-tap on the cheek and said: Monteiro Rossi, try and pull yourself together, it’s all over. But Monteiro Rossi didn’t budge. So Pereira went to the bathroom, soaked a towel and wiped the boy’s face with it. Monteiro Rossi, he repeated, it’s all over, they’ve gone away, wake up. Only then did he realize that the towel had come away all red with blood, Monteiro Rossi’s hair was sodden with it, his eyes were wide open and staring at the ceiling. Pereira slapped his cheek again, but Monteiro Rossi gave no sign of coming to. Pereira grabbed his wrist, felt his pulse. But life had ceased to flow in Monteiro Rossi’s veins. Then Pereira closed those staring blue eyes and covered the face with the towel. He stretched out the legs, he didn’t wish to leave him all huddled up like that, he declares, so he stretched his legs out straight, as was only right for the legs of a dead man. And his next thought was that he had to act quickly, very quickly indeed, for time was short, Pereira declares.
TWENTY-FIVE
Pereira declares that a wild idea had struck him, but he thought that maybe he could bring it off. He put on his jacket and left the building. Opposite the Cathedral was a late-night café with a public telephone. Pereira entered and gave the place a quick glance. There were a few night-birds playing cards with the proprietor. The waiter was a sleepy youth lounging behind the counter. Pereira ordered a lemonade, then made his way to the telephone and dialled the number of the thalassotherapeutic clinic in Parede. He asked to speak to Dr Cardoso. Dr Cardoso has already retired to his room, who is calling please?, said the voice of the switchboard operator. This is Dr Pereira, said Pereira, the matter is urgent. I’ll go and call him, if you don’t mind waiting, said the voice, it will take him a minute or two to get down. Pereira waited patiently until Dr Cardoso came on the line. Good evening Dr Cardoso, there’s something important I have to tell you, but I can’t do so just now. What is it, Dr Pereira, asked Dr Cardoso, don’t you feel well? As a matter of fact I don’t, replied Pereira, but that’s not the point, the fact is that a very serious problem has arisen at home, I’m not sure if my private phone is under surveillance, but that doesn’t matter just now, I can’t say more for the moment but I need your help, Dr Cardoso. Tell me how I can help, said Dr Cardoso. Well, Dr Cardoso, said Pereira, tomorrow at midday I’m going to ring you and I ask you this favour, to pretend to be a bigwig in the censorship and say that my article has been given the go-ahead, that’s all. I don’t see what you’re driving at, said Dr Cardoso. Listen Dr Cardoso, said Pereira, I’m calling you from a café and I can’t go into details, at home I have a problem such as you can’t even imagine, but you’ll learn about it in the evening edition of the Lisboa, it’ll be down there in black and white, but you’ve got to do me this big favour, you must state that my article has your consent, you understand?, I want you to say that the Portuguese police are not afraid of scandals, that it’s a clean police force and has no fear of scandals. I get your message, said Dr Cardoso, I’ll be waiting for your call at midday.
The moment he got home Pereira went into the bedroom and removed the towel from Monteiro Rossi’s face. He covered him with a sheet. Then he went back next door and sat down at his typewriter. He wrote a title, “Journalist Assassinated”, then double-spaced and started to type: “His name was Francesco Monteiro Rossi, his father was Italian. He contributed articles and obituaries to this newspaper. He wrote texts on many great writers of our time, including Mayakovsky, Marinetti, D’Annunzio, Lorca. His articles have not yet been published, but perhaps one day they will be. He was a spirited young man who loved life, and instead it fell to his lot to write about death. A task he never shirked. But last night death sought him out. While he was dining with the editor of the culture page of the Lisboa, Dr Pereira, the writer of this article, three armed men forced their way into the flat. They stated that they were Political Police, but produced no documents to support their claim. It is almost unthinkable that they were official police officers, because they wore civilian clothes, and moreover it is to be hoped that the police in this country do not employ such methods. My conviction is that they were gangsters acting with the complicity of persons in high places, and the authorities would do well to enquire into this ugly business. Their leader was a skinny little person with a moustache and a small goatee. The other two addressed him as Captain, and he several times called them by name. These names, unless fictitious, are Fonseca and Lima. They are both tall, powerful men of swarthy complexion and apparently low intelligence. While the skinny man kept the writer of this article covered with a pistol, Fonseca and Lima dragged Monteiro Rossi into the bedroom to carry out what they called an interrogation. The present writer heard blows and smothered cries. Then the two men returned and said their work was done. The three of them hurriedly left the present writer’s home, threatening him with death if he disclosed the occurrence. The present writer hastened to the bedroom but could do no more than ascertain the decease of young Monteiro Rossi. He had been beaten to pulp, and the blows, inflicted with a cosh or the butt of a pistol, had smashed his skull. His corpse is to be found on the second floor of number twenty-two, Rua da Saudade, the residence of the present writer. Monteiro Rossi was an orphan and had no relatives. He was in love with a beautiful sweet girl whose name is unknown to us. We only know that she had copper-coloured hair and loved literature. To this girl, should she read this, we offer our sincerest condolences and deepest affection. We urge the competent authorities to maintain careful vigilance over these episodes of violence which under their wing, and perhaps with the direct complicity of certain persons in high places, are today being perpetrated here in Portugal.”
Pereira double-spaced again and then, beneath and to the right, he typed his name: PEREIRA. He signed it simply Pereira because that was the way everyone knew him, by his surname, that was how he had signed all his crime reports for so many years and a day.
He raised his eyes to the window and saw that dawn was breaking over the fronds of the palm trees of the barracks across the way. He heard a bugle call. Pereira sank back into an armchair and nodded off. When he awoke it was already broad daylight and he took a startled look at the clock, he declares. He had to be quick off the mark. He shaved, rinsed his face in cold water and left the flat. He found a taxi in front of the cathedral and gave his office address. There he found Celeste in her cubbyhole. She greeted him fulsomely. Nothing for me?, asked Pereira. Nothing new, Dr Pereira, replied Celeste, except they’ve given me a week’s holiday. And waving the calendar at him she continued: I’ll be back next Saturday, for a whole week you’ll have to do without me, nowadays the State protects the underprivileged, people like me I mean, we’re not organized into corporations for nothing. We’ll try to bear your absence as best we may, muttered Pereira, as he plodded upstairs. He entered the office, took the “Obituaries” file from the shelf, put it in a leather briefcase and left again. He called in at the Café Orquídea, reckoning that he had time to sit down for five minutes and have a drink. He settled himself at a table. Dr Pereira, a lemonade?, asked Manuel brightly. No thanks, replied Pereira, I’ll have a dry port, I??
?d rather have a dry port. This is something really exceptional, Dr Pereira, said Manuel, and at this time of day too, but I’m pleased because it means you’re on the mend. Manuel gave him a glass and left the bottle on the table. Look Dr Pereira, he said, I’ll leave the bottle, so if you want another glass just help yourself, and if you’d like a cigar I’ll bring you one right away. Yes, thank you, bring me a mild cigar, said Pereira, but incidentally Manuel, what about your friend who gets the BBC, what’s the news? It seems the republicans are getting a clobbering, said Manuel, but you know Dr Pereira, he added lowering his voice, they also said something about Portugal. Did they now, said Pereira, and what did they say about us? They said we’re living under a dictatorship, replied the waiter, and that the police are torturing people. And what have you to say about that, Manuel?, asked Pereira. Well what do you say, Dr Pereira?, he replied, scratching his head, you’re a journalist, you’re in the know. I say that the English are perfectly right, said Pereira. He lit his cigar, paid the bill, went out and took a taxi to the printer’s. When he got there he found the foreman all huffing and puffing. We’re going to press in exactly an hour, said the foreman, you did a good thing Dr Pereira, putting in that story by Camilo Castelo Branco, it’s a beaut, I read it as a schoolboy but it’s still a beaut. We’ll have to cut it by a column, said Pereira, I’ve got a piece here for the end of the culture page, it’s an obituary. Pereira handed him the sheet of paper, the foreman read it through and scratched his head. Dr Pereira, said the foreman, this is pretty tricky, you bring me this at the last moment and it’s not passed by censor, seems to me that this is no joke. Look here Senhor Pedro, said Pereira, we’ve known each other for nearly thirty years, ever since I started crime reporting for the best paper in Lisbon, and have I ever got you into trouble? Never, replied the foreman, but times have changed, it’s not like it was in the old days, now there’s all this bureaucracy and I have to toe the line, Dr Pereira. Senhor Pedro, said Pereira, the censor’s office gave me permission by word of mouth, I called them from my office half an hour ago, I spoke to Major Lourenço, he gave me the all-clear. All the same it’d be better to ring the Chief, objected the foreman. Pereira heaved a deep sigh and said: Very well, Senhor Pedro, ring him then. The foreman dialled the number and Pereira listened. And his heart was in his mouth. He realized that the foreman was speaking to Senhora Filipa. Then the foreman replaced the receiver and said: The Chief’s out to lunch, I spoke to his secretary and he won’t be back until three o’clock. The paper’s already off the press by three, said Pereira, we can’t wait until then. You’re telling me, said the foreman, I don’t know what to do, Dr Pereira. Look here, suggested Pereira, the best thing would be to call the censor’s office direct, maybe we can talk to Major Lourenço. Major Lourenço!, exclaimed the foreman as if the very name struck panic into him, talk direct to Major Lourenço? He’s a friend of mine, said Pereira as nonchalantly as he could, I read him my article just now, he’s perfectly amenable, I’m in contact with him every day, Senhor Pedro, it’s part of my job. Pereira took over the telephone and dialled the number of the thalassotherapeutic clinic at Parede. At the other end came Dr Cardoso’s voice. Good afternoon Major, said Pereira, this is Dr Pereira of the Lisboa, I’m here at the printer’s with a view to inserting the article I read you this morning but the foreman here is worried because it hasn’t got your clearance stamp, do please see if you can reassure him, I’ll pass him to you. He gave the foreman the receiver and watched every flicker of an eyelid. Senhor Pedro began to nod. Certainly Major, he said, very good Major. Then he hung up and looked at Pereira. Well?, asked Pereira. He says the Portuguese police are not afraid of scandal, replied the printer, that there are a lot of criminals around who must be denounced and that your article absolutely has to appear today, Dr Pereira, that’s what he said. And the foreman added: He also said tell Dr Pereira to write an article about the soul, because that’s something we all need, that’s exactly what he said, Dr Pereira. Just his little joke, said Pereira, however tomorrow I’ll be talking to him myself.