Page 116 of The Last Kingdom

He did not appreciate the rebuke.

“It’s time you know the truth,” his brother said. “About many things.”

They all stood suspended high in the cold night air. Exposed. Vulnerable. But also surprisingly private. Had that been the idea?

“Dear brother,” Albert said, “I think we will, this night, have the deed fordas letzte königreich. Once that occurs, I will give that document to Herr Rife, who will then provide it to the Chinese. In return, Berlin will grant Bavaria the opportunity to vote to be free. Which the people will overwhelmingly support. A win for us all.” Albert paused. “Then I will be king.”

He was puzzled. “That will not happen in time for you.”

“But it will, Stefan. For you see, I am not dying. In fact, I am in perfect health. I created that story, with the help of my doctor, to spur you along, for I knew your ambition could be put to good use.”

He was astonished. “You are not ill?”

Albert shook his head. “I manufactured that story so you would be sufficiently motivated. And you were. Just the thought that you might be king was enough for you to do what I could not.”

“You used me?”

Albert chuckled. “Of course I did. I had to know if Ludwig’s tomb was empty. There were stories, entries in the journal that indicated such, but I had to be sure. I also needed that book from Herrenchiemsee. So I made sure certain information came your way. Enough to spur you forward. And you did not disappoint me. You see, brother, I know you all too well.”

He felt the fool.

“Originally, I planned to carry this out much further,” Albert said. “I thought its resolution would take more time. But circumstances have accelerated. More progress has been made, in a short time, than I thought possible. That is good, and it has led us here.”

“What has happened?”

“The CIA did its job,” Rife said, “and solved the mystery.”

“I thought you were ex-CIA, now working with the Chinese.”

“I am. But you gotta admire their get-up-and-go.”

The other guy, Knight, stood silent, never moving. A bit unnerving. In fact, the whole scenario was horribly uncomfortable.

“I’m leaving,” he said.

He turned, but Knight immediately blocked his way.

“No, Stefan,” Albert said. “You are not going anywhere. It is time we come to an understanding.”

Chapter 67

LUKE AND TONI FLED THE BREEZEWAY AND HEADED BACK ONTOa crowded street that stretched past the cathedral’s rear. His eyes were once again accustomed to the gloom. The time was approaching six-thirty and Munich was alive with its nightly Christmas activities. The streets overflowed with people radiant with joy. He could hear the music and crowds from a few blocks away where the main market stretched for over a mile. He’d passed through it many times over the past week, coming and going on the prince’s business, never really taking things in. Now it offered the perfect place to disappear among the thousands who would surely be there.

“Let’s get to the market,” he said, glancing back and seeing the police emerge from the breezeway, searching ahead. One caught sight of them and pointed. “And fast.”

They shouldered through the pedestrians and turned a corner, breaking into a run down the middle of the pavement, as traffic was not allowed. The street emptied into the main thrust of revelers, all enjoying the craft stalls, food vendors, andglühweinsellers. Festive music rose above the noise. Some nearby brass horns. He looked back and saw the police were still coming and he recalled an old adage his father told him right after he obtained his driver’s license.You can’t outrun their radios, son.Not that he hadn’t tried a few times. But his father had been right. He never once escaped them.

“Any ideas?” he asked Toni as they kept moving.

“Head for the Marienplatz. It should be packed.”

They turned left and followed the flow toward the central square that extended out from the old town hall, where they’d ended up late last night, long after the people had all gone home. At this early evening hour it was a sea of activity, all of the booths open for business. A triangle of an evergreen, festooned with lights and decorations, rose thirty feet. The source of the music came from a stage near the town hall.

He stopped. “I get the feeling we’re being herded.”

“I agree. Those cops are not pursuing us like they should.”

He recalled from last night that there were a myriad of ways into and out of the plaza, side streets and alleys. Which not only offered them choices but also provided the police with just as many opportunities. Several thousand people engulfed them enjoying the lively market, but he felt extremely exposed.