The Furies by Irving McCabe

the least I can do.’
    Elspeth knew it would appear churlish to rebuff the offer and Sylvia must have thought the same, for she stepped past Elspeth to take the tray from Mrs Evans with a smile of thanks and an invitation to join them. Elspeth took the jug – damp with condensation – and while Sylvia introduced Mrs Evans to Vera and Anya, she poured lemonade into the glasses. As the four women drank and Mrs Evans chatted to the other three, Elspeth thought about the forthcoming WSPU meeting. It wasn’t as if they were going to plant another bomb, and at least it meant she had agreed to do something positive for the squad. Maybe it was a good idea to go?

4. Sarajevo, Sunday 28 th June 1914. Evening
    After the royal couple were pronounced dead, a Jesuit priest was called to administer the last rites. Gabriel had intended to stay at the Konak and assist the chief with the Archduke’s autopsy. But news of the assassination spread quickly: street fights broke out as Hapsburg-friendly Bosnians began attacking Serbian shops and businesses, and Gabriel was summoned back to the garrison hospital to help Arnstein and Flieger with several stabbings. He was kept busy in the operating theatre for the rest of the day, and it was only much later that evening, having finished his last operation, that Gabriel finally found time to go to the doctor’s mess for a late supper.
    The room was empty as Gabriel walked up to an oak cabinet set against one wall and opened one of the side compartments. He was famished – he hadn’t eaten all day – and he eagerly helped himself to a portion of bread and ham from the food locker inside the compartment. Then, with a large glass of red wine taken from a crystal decanter sitting on top of the cabinet, Gabriel went to sit in one of the wing-backed leather armchairs set in front of the room’s bay window.
    He quickly finished his meal. And he was quietly sipping his wine, when the mess door swung open and the chief strode into the room.
    â€˜Stay seated, Gabriel,’ the chief called across as he walked over to the cabinet. ‘I’ll come and join you, but I need a drink first.’
    He poured himself some wine, and then came across and flopped into the armchair beside Gabriel. He swallowed a mouthful of wine, then looked across at Gabriel and shook his head. ‘What a damned fiasco,’ he said.
    It was rare for the chief to use profanity and Gabriel smiled as the older man continued. ‘You don’t know the half of it. A catalogue of mistakes
and
bad luck.’
    â€˜How do you mean?’
    â€˜Colonel Harrach is furious and holds General Potiorek personally responsible for this catastrophe.’
    â€˜Why?’
    â€˜Apparently, even after the grenade was thrown at the convoy, Potiorek carried on with the day’s schedule as if nothing had happened. They went to City Hall, where the Mayor was meant to be giving a speech of welcome. But the Archduke was clearly upset after the attack and stated that the visit was over.’
    â€˜So why didn’t they go straight back to Illidza?’
    â€˜Because Potiorek suggested the Archduke might want to visit the garrison hospital to see Colonel Merizzi. Colonel Harrach opposed this detour, but Potiorek was very keen and gave assurances it would be safe.’
    â€˜I see.’ Gabriel puckered his brow. ‘Well, after the grenade attack, the possibility of other assassins in the crowd must have been obvious. With so few gendarmes on duty, getting the Archduke to a place of safety should have been the priority.’
    â€˜Exactly what Colonel Harrach said, but he was overruled by Potiorek. And then to make matters worse, their car took a wrong turning; the driver had not been told about the change of plan. As they turned into the wrong street, Potiorek realised the error and brought the car to a stop right outside Schiller’s café.’
    â€˜And do we know how the