The Day of the Jackal

«We are considering, but only at this stage considering, engaging the services of a professional to do the job. However we do not wish to waste our money. The first thing we would like to know is if it is possible: Rodin had played his cards shrewdly. The last sentence, to which he already knew the answer, brought a flicker of expression to the grey eyes.

«There is no man in the world who is proof against an assassin's bullet,» said the Englishman. «De Gaulle's exposure rate is very high. Of course it's possible to kill him. The point is that the chances of escape would not be too high. A fanatic prepared to die himself in the attempt is always the most certain method of eliminating a dictator who exposes himself to the public. I notice,» he added with a touch of malice, «that despite your idealism you have not yet been able to produce such a man. Both Pont-de-Seine and Petit-Clamart failed because no one was prepared to risk his own life to make absolutely certain.»

«There are patriotic Frenchmen prepared even now…» began Casson hotly, but Rodin silenced him with a gesture. The Englishman did not even glance at him.

«And as regards a professional?» prompted Rodin.

«A professional does not act out of fervour, and is therefore more calm and less likely to make elementary errors. Not being idealistic he is not likely to have second thoughts at the last minute about who else might get hurt in the explosion, or whatever method, and being a professional he has calculated the risks to the last contingency. So his chances of success on schedule are surer than anyone else, but he will not even enter into operation until he has devised a plan that will enable him not only to complete the mission, but to escape unharmed.»

'Do you estimate that such a plan could be worked out to permit a professional to kill Grand Zohra and escape?»

The Englishman smoked quietly for a few minutes and stared out of the window. «In principle, yes,» he replied at length. «In principle it is always possible with enough time and planning. But in this case it would be extremely difficult. More so than with most other targets.»

«Why more than others?» asked Montclair.

«Because De Gaulle is forewarned-not about the specific attempt, but about the general intention. All big men have bodyguards and security men, but over a period of years without any serious attempt on the life of the big man, the checks become formal, the routines mechanical and the degree of watchfulness is lowered. The single bullet that finishes the target is wholly unexpected and therefore provokes panic. Under cover of this the assassin escapes. In this case there will be no lowering of the level of watchfulness, no mechanical routines, and if the bullet were to get to the target, there would be many who would not panic but would go for the assassin. It could be done, but it would be one of the hardest jobs in the world at this moment. You see, gentlemen, not only have your own efforts failed, but they have queered the pitch for everyone else.»

«In the event that we decide to employ a professional assassin to do this job…» began Rodin.

«You have to employ a professional,» cut in the Englishman quietly.

«And why, pray? There are many men still who would be prepared to do the job out of purely patriotic motives.»

«Yes, there is still Watin and Curutchet,» replied the blond. «And doubtless there are more Degueldres and Bastien-Thirys around somewhere. But you three men did not call me here for a chat in general teams about the theory of political assassination, nor because you have a sudden shortage of trigger-fingers. You called me here because you have belatedly come to the conclusion that your organisation is so infiltrated by the French Secret Service agents that little you decide remains secret for long, and also because the fare of every one of you is imprinted on the memory of every cop in France. Therefore you need an outsider. And you are right. If the job is to be done an outsider has to do it. The only questions that remain are who, and for how much. Now, gentlemen, I think you have had long enough to examine the merchandise, don't you?»

Rodin looked sideways at Montclair and raised an eyebrow.

Montclair nodded. Casson followed suit. The Englishman gazed out of the-window without a shred of interest.

«Will you assassinate De Gaulle?» asked Rodin at last. The voice was quiet but the question filled the room. The Englishman's glance came back to him and the eyes were blank again.

«Yes, but it will cost a lot of money.»

'How much?» asked Montclair.

«You must understand this is a once-in-a-lifetime job. The man who does it will never work again. The chances of remaining not only uncaught but undiscovered are very small. One must make enough for this one job both to be able to live well for the rest of one's days and to acquire protection against the revenge of the Gaullists…»

«When we have France,» said Casson, «there will be no shortage…»