Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Hunter and Prey

On this afternoon in August, several people were walking along the banks of the Danube, adding to the lively atmosphere.The Platte Forest stretches from the river bank to the southwest.Were all the walkers on the bank waiting for the brush?Probably so, since Brush had deliberately announced in advance the time and place of his arrival through the press.The entire river bank was empty, and there was nothing eye-catching about Brush's boat. How could those watching the excitement find Brush? Bush had thought about this problem a long time ago.As soon as he had reached the bank and fastened his cables, he erected a mast, on which stood a long and narrow flag with the inscription Ilya.Brush, champion of the big Zigmaringen; and then, set out the morning's catch on the canopy of the cabin, with the northern pike in the foreground.

This Americana signature hits the spot right away.Immediately, a few wanderers stopped in front of the boat and stared at the boat idly.These few onlookers attracted others, and in a short while a great crowd gathered, and at last the true fishermen, too, recognized Brush and ran towards him, and the others saw them They ran in the same direction and followed for no apparent reason.In less than a quarter of an hour, more than 500 people gathered in front of the boat.Bush never dreamed of such success. The onlookers immediately chatted with the fisherman. Mr. Brush?asked a bystander. Here, Brush replied.

Please allow me to introduce myself, I am Clodius.Rosser, member of the Danube Association, your colleague. It was a pleasure meeting you, Mr. Rosser! Several other colleagues also came, Mr. Harnish, Mr. Teez, Hugo.Mr. Zwidinek, and others I can't name. For example, me, my name is Matthias.Kaslik, a native of Budapest, said a bystander. And me, another man went on, my name is William.Bikel, from Vienna. Gentlemen, I am delighted to meet an old friend in a foreign land, said Brush. So you asked and I answered, and everyone started talking to each other. How are you doing, Mr. Brush?

very smooth. Anyway, your travel speed is fast.People didn't expect to see you here so soon. However, I have been on the road for half a month. Yes, but so far from Oschengen on the Danube to Vienna! There are almost 900 kilometers, and I average 60 kilometers a day. With the flow rate of water, even 24 hours a day, you can't go so far. That depends on where the velocity is. That's true. Where's your fish?Is it easy to sell? It couldn't be better. So, are you satisfied? Yes, very satisfied. You caught some good fish today, especially that excellent northern pike.

is ok. How much is this northern pike? You can pay as much as you want, and if everyone wants to, I want to auction off the fish and save the pike for last. Save the best for last, explains one funny man. This is a great idea!cried Mr Rosser.The person who gets this northern pike should not eat it, but if he wants to, it is better to make a specimen of it to commemorate Elijah.Brush! Mr Rosser's suggestion was echoed by all.The auction started like this.After a quarter of an hour the fisherman had a handsome income, among which the striking pike sold for no less than thirty-five guilders.

The fish were sold out, but the conversation continued between the fishing champions and the admirers who crowded the banks.People inquired about his past and asked about his future plans.Brush answered one by one with a pleasing face, without any reservation of his true thoughts.And, he told the onlookers, he will stay in Vienna all day tomorrow and spend the night in Pressburg the night after tomorrow. The time is getting late, and there are fewer and fewer people watching the excitement. Everyone has to go back to have dinner.Bush, feeling hungry too, retired to his cabin, leaving his passenger alone to enjoy the public applause.

At this time, there were still hundreds of people gathered on the shore.Therefore, two more walkers were attracted, only to find Karl.Dragos sat alone under the banner bearing the name and identity of the Danube Association Fishing Champion.Among the two newcomers, one was a big man in his thirties, with broad shoulders, blond hair and beard, the kind of blond beard and hair unique to the Slavic people.The other also looked stocky, with a strikingly broad shoulder and waist, a slightly older man with gray hair who must have been in his early forties. The younger of the two glanced at the boat, shuddered, and took a quick step back, pulling his companion back at the same time.

That's him, the young man said in a low voice as soon as they were out of the crowd. Are you sure? That's right!Did you not recognize him? How can I recognize him?I never met him. The two were silent for a moment, thinking about each other. Is he alone on the boat?asked the older man. Just him. It's Elijah.Brush's boat? Absolutely unmistakable, his name is written on the flag. This is really inexplicable. After another silence, the younger one spoke: So, under the guise of Ilya.Bush's name, who was the one who made the trip with such fanfare? What is his purpose in doing this?

The man with the golden beard shrugged: The purpose is to secretly inspect the Danube, isn't that clear? hell!said the gray-haired man. That doesn't surprise me, said another.Dragos is a very cunning man, and if we hadn't happened to pass by here, he might have succeeded in his tricks. The older one didn't seem convinced. It's as bizarre as fiction.he muttered. That's right, Ticha, that's right, agreed his companion.Dragos, though, likes to pull off this kind of fictional shenanigans.Fortunately, we can make things clearer.I just heard from someone that the fishing boat will stop in Vienna all day tomorrow, and we will come back then. If Dragos is still on board, it must be his alias Ilya.Brush up.

If that's the case, Ticha asked, what shall we do? The other party did not answer immediately. Let's think it over again, he said. The two left the river bank and walked towards the city.At this time, there were fewer and fewer people around the fishing boat. As night fell quietly, Brush and his passengers spent a quiet night.The next morning, when the passengers came out of the cabin, they found that Brush was making a comprehensive inspection of the fishing gear. It's a lovely day, Mr. Brush, and Dragosh says hello to Brush. Yes, Mr. Jager, agreed Brush. Don't you want to take advantage of the fine weather and walk around town, Mr. Brush?

Honestly, I don't want to go to town, Mr. Jager.I am not curious by nature, and there are enough things on board to keep me busy all day.After sailing for half a month, it is also necessary to take a rest. Do as you please, Mr. Brush.As for me, I don't want to be like you, I'm going to walk around the city and come back in the evening. Well, mind yourselves, Mr. Jagger, Brush agrees with his plan.Because you live in Vienna, maybe your family is here and looking forward to you! You are mistaken, Mr. Brush, I am not married yet. It's not good, Mr. Jagger, it's not good.The burden of life is carried by two people together, it is not too many people, right? Dragos laughed: Hello!Mr. Brush, don't you seem very happy this morning? Every family has their own hard-to-read scriptures, Mr. Jagger, replied the fisherman.Hope this doesn't get in your way. I'll try to have as much fun as I can, Mr. Brush, Dragosh replied and left. He set foot on the Woppertale, which runs through the Prater Forest, a meeting place for Viennese gentlemen during their spa treatments.However, in this season, and at this time, the Wupter Boulevard is almost deserted; this is also good, without the obstruction of the flow of people, he can quicken his pace. Dragos came to Konstantin︱Hugel, which is a rockery. People built this rockery because they thought it could enrich the landscape of Platte Forest.In fact, there were not too few pedestrians on the street, so that he didn't notice the two walkers who passed by him at all, because there were many people passing by at the same time.Dragos didn't pay attention to those two people at all, and continued to walk unhurriedly. Ten minutes later, he walked into a small cafe in the Prater Forest Circus.Someone is already waiting for him.A customer drinking coffee sees Dragos come in, stands up and walks over to him. Hello Ullman.Dragos said. Hello, sir, Frederick.Ullmann replied. Still nothing new? No. Well, this time we have a whole day to discuss the next course of action carefully. Although Dragos didn't notice the two walkers on Wopte Boulevard, they were the same two people who happened to hang out at the fishing boat mooring of Brush the evening before, but they had been clearly seen. he.When they met the Danube police chief, they turned around in unison, and then followed him, keeping a sufficient distance so as not to arouse his suspicion.Once Dragos had entered the little café, they went into another café across the Circus, where they decided to keep an eye on Dragos, if necessary, even for a whole day. Their patience will be tested.Dragos and Ullman spent hours discussing the details of their operation before eating their lunch at a leisurely pace.After the meal, they felt that the indoor air was too stuffy, so they went outside, ordered a cup of coffee, and enjoyed it slowly. Drinking coffee is indispensable after a meal.They were savoring the meal when Dragos suddenly gave a start; not to be recognized, he hurried back inside the restaurant and watched through the curtains a man crossing the square. It was him, God bless!Dragosh muttered, his eyes followed Ilya.brush. That person was indeed Elijah.Brush, instantly recognizable, clean-shaven, wearing glasses, and dark-haired Southern Italian. When Brush entered Kaiser-Joseph Strasse, Dragosh returned to the coffee shop, ordered Ullman, who was drinking coffee, to wait there for him to return, and then went to follow the fisherman. Elijah.Brush walked straight forward, his expression was serene, his steps were calm, and he didn't think of looking back.He went as far as the end of Kaiser-Joseph Strasse, then turned right, crossed the Augarten Park, and came to Brigitnostrasse.After hesitating for a moment, he finally entered a dingy little shop in one of the poorest streets in the working-class district. Half an hour later, Brush came out again.Dragos followed him unnoticed, and memorized the signboard name of the shop by heart.Brush ascended the left bank of the canal via Rembrandt Street, then strolled along the Prater Boulevard until he reached the Circus Square, turned right without hesitation, and set foot on the Wupter Boulevard.He was evidently heading back to the ship, so Dragos felt no need to follow him any further. So, Dragos returned to the small cafe, Frederick.Ullman was waiting for him, faithful to his duty. You know a man named Simon.Klein's Jewish?he asked as he approached Ullman. Of course I do, Ullmann replied. What is this Jew doing? Nothing good.Second-hand goods dealer, usury lender, and sometimes landlord, I think these three words are enough to describe his image from head to toe. Exactly as I expected, Dragos muttered, as if lost in thought. After a moment, he continued: How many people do we have here? Forty people, Ullman replied. There are enough people.Look, what was said this morning has to be completely overturned now.The plan of action had to change, because the deeper I got into the case, the more I felt that crime always happened where I was going. Where are you going?I don't know. There is no need to ask.The people under your command are arranged in groups of two on the left bank of the Danube, starting 20 kilometers downstream from Pressburg, and setting up a sentry every five kilometers.Their sole mission is to track me down.When the two people at the first sentry post saw me, they immediately rushed to wait five kilometers away from the last sentry post, and so on.Do you understand?The most important thing is that they must see me! what about me?Ullmann asked. You, arrange it yourself, as long as you don't see me.Since I am traveling in the middle of the river in a boat, it is not difficult to see me. Of course, your subordinates must obtain as much information as possible when they are on guard.When necessary, a sentry should notify others as soon as possible after learning of the emergency. Understood. Everyone starts tonight, and I hope to see you tomorrow are all deployed and in place. They will.Ullman said. Dragos took the trouble to explain his plan many times until he thought his subordinates had fully grasped his intentions.Then decided to go back to the boat, it was getting late. And in the little café on the opposite side of the square, the two strollers on the Prater Boulevard did not let up their scrutiny at all.They saw Dragos come out of it, but they couldn't figure out why, and Ullman, like any ordinary passerby, didn't attract their attention.They immediately tried to follow Dragos, but Ullmann's presence prevented them from doing so.However, since Ullmann was waiting for Dragos, they were relieved, believing that Dragos would return after a while, so they themselves waited in peace. The detectives finally returned, proving their reasoning right.Once the detective and Ullman entered the café, they continued to peek across the street until the police chief parted ways with his subordinates. Ullman was left to walk towards the city center, and the two stalkers kept their eyes on Dragos again, and followed him back to the Wuput Boulevard, the street they had walked in opposite directions this morning. of.After walking for a quarter of an hour, they stopped, and a row of trees on the bank of the Danube appeared in front of them. They no longer doubted that Dragos was going back to the boat. Don't follow any more, said the younger man.We can be sure now, Elijah.Bush and Carl.Dragos is indeed the same person.The goal has been achieved, if you continue to follow, it may be noticed instead. So what to do next?asked the man with the broad shoulders of a wrestler. Come on, replied the other, I have my own idea. After stalking Dragos all day, the two strangers finally made their way to the Prater Circus, hatching some plans they would put into practice.Meanwhile, Dragos had returned to the boat, and it never occurred to him that he would be watched all day.Bush was busy preparing dinner on board.An hour later, the traveling companions, as usual, dined together astride a bench. Hey, Mr. Jager, did you have a good time today?asked Brush when they had finished their meal and began to take up their pipes. Very happy, Dragos replied.How about you, Mr. Brush?Have you not changed your mind about going around Vienna?Or, to see some old friend? No, Mr. Jager, said Brush firmly.I don't know anyone here.After you left, my feet didn't touch the shore. is that true? Yes, I never left the ship, and there was so much to do here that I was busy from morning to night. Dragos didn't contradict him.The captain lied to his face, which aroused Dragosh's thoughts, but he kept everything in his heart and would not reveal it.Next, they chatted ramblingly until tiredness hit them.