Marković recognized that some conflict had arisen between the brothers on the subject, with Radovan urging caution, or a less public display of vengeance: a quiet abduction for De Jaager, followed by the disposal of his remains in an anonymous grave. But Spiridon had wanted to make a statement, to offer a final farewell to the Dutch. In addition, Spiridon required De Jaager to understand that his very existence had poisoned the lives of all those around him, and their suffering was a consequence of his behavior. Although he was not asked for his opinion, Marković had sided with Spiridon, because he always did.

Also, truth be told, Marković liked killing, and had not lost his taste for rape.

All had not gone according to plan, but Marković had no regrets. Spiridon could not have anticipated a move against Nikola Musulin, a violent usurpation of the established order. Perhaps it was better that Musulin’s death should have occurred now, while they were out of the blast range, rather than later, when they were already back in Serbia. Musulin’s killers had made an error. Had they waited, they might have succeeded also in taking out the Vuksans. Now the Vuksans’ enemies were obliged either to come after them, which would be difficult and dangerous, or negotiate an agreed return – or so Spiridon had informed Marković and the others when the news of Musulin’s death came through, although Marković noticed that Radovan remained silent throughout and did not voice his support for Spiridon’s opinion of their circumstances.

But Marković didn’t much care one way or the other. He wasn’t sure that he wanted to return to Serbia. Even had he gone back with the Vuksans, he doubted he would have stayed. Western Europe offered more possibilities, more ways for a ruthless man to earn money. Marković was a follower, not a leader, and his recognition of this reality had probably contributed more to his survival than he might have realized. At home, he would have been obliged to ally himself with one of the local groupings and swear allegiance to small men. Eventually, he would have become caught up in the kind of internecine feuding that had cost Nikola Musulin his life, resulting in a transfer of loyalties to another small man under threat of injury or death. The problem was that every such move caused a diminution in one’s value and an increase in the amount of suspicion one attracted, until finally it was safer for someone to put a bullet in one’s head rather than have one roaming free, accumulating grievances. No, regardless of whatever deal the Vuksans finally managed to strike – assuming they could strike any deal at all, because that expression of doubt and worry on Radovan’s face had made an impression – Marković would find gainful employment in Europe, Asia, or even North America. A man with his skill set would never want for work.