The centre judge nodded.
Prochaska turned to Kroum again. ‘I will ask you now to identify the various items. Item one.’ He nodded to the clerk, who handed Kroum a clipped wad of papers.
Kroum looked at it.
‘Do you recognize those papers?’ asked Prochaska.
‘I do, sir. I identify them as those I found concealed beneath the tiles of the stove in Pazar’s room.’
‘Have you ever seen papers like that before?’
‘Yes, sir. These are pledge forms used as part of the initiation ceremony of the Officer Corps Brotherhood. I recognized them at once. They were secretly printed by a member of the Brotherhood now dead. His name was Markoff. He was arrested, tried, and hanged in January ’45. But these were his work.’
‘Read the pledge to the court.’
Kroum cleared his throat. He said, ‘The form is headed: Brotherhood of the Officer Corps for the Holy Protection of all Kindred Families and of the Sacred Motherland which gave them Birth and Honour. Then follows the pledge: I, Brother X, having, from the dictates of my own heart and conscience and for no other reason, submitted myself to the judgment of my Brethren in honour, and having, through the mingling of my blood with theirs, received absolution before the Mother of God for all acts committed in their name, do hereby dedicate my soul and body to the service of the Brotherhood until and unto death. Recognizing that between Brothers thus specially united by ties of blood there may be no contention or preference or inequality, I swear unconditional and immediate obedience to all orders given to me by Brothers to whom authority has been delegated by the Brethren assembled, and should authority be so delegated to me I swear to accept it and use it faithfully in the knowledge that the responsibility is shared by all equally and that my loyalty to the Brotherhood is superior to all other loyalties and avowals, private or public. My reward for faithful service shall be the honour and love of my Brothers and their protection of me and of my family. But should I betray or in any other way fail the Brotherhood, my own death will be only part of the price to be paid for the offence, for by this oath now taken I bind my whole being, and in betrayal of it all that I hold dear is forfeit. All this I understand and accept. All this I believe just. All this I freely swear to on my blood, my honour, and my life and by this act become of you my Brothers.’ Kroum looked up. ‘That is all, sir.’
‘A licence to commit treason and murder,’ commented Prochaska, ‘as the acknowledged crimes of this fraternity have long since proved.’ He nodded to the clerk, who handed up another document to Kroum.
Kroum looked at it.
‘Do you recognize that document?’
‘I do, sir. It was hidden in Pazar’s room with the papers I have just read from.’
‘What is it?’
‘A list of names under the word “Active”.’
‘Is the name of Pazar there?’
‘It is.’
‘And Eftib?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Is there any other name there familiar to the police?’
‘Yes.’ He hesitated. ‘The name of Deltchev.’
There was dead silence in the court now. Deltchev was sitting in his usual position with his eyes closed. He did not move.
‘Is there any other peculiarity about the list?’
‘Yes, sir. Certain names on it are underlined.’
‘Which names?’
‘Those of Pazar, Eftib, Vlahov, Pechanatz, Radiuje, and Deltchev.’
There was a faint murmur in the court. Deltchev opened his eyes and looked at Kroum thoughtfully.
‘Did you say that the plan to assassinate Minister Vukashin required five persons to operate it?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Then the sixth person might be the leader?’
‘It seemed likely, sir.’
‘What action did you take?’
‘I informed the Minister of the Interior, and warrants for the arrest of Pazar, Vlahov, Pechanatz, and Radiuje were issued.’
‘Did you execute the warrants?’
‘Pechanatz and Radiuje were found to have already left the country. Vlahov was arrested while attempting to do so. It was at the airport and he was placed in the waiting room to await an escort. The arresting officer had neglected to search him and while in the waiting room he shot himself. Pazar has not yet been traced.’
‘What action has been taken about the other names on the list?’
‘I ask permission not to answer that question, sir.’
‘I understand, Brigadier.’ He turned to the judges. ‘I would point out to the court that at least one man connected with the conspiracy is still in the country and free and that he may attempt to find other confederates even now. It is for that reason that all information cannot yet be made public.’
‘The Presiding Judges acknowledge the point.’
Prochaska bowed and nodded to the clerk. More papers were handed to Kroum.
‘Do you recognize those documents?’
‘Yes, sir. I identify them as from Pazar’s room.’
‘Describe them.’
‘They are messages, mostly typewritten or inked in block letters on plain paper.’
‘Read from them.’
‘The first reads: Meeting for Thursday to take place Friday. Notified V. and P.’
‘No signature?’
‘None is signed, sir.’
‘Continue.’
‘The second reads: Await advice as arranged. The third: P. remains incomplete. Progress others. The next: V. unsuccessful. Will expedite. Next-’
Prochaska interrupted him. ‘One moment, brigadier. I do not think we need trouble you to read all the messages. I wished only to show their character. They continue like that?’
‘Yes, sir. There are over thirty of them.’
‘Do you understand their meaning?’
‘I think so.’
‘They have a direct bearing on the assassination plan?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Then we will be discreet. I come to another point. Do these messages constitute a correspondence or are they only messages received?’
‘Messages received, sir.’
‘What initials appear in the messages?’
‘V., P., E., R., and D.’
‘Referring to?’
‘Vlahov, Pechanatz, Eftib, Radiuje, and Deltchev, I believe.’
‘It seems likely. What is the general character of these messages? Are they, for example, instructions?’
‘I would say they are reports.’
‘To the leader of the conspirators?’
‘I think not, sir. It is difficult to say, but in my opinion Pazar, who received the reports, was responsible for coordinating the information. We learned that he received no messages at the house. My belief is that the others used a cafe or a shop as a post office and that he collected the messages from there, copied them, and redistributed them for information to those concerned. The nature of the plan would call for constant communications of that sort during the period of preparation. No doubt each conspirator had an accommodation address.’
‘Very well. The messages have been numbered for convenience. Please find message number twenty-
