than squander whatever influence we have in a fight with the Defence Ministry to
get the Capitaine removed. And after those two generals got egg and tomato all
over their uniforms, Im not sure St Denis is very popular with the Defence
Ministry this week.
That was clever, Bruno thought. The local businessmen had perked up at the
prospect of financial aid, and then the joke about the generals had got them all
smiling. Every time he watched the Mayor in action, he felt he learned
something.
Thank you for coming to share your concerns, my friends, the Mayor continued,
rising from his seat at the head of the table. The council will do what we can
to help. And while were here, I am sure youll want to join me in expressing
thanks to our new local hero, our own Chef de Police, for his outstanding
service yesterday. That statement he made about our town being invaded and
defending ourselves was admirable. The Minister of the Interior was particularly
warm in his praise probably because you took the potentially damaging
attention away from him.
Bruno almost blushed as they all grunted approval and some of them reached
across to shake his hand. He still expected the Mayor to dress him down in
private for that too-too clever idea about taking over Montsouriss protest
march. But for the moment, his little speech to the TV cameras and the press
coverage had become his protection.
I do have one proposal to make, Bruno said. I think it was Napoleon who said
that when youre under pressure, its always better to attack than to sit back
and wait for the worst. I heard of something theyve started doing in the
tourist centres of Brittany that might help us here. They organise Marchés
Nocturnes evening markets. Its quite simple. We invite some of the regular
stall holders to sell their produce in the evening, but products that can be
eaten on the spot pâté, cheese, olives, bread and salads, fruit and wine. We
set up some tables and benches, provide some simple entertainment like the local
jazz club, and we ask the town restaurants and traiteurs to provide simple hot
foods like pommes frites and saucisses and pizza. There isnt a lot to do in the
evenings round here and many people particularly in the camp sites cant
afford to eat out at restaurants every night. So this would be a cheap evening
out in the middle of town, as well as a new source of income for local
businesses. And of course the town would charge a small fee to the stallholders.
It might help bring people back to St Denis despite this latest publicity.
I like it, said Dougal. Its just the kind of thing tourists love, and people
will stay on and buy drinks at the bars after they eat. I could advertise it in
all the houses we let.
It may be alright for you, but I make my living by keeping the customers inside
my camp site, spending their money at my bar and in my café, grumbled Duhamel.
But Philippe from the hotel was enthusiastic, and they all felt better at the
thought of taking some action to restore the towns fortunes. The delegation
took their leave in a far better mood than when they had arrived.
That could have gone a lot more disagreeably, so thank you for that very useful
idea, said the Mayor when he and Bruno were left alone. Are you sure you
should be at work? You looked pretty bad on TV last night with that blood
running down your face. You took some nasty knocks.
You should see the other guys, said Bruno lightly, relieved that he seemed to
have got away without a reprimand. And besides, I used to get worse on the
rugby field every week.
Yes, the Mayor said drily. Like all the rest of France, I watched you say
that on TV. Very heroic, Bruno, but I also saw you getting beaten up and it
looked very nasty from where I was watching. Half the women of St Denis have
been telling me that you saved them from the mob. Seriously, I thought you were
in for it when that gang attacked you by the steps.
So you saw our delightful Inspector Perrault come to my rescue? Not to mention
that well-aimed kick from Pamela Nelson.
We all did. The Minister of the Interior was most impressed with their martial
skills. I suspect the Inspector will find herself promoted back to a staff job
in his Paris office quite soon with that karate black belt of hers, or whatever
it is she has. An elegant and very dangerous woman they love that sort of
thing in Paris. Thats why I think well have some help from the Ministry if we
need it with the banks.
The Mayor smiled at Bruno with the affectionate but slightly superior look of a
schoolmaster realising how much his favourite pupil had yet to learn. I noticed
your dubious look when I told our businessmen that we might be able to apply
some pressure on the banks. Always remember, Bruno, that the people who really
apply political pressure are seldom the politicians themselves. They prefer to
let their staff do it for them and I think Ill make you a bet that the shapely
Inspector Perrault will soon be in a position to help us if needed.
Im not sure that shed take such a job if it were offered. Shes an
independent sort of woman.
Spoken with feeling. Almost as if your advances had been spurned.
No advances have been made, Sir, Bruno replied coolly.
More fool you, Bruno. Now, I must answer all the phone calls I asked Mireille
to hold during the meeting. Meanwhile, youd better check on the progress of
those thugs that were arrested. I assume thats being handled by the Police
Nationale in Périgueux?
It should be, but our local chaps here were the arresting officers so Ill
check with them first.
Bruno had barely got back to his own office and opened his mail when the Mayor
bustled in, muttering, That fool woman one of the phone calls that Mireille
sat on was from the Café des Sports. I told her to interrupt me for anything
urgent. Your Capitaine Duroc came along this morning and arrested Karim for
assault. Can you find out whats going on?
Assault? It was self-defence. But then he had a mental image of Karim,
probably the biggest man in the entire square, picking up the litter bin and
hurling it at the knot of Front National men with their flags. He winced. It had
seemed a good idea at the time, but Bruno knew that he himself would have
trouble even lifting the thing, let alone lifting it over his head and throwing
it. And if that crucial moment of the brawl had been caught by the TV cameras,
Karim could be in trouble.
Do you remember seeing Karim throw the litter bin? he asked the Mayor.
Yes, it was the act that turned the tide; that and your Inspector Perrault. It
was a considerable feat of strength. One of the generals said it was
magnificent. Oh dear, I think I understand. That could be seen as assault with a
weapon. Well, I think the Minister and the generals and I could stand as
witnesses that Karim did the right thing.
Yes, but theres another witness the TV cameras. And those Front National
types have access to clever lawyers and they would relish filing a complaint
against an Arab, which is how they see Karim. Even if the police decide not to
file charges, the victims could do so.
Putain! exploded the Mayor, and slammed a fist into the palm of his other
hand. He never normally swore and Bruno could not remember the last time hed
seen his friend lose his temper. The Mayor paced back and forth before Brunos