"Dibdin, Michael - Aurelio Zen 02 - Vendetta UC - part 05" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dibdin Michael)

Thursday, 13.40 -- 16.55



'So what's the problem, Aurelio? A little trip to Sardinia,
all expenses paid. I should be so lucky! But once you're in
business for yourself you learn that the boss works harder
than...'
'I've already explained the problem, Gilberto! Christ,
what's the matter with you today?'
It was the question that Zen had been asking himself
ever since arriving at the restaurant. Finding his friend free
for lunch at such short notice had seemed a stroke of luck
which might help Zen gain control of the avalanche of
events which had overrun his life.
Gilberto Nieddu, an ex-colleague who now ran an
industrial counter-espionage firm, was the person Zen
was closest to. Serious, determined and utterly reliable,
there was an air of strength and density about him, as
though all his volatility had been distilled away. Whatever
he did, he did in earnest. Zen hadn't of course expected
Gilberto to produce instant solutions, but he had counted
on him to listen attentively and then bring a calm,
objective view to bear on the problems. As a Sardinian
himself, his advice and knowledge might make all the
difference.
But Gilberto was not his usual self today. Distracted and
preoccupied, continually glancing over his shoulder, he
paid little attention to Zen's account of his visit to Palazzo
Sisti and its implications.
'Relax, Aurelio! Enjoy yourself. I'll bet you haven't been
here that often, eh?'
This was true enough. In fact Zen had never been to
Licio's, a legendary name among Roman luxury res-
taurants. The entrance was in a small street near the
Pantheon. You could easily pass by without noticing it.
Apart from a discreet brass plate beside the door, there was
no indication of the nature of the business carried on there.
No menu was displayed, no exaggerated claims made for
the quality of the cooking or the cellar.
Inside you were met by Licio himself, a eunuch-like
figure whose expression of transcendental serenity never
varied. It was only once you were seated that the unique
attraction of Licio's became clear, for thanks to the position
of the tables, in widely-separated niches concealed from
each other by painted screens and potted plants, you had
the illusinn of being the only people there. The prices at
Licio's were roughly double the going rate for the class of
cuisine on offer, but this was only logical since there were