ground. That was itl The trap had been sprung, but Taleniekov did not know a Corsican was waiting for a sign of that trap.
Bray got to his feet and ran as fast as he could, his boots making harsh contact with the profusion of rocks on the hillside. He had only seconds, there was so much ground to cover, and too much darkness; he could not tell where the trees began. If there was only an outline to fire at, the sound of a voice.... Voice. He was about to shout, to warn the Russian, when he heard a voice. The words were in that strange Italian spoken by the southern Corsicans; the sound floated up in the night breezes.
Thirty feet below himl He saw the man standing between two trees, his body outlined in the spill of the muted, immobile beam of light that glowed up from the ground; the Corsican held a shotgun in his hands.
Scofield pivoted to his right and sprang toward the armed man, his automatic leveled.
"The Mataresel" Ile name was screamed by Taleniekov, as was the enigmatic phrase that followed. "Per nostro circolol" Bray fired into the back of the Corsican, the three rapid spits overwhelmed by an explosion from the shotgun. The man fell forward.
Scofield dug his feet into the body, crouching, expecting an attack. What he saw next had prevented it; the Corsican trapped by Taleniekov had been blown apart by his would-be rescuer.
"Taleniekov?" "Youl Is it you, Scofield?" "Put that light outl" cried Bray. The Russian lunged for the flashlight on the ground, snapping it off. "There's a man on the hill; he's not moving. He's waiting to be called." "If he comes, we must kill him. If we don't, he'll go for help. He'll bring others back with him." "I'm not sure his friends can spare the time," replied Scofield, watching the beam of light in the darkness.
"You've got them pretty well tied up There he goesl He's running down the hill." "Comel" said the Russian, getting up, approaching Bray. "I know a dozen places to hide. I've got a great deal to tell YOU." "You must have." "I do. It's herel" Not sure... the answer, perhaps. Part of it anyway. You've seen for yourself. They're hunting me; they'd kill me on sight. I've intruded-" "Fermate!" The sudden command was shouted from beyond Scofield on the hill. Bray spun on the ground; the Russian raised his gun. "Bastal" The second command was accompanied by the snarling of an animal, a dog straining on a leash. "I have a two-barrelled rifle in my hands, signori," continued the voice... the unmistakable voice of a woman, speaking now in English. "As the one fired moments ago, it is a Lupo, and I know how to use it better than the man at your feet. But I do not wish to. Hold your guns to your sides, signori. Do not drop them; you may need them." "Who are you?" asked Scofield, squinting his eyes at the woman above.
From what he could barely see in the night light, she was dressed in trousers and a field jacket. The dog snarled again.
"I look for the scholar." "The what?" "I am he," said Taleniekov. "From the organizzazione accademica. This man is my associate." "What the hell are you... T' 'Basm" said the Russian quietly. "Why do you look for me, yet do not kill meT' "Word goes everywhere. You ask questions about the padrone of padrones." "I do. Guillaume de Matarese. No one wants to give me answers." "One does," replied the girl. "An old woman in the mountains. She wants to speak with the scholar. She has things to tell him." "But you know what's happened here," said Taleniekov, probing. "Men are hunting me; they would kin me. You're willing to risk your own life to bring me-bring us-to her?" "Yes. It is a long journey, and a hard one. Five or six hours up into the mountains." "Please answer me. Why are you taking this riskT' "She is my grandmother. Everyone in the hills despises her; she cannot live down here. But I love her." "Who is she?" "She is called the whore of Villa Matarese."
They traveled swiftly through the hills to the base of the mountains and up into winding trails cut out of the mountain forests. The dog had sniffed both men when the woman had first come up to them; it was set free and preceded them along the overgrown paths, sure in