Kit tucked the green book back into his sash and climbed reluctantly off the bed and back downstairs.
They passed through the kitchen, now dark save for a faint glow from the ovens. Etzel was gone and the dining room was empty. There was a bit of strudel on a plate on the counter, and Kit helped himself. “Where are we going?”
“I’m taking you to a place I know—not far from here. You can hide out there until Burleigh leaves. He never stays long.”
The three padded through the darkened coffeehouse, threading among the tables to the front door. Wilhelmina opened it, glanced out, and then beckoned them to follow. She started off across the near-deserted square; Kit and Giles had to scurry to catch up. They crossed the square and headed down a narrow street towards the city gate.
“This place you’re taking us,” Kit said. “Where is it?”
“It’s near the river outside the city,” Mina said.
“How far?” Kit wanted to know.
As Wilhelmina turned to answer him she nearly collided with three men approaching from the opposite direction. “Entschuldigung,” she said.
The three stepped aside and she sailed on, Kit and Giles in her wake. They had gone but a few yards, however, when one of the men called out, “Oi! You there!”
Kit glanced back over his shoulder to see three Burley Men standing in the street, frozen in momentary indecision.
“Run!” shouted Kit.
“Dex! Con! Get after them,” cried the one called Tav. “I’ll fetch the boss. Go! Go!” But Kit and Giles were already streaking away.
Wilhelmina had disappeared.
Kit and Giles pounded down the cobbled street. As they passed the corner of a house, a hand snaked out and caught Kit by the sleeve. Mina pulled him into an alcove. “It’s the Burley Men,” Kit told her.
“You two go on,” she said. “I’ll keep them busy.”
Kit hesitated. “Are you sure?”
“Positive. Here, take this.” She fished the ley lamp from a pocket of her apron and shoved it at him.
Kit looked at the smoothly rounded gismo. “I don’t know how to use it.”
“It’s simple. It picks up ley activity—anything in the vicinity, and the blue lights shine. The brighter they glow, the closer you are to a line of force.” She dropped the object into his hand. “Head for the river, and follow the road east out of the city. A mile or so outside the walls there’s a little lane running perpendicular to the road. That is a ley line. I’ve used it before. The lamp will light up when you’re there.
Whatever happens, stick together.”
“What about you?”
“Don’t worry about me. Just make the jump and stay put. I’ll come find you.”
Kit nodded, drew breath, and prepared to make a run for it. “Ready, Giles?”
“One more thing,” said Mina quickly. “You’d better give me the map. It’ll be safer with me.”
Kit hesitated, but only for a moment, then yanked the slender package from under his shirt and passed it to her. “Be careful.”
“Always.” She squeezed his hand and pushed him out into the street. Giles gave her a nod and then darted after Kit.
“Good luck, you two,” Mina whispered, stepping from the alcove to watch them go.
Kit streaked off, running down a street sinking into evening shadows. The next thing he heard was someone shouting in German: “Halt! Diebe! Halten Sie die Diebe auf!” It was Wilhelmina, calling on passersby to stop the thieves escaping. Kit saw her snag one of the Burley Men and, with much waving and gesturing, begin organising the pursuit in German.
Kit ran for all he was worth, his shoes slapping hard on the cobblestones, Giles keeping pace right behind. Down the narrow street they flew, running for the city gate, naked fear making them flee. A few dozen yards or so farther on, they came in sight of the gate.
“It’s still open!” shouted Kit. “We can make it.”
“Bleiben Sie stehen! Bleiben Sie stehen!” came the shout behind them. Kit glanced back to see that a few idle townsfolk had joined the chase. Wilhelmina was nowhere to be seen.
The shouting reached the gate ahead of them. The bewildered gatekeeper, pike in hand, stepped into their path just as the two fugitives came pounding up. “Aus dem Weg! Aus dem Weg!” shouted Kit, motioning wildly for the guard to get out of the way. “Schnell!”
The guard remained planted in the road, throwing his pike sideways to bar their exit. Kit, breaking to the right, hit the shaft of the weapon, tilting it down and leaping over