the next time he questioned them. All kids, be they Aureumian, Raízian, Kantesian, or Izmorozian, were stupid like that.
Guido returned to the station house and found his men waiting for him, their uniforms smart, and their swords polished.
“It is possible that there is a woman newly arrived in town who might be involved with some sort of rebel organization,” he told his men. “We have no concrete evidence as of yet, but we would not be doing our duty if we didn’t follow up on it. I will approach the tannery from the front entrance. You will all fan out and circle around. If she runs, we’ll know she’s at least hiding something. Do not allow her to escape, but do not kill her. We will need her for questioning.”
“Yes, sir!” They looked a little overeager, but Guido could hardly blame them, given the many dull weeks they’d spent in this place. He just hoped they didn’t kill her in their enthusiasm. Killing an old woman on mere suspicion of seditious activity was not the way to get a promotion.
Guido strode purposefully through the village to the tannery, which, because of its awful stench, lay at the edge of the village closest to the tundra. It was larger than the other buildings, though still made of drab, unpainted wood, with mud sealing the slats and thatch as a roof. He eased off his pace until his soldiers were in position, then headed straight for the front door, doing his best to breathe through his mouth. Unfortunately, as he got closer, he found that the air even tasted bad.
He banged on the door with his fist. No sense beating around the bush now.
“Open up, Gennady! I need to speak with your cousin!”
There was a great deal of shuffling and muttered curses behind the door. Gennady’s strained voice lent additional credence to Guido’s suspicions. “Uh… just a second, Captain, sir. I’m, uh… right in the middle of something.”
This will be over before it’s hardly begun, Guido thought sadly. Really, it was almost too easy. But at least he had the interrogation to look forward to.
He pounded on the door again. “I’m warning you, Gennady! You better open this door or I’m going to break it down!” He of course could not actually do that by himself. Whatever else they were, these little hovels were damn sturdy.
The door opened to reveal a flushed, sweating Gennady. His attempt at a smile was painful. “What can I do for you, Captain?”
“As I said, I need to speak with your cousin.”
He gave a tremendously exaggerated look of regret. “Sorry, sir. You just missed her.”
“Oh, I doubt that,” said Guido.
There was a hoarse female shout from behind the building and Gennady suddenly looked very alarmed.
“Oh my,” said Guido. “I wonder what all the commotion is. Shall we go see?”
Guido grabbed Gennady’s arm and pulled him around to the back of the tannery. Beyond the building lay a few sparse trees that stuck feebly out of the snow before giving way entirely to the vast and open tundra. It was almost like a white sea, beautiful in its way, and perhaps just as cruel.
His men had caught up with the old woman just beyond the tree line. It appeared that in her panic she had attempted to flee into the tundra. She really must have something to hide if she was willing to take an action tantamount to suicide. After all, no one could survive the tundra in winter. Even now, the old woman was surprisingly lively as she bucked against the two men who held her.
“Well, well,” called Guido as he drew near. “Mathilde, isn’t it? I can’t wait to hear what you have to say. Judging by your desperation, it might even be worthwhile.”
“I’ll never tell you anything!” the old woman hollered.
“Not right away, of course,” agreed Guido. “But despite what old heroic legends might suggest, I’ve found that most people buckle under torture rather quickly.”
“Please, sir! Have mercy on her!” begged Gennady.
“Mercy is not killing you for harboring a seditionist,” Guido replied. “Now, Ms. Mathilde, shall we return to—”
Then an arrow pierced the throat of the soldier holding Mathilde’s right arm. A moment later, the soldier holding her left arm fell as well, blood gushing from his neck.
“Where is that coming from?” demanded Guido as he crouched low to the ground.
His soldiers drew their swords and wheeled around, looking in every direction except of course the tundra.
The tundra.
Guido saw someone standing out in the middle