You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
the gentlemen’s enclave. What was his name? They had smoked hashish and talked of love. The man<br />
bent low, his head at such an angle that his eyeglasses edged down the bridge of his nose.<br />
“Lie very still,” he said. “We will find a doctor.”<br />
“No,” said Filip. The sky tilted and slid above him, as if God were shaking the world. The<br />
palace police were here now, jerking Gregor to his feet, throwing him against the side wall of the<br />
stable, and Filip could hear the clang of their handcuffs, their cursing. The hysteria of the Grand<br />
Duchess, the low silent reassurance of her maid. No word from Tatiana, but she surely knew what he<br />
had done for her. Where his loyalty had come to rest.<br />
The sky seemed less bright now. The voices not so loud and the pain not so sharp, and<br />
Rayley’s form, still bent over him, was less distinct. Filip noticed, with some distraction, that he<br />
could see the reflection of his own face in the detective’s spectacles. He looked tired.<br />
“Hold on, man,” Rayley whispered. “They’re bringing water.”<br />
Filip attempted to shake his head and failed. There was no use for water, except possibly to<br />
wash the cobblestones. He pulled in his last breath and saved it until he was sure he had the strength<br />
for nine words.<br />
“Tell them I died,” Filip said, “in service to the tsar.”<br />
9:31 PM<br />
Vlad had kept his ear pressed to the door for several minutes and had slowly convinced himself<br />
that there were no more sounds coming from the hall. He had found himself in one of the leisure<br />
rooms, a place which held a broad couch, a table with a decanter and ashtray, and what Vlad could<br />
only assume were various instruments of pleasure. He felt unclean even being there, but his hiding<br />
place had at least given him a few minutes to calm his nerves. The dock, he now remembered, would<br />
be at the end of this hall and to the right.<br />
He cracked the door open and listened. Still no noise. He leaned his head out and looked in<br />
one direction, then the other. Absolute emptiness. Then he slipped from the room and walked in the<br />
direction of the docks. It had occurred to him that if he were able to maintain his composure he might<br />
not be intercepted. He carried no hostage and no gun. During the pursuit, no one had seen his face.
Change language