She shook off one of her mittens and reached inside her coat.
“As a matter of fact, there is.”
“Well,don’t keep us in suspense,” drawled Grentham.
“Especially as our nemesis is gaining on us,” said Prescott. “If I’m about to die, I should at least like to savor a Pyrrhic victory.”
“I refuse to give up the ghost for a man who’s anointed himself as the Hand of God,” said Saybrook. “We’ll find some way to outwit him.”
He was watching Arianna fumble through the layers of her clothing. “But first . . .”
Arianna located the small chamois leather pouch in her bodice and triumphantly withdrew it. “Behold the Rurik Medallion,” she said, quickly loosening the strings and letting the legendary jeweled bauble fall onto her upturned palm.
The diamonds glittered, dazzling as pure white fire in the fluttery lamplight. The rubies clustered around the miniature portrait seemed to pulse like a beating heart.
For an instant there was silence.
“What a pretty little thing,” murmured Mrs. Schuyler. She let out a regretful sigh. “I imagine its ransom price would have kept me in silks and champagne for the foreseeable future.”
“Assuming you didn’t end up a permanent resident of the St. Peter and Paul Fortress,” quipped Wolff.
“It looks so very small, and yet it’s the Soul and Lifeblood of Mother Russia,” said Tatiana in an awed whisper.
“Which is why we need to make sure that Bishop Sergius doesn’t get his unholy hands on it,” intoned Prescott as Arianna placed it back in the pouch and retucked it inside her bodice.
“As to that—” began Fitzroy, but Grentham cut him off.
“Prescott, you must be familiar with the route between here and the Winter Palace,” said the minister. “Is there someplace along the way where we might take a secondary route and lose them in a maze of twists and turns?”
The major shook his head. “It’s mostly forestland here, and while there are a few roads ahead, there is only one bridge over the Fontanka River—”
“In winter, the rivers freeze,” interrupted Fitzroy, “and it’s my understanding there are places where it’s considered safe to cross them over the ice.”
“Yes,” answered Prescott. “The Neva River is still too deep and the season too early for the ice to betrusted. But now that you mention it, the Fontanka River has been deemed safe to cross. A path will have been marked in the snow on the roads that run down to the river.”
“I thought so,” said Fitzroy. “We need to pass on directions to José for how to reach the quickest crossing point.”
“I don’t see what good that will do,” replied Grentham. “Bishop Sergius and his cohorts will simply follow us to the crossing point. If anything, it’s we who will run the risk of trouble. Our sleigh is heavier than any one of theirs.”
“I’ve just gone through the mathematical calculations on the variables of how much weight the ice will bear. We’ll be safe. As for our pursuers . . .” He hefted the two sacks nestled between his feet. “I brought along two grenades, thinking we might have to make a river crossing. We’ll only need to stop on the ice for a few moments in order for me to set them inplace and light the fuses. I’ll time it for us to get to the far side and then—”
“Boom,” said Mrs. Schuyler with an admiring smile. “You, sir, are undoubtedly the cleverest man I have ever encountered.”
The light was too dim for Arianna to tell whether her brother blushed.
However, an odd little spark lit in his eyes. “Coming from you, Madam, that’s quite a compliment.”
Wolff swallowed a snort.
“Clever, indeed,” said the major. “Following the main road to the bridge adds at least three-quarters of an hour to the journey. They’ll never catch us if we stop them from crossing after us.”
“What are you waiting for, Prescott?” barked Grentham, ignoring the banter. “Open the trap and climb out to the driver’s box so you can guide José to the exact spot.”
To his credit, the major didn’t hesitate. A blast of wintry air whirled in as Prescott lifted the trap door and slithered out into the shadows.
The minister had already turned back to Fitzroy and was watching him measure out the fuse material. “It’s still snowing. What about the wet conditions? Will that affect the timing?”
“Bridge building often involves such challenges. This cording is impregnated with a highly flammable substance. Barring a deluge, it’s reliable in filthy weather.”
