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Saer space, a whole rooh and five feet wide He could see that the left side of the rooain He could see it was Attila’s burial chamber There, in the middle of the room,

surrounded by randoold coins that had once sat in baskets or leather sacks that had rotted away, as well as jeweled swords, belts, daggers, and ornaments, was a seven-by-four-foot iron casket

The two Carabinieri guarded the prisoners while, one by one, Reh the narrow passage and began to photograph and chart every inch of the toinal location of each itean to remove the items around the coffin They were boxed, listed, and loaded on the eight carts

Boiardi stepped close to his prisoners, ere sitting on the floor of the tunnel, looking glum “Well? What do you think of this?”

The blond girl shrugged “I’ot to see it”

Boiardi said, “So you have curiosity and an adventurous soul So do I How about the rest of you?”

The other five nodded and mumbled various forms of assent

“Good,” Boiardi said “Because I’in working off your debt to the people of Italia You can help us carry these priceless artifacts up to the surface”

“That can’t be legal,” said the man with the shaved head “You can’t make prisoners work unless they’re convicted”

“Okay,” Boiardi said “This gentleman is excused from work The prosecutor will be told he didn’t want to eant Baldare, handcuff him What would the rest of you like me to tell the prosecutor?”

The others all said, “I’ll work,” or, “Okay,” or, “Tell him I helped” The man with the shaved head said, “Wait a minute I’ll help”

Boiardi nodded at Sergeant Baldare, who re, of course My hly searched at the top and the contents of all the boxes will eventually be co has stuck to you or in you, there will be a very picturesque and ancient prison in your future Understood?”

“Yes,” said each of the six in turn

An hour later, the first carts of gold, precious geed to conquered kings began tostairways toward the upper world, where they had not been since the year 453

It took five days of careful yet grueling labor to complete the exhumation of Attila’s treasure At the top, where Selma, Wendy, Pete, and three Carabinieri worked to verify and load the artifacts, things worked sical Museuht, accompanied by two unmarked police cars, and a new truck was moved into its place