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Texas Walt shook his head “Searched high and low Found a shoulder holster that was probably his And a boot with a knife sheath But no body The boys think coyotes et it”

“I don’t believe that,” said Bell

“Neither do I Critters always leave sos turned up nothing … It’s been three months …”

Bell did not reply When a smile warmed his face, it was because he saw Marion across the room

“Everything’s deep in snow …” Texas Walt continued

Bell remained silent

“… I pro?”

Bell laid one big hand on Texas Walt’s shoulder and the other on Archie‘s, looked each man in the eye, and said what they expected to hear “Never”

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

DECEMBER 12, 1934

GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN

ISAAC BELL FASTENED HIS CLIMBING SKINS TO HIS SKIS ONE LAST tied his sled up a steep slope that was raked by windblown snow and slick with ice At the top stood Kincaid’s castle Before he reached it, he stopped to peer at a halo of electric light several hundred yards away that marked the checkpoint of aruarded the road that led to the ate

He saw no sign that they weren’t huddling fro toward the back of the castle The loo structure was a testament to Kincaid’s resourcefulness Even in defeat, he had h to live in cohts where the guards and servants lived shone at the bottolelit in the near tower marked Kincaid’s private quarters

Bell stopped in the drifts beside the ancient walls and caught his breath

He took a grappling hook froth of knotted rope, and threw it high The iron grapnel rapped in rubber and bit quietly onto the stone Using the knots for handholds, he pulled hilass He cleared an area with his sleeve, pulling the glass toward him so it fell silently outside the wall Then he pulled himself over the top, retrieved the knotted rope, lowered it inside the wall, and clihted as on the second floor of the five-story tower