Page 44 (1/2)

I fell back, nearly losing my balance on the bench My Master's arm had come between us, and his hand covered the red-haired man's shoulder

"What's the secret, Sir?" I cried frantically, "the secret of Santa Sofia, the one we must believe?"

The red-haired s around hiht it was because he was drunk He looked at Marius's arers clutching his shoulder Then he looked at Marius and so did I

Marius was human, utterly human There was no trace of the iod left His eyes and his face si, and his lips were bloody, and when he licked theue was ruby red He smiled at Martino, the last of them, the only one left alive

Martino pulled his gaze away from Marius and looked at me At once he softened and lost his alarm He spoke with reverence

"In the e, as the Turks stormed the church, some of the priests left the altar of Santa Sofia," he said "They took with them the chalice and the Blessed Sacrament, our Lord's Body and Blood They are hidden this very day in the secret chambers of Santa Sofia, and on the very moment that we take back the city, on the very reat church of Santa Sofia, e drive the Turks out of our capital, those priests, those very priests will return They'll coo up the steps of the altar, and they will resume the Mass at the very point where they were forced to stop "

"Ah," I said, sighing and h secret to save a man's life, isn't it?"

"No," said Marius "I know the story, and he made our Bianca a whore "

The red-haired man strained to follow our words, to fathoe

"A whore? Bianca? Aso siht this heated passionately florid man was beautiful, indeed And well he was

"Ah, but you taught her the art ofthe man's shoulder, while with his left arht lock on the ht He bent his forehead to touch Martino's temple

"Hmmm," Martino shook hiht her any such thing "

"Ah, but you did, you taught her, and to kill for such paltry sums "

"Master, what is it to us?"

"My son forgets hiets that I am bound to kill you on behalf of our sweet lady, wholed into your dark, sticky plots "