~~~

This woman, thought Achille Giglio to himself, is not an ordinary sort of woman...

Without slowing his pace, he readjusted the pack he was carrying so that it rode a little more comfortably. All the while, he kept his eyes on the woman ahead of him, appreciating her steady, confident stride....

This Devi...she is no stranger to difficult journeys, to the ways of the forest...and she definitely knows where she is going, mused Achille. He was actually quite pleased to find himself reassured of this fact. Because most decidedly, he did not know where he was going. On instructions from the Professore and the Conte Foscari, he had gone back to Venezia and and found this Devi woman, who was in service to the Contessa Elena Foscari. His job then, once he had found Devi, was to convince her that he actually was carrying messages from the Padrone and the Conte, and to have her to take him to where the Contessa was hiding.

Yes, the Contessa was in hiding, with a tribe of Romani, it seemed. And Devi was the only person who could take Achille to the people who were concealing the Contessa.

He had expected the hard part to be convincing her that he wasnt one of the bad guys. In actuality, it turned out to be not so difficult. Once Achille gave a secret sign and password provided by the Conte, Devi had been more than ready to work with him. They had ridden north from Venezia, and left the horses at an inn in the foothills of the Dolomite mountains. Now they were going over trails that could only be navigated by donkeys or people on foot. There were roads -- of a sort -- though this area, roads that Devi said went to the place where the Romani were camped. After all, they had to be able to get their animals and their wagons to the campsites. But Devi stated that these footpaths would be faster, and that it would be harder for anyone who might be following them to keep up, and Achille had absolutely no inclination to give her an argument about it. Only those who knew these trails could keep from getting lost in the mountains. And Devi obviously was someone who knew these pathways very, very well.

No, they would not get lost. And anyone trying to follow them from Venice, more than likely would.

Eventually, when it was almost dusk on the fourth day of their trek, they came to what seemed to be a dead end of the path, where it dissipated in a cluster of fir trees. But Devi pointed to steep slope, almost like a wall of rock and underbrush: they climbed it and then broke through the bushes at the top, out into a glen that spread below, where campfires burned, covered Romani wagons were parked, and people went about their daily chores. The distinctive tinny clattering of hammer blows on thin metal gave evidence that tinsmiths or coppersmiths were at work somewhere among this small, mobile community.

Devi indicated that Achille should wait on the edge of the camp while she went over to a group of what seemed to be the tribal leaders, who were seated around a central fire on felled logs and rocks. Achille could see that Devi appeared to be well known to these people, and was warmly greeted by them, particularly one older gentleman, who welcomed Devi even more enthusiastically than the others.

Among this cluster of dark-haired, colorfully dressed individuals, Achille could see a figure among the group, shorter than others, wrapped in a simple, dark cloak, with her jet-back hair woven into an impressively long and full-bodied braid that reached far down her back. It was obvious to Achilles powers of observation that this person was a part of the group, but also somehow different...slightly set apart...with them, but not entirely one of them?

Achille realized almost immediately it was the Contessa Elena Foscari. His journey from Sorrentina had not been in vain.

He could see Devi pointing to him and explaining something. The main body of the tribal leaders came over, smiling, welcoming him to their camp in heavily accented Italian. The old gentlemen who had seemed especially glad to see Devi introduced himself as the chieftain of the community, and he called for the Romani women to bring wine, bread and cheese for their guest. Meanwhile, Achille could see that Devi and the Contessa had been left to themselves by the group. The sun had now set, bu their faces were illuminated by the central fire -- the council fire it would seem -- of the Romani camp.

Although the two women were quite far away from him, Achille could tell it was a relatively animated conversation. It certainly seemed to the tavern-keeper that Devi and the Contessa did not have the usual sort of relationship one expected between a Padrona and serva. From what Achille could discern in the dancing light of the campfire, Devi was giving her mistress a pretty sizable piece of her mind. He reflected that although he never hesitated to be honest with his Padrone, Don Aldo, he always made sure that he couched such honesty within a framework of respect and...well...deference, which was certainly something that il Professore was entitled to...not so much because of his formal status and position -- which in the larger scheme of things wasnt that big of a deal -- but because he had earned it though his actions as a man of honor and decency...

Achille was stirred from his thoughts by the fact that Devi had risen and was signaling from him to come over to the fire. He carried over his pack, which he had taken from his back, and extracted a small envelope. He bowed to the Contessa and began, Signorina Contessa, I bring you greetings from your father, the Conte Foscari, who is safe and cheerfully pursuing his various business interests in Rocca Sorrentina, as the former principality of Melioria is now called. He sends you this message with all possible expressions of affection, and hopes for your well-being and good health.

He handed her the envelope and followed up this action with another small bow, inclining neck and head in a modest gesture of respect. Then he continued, When you are ready, I also have a verbal message from my Padrone, Don Aldo Stern, member of the council of Magistrates of Rocca Sorrentina.

He waited while she opened the envelope and read the contents of the letter it contained. Her face was a mask as she read. If anything in the content of the letter disturbed or alarmed her, she gave no indication of it. Instead she laid the paper on the fire and impassively watched it first darken, then blacken and turn to ash. She looked up at Achille and spoke softly, My father wishes for me to join him in...Rocca Sorrentina. It seems he now knows who has been sending us confusing messages, and trying to take me into some kind of custody.... Her eyes suddenly flashed angrily as she spoke this last part...then the calm returned.

What is the message from Don Aldo?

Achille cleared his throat and began, Don Aldo Stern sends the Contessa Foscari his greetings and best wishes. He enjoins you to take care. as the agents of Signore Cristofoli are quite numerous...and as you by now know, it is Cristofoli, Chief of the Sbirri secret police in Venezia, who are behind all this confusion and the effort to detain you. My Padone also most respectfully asks that you permit the woman who is in your service, Devi, to return to Venezia with me, Achille Giglio, in order that she may employ her skills, contacts and knowledge in assisting in the execution of a plan that will hopefully correct some unfortunate situations.

The Contessa appeared thoughtful for a moment and then asked, May I know more about this plan?

Simply put, Contessa, the intention is to extract Signor Gandt from Venezia before the Sbirri realize that he is not going to lead them to you. The Professore and the Conte have shaped a plan that will provide him with the means to safely relocate...and it must be done with some haste and efficiency, hence the desirability of including Devi in the process. After all, once Cristofolis men have come to see Don Mercurio as no longer potentially useful..."

At this point Achille shrugged and then went on, "... it is not unlikely that the poor gentleman will soon end up sleeping with the fishes at the bottom of a canal.

The Contessa Elena Foscari paused, but then nodded. I understand. You have my leave to employ Devi in carrying out this plan, if she is willing to do so.

The tavern keeper smiled. Milie grazie, Contessa. If all goes as intended, Devi will be able to rejoin you on Rocca Sorrentina in a matter of no more than two weeks.

The Contessa looked puzzled and a little annoyed. What? She wont be staying in Venezia? Perhaps I have some reasons of my own for her to remain the city.

Ah...well...you see, Contessa...that would be...um...unwise, replied Achille. You see...the plan includes elements that have some significant longer-term implications.

Such as?

It is the intention of the Conte and the Professore...and their extensive networks of associates and friends...to actually strike a blow back at Cristofoli...by diminishing his assets somewhat...and by taking at least one of his operatives into custody and making a trade for someone else whom the Sbirri is holding...

Achille realized that the Contessa was staring at him with an unusual intensity for what seemed to be a very long time. He really couldnt tell if she had concluded that the plan was brilliantly audacious in its intent...or perhaps had she concluded it was utterly insane?

Finally, she spoke. I see now...yes...if Devi is involved in any of this, it would be risky for her to be anywhere near the long arm of the Sbirri for some time after the game has played out. We cannot give Cristofoli any opportunities to get even. The island will be a better place for her to be.

Achille smiled and bowed again. The Contessa is very perceptive. The Professore will be much happier with Devi on Rocca Sorrentina, once the die have been cast.

That night, the Romani camp was awash with singing, dancing and music. There was also a good bit of drinking going on, and at a certain point, Achille convinced one of the men to lend him his guitar. If the Romani man had not been quite so drunk he might have been even more doubtful about the wisdom of loaning his beloved instrument to the gadje. But Achille carefully tuned the guitar and began playing the Boccherini fandango he had been working on so much in recent months with the Professore. Although it did not sound the same without Don Aldo playing his part on the harpsichord, the Romani seemed to like it very much, especially the rousing fast passages, and several of them picked it up quickly and were soon joining in with their guitars and violins.

Achille glanced over and noticed that Devi had taken a seat next to him, and was gazing into the fire, seemingly lost in the music, a strangely charming little smile on her face.

He was very pleased. The fact that Devi would be going with him back to Venezia gave him some additional confidence that this crazy plan would work out. And then the idea that Devi would also be going on to Rocca Sorrentina after the plan was executed...that made Achille extremely happy for some reason. Yes, things might just work out nicely in the end...provided of course, that they all lived through what they were about to attempt.