"The map came from a trustworthy friend. Perhaps your chief sensed danger and had her pass it on to me ahead of time, just in case."
Douglas answered simply, without explaining further.
"What matters most now is finding your people, Mr. Aldo. Based on this more detailed map, where do you think they were most likely to have gone?"
Aldo took a deep breath to calm himself. He noticed that Douglas had said "her"-the woman who had given the chief information.
He studied Isabella's map closely, his finger moving hesitantly between several marked locations. Every mark represented a painful memory, a migration fraught with danger.
Outside, it was already broad daylight. Sunlight streamed through gaps in the cave entrance, dispelling some of the chill.
Douglas took some food wrapped in oiled paper from his seemingly bottomless pocket-a few pieces of hard-baked bread, some smoked meat, a small bag of dried fruit, and even a small waterskin.
"Have something to eat first," he told Aldo and Lupin. "We need our strength."
By now, Aldo was ravenous. Dispensing with pleasantries, he accepted the food and wolfed it down.
Lupin took a portion as well and chewed slowly, occasionally glancing at Douglas, who was deep in thought, and Aldo, who was engrossed in studying the map.
After the simple meal, all three felt considerably refreshed.
Aldo pointed to a mark on the map:
"Here, an abandoned sulfur mine near the Calabrian Fault. The terrain is complex, and the natural smell of sulfur masks scents. It's one of the fallback locations we use most often. If they managed to evacuate the main stronghold, this is their most likely destination."
"All right, that's where we'll go." Douglas made the decision at once.
They left the cave that had been cleared out and, with Aldo guiding