Mountains of Dawn

* * *

"Mario, you said the infrared images from the last group of passes show our men?" Luigi Amedeo asked.

"Yes. It looks like they're camped right there, under a grove of pine trees." He pointed in the direction of the camp.

"Beppe: keep Il Falco circling over the area, but drop lower. We want to make sure." He contacted Caltabieni on the plane's radio. "I think we got them. Three men and a boy. I'll give you the exact location."

"I have a problem here," Caltabieni replied. "Two forest fires have developed in the region. You probably see them."

"We can see one. It doesn't threaten our men. Not yet, at least," said Luigi Amedeo.

"There are two. Don't trust them. They're expanding quickly. One is blowing in the direction of the village of Albena, from the northeast. The other is in the mountains, north of the village."

"Now, I see them both."

"The largest mountain blaze covers an area of approximately four by ten miles, and is gaining force. Three aircraft have been called in for support." Caltabieni paused. "I can't get to you, Luigi Amedeo. I can't move. I'll be there as soon as possible."

"Don't worry, our men are behind the fire line by a good ten miles. There's a clearing in front of them, a valley with only two stands of vegetation, at a higher altitude. If the wind doesn't change direction, they'll be fine. We'll do a loop around the coast and come back."

"Keep an eye on the Olfrandi boy until the rescue helicopter can get there…" Caltabieni said, his voice strained. "Please, Conte…I beg you, as a personal favor, protect the boy."

"It will be done," Luigi Amedeo assured, his voice a breath of calm.

Gianci ran, his eyes half closed against the smoke. He coughed, uncertain if it were the air causing the irritation or his cold, and brushed his hand across his tearing eyes. He stopped to listen, certain his kidnapers were close on his trail. He doubled over, coughing, then jumped, alert to sounds. He heard an airplane, but couldn't see it through the smoke. His kidnapers didn't seem to be behind him, but he couldn't trust his own instincts. He had to run, had to escape, had to find his way home.

Gianci closed his eyes tight and pressed his right hand over them, then ran with his left arm thrust before him. He had plenty of practice to walk without seeing… He crashed through the underbrush, then ran headlong into a large, isolated pine. He fell, his hand punctured by a small branch, and lay panting at the foot of the pine.