73

Abi stood near the snow-gates and watched as Markovich checked the locks.

‘Any tampering?’

‘No. These are still locked.’

Abi shook his head. ‘I don’t believe it. Let me look.’ He kicked the Lada Niva’s door shut behind him and strode over to the gates. He took the lock in both his hands and examined both it and its chain as a jeweller might inspect a damaged string of pearls. ‘What’s this then?’

Markovich craned over him. ‘I don’t see anything.’

‘These scratches. And look down here. Below the gate. Ruts.’ Abi scooped back the snow like a dog marking its shitting place. ‘Can’t you see, man? The snow has barely had time to cover them back up. A vehicle has definitely been through here within the past few hours.’ Abi ducked under the gates and walked a few yards towards a tree that overhung a corner of the road. ‘Yes. Look at this. Where the tree has protected the road. More tyre marks. The fresh snow hasn’t covered them yet. Did you say Andrassy had snow chains?’

‘I’m almost certain.’

‘Well this looks like snow chains.’

‘But it could be the army. Or the police. Or anyone.’ Markovich looked terminally uncomfortable. ‘Mr de Bale... Count de Bale... I think we are on a wild goose chase here.’

‘Why not phone your boss again and see what he has to say about it?’

Markovich ducked his head. He looked disgusted. He hadn’t eaten for ten hours, and he missed his wife. She’d probably be cooking dumplings and meatballs. Plus he had a case of Czech beer which he had won in a recent game of skat. He could almost taste how the beer and the meatballs would melt together in his mouth. Then he would upend his wife and get her giggling, before having sex with her in their favourite position – her on top and facing away from him with her hands on his knees. Sublime.

‘The Coryphaeus has told me not to telephone him anymore. Not to bother him.’ Markovich couldn’t keep the peevishness out of his voice.

‘Oh, really? And did he not tell you to obey my orders before he downed tools?’

Markovich sighed. ‘Yes. He did.’

Abi strode back to the barrier. He took his picklocks out of his pocket and worked the lock back and forth until it snapped open. ‘You see? It’s not rocket science. A child could figure this out in five minutes.’ He threw the gates open. ‘It’s my bet they’ll never make it to the top of the pass in that load of crap they are driving. Hand me one of those pistols. We three have work to do.’