Page 147 of The Last Kingdom

He studied the mural and recalled the deciphered text.

Through the Venus mount to the redoubt.

He also further noticed the ongoing construction. Scaffolding extended out of the shallow lake up to the ceiling. It appeared some extensive repair work was going on. More scaffolding rose against a far wall where the structure’s iron underbelly was exposed. Tools, compressors, and a generator dotted the minimal amount of dry space that ringed the lake. The shell boat in the center was sheathed in clear plastic. The whole place was like a movie theater after the show was over and the lights came on. The magic and make-believe gone, only the reality that had been there all along remained. The air cast an oily, metallic odor.

“Where do you believe we should look?” Ming asked.

“It is quite clear,” Fenn said. “Though a mural was first created in the 1870s, this is not the original. That suffered extensive damage from neglect during the First World War. So much that it was heavily repaired in 1920. By then Ludwig III was no longer king, but the restoration happened anyway. It is not widely known, nor was it advertised, but a large portion of this mural had to be quietly reproduced. My guess? Ludwig III took advantage of that restoration. I believe what we seek is on the other side of the wall behind me. ‘Through the Venus mount to the redoubt.’”

He agreed. It made sense.

“Fitting he called it a redoubt,” Fenn said. “A place of retreat. Where one took their last stand.”

Cotton heard the distantrat-tat-tatof gunfire. The others noticed too. Which could mean a multitude of things. The two men with the guns stood behind him, limiting his options.

But he wondered.

Had Koger arrived?

* * *

LUKE LAY STILL ON THE FRIGID GROUND, HIS RIGHT CHEEK CHILLEDfrom the snow. They’d all dove for the side of the path and lain flat in the instant before the shooting started, staying down as rounds whined by. Once the firing stopped they’d remained down. The idea was to draw their attackers in, casting a sense that the threat had been neutralized. So he lay motionless, only his left eye squinted open enough for him to see anything approaching.

“There’s two of them,” Toni whispered, lying next to him.

Yep. But he lay farthest from the paved path. Toni had dropped between him and concrete. She was closer. That meant the first move would be hers. Koger lay on the other side with Dorner beside him. He kept a close watch. Toni was right. Two forms materialized from the darkness. One came their way,the other toward Koger. Both toted rifles. One of the forms stepped close, still cradling the weapon, finger on the trigger, but not pointed their way. Almost like he was thinking,Job done, killed them all, now let’s verify and get out of here.Was he really going to—

The guy crouched down.

Toni moved in a flash, clipping his feet out from under him with a sweep of her arm. The legs went forward, feet in the air, and the guy’s butt pounded down hard. She sprang up and slammed her right elbow into his face, sending the back of his head thudding into the pavement. Luke came up, ready to react, but the guy wasn’t moving.

“That’s going to leave a mark,” he said to her.

“I hope so.”

He glanced over to see that Koger had dispatched his man just as quickly.

“How are the ribs?” he asked.

“I’ve felt worse.”

Say what you want about him, but Koger was tough.

They disarmed both attackers, tossing the weapons deep into the foliage.

“We need to get to Malone,” Koger said.

He heard the roar of an engine from behind them. Back from where they’d left the car.

More company?

“Off the path,” he told everyone.

And they scampered into the woods.

Headlights appeared from around a bend.

Chapter 82