"Evacuate?" Eulis raised an eyebrow. The mountains surrounding Tallinn were covered in snow. It would be like sentencing the three thousand residents to death.
However, the smile on Antonio's face was like that of the snake who had convinced Eve to eat fruit from the Tree of Knowledge. He pointed at the map and grinned. "Here. Count's Oilshell mountain... They could hide here until tomorrow morning."
"Hah?!" The townsfolk all gasped in unison. They started muttering excitedly.
The tunnel was deep underground. It would easily fit all three thousand residents. And also, it would shelter them from the harsh cold above ground. They could make it! With food, they might even be able to last more than one night. Hope filled the faces of the townsfolk. It was preferable to being caught up between two warring factions.
"How would that work?" Eulis muttered, pouring a dampener on the fresh hope. He assessed the map. "Are you people thinking straight? It's twenty-five miles to the mountain. We have sick and elderly people. It won't be possible to move everyone out without New Vatican noticing. Who could even consider such a foolish plan?!"
Eulis pointed out the crack in the curtains to indicate the mountain range. It soared beautifully high into the sky. It would indeed be difficult to persuade three thousand people to get up and move there.
"That's for you to work out, Eulis—sorry, Count of Estonia." Abel looked straight at Eulis. He carefully enunciated each word to give it the force it deserved. "You are the only one who will be able to persuade them and lead them."
"Give me a break! I'm pathetic. You must be able to see that! I can't do anything!"
"You won't know until you try, right? This is a big job, but you have the knowledge and the people's love. I think you have a winning chance." Abel was patient.
All eyes were on the young count. The townsfolk in the room were holding their breath. But Eulis shook his head, adamant. "I can't do it. I'm a pathetic weakling. As soon as I even hear the sound of a gunshot, I'm like a sitting duck. That whole story where I stayed bravely with the knights—that was all a lie... all of it."
Eulis bent over and buried his head in his hands. His voice was disappearing into a little groan. "I was scared while everyone fought. I ran. I ran away alone. I abandoned all the knights who were bravely fighting for our country. And I ran. Some leader for Estonia! I'm just a coward!" Eulis trembled with regret and fear.
He was pitiful, but Abel wasn't going to spare him. "And now even, you're calling yourself a coward... "Abel was polite but there was an unusual strictness in his tone. He grabbed Eulis' shoulders and forced him to look up at him. "But still we have to take a chance... You have to lead them out!"
"NO!" Eulis screamed hysterically. "I can't do it! I won't do it! Someone else, someone stronger..."
He wasn't allowed to finish. A huge slap sent him flying to the floor. Eulis was caught unawares. Silently, he looked down at the floor panels.
"You really are pathetic." Abel looked down at Eulis as he quietly lowered his hands. Behind his glasses, his eyes shone cold. His expression was so stiff that he looked almost inhuman. "But we do not have time to continue this. Even as we speak, someone we love dearly is facing a death sentence. Fine. We won't ask you to do anything more," Abel spat out. He then turned back to his friends. "Antonio, Tres: I want you to organize the escape. It may be difficult for you to obtain the town's cooperation, but it is far better than relying on some pathetic weakling."
"Hey!"
There was a scream from behind the priest. When Abel turned around, a fist came straight at him. The force sent him tumbling to the floor.
"Shut up, you stupid priest!"
It wasn't the count who had stood up to take revenge for the abuse. Eulis was still lying on the floor. It was the townsfolk who were standing around to defend his honor.
"How dare you think you can say what you want to him?! You know nothing about the count!" Sergei screamed at the priest. His cheeks were flushed. "The count is always thinking about us. He's never been strong but he studied hard, and little by little, he's worked to improve our lives. He may have his flaws, but no one can call him a coward!"
Sergei's sermon raised muttered agreements from the other townsfolk. They set upon kicking the fallen priest.
Eulis protested. "Ple-please..."
He had let them all down this morning. He had been overwhelmed by an old man. Eulis couldn't understand how they "Ye-yes." Christa looked upset. "If this turns into a battle, what will happen to my husband? My poor Rudolph may be killed as a heretic."
"Don't worry yourself. Abel will enter the castle before the fighting gets too fierce. He'll also look for your husband. Don't' worry. Abel will find him."
Antonio's kind words were empty, though. Abel might not have the time when he was in enemy territory to look for Rudolph. Even if he did, the chances of finding him safe were slim. Antonio knew this. But Christa didn't seem to realize, and she stopped frowning a little.
"Really? I'll put my faith in Father Nightroad. I know that he'll be able to rescue my husband."
"Of course. So please don't worry." Antonio smiled to ease her. She left the room, looking a little more relaxed. When she had left, Antonio turned his attention back to the evacuation operation with a troubled expression.
There was something bothering him. He turned back around to look at the door through which she just left.
Antonio stood for a while, immersed in his own thoughts.
✦ ✦ ✦
"Forty pounds of plastic bullets please." The young priest put the shopping basket on the counter. "I'd also like enough canned and nonperishable food to last for four days. I'd also like a plane capable of taking off in the snow."
"Have you seen the board?"
The shops were quiet. Looking up from the newspaper, Romas Quaranta eyed the foreign looking youth.
"I don't read Lithuanian. What's written?"
'"Quaranta fresh sea food. Good and cheap. Will deliver within Vilinus.' That's right. If it isn't fresh, I don't sell it. I don't have cans or bullets or anything like that. Look somewhere else," the old man said and then turned back to the newspaper. He was ready to pull out the pistol in his pocket if required. But he watched the priest reflected in the mirror near his foot and wondered what the strange man was up to. He was disturbed from his thoughts by a thick accented voice.
"Hey, don't be so cold, old man."
"You..."
A giant, over six-feet tall, knocked the gun out of Romas' hand. The man grinned. "You stopped running your store to became a fishmonger? Getting old?"
"Garcia?!" Romas' jaw dropped. Then, he quickly became ecstatic. He beat on the chest of the giant. "It's been such a long time! What's with this look? Priest garments really don't suit you. What happened to the Hispanic Army?"
"I quit. Personal reasons." The giant, Leon Garcia de Asturias, pulled a face. It was only for an instant, though. He patted the old gun seller on the back and laughed. "It's been three years. You look well."
"You never sent a single letter," the old man chided affectionately.
It made Leon grimace a little. He brought the topic back to his main purpose quickly. "There're lots of things I want to tell you, but I don't have time. Can you get the stuff for me?"
"Who do you think I am? Give me five minutes. But a plane that can land on snow? Where is the battle this time?"
"I can only say it's up north. Top secret."
"North, ay?" Leon's old friend shook his head a little, resigned, but then he seemed to remember something. "North... You don't mean Estonia, do you?"
"How do you know, old man?"
"If I were you, I wouldn't go anywhere near that place. It's no good up there." Romas frowned as he pulled the order from under the floorboards. "You know those idiots who caused the disturbance at Brno are there, right? The stragglers fled to Estonia. There're going to be a lot of dangerous types hanging round there now."
"Dangerous types?"
The old man nodded and lowered his voice to a whisper. "Yesterday, some people said three airships set off north. They'll be going to crush what's left."
Leon tensed a little when he heard this. "Make sure the ship is full of fuel; I'm going right away." He quickly picked up the paper bags that Romas had placed on the counter.
Romas eyed the giant.
"A little quicker. I'm in a hurry."