Dennis Wheatley - The Forbidden Territory

The second day they were in a better state; Rex completely revived, De Richleau’s wound healing well, Simon able at least to talk cheerfully again, and Marie Lou flushed with health and excitement. Only Rakov was unhappy.

His ration consisted of a small piece of rye bread from Marie Lou’s store, and as much water as he cared to swallow. During the first two days he was never free of his bonds and gag, except when he was feeding.

Their supplies were their principal anxiety; after the first two days their fears that the ruins might be searched were lessened; evidently they were believed to have taken to the woods, but their supplies would not hold out for ever.

The Duke was in favour of their remaining where they were as long as possible, in order to give Simon’s wound a better chance to heal. Marie Lou offered to visit the farmers in the neighbourhood whom she could trust. The three friends all admired the courage she had shown on the night when they had sheltered in her cottage, but they would not allow her to take further risks. They would have kept from her, if they could, the fact that their supplies were so limited, but this was impossible, since she insisted on taking charge of that department herself.

They suffered considerably from the cold, which was intense; the second, third, and fourth day of their stay the snow fell unceasingly. Had it not been that De Richleau was well supplied with Meta fuel, they would never have survived the arctic weather.

On the second day Rakov began to have shivering fits, and, as they could not bring themselves to let the poor wretch die of cold, he was unleased three times a day and made to skip, in order to restore his circulation. De Richleau would listen to no suggestion that he should remain permanently unbound — the loss of their previous prisoner, with the horses and sleigh, was too recent in his memory.

Rex spent much time among the broken machinery. When he woke, on the second day, his eyes were bright with excitement at the thought that, after all, fate had decreed that he should reach this room, which had held his imagination for so many months. He had no doubt that he would find the missing jewels; eagerly he set to work examining the rusty mass of struts and girders. Piece by piece, with infinite patience, he went over them. Marie Lou became his assistant, and the treasure was a constant joke between them. She would look at him with a humorous twinkle in her blue eyes each morning, on waking, and ask:

“Is it today that we shall find the jewels?”

“Sure,” he would cry, with enthusiasm. “Today’s the great day.”

Simon followed the search with interest from his corner.

“Try here — try there,” he would suggest.

Only the Duke remained uninterested in this perpetual treasure hunt; his thoughts were busy with more vital matters. When the food was exhausted they would have to make a move in some direction — but how? How, without horses, in a hostile area, were they to get away? In vain he racked his brains over this impossible problem, while he beat his chilled hands against his sides to restore some semblance of warmth.

The days passed, but the treasure seekers came no nearer to their goal; the fire had calcined all the ironwork, just as Prince Shulimoff had meant that it should. Fifteen successive winters had completed the work of locking the bolts and nuts into a rusty partnership that it was impossible to sever.

Rex wrenched and hammered, much to the annoyance of the Duke, who feared that the ringing clang of the iron might betray their hiding-place to some passing peasant. With his great strength, Rex levered whole sections apart, so that the rusty mass became more tortuous than before, but it seemed that the task was hopeless. None of the pipes or cylinders gave forth the tiniest brilliant or seed pearl.

Simon endeavoured to persuade Rex that someone had been before him, and that the treasure was no longer there, but he would not have it. He wished to remove the iron sheeting from the walls, piece by piece, and would have done so had not the Duke, on the fifth afternoon, called him into conference.

“My friends,” said De Richleau, as they sat on the floor by Simon’s bedside. “The time has come when we must once more make a plan; after tomorrow our provender will be exhausted. Simon’s leg is far from well, but at least, with care, he will be able to travel without danger. Rex is rested, so, also, am I. Have you any suggestions to offer?”

“Rakov,” said Simon. “If he values his skin he’ll hand over his horses and sleigh. We could take him with us, part of the way — make certain that he doesn’t let us down.”

De Richleau nodded. “I had thought of that, but Marie Lou says the man has a family — we could hardly get his sleigh without their knowledge, and we cannot take them all!”

“Got to take a chance, someway,” said Rex. “It’s that or holding up some other farm — why not Rakov’s?”

“We shall have Rakov as a hostage,” added Simon. “Make him tell his wife that if the police chase us we’ll — er — do him in!”

De Richleau smiled. “An excellent plan, my dear Simon. Let us then take our chance tonight”

“What’s the hurry?” Rex wanted to know. “We’ve eats enough for another day.”

“True, but you would not have us start empty-handed on our journey.”

“Not on your life. What’s the matter with Rakov’s place; we fed him five days — he can feed us ten. Let’s fill up there.”

Simon tittered into the palm of his hand as his quick eyes took in the gaunt face of the peasant lashed to the furnace in the far corner. “Think we need a slimming cure, eh?”

“Don’t be a mutt, Simon,” Rex laughed. “I didn’t mean feed us as we’ve fed him, but honest, I want another day here.”

“You still persist in your idea that the jewels are hidden in this room?” asked the Duke.

“I certainly do. If I can’t get ’em by tomorrow night, I’ll throw my hand in. What’s the harm in another day? Simon’s going fine and dandy. Once we quit this place who know’s where we’ll land up; let’s take the extra night while the going’s good.”

Simon nodded, quickly. “Um. Lots in what you say. Let’s sit tight another day.”

“As you will,” the Duke agreed. “Since you have solved the problem of supplies, I have nothing against it.” He stood up. “I think perhaps it is time I gave friend Rakov a little exercise. His life has grown more precious in my eyes!”

Rex walked over to the window, and gazed thoughtfully into the garden. He idly fingered the round stumps of the iron bars that projected from the cement casement. They were the bars that Prince Shulimoff had sawn through on the night of his escape, fifteen years before. “I think,” he said, “I’ll take a walk. I’ve got a hunch that a little exercise would do me good.”

“Surely, Rex, to show yourself is an unnecessary risk,” the Duke protested. “If you must have exercise I would rather that you expended your energy on the old iron. There seem to be several quite nice pieces that remain unbroken.” He looked with distaste at the mass of rusted metal along the wall.

“Nope — this child’s for the open-air today.” Rex picked up his automatic, and also an extra one that had been taken from the agent of the Ogpu. “I’ll be careful,” he added reassuringly. “You bet I will. I know the risk all right, but I’ve had plenty practice hiding behind nothing, hunting old man grizzly in the Rockies, way back home.”

“Do you intend to be away for long?”

“I’ll be back soon after sundown. That’ll be what ... ? Round about a couple of hours.” He grinned at Simon and went out.

In the ruined corridor Marie Lou sat, making the most of the late afternoon sun, which streamed through a great rent in the wall.