The car was crowded. Hunter and Hongo rode up front while Virgil, Tiyana, and Vito squeezed into the backseat. The car climbed higher and higher into the mountains as the quintet drove north on the Via Nazionale. Idyllic towns in the forested Italian countryside drifted by their speeding rented sedan. Tiyana thought about how lovely it would be to visit this part of the world under less dire circumstances.

“Brilliant Hongo, just brilliant.” Tiyana was saying. “I have a good feeling that this is the place.”

“It’s more than just a feeling.” Hunter added.

“Right, this area is rural, sparsely populated, just close enough to the passes from Cuneo to France to have easy access, but far enough away not to draw attention. Attention certainly will not be drawn with everyone worrying about Genoa. If France and its nuclear energy is Ghaelvord’s real plan, then he must be out here… he must be.” Tiyana drifted off into thought.

“I don’t know, dear, there’s nothing out here.” Hunter said as he watched sheep eat grass on the side of the road. “What do you think Vee?”

“If Ghaelvord has a modus operandi, then an ostentatious attack on a major port city in one of the strongest industrialized nations in the world is not part of it.” Virgil went on, “He tends to have an ulterior motive, a hidden agenda.”

“Alright, we’re almost to Bobbio Pellice, and we need gas. Does anyone need to stretch their legs?” Hunter asked.

“That would be wonderful.” Tiyana replied from her cramped position between the portly Vito and the tall Virgil.

They pulled up to a small shop with an antique-looking pump outside. Within moments, a young man came out and began filling the tank. Hunter walked inside to browse for snacks. He picked up a package with an Italian word on it that he did not understand, but the picture led him to believe that the package was filled with a blend of chocolate and nougat. Vito came in. Hunter walked to the counter with him to check out.

After they left the store, Hunter said, “Did anything seem funny about that to you Vito?”

Vito hesitated, and then replied, “He did not understand me at first. I asked to check out and he just stared at me with that stupid, dazed look. After I spoke again, he seemed to regain his senses. Something about it reminded me of the dockworkers in Imperia.”

“Right.” Hunter mused. “The dockworkers…”

Later that evening, all five of the travelers snuck out of their hotel rooms in the middle of the night. They packed bags and struck off into the mountainside surrounding the town. They hiked up the mountainside until they came to a rocky overhang. While Hongo, Hunter, Vito, and Tiyana set up a campsite, Virgil crossed his legs and meditated.

“Wake.” Tiyana heard a soft whisper in her ear.

She was exhausted. She ignored it and returned to slumber.

“Wake.” It came again. She let her consciousness linger.

“Wake.” The third time that the subtle whisper met her ear, she opened her eyes.

The sun had just begun to peek its head over the ridges. It showered light across the plains. When Tiyana finally woke, she saw Virgil hunched beside her. The long, bony fingers of his right hand pointed toward the sky. His left hand held out a pair of binoculars.

“Look.” He whispered.

She took the binoculars and looked where he was pointing. She thought that she could make out a flicker of wings; a large bird was close. As she put the binoculars to her eyes, her jaw dropped. The image was not a large bird close by, but Malacoda far away. The bat-like black wings were unmistakable. His crimson skin glowed in the dawn.

“Shhhhhhh.” Virgil hushed her as he heard her gasp in surprise.

“We found them.” She whispered.

“Indeed.” Virgil replied. He went on, “I am going to track him. Do not let Hunter come after me.”

Tiyana nodded knowingly. The last thing they needed was Hunter’s impulsive ambition spoiling their stealth. With that, Virgil vanished into the brush.