Rome, Catacombs of San Callisto (continuation)
A metallic crash echoed down the corridor. Rebeca tensed immediately.
"We're not alone," she whispered.
Elías slammed the Liber Sigillorum Vivorum shut and stuffed it inside a reinforced
backpack.
"The Dominicans left traps, but that doesn't sound like a trap," Lucas said, stepping
ahead. "It sounds like living people. Nervous ones."
Two flashlights switched on at the far end of the passage. Voices in Italian. Armed men.
"Carabinieri," Elías murmured. "But these didn't come here to pray."
Rebeca grabbed Lucas by the arm.
"What do they want?"
"The book," the boy replied. "And you."
Footsteps approached rapidly. Rebeca shut off her flashlight and pointed to a side
passage.
"Over there. Go!"
The three of them hurried into a narrow, slippery tunnel. Behind them, a shout:
"Fermo! Polizia religiosa! Armate!"
A burst of gunfire shook the ancient stone.Rebeca pushed Lucas into a hidden recess.
"Get in!"
The boy obeyed. Elías crouched beside him.
Rebeca glanced toward the main passage. Three men advanced with thermal goggles.
They've got us.
Then, suddenly, every light exploded at once. Sparks. Total darkness.
"That wasn't me," Lucas whispered. "But someone's helping us."
A hooded figure appeared behind the carabinieri. Quick strikes. One body fell. Then
another. Then another.
Silence.
The figure approached Rebeca and stopped a meter away. He raised his hands to show
he wasn't armed.
"Rebeca Neuman," a rough male voice said. "I'm not your enemy. Not yet."
"Who are you?"
The man lowered his hood. Young, gray eyes, a scar across his cheek.
"I am the Fourth Seal."
Lucas stepped back.
"You weren't supposed to appear until the day after tomorrow."
The young man smiled.
"Time is changing, kid. And you know it."