Dudnyk sat confused, relieved about Ninel, angry and embarrassed all at once. Seeking energy for his whirling mind, he plucked one of the mints from the bed, popped it towards his mouth.
She intercepted it. Crushed the candy.
“No, Ilya.”
“What?”
“Trust no one.”
Someone darted across the hall doorway. A motion glimpsed. Gone in an instant.
“Ninel!?” he shouted.
“Or worse.”
Dudnyk hopped off the bed, dragged his captive into the hallway. “Ninel, we were just talking!” He lurched one way, Ezeriņa the other, the recoil sending them both tumbling to the hall floor.
“I’m in a Marx Brothers film.”
“Karl Marx, Ilya.”
Even from their low position, they could see the hall was empty. Somewhere a distant noise. Like a door or window slamming.
Then silence returned to Aristov Manor.
They s
