Before he was allowed entrance, he was forced to hand over the pistol that he was carrying. He had expected no less but felt utterly vulnerable without it, and not for the first time, wondered why he was going through with this. The answer was always the same. Even if the Black Hand had gotten what they were after, they would likely think there was still a score to settle with Ms. Wexler and possibly even her son. And since he greatly desired no harm to come to them, he had made a hasty and foolish decision. He knew he should have regrouped back in town and tried to come up with a proper plan. However, what's done was done and now he'd just have to manage the best he could.
The courtyard was all but vacant except for a few armed men wandering around. Whatever they were working on was clearly being stored in another part of the fort. The men cast curious glances at them as they passed by but Murdoch paid them no mind. The guard led him up a spiralling flight of stairs at the far side of the complex and before long was knocking on a door.
"Entrare," said an old European sounding man.
The guard held the door open for Murdoch to reveal a small alcove of sorts, packed full of ancient looking books and a man to match them. Murdoch had rarely come across a person as wrinkled and withered as this man, and so was a bit surprised that this was the man in charge. The guard made a move as if to station himself nearby but the old man waved him away saying something in Italian that sounded like 'uscire.' The guard continued to hesitate but then turned around and left them alone.
"I see by your previous look that you were expecting someone a little more vitale?"
Murdoch simply nodded.
"I assure you that I am still master of my mente." He smiled, "Il camminare, now that is a different story. This," he said patting the side of his wheelchair, "has been my friend these past many years."
It was then that Murdoch noticed how small and shrivelled up the man's legs were even beneath the fabric of his fine suits trousers.
"Comunque, my name is Mancini. It is nice to finally be meeting you in person, investigatore. I have heard many things about you since you interfered in our affairs with Signorina Fulford." Murdoch frowned at the mention of his almost love. "Oh I know she has changed her name, complimenti of you no doubt. You will be happy to know that we have not found her yet, but I expect that will change sooner or later. It is difficult to truly severe the legami che legano, or so I have found."
Murdoch didn't respond.
"Well aren't you a ciarliero one?"
Murdoch didn't respond.
Mancini smiled again and said, "I wonder how a man such as yourself so carelessly entered tana del leone. What was it you wanted so urgenza?"
"I think you know very well." The old man observed him through gleaming eyes but said nothing. "I have it on good authority that you've been working on something illegal and highly dangerous."
"Cos'è questa cosa?" he murmured. "And you received this information from...Signora Wexler herself?"
"Why else would you be out in the middle of nowhere, protected with a fort no less?"
"The country air is wonderful for my reumatismo." Murdoch was not amused. "Così serio! Let us be getting on with this. We have built something, that much is true but I hardly consider it cause for such concern." Murdoch raised his eyebrows at that. "You don't believe me? Venga con me!"
He didn't know what that last part meant but it didn't matter because the old man began wheeling himself towards the door and Murdoch followed him. They stopped at the edge of the stairs and for the briefest of instances, Murdoch contemplated pushing him down. As soon as he thought it, he felt repulsed with himself and silently asked for forgiveness.
Mancini whistled louder than Murdoch would have thought possible and within seconds two men were traipsing up the stairs and carrying him down, wheelchair and all. Their progress was slow but eventually they were resting him on the level ground, so gently, that it was as if they revered this man more than anything else in the world. Perhaps they did.
The old man led Murdoch into a side chamber that was narrow but extremely long. It appeared to traverse the entire length of the fort. Originally it had been a dining hall as evidenced by the column of tables that stretched across the room. At the end of this area, there was an enormous elevator that clearly had been built quite recently. Murdoch estimated that it would be able to hold upwards of twenty people, either that or something quite large and heavy. Possibly something made out of concrete?
At this thought, Murdoch couldn't help but ask, "Why did you have Daniel killed? Surely that wasn't necessary?"
"Of course it was, investigatore," he said as he accessed the lift. It began making its way up creakily to their floor. "As I'm sure you already know, we do not like loose ends and Signor Baldwin was quite ciarliero. And since he had been here before...well you can see how that was a problem for us."
So that explained how the concrete got on his boot!
"How can you be so cavalier about a man's life?"
The elevator arrived but they didn't get on, instead the Italian cocked his head and said, "Perdonami, investigatore, I am not familiar with this word."
"How can you care so little?" Murdoch inquired as he opened the two sets of doors.
"Ah, I see now," he said wheeling himself on in. "It is just business, nothing more. If you had grown up in the village that I had, you would not think my behaviour strange."
Murdoch didn't see the point in arguing with him so he simply entered the metallic box as well and closed the double doors. Mancini pressed the bottom button (for there were only two present) and they slowly descended to the basement level, the noise much more jarring once within the contraption.
When they reached their destination, there were more guards waiting for them just outside their doors. At first they pointed their guns at Murdoch but the old man waved them away and they parted so that they could pass. The underground tunnel was dimly lit with strings of lanterns on the rock walls and paved only with the dirt that nature had crafted millennia ago. Mancini led Murdoch along the path for a little while. When they came to a fork, he veered right and they continued on to find the area becoming brighter. It was not the normal illumination that one would find in such a place, indeed anywhere. There was an eerie bluish glow coming from scores of tiny points along the ground at uneven intervals. Some were larger than others but none were bigger than the size of a hand. Murdoch finally realized what it was.
"Scoria."
"Precisamente!"
As they entered further into the cave recess, Murdoch saw a large object towering ten feet high and four feet across. It was a gigantic box. He began to feel apprehensive again as Mancini went over to it. The Italian retrieved a familiar looking key from his pocket and inserted it face down into an identical grove on the side, turning it clockwise twice before a clicking sound was heard. Mancini pushed on the side, it opened up sideways and Murdoch came over to see what the terrible secret was.
He stood there awed and confused for several moments, trying to understand what was going on. In front of him was a large phosphorescent statue! While it was luminous like the concrete bits scattered around, the effect was much grander when concentrated into one massive area. Therefore it was quite stunning and Murdoch was at a loss for words as he witnessed the beauty of it. Had Julia been right after all? Was this all they had been up to?
"I see you admire our fine craftsmanship. It is not surprising to me. Signor Pelloux is quite the sight to behold!"
"Italy's current Prime Minister?"
"Proprio così. He is a great, great man. I wished to honour his legacy and that is why I had this everlasting replica made of him."
"But why all the secrecy if this is all you were up to? Why this elaborate ploy?"
"It is not every day one sees a glowing blue man, investigatore. I wanted it to be completed first before anyone bore witness to its majesty."
Murdoch wasn't buying what he was selling. It was all too strange to believe. Who did he think he was? So Murdoch began investigating the statue at close range, looking for anything out of the ordinary, some sign that would explain why Mr. Wexler had been frantic to keep this under lock and key.
After ten minutes Mancini broke the silence and said, "Are you satisfied yet? It is as it appears, investigatore, there is no hidden segreto."
Murdoch eyeballed him and said, "Then perhaps you can explain why Mr. Wexler stole the key from you in an effort to prevent this from ever seeing the light of day?"
Mancini sighed and said, "Ah, what a sad story. That poor deluded man! I'm afraid he inhaled too many chemical fumes throughout his life and sadly lost his mente as a result! He was convinced demoni were everywhere!"
While Murdoch knew such a thing was possible, he didn't think it likely in this case. Something was very fishy here and he intended to find out what. He walked over to a table nearby and picked up a crowbar.
"What are you doing?" asked Mancini suspiciously.
Instead of answering, Murdoch briskly walked over to the statue and raised his arm back.
"Arresto!" the man screamed as the iron bar made contact with the statue's chest.
It barely made a dent and so Murdoch kept hammering away at it, Mancini screaming all the while, until a chunk of concrete fell away from the main body. Beneath was a shiny steel interior.
"I wish you had not done that, investigatore," said Mancini darkly. "I did not wish to harm you. But now..."
The Italian removed a square device from his pocket and pressed a button. Immediately afterwards there was a humming sound emanating from the statue that increased in size and frequency until it was almost deafening. Mancini pushed forward on one of the control sticks and a great crack could be heard above the other sounds. The concrete was breaking apart by the statues legs, revealing more metallic materials. Murdoch began backing away at this point. As the machine moved forward, the concrete completely broke away and Murdoch was facing a steel giant. Instead of eyes, it had bright blue gleaming bulbs that easily pierced the veil of darkness down there and blinded Murdoch in the process. Since he had been backing away, he tripped over a piece of concrete and fell on his back. He stayed that way terrified for a few seconds as the robotic man moved towards him, picking up speed with every step. Finally Murdoch came to his senses and attempted to grab the remote control from Mancini's grasp. The steel giant raised an arm to reveal a machine gun in its place. Several shots rang out in the precise location that he had been heading. Seeing no other option, Murdoch ran for his life.
