“And the children, I know. Do you love anybody else?”
“Who else would I love?”
She nodded, her black eyes flashing. “That’s what I mean, you see? These men can still love people! They came so far, so many thousands of miles into danger, because they loved your Uncle Marko and they want to find the man who killed him. What else did they come for? All I want — I want you to understand that, and I know it isn’t easy because it wasn’t easy for me — we can’t have that kind of love, but we can understand it, and we can hope for Ivan and Zosha to grow up to have it someday. You can’t just say these men must die.”
“I can say whatever is necessary.”
“But it isn’t. And anyway, you didn’t mean it. I know how you say a thing when you mean it. You must forgive me, Danilo, for speaking, but I was afraid you would go on like that until you couldn’t back down. It made my heart stop beating to hear you say these men must die, because that is exactly wrong. The real truth is that these men must not die.”
“Bah.” He was scowling at her. “You talk like a woman.”
“I talk like a mother, and if you think that is something no fine, brave man should listen to, I ask you, who made me a mother? You can’t wipe it out now.”
All I knew was that it was no longer a very nice party, and all I could do was watch their faces, including Wolfe’s, and listen to their voices, and try to guess what was up. Also I had to keep an eye on Wolfe’s left hand, because we had arranged that he would close his left fist and open it again if a conversation reached a point where I should be ready to join in with the Marley or the Colt. It was damned unsatisfactory. As far as I knew, Danilo might be scowling at his wife because she was begging him to stick a knife in me so she could have my green jacket to make over for Ivan and Zosha. I heard their names three times.
Wolfe put in, “You’re in a fix, Danilo,” he said sympathetically. “If you let us go we might unwittingly endanger your plans, I admit it. If you have us removed, you will affront the memory of Marko and all he did for you, and also, if you listen to your wife, you will forfeit your claim on the future. I suggest a compromise. You say it is always best to go there at night. Take us there now. If it is impossible for you to leave, get someone to take us. We will be as circumspect as occasion will permit.”
“Yes, Danilo!” Meta cried. “That would be the best—”