Maria waved. Kat, having returned the pistol to the reticule, waved back.
'Mighty silent friend, that,' said Benito curiously.
Maria yawned. 'Be a good thing if you buttoned your lip sometimes, Benito. Let's get home. I can't wait to bathe myself.' She could hardly believe that he hadn't recognized Kat. But then, looking in a mirror, she'd hardly recognized herself in these clothes.
'She reminded me of someone,' said Benito. 'But I can't think who. I don't know any posh women like that. But I hardly even recognized you in those clothes.' He hesitated. Then, speaking much less brashly than usual, almost shyly: 'You're real pretty when you dress up nice, Maria Garavelli. Real pretty.'
Maria swatted his ear. Gently, though. She was quite sorry Caesare hadn't seen her in Kat's best gown. She was tempted to hang on to it for long enough to model it for him, but on reflection that wasn't a good idea. For Kat's safety, it would be best if she revealed as little about her part in this as possible.
Chapter 57 ==========
When Father Mascoli saw the three figures entering his little chapel in the Cannaregio, he sighed. 'Come into the back,' he said. 'I don't want to discuss the matter out here.'
He led them through the door behind the statue of Saint Raphaella and into his private quarters. Then, seeing them pause, he waved his hand. 'Further in the back,' he muttered. 'We need someplace that I'm certain is safe.'
He opened the water-door at the rear of his cell and led them into the small water-chapel beyond. There was just enough room for four men to stand there.
The three other priests examined the chapel with interest. Their interest was aroused further when the heads of two undines broke the water and gazed at them. The undines' eyes seemed wary--or perhaps simply watchful. Both of them were female.
'It's all right,' said Mascoli. 'These are . . . friends.' There was just a slight hesitation before the last word.
The undines studied the three strange priests, their eyes spending most of their time examining the shortest one. 'I hope so,' hissed one of them. Pointing at the short priest: 'That one could be dangerous. Very powerful.'
The priest in question pulled a wry face. The solid eyebrow line twisted into an S-shape. 'First time I've ever been called that. Even before my leg got mangled.'
'She's not speaking of your physical strength, Father Lopez,' replied Mascoli, almost snapping. 'As you well know.'
'He likes to practice modesty,' said one of the other priests, his Savoyard accent very pronounced. 'Good thing, too. He'd be insufferable otherwise. I'm Pierre, by the way. The other one is Diego.'
Despite the tension of the moment, Mascoli chuckled. 'Well said. All right, then. I assume you've come because you heard the news about Dottore Marina. Reappearing in Venice--out of nowhere, it seems--after all these years.'
Lopez nodded. 'We need to speak with him. But it would be dangerous--very dangerous--to do so openly. We thought . . .'
'I can place you in touch with him,' agreed Mascoli. 'But for the moment, at least, I think you should have no direct contact at all. I doubt if Marina would agree, in any event. He is very frightened by the state of things in Venice.' Mascoli nodded toward the undines. 'The dottore has a special relationship with them. They can serve as the messengers.'
'Difficult,' hissed one of the undines. The tone of her voice was distinctly unhappy. 'The stupid dottore has gone too far from the water.'
'Not safe,' hissed the other.
Diego eyed them curiously. 'From the rumors which have been swirling through the city for months, the water is the most dangerous place to be. Because of the so-called 'canal monster.' '
The undines gaped shark-toothed grins. 'Dangerous for most. Dangerous for us, even. Not dangerous for the dottore.' One of the undines sank below the surface for a moment, then came up gushing water out of her mouth in an undine version of laughter. 'The dottore eat that one easily.'
'That makes sense,' murmured Eneko. 'A Grimas would be vulnerable to steel-clad enemies. Another great sorcerer; the most powerful of demons. And not much else.'
