over the frames of two wooden projections. Nearby was an easel with some paperwork attached to it. Among the notes and calculations, Ezio read:
... spring of horn or of steel fastened upon wood of willow encased in reed.
The impetus maintains the birds in their flying course during such time as the wings do not press the air, and they even rise upwards. If a man weigh two hundred pounds and is at point n, and raises the wing with his block, which is one hundred and fifty pounds, with power amounting to three hundred pounds he would raise himself with two wings...
It was all Greek to Ezio, but at least he could read it - Agniolo must have transcribed it from Leonardo's impenetrable scrawl. In that moment he saw Agniolo looking at him, and hastily turned his attention elsewhere. He knew how secretive Leonardo liked to be.
Presently Leonardo himself arrived from the direction of the old studio and bustled up to Ezio, embracing him warmly. 'My dear Ezio! You're back! I am so glad to see you. After all that's happened, we thought.' But he let the sentence hang there, and looked troubled.
Ezio tried to lighten his mood again. 'Look at this place! Of course I can't make head or tail of any of it, but I suppose you know what you're doing! Have you given up painting?'
'No,' said Leonardo. 'Just following up. on other things, that've caught my attention.'
'So I see. And you've expanded. You must be prospering. The past two years have been good to you.'
But Leonardo could see both the underlying sadness and the severity that had settled in Ezio's face now. 'Perhaps,' said Leonardo. 'They leave me alone. I imagine they think I'll be useful to whoever wins absolute control one day. Not that I imagine anyone ever will.' He changed. 'But what of you, my friend?'
Ezio looked at him. 'There will be time, I hope, one day to sit down and talk over all that has happened since we last met. But now, I need your help again.'
Leonardo spread his hands. 'Anything for you!'
'I have something to show you which I think will interest you.'
'Then you had better come to my studio - it is less busy there.'
Once back in Leonardo's old quarters, Ezio produced the Codex page from his wallet and spread it on the table before them.
Leonardo's eyes widened with excitement.
'You remember the first one?' asked Ezio.
'How could I forget?' The artist gazed at the page. 'This is most exciting! May I?'
'Of course.'
Leonardo studied the page carefully, running his fingers over the parchment. Then, drawing paper and pens towards him, he began to copy the words and symbols down. Almost immediately, he was darting to and fro, consulting books and manuscripts, absorbed. Ezio watched him work with gratitude and patience.
'This is interesting,' said Leonardo. 'Some quite unknown languages here, at least to me, but they do yield a kind of pattern. Hmmn. Yes, there's a gloss here in Aramaic which makes things a bit clearer.' He looked up. 'You know, taking this with the other page, you'd almost think they were part of a guide - on one level, at least - a guide to various forms of assassination. But of course there's far more to it than that, though I have no idea what. I just know that we're only scratching the surface of what this may have to reveal. We'd need to have the whole thing complete, but you've no idea where the other pages are?'
'None.'
'Or how many in the complete volume?'
'It is possible that. that that may be known.'
'Aha,' said Leonardo. 'Secrets! Well, I must respect them.' But then his attention was caught by something else. 'But look at this!'
Ezio looked over his shoulder but could see nothing but a succession of closely grouped, wedge-shaped symbols. 'What is it?'
'I can't quite make it out, but if I'm right this section contains a formula for a metal or an alloy that we know nothing of - and that, logically, shouldn't possibly exist!'
'Is there anything else?'
'Yes - the easiest bit to decipher. It's basically the blueprint for another weapon, and it seems to complement the one you already have. But this one we'll have to make from scratch.'
'What kind of weapon?'
'Fairly simple, really. It's a metal plate encased in a leather bracer. You'd wear it on your left forearm - or your right if you were left-handed, like me - and use it to ward off blows from swords or even axes. The extraordinary thing is that although it's evidently very strong, the metal we're going to have to cast is also incredibly light. And it incorporates a double-bladed dagger, spring-loaded like the first.'
'Do you think you can make it?'
'Yes, though it will take a little time.'
'I haven't much of that.'
Leonardo pondered. 'I think I have all I need here, and my men are skilled enough to forge this.' He thought for a moment, his lips moving as he made calculations. 'It will take two days,' he decided. 'Come back then and we'll see if it works!'
Ezio bowed. 'Leonardo, I am most grateful. And I can pay you.'
'I am grateful to you. This Codex of yours expands my knowledge - I fancied myself an innovator, but I find much in these ancient pages to intrigue me.' He smiled, and murmured almost to himself. 'And you, Ezio, cannot guess how indebted I am to you for showing them to me. Let me see any more that you may find - where they come from is your business. I am only interested in what they contain, and that no one else outside your inner circle, apart from me, should know about them. That is all the recompense I require.'
'That is indeed a promise.'
'Grazie! Until Friday, then - at sunset?'
'Until Friday.' Leonardo and his assistants discharged their commission well. The new weapon, though it was defensive in application, was extraordinarily useful. Leonardo's younger assistants mock-attacked Ezio, but using real weapons, including double-handed swords and battle-axes, and the wristplate, light as it was and easy to wield, easily deflected the heaviest blows.
'This is an amazing armament, Leonardo.'
'Indeed.'
'And it may well save my life.'
'Let's hope you get no more scars like the one across the back of your left hand,' said Leonardo.
'That is a last souvenir from an old. friend,' said Ezio. 'But now I need one more piece of advice from you.'
Leonardo shrugged. 'If I can help you, I will.'
Ezio glanced over at Leonardo's assistants. 'Perhaps in private?'
'Follow me.'
Back in the studio, Ezio unwrapped the slip of paper Mario had given him and handed it to Leonardo. 'This is the person my uncle told me to meet. He told me it'd be no good to try to find him directly -'
But Leonardo was staring at the name on the paper. When he looked up, his face was filled with anxiety. 'Do you know who this is?'
'I read the name - La Volpe. I guess it's a nickname.'
'The Fox! Yes! But do not speak it aloud, or in public. He is a man whose eyes are everywhere, but who himself is never seen.'
'Where might I find him?'
'It is impossible to say, but if you wanted to make a start - and be very careful - you should try the district of the Mercato Vecchio -'
'But every thief who isn't either in gaol or on the gallows hangs out there.'
'I told you you'd need to be careful.' Leonardo looked round as if he were being overheard. 'I. might be able to get word to him. Go and look for him tomorrow after Vespers. Perhaps you will be fortunate. perhaps not.'
