Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of an approaching car. Ermek tensed and quickly went to the window, carefully drawing aside the curtain.

"A black jeep," he said grimly. "They've found us."

Dinara jumped to the window.

"Is it them? Karabaev's people?"

"Looks like it," Ermek nodded. "Four of them. Armed."

Alexei felt his heart pounding in his chest.

"What are we going to do?"

Ermek quickly went to the cabinet and took out a hunting rifle.

"We have an advantage—we know the terrain. Behind the house begins the protected area with mountain trails. I know every stone there. We can go through the forest to the eastern part of the reserve, where there's an old observation station."

"What about the reserve guards?" asked Alexei.

"There are only two for the entire area, and right now they're patrolling the far sector," Ermek replied, checking the rifle. "Besides, they can't do much against Karabaev's armed men."

From outside came the sound of footsteps on the veranda. A loud knock on the door. Then a voice:

"Ermek-aga! We know you're in there! Open up, we need to talk!"

"Go away!" Ermek shouted. "This is private property and a nature reserve! You have no right to be here!"

"We have all the necessary documents," the voice replied. "We're acting on behalf of the security services. We're looking for a Russian citizen suspected of attempting to illegally export cultural valuables."

Ermek swore in Kyrgyz.

"Lies. What security services? These are Karabaev's men. Leave through the kitchen, quickly."

Dinara grabbed her jacket and Alexei's backpack.

"Come on!"

They quickly passed through to the kitchen, which was located at the back of the house. Ermek opened a door leading to an inner courtyard.

"Run up the path, straight to the forest. There's a hunting shelter that only I know about. I'll delay them."

"Uncle, no!" exclaimed Dinara. "They're dangerous!"

"Don't argue," Ermek cut her off. "They won't harm me; I'm too well-known a figure. But you… Go. We'll meet at Rustam's."

From outside came a cracking sound—someone was trying to break down the front door. Ermek pushed them toward the exit:

"Run!"

Alexei grabbed Dinara's hand, and they ran out into the yard. The night was clear and moonlit, which was both good and bad—they could see the path, but they could also be spotted. A narrow and steep trail led up the forested mountain slope.

They heard a shot, then shouts. Dinara momentarily stopped, but Alexei pulled her onward:

"We can't go back! Ermek knows what he's doing!"

They ran up the slope, stumbling over stones and roots. Behind them came new voices and the beam of a flashlight sweeping through the trees. They were being pursued.

"This way!" Dinara pulled Alexei off the path, into dense shrubbery.

They squeezed through thick branches and found themselves in a small clearing hidden from the path. They crouched, listening. The steps and voices of their pursuers drew closer. A flashlight beam glided dangerously close to their hiding place.

"They couldn't have gone far!" said one voice in Russian with an accent. "Check the bushes!"

Dinara pressed against Alexei; he could feel her breath and rapid heartbeat. The medallion on his neck suddenly felt heavy and hot, as if heated by an internal fire.

The flashlight beam slid across the bushes behind which they were hiding, paused for a moment, and… continued moving. The pursuers passed them by.

"They probably ran further up the path," said another voice. "Let's go there!"

The footsteps moved away. Alexei and Dinara looked at each other in the half-darkness, not believing their luck.