‘The girl is Mauro’s sister, Vendetta,’ said Stefano. ‘She is crazy, but she will look after you. Her mother has taught her about herbs and healing. The men are from all around, from Orgosolo and Oliena and Fonni. The tall one, who brought you here, is Calogero, the chief of my village. He is a great warrior. He is feared in all Sardinia. He brought you here to be safe. Our people have always come to this cave when there is danger. Even before Roman times.’ Stefano stopped and grew more solemn. ‘I am sorry, James,’ he said. ‘I ran away and left you.’

‘It’s all right,’ said James.

‘No. I heard the guards coming and I was a coward. I should not have run.’

‘Well, if you hadn’t, I wouldn’t be here now,’ said James.

‘You did a brave thing,’ said Stefano. ‘As soon as I heard that you had been captured, I started making plans to get away from the palazzo.’

‘I didn’t tell Ugo anything,’ said James.

‘I know,’ said Stefano. ‘I owe you my life.’

‘No,’ said James. ‘I think we’re probably quits now. But these other men, they don’t owe me anything.’

‘They all hate Ugo,’ said Stefano. ‘Many of them worked for him, building his palazzo. They were never paid. He was one of us, James, but no more. He kill Mauro, so now he is our enemy. Mauro had no brothers and no father, only Vendetta, so these other men will seek revenge.’

‘But what can they do?’ said James. ‘They can’t attack the palazzo. It’s too well guarded. Ugo has a small army there.’

‘Vendetta wants to sneak in and cut Ugo’s throat,’ said Stefano.

‘She wouldn’t get near him,’ said James.

‘I know,’ said Stefano, ‘but that would not stop her trying. Maybe, though, we do not need to go there to fight him. Maybe Ugo will bring the fight to us. He will look for you, James, and he will look for me, and he will look for the people who helped you escape.’

‘I should go,’ said James. ‘I don’t want to be the cause of any trouble here.’

‘No,’ said Stefano. ‘You did not start this. It was Ugo, when he kill Mauro. And he will surely come, whether you stay or go. He hates all the people of the Barbagia, because they know who he really is.’

‘I need to get back to Victor’s,’ said James, struggling to sit up. ‘He’ll know what to do.’

‘First you must rest,’ said Stefano, pushing him back on to the animal skins. ‘You have been a long time without sleep and Vendetta’s medicine will make you sick.’