Page 83 of A Swirl of Shadows
“Why not just pile a mound of the gunpowder in theniche?” asked Tatiana.
“It wouldn’t create near enough explosive force to blow a hole in the wall,” replied Fitzroy. “It needs a tightly enclosed space—it’s the same principle in pistols or cannons.”
He made a quick mathematical calculation with a pencil and scrap of paper, and then read it off to Arianna.
“That’s correct,” she confirmed. Her brother was aware of her genius with numbers.
The pounding on the door was growing fiercer. So far, the heavy iron bar was showing no sign of budging, but Arianna didn’t think it was wise to tempt Fate.
Fitzroy appeared to agree. “Hurry with the stones,” he urged as he began filling several round iron balls with gunpowder, stopping every few moments to check the levels inside. “Arianna, kindly hand me the coil of slow fuse by the barrels.”
“How the devil did you get your hands on this array of military supplies?” asked Prescott, after wrestling one of the stones free.
“The bishop had stockpiled them, and planned to have the monks here arm themselves and march on St. Petersburg to demand the Tsar’s ouster if he failed to wear the Rurik Medallion at the traditional ceremony—”
“How did you know the supplies were here?” called Grentham.
“We have Wolff to thank.” Fitzroy measured and cut off several identical lengths of the slow fuse, and placed them in the top opening of the grenades.
The iron bar was beginning to groan under the stress.
“I’ll explain later,” he said. “Saybrook—”
“The stones are out!” said the earl.
“Everyone—move behind the barricade!” ordered Fitzroy. He lit a candle, and used it to ignite the fuses, then quickly carried the grenades to the niche and pushed them inside.
“Hurry, Richard!” called Arianna. He seemed to be moving slower than chilled molasses.
“In a moment. I need to make sure the cording is burning correctly.”
Sweat began to trickle down her spine.
Finally, he turned and ran for cover.
One, two, three, four—
A shudderingbangsuddenly erupted in a flash of fire, sending an explosion of stone fragments flying through the clouds of swirling smoke and dust.
Ears ringing, Arianna was momentarily stunned, the noxious fumes making it hard to breathe.
“Move!” Fitzroy’s voice sounded very far away as he scrambled to the gaping hole in the wall and started to clear away the debris. Grentham quickly joined him, while Prescott grabbed Tatiana and Mrs. Schuyler.
Saybrook hauled Arianna to her feet. A blast of frigid air from outside cleared her lungs as she stumbled for the opening.
Fitzroy jumped down to the snow-covered ground and turned to assist Tatiana. “I assume,” he called to the earl, “that you’ve got some means of transportation to get us away from here.”
Chapter22
Saybrook pausedin the jagged opening of shattered stone, taking a moment to get his bearings. “Head to the left,” he answered. “José is waiting with a sleigh and horses. They’re just beyond the red brick building with the arched roof topped by a gilded onion dome.”
A cacophony of confused shouts and shrill orders rose from within the monastery complex.
“I suggest we hurry.” Grentham lowered Mrs. Schuyler to the ground while Sophia scrambled down on her own. “Their confusion won’t last for long.”
Pistols at the ready, Arianna and Saybrook quickly joined Fitzroy, and the three of them took the lead.
The minister proved right. A dozen monks barreled through one of the side gates to block their escape. But Saybrook squeezed off a shot that sent them scurrying for safety.
