Renaissance. Part 7

"Much more than just a painter. Bring these items. You'll see.

Ezio, seeing what he was saying made sense, nodded as a sign of conformity and said, "Before I left, could to ask you one last question?

"Of course.

- Why did you so willingly helped ... when I was a stranger?

Paola smiled sadly. In response, climbed slightlyRamento one of the sleeves of her dress, revealing a pale and delicate forearm whose beauty was tarnished by a long, dark ugly scars that crossed it. Ezio was Aquement and instantly understood. At some point in their life, this lady had been tortured.

"I too have known the betrayal," said Paola.

Y Ezio knew without a doubt that he had met a kindred spirit.

Chapter 5.

The Placer luxurious Mansion Paola was not to far from thecurrades streets where he was the workshop of Leonardo, but to reach it Ezio had to crUzar the wide and busy Piazza del Duomo, where their newly acquired skills to camufla.r.s.e among the crowd were particularly useful. Had been ten days since the executions, and it was likely that AlEzio Berti imagine that had long since fled Florenlence, but was taking no chances Ezio and by the number of guards at the square and its surroundings, nor was willing Albertiplace to run. He was also certain that in the square were also agents in plain clothes. Ezio walked with his head gacha, especially when pa.s.sed between the cathedral and the baptistry, the pointsto where the place was more crowded. He pa.s.sed the Placer luxurious Mansion Paola was not to far from thecurrades streets where he was the workshop of Leonardo, but to reach it Ezio had to crUzar the wide and busy Piazza del Duomo, where their newly acquired skills to camufla.r.s.e among the crowd were particularly useful. Had been ten days since the executions, and it was likely that AlEzio Berti imagine that had long since fled Florenlence, but was taking no chances Ezio and by the number of guards at the square and its surroundings, nor was willing Albertiplace to run. He was also certain that in the square were also agents in plain clothes. Ezio walked with his head gacha, especially when pa.s.sed between the cathedral and the baptistry, the pointsto where the place was more crowded. He pa.s.sed the camcelery camcelery Giotto, who had almost one hundred and fifty years overlooking the city, and with the great ma.s.s of red color of the dome of the caTedral by Brunelleschi, was completed only fifteen years without seeing such agents, although they noticed the presence of groups of viFrench and Spanish sitantes raising his head with amazement and admiration sincere and heart felt a little surge of pride in their city. But the city still remained? Giotto, who had almost one hundred and fifty years overlooking the city, and with the great ma.s.s of red color of the dome of the caTedral by Brunelleschi, was completed only fifteen years without seeing such agents, although they noticed the presence of groups of viFrench and Spanish sitantes raising his head with amazement and admiration sincere and heart felt a little surge of pride in their city. But the city still remained?

Suppress any gloomy thoughts, advanced quickmind to the south side of the piazza piazza and came to the workshop of Leonardo. The teacher was at home, they said, in the backyard. The study showed a more chaotic that even the other time he had visited, although this madness seemed to hide some kind of method. Ezio artifacts had seen in his previous visit had increased in number and the ceiling hung a strange artfacto wood, which reminded once the skeleton of a murcielago a large scale. In one of the stands was a large canvas nailed to a table, and painted it a terribly intricate knot motif and in a corner scribbling indescifrables written by Leonardo. A Agniolo he had added another a.s.sistant, Innocent, and the two were trying to put some order in the study, cataloging the material to be able to follow. and came to the workshop of Leonardo. The teacher was at home, they said, in the backyard. The study showed a more chaotic that even the other time he had visited, although this madness seemed to hide some kind of method. Ezio artifacts had seen in his previous visit had increased in number and the ceiling hung a strange artfacto wood, which reminded once the skeleton of a murcielago a large scale. In one of the stands was a large canvas nailed to a table, and painted it a terribly intricate knot motif and in a corner scribbling indescifrables written by Leonardo. A Agniolo he had added another a.s.sistant, Innocent, and the two were trying to put some order in the study, cataloging the material to be able to follow.

"It's in the back yard," said Ezio Agniolo-. Pa.s.s. Not molestareis.

Ezio Leonardo found locked in a curious activity. In Florence you could buy caged birds in all iftio. People hang them in the window for pleasure and when molaugh, just replace them. Leonardo was surrounded by dodinners cages. When he arrived Ezio, just select one of them, then opened the little door wicker cages raisedthe and watched the Linnet (in this case) was out, the crossing and was released. Leonardo saw the departure of APbird with interest and when he turned ready to get another cage, he detected the presence of Ezio.

He smiled in a charming manner, while freeing one after the other thrushes, finches, larks and nightingales expensive, observedevating all with great attention.

- What are you doing? Ezio asked puzzled.

"All life is precious," said Leonardo simply-. I can not stand to see me living like prisoners in this way, by simply having a good voice.

- Is the only reason that you let? -Ezio suspected an ulterior motive.

Leonardo smiled, but offered no direct response.

"Neither do I eat more meat. Why does a poor animal to die because we like the taste?

"In this case farmers out of business.

"They could devote all to cultivate corn.

"Imagine how boring it would be. And it would have a surplus.

"Oh, I forgot you're a finanziatore. finanziatore. And I was forgetting my manners too. What brings you here? And I was forgetting my manners too. What brings you here?

"I need a favor, Leonardo.

- How I can help?

"There's something ... something I inherited from my father and me gusority repair, if you can.

Leonardo's gaze brightened.

"Of course. Come here. Use the inner room ... These guys are messing me the study, as usual. Sometimes I wonder why I bother to give them a job!

Ezio smiled. Beginning to understand why, but at the same time I sensed that Leonardo's first love was and always would work.

"Come over here.

The internal study of Leonardo, the smallest, was even more cluttered than the other, but in the mountains of books and specialcymene, and between paper covered with doodles indecipherable, the artist, as always impeccably (and incongruously) seemeaning and fragrant, was piling one thing upon another until it cleared a large drawing board.

"Excuse the mess," said-. But now at least have consequencesguido an oasis! Let's see what you brought me. Unless you apetezca first gla.s.s of wine.

"No, no.

"Well," he said impatiently Leonardo-. Let's see then!

Ezio carefully pulled the knife, the wrist and the mechanismmo, which had previously involved with the mysterious sheet vitethe accompanying objects. Leonardo tried in vain to put the pieces of machinery and for a moment seemed to fall into the destabilizingrecovery.

I do not know, "said Ezio-. This mechanism is old ... quite anTiguan, but otherwise is very sophisticated, and its manufacture is even ahead of our time. Fascinating. She looked-. The truth is I've never seen anything like it. But I fear that little I can do without the original plans.

Then listened to the sheet of vellum, which was caught wrapping Ezio new objects.

- Wait a minute! He shouted, a close studysity.

After the knife broken left wrist and a hand extendedgiven leaf and consultations, beginning to rummage through a row of old books and ma.n.u.scripts that had on a shelf. Found the two he wanted, he left on the table and started browsing.

- What are you doing? Ezio asked, somewhat impatiently.

"This is very interesting," said Leonardo-. It seems the previous pagena of a codex.

- What a what?

"It's a page from an old book. Not printed, is a ma.n.u.script. It is very old indeed. Got any more?

-No.

"Too bad. People should not start this way the wallspages of books. -Leonardo paused-. Unless, perhaps, that all together ...

- What?

"Nothing. Look, the content of this page is encrypted, but if my theory is correct ... based on these designs could well be that ...

Ezio was pending, but Leonardo was lost in his own world. He sat and waited patiently while Leonard stirring and examined in detail per books and scrollsGamino, checking references and making notes, using this curious writing from right to left and inverted. Ezio was not alone, he imagined that life lived always watching their backs. From what little I had seen in the study, the me he had nonorth doubt that if the Church found out things that Leonardo had in hand, it would take a good scolding.

Leonardo finally lifted in sight. But when he did Ezio had been dozing.

"Extraordinary" Leonardo muttered to himself, and then, raising his voice-: Extraordinary! If transferredNemos points and then select the third of each ...

He got back to work, grabbed the knife, the wrist and mechanism. Out from under the table a box of tools, mounted a vise and quietly focused on her workjo. An hour pa.s.sed, two ... Ezio had become comfortably dormido, lulled by the charged atmosphere and warm the room and Leonardo discrete sounds, still with small b.u.mps and scratching. And finally ...

- Ezio! Wake up!

- Huh?

- Look!

Said Leonardo on the table. Had embedded the dagger, completely restored, in this strange mechanism, which in turn was now attached to the wrist. The set was polished, as if freshly made, but not shining.

"A matte finish, I decided," said Leonardo-. As a Roman armor. Anything that will glow in the sunlight is an informer mortal.

Ezio took the gun and weighed. Was light, but st.u.r.dy knifement was perfectly balanced. Ezio had never seen anything like it. A dagger with a spring that could hide in his wrist. It was enough to flex the hand and the knife appeared, ready to rajar or stab as your user decide.

"I was a man of peace, "said Ezio, recalling the birds.

"The ideas in front of everything. Whatever they are. Well, "he said, drawing from his toolbox hammer and fivecel-. You're right, right? Well. Now do me the favor of placing the right ring finger on top of this block.

"What are you doing?

"Sorry, but I have to do so. The knife is designedsigned for ensuring the full involvement of anyone who wields it.

- What do you mean?

"It only works if you remove the finger.

Ezio blinked. On his head spent a lot of pictures: recalled the alleged friendship with his father Alberti, Alberti had given how trust after the arrest of his father, the executiontions, which had become his goal. His jaw.

"Do it.

"Maybe you should use a butcher knife. It would be a cleaner cut. -Leonardo drew one of a desk drawer-. Now, just put your finger ... cosi. cosi.

Ezio was prepared mentally as Leonardo stood the butcher knife. He closed his eyes to hear it fall -chunca!- On the wooden board. But he felt no pain. He opened his eyes. The knife was stuck in the table, inches from his hand, which isintact tobacco.

- b.a.s.t.a.r.d! "Ezio was stunned, and angry also Aqueprank call.

Leonardo raised his hands.

- Calm down! It was just to add a bit of fun! Cruel, I admit, but I could not resist. I wanted to see how far your determination. You know? The use of this machine rewanted rewanted Originally this sacrifice. Something to do with an ancient rite of pa.s.sage, I think. But I made a couple of tinkering. So you can keep your finger. Look! The knife comes out perfectly now, and I've added a handle that automatically appears when the knife is open. All you have to do is remember to keep it extended when it comes out! So you can keep your finger. Although you may prefer to wear gloves when using it ... The blade is very sharp. Originally this sacrifice. Something to do with an ancient rite of pa.s.sage, I think. But I made a couple of tinkering. So you can keep your finger. Look! The knife comes out perfectly now, and I've added a handle that automatically appears when the knife is open. All you have to do is remember to keep it extended when it comes out! So you can keep your finger. Although you may prefer to wear gloves when using it ... The blade is very sharp.

Ezio was too fascinated, and grateful, to keep his anger long time.

"It's extraordinary," he said, opening and closing the knife several times to understand perfectly how to use-. Unbelievable.

- How so?"Agreed Leonardo-. "You sure you do not have more pages like this one?

"Sorry but no.

-If you happen to find some more, bring it to me, please.

"I my word. And how much do I owe you for ...?

"It was a pleasure. Most enlightening. There is ...

Were interrupted by a knock at the door of the studio overlooking the street. Leonardo ran to the front of the buildAgniolo surface while looking at him terrified and innocent. The perperson who was on the other side of the door had begun to cry - Open, by order of the Florentine guard!

- Wait! Leonardo also replied crying, and quietly told Ezio-: Stay here.

Then he opened the door and stood under the arch of the guard blocking the pa.s.sage.

- You are Leonardo da Vinci? Asked the guard using one of those voices strong and authoritarian government.

- How I can help? Leonardo said, coming to caLLE, thereby forcing the guard to take a step back.

"I am authorized to formulaic few questions.

Leonardo was positioned so that the guard had fallen back to the studio door.

- What's wrong?

"We got a report that had just been relacionandoos with a known enemy of the city.

- Who, me? Relationships? Far Fetched!

-When was the last time you saw or talked to Ezio Auditore?

- Who?

"Do not you come now with c.r.a.p. We know that maintenanceniais a close relationship with the family. We sold to the madre a couple of those daub yours. Do you need that you may refresh her memory?

And the guards poked him in the stomach with the b.u.t.t of his praiseda. Leonardo, uttering a sharp cry of pain, bowed and fell to the ground, where the guard began to poke kicks.

- We are now ready to talk? I do not like artists. You are a bunch of f.a.gs.

But the scene had given Ezio has time to glidecer noise at the door and stand behind the guard. The street was deserted. He was just ahead of him naked man's neck. It was an ideal opportunity to test their new toy. Levanto hand, thus triggering the release of the mechanism and instantly came the silent knife. With a deft movementof his right hand to open, Ezio stabbed once in the side of the neck guard. The freshly sharpened blade was betweenmend dangerous and guard penetrated the jugular without resistance. The man fell, dead even before reaching the ground.

Ezio helped Leonardo to join.

"Thanks," said the trembling artist.

"Sorry ... did not intend to kill him ..., there was no time ...

"Sometimes we have no alternative. Although by now would have to be used.

- What do you mean?