Ezio said, "I say we work here. In Rome. Here, we have already made a good start. We should continue to erode the Borgia's influence, while restoring our own. And, in fact, I want to begin immediately."

"You speak as if you were already our leader," said Machiavelli. "But the post has not been discussed, let alone ratified, by our council."

"And I say we need a leader, and we need one right away," countered La Volpe. "We have no time for councils and ratifications. We need to consolidate the Brotherhood once again, and, for my money, Ezio is the right man for the job. Machiavelli, I appeal to you-you and I are two of the most senior Assassins left. Bartolomeo is bound to agree. Let us make this decision now-keep it secret if you like-and later, we can put it to a formal vote."

Machiavelli seemed to be on the point of speech, but then let it go and simply shrugged.

"I will not fail you," Ezio said. "Gilberto, I'd like you to bring Bartolomeo and my sister, Claudia, here. There are matters to discuss. Niccol, please come with me."

On his way out, Ezio paused by Caterina's bed. "Take care of her," he said to the doctor.

"Where are we going?" Machiavelli said, once they were back in the city center.

"There's something I want to show you."

He led the way to the nearest market square. Half of it was open for business: there was a baker; a butcher was swatting flies away from his wares; and a greengrocer had a selection of rather tired-looking produce on sale. Early as it was, it was the wine shops that were doing the best business. And, as Ezio expected, a small knot of Borgia guards were duffing up the hapless owner of a leather goods stall.

"Look," said Ezio, as they blended in with the small crowd of shoppers.

"I know what is going on," said Machiavelli.

"I know you do, Niccol," said Ezio. "Forgive me, but you see the big picture. You understand what is to be done politically to break the Borgia, and I for one do not doubt your sincerity in this." He paused. "But we must start at a more fundamental level. The Borgia take what they want from the people with complete impunity, to maintain their power."

They watched the guards push the man to the ground, then, laughing, help themselves to what they fancied from his stall and move on. The man picked himself up, watched them go in impotent rage, and then, close to tears, began to rearrange his goods. A woman came up to comfort him, but he shook her off. Nevertheless she stayed, hovering near him, care and concern in her eyes.

"Why did you not help him?" asked Machiavelli. "Send them packing?"

"Look," said Ezio, "helping one man is good, but it will not solve the problem. They will come again, when we are not here, and they will do the same again. Look at the quality of the stuff on offer here. The vegetables are old, the meat is flyblown, and the bread, no doubt, is hard. The best goes to the Borgia. And why do you think so many people are drinking?"

Machiavelli said, "I do not know."

"Because they are in pain," Ezio replied. "They are without hope and they are oppressed. They want to blot it all out. But we can change change that." that."

"How?"

"By recruiting them to our cause." He spread his arms. "These people-these are the ones who will form the backbone of our resistance to the Borgia."

"We've talked of this before," said Machiavelli sharply. "You cannot be serious."

"I'm going to start with that stallholder. To win this war, Niccol, we need loyal soldiers-however they fight for us. We must sow the seeds of rebellion in their minds." He paused, then continued earnestly, "By recruiting those whom the bullying State has made its enemies, we arm the people who have been disarmed by the Borgia."

Machiavelli looked at his friend long and hard. "Go, then," he said. "Go, and recruit our first novices."

"Oh, I intend to," said Ezio. "And you will see that from the group of determined men and women I gather around us, I will forge a sword capable of cutting the limbs and head from the trunk of the Borgia-and of the Templars themselves."

TWENTY-SEVEN.

Ezio returned to the Assassins' center of operations on Tiber Island having done a good morning's work, discreetly converting a number of disaffected citizens to his cause.

Apart from the loyal attendants who staffed and guarded the place, it was deserted, and Ezio looked forward to a little quiet time, to think and plan; but as he approached, he found that, after all, he had a visitor. One who wanted to be quite sure that his presence would not be noted, and one who, therefore, waited until the general staff had gone about their business elsewhere in the building before he made himself known.

"Psst! Ezio! Over here!"

"Who's there?" Ezio was instantly alert, though already he thought he knew the voice. Tall bushes grew on either side of the lane that led to the hideout, and the place was known to no one outside the organization. If by any chance the secret had been penetrated...

"Come here!"

"Who is it?"

"It's me!"

And Leonardo da Vinci, dandified and distracted as ever, stepped out of his hiding place into the lane.

"Leo! My God!"

But then Ezio, remembering who Leonardo's new master was, checked his initial impulse, which had been to run and embrace his old friend.

His reaction registered with Leonardo, who looked a little older, to be sure, but who had lost none of his elan, or his vigorous enthusiasm. He took a step forward, but kept his head lowered. "I'm not surprised you don't show that much enthusiasm at seeing me again."

"Well, Leo, I must admit, you have disappointed me."

Leonardo spread his hands. "I knew you were behind the break-in at the Castel. It could only have been you. So-I knew you were still alive!"

"Surely your new masters would have told you that."

"They tell me nothing! I am no more than a slave to them." There was a smallest twinkle in Leonardo's eye. "But they have to trust me."

"As long as you deliver."

"I think I'm just about bright enough to stay one step ahead of them." Leonardo took another step toward Ezio, arms half held out. "It is good to see you again, my friend."

"You have designed weapons for them-new guns we will find difficult to match."

"I know. But if you will let me explain..."

"And how did you find this place?"

"I can explain..."

Leonardo looked so contrite, and so unhappy, and he seemed so sincere, that Ezio's heart warmed, despite himself, toward his old friend. He also reflected that, after all, Leonardo had come to see him, no doubt at great personal risk; and that if he sought a rapprochement, it would be a foolish leader indeed who would turn down the friendship and the partnership of such a man.

"Come here!" cried Ezio, spreading his arms wide.

"Oh, Ezio!" Leonardo hurried forward and the two men embraced warmly.

Ezio led his friend inside and they sat down together. Ezio knew that Caterina had been moved to an inner room, where she could complete her recovery in peace and quiet, and the doctor had given orders that she was not to be disturbed. He was tempted to disobey, but there would be time enough for talk with her later. Besides, Leonardo's appearance dictated a change of priorities.

Ezio had wine and cakes brought for them.

"Tell me everything," said Ezio.

"I will explain. First of all, you must forgive me. The Borgia commandeered my services-but under duress. If I'd refused to serve them, they would have subjected me to a long and painful death. They described what they would do to me if I refused to help them. Even now I cannot think of it without trembling."

"You are perfectly safe now."

Leonardo shook his head. "No! I must go back to them. I am of far more use to you if they think I am still working for them. As it is, I have done my utmost to create the minimum possible number of new inventions to satisfy them." Ezio was about to interrupt but Leonardo held up a nervous hand. "Please-this is a kind of confession, and I'd like to complete it. Then you may judge me as you think fit."

"No one is judging you, Leonardo."

Leonardo's manner became more intense. Ignoring the refreshments, he leaned forward. "I say I work for them under duress," he went on, "but it is more than that. You know I keep out of politics. I like to keep my nose clean. But men who seek power seek me out because they know what I can do for them."

"This I do know."

"But I play along, too. I play along to stay alive. And why do I wish to stay alive? Because I have so much to do! do!" He took a breath. "I cannot tell you, Ezio, how my poor brain teems!" He made a gesture that seemed partly all-embracing and partly despairing. "There is so much to discover!"

Ezio was silent. This he also knew.

"So," Leonardo concluded. "Now you know."

"Why have you come here?"

"To make amends. I had to assure you that my heart is not with them."

"And what do they want of you?"

"Whatever they can get! War machines are the main thing. They know what I am capable of."

Leonardo produced a packet of papers, which he handed over. "Here are some of the designs I've done for them. Look! Here is an armored vehicle capable, if correctly constructed, of moving across all terrains-and the men concealed within it can fire guns-big guns-while remaining fully protected from all assaults. I call it a tank."

Ezio blanched as his eye scanned the drawings. "And is it...under construction?"

Leonardo looked artful. "I said 'if correctly constructed.' Unfortunately, as the design stands, the thing is only able to swivel on its own axis!"

"I see." Ezio smiled.

"And look at this."

Ezio perused a drawing of a horseman managing two horses, harnessed side by side. To their traces were attached, by long horizontal poles, in front and at the rear-where there were also wheels-rotating scythelike devices, to cut down any enemy at which the horseman rode. "A fiendish device," he said.

"Yes! But unfortunately the horseman himself is...fully exposed." Leonardo's eyes twinkled some more.

Ezio's smile broadened, but then faded again. "But what of the guns you have given them?"

Leonardo shrugged. "One has to throw a sop to Cerberus," he said. "I have to give them something of actual use or they will grow suspicious."

"But they are very efficient guns."

"Indeed they are-but they are not half as efficient as that little pistol I made for you once, years ago, based on the design from the Codex page. A pity, really-I had trouble reining myself in on that one!"

Ezio thought sadly of his lost Codex weapons. But he would come back to them.

"What else is in this packet of papers?"

Although they were alone, Leonardo lowered his voice. "I have copied the plans not only for the largest of the machines, but also of where they are to be used in battle." He spread his hands ironically. "Alas, that they should not be more efficient!"

Ezio looked at his old friend admiringly. This was the man who had designed a submarine for the Venetians to use against the Turkish galleys! If he had chosen not to build in defects to these designs, there would be no hope at all against the Borgia. How glad he was to have welcomed Leonardo as he had. This man was worth more than two armies.

"For God's sake, Leo, have a glass of wine at least. I know I can never reward you enough for all this."

But Leonardo waved the proffered beaker away. "There is far graver news. You know they have the Apple?"

"Of course."

"They have given it to me to study. You and I already know something of the extent of its powers. Rodrigo knows a little less, but he has more intellect than Cesare, though Cesare is the one to watch."

"How much information on the Apple have you given them?"

"As little as possible, but I have to give them something. Fortunately, Cesare seems satisfied-so far-with the limited applications I have vouchsafed him. But Rodrigo knows there is more and grows impatient." He paused. "I have considered ways of stealing it, but it is kept under close guard, and I am only allowed access to it under the strictest supervision. But I was able to use its powers to locate you. It has that facility, you know. Quite fascinating."

"And you taught them that trick?"

"Of course not! All I want is to return it to its rightful owner."

"Fear not, Leo. We will recover it. In the meantime, stall them as far as you can, and if you can, keep me posted on how much you have let them know."

"I will."

Ezio paused. "There is something else."

"Tell me."

"I have lost all the Codex weapons you once fashioned for me."

"I see."

"Except for the original hidden-blade. But the pistol, the poison-blade, the double-blade, the miraculous bracer-all these are gone."