are we going to do?»
«We’ll try to lose them. I know these roads better than they do,» Dinara said confidently. «Hold on.»
She sharply turned onto a side road that Alexei hadn’t even noticed – a narrow dirt track veering away from the main highway. The car shook on the uneven surface, but Dinara, without reducing speed, confidently steered between shrubs and scattered trees.
«This is an old road,» she explained. «Local residents sometimes use it. Tourists don’t know about it.»
Alexei held onto the handle above the door, trying not to bounce too much on the bumps. After a few minutes, Dinara turned again, this time onto an even narrower path that seemed about to disappear among the dense vegetation.
«Are they still following us?» she asked, not taking her eyes off the road.
Alexei looked back but didn’t see any pursuers.
«Doesn’t look like it. It seems we’ve lost them.»
«Don’t relax,» Dinara shook her head. «It won’t be for long. If they’re really watching us on Karabaev’s orders, they have resources. Possibly even a helicopter.»
She continued zigzagging along mountain roads, clearly trying to confuse their trail. Finally, they emerged at a small village consisting of several dozen houses arranged along a single street.
«Where are we?» asked Alexei.
«This is where my cousin Bakyt lives,» Dinara replied, slowing down. «We can stop at his place, wait a while, and change our route.»
She turned into the yard of one of the houses. It was a modest single-story structure with a large garden where apple and apricot trees grew. An old UAZ with peeling paint stood by the gate.
A sturdy middle-aged man emerged from the house, clearly surprised by their arrival. He said something to Dinara in Kyrgyz, and she quickly replied. The man nodded and gestured for them to enter the house.
«Bakyt says we can stay here for a while,» Dinara translated. «He suspects his house is being watched, but not from the road – from the direction of the mountains.»
«Watched? Why?» Alexei frowned.
Dinara and Bakyt exchanged a few phrases.
«He says strangers have been appearing in the village in recent weeks. Asking about old caves, archaeological finds, local legends. Offering money for information.» She paused. «And they were especially interested in our family. My grandfather, uncle Ermek, and… me.»
Alexei felt a chill run down his spine.
«You think it’s connected to the medallion? But how could they have found out?»
«I don’t know,» Dinara shook her head. «But I have a bad feeling.»
They entered the house. Inside it was cool and smelled of herbs. Bakyt led them to the living room, where a table was already set with national dishes – flatbreads, cheese, and jam.
«Bakyt says we should eat something, and then he’ll drive us to Ermek in his car,» said Dinara. «It’ll be safer that way.»
«Thank you,» Alexei nodded to Bakyt, though he wasn’t sure if the man understood Russian.
To his surprise, the man replied in quite decent Russian:
«You’re welcome. Dinara’s family is my family.» He gave Alexei an appraising look. «Are you an archaeologist, like Dinara?»
«Yes,» Alexei nodded. «My grandfather worked here on an expedition in 1954.»
Bakyt raised his eyebrows in surprise and again spoke to Dinara in Kyrgyz. Their conversation became increasingly animated. Finally, Dinara turned to Alexei:
«Bakyt says his father told stories about a Russian scientist who found something important in the mountains and because of this quarreled with his superiors.» She translated a bit more. «He says this scientist secretly met with our grandfather many years later, in the 1980s.»
«With your grandfather?» Alexei was surprised. «But why?»
Dinara asked Bakyt the question. He shrugged and answered.
«He doesn’t know exactly. He says they would talk privately for hours. Sometimes grandfather would return from these meetings very agitated.» Dinara gazed thoughtfully out the window. «Strange that grandfather never told me about this.»
At that moment, Bakyt’s phone rang. He answered, listening with a serious expression, then quickly said something to Dinara.
«We need to leave,» she translated, jumping up. «Two black jeeps have entered the village. They’re checking houses.»
Alexei felt his heart beat faster.
«Damn, they found us. How?»
«It doesn’t matter,» Dinara cut him off. «Bakyt will lead us out through the back gate. There’s a path that goes through the forest to the road on the other side of the hill. His car is waiting there.»
They quickly gathered food for the journey, Bakyt took a hunting rifle and hung it over his shoulder. Dinara put on Alexei’s backpack, adding bottles of water to it. Bakyt checked the windows and, making sure the way was clear, led them out through the back door. They crossed the apple orchard and approached a small gate in the far part of the fence. Beyond it, a forest began, stretching up the slope.
«Let’s go,» said Bakyt. «Quietly and quickly.»
They walked along a barely visible path among the trees. The ascent became increasingly steep. Alexei, though in decent shape, began to breathe heavily. Urban life wasn’t conducive to developing mountain endurance. Dinara and Bakyt, it seemed, experienced no difficulties, confidently moving forward.
Suddenly, distant barking reached them. Bakyt stopped and listened.
«They’ve let the dogs loose,» he said grimly. «We need to hurry.»
They quickened their pace. The path wound between trees, climbing ever higher. Sometimes it almost disappeared, but Bakyt unerringly found the way forward. Finally, they reached a small clearing on the hilltop.
«From here, you can see the village well,» said Bakyt, pointing down.
Alexei looked in the indicated direction. Indeed, from this height, the village was laid out before them. Black SUVs stood near several houses. People in dark clothing moved from house to house.
«Who are they?» asked Alexei.
«Karabaev’s security,» Dinara replied. «At least, that’s what Bakyt thinks.»
«Could it just be the police?»
Dinara translated the question. Bakyt shook his head and said something.
«He says the police don’t drive such cars or act so brazenly. Besides, he recognized one of them – a former special forces soldier who now works for Karabaev.»
They continued on their way, now descending the opposite slope of the hill. The path here was wider and more noticeable. Soon they emerged onto a small clearing where an old UAZ stood, camouflaged with branches.
«My car,» said Bakyt, removing the branches. «Unassuming, but reliable.»
They quickly got into the car. Bakyt started the engine which, to Alexei’s surprise, ran quietly and smoothly. Evidently, the car’s appearance was deceptive, and the engine was in excellent condition.
«Where to now?» asked Alexei when they drove onto a dirt road.
«To Ermek,» Dinara replied. «He should know what’s happening. And if Karabaev is really hunting for the medallion, we need help.»
They drove along secondary roads, avoiding main highways. Bakyt confidently steered the car through wooded hills and along mountain streams. Sometimes the road became so narrow that tree branches brushed