The Wolf of Hades by Michael Hillier

Author:Michael Hillier
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Robert Hale
Published: 2012-04-02T00:00:00+00:00

12

Ben lay flat on his stomach on the bare hillside and stared down at the Villa Rafallo. Angular lumps of limestone dug into his chest and a tuft of dry brown grass tickled his ear. The sun still beat down mercilessly, but the sky had acquired a steely glint that heralded a storm brewing. It gave Ben a slightly uneasy feeling.

As far as he could see in either direction the magnificent Amalfi Coast stretched into the distance. Range after range of high limestone mountains tumbled almost vertically into the sea, great masses of bare grey rock with an occasional fringe of scrubby vegetation. Below him wound the Amalfi Drive – forty miles of tortuous roadway which picked its way carelessly, clinging to the sides of the cliffs, plunging into tunnels, striding across ravines on curving viaducts, twisting round headlands, climbing through narrow passes, falling to small seaside villages and enjoying some of the most splendid views of any road in Europe.

Ben tore his gaze away from the natural beauties all around him and set himself to study the terrain below. The Villa Rafallo occupied a splendid natural site. It sat on top of a high sloping promontory which was cut off from the mountain ranges behind it by the road. On three sides sheer limestone cliffs plunged 200 feet straight into the deep blue waters of the Mediterranean. On the fourth side the casual traveller along the road was kept at bay by a high stone wall topped by ornate and evil-looking ironwork. Approximately halfway along the wall was a pair of high, solid gates, surrounded by a carved masonry pediment, in the centre of which was a coat of arms.

Ben propped himself on one elbow and lifted the binoculars to his eyes. Sure enough, even at this distance he could make out that the carving looked like a grotesque dog. It was the Wolf of Hades, just as Francesca’s grandfather had said.

Ben shifted his gaze to inspect the villa itself. It was a very large house. Although he judged that it was old, it seemed to have a bright, new roof of pink clay tiles. It was only a two-storey structure, built in a square around the traditional central atrium, but with an additional long wing on the eastern side which terminated right on the edge of the cliff. The wing was also two storeys high with a straight new roof in which were a number of small dormers.

Along the front of the house was a large paved courtyard where Ben could see at least two parked cars. Just inside the gateway on the right-hand side was a single-storey lodge or gatehouse. Beyond this building were formal gardens laid out with gravel paths enclosing beds of shrubs and flowers which extended around the west side of the main house and southwards towards the sea. In the middle of the southern side of the garden was a long flight of steps, broken by occasional terraces, which led down to a level grassed area occupying the centre of the promontory.

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