A minute to spare, he thought. He wanted to laugh.
He stood up, bent slowly and picked up the bundle, tucked it under his arm. Then he walked, each step seeming an eternity, along the road and around the hill.
He could see Boris's jeep.
But now there was a truck next to the jeep. And the truck's lights were on, shining into his eyes, blinding him.
Through the glare he could make out three figures in front of Boris's jeep. In the middle was Natalya, and to her left was Boris. He was holding the hunting rifle-and seemed to be pointing it in Benjamin's direction.
And to Natalya's right stood someone very tall, in a dark parka; someone with short, very blond hair.
It was Hauser.
He, too, was holding a gun. But it wasn't pointed at Natalya; it was pointed at Benjamin.