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“I understand that this area is full of bicycle paths,” said Sath of the Mincio River?”

“Oh, yes,” said the concierge “It begins where the river flows out of the harbor and runs all the way through Mantua and beyond I’ve done the ride myself many times It’s about twenty-five miles”

“When you say ‘and beyond,’ what do you mean? How far beyond?”

“There’s a natural stopping point at Mantua where the river becoht miles to the place where the Mincio continues to the Po” She reached into the top drawer of her desk and handed Sam a map “The bicycle route is o”

“Thank you,” said Sarazie”

The concierge laughed “You ht not want to go home”

“I’ll try to be a good guest,” he said To Reet some bicycles”

They walked along an old canal, following thein the shop seeear used by professional racers But when the proprietor saw Re a bit , he showed them some sturdy, practical mountain bikes with thick, knobby tires and well-padded seats They picked out a pair, with his advice, bought backpacks, and threw in soht a variety of accessories—lights, reflectors, and other items that attached to bicycles, and a portable set of bicycle tools

They rode their new bicycles back to their hotel, then walked them into the elevator and took them to their floor When they had the bicycles in their rooneto at the bicycles would know that there was anything unusual about thenetometer poles looked like reinforced bicycle crossbars, and the sensors extended just a few inches in front of the handlebars

He removed the two metal detectors from their boxes but kept them stored unassembled in the two backpacks

As they were preparing, Sam’s cell phone buzzed He switched on the speaker “Yes?”

“Sam? It’s me, Albrecht”

“Are you in California yet?”

“Yes I’m in your house, with Sel the available satellite photography and aerial , and I’ve rechecked some of the written sources”

“What can you tell us?”