t。　It　was　too

brigh：；　and　that　had　me

panicking。　Maybe　he　wouldn't　feel　the　need　to　wait　for　noon　after　all。

〃There；〃　Alice　said　abruptly；　pointing　to　the　castle　city　atop　the　closest

hill。

I　stared　at　it；　feeling　the　very　first　hint　of　a　new　kind　of　fear。　Every

minute　since　yesterday　morning—it

seemed　like　a　week　ago—when　Alice　had　spoken　his　name　at　the　foot　of　the

stairs；　there　had　been　only

one　fear。　And　yet；　now；　as　I　stared　at　the　ancient　sienna　walls　and　towers

crowning　the　peak　of　the　steep

hill；　I　felt　another；　more　selfish　kind　of　dread　thrill　through　me。

I　supposed　the　city　was　very　beautiful。　It　absolutely　terrified　me。

〃Volterra；〃　Alice　announced　in　a　flat；　icy　voice。

20。　VOLTERRA

WE　BEGAN　THE　STEEP　CLIMB；　AND　THE　ROAD　GREW　CONGESTED。　As　we　wound　higher；

the　cars　became　too　close　together　for　Alice　to　weave　insanely　between　them

anymore。　We　slowed　to　a

crawl　behind　a　little　tan　Peugeot。

〃Alice；〃　I　moaned。　The　clock　on　the　dash　seemed　to　be　speeding　up。

〃It's　the　only　way　in；〃　she　tried　soothe　me。　But　her　voice　was　too　strained　to

fort。

The　cars　continued　to　edge　forward；　one　car　length　at　a　time。　The　sun　beamed

down　brilliantly；　seeming

already　overhead。

The　cars　crept　one　by　one　toward　the　city。　As　we　got　closer；　I　could　see　cars

parked　by　the　side　of　the

road　with　people　getting　out　to　walk　the　test　of　the　way。　At　first　I　thought

it　was　just

impatience—something　I　could　easily　understand。　But　then　we　came　around　a

switchback；　and　I　could

see　the　filled　parking　lot　outside　the　city　wall；　the　crowds　of　people　walking

through　the　gates。　N