He rose silently and approached the window. Moonlight flooded the garden, transforming the apple trees into bizarre silver sculptures. At first glance, everything seemed calm, but intuition told him something was wrong.
At that moment, Alexei noticed movement by the fence—a shadow gliding between the trees. Then another, from the opposite side of the garden. They were moving deliberately, surrounding the house.
Without wasting a second, Alexei ran out of his room. In the hallway, he collided with Dinara.
"They're here," he whispered. "The house is surrounded."
Fear flashed in her eyes, but she quickly composed herself.
"Wake Ermek," she said. "I'll warn grandfather."
Alexei nodded and headed for Ermek's room. But before he could take three steps, the sound of breaking glass came from outside, followed by a muffled explosion. The house filled with acrid smoke.
"Flash-bang grenade!" Alexei shouted. "To the exit!"
He grabbed Dinara's hand and pulled her toward the stairs. At that moment, the front door crashed off its hinges, and dark figures in masks and with weapons burst into the house.
"Upstairs!" Alexei commanded, changing direction.
They ran up the stairs just as Ermek rushed out of his room with a hunting rifle in his hands.
"Through the window, to the garden!" he shouted. "I'll hold them off!"
"No, Uncle!" Dinara exclaimed. "They'll kill you!"
"Do as I say!" Ermek snapped, taking position at the stairs. "Grandfather is in the far room, take him and leave through the western window. There's an apple tree there; you can climb down it."
Alexei pulled Dinara to Rustam's room. The old man was already on his feet, dressed, with a small leather pouch in his hands. His calmness in this situation was astonishing.
"They've come for the medallion," Rustam said, looking Alexei in the eyes. "Karabaev will stop at nothing."
From below came a gunshot, then shouts and sounds of struggle.
"We must hurry," Rustam approached the window and opened it. "Dinara, you go first. Help me climb down, and then Alexei should jump."
Without hesitation, Dinara climbed out the window and skillfully descended the thick trunk of the apple tree. Rustam handed her his pouch, then began to climb out unhurriedly. For his age, he moved with remarkable confidence.
Alexei nervously glanced at the door, expecting the pursuers to appear. From below came new shots and curses. Ermek was still holding off the attackers, but it was clear this wouldn't last long.
When Rustam safely descended, Alexei climbed onto the windowsill. At that moment, the door to the room burst open, and a man in a black mask with a pistol appeared on the threshold.
"Stop!" he shouted.
Without hesitation, Alexei jumped. The apple tree cushioned his fall, but it still hurt. A shot rang out from above, the bullet whistled past and embedded itself in the tree trunk.
"Run!" Dinara pulled him along.
They dashed through the garden toward the back gate, with Rustam following them at a surprising speed for his age. All around, shouts echoed, and flashlight beams darted among the trees.
"This way!" Rustam pointed to a narrow path winding between the trees.
They ran beyond the garden's bounds and found themselves amid tall cornfields. Dark stalks closed over their heads, hiding them from pursuers. Behind them, more shots rang out.
"What about Ermek?" asked Dinara, breathing heavily.
