Gaetano explains that the Corsican “bandits” are fugitives not for treachery but for vengeance—men who have killed enemies, not innocents. Franz, weighing the risks, decides they will ask the smugglers for hospitality, confident their numbers match. Yet as they approach the island, he urges every precaution. Silence settles over the boat, and Franz fully grasps the gravity of his situation: alone in darkness with sailors he barely knows, carrying money and fine weapons that have drawn their interest. Ahead lies an island inhabited by smugglers and hunted men; behind him, the tale of scuttled ships suddenly feels all too believable. Surrounded by potential threats, Franz watches both crew and shore with equal vigilance, his gun ready in his hand.

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The Countdown of Monte Cristo is a daily podcast reading one page at a time from Alexandre Dumas’ classic novel — every day, for four years. Whether you’re starting from the beginning or joining mid-journey, each episode brings you deeper into the story of The Count of Monte Cristo.