"Well, the first time they extorted us, there were a dozen of 'em," Oleg says, "they seemed to have two leaders among them. A cloaked man armed with one of them fancy composite bows, and this fearsome woman what wielded two hatchets. She threatened to chop my hand off- and nearly did!"

"The next time they came, there were six," Svetlana adds, "and last month, four. Perhaps they're letting their guard down, I don't think they'll be expecting any resistance this time around."