Chapter 5 Chapter 4
There's nothing more absurd than being stuck in a hotel room in a strange city.Of course, it’s fine if it’s a long Spanish-style nap in a hot place, or it’s fine if it’s a honeymoon trip—at this time, the size of the bed is far more important than the scenery outside the window.
But Valeria was in a dilemma.The police wouldn't let her leave the city, but she couldn't go out and join the happy crowd and the circle of tourists.
She opened the door quickly, as if waiting at the door, though there was absolutely no way anyone could have told her that I was passing the porter in the "protected area".
The girl was only wearing shorts and a camisole.Indeed... a bit hot.Here, even high-end hotels do not have air-conditioning, because of the climate.It's kind of hot - especially after drinking.
"Is there anything wrong?" Liera said drunkenly.
She has short black hair that reaches her ears, she is thin, pretty, and quite tall.
She had one hand on the ajar door of the bathroom—she was about to go in when I arrived.
"Hello, Liera," I said politely.I wasn't dressed very formally - shorts and a T-shirt, though I chose the formal tone of a national security agency worker. "Can I come in?"
"What's wrong?" Liera was a little surprised. "Please..." She choked, "Come in. But I have to... come right away."
She flashed into the bathroom without even locking the door.I shook my head, walked across the messy bed, and sat down on the sofa by the window.The room is small, quite satisfactory, and quite comfortable.There was a bottle of "Glen Levy" brand whiskey on the coffee table, and most of the bottle had been drunk.I looked at the bathroom door and cast a simple spell in the direction of Liera.
There was a dry cough in the bathroom.
"Help me, Liella?" I asked, pouring myself a little whiskey.
Leila was silent.She is throwing up.
There is iced mineral water in the minibar.I rinsed Shabu Liera's glass - a whiff of whiskey.I poured some water into the glass and splashed it directly on the carpet.Then poured another glass.
"I'm sorry..." Liera came out of the bathroom, half bowed, but she was obviously a little more angry. "I am sorry."
"Drink some water, Liera." I handed him the glass.
A very cute girl.Still very young.His eyes were full of misfortune.
"Who are you?" She eagerly drank the water in the glass. "Oh my god... my head is about to explode."
She sat down on another sofa, holding her heavy head in her hands.
Indeed, we cannot talk in this state.
"Do you need help?"
"Have you any aspirin? Or something else for a headache..."
"Traditional Chinese massage," I said as I stood up and walked behind her. "It won't hurt anymore."
"Oh, I don't believe in massage. Men like to lie. They say they understand massage, but they just want to take advantage of it..." Liera stopped at the beginning, and the pain eased as soon as my hand touched her. .
Of course I don't understand massage.But I can describe the magic used for healing as massage.
"It's so comfortable...you're such a magician..." Liera murmured.
"Magician," I agreed. "Certified Light Force Magician."
Step by step...stop the vasospasm...get the alcohol out of the blood...where to go...well, through the kidneys...neutralize metabolites...restore serotonin and adrenaline to normal...balance The pH of the blood... just reduce the secretion of some gastric acid by the way...
Of course, I am far inferior to Svetlana, who can do all the above procedures with just a little touch.I struggled with it for three or four minutes—more than enough energy, but not enough dexterity.
"How could there be such a miracle?" Valeria was surprised and delighted, and turned her head to look at me.
"Yes, yes," I said. "You're going to want to go to the bathroom right away. Don't be shy, don't hold back, pee every fifteen minutes until you get all the shit out of your body... wait a minute..."
I took a closer look, and sure enough...
"No more wine," I ordered, "not a drop."
I went into the bathroom to wash my hands.The water flow eliminates the marks left by tired fingers and damaged bioelectric fields.I can also cleanse with energy, but folk methods are the most reliable.
"Why do you order me?" asked Liera sullenly when I returned to the room. "Thank you for the great massage... I'll come back when I go!"
I waited for Liera to come out of the bathroom.Apparently, she was a bit embarrassed by the rapid and rapid body renewal process.After she sat down I explained:
"You're pregnant. Stop drinking."
"My period should come tomorrow," Liera's reaction was strong enough, and I knew she had noticed it.Relying on a woman's intuition, she soon found out that she was pregnant.After knowing it, she wanted to deny her opinion, so she started drinking heavily.
"Not coming."
She didn't argue with me, and she didn't even ask me where I heard about it. She probably thought it was the magic of oriental medicine.she asked:
"I don't have a husband, why do I want this child?"
"That's up to you," I said. "I'm not trying to persuade you to do anything."
"Who are you?" Liera finally asked the question.
"Gorodetsky. Anton Gorodetsky. I'm from Moscow. My... my mission is to find out why Viktor died."
Liera sighed and said bitterly:
"Weijia's father used all kinds of connections...but now...what's the point of this..."
"Find out the truth."
"The truth..." The girl poured herself a glass of water and drank it all in one gulp.Her body was frantically pumping blood to the kidneys, taking the alcohol and the products of exchange away. "Victor was killed by a vampire."
"There are no vampires, Liella."
"I know. But my boyfriend said 'someone is drinking my blood', and later found bite marks on his neck, and his blood was sucked dry!"
Her voice was almost hysterical.
"We checked the ditch where the boat was going," I said, "and there was blood, a lot of blood. Don't worry, Liella, there are no vampires of any kind. Someone killed your boyfriend. His blood is gone. This It's scary, it's brutal, but there are no vampires."
She was silent for a while.Then ask:
"Why didn't the police tell me this?"
"They have their own rules. They worry about information being leaked. They may still suspect you."
What I said didn't frighten her at all, but irritated her.
"A bunch of bastards. I can't sleep, I drink whiskey at night, I almost didn't go to bed with a man yesterday... I'm afraid to be alone, you know? Scared. But they don't say a word... Sorry, I will go and go Come."
After she came out of the bathroom, I said:
"Maybe my massage was a bit over the top. I'm not a professional at this, so... not good enough."
"You've really learned everything," Liera said.I understood that she, like the French boy in "The Burrow," believed in my identity as a KGB operative.We were all raised on mass propaganda.We all believe in the model that this propaganda has constructed.You don't even need papers if you make yourself look like an undercover detective in a detective film.
"Lierra, I must ask you to concentrate and recall all the circumstances surrounding Viktor's death," I said. "I know, you have already told this many times. But please tell me again."
"We got on that damn boat," Liera began recalling. "I almost fell down. It was very inconvenient to go down into that boat. The bottom was so deep that I couldn't see anything clearly in the dark."
"Start at the very beginning. How you get up in the morning—start here. Go into detail."
A look of helplessness flashed in Lila's eyes.
"Well...we woke up around ten o'clock, and it was already too late for breakfast. So we made out for a while. Then we took a shower, and there was a lot of noise in the shower..."
I nodded as I listened to her, with a good-natured smile on my face—she did go into great detail.Liera burst into tears, and I waited silently for a few minutes.After the tears were shed, she shook her head and looked at me.
"We went to a pub... called 'Oak and Ribbon'... and ate something. We had a beer each. It was hot, and then we saw that goddamn fairground sign. Victor thought it would be cool Interesting. Well, it's cooler in there anyway. So we went there."
Nothing suspicious, nothing of particular concern.I know that Liera has been questioned by professionals before me, asked her to recall, and exhausted her by asking her questions over and over again.What unexpected detail could she recall?
She began to describe the boat and how inconvenient it was to get down into it.Then I raised my hand to stop her:
"Wait, Liera. And the mirror labyrinth... You said it was the most interesting. Didn't anything strange happen there?"
I don't know why this is asking.Maybe it was thinking of Yegor, maybe it was because of that old untrue legend about vampires - vampires don't reflect in mirrors.
"In the Hall of Mirrors..." Liera frowned. "Oh, yes. Wei Jia suddenly waved at a person. He seemed to see someone he knew. Later, he said that he was wrong."
"What about you, Liera? Have you seen anyone you know?"
She shook her head.
"No, it's surrounded by mirrors. You can't actually tell people's faces apart. It's kind of weird... I try not to stare in the mirror."
"Can you just assume... who did he see?"
"Is it important?" Liera asked gravely.
"Yes." I replied without hesitation.
This is critical.This is a key clue.If the vampire was in the "burrow" and he wanted to distract those around him, he should be visible in the hall of mirrors.Victor not only saw it, but recognized it.
What's so scary about recognizing it?What's the big deal if you see someone you know just happens to go into the "burrow" too?Why are vampires so panic-stricken that they even kill innocent college students?
I don't know, I don't know yet.
"I think Viktor sees his acquaintances... not here," Liera continued after thinking for a moment. "Because he was pretty surprised. If it was someone he knew from college, the most he could do was wave and say 'hello' to the person. But he kept waving and didn't call the person. You know, sometimes That’s how it is, if you’re not entirely sure that you really met an acquaintance or you misread it. Later, when he didn’t find anyone, he was even a little disappointed. He said he misread it. Hmm... as if to comfort himself, It is impossible to meet this person here. Anton, did Veja see the murderer?"
"I'm afraid so." I nodded. "That's probably why he was killed. Thank you, you were a great help."
"Should I tell the police this?" Liera asked.
I thought about it and shrugged:
"Why not? Don't mention I've been there if you can, okay? You can tell what comes to mind."
"If you find the murderer, will you tell me?"
"Of course it will."
"Lie." Liera shook her head. "You're lying...you won't say anything."
"I'll send you a postcard," I said to her after a moment of silence. "With the scenery of Edinburgh, if you receive a postcard, it means that we have avenged Victor."
She nodded.By the time she asked again, I had already reached the door.
"Anton, if I... What should I do with the child?"
"You have to decide for yourself. You know, no one can decide anything for you at any time, not the president, the boss, or the good magician."
"I'm nineteen," Liera whispered.I loved Vega.But he is no longer there.A twenty-year-old girl with a child and no husband...
"You've got to make up your mind. Don't drink, anyway," I said.
I walked out of the room and closed the door.
Twilight fell.I've been running between airports and have had a sleepless night.I drank another cup of coffee and looked regretfully at the beer keg: if I had a few more pints now I'd be completely lethargic.I called Gesar and gave a brief account of what I had learned in a day.
"Looking for vampires in Viktor's circle of Moscow acquaintances," Gesar said thoughtfully. "Thank you, Anton, but we've checked all his contacts in Moscow... Well, let's do a closer look. We'll start digging in kindergarten. What are you going to do?"
"Get some sleep," I said.
"Have you reached any preliminary conclusions?"
"There's still something wrong, Gesar. I don't know what it is, but it feels serious."
"Do you need support?"
I wanted to refuse, but I remembered Semyon.
"Boris Ignatievich, if Semyon is not too busy..."
"Does he miss Scotland?" Gesar snorted. "Well, I'll send him. If he doesn't linger, you'll meet in the morning. Go to bed."
I said nothing about Yegor.I put away my phone and glanced at the battery indicator, how could it be possible?The battery is still full.In Moscow my phone only lasted a full day and night - and while I didn't make many calls, it lasted a week abroad.Is it because the signal towers are denser?
Now there is one more thing to do.Not so pleasant.
I took out the wolf sculpture and put it on the table.
Contact, advise, protect?
I took the statue in my hand and closed my eyes.He said silently in his heart: "Zha Wulong!"
There was silence.No answer.Maybe not doing it right?
"Zabulong!"
I felt or sensed that a bunch of eyes were watching me.
As far as I know, Zaburon never responded immediately.Even if his lover is calling.
"Zabulong!"
"What are you shouting about, Gorodetsky?"
I opened my eyes and, of course, there was no one around.
"I need your advice, Darkbringer."
"Just ask."
One thing is good - this kind of talk conveys almost no emotion.Zawulong must be laughing secretly.The Messenger of Light is asking him for help!
"Zavulon, did the mirror magician come to you because you invited him?"
He obviously didn't expect me to ask this question.
"Mirror? Vidari Rogoza?"
"yes."
There was a silence.Of course, he knew the answer.He wondered whether to tell the truth or lie.
"Mirrors cannot be invited, Lightbringer. They are created in the Twilight Plane."
"So, when something happens, the mirror magician will appear?"
"When one party's power is clearly superior to the other's. And this advantage must be very significant and appear very suddenly. The last time the mirror came was because Gesar raised Svetlana's energy level too quickly , He also made Olga go into battle again... and rewritten the fate of your future daughter, shaping her into the most powerful of the great magicians."
"Can you predict who will become the next mirror magician?"
"Yes. The other with weak original power. This person should not have been inspired, and should have disrespect for both light and darkness, or love both light and darkness. He is an ordinary person, and he is also an other. Standing at a crossroads, you can’t tell the difference between the forces of light and the forces of darkness. There are such guys, although they are rare. There are two in Moscow—Victor’s father and... your little friend Yegor. However, he You've grown up, haven't you?"
"Why did Rogoza come from Ukraine?"
"Because we don't decide who's going to be the mirror wizard. I was hoping he would come, but no one knows in advance. The mirror wizard may or may not come. He may appear immediately, or it may take days or even a few days." It will take months to get to the place where the power is out of balance. Have I satisfied your curiosity?"
"yes."
"I'm expecting enthusiastic feedback from you, too. Who killed Victor? What's up with the mirror magician?"
"My news will not please you, Zaburon. In my opinion, Victor was killed to undermine the prestige of the Scottish Night Watch Patrol. They own the playground. As for the mirror... I'm afraid the situation may be so chaotic that mirror magic is required to the point where the Division emerges. Is there a candidate for the role in Edinburgh?"
He believed my words, he seemed to believe it, and he seemed thoughtful when he answered the question:
"I don't know, I never cared."
"That's all for now. Please let me know if you figure it out, sorry for the trouble!"
Before I could hear him answer with a sarcastic laugh, I let go of my palm and terminated the contact.Because of sweating, the statue is a little white, and it looks alive.
Well, it's time to go back to the hotel.Return to the luxurious room dedicated to the Lightbringer, to the realm of white, pink and beige, surrounded by lace curtains and silken sheets.
At this time the phone rang.
"Hi!" I held the phone to my ear, catching the waiter's gaze.I gesticulated with my finger on the open palm, indicating that I would pay the bill.The waiter forced a smile, looked at the only cup of coffee in front of me, and drew the words "£2" on the paper.
"Anthony, my friend," said Lemont.The "Anthony" immediately let me know that there were other people with him, and they didn't need to know that I was Russian. "How did my crew feel about themselves when you left the 'burrow'?"
"pretty good."
"He was killed, Anthony. Can you come here?"
I cursed and took the change out of my pocket.Well... the castle is over there, the green and the bridge are here...
"If I can hail a taxi, I'll be there in five minutes."
"Hurry up." Remont ordered.
An empty car came in no time—I didn't even use magic to empty the car of passengers.Taxis in Edinburgh are a rare convenience.I got in the car, took out my cigarette and smoked.The driver gave me a slightly dissatisfied look, but said nothing.I put my side of the window glass down to the bottom.Also true, people who get in after I get off probably don't smoke...
But I do want to smoke one.
Idiot, what an idiot!I was worried about Yegor, I was worried about Valeria... But I didn't take a moment to use my brain, which is for thinking.When I visited the "burrow", I was targeted, which made some guys wary.Poor Jean, a nervous French lad, never going back to his Nantes...
it's all my fault.
Claremont himself was no better off!The amusement park is closed, but there is only one person on duty-not the other, not a magician who is full of combat power and can take on vampires, but a terrified young man with makeup and costumes.
I imagined the chestnut-haired boy, lying in the middle of the eerie torture apparatus, pale--no longer from makeup, but from blood loss. "It's uncomfortable to stay here alone." I was annoyed and cursed in a low voice.
I'm such a fool, a big fool...
Lymont was waiting for me at the entrance to the "burrow".His face was gloomy and fierce, an annoyed expression that only the Lightbringer could make.
"Go." He stepped forward without looking sideways.We quickly passed through several empty rooms and came to the "Blood River".Here again?
Foma boarded the boat without a word.I follow behind.Foma waved his arms, the engine squeaked, and the boat moved forward.
"You haven't called the police yet?" I asked.
"Not yet. I only called my own people over... and an observer of dark forces."
"Where are they?"
"I asked them to wait a few rooms away, and said that I wanted to invite an independent expert to examine the body, an ordinary person. You don't need to show your face just yet."
In the darkness, the boat sailed a short distance and stopped at the second stop.
"Here it is," said Foma sullenly.
I followed Foma out of the boat and into a side room.The exhibits here are instruments of torture.From the ceiling hung mannequins hanging from nooses, and on the guillotine... the guillotine wasn't a mannequin.The killer once again showed his sense of humor.
Cutting off a person's head with a blunt prop knife on the guillotine-to do this, you must have powers that ordinary people don't have, such as vampires.
The white plastic bucket next to the guillotine was half full of blood.The severed head fell aside.
I knelt down and carefully took the head in my hand. I really wanted to yell twice—because I was helpless, and because I realized my stupidity.
"If we find out which bastard did it..." said Foma. "He has worked here for seventeen years..."
"The bastard's a brunette," I said. "He says he's French and speaks with a slight accent. He looks in his twenties. He likes to create theatrical effects, he's very smart, and he's a good actor."
I carefully put my head back on the ground, glanced at the stupefied Remont, and explained:
"I was brought here as a three-year-old child, and I even talked to the murderer, right next to this body. But I have no doubts, not the slightest!"
On the floor, the head of the slain janitor stared blankly at us, the black hair punctuated with gray, like most people over fifty.
"Only in front of a weak magician can you hide your true nature." Remont looked at me with distrust. "This is the law. Try to determine my bioelectric field."
A strange conversation next to a decapitated corpse.Strange places, strange crimes, strange conversations...
Lemont's bioelectric field is an intense greenish-yellow ball that radiates energy.It gradually loses its luster, and the edge of the energy level slowly converges and becomes darker.Within seconds Lemont was surrounded by the typical average human bioelectric field—a smooth, layered bioelectric field.
A typical feature of the Other—a ruptured, unsealed bioelectric field.It can bulge out needle-like and spike-like protrusions, can be sunken into pits, and can also appear cracks.All this shows that it is both open and powerful, not only releasing energy like ordinary people, but also absorbing energy.Absorb, reorganize, create miracles.
The bioelectric field of ordinary people is smooth, complete and multi-layered.They can only release energy, but not absorb it.The flat layers of the bioelectric field are their attempt to defend themselves against the slow but inevitable loss of life energy.
Yes, Lemont looks like a normal person now.
Almost became a normal person...
But I observed a little, and saw white needle-like bumps in his bioelectric field.Foma covers up really well.But I still saw through the pretense.
"See," I said. "But I haven't observed that young man so closely. He may have concealed his true condition."
"In other words, the chestnut-haired boy you are talking to is a high-level magician, or a high-level magician disguised as a vampire." Foma nodded in satisfaction. "Besides, it is impossible for him to cover up his bioelectric field and at the same time put a mask on himself. Not bad, Anton, not bad! We have his external characteristics: young, chestnut hair... There is no such thing in the world. A few senior magicians."
"He probably found his robe here," I said. "And the fangs. He heard me getting closer, and instead of running away, he came out to meet me... and quickly made up a reasonable story."
"I can even imagine why he needed that robe," said Foma gloomily, looking at the blood-spattered floor, "he can't help soiling his clothes... to pass on his likeness to me, Anton. "
I closed my eyes and tried to remember as much as possible of the French boy.Then send a portrait to Laymont with his mind.
"Oh," said Foma, "excellent. I'll check the database."
"Perhaps the Inquisition should be notified?" I asked.
Lymont shook his head.
"No, there is no need for the time being. The incident is still limited to the ordinary crimes of the Dark Messenger. The Edinburgh Sun Watch Patrol will not raise any objections. We can do without asking the Inquisition for help, Anton, at least for the time being."
I did not object.Turning to the Inquisition is not a good idea.
"What else needs to be done?"
"No need, go back to sleep," Remont ordered. "We will not notify the police, we will investigate with full authority. My men will try to find clues, and I will investigate the senior magician."
He sighed, and bent down towards the severed head, as if expecting to find the evidence left by the murderer accidentally.It's time for Lemont to lose some belly fat...
"Foma," I called him softly, "Foma, what's in the Scotch Hole?"
"What?" he asked without looking back.
"What is the dark messenger looking for here?"
"This is the playground, Monsieur Gorodetsky," said Foma coldly. "It's just a playground."
"Okay, okay." I said and left.
There is no need for the murderer to come back again.If he'd left any evidence - normal or magical - it would have been discovered long ago.
But he came back and started killing again.To further anger the Night's Watch patrols?Nonsense.Is it to make Lemont suffer?More bullshit.
This means that the first time he failed or didn't have time to finish something, so he had to do it again.
What would Lymont hide?This place is not that simple.For example, there is no moss growing here.This is quite abnormal.The structure of the Twilight Realm is uneven.Entering the Twilight is more difficult in some places, and easier in others.I've also heard of some areas where it's impossible to get into Twilight at all.However, moss is a parasite that can be found everywhere...
After about a hundred meters from the bridge, I looked through the twilight realm.
aha!
Where I stand the moss grows.They are also connected together next to bars and cafes.There are more around residential buildings, and less around offices and shops.There is also more moss at intersections, which often unnerves drivers.
It's normal.
Moss growing on the way to the bridge and the entrance to the "burrow"!It is attracted to grow that way.This is not surprising.There are more and more moss, denser and denser... But it suddenly began to wither about ten meters away from the entrance, as if hitting an invisible wall.
strangeness.If there is something there that is detrimental to moss growth, then its number should gradually decrease.There may be other reasons for this...
I reached out to the nearest clump of moss, a fluffy blob of blue on the tarmac, and issued a command:
"combustion!"
The energy flows through me, but I control its onslaught.The moss did not burn immediately.It began to expand, and its area expanded, trying to dissipate the energy it had acquired suddenly.However, the energy surged, and the moss couldn't resist, and gradually turned gray, dried up... and finally burned.
Now I can see clearly.When you know exactly what you are looking for, everything becomes extremely simple.
The energy scattered in the space and the life energy released by people enter the twilight realm unevenly.They keep seeping in through the gaps in its structure, the first floor, the second floor, the third floor... However, a hole appeared near the "burrow" - energy poured into it continuously.It's like cutting a small hole in the fabric used to permeate or filter water...
For low-level parasites, such nutrients are too sufficient.Moss spreads towards the playground.It is captivated by its uninterrupted power, by the emotion generated by the frightened visitor.Spread over, then wither.
I seem to understand why Foma Lemont wants to open a playground here.The energy gathered in one place should be hidden from the common other.Here, a glut of energy is blamed on drunken tourists, terrified children and Edinburgh's never-ending carnival...
I wouldn't be surprised if Foma's sole purpose in promoting Edinburgh was to cover up the place.
no way.Even the Lightbringers sometimes play tricks.
I walked slowly up a road leading to the "Royal Mile".It's not a gathering place for tourists, it's a bit dark, only some light comes from the windows on both sides, and the shops on the street are closed.But along it you can walk back to the hotel.I want to sleep so badly.Probably should call a taxi?It takes only ten minutes to walk...
I turned into a small alley among the houses, and came to a place where I couldn't tell whether it was a small square or a large courtyard, and walked to a small monument on the side of the road.A bronze parrot stands in the middle of the stone fountain, and a small stream of clear water emerges from the pool—I don’t know if it is a small street fountain or clean water for drinking.There is a small sign at the bottom. I lit a lighter and took a photo. I learned that this small fountain was built by the residents of the city to commemorate their favorite parrot. This old parrot died of pneumonia...
There was a whoosh behind me, followed by a jerk on my shoulder.It was so fierce that I moved several steps so as not to fall face down into the pool.
A warm current surged down his back.
This... what's going on here?
Then there was another "whoosh".The sound bounced heavily from the bronze parrot.Hot bullets fell into the fountain, sizzling.Only then did I fully understand that I almost lost my life beside the parrot monument.
Yes, I was shot!
I, the other!
Advanced magician!
A magician who can destroy houses or rebuild cities with a wave of his hand!
Well, I lied about rebuilding cities...it's always easier to destroy than to build.
I crouched behind the fountain and watched carefully in the dark.Not a single person was there.So... look through the Twilight Realm?
The results blew my mind.
Apparently the bullet had come from an alley off the alley I was passing.But I didn't see anything!There are no others, and no ordinary people!
Fortunately, the injury is not serious.The bullet just went through soft tissue.I stopped the bleeding on first reflex.Now just recall the two healing spells to heal the punctured muscles...
Another shot, the bullet whizzed past the top of my head, and my hair even stood up.Judging from the slight sound, the gun was equipped with a muffler.And judging from the fact that it didn't kill me, either a guy with a good mark shot it with a pistol, or a guy with a bad mark shot it with a sniper rifle.
But why didn't I see the shooter?
I waved my arms and cast the Morpheus spell over the entire alley for five minutes.After hesitating for a while, I still swept the windows, the roof and the surrounding alleys of the house.A short period of dormancy will not cause harm to the human body. "Morpheus" is a more soothing spell.The average person has about five seconds before they go completely dormant, allowing standing people to sit down, mothers with babies to put them down, and drivers to slow down.Usually no one is harmed.
There was silence.
I really planted?
I straightened up and looked through the twilight again.No matter who it is, as long as it falls asleep, the disguise will fall off...
Accompanied by the sound of bullets, an imperceptible light flashed in the alley.And my poor right shoulder got a second shot.It's actually the same place!
Of course, you can comfort yourself that there is already a wound in that place.But it hurts!Why does it hurt so much if there is already a wound there?
I crouch down so the fountain stops the bullets.There was no longer any doubt—the bullet had come from the alley.
what should I do?Shooting fireballs into the darkness ahead to fend off camouflaged shooters?Burn everything around with "white mirage"?Then put on a magic shield and stand out to confront each other face to face? ...However, if I cannot see the enemy, then I will be at the mercy of a more powerful magician.
Or ask for help, call the police, get Gesar and Foma?
wait a minute.
You don't have to look for Gesar and Foma.
What did Zaburon say?Contact, Advice, Help?
Now would be a good time to get some help.
I took the statue out of my pocket, set it down on the cobblestones, touched it with energy, and called out:
"I need help!"
Everything is done in an instant.The air hit me hard in the face, and at first I thought it was an invisible shooter who switched to a grenade.It was actually the statue deforming—it swelled, softened, and dissolved into a dark, puffy shadow.White teeth gleamed in the dark, yellow wolf eyes gleamed.The shapeshifter jumped up, stepped over the fountain, and jumped to the right.Another shot was fired, but the effort was clearly in vain.It jumped from side to side with great agility, like hunted prey.Immediately afterwards, the beast rushed into the alley.I heard a growl, and then there was a boom and a clatter of metal.The bullets were still firing one after the other at a constant rate, with a gap of a second or two between each.However, as if being controlled, the bullets kept flying, and the shooter was no longer a threat.
我跳了起来，沿着狼的前行方向追去。为了以防万一，我建起了防护盾。而且也终于完成了刚一开始就该做的事：制造光圈。非常简单的咒语，任何一个光明魔法师都会，呼唤原始能量。我头顶上的空气中闪现出明亮的白色火焰。
我立刻就看到了差点让我丧命的家伙。在黄昏界里没能见到的家伙。
一个精致的金属三脚架，跟专业摄像的那种差不多。三脚架的转盘上是一个柱形圆筒，上面的透镜闪闪发光。圆筒带有弹簧减震夹，里面固定着一只短步枪。它的弹鼓是圆形的，跟老式的苏联波波沙冲锋枪一样，枪管上带有长长的消声器波纹管。环状的装甲缆与扳机扣很匹配，其末端的卡板固定在牵引绳上，牵引绳则固定在扳机扣上。
机器人还在动作。圆筒随着马达的低声蜂鸣而颤动，卡板摁动扳机扣，被仰架起来的步枪开始朝天发射。我俯下身，能感觉到背上在流血。我用没有受伤的那只手按了按圆筒。旁边有个小小的舱口，上面用汉字刻有“射手U”的字样。后面是“285590607”的编号。汉字下方有一个由几笔线条勾勒出的小孩子圆乎乎的笑脸。
还挺诙谐的……
我用指甲拨开舱口，把供电开关调至“关闭”状态。
“射手U”的伺服马达发出轻微的“咕嘟”声，随后就平息了下来。
“来自中国的问候，”我一边说着一边坐到机器人旁边，看了看从圆筒里支棱出来的短天线。的确，真正的射手无处不在。和我较量的却是机器人。
我很走运，瞄准器有些受损。
“就该这样，”我望着机器人说。“要不这算怎么回事啊？难道这年头还得想出一些对付机器的咒语来？”
那匹狼从黑暗中跑过来，坐到我对面，开始舔爪子。我没看到伤口，大概变形人把三脚架放倒在地的时候被滚烫的枪管灼伤了。
“如果火星上有活物，它们看上去估计就跟这个差不多，”我对它说。“你看过《星球大战》吗？”
我还以为它不会回答，事实上并非所有的变形人在变成野兽之后都还会说话。不过它抬起眼睛，狠狠地瞪了我一下，发出狼嗥的声音：
“只—看—过—电—影。”
“哦，那你明白我的意思了，”我回答。 "thanks."
“舔—舔—伤—口。”
“我可不是变形人，还要舔伤口呢……”我用手握住右肩，定了定神。胳膊上一跳一跳的疼痛感让我难受。弹伤是很不舒服的。即使是对魔法师而言。如果斯维塔在身边，她两分钟就能替我治好……
“你得罪谁了？”这次变形人把话说得更完整了。“难道是艾菲尔铁塔？”
一时之间我甚至没反应过来——它还会这么开玩笑。我摇摇头说：
“我看你倒挺幽默的，跟彼得罗相差不多。谢谢你帮忙。你没怎么伤着吧？”
“爪子上有点儿，”它含混不清地说，然后又接着舔。“被那东西弄的。”
“你变回人形，我给你治治。”我站起身，肩上已经不再流血。我朝已经切断了电源的三脚架发出了伪装咒语（此后任何人看到的都将是一件普通物品，至于具体会是什么，那就视各人的喜好来定了），用左手拿起它，还挺沉的，散发着炽热金属浓浓的味道，还间杂有火药的煳味和某种燃油的气味。得把它弄走，不能把武器留在市中心吧？
“再—说—吧，”狼断断续续地喊。“得到—安全的—地方—去……你住哪里？”
“旅馆。你会喜欢的，咱们走吧。不过你得一直待在我的大腿旁边，看上去要跟乖巧的小狗一样。”
它咆哮起来，但立刻藏起了獠牙。总的来说它个头不大，在黑暗当中看上去跟牧羊犬差不多。
老实说，我没指望今天的不愉快到此就能结束。然而我们却顺顺当当地走回了旅馆。前台换了个新门房，不过他没问我什么，看来已经得到了针对我的指示。他看了变形人一眼，同样什么话也没问。我走过去对他说：
“请给我楼上黑暗使者房间的钥匙。”
门房拿出钥匙，没有表示反对，只是好奇地问了一句：
“你们不能在一个房间里凑合一夜？”
“我对毛皮过敏。”我回答。
餐厅里传来说话声和碰杯声。有客人在边吃边聊。不过我没什么兴趣加入其中。这里的酒宴上“血腥玛丽”是最受欢迎的鸡尾酒，而这种酒的成分可是名副其实的。
Notes:
Notes: