Chapter 10 Chapter 2

Nothing interesting happened in the last two days and nights.I wandered around Moscow, bought some unexpected things, practiced new skills, and tried not to be too obvious.I connected to my cell phone, but I had no idea why - I didn't need to call anywhere, and there was no one to call.Bought a mini CD player and burned two hours of discs for it.I scoured the catalog for songs old and new that had somehow surfaced in my stubborn memory.I gradually got used to the changed Moscow.Beneath its neon-lit, festive glitz, what remains remains dirty and shabby.I was greeted by a waitress in the hotel, and there seemed to be a queue waiting to serve me—I continued to live the life of a celebrity, and I didn't pay attention to notes smaller than a hundred rubles.It's odd, though, that I take my change seriously at the store, even the paltry nickel-plated kid who's only a memento for foreigners...

I saw him three times during these two nights: once by accident in the subway; once at night I ran into a witch who was a little drunk because she had lost her unit key and room key and had no strength to wear it. It was too dark, so I tried to jump from the balcony on the third floor, but failed.I helped that witch; another day a fairly powerful light magician took me for an uninspired other—I even remembered his last name: Gorodetsky.He just happened to go to the store to record the Walkman just like I did.Seeing the official seal, the magician was very surprised, so he didn't bother me right away.He even wanted to leave, apparently out of disgust, but I was finishing the disc, so I left.

For a while I wondered: why does he hate the Darkbringer so much?But the Lightbringers hate us.Yes, almost all hate.They don't want to believe it anyway, and we're basically not interested in them as long as they're out of our way.But they stand in our way, and often do.In fact, we often stand in their way. Nobody from the Night's Watch has bothered me, and I don't think they've even tried to find me or ask me.After all, they still understand that the dark magician has no need to drink human blood.Of course, if I hadn't been disgusted enough to throw up, I could have done this and let the digestive functions of the stomach run for a long time...

I am absorbed in waiting for the next step, but it seems that this is only possible in acute and complicated situations where something in me compels me to resort to the spell.And I don't mean insignificant roles like shooing away fat, shaven-faced conductors on buses, or getting out of long queues for fare cards when I don't want to stand in line.No, that level was literally yesterday for me.In order to learn something new, to uncover a closed layer of memory, and to wake up the knowledge that is temporarily in a half-sleep state, I need a stronger shock. They force themselves to wait, but briefly.

Like so many other dark emissaries, I'm a deep-rooted "owl" at all.Because I live among ordinary people, I cannot completely ignore the day, but I am also unwilling to resist the seductive call of the night.I get up very late, around noon or even later, and get back to the hotel at dawn... My fourth night in Moscow was gradually shrouded in dawn. I quietly walked down the steps, and just as my feet landed, the black cast its original dark gray hue.I was walking in the street garden of the Izmailov Grove, where there were no pedestrians, and I suddenly felt that, in the distance, in some courtyards, there was a powerful magical fire.

When I use the word "emerge," I do not mean that the controlled energy breaks free.No, the energy separates out and is immediately swallowed up, otherwise it would cause a general explosion.The Other not only changes himself, but also changes the world and energy.But the balance of separation and engulfment always ends up equal to zero, otherwise... Otherwise the world simply cannot exist.We cannot exist in this world.I feel like I'm being pushed - go there!go! Had to go. I walked for fifteen minutes, turning confidently at intersections, sometimes walking out of yards and through small corners.When I was almost at the passage, I sensed others—they were trying to approach from two directions; I heard the hissing of several cars at the same time.Almost instantly I made out the house and the suite from the stereotyped fences of the multistory buildings.Something happened there not long ago that interested me, the me hidden deep in my ordinary nature.

A standard Khrushchev-era five-story building on Thirteenth Park Street.The trash can was at the end of the house, and the yard didn't have any of the kind of benches I'm used to in southern yards. There are three cars at the entrance of the house: a "Zhiguli", a dilapidated non-brand convertible truck and a well-maintained "BMW".In short, there were quite a few cars parked around, but all the cars were obviously parked here overnight, and these few cars just drove here and stopped at a random place.The engine begrudgingly provides heat to the winter day. fifth floor.Still at the entrance to the house (the iron gate, which happened to be open) I felt a powerful magical framework.It is these structures that force me to pull my own shadow up from the floor, force me into darkness.

I think the Twilight draws its power from the Other.Of course, if he's not good at resisting.No one had ever taught me this trick, and I just started doing it instinctively, like I always have.Maybe, I really do all the time, and when I need to—I just remember. The walls, stairs, and even the railings are covered with green moss, the occupants of the first floor of the dark space.Since it feeds here all day long, it means that there are some emotional people living in this unit. This is the suite I need.The unit is bigger and the door is closed even in the twilight world. At this point I was thrown up a flight of steps or two.Overcoming the momentary weakness, I once again lifted my own shadow from the floor and walked deeper.

I immediately felt that being here was the work of a few. no house.There was little but a dark gray fog and the moon dimly visible through it.Three full moons.There should have been a roar of the wind, but time passed so slowly at this level that even the wind, which couldn't tell the difference between the normal world and the twilight world, could barely feel it. I began to descend, sinking into this fog, but I held myself.Turns out I would.There are efforts that are often indescribable, more instinctive than conscious - and so I move forward.With one more effort, I can see the upper dimension of the twilight realm from here.

Everything happened very slowly and draggingly, as if the world had sunk into a layer of gray, but at the same time clear, thick asphalt.I don't think I can't adapt to this slowness anyway.Mostly I made my perception accept that rhythm, lag behind reality, catch up with reality, and everything that happened from that moment on became like the ordinary world again—the human world. Not just like, like usually in this kind of house.The passage here is narrow, and to the left are two small doors leading to the utility room and the kitchen, and a little further on, again to the left—one room, to the right—another.The house on the right is now vacant.In the room on the left - there are five others and a corpse lying on a messy bed.The body of a man in his thirties.There were several torn wounds on his groin and abdomen, and the scars ruled out any thoughts of rescue, and the wounds were covered with crumpled and blood-stained sheets.

Others - three emissaries of light and two emissaries of darkness.One of the three Lightbringers was a skinny guy with an asymmetrical face, while the other two were familiar guys—music fan Gorodetsky and the shapeshifter girl.Two emissaries of darkness - a chubby magician who is attentive and meticulous, and a brooding fellow.I think he's a knockoff of the unsuccessful lizard - he's clothed, but his hands and face are green and scaled. Others are arguing: "This is the second accident in a week, Sagoron. And it's another murder. It makes people feel, sorry, as if you've insulted the treaty." The Lightbringer I don't know said. The dark magician cast an involuntary glance at the dead man. "We can't get everything right, and you know that very well," he muttered, and I couldn't catch any acknowledgment or regret in his voice. "But it is your duty to remind all the dark emissaries of a bloodless week! This is what your chiefs have officially promised." "We reminded." "Thank you!"—Lightbringer applauded gracefully. "The results are impressive. I repeat: We, members of the Night's Watch Patrol, formally request cooperation. Call your leaders!" "The boss is not in Moscow," the magician replied glumly. "Besides, your boss knows this very well, so there is absolutely no need to authorize you to ask for cooperation." "You mean," Gorodetsky asked menacingly, "that you refuse to cooperate?" The Dark Messenger quickly shook his head: "Why do we say no? No. We don't. It's just that I don't understand. How can we help?" The Lightbringer looked righteous, but he was also full of anger.The magician I didn't know interjected again: "What do you mean? The shapeshifter slut ripped off the testicles of the client, and he was an unexcited other, and slipped away safely! Who knows better about your countless sluts-you or us?" "Sometimes I think it's—you," said the Dark One, through gritted teeth, and glanced at the girl, "if you remember the conversation the Inquisitor had with him in the Seventh Heaven when he was captured." He turned to Goro Jackie nodded. The Dark Emissary was silent for a moment, as if hesitating. "It's very possible that the shapeshifter is unregistered. It's also very possible that the guest stimulated her aggressiveness, so... this... this... Anyway, let's put it this way, he wants to play even if he is a slut. It's a trick that can't be done, that's why it ended up like that." "Sagoron, you can't blame the human policeman for this, because she killed people in the face of the twilight. That's all. There are patrol personnel involved here! Just say it, can you get in?" Reconnaissance, or force us to do it? And, you guys think about it, but don't count on delays. We need that vampire and cat on Saturday in court, and it's due before the holidays in the last few days. Request Got it?" The skinny wizard boy puts pressure on Sagoron, "under the guise of the law," and does so with the apparent satisfaction of an Other who doesn't often sit down to a case.The pressure he exerted seems well-founded... "These ugly, lascivious pigs," the scaly fellow muttered suddenly, "brainless stupid bitches..." "Shut up," said the girl in Lightbringer coldly, "you overage gecko." Oh, by the way, she is also a cat, even if she is from the Light Realm... "Little Tiger, be quiet." Gorodetsky turned to her and said.Then he said to the Dark Messenger: "Do you understand our request?" At this time, I suddenly returned to the first layer of space in the twilight world, and called the following few seconds a silent scene-that is, no words were spoken. "You?!" The girl exhaled, "It's you again?" "Good evening, ma'am," I said in Spanish, "I'm sorry, but I rushed over when I saw the fire." "Anton, Torik," Xiaohu said, pointing at me like a child, "that's what Andlyushka saw next to the vampire's victim on Saturday! This dark messenger from Ukraine!" She The voice was loud, but trembling slightly with excitement. All five of them stared at me intently. "I hope," I said sarcastically, "that I'm more like a mad vampire than a slut shapeshifter?" "Who are you?" the dark emissary named Sagoron asked maliciously. "Mage, come with me. Dark magician, come from another place." He tried to get a feel for me, and I felt that if I hadn't risen to a higher rung, at least I was quite close to it.He failed.By the way, I also discovered that Sagoron's protection was not entirely his own - he could feel the magical structure of a super-magician, probably the notorious master who was not in Moscow. "The second murder, you will show up soon again." Torik raised his voice in disbelief, trying to test me.I could not help feeling a little flattered to find that he had achieved nothing. "I don't like this, please explain!" Torik did look dissatisfied, but held it in moderation for now.I'm fine with that.Gorodetsky's behavior felt dangerous.He was obviously the main character in this troika, and now he was considering a plan of action with an air of seriousness.And it seems that there are many plans. "Then I'll take the trouble to explain," I agreed easily. "I was walking not far from here. I sensed something bad was going on, so I came here—in case there's anything I can do to help? " "Did you work in the patrol team in your Ukraine?" the guy with the scales asked unexpectedly. "no." "Then what can you do to help?" "Who knows?" I shrugged. The tongue of the scaled one is of course very long and divided into two parts.Yes, people fantasize in the same way... The twilight form of the Dark Angel is not like the Lightbringer, which seems to be a favorable and wide space for creation.The pattern of Lightbringer is stereotypical: glowing white attire.The particularly sentimental ones, mostly women - have a tiara.No way...almost all Darkbringers go after the horned and scaled devilish rags with forked tongues. "Of course you have nothing to do with these two murders?" said the girl with a sarcasm that could not be concealed. "certainly." "I don't believe him," the girl turned around, "Anton, you should feel him." "We have to feel it," Anton replied without thinking, "Let's go——I'll check his profile for myself..." I sneered mockingly. "Okay. You don't want help—then don't. I won't force it. Then I'm going..." I head for the exit. "Hey, Darkbringer," Torik said from behind me, "you are advised not to leave Moscow. This is an official order of the Night's Watch patrol." "I'll think about it," I replied. "Besides, I don't intend to leave..." "I'll go with you," Torik said to Anton and Xiaohu, "I have something to talk about." Anton thought gloomily, "The traces haven't been cleaned up yet"—the words of this strange dark messenger somehow irritated him a lot.Xiaohu repeated his words vividly, even the tone was similar. Seeing this scene, Anton was once again convinced that Xiaohu had a brilliant actor talent hidden in him.More precisely, actress talent.Who knows what she would have done if she hadn't become the Other? ... Sagoron and his partner disappeared in the luxurious BMW.Torik stretched out his hand and asked Anton for the key, and Anton obediently gave him the key of the "Zhiguli" bus.Xiaohu sat in the back row without saying a word.Anton and Torik sat side by side.Torik quickly turned the steering wheel, boarded the "Lilac" forest avenue, and drove east. "Who is he, this dark messenger?" Anton asked, trying to break the silence.Everyone is in a bad mood.Another corpse, and—the corpse of an unactivated Lightbringer! "He's a powerful magician," Torik said brokenly, "better than I am. I want to feel him. But I can't—he shuts off in an instant." "Closed?" Xiaohu asked interestedly from behind, "Why, he didn't wear protective clothing." "That's the problem!" Torik explained sullenly. "When he walked in, he looked exactly like a middle-level magician of around the third or fourth level, like me or Anton." Anton said nothing - Torik was wrong in form, but right in essence.Gesar called Anton a second-level magician, but he had only climbed the steps of this level of power a few times.To be honest, he is still at the third level for the time being. "But I just wanted to feel him," Torik went on. "It's over. A thick wall. He must be better than me. Anton, did you feel him?" "No." "It seems to be level one..." Torik sighed and continued, "If he deceives people too much, he has to use Ilia..." "I'm afraid that the chief and Olga and Sveta will be used," Anton pointed out.He was ignored—the prospect of asking the high-ranking magicians for help was grim. Xiaohu moved a few times, trying to sit more comfortably. "There's no way he wasn't involved in the murder. The first time—I can understand it—just arrived in Moscow, out for a walk, and came across poachers. Now? How did he end up on May 1st?" "Is he really here on Saturday?" Torik asked. "Indeed," Xiaohu said affirmatively, "I don't like him, do you understand? I even found the train he was on, and I told the female train conductor the object of my memories word by word. He hardly ever appeared. compartment, but in that car—that's the truth." "Is there something on him?" Anton felt Torik asking with a glimmer of hidden hope. "You mean destructive material? Not at all. He hasn't had a single violation. He's not a vampire, he's not a shapeshifter, he doesn't need a license. And it wasn't long ago, seven years ago... like me .” Torik nodded thoughtfully. "There are very few others in the city of Nikolayev, and the inspection team is correspondingly small, with only twenty or thirty members... All right. Let's go now - dig a little deeper," Anton said, " Did you turn off your own car, hey?" "Yeah, what's going to happen to him?" Torik shrugged. "Hey, call the boss, or do it yourself?" He was clearly not feeling well.Torik had run the regular staff department for more than a year after Anton had gone to the operations unit.But no Night's Watch patrol member has the right to lose a profession - so this month it's Torik's turn to join the action team.As a result, on the first day - I encountered such an unpleasant incident... "Maybe, we have to notify the higher-ups." Anton thought. "Then don't delay..." Torik sighed. Xiaohu was ready to hand him the phone, but before Torik could touch it, the melody of "Night in the Suburbs of Moscow" rang out from the microphone. Anton wanted to answer the phone, but stopped again.In case... It's obviously a call from someone on my own, but I can't feel the tense atmosphere of the office phone.Maybe it was just a casual call from a member of the inspection team to Xiaohu?Everyone has privacy, even patrol members. Xiaohu answered the phone.She listened most of the time and said only one thing: "I don't know." "It's Garico," she explained in a worried whisper, "and Andryusha is missing." "Chunikov?" "Yes. Garico thought he was with us." "The last time I saw him during the day," Torik said, "he was going to get a good night's sleep." "His phone calls went unanswered. Also—Garico couldn't feel him. He was Andre's mentor..." I turned around and said to Xiaohu: "He's been possessed since Saturday. What's that dark emissary at the doorway saying to him?" Xiaohu shrugged: "Nothing special, I've told him a hundred times. Called him a spy. But Andryusha was really stung, because it became clear at once that the dark messenger was not a vampire at all. I personally Explained it to him." "You don't have to be a vampire yourself," Torik said in a boring voice, "This dark emissary may be the organizer of all the farce. Moreover, it should be said that his organizational ability is obviously higher than that of an intermediate magician." .” "Zavulong's pawn," Anton went on, "yes, it's possible. It's entirely possible." "Think higher! Not pawns. Not even knights or bishops. Rooks. An important pawn. Don't be a queen..." "Torik, don't exaggerate. Without Zaburon, the Dark Emissary would have lost to us. And Zaburon is not in Moscow right now." "That's what the Dark Emissary said. But in fact—who knows?" "Anyway, Za Wulong seldom appears recently." Anton interjected. "Yes, yes. Probably sitting there preparing a course of action... Worst of all, I can't imagine what the purpose of the course of action would be. What do we have now? Two suspicious murders, if viewed as connected , I can't figure it out at all." "If there is a connection as a whole." Anton didn't seem to believe what he said. "No, no matter how you think about it, they are connected," Torik said stubbornly. "I can feel it. The bond of connection-is this foreign magician." "What's there to think about!" Xiaohu said. "Since Svetlana appeared, we have a considerable advantage. The dark messengers began to retreat one after another-remember, the boss in the last few negotiations How did Zhong put pressure on Zhawulong? Zhawulong backed down—to be honest, what else could he do? It seems that the dark messenger has begun to restore the balance of action plans. Really, how unsatisfactory—— Just in time for the ablution week before Lent..." "This is the most convenient time for the Dark Messenger," Anton muttered, "because they know that we don't have a serious reason, so we won't start talking irritatingly. And there seems to be no reason for the time being." "Don't be discouraged." Torik begged with a heavy voice. "Zhiguli" gallops down Leningrad Avenue to catch the approaching dawn. The car drove to the headquarters, and they remained silent.Maybe no one wants to predict, maybe they feel something. Garico was nervously tossing his feet back and forth at the entrance of the corridor, next to Ilya who was still awake and squinting his eyes from under the glasses. "Hey," Torik said miserably, "teeth clenched..." Ilya and Garico quickly got into the car, squeezing Xiaohu from both sides.Anton understood at once why they were sitting like this, understood what the pale, furious, restrained Garico was about to say... "The Hotel Cosmos. Andryukha is dead, fellows..." Torik pushed the accelerator pedal all the way, but even the most powerful coupe couldn't keep up with death.Xiaohu was tightly pressed by his friends, twitched weakly, and froze. "How did this happen?" Anton asked in a low voice. "Darkbringer Vidari Rogoza just called. He said he found the body of the Other in his room." "I'm going to bite off his throat myself," Xiaohu swore hoarsely, "don't let anyone stop me!" "Just in case, I called Big Bear," said the unusually calm Ilya. "I think he's near the 'universe.'" Anton felt that several colleagues had already understood and compromised.Crowd fighting is inevitable.He touched quietly the pistol in the holster under his arm.He has never used this weapon once. I have a very positive feeling that tonight's events are far from over.It seems that I have gradually begun to foresee what is going to happen.Not foreseeable in detail, not at all: more like a tangle of possible threads.I'm starting to get a feel for where the biggest strands will lead. Uneasiness, disaster, worry, danger—that's all I have in store for tonight.At first, I wanted to wait for them next to the "BMW" of the Dark Messenger next to the corridor downstairs.But then I realized - don't wait, it's not necessary.There's no need to let them... like, anyway, let them know that I don't know anything about it.Let them think I'm actually rigging the game.The leader of the Sun Watch patrol team is not in Moscow, and the others don't seem to be my opponents... However, what's wrong with me?You won't speak too loudly, will you?There are many magicians with strong magic skills in Moscow!Even those magicians who don't serve in the patrol team!I'm not going to be raised forever up a ladder -- there's no such thing as an endless ladder.I will always find constraints on me, not to mention that these Moscow inspection team members are all experienced magicians, and many of them are magicians with ancient experience.And I can't figure it out myself - what I can and what I can't.I'm still a savage.Has anyone ever said that my power, as miraculously as it appeared, is miraculously never to end? So take it easy, Vidalic, don't drive the waves ashore.Better think about what this dead night can do to you.Perhaps, instead of grabbing the cat's tail, let's leave at a faster pace... I hurried to the Sholkovsky Highway, got into the underpass, and went to the opposite side of the road to stop passing cars. One thing I like about Moscow is that even in the dead of night, or even in the early morning, as soon as you raise your hand, there will be a car driving by the side of the road.If you were in Nikolayev, if you dawdled on the side of the road for half an hour, no one would think of parking.And money is everything here.Everyone needs money. Exhibition Center of Achievements of the National Economy, fifty rubles.standard price. I get into a stylishly decorated "Volkswagen" to meet unpleasant events that are almost within reach. Arrived next to the hotel, and already downstairs I felt the protection of my room was broken.It works, my protection, works as it should, and that's where my main trouble is.I ignored the others, climbed to the sixth floor, walked into the room, and put the key in the lock.I froze for a moment in front of the door. All right, doomed. He was lying in the middle of the living room with his arms outstretched.The expression on his face is childlike wonder and aggrieved, like the face of a vicious wasp who has just stung a finger that has just been stung by accident. He encountered the Shapa Ring Curse.This is an uncomplicated, but powerful spell.Naturally, he did not know the corresponding incantation.He - Andryukha Chunikov, a young failed spy, Lightbringer of the Night's Watch Patrol. Had he been more experienced--he would never have gotten into a ringed place.I didn't wrap around the whole room, I just locked the locker with the backpack. This is exactly the last thing I need.If it was the death of an ordinary person, the Lightbringer would regard it as a poaching at most, while the murder of others was a matter of another level entirely.This can already smell the smoke of the court. But I have closed, closed my territory in a way that others understand.This is my territory!Don't break in!mine!Can't break in! But he broke in.And so—it was all over, resting in the Twilight... the young bum!Didn't he want to win a reward? It should be admitted.Otherwise, the question cannot be explained. I approached the phone - not a mobile phone, but an ordinary phone on the table.The phone number jumped from memory with a happy obedience. "Is it the Night's Watch Patrol? I am Vidari Rogoza, the Other, the Darkbringer. One of your members is with me, Andrei Chunikov, if I read correctly. He Dead. What if you come here...'Universe' Hotel, Room 612." Strange as it may be, the first people to show up were not the Lightbringers.The other came upstairs - as if someone's energy had come over me, the two of them.These two are the magicians of the Dark Messenger, and they are full of dark power that makes me feel a bit similar to the Twilight Realm, but denser and darker than the Twilight Realm.The long tongue of the twilight world that is gradually fading flows directly through the roof of the hotel, to a certain depth, and to the ground.I think it's even going underground, lower than the ground. There was a knock at the door--knock very measuredly. "Understood!" I replied without leaving the armchair, "The door is open, come in!" They entered the room.Sagoron, who I met in the room on May 1st Street, and another, also a magician as far as I know.He was fat like Sagoron, and dark, and strong, a little stronger than his partner.But unexpectedly, it was Sagoron who spoke first.This seemed to be the habit of all patrol members, and the leader of the team generally remained silent-Anton was more willing to listen. "Good evening, fellow." I complained: "Okay? You are joking, fellow." I deliberately used the word "co-worker" with the same intonation as Sagoron.But he wasn't easily provoked, and that was his advantage over me.advantage in experience.And I can only count on the sudden attack of Moose and the ladder of my own life.Step after step willingly lay before me, with a proper kick at the appropriate spot. "I'm not kidding, fellow, I'm just saying hello. Too bad you weren't there waiting for us...you know where. I'm looking forward to talking." "I don't want to get involved." I admit, this is more than half the truth.This is a common thing for the "other world", whether it is the Darkbringer or the Lightbringer. "I was expecting help, help from my colleagues. But you just disappeared." This "I" - is purely from the dark messenger.Any Lightbringer in Sagoron's place would inevitably say "we," and would say it sincerely, meaning exactly what Sagoron meant when he said it.Obviously, with the same sincerity. "All right. Let's get acquainted—this is Edgar. Our colleague from Estonia, who has been on the Moscow patrol lately. What's going on with us?" "I've got another corpse here," I said. "It's the Other. The Lightbringer. The Patrol. You know it all, Edgar, don't you?" "But the time is too short, the Lightbringer will appear soon, is that what you want to say?" Edgar said in a low voice, dropped the diplomatic rhetoric, and turned to address me as "you".So it dawned on me that there was no need to be sarcastic with this dark-skinned Estonian counterpart. "Last Saturday, the night I arrived, this Lightbringer directed an operation to capture vampire poachers..." "It's a female vampire," Edgar corrected, frowning, "What happened next?" "I happened to be right next to the people being attacked. They saw me next to the dead body and recognized me as the Darkbringer. It seems that due to inexperience, I didn't see other reasons - Chunikov accused me of being a vampire... ...companion of the female vampire. I attacked him, I admit, a little too much. He asked for it. Actually, that's all... I left a protective charm when I left the room today. When I returned to the room, he had already Here it is. I can't help him anymore." The last sentence came out involuntarily, I didn't want to say it myself, and something seemed to start "lifting" me again. "This yellow-mouthed boy directs the action?" Shagoron asked again in bewilderment, "Isn't there a much more experienced Lightbringer there? Xiaohu, the magician..." "It's just Chunikov's trainee, it's a common thing," Edgar muttered to his partner, and then glanced at me again, "you used such a lot of mana to cast a Shapa ring spell, making the trainee of Lightbringer died on the spot?" This is obviously a rhetorical question that does not require an answer.I, so to speak, cast a simple spell, but with too much force.Maybe…… Edgar and I felt the approach of the Lightbringer at the same time—they just arrived at the hotel.Sagoron spotted them a few seconds later. "What did you tell them," Edgar was obviously anxious, "briefly." It's as if he's covering us with a rather powerful cloaking circle.Before I utter a single word, I add to my circle of power some of it taken from somewhere in me, from my consciousness, and some of it from—besides.It was entirely unconscious, but I read silent surprise in Edgar's eyes. "I called and said there was a Lightbringer in my room, dead. Said his name. That's all." Edgar nodded almost imperceptibly, and gave Sagoron a meaningful look, who responded with a slight shrug. 敲门声，礼貌成分少得多的敲门声，所剩下的那一点点时间我们静默而坐。 光明使者没有等我允许就闯了进来。就这么冲进来了。 他们一共五位——托里克、安东和变形人女孩，没准他们才刚刚从五一大街赶回办公室。除他们三位之外还出现了两位——一位是带着一副价值八百美金镜框的知识分子模样的小伙子，还有一位长着一张晒红了的脸，让人觉得似乎现在不是冬天。 这两位和靠近他们的托里克仔细地扫视，感觉，扫描房间的每一个角落。大概这里的墙壁还不曾领教过如此强大的魔法作用。 安东和那个姑娘没有加入进来，我明显地感觉到从他们身上散发出来的敌意，甚至不是仇恨——光明使者连仇恨是什么都弄不明白，不如说是想狠狠地挤压我，审判我，达到惩罚的目的。或者干脆使足了劲猛然一击，将我永远赶到黄昏界中去。 还有，似乎房间外至少还有一位光明使者。可能在同一楼层或者在电梯旁边。看样子，他隐藏起来了，而且隐藏得很高明，可以说我是偶然发现他的。而沙戈隆和埃德加尔，我觉得，压根儿连猜都没猜到他的存在。 I frowned.光明使者人数上有双倍的优势。而且我第一次见到的这两位是非常强大的魔法师，一级魔法师，未必会低于这个等级。至少，他们两个在一起要强过沙戈隆和埃德加尔。再说安东也不是完全等于零——这家伙都可以跟沙戈隆，跟埃德加尔僵持一阵子。加上那姑娘——她可是个斗士。还有不远处某个地方的那个未知数。这种排列很不令人乐观。他们会把我们撕成碎片，捏成碎碎的香子兰灰…… 这时光明使者已完成了扫描。戴眼镜的那位靠近我，语调淡淡地，但夸张地询问起来： “请您说说，设下一个力量这么大的保护魔咒确实有必要吗？” “那您觉得我干吗要费那么大劲？” 戴眼镜的那位和另一个我不认识的那位迅速对视了一眼。 “我们要求检查你的物品。” “等等——等等，”埃德加尔赶紧出来干涉，“有什么特别的吗？” 戴眼镜的那位难看地冷笑了一下——两个嘴角冷笑了一下： “守夜人巡查队怀疑，莫斯科境内运进了一种遭禁运的具有超级力量的生物赝象。类似的行为违背了和约，你们有义务让我们知道。” 黑暗使者同行们质疑地盯着我。似乎他们期待着某种完全统一的反应。但是怎样的反应呢？我内在的救命棒这回不认为有必要提醒我。但是从另一方面讲，我非常清楚地知道，我的包里没有任何遭禁的生物赝象。因此我宽容地挥挥手： “让他们看好了！看到天亮都行。” “我反对，”埃德加尔好像没什么特别指望地小声说，“你们没有上面的批准。” “反对被驳回，”戴眼镜的那位声音坚定地反驳，“我本人就是领导。请把东西拿出来，黑暗使者。” 不需要向我说两次。我一下子拆除了剩下的那层保护，打开柜子，柜子里一两把衣刷旁放着孤零零的背包。包上的标记露出一部分——Fuj，似乎在责怪着我们。不知为什么我觉得这个发音为“富士”的嘶嘶的音无聊得很。 我拿起背包，把所有的东西抖落到床上。里面的东西没太引起光明使者们的兴趣，但是当看到最后一包东西时，他们绷紧了身子——那个我不认识的家伙甚至抓了一下上衣口袋里的辟邪物。 当我把钱抖落在床单上时，所有人都看着我。不论是自己人，还是光明使者，活像看着神经病似的。一个彻底的、不可救药的神经病。 “看吧，”我说，“这是我所有的东西。一万美金。不过，已经少了些。” 戴眼镜的那位朝床边迈了一步，表现出一副厌恶的神情在物品中翻寻了一阵，看了看一叠叠的钞票。但是我明白。他实际上需要的是——一种触觉上的接触。 隔着一段距离的扫描不能使他满意。 天啊，他们究竟怀疑我什么呢？有可能，某个白痴确实想把某种禁止携带入境的东西带进莫斯科，因此由于我为了保护自己这堆不幸的美钞而稍许用力过度，他们就怀疑我的一切。哈哈大笑几声吧！越往后越好玩了。 戴眼镜的那位把我的行李嗅了将近一分钟，后来屈服了。 “行了。这儿什么也没有。我们宣布此房间为封锁地带。劳驾你换个地方住。” 变形人姑娘哆嗦了一下，疑惑不解又莫名其妙地看了戴眼镜的那位一眼。后者几乎觉察不到地耸耸肩，我明白了他这个动作的意思。没茬可找。没有根据。变形人绷紧了身子，但是第二个魔法师把手搭在她肩上，像是要预先警告她别采取轻率行为似的。 “是……是吗？”埃德加尔曲意奉承地说，在这一声“是……是吗”中终于表现出了一分爱沙尼亚的特质。“换个地方吗？那样的话我们要求第七级干涉的正式批准，以避免来自管理层的不必要的麻烦。” 光明使者露出不满的神色——其实，即便不是那样他们也都统统不满意。 “为什么？没有心理矫正也可以作用于人。” “但是你们总是习惯破坏任何影响。”埃德加尔装出一副最无辜的样子说道。 “难道……”伊利亚说了声，又突然止住，“不。我不批准。安东跟他们走一趟，你亲自去办理一切。尽量使这个人住得离这儿远一点，使……总之，去办吧。” 埃德加尔失望地叹了口气。 “那好吧……不行——就不行吧。请问，亲爱的，你们还有问题问我的同行吗？” 埃德加尔的声音和语调中夹杂着那么多的拘谨和文雅，连我都吓了一跳，生怕光明使者会认为这个爱沙尼亚人在挖苦他们。但是，看样子他们很了解埃德加尔。不过也有可能这种如同酸溜溜的尖刻讥讽的礼貌恰恰是巡查队双方的行为标准。 “不。我们不能再耽误了。但是请允许我提醒一下：在对这三宗案件的调查完全结束之前，禁止他离开莫斯科。” “我会记住的。”我竭力显得无辜地插了一句。 “这样的话，请允许我们告辞了。维达里同行，请包好你的东西……” 我随意地把自己的零碎用品塞进袋子里，再把袋子——塞进背包里，拿起圈椅上扔下的上衣站了起来。埃德加尔用手朝门的方向做了个邀请的动作。 我们走进过道里，坐电梯下楼，来到大堂，这时埃德加尔出人意料地转身对光明使者说： “安东！我们的同行不再住这家酒店了。我们带他走。如果需要他，请到守日人巡查队的办公楼开许可证明。” 光明使者，看来，不知所措，不确定地看了一眼正在小桌子后面打盹的领班，不太坚决地点点头。而我们朝出口走去。 我没穿上外衣，因为在酒店入口旁发现了那辆熟悉的“宝马”。而且只因为我是他者才发现了它。 车厢内暖和而舒服，而且很宽敞——双膝挨不到前座的靠背。我坐舒服点，感兴趣地问： “我现在该住哪里呢？” “守日人巡查队的办公楼，同行。更准确点讲，是主办公楼的附设旅馆。要是一开始就去那儿就好了。” “要是我知道该去哪里就好了。”我嘟哝了一句。 “宝马”启动了，猛地从停车场打转方向，驶向出口，穿过勉强来得及抬起的栏杆，立刻汇入和平大街密密麻麻的车流中。 沙戈隆有可能不是最强的魔法师，但他的车开得却是一级棒。和平大街也像花园环线的环形道一样一闪而过，迅速消失在身后。特维尔大街我也只看到没有尽头的橱窗在有色玻璃后不停地交替。其实不是，不是没有尽头的。 我在紧挨着克里姆林宫的地方下车。魔法师将自己的“宝马”直接停在路旁，连门都懒得关。我决定透过黄昏界看他一眼，仅仅出于好奇，希望评估一下保护魔咒，以免再出错。 I froze.但不是因为汽车的外表，而是因为在普通的世界中看起来非常普通的房子的模样。 在黄昏界中那栋房子整整多出三层楼出来，而且其中一层插在普通的一、二层之间，而其他两层“长”在即使没有这两层也不小的楼房上。黄昏界层处于抛光的黑色花岗石上；几乎所有的窗户都是暗色的，一律被遮住；第一缕微弱的阳光暗淡地反照在白色的流行空调箱上。 关于保护魔咒的事瞬间就被忘记了。 不太大的正门直接对着特维尔大街；玻璃门后与其说看得见，不如说猜得出他者的轮廓。 “哈，好家伙！”我说。发出的声音就像黄昏界中的每种声音一样沉闷。我的同行们听到声音像是听到命令似的转过身来： “怎么？以前没见过？” "No." “所有第一次见到它的人都印象深刻。走吧，你还会看个够的。” 我们走过几个阶梯到了一间很小的值班室。门后那个模糊不清的身影化成了一位忧郁的瘦小伙子，我想——是个变形人。他在读佩列文的《中级地带的狼身变形人问题》，他幸福、乐观地微微一笑。 埃德加尔一进小值班室，小伙子就变了形。双眼发出熊熊火光，书丢到小桌子上。 “你好，奥列克。”埃德加尔用不知打哪儿冒出来的波罗的海口音跟他打招呼。 沙戈隆只是点点头。 我也决定打招呼： "Good morning." “这是我们乌克兰来的同行，”埃德加尔介绍我，“如果有什么事——免检让他进宾客部。” “明白了，”奥列克立刻应道，“允许他进基地吗？” “允许。” 奥列克看着我的眼睛，礼貌地龇着牙，卖力地读取注册登记的标记，然后坐到桌旁，从抽屉里抽出笔记本电脑： “你的搭档在哪儿？”埃德加尔问。 奥列克显出一副认错的样子： “跑去买烟去了……去一会儿。” “走吧。”埃德加尔叹了口气，抓住我的衣袖，把我带到电梯旁。沙戈隆已经按下了呼叫按钮。 我们走了很久。甚至比我想象的时间长。不过后来我想起那几层加层。一切都各在其位。 “宾客部在第九层，”埃德加尔解释道，“实际上，同样的酒店，只是免费而已。好像现在有人住那儿呢。” 电梯门悄无声息地打开了，我们已来到一间方形的休息厅，一间将奢华和经济实用的功能融为一体又装饰合理的休息厅。皮制沙发和圈椅，一只栽着活棕榈树的木桶，几面墙上挂着版画，挂毯，镶木版。前面是酒店风格的，不过没有任何提供给服务员用的桌椅等陈设。只有一个关闭的问讯处，但是锁孔上挂着一把雅致的金属钥匙。 埃德加尔打开问讯台，里面原来是一些摆得整整齐齐的卧式小蘑菇，旁边是门牌号。每个小蘑菇上面挂着一把钥匙。 我急躁起来——因为有两只小蘑菇上没有钥匙——第二和第四只蘑菇。 “你选吧。如果钥匙挂在这里，就表示套间是空的。” 他讲的正是“套间”，而不是“房间”，就像居住免费对于他者而言，恰好是将千篇一律的酒店房间区别于可以称之为房子的地方的那条界线。 我拿了号码为八的钥匙。第二排右边的那把。 “以后再仔细看吧，”埃德加尔提醒我，“把东西放下，马上回来。” I nod.有意思，我的黑暗使者同行们打算做什么呢？大概是礼貌的，但打破砂锅问到底的审讯吧。 Got it.能忍过去的。毕竟是自己人嘛。 套间确实是套间。带厨房，有独立卫生间和三间宽敞的房间。还有一个很大的前厅——典型的带欧式装修的斯大林时期的建筑。天花板——有三米，或者干脆四米高。 我把上衣挂在衣架上，背包扔到前厅中央，走出过道，砰地一声关上门。 从四号套间里传来微弱的音乐声。一分钟前，当我从这里走过时，传出的是某种轻松的外国乐曲。但是现在变成了歌曲，与其说我是听到了，不如说是猜到了几乎被坚硬的节奏和重摇滚的声音减弱的歌词： 不知为什么，但我在别人的门前愣住了。这比光有歌词内容更丰富。我用皮肤，用整个身体吸收它们，我忘了我曾经是谁，但如何回忆起——我成了谁？我是否与我看不见的一群人一起走进了新的圈子？ 唉，最近以来倾听宁静显然对我没有诱惑力。现在太多的人，不论是光明使者，还是黑暗使者对我这个简单的人物感兴趣。 歌手的声音这时坚定起来，变成一种喜悦的、胜利的声音： 原来是这样……向上。假如预先不在地狱不断地推推挤挤，原来天堂是不可及的。每个人也都有自己心目中的地狱。可是从另一方面讲，基别洛夫其实唱的就是这个。 strangeness.我从前已经听到过这首歌，歌名也铭记在记忆中，而且都刻录到随身听的碟片里。但是现在它唱起来完全是以一种崭新的方式，就像看不见摸不着的玻璃碎片突如其来地刺痛着意识。 “同行！快点！”埃德加尔喊了我一声。 我遗憾地离开了那扇门。 “以后还要听……买整张碟——去听……” 歌手的声音消融在身后： 我不知为什么觉得基别洛夫唱这些时过于熟悉案件。关于鲜血。关于深渊。关于天空。这个俄罗斯重金属音乐人的偶像完全可以成为他者。至少，对此我不会太惊讶。 我和埃德加尔、沙戈隆一起又上了一层楼，来到真正的办公区。办公区有一间宽敞的大厅，用围屏间隔的小办公间，稍微靠边一点有几间独立的办公室，还有一间厅堂，它被用稍稍遮住光线的巨大玻璃与特维尔大街隔开。我发现黑暗使者们基本上不用台式电脑——至少有三位员工，不知是超级夜猫子，还是起得极早的晨鸡，整齐划一地坐在那儿，一头扎进笔记本电脑的模板。 “格列马尔！”埃德加尔喊道，那三个人中的一位，像下面值班的那个一样——是个狼身变形人，不太情愿地放下智力游戏。 “什么事，头儿？” “把行动简报给我！反间谍和超强力量生物赝象的混合。失踪，消失，走私。最新的事件！” “怎么啦，”那个叫格列马尔的手下提起了兴趣，“闻出什么火药味儿了？” “光明使者掌握了情报，好像有人企图往莫斯科带生物赝象。快，格列马尔！” 格列马尔转身对其他两位正在玩游戏的同事说： “喂，你们两个懒骨头！有活了！” 那两个笨蛋赶紧转换工作状态——几秒钟过后我就已经听见键盘的敲击声了，电脑屏幕上无休止的、满是丑八怪的通道被光亮的“网络扫描”小窗口取代。 埃德加尔把我带进用玻璃和百叶窗隔开的单独的办公室。沙戈隆到什么地方去了一会儿，但马上又拿着一罐“奇博”咖啡和一盒芬兰冰水回来了。他把水倒进茶壶，用手指按了一下相应的按钮，茶壶随即卖力地响了起来。 “糖你总会有的吧，我希望。”沙戈隆嘟嘟哝哝地说。 “找得到的，”埃德加尔坐到圈椅上，让我坐到另一张圈椅上，“请坐，同行。如果我就这么叫你维达里，你不反对吧？” “当然不，就这么叫吧。” “太好了。你看，维达里，我现在开始讲，如果有什么不对，你纠正。说定了？” “说定了！”我准备好了，表示赞成。因为我隐约想象到，我，潜意识中涌现的那些臆造的东西会感染到这两位目标坚定的守日人巡查队队员。 “关于上述生物赝象您没有掌握任何信息，我的理解对吗？” “对。”我确定地说。 “很遗憾，”埃德加尔的确很失望，“要有的话，事情就简单多了……” 总之，不仅对上述的东西，我对于能使埃德加尔感兴趣的一切，包括所有生物赝象都一无所知。在经验丰富的他者觉得自己是行家里手的领域，我所知道的，比众所周知的动物对众所周知的水果的了解还要差。 “那我们转到下面一项。你是从乌克兰到这儿的，我这样理解对吗？” “对。从尼古拉耶夫城来。” "What is the purpose?" 我思考了约半分钟。他们没有催促我。 “很难说，”我老实承认，“似乎没有什么明确的目的。就是闲在家里厌烦了。” “你不久前才刚刚被激发，不是吗？” “是这样。” “想看看世界？” "Maybe." “那为什么是莫斯科，而不是，比方说，巴哈马？” I shrugged.实际上——为什么啊？不会是因为我至今还没有出国护照吧？ “不知道。去巴哈马该在夏天。” “南半球现在是夏天，而且那里可以住的地方有的是。” 是啊，的确。这个我没有考虑过。 “反正我不知道，”我回答说，“晚些时候，也许……” 我觉得埃德加尔还想问什么，这时格列马尔没敲门就跑进办公室。他两眼圆圆的，活像突然在近处看见自己的追捕者汤姆的老鼠杰瑞的眼睛。 “头儿！伯尔尼，科克奇·法弗尼尔！它被从宗教法庭的保险柜中盗走了。整个欧洲两个多小时以来都在竖着耳朵紧张地观望！” 沙戈隆忍不住了——他跳了起来。埃德加尔控制住自己，但他的双眼闪着光，哪怕没有沉浸到黄昏界中，我也能分辨出他生物电场中所产生的一股股橘黄色的气流。但是他迅速控制住了自己。 “消息已经公开了吗？” “没有。是封锁的。宗教法庭暂时未作正式宣布。” “消息来源？” 狼身变形人结结巴巴地说： “非正式的消息来源。但是很可靠。” “格列马尔，”埃德加尔意味深长地暗示说，“消息来源？” “一位在巴黎新闻社工作的我们自己的人，”格列马尔承认道，“是他者，黑暗使者。我在编外聊天室碰到他。” “是这样——是这样……” 我很想问点什么，但这是明摆着的事，暂时只能眨巴着眼睛，保持沉默，听进去那些有意义，但是，可惜，我不明白的句子。 “那光明使者从何得知？”沙戈隆不解地问。 “渠道多着呢……”埃德加尔可爱地动了动眉毛，“他们有广泛的线人网……” “'阿尔法'紧急行动状态，”埃德加尔断断续续地对格列马尔说，“去叫队员们……” 差不多半小时后办公室里人群熙攘。很清楚，所有在场的人都是他者。很清楚——都是黑暗使者。 而我依然什么也不明白。 安东回到六一二房间时，伊利亚正坐在圈椅上揉着太阳穴，而加里科神经质地在地毯上从窗口到沙发之间走来走去。托里克和小虎坐在长沙发上，从卧室门缝可以看到大熊高大的身躯。 “……我被发现了，顺便说一句，”大熊郁闷地说，“你施的'云层保护术'没起作用。” “被那个爱沙尼亚人？” “爱沙尼亚人恰恰没发现。还有沙戈隆，当然也没发现，但那一位——差不多立刻就发现了。” “这是无稽之谈嘛，兄弟们。他不可能比爱沙尼亚人还强啊？”加里科说。 “说实在的，那为什么就不可能呢？”伊利亚头也没抬，感兴趣地问，“一两个小时前我还觉得我知道在一对一的对决中我对付不了所有四位莫斯科黑暗使者。现在我已经什么也不确信了。” 安东冲向冰箱，把刚准备好要冲口而出的话又收了回去。谈话比安东最初认为的有趣。 况且，小虎赶在他前面说了： “伊利亚！关于生物赝象你不想解释一下吗？” 伊利亚猛地站起来，开始发话了： “如果简单点讲，那就是在伯尔尼的宗教法庭保险柜中科克奇·法弗尼尔被劫。两个……”他看了一眼手表，“其实，已经是三个小时以前。瑞士分部一片惊慌。宗教法庭大发雷霆，但是还未发布正式公报，详情还不清楚。只知道'灵爪'处在季节性力量高峰期。当然是处于黑暗阶段。简单的计算表明，哪怕只释放'灵爪'所蕴藏的一部分力量，俄罗斯中心地带都将喷发出巨大的力量，直至导致局部性的恶性大爆发。情况就这么严峻……” “可是扎武隆不在莫斯科……”加里科意味深长地拖长着声音说。 “也就是说，这事情背后的关键是黑暗使者？” “总不会是我们啦。”伊利亚像突然发冷似的抖了抖肩膀。 “伊格纳季耶维奇知情吗？” “当然，是他告诉我的，还吩咐我别激动，但要注意又注意……” 伊利亚又坐了下来。 “不知该想什么，”他无情，但同时又无奈地说，“如果老实讲，当我得知杀死光明使者的保护魔咒夏巴环形咒时，我怀疑'灵爪'已到此地。但是设下如此强大的魔咒毫无必要——这是滥用，根本就不必要的滥用。若是保护'灵爪'——我还能理解，可是保护那点令人厌恶的美钞——这简直是白痴行为……” “黑暗使者不会把'灵爪'扔在房间无人监看。”加里科插话说。 “绝对不会。这太愚蠢了。” “愚蠢，”伊利亚表示同意，“当初检查一下就好了。” “那现在有什么办法呢？”小虎郁闷地问，“结果是安德柳沙牺牲了，而我们甚至没法惩办凶手！” “卡嘉，”伊利亚同情地看了她一眼，“不管多么悲痛，但事已至此。现在麻烦又突然袭击我们，在这麻烦面前，安德烈的死已退居次要地位。分析家们从凌晨四点开始评估全球力量策源地的近期平衡。如果'灵爪'来掺和，平衡必将遭到破坏。” “有什么结果吗？” “有。一小时前已经弄清楚，'灵爪'或许已经到了莫斯科，或许马上就会在莫斯科出现。” “等等，”托里克又提起神来，“有可能偷猎行为的爆发和黑暗使者无动机的侵犯行为——这些都是'灵爪'的影响？” "possible." “但是第一起事件发生在周六啊！”小虎感到奇怪。 伊利亚又揉了揉太阳穴。现在发现他累极了。 “'灵爪'——是力量非常强大的东西，小虎。其概率线可向未来延伸很远。而黑暗使者受黑暗生物赝象的影响比我们深。特别是如此古老的生物赝象的影响。这不，一点小事就开始发狂了。” “如果它是很强大的东西，宗教法庭怎么就这样马虎地放走它呢？” “不知道，”伊利亚果断地说，“我又不在那儿。但我坚信：一切可能实现的事迟早会有人去完成。” “我们的人来了。”加里科牛头不对马嘴地说。 确实后勤部门来人了。明摆着为何而来——抬走在力量还未增长到足以迸发之时的倒霉时刻闯入的安德烈·丘尼科夫的尸体。 “那这个黑暗使者呢？”安东终于问了一句，“你觉得他与偷猎者有瓜葛吗？” “没有。”伊利亚郁闷地观察他们如何把丘尼科夫装进黑色的袋子里，拉上拉链。“可能是诱开我们。或者也许他自己也没有意识到在干什么。这恰好最有可能。'灵爪'指挥他或者是现在控制'灵爪'的那个人在指挥他。而在国民经济成就展览馆门道口周六的冲突中黑暗使者明显强一些。” “这么说，要跟踪他？”托里克建议说，“如果他与'灵爪'有瓜葛，他就会不可避免地把我们带到偷猎的窃贼那