Chapter 13 Chapter 5
Everyone sometimes forms the impression that what is happening at this moment has happened before, and there is even a special concept-called false appearance.false memory.
Others also have this memory.
Anton Gorodetsky, a member of the Night Watch patrol, struggles with his memories in front of his door.Once he lingered in front of the unclosed door in exactly the same way, guessing who would break into the room?But when he walked into the room, he found that the uninvited guest was a damned enemy.The leader of the Sun Watchers patrol team, a man named Za Wulong known to the Messenger of Light.
"False," Anton whispered, "passing the threshold, the protective layer fell silent again, but there must be a guest in the room. Who is it this time?"
Anton walked into the room with the amulet tightly in his hand.
Zaburon sat in an armchair and read the newspaper "Arguments and Facts".He was wearing a no-nonsense black suit, a light blue shirt, and well-polished square-toed gangster boots.He took off his glasses and greeted Anton:
"Hello, Anton."
"False..." Anton muttered, "Hi, hello!"
Strangely, this time he was not intimidated by Za Wulong at all.Maybe it's because Zawulong arranged his unexpected visit very well last time?
"You can take my amulet, it's on the table—I feel it."
Anton hung the amulet around his neck, took off his coat, and walked obediently to the table.Zaburon's talisman was hidden among documents and a pile of other office clutter, which naturally piled up as if it should have been there in the first place.
"Zabulong, you have no control over me." Anton said in a strange voice.The dark mage nodded in satisfaction.
"Excellent. I have to compliment you, you were shaking with fear that day. But today—very calm. You've improved, Anton."
"I'm afraid I should thank you for your compliment?" said Anton coldly.
Zawulong tilted his head back and smiled silently.
"Come on," he said after a few seconds, "I see you don't like wasting time. So do I. I've come to suggest you defect, Anton. A small calculated betrayal. It will make all People win, including you. Sounds ridiculous, doesn't it?"
"yes."
Anton stared into Zaburon's gray eyes, trying to figure out what trap he had set this time.Believe that one can believe half, the Lightbringer—can believe a quarter, the Darkbringer—not at all.
Zaburon - is Moscow, and possibly Russia's most powerful, and meant to be the most dangerous dark emissary.
"Let me explain," Zaburon said unhurriedly, "You already know about tomorrow's court hearing, don't you?"
"yes."
"Don't go to this meeting."
Anton finally decided to sit down—on the sofa by the wall.Zaburon is now on his right.
"Is there any particular reason?" Anton asked.
"If you don't go—you'll stay with Svetlana. If you go—you'll lose her."
A warm current gushed out of Anton's chest.The matter is not whether he believes Za Wulong or not.He wanted to believe it.really want.But he did not forget that the Dark Emissary cannot be trusted.
"The leadership of the Night's Watch Patrol is planning the next round of large-scale social experiments. You probably know that. Svetlana has been given a considerable role in this experiment. I will not try to make you change the information about the plans Or have a liking for the dark - it's totally hopeless. I'm just telling you what would happen if a similar experiment were carried out in life, it would lead to a disruption of the balance. It's a dream for the increasingly powerful side The Lightbringers have been strengthened recently, so of course I don't like that. The Sun Watch Patrol is interested in restoring balance. And you—the one who can help us."
"Strange," said Anton calmly. "The head of the Day Watch patrol asked for help from the Night Watch patrol. It's so strange."
"We didn't really need your help, we could have managed it ourselves. But if you help yourself—yourself first—you help us too. And Svetlana and all the inevitable The ones who will suffer for the next round of mass experimentation."
"I don't understand how I can help myself and Svetlana."
"Why don't you understand! Svetlana is a very powerful female magician with great potential. As she grows, the gap separating you will become deeper and deeper. Her power—is to favor the light and hinder the balance factor. If Svetlana loses her power for a certain period of time, the balance is restored. Then nothing can separate you. She loves you—that's obvious. You love her too. Are you going to Sacrifice your own happiness and that of the woman you love for the light? Besides, it is pointless to sacrifice yourself. That is why I propose you this little harmless betrayal."
"There is no difference between big and small betrayal."
"Yes, Anton. Why not. Loyalty alternates bits and pieces of deliberate betrayal. You can trust me—because I've lived long enough in this world to be sure of it."
Anton was silent for a moment.
"I'm—the Lightbringer, I can't betray the light. I can't on my own instincts—and you should understand this."
"No one forces you to oppose the light. Besides, you can use your actions to help many people, a lot. Helping others—isn't this the purpose of the light magician?"
"Then how do I face my own people after this?" Anton asked, frowning unhappily.
"They will understand," Zaburon said with a confidence that came from nowhere, "will understand and forgive. If not—then what kind of Lightbringers are they after this?"
"You are strong in sophistry, Zaburon. Perhaps you are obviously much better than me. But the essence of the matter will not change because you call it by another name. Betrayal—always betrayal."
"Well," Zawulong agreed with unexpected ease, "then you betray love. Essentially, you have a choice between two betrayals, don't you understand? Betray yourself or prevent the next sinister link from happening, Prevent the inevitable engagement between the patrols or let it happen. Or can't you get enough of this many deaths? You have patrolled with Andrei Chunikov more than once. You have a deep friendship with the shapeshifting girl Xiaohu. They Where are you now? Who else are you going to sacrifice in the name of light? Don't go to the court meeting tomorrow so your friend will live. We don't need sacrifices, Anton. We're ready to stay away Fight. Stay away with peace. So I suggest you help everyone. All! Both Darkbringers, Lightbringers, and even ordinary people. Do you understand?"
"I don't see how my absence from the meeting can help restore balance."
"You've now been in contact with the Dark Emissary from Ukraine, haven't you? And Vidari Rogoza?"
"I have." Anton replied reluctantly.
"He is not the Other."
Anton was stunned.
"What does not other mean?"
"He's not quite the Other, he's just—a mirror. He won't live long."
"What is a mirror... who is it?"
"It's 'stuff,'" Zabulon breathed, "fortunately it's just 'stuff. There will be no more bloodshed. Otherwise—the bloody battle is inevitable.”
"Absent from the meeting is punishable by the Inquisition..."
"You don't want to participate in the decisive battle with Rozago, the religious court will think it is reasonable. There are precedents. If you want, I can even get the corresponding supporting documents. But you can also believe what I say. never lied to you."
"I like this 'temporarily'..."
Zawulong smiled slightly.
"What can I do? I'm the Darkbringer. But I don't think it's beneficial to deceive without reason."
Zawulong stood up, and Anton also stood up at the same time.
"Think about it, Anton. Think about it, Lightbringer. Remember: your love and the lives of your friends depend on your decisions. Sometimes it's like that, to help a friend, you have to help an enemy. You will accustomed."
Zaburon quickly left the room and walked out of the residence.Suddenly, the signal of the sentinel in the twilight world howled hoarsely, and North Korea left a scary grimace on the wall.Anton tidied up lazily, trying to clear his mind.
Do you believe what Zawulong said?
To be with Svetlana or not to be with her?
Call Gesar, tell him everything or keep silent?
Any confrontation, from a vulgar slap to a conspiracy between the state and the Patrol - it's a battle of information.Whoever perceives the strength and purpose of the opponent more accurately - whoever wins.
Zaburon's purpose and Anton's purpose cannot be the same.That's absolutely certain.But what if the head of the Day Watchers said this precisely in the hope that Anton would refuse to attend the court session?
Where is the truth and where is the lie?Zaburon’s words—it’s a cage, inside the cage—is a mousetrap, and inside the mousetrap—is a mouse, and inside the mouse—is a bait... How many layers of lies do you need to peel off to discover the truth?
Anton took out a coin from his pocket.Throwing it out... With a sneer, he hid it in his pocket again without even looking at it.What is it - the eagle or the back.
This is not the way.
If one of the two ways out is a trap, that means looking for a third.
Getting to a courtroom meeting at dawn requires either waking up very early, or staying up at all, and I'm leaning toward the latter.Get enough sleep later.
My fellow Darkbringers tried stubbornly for some time to find in me a motive for my actions, but little did I understand why they had done so rather than otherwise, and they had little to gain from me.
Nothing particularly interesting happened until yesterday, I just went to the little shop that made discs for my trendy walkman and asked, do they keep custom album templates?It turned out that it was actually preserved.So for some reason I ordered a copy of the disc compiled by Anton Gorodecki, the Magician of Light.Is it possible that I am trying to use his love of music to understand his view of the world?I don't know...I don't ask questions at all these days because I rarely find answers.Even fewer find the right answer.
One more thing on my mind that night was the date on the subway.I came back from the music store, sat in the subway, sat there with my hands in my jacket pockets (thanks to the dark emissary colleagues who took my belongings from the airport command) and listened to the discs I bought.Nikolsky sings "Mirror of the World."I am happy and calm.
Suddenly something intangible around him changes.The announcer just reminded the unfortunate passenger: close the door.I pressed the "pause" button, got into the car, and looked around.
So I saw him, a fourteen or fifteen-year-old boy.There is no doubt that he is the other.Maybe unaroused, because he was looking at me bewilderedly through the twilight, perhaps rather subtly blocking the twilight.But his bioelectric field is as pure as a virgin.As pure as freshly fallen snow, as far from light as from darkness.He is the Other, but at the same time, neither the Lightbringer nor the Darkbringer.
We looked at each other for a long time until we got to the next stop.Perhaps, we will continue to look at each other, but the little boy is pushed by a well-proportioned woman, who seems to be his mother.
"Egor! Are you asleep? Let's get out of the car."
The young man lifted his spirits, took one last look at me, and walked towards the platform with vague and sad eyes.And I stayed in the car.I didn't react for about a minute.I still don't understand what it is about this other that surprises me, what he reminds me of.A very important something that cannot be captured, but I can't figure out what it is - what it is.
It was only going back to Nikolsky and "The Mirror of the World" that I calmed down a little.
strangeness.This song is more suitable for Lightbringer.Then why is there such a pain somewhere in my heart, the messenger of darkness?
With this unclear feeling, I went back to the office building of the Watchman Patrol.The older vampire uncle, wise with age, scurries away from me like a hypocrite evades a test.With a jerk, I suddenly realized that several bands of blue-white light were blooming in my bioelectric field.
"Sorry," I adjusted the bioelectric field, "this is camouflage."
The vampire gave me a suspicious look.A female vampire poked her head out of the duty room—surely—his wife.
They checked my seal very carefully, and it looked like they were going to drag me to the end, when Edgar entered the office building with a young witch.He understood everything at first glance, and it was enough for him to raise an eyebrow at the overwary watchman.Edgar nodded to me and walked to the elevator.The witch bit me with her eyes.
In the elevator, the witch dared to ask:
"Are you new here?"
Her voice expresses a wealth of emotions and yearnings that I have neither the desire nor the possibility to analyze.I don't know why I don't want to show my strength to other powerful others when Edgar is present.
Edgar was interested, and I sensed that he really wanted to know how I would respond.
"In a sense—the newcomer."
The young witch smiled:
"Is it true that you drove away the four light magic fighters and killed Xiaohu by yourself?"
Edgar smiled mysteriously with almost imperceptible twisted lips, but fell silent and listened to me with interest.
"it is true."
Before the witches had time to ask a new question, here we were.
"Alita," Edgar said in a Chaliapin-like bass for some reason, "you don't bother our guests later. Go report to Anna Tikhonovna first... "
Alita nodded enthusiastically, then said to me:
"Can I come over to your place for coffee? In about an hour?"
"Yes," I promised, "but I don't have coffee."
"I'll bring it here," replied the young witch, and went to the office.
She didn't ask where I live.So, she already knew.
I stared at the young witch's back for a few seconds.She wore the fashionable long silver-and-white coat worn by climbers and travelers (I immediately thought of those acquaintances I met in the forest).The back of the jacket is decorated with bright graphics: a girl with wide eyes stretches out a long, lively leg, and the words "Battle Angel Alita" written in English.The pattern and lettering are partly hidden by the young witch's long hair.
Edgar also looked at Alita from behind.Despite winter clothing, there is still something to see there.
"She will come," said Edgar meaningfully. "She has asked about you."
I shrugged.
"The court is in session tomorrow," I changed the subject, "what should I do, go for a walk? Or stay with everyone?"
"Of course I'm with everyone, you're a witness," Edgar looked around, "shall we go to the office?"
"Let's go."
For some reason, I believe the actual head of the Day Watch patrol, who is not in Moscow now, has never used this office as a manager's office, it is more like the office of Edgar or some high-level Lightbringer.I fell into the armchair with great enjoyment, and subconsciously found that it was much more comfortable than the sofa in the rectangular subway car.Edgar took out from somewhere under the table a bottle of actuated brandy.
"Have a drink?" he suggested.
"Have a drink."
"Why refuse the old 'cocktail'?"
"It's very good that you're here," said Edgar, pouring out the brandy, "or we'll have to go find you."
"To figure out the strategy of action in tomorrow's court meeting?" I tried to guess.
"Exactly."
Brandy is nice.Soft and fragrant.Although not the most prestigious name brand (what brand is this? I ask by the way) I love it.
"I won't even explain why you're acting so weird. If I'm being honest, I'm forbidden to do it. There," Edgar bellowed meaningfully at the ceiling, "I won't even explain, you Who actually is. For the same reason, I just want to ask: Are you on our side? Are you on the side with the Watchmen Patrol? Are you on the side with the Darkbringer? Tomorrow can be like counting on your own Do I count on you as well?"
"No doubt." I said without thinking.Then confirmed, "This is the answer to all the questions."
"That's good." Edgar sighed, and drained the wine in the spherical goblet with a slightly sad breath.
I don't think he believes me.
We finished our brandy without a word.Regarding the behavior at the court meeting tomorrow, Edgar felt that there was no need to discuss it.Apparently, he thinks I'm going to have my own way anyway.He is very right.
I spent the night with Alita.Chatting and drinking coffee - the young witch managed to get hold of the now forgotten "Casa Grande" brand of coffee.We sat down in armchairs and chatted—everything and nothing.I haven't had a festival like this in a long time, just sitting and talking.Talk about music that seems to be actually something I know pretty well.I also talked about literature that I didn't understand much.Talk about movies I don't understand at all.Now and then Alita tried to steer the conversation about me, about my abilities, but she did it so honestly that I didn't even bother to suspect that Anna Tikhonovna, who was very vigilant, had sent her.
There was a knock at the door an hour before dawn:
"The door is open!" I yelled.
Edgar and Anna Tikhonovna entered.
"Ready?" Edgar asked.
"Being ready like a Pioneer," I promise, "going together? In an armored vehicle or in a file?"
"Stop it." Anna Tikhonovna bit her lip and gave Alita a serious look.The latter blinked innocently.
"Okay. Let's stop making trouble." I agreed, "Where are you going?" I don't know.In principle, I do not doubt that my destiny hidden in the depths of my consciousness and cannot be denied will remind me of the direction and the place.But I still asked.
"The main building of Moscow University," Edgar announced, "is in the tower. Sagoron and his car are down there, and you can go with him."
"Okay. I'll go with him."
"I wish you success," Alita blessed us as she walked towards the exit. "I'll come to you tomorrow, okay? Vidari."
"No," I said gloomily, "you can't come."
I know very precisely that I am right.But I still don't understand why?
Alita shrugged and walked away.Anna Tikhonovna followed.Hmph... Maybe, it was the old witch who sent the little girl in the end?And the girl herself started to let her temper go, so she didn't plan to ask any more questions from me.If so, then one can only sympathize with Alita.Anna Tikhonovna would take out her heart, squeeze it, squeeze it dry.The pain made her dizzy and her eyes stared.
I reached for my phone and dialed Sagoron, not even bothering to be surprised that I knew his number.
"Sagoron? It's me, a visitor from the south. Will you give me a ride? Hey, I'll come out."
"Well, I'm going too," said Edgar. "Don't procrastinate. The Inquisition dislikes being late."
After getting dressed, I closed the door and went downstairs.The vampires in the duty room look at me much calmer now—I don't know if their direct superiors had a heart-to-heart conversation with them, or they themselves learned the truth.What do you actually know?The truth doesn't want to be revealed to me.Sometimes a small piece of mosaic is suddenly exposed, and the curtain is lifted a little in an instant, and then the eyes are covered and crawled in, leaving behind a dense layer that lingers like smoke.
Sagoron's "BMW" stopped at a distance of about twenty meters, just under the "No Parking" sign, wheezing.I sat down to Sagoron's right.
"Good morning."
"Hope it's a good morning," said Sagoron indistinctly. "Shall we go?"
"If you don't wait for others, then go."
Sagoron squeezed into the crowded traffic without saying a word.
Driving in icy Moscow during rush hour traffic - that's a special topic.From time to time, Sagoron crossed the twilight to take down the driver of the car next to him who was going too fast.Otherwise we would be constantly being overtaken, pushed into side lanes, and squeezed out of sudden openings.I put on my seat belt just in case.Sagoron gritted his teeth and muttered something.Curse it, probably.
After a night of sleepless nights, I couldn't help but be led into a blissful nap, not to mention the seats of the best German imports are perfect for naps.If I decide to listen to music for a while - it will definitely settle down and fall asleep.But I don't want to listen to music right now.So I was left in a world filled with the monotonous rumble of dozens of engines, the faint beep of an open thermometer, the coloratura of sedan signals and the rustle of dirty gray porridge snowballs under the outer wheels .
If taking the subway - we can arrive a lot earlier.And now, half an hour later, they are still walking slowly along the crowded Osdorenka Street in the direction of Vernadsky.The traffic jam became more and more serious, turning into a magnificent long dragon stretching toward the center of Moscow like the tail of a comet.
"Hell," Sagoron grumbled angrily, "we might get stuck."
"Open the main entrance." I shrugged.
Sagoron gave me a strange look.
"Vidari! We are going to a court meeting under the supervision of the Inquisition! Your main entrance will fail two kilometers from your destination."
"Ah," I said casually, "yes. I forgot."
Actually, I can guess about this myself.The use of magic and the practice of magic is prohibited in the course of court work.The part of me inside of me kindly reminds me that there have been incidents of breaking such norms in the past, but only in times of upheaval that were directly related to the breaking itself.
However, now is also a time of change.Turn of the century.Big twist.For example, in the summer people waited for the solar eclipse in horror, and trembled with fear before the earthquake in Turkey...but it was okay, it survived...
Yes, all of us, other as well as human beings, are different after we get through it.
"M-Mum!" Sagoron yelled, pulling me back from my contemplation.
Before I could even look at the glass in front of me, I was thrown forward with a deafening blow, and my chest was crushed uncomfortably, and my chest was caught by the seat belt, and the pain was unbearable.With a shrill whistling sound, a bulging airbag burst out from the steering wheel, Sagoron's face and chest slid down along the airbag, and fell to the junction of the glass and the roof with a thud.I don't know where in the car there was a horrible tinkling sound, and glass shards silently scattered on the snow and hit the body of the adjacent car, making an irregular drumming sound.
Then, as if to taunt us, we were slammed from behind, over the rear roof rack of the car.
Like a second or two into spaceship liftoff, I was stopped chewing and tossing.There was a moment of dynamic stillness.Sagoron crawled over the steering wheel into the back seat, blood on the airbag.It looked like his arm was broken too.
He wasn't wearing a seat belt, idiot... how many parts have to be rebuilt now?
The surrounding car signals howled desperately.
With mixed feelings, I unbuckled my seat belt, pushed open the door, and stood on the road strewn with shattered glass and tamped snow.
The hood of our car was hit by a red "Niva" jeep.And the flattened suitcase, which seemed to have been bitten off, hit the front of a well-maintained Japanese jeep.The Jeep wasn't badly hurt, though: just the headlights were smashed, and the front itself was bent a little.Apparently, the car stopped in time.
"What's wrong with you, damn it!" the man in the jeep yelled at me.The man wore sunglasses, had a shaved head, a crimson and black dress stretched tight on his body, a barrel-like figure, and a pair of oversized designer half-high leather shoes on his feet.
The man's eyes were white, like a baby's bioelectric field...or like that of the boy Egor in the subway.
The man's crimson clothing glowed with dull blue flames.He squealed like a barrow under the knife.
I recognized it as the transoceanic spell known among the folk as "spider flames." "Spider Flames".Before I could wake up from the attack of the man in crimson, I was grabbed by the collar and flipped to the ground.
This is someone I didn't expect to meet.Lightbringer, fan magician Anton Gorodecki.
"Who are you?" he whispered angrily. "Who are you, the darkness haunts you, don't lie to me!" His eyes were whiter than the jiga eyes that came out of the jeep The guy who turns white is even whiter.Something clicked in my head, and my lips whispered involuntarily:
"The mirror of the world..."
"Mirror..." the Lightbringer repeated like an echo, "You damned! All damned!"
I was tempted to chime in with a bit of sarcasm.This is Darkbringer territory, but I hold back.Hold back, you're right.Crimson and snow-blue things boiled in Anton's bioelectric field.There is no doubt that I am stronger than him, but... it seems that Gorodetsky is supported by some powerful force that has nothing to do with light or darkness.The outcome of a one-on-one encounter, if it occurs, is hard for me to predict.
Anton let go of the collar of my coat, turned and squeezed between the cars, ignoring the honks and abuse coming from the open window, and walked away blindly.Next to it, the whistle of the traffic police siren sounded.The traffic flow blocked Osdorenka Street tightly, leaving only a narrow gap in the oncoming section, and a very lucky few squeezed through this narrow gap.
I looked at my watch.I still have fifteen minutes left to get to Moscow University...in fact, only fourteen minutes.And knowing that I can't use traffic magic.
The first thing that comes to mind is what happened to Sagoron?
I walked around the side of the Niva with the open door to the side of the hit BMW.Sagoron lost consciousness, but at the first moment of danger, he thought of the protective film reflexively, and then disappeared into the twilight world.So now he's reorganizing, like a puppet, and the greedy Twilight can't do anything to him.
It will survive, it will recover, and it will recover fairly quickly.Most likely on the "emergency vehicle" because the "ambulance vehicle" can cross the blocked road.Thagoron is a very powerful magician, and trivial things like car accidents cannot cause him serious problems.
Farewell, then, Sagoron.I don't think the Inquisition will have a problem with you.All in all a happy scene.Suddenly I saw my savior.A young man on an orange miniature bike deftly and improvised along the edge of a section of driveway.This kind of person is not afraid of any kind of traffic jam...
Of course, although it is not the season suitable for this kind of transportation, after all...
I disappeared into the twilight world.
In the twilight world, the miniature motorcycle is like a horse in a fairy tale.Small and exquisite, with a horn-like steering wheel and eye-like headlights.
"Let's go." I told the young man.
He rises obediently.
I jumped under the camel "shroud" and grabbed the handle.The single wheel of the miniature motorcycle creaked vigorously.Hey.go ahead.The lad stood on the pavement like a mannequin.Dazedly, he clenched the dollar bill I gave him in his hand.And I turned the throttle handle inwards, just barely wiping off the polished side of the sedan next to me.I began to squeeze past the edge of the traffic, toward the garden loop.
Driving this small "Honda" which is used to the warm asphalt road in Japan but completely unadapted to the ice cone road in Moscow is actually very simple.I also did a good job navigating between cars.But miniature motorcycles can't give real fast speeds - thirty kilometers per hour at best.Then I understood, I was too late.Even if I put down my hard-working motorcycle and got into the nearest subway station—it’s still a long way from the “University” station to the main building of Mo University.Of course it's possible to fool the next driver a bit, but who's to say we'll get out of the morning jam?I vaguely remember that the streets are wider in the University district of Moscow, but I'm still not sure.If I stay on the "Honda" - I actually retain the mobility to get to the destination point.But on the other hand, I can only roughly imagine how it should go.After all, I am not from Moscow.Putting hope in an inner helper who hasn't rejected me yet?of course can.But what if it was just playing me too?In this moment of great responsibility?Usually things always happen like this.
I listened to myself.The cold wind, full of exhaust fumes, whipped in the face.Moscow breathes carbon dioxide...
My faithful helper appears to be asleep.
I went through the garden ring and the "Kulturpark" station of the metro, but when the building of the "Frunze" station towered over me, I decided to go underground.Time demands it.
Before I could reach the stairs in front of the subway station, the motorcycle was stolen.The motorcycle made a short humming sound, and the engine was started—someone quickly drove the hard-working, non-stop Japanese machine to the side, hurriedly appearing and disappearing, and did not know which alleys to go to up.Alas, people—people... The Messenger of Light cares about you, protects you, and cherishes you, but you used to be like cows and horses, and now you are still like cows and horses.A beast without conscience and compassion.Pushing each other out, stealing, selling out, getting fed—whatever happens elsewhere.How disgusting is it...
I literally stepped through the turnstiles—through the twilight realm, invisible shadows.No time to buy a card and stuff it into a magnetic card machine.It doesn't matter, the country will not be impoverished.
I also slid down the elevator, and didn't get out of the twilight world.I jumped onto the crawling handrail and slammed down, just barely in time to lower my legs again and stand in the gray custard-like goo.The train was just about to leave the platform.When I was thinking about whether it was going in the direction I was going, the door of the car was already closed.Humph, it's okay, it's not a hindrance to me.But going to the center didn't cheer me up one iota.
Through the twilight world, I walked directly through the door and gently squeezed the astonished passengers away. I seemed to fall from the sky.
"Ouch," someone said.
"Excuse me, is this Moscow?" I said nonsense for some reason.Probably because of the naughty stallion.
No one answered me.Hum, nothing.However, the surrounding space immediately increased a lot.I grab the railing and close my eyes.
"Sports" station.The closed "Sparrow Hill" station - the train is barely crawling, and the electric light flashes between the loosely installed metal baffles from time to time, and the faint morning light of the coming is projected in.Dawn has come...
Finally arrived at the "University" station.The elevator is very long and crowded.Have to wait again.It's over, I must be late.
It was almost daylight outside.Knowing full well that I was too late for the meeting to start, I was suddenly completely at peace and stopped rushing.Completely calm.I pulled my earphones out of my pocket, turned on the Walkman with Anton Gorodecki on it, and walked over to get a taxi.
"The time has come," the Inquisitor announced softly, "and all those who do not arrive in time will be punished by the treaty later."
All those present stood up.There were the messengers of darkness, the messengers of light, the staff of the inspection team, the judges, Gesar, and Zaburon, who everyone thought seemed to be out of Moscow.There was Inquisitor Maxim, and there were two Inquisitors observers in court gowns.This is where all assembled in the tower of the main building of Moscow State University, the small pentagonal chamber, and the Museum of Earth Sciences, covered by the invisible twilight layer, which is used for the infrequent sessions of the Inquisition.Quite a lot was built in the Twilight Zone in the post-war years—much cheaper than the security and civilian police that have long interfered with things they shouldn't.It can be seen very clearly that the fiery red light of the sunrise is slowly rising from the eastern horizon, flying over the Moscow University building from the moment of Jean-Michel Jarre's Moscow 850th anniversary concert The magically wonderful Northern Lights overhead are dimming by the minute.他者很长时间能看得到激光想象的痕迹，甚至不用进入颜色变得暗淡和消失的黄昏界也可以看到。好多人惊叹地看着呈现出色彩鲜明的想象，向黄昏界泼洒出自己的情感。
马克西姆穿着普通的公务西装，而不是像其他的宗教法庭法官那样穿着宽大的长袍。他在黑暗中双手摊开一条写满了许多火红火红字母的灰色带子。三十个拖长着的声音齐声读道：
“我们是他者。我们效忠于不同的力量。但是在黄昏界中黑暗的不存在和光明的不存在之间没有差别……”
伟大的城市和伟大的国家无法想到，几乎所有决定俄罗斯命运的人现在都聚集在此，而不是聚集在克里姆林宫。在莫斯科大学大楼尖顶下，在一层沉积的灰尘下的一间插入的昏暗小斗室里摆着靠背椅，软圈椅，甚至还有沙滩躺椅——大家各自带来的一些东西。谁也没想到桌子——所以没有桌子。
他者不太尊重仪式：法庭——这是一种行为，而非演戏。因此没有任何法衣、假发套和桌布。只有观察者们宽大的长袍，但是已经没有人能清楚地记得，为什么宗教法庭法官有时穿着这种宽大的长袍。
“我们受制于自己的权利和自己的法规。我们是——他者……”
和约上火红的字母在半明半暗中燃烧着，象征着宗教法庭和司法审判。只听到许多声音在说：
“我们是……他者……”
三十个声音一齐说：
“时间为我们作出决定。”
和约宣读完毕，法庭程序开始了。按传统——从最不重要的案子开始。
穿着宽大长袍的宗教法庭法官中的一位，没有从钢琴方凳上起身，没有任何庄严的礼节，用一种完全平常的语调宣布：
“第一宗案子：来自黑暗世界的偷猎事件。带犯罪人上庭。”
甚至不是犯罪嫌疑人——而是犯罪人。罪行已经被证实。证人只要帮助确认罪行状况和级别，而法庭会作出判决。无情的，也是正义的判决。
“很遗憾，不是所有的证人都来了。在乌克兰的尼古拉耶夫市注册，又在莫斯科临时注册的维达里·罗戈扎因不明原因缺席；以及在稍后将要审理的案子中死去的安德烈·丘尼科夫和叶卡杰琳娜·索罗金娜缺席……”
审判简单而残酷：
“维克多里娅·曼古佐娃，他者，在莫斯科注册，累犯未经许可的偷猎罪，应当受到终止存在的处罚。对和约的判决有何异议和补充吗？”
不论是黑暗使者还是光明使者，都无异议。
“马上执行判决。”宗教法庭法官说。他看了光明使者一眼——传统上判决由和约本身的参与者执行。
伊利亚站起来，正了正眼镜，认真看了女吸血鬼一眼，她嚎叫起来，因为知道没救了。魔法师的目光中既没有仇恨也没有欣喜。除了全神贯注，什么也没有。他伸出手，穿过黄昏界接触到女吸血鬼胸前的印章。
瞬间过后，维克多里娅下沉到地板里。她没有完全烧成灰，要是更老一点的吸血鬼会那样，她的肉身还没有活完自己的期限。但是那种吸血鬼生命的力量，那种年复一年从人们身上吸取的东西没有留下任何痕迹地在黄昏界中消融了。房间里稍微感到凉了一些。伊利亚皱了皱眉头，又用了一个有节制的手势，将她的身子送进黄昏界中。
永远送走了。
他者的法庭审判就是以这种方式结束。
“第二宗案子。他者的变形人，黑暗使者谋杀未激发的'另一个世界的'人。带罪犯上庭……”
提问。Reply.宗教法庭法官们简短的讨论。
“奥克桑娜·达丘克，他者，黑暗使者，在莫斯科注册。在蓄意谋杀案中被认为无罪，其行为超出了必需的防卫范围，但定性为自卫，她应当受到剥夺为期十年的狩猎许可的处罚。如有再犯或者任何包括五级力量以上的违规，应受到立刻终止存在的处罚。对和约的判决有任何异议和补充吗？”
伊利亚看了格谢尔一眼，又重新站起来：
“我们表示反对。当时没有任何东西威胁到他者的生命，并没有必要对人实施谋杀。所以我们要求将取消狩猎许可的期限增至五十年。”
“增至三十年。”马克西姆回答，似乎是早已预料到这样的要求。其实他等待的正是这种要求……
“增至四十年。”格谢尔没有起身，冷冷地说，“要提交所有必需的理由吗？”
“增至四十年。”马克西姆表示赞同。他看了看黑暗使者们，但他们没有对此表态，因为他们公正地认为，变形人的命运不值得争论。
“解除对被告的保护……”
吓得脸色苍白的姑娘面前打开了一扇门。她幸福地冲向一旁，她还没弄明白，实质上她还是受到了惩罚。四十年，这对只能从人类身上吸取力量的变形人是一个很长的期限。她会衰老，也许会死去，无法对抗逼近的暮年。
“第三宗案子。守夜人巡查队的员工袭击他者，黑暗使者。鉴于受害人缺席，法庭认为有必要对幸免于难的罪犯和守夜人巡逻队的领导进行交叉询问。守夜人巡逻队的领导未经允许而采用力量反对他者、反对黑暗使者。光明使者方面的所有抗议已事先得到回避。”
格谢尔皱了皱眉头，扎武隆则使自己保持镇静的微笑。
光明魔法师斯维特兰娜·纳扎洛娃焦虑地看了一眼时钟。她因光明魔法师安东·戈罗杰茨基的迟到而心神不定。
“或许，我们有理由确定一下三位被邀者迟到的原因？”格谢尔小心翼翼地问到，不由自主地效仿法官正式的用词遣句的腔调，“请相信，我绝对不是企图赢得时间。守夜人巡查队队员和一名近几周来扰乱安宁的他者的缺席使我担忧。”
宗教法庭法官们相互交换了眼神，像是无声地做出共同的决定。
“宗教法庭不反对，”马克西姆冷静地说，“允许必要的魔法作用。”
宗教法庭的观察员们摇了摇身上宽大的长衫，把起保护作用的辟邪物弄乱。可能他们穿着宽大的长袍是为了使任何人都看不见他们是如何使用辟邪物以及使用什么辟邪物的？宗教法庭有自己的方法，自己的法规和自己的武器……
空气中展开了一个观察球。穿透着蜿蜒线条的灰色烟雾。大部分线条消失了，只剩下三条。
刚刚结合到一个点上的三条命运线。一条暗淡下来，勉强地发着微光。他者受伤了……
“这是沙戈隆，”解除自己头儿副手全权的黑暗使者埃德加尔出了口气，“这可是沙戈隆啊！”
其他两条线分开了，但是马上就会相遇——就在莫斯科大学大楼前。
对接。又是一次黑暗使者和光明使者的对接，又是一次牺牲。暂时还不是致命的牺牲。“守夜人巡查队请求宗教法庭干预！”格谢尔大吼起来，“马克西姆·奥斯卡尔，拉乌里，他们会一个杀死另一个的！”
格谢尔当然没敢说“相互杀死”。
一个女人同守夜人巡查队的头儿一起站了起来，她是他者奥莉加。不久前她又获得了女魔法师的能力，而且有非凡的魔力，因此失去了保留姓氏的权利，但还未得到黄昏界的名字。她用胳膊肘碰了一下格谢尔，询问似的看着法官们。
斯维特兰娜变得脸色苍白——让人仿佛觉得她的脸是蜡做的。
黑暗使者沉默不语。扎武隆若有所思地挠了挠鼻尖。
“法庭禁止干预。”法官中的一位严厉地宣布。
“为什么？”斯维特兰娜无力地问。她企图从编织成的软圈椅上站起来，但是她没有足够的力气、体力。真正的力量，魔力，他者的光明使者的力量不由自主地在斯维特兰娜身边旋转，转成一个巨大的鼓胀的螺丝圈。
他者发怒时，总体上处于极端异常的情况时，也像人一样，比自己安安静静时要强大得多。
“为什么？”斯维特兰娜的声音丁当直响。“这位黑暗使者出现在任何地方，之后就会有他者或普通人的死亡。他是杀人犯！你们允许他继续杀人吗？”
法官仍然保持镇静。
“维达里·罗戈扎，他者，他在到莫斯科期间一次也没有违反和约中规定的法规，一次也没有超越所允许的防卫界限。他在宗教法庭面前是纯洁的。我们没有任何理由干预。”
“等到理由出现时，就晚了。”格谢尔尖锐地说。
宗教法庭法官只是耸耸肩。
“他会为沙戈隆报仇的。”光明使者中有人小声地说了一句，咳了一声。
两位魔法师——一位光明使者和一位黑暗使者——走进了莫斯科大学主楼的入口处，随着他们之间距离的消失，所有出席法庭审判的人坚信，他们当中只有一位会爬到塔楼。
那会是谁呢？
不知为什么，我在离莫大主楼入口处还有三百米的地方下了车。我看见主楼上方的彩色斑点、光线和巨大的身影在眼前凌乱地闪现。我感觉到，有某种我不理解的力量抑制着，普通的高级魔法，不允许利用它。我还感觉到，在那儿，在塔楼上，在莫斯科的摩天大楼尖顶开始生长的地方布满了浅灰色的云彩，这云彩使我联想起慢动作镜头中的炸弹。
我环顾四周，沿着人行道走去。按原意图我应该赶紧走，但是我以中等速度行进着。也许，需要这样。
只是不要问——谁需要？
随身听里飘出下一首旋律，我不喜欢这旋律，于是我摸了摸选择键。这一回是什么旋律呢？
“野餐”乐队的“象形文字”。这个很合适——从容的旋律对于反正已经迟到的人，对于剩下的只有集中精力，获得东方智慧无限包容镇静的东方智者很合适。
有趣的是，东方智者中有没有过他者呢？或者不该这样来提问——他们当中有没有过人呢？
要是知道该多好啊……
我成功地蒙蔽过值班的人——看样子即使在法庭开庭时，最简单的“一般性”魔咒还是允许的。
我走进电梯——入口处大厅空无一人。可能，人们潜意识地感觉到莫斯科所有最强大的他者就在身边，所以尽量不在此出现？我按下按钮，其中一个电梯的门立刻打开了。我走进去，机械地回头看了一眼，看看是否还有人急于上电梯……
我看见了安东。他刚刚从还未起作用的护卫身旁走过。
有意思，他是怎么赶上我的？也征用了微型摩托或者其他摩托吗？
我站在那儿等他。安东看着我，像是在思考，他也在等待。
停顿了片刻之后，我按下按钮，电梯门合上了。我开始向上爬。但是没有马上到最高处，而是上到大约大楼三分之二的高度。原来只有乘坐另一台只在高层启用的电梯才能到更高处。而我需要去的地方，根本就只有一条阶梯，一条有些陈旧的石灰浆的宽敞大理石楼梯延伸过去。楼梯延伸到在黑暗中敞开着的大门门口。但是在普通世界中它自然是严严实实地关闭着。
走到楼梯前，“野餐”的宗教式旋律也正好结束，随身听偶然地选择了下一首歌。
以前我只是匆匆地听过这首“鹦鹉螺”的歌，但是现在它突然在我的灵魂中回应。我一边走到关闭的门边，钻入黄昏界中，一边与布图索夫一起哼唱着。
任何一个他者都能听到布图索夫和我的声音，尽管现实的声音只在小小的耳塞中才产生出来，而且在离开一步之遥时消融到完全听不清楚的地步。
格谢尔。Zaburon.宗教法庭法官马克西姆。黑暗使者——最近几天我有机会与之一起又是喝咖啡，又是谈心的那几位：埃德加尔，尤拉，科利亚，安娜·季洪诺芙娜……光明使者——最近几天我不得不又是与之搏斗，又是在生死边缘彼此挖苦的那几位：伊利亚，加里科，托里克，大熊。不相识的他者，也是些黑暗使者和光明使者，而且有些显然与巡查队无关。两个穿着宽大长袍的人——看样子是宗教法庭法官。
还有——面部表情扭曲的光明女魔法师。这样的面部表情普通人和他者都会有，那就是当他们的亲人被夺走时。
接着我控制不住地被沿着幻影的阶梯向上拽，向神秘莫测的金字塔顶爬行。这段时间以来我一直沿着这金字塔爬行。实际上与此同时两位穿着长衫的人取消了对高级魔力的禁忌，而女光明使者向我猛地抛过来一团随时可能破裂和爆炸的云团。一团力量，在它面前巨大的弹药也会渐渐暗淡，变成了纯粹的琐事。
Time stopped.
而我明白了一切。一切所发生过的，一切现在正在发生的，以及一切注定在近期将要发生的。我明白了，我吞下在喉咙里突然产生的一团痉挛的东西。
我成了世界上最强大的魔法师。超级魔法师。昙花一现的人物……不，不是，是瞬间即逝的人物……在这个老朽的圆形大厅里惟一一个没有前途的人。
有一些他者是没有前途的。
镜子！我只不过是一面镜子。世界的镜子，是在光明力量和黑暗力量的平衡遭到破坏时由黄昏界抛出来的悬挂在秤上的秤砣。
光明中出现了伟大的女魔法师。黑暗中如此强大的信徒没有出现。光明得到了一劳永逸地惩罚黑暗的机会。
但是没有黑暗就无所谓光明。因此黄昏界就产生出我。找到了一个奇怪的不倾向于任何一方的他者，一个有着处女般纯洁的生物电场的他者，在黑暗中生色。被夺走了过去的记忆，被赋予对他人的力量做出反映和吸取他人力量的能力，越是狠狠地揍我，我越是变得坚强有力。我跳到第二个阶梯。但跳到无处可跳时——到了顶端，再高就是永恒和黄昏界——对镜子的需求就下降了。因为镜子这方面也就成为有能力破坏平衡的东西了。
黄昏界，永恒的黄昏界在等待着我。我不知道维达里·罗戈扎直到不久前的过去——这位没有命运的他者的身体将会怎样。我不知道，他的记忆和个性会怎样，镜子每一次的形成都各不相同。我只知道一点，那个在冰冷的尼古拉耶夫公园，在来莫斯科的路上认识了自己的我将永远消失，将变成没有形体和无助的影子，成为黄昏界虚构的寄居者。
或者干脆成为黄昏界的一部分……不过不是那种大家习惯地认为的怠惰的黄昏界……
我在毫无保留地吸取认为已经失去了安东·戈罗杰茨基的斯维特兰娜的一切力量之前，明白了这一切。由于现实的任性令人生畏，由于我带着与安东·戈罗杰茨基一模一样的随身听，随身听里有他的碟片拷贝，有安东不论是嘴上还是内心都喜欢的歌曲，斯维特兰娜认为自己已经失去了安东。我还明白了一点，宗教法庭知道真相。为了使莫斯科这些相信我与安东的假设的交锋，相信在这一交锋中安东牺牲了的他者平静下来，宗教法庭的法官一声未吭。
光明使者听出了那是他心爱的歌曲……
"go to hell!"
我不会死，斯维特兰娜。更准确地讲，会死的，但不是现在。我是——镜子。试图毁灭我，你会虚弱的，而我只会变得更有力。我已经看到，什么在等待着我——花费三五十年时间缓慢而拖拉地恢复那些不假思索地消耗的力量。你将面临的是沿着点点滴滴细小的痕迹去拾起所失去的东西。三十，或者更多的十年——是对黑暗势力非常合适的时间，是允许为下一次破坏平衡，暂时还不知道破坏哪一方平衡的企图做准备的时间。岁月在等待着你。在这些岁月里你可能会得到与安东在一起的幸福，也可能得不到。
但是，无论怎样，在这些岁月里你们将是平等的。
哪怕你丧失力量，但是我给你机会……我所没有的机会。
音乐停止了——随身听没有经受住魔力的打击——技术总是经受不住强大的魔力——塑胶小碎片飞了出来。帽子也飞到入口方向去了，外套顿时散落到好几处地方。
我勉强站住，但还是站稳了。
“镜子！”格谢尔大喊一声，他声音里包含着无法传达的全部情感和意味，“第三次，第三次接近黑暗使者！”
“我们又不安排全球性的社会实验，同行们！”
扎武隆，不隐瞒胜利感的守日人巡查队的头头。
今天他在胜利者之间。而光明使者们——处在失败者之中。
其实，有多少次是这样发生的，有多少次截然相反呢？
几秒钟之前还被痛苦所压垮，精神已经彻底空虚，惊恐万分的斯维特兰娜，现在无法掩饰自己的喜悦，叫了起来：
"Anton!"
他站在入口旁。安东·戈罗杰茨基。光明魔法师。活生生的，毫发无损。他紧跟在我身后走进来。
“谢谢，安东！”扎武隆十分满意地对他说，“你完美地完成了我的任务，我希望奖励能使你满意！”
“任务？”格谢尔叫喊起来，“安东？”
扎武隆一边起身，一边浅浅一笑。守夜人巡查队的头儿只稍微看了胜利的对手一眼，又把目光投向安东。
而安东走向幸福的、啥也没明白的斯维特兰娜，拥抱她，低声对她说：“等一下。”
说着就向我走来。
有那么几秒钟我们相互对视。相互。敌人对敌人。他者对非他者。我甚至不知该如何说，才会使这听起来是对的。因为真理总是至少有两条。
“拿着吧。”安东说。
于是把自己的随身听送给我，取代被毁掉的那台。
“谢谢，”我悄声说道，并从腰间摘下自己随身听的残余部分。默默地掏出自己的碟片放进他送给我的随身听里，仿佛这是此时此刻最重要的事情。我想：现在宗教法庭的法官一定会站起来说我们可以走了。
当然啦，我猜到了。这种水平的魔法师是不会错的，哪怕他们是非他者。
“我以和约的名义宣布，”马克西姆像往常一样严厉而冷静地宣布，“经过确实可靠的论证，维达里·罗戈扎不是通常所理解的意义上的他者。守日人巡查队在对维达里·罗戈扎方面的行为，不属于宗教法庭审理的对象，维达里·罗戈扎也不受和约的约束。他有自己的使命。”
可以认为，我曾经有过使命！在变成镜子前，还是小男孩的时候，在镜子的时日还未到来之前，我曾经有过……
“宗教法庭结束了对案件的审判，”马克西姆用目光扫视了一眼魔法师们，“双方巡查队有何意见和建议？”
我按下“Play”键，舒展身子，走开了。破碎的外套使我变得不知是像个流浪汉，还是像一个庸庸碌碌的打扮得可怕的人。但是谁在乎这个呢？
安东送给我的随身听根据偶然的选择体系播放着曲目。又重新从几十条塞车的跑道上选择了所需的跑道。基别洛夫和马夫林。“混沌的时代”。剩下来我所要做的一切就是——歌唱。
于是我唱了起来。
混沌的时代，那个无权再叫做维达里·罗戈扎的人。对他，对这个坠落的天使……黑暗天使而言，爬上去只是为了掉下来。对你和对他者而言混沌的时代。千年的终结。无法分清光明与黑暗，黑暗与光明的时代。死亡和交锋的时代。混沌的时代。
我也不知道——我是谁的孩子。我只知道一点：为他人的罪过混沌的时代更经常地会去惩罚那个无罪的人。或者犯下过罪过，但全然不是那些应受惩罚的罪过。但是没有让我选择。没有给我几种命运。
我们暂时还活着。所以我歌唱。我歌唱，尽管也许我知道在基别洛夫和马夫林的下一首歌中有这样的句子：
我只是一个魂灵。我只是一面镜子。反映为受其呼唤的一切的镜子。但是我不能不请求，不能不相信。我走了，为了消失，但是我请求，我希望，我渴望相信——带走我吧！带上我吧！
I believe.
我希望。
I believe.
我希……
Notes:
Notes: