Chapter 10 Chapter 8

The view through the twilight world is even pretty.On the roof, on the grotesque flat roof of the "box with trestles," there are bright spots of various colors.The only color here is our passion.They are more than enough for now. A blood-red pillar of fire piercing the sky is the most dazzling, which is the fear and anger of the female vampire. "Excellent." Xie Miao looked at the roof and said briefly after closing the car door with a "bang".He sighed, and began to undress. "What's the matter with you?" I asked. "I climbed there along the wall... along the balcony. I suggest you do the same, Ilya. But it will be easier if you walk in the Twilight."

"Then what do you plan to do?" "As usual. Not too easy to spot. Don't worry... I've been climbing for sixty years and dropped the Fascist flag from Elbrus." Semyon took off his clothes, leaving only his shirt, and threw the clothes on the hood of the car.The fleeting protective spell left its mark, covering both the clothes and the stylish car seat. "Are you confident?" I asked with interest. Xie Miao smiled coldly, curled up, made a few squatting movements, and turned his hands, like a sports enthusiast exercising his muscles and bones.Then he ran quickly, at a leisurely pace, toward the building.Snowflakes fell on his shoulders.

"Can he climb it?" I asked Ilya.I know how to climb up the outer wall of the building in the twilight world.In theory.But climbing in the normal world, and without any equipment... "It should work," Ilya said, not particularly confidently. "When he swam in the Yauza underground river for ten minutes... I don't think he could swim either." "He's been diving for thirty years," I said sullenly. "Forty years . . . I'm leaving, Anton. How do you—take the elevator?" "yes." "Okay... don't delay." He entered the Twilight Realm and ran after Semyon.Presumably they climbed different outer walls, but I don't want to know who climbed which wall.What awaits me is my own way, no easier than climbing a wall.

"Why did you meet me, boss..." I whispered, running towards the gate.The snow creaked underfoot, and the blood vessels in my ears throbbed.As I ran, I drew the pistol from its holster and popped the safety.Eight silver bombs.should be enough.Just hit.Just to find that moment when I have a chance to hit it, before the female vampire, without hurting the little boy. "Sooner or later, Anton. If it wasn't us, it would be the Day Watchers. They had a chance at you, too." I was not surprised that he followed me.First of all, the situation is very serious, and secondly, he is my first mentor after all.

"Boris Ignatievich, if . . . " I undid my jacket and fastened the barrel of the gun to my belt behind my back. "About Svetlana..." "Her mother has been thoroughly checked, Anton. Not her. She has no ability to curse, not at all." "That's not what I want to say. Boris Ignatievich . . . what I want to say is that I don't pity her." "What does it mean?" "I don't know. But I don't pity her, I don't flatter, I don't defend." "clear." "And now... please leave. This is my job." "Okay. Sorry to rush you to work on site. Good luck, Anton."

In my memory, Touer has never apologized to anyone.But I didn't have time to be surprised, and finally came to the elevator. I pressed the button on the top floor and subconsciously grabbed the earbuds dangling from the wires.Oddly enough, music was playing inside.When did I turn on the radio? What opportunity has brought me. I like the song "Outing".Curious to know, has anyone checked to see if lead singer Shkryarsky is the Other?Worth a try... maybe, no need. Can the last sentence be considered a good omen? The elevator stopped. I went to the top landing and looked at a hole in the ceiling.The padlock had been yanked off, literally yanked off—the curved beam of the padlock had been squashed flat and elongated.The lock didn't work on the female vampire, she probably flew to the roof.The little boy climbed up along the balcony.

That is to say, it is a little tiger or a big bear.It was probably the big bear, if only the hole was made by the little tiger. I took off my coat and threw it on the ground together with the player that was playing.I feel for the gun on my back—it's fastened.Think modern technology is useless?Just wait and see, Olga, just wait and see. I cast my shadow upward, into the air.I straightened up and slammed into the hole.I entered the twilight world and climbed up the ladder.The blue moss densely covered with iron bars looks elastic under the fingers and wants to spread around. "Anton!"

I jumped on the roof, also stooping a little: there was a very strong cold wind here.Sometimes there are winds from the world, and sometimes strange sounds from the twilight world.The concrete skeleton of the elevator shaft jutting out of the roof temporarily shielded me from the wind, but something had to be done, the wind biting my bones. "Anton, here we are!" Xiaohu stood ten meters away.I looked at her and felt envious: she must not feel cold. I don't know where shapeshifters and magicians expend a lot of energy when they use transformation.It doesn't seem to be from the twilight world, but it doesn't come from the human world either.When the girl took human form, she weighed fifty kilograms, maybe more.When it becomes a young tigress crouching on a frozen roof, it weighs about 150 kilograms.Its bioelectric field is orange, with slow, deliberate sparks flowing down its fur, its tail flapping rhythmically from side to side, and its right paw rhythmically scraping against the asphalt.The roof of this place has been torn to expose the cement... Someone must be wet by the wind and rain in the spring...

"Come closer, Anton," the tigress growled without turning around, "here she is!" The big bear is closer to the female vampire than the little tiger.His appearance was even more terrifying.One time he chose to become a polar bear, which, unlike the real polar bear, was snow white, just like the pictures in children's books.No, presumably he's still a magician, not a reformed shapeshifter.Shapeshifters are bound by one aspect, or at most two, and I've seen both the clumsy brown bear form of Big Bear - when we held a gala for the American delegation Yes, I've seen him transform into a grizzly bear - this was seen at the transfiguration viewing event.

The female vampire stood on the edge of the roof. She was deflated, and obviously she was deflated as soon as we met.Her face was thinner, her cheeks sunken.At the beginning of the changes in the body system, the vampire must need fresh blood.Don't be fooled by appearance: a female vampire's frail appearance only means that she is in pain, she is not losing her powers.The burns on her face had almost disappeared, and the traces left behind could barely be felt. "You!" The female vampire's voice was triumphant.Very proud—as if I were not called to negotiate, but to make me a victim.

"it's me." Yegor stood in front of the female vampire, and she used him to block the combatants.The little boy was in the twilight world created by the vampires, so he didn't lose consciousness.He was silent and motionless, sometimes looking at me and sometimes at Xiaohu.Obviously, he trusts us more.The female vampire grasped the little boy's chest with one hand, clinging to her body, stretched out her other hand that had turned into a claw, and grabbed the little boy's throat.It is not difficult to recognize the situation.No way out, deadlock. If Little Tiger or Big Bear moves a little bit, the female vampire can unscrew the little boy's head with a wave of her hand. If so, even we can't save him.On the other hand, if she killed the little boy - we have no scruples. There's no need to drive an enemy into a corner, especially if you're trying to eliminate him. "You want me to come, and I have come." I held up my hands, indicating that there was nothing in my hands.I go forward.When I came between the little tiger and the big bear, the female vampire bared her fangs and shouted: "stop!" "I have neither aspens nor useful amulets. I am no magician. I will do nothing to you." "Amulet! The amulet around your neck!" I see…… "It doesn't have any effect on you. It's from someone with a higher level of protection than you." "Take it off!" Oh, how bad... how bad... I pulled off the necklace, took off the talisman, and threw it at my feet.At this moment, if he wants, Za Wulong can find a way to attack me. "I took it off. Now tell me, what do you want?" The vampire turned her head—her neck made a slight 360-degree turn.Oh!I've never heard of such a thing... and our combat team members probably did too: Xiaohu roared. "Someone's sneaking in!" said the still-human voice of the vampire, the shrill, hysterical voice of a young, foolish girl who occasionally gains power and power. "Who? Who?" She grabbed the little boy's neck with her left hand with sharp claws.I trembled all over, imagining what would happen if even a single drop of blood was spilled.The female vampire is really out of control!With her other hand she made a ridiculous accusing gesture, and the vampire pointed to the edge of the roof and said: "Let him out!" I sighed and said hello: "Elia, come out..." There are traces of finger scratches on the section of the roof.A moment later, Ilya jumped over the low fence and stood beside the little tiger.How could he hide there?Possibly under the awning on the lanai, perhaps hanging from a moss vine! ? "I know!" the female vampire said excitedly, "Liar!" She didn't seem to notice Semyon.Perhaps our slow friend has studied invisibility for over a hundred years. "It's not you who lied." "It's me!" Suddenly, some kind of human gaze flashed in the female vampire's eyes, "I know how to deceive! You don't understand at all!" it is good.Well, you get it, we don't get it.Believe and count on it.If you think that the notion that lies exist in salvation applies only to evangelism, believe it.If you thought, "Kindness should live with the fist" is only found in old satirical poets, count on it. "What do you want?" I asked. She was silent for a moment, as if she hadn't considered the question before: "Alive!" "It's too late. You're dead." The female vampire bared her fangs again and said: "Really? Will the dead take off other people's heads?" "Yes. That's the only thing they do." We looked at each other and it was so weird, so posturing, so arrogant, and the whole conversation was absurd because we never knew each other.she died.Her life is someone else's death.I live.But from her side - it's just the opposite. "It's not my fault." Her voice was suddenly calm and gentle.And the hand on Yegor's neck relaxed a little. "You, you call yourselves the Night's Watch...the ones who don't sleep at night, the ones who have the power to defend the world from the forces of darkness...where were you when others drank my blood?" Big Bear took a step forward.A very small step, it seems that it can't step out of the huge claws, but can only slide over under the thrust of the wind.It occurred to me that while the confrontation was still going on, he would coast for another ten minutes as he had coasted for a full hour, until he thought his chance had come.At that point he'd give a jerk... and with luck, the little boy would be wrenched from the vampire with only two broken ribs. "We can't follow everyone," I said. "Totally impossible." It was horrible... I began to feel sorry for her.I do not pity the little boy caught in the game of light and dark, not the girl Svetlana who is about to be cursed, not the blameless city that will be struck by this curse... I pity the vampire.Because it's true - where are we?We call ourselves the Night's Watch... "You have a choice at any time," I said, "don't say otherwise. Becoming a vampire is only possible if both parties agree. You may die, justly, like a human being. " "Die in a fair way?" The female vampire shook her head.Hair draped over one shoulder.Where the hell is Semyon... Is it so difficult to get on the roof of a twenty-story building? "I wanted to be... aboveboard. And... who signed the license... Who predestined me to be eaten as food? Did he do it aboveboard?" light and dark... Not only was she the prey of raging vampires, she was destined to be the prey.And what kind of fate is that, only to sacrifice himself to prolong the existence of another vampire.Look, there's only that branded lad that falls like a handful of dust at my feet, and he's in love with her.Really fell in love... He didn't suck other people's life anymore, but turned the girl into a vampire just like himself. What dies not only breaks its head, but also loves.Unfortunately even their love needs blood. He had to hide her, knowing that it was not legal for him to turn a girl into a vampire.He should raise her, the most suitable thing is fresh blood, not the bottle handed over by a naive blood donor. So poaching began on the streets of Moscow, and we, the guardians of the light, the heroic night watchmen, the masterminds who handed over people to the dark powers as offerings, were shocked when we heard the news. The scariest thing in war is understanding the enemy.To understand - means to forgive.And we don't have that right... not since time immemorial. "You've had a choice, after all," I said. "Have. Other people's treachery—not a particular excuse." She smiled slightly. "Yes, yes... good servant of the light... Of course you are right. And you can repeat it a thousand times, I am dead. My soul is burned and lost in the twilight. But please give Let me explain, what is the difference between meanness and evil between us? You have to explain...convince me." The female vampire lowered her head and looked at Yegor's face.She said trustingly, almost kindly: "It's you... little boy... don't you understand me? Answer! Answer frankly and don't mind... my claws. I'm not angry." Big Bear took another step forward.Still a little bit.I can feel it tensing its muscles, ready to jump. Quietly, deliberately, and swiftly behind the female vampire's back—how could he manage to act like this in the human world? — Semyon appeared. "Wake up, little boy!" said the vampire happily. "Answer! But be honest! If you think he's right and I'm not...if you really believe that...I'll let you go." I noticed Yegor's gaze. I understood what he was going to answer. "You too... yes." empty.Chilly.No energy to show emotion.Let them come out, let them burn like bonfires that people have seen. "What do you want?" I asked, "Alive? Well...surrender. There will be a trial, a joint trial by the patrol team..." The female vampire looked at me.She shook her head and said: "No... I don't trust your judgment. I don't trust the Night's Watch, and I don't trust the Day's Watch." "Then why did you call me here?" I asked.Xie Miao approached the female vampire, and he was getting closer... "For revenge," the vampire simply said, "you killed my friend. I will kill your man... in front of you. Then... I will try... to kill you again. But if he Don't leave..." She laughed. "You can quite realize that you can't save the little boy. Isn't that right, Night's Watch? You issue permits without looking at people's faces. So make sure to show you...show your feet...it's all your hypocrisy, Vulgar, vile morality..." Xie Miao jumped up. Jumping with him at the same time is Big Bear. The movement was beautiful, faster than any bullet or spell.This is entirely due to the perfect body trained through countless attacks and the skills learned in twenty, forty, or even a hundred years... I still pulled the pistol from my back and pulled the trigger, although I knew that the bullets would just slosh and slosh, like slow motion in a cheap action movie "high-speed shooting" method, so that Female vampires have a chance to hide and a chance to kill... Semyon jumped into a straight line in the air—as if knocking down a glass wall, sliding down an invisible obstacle, and at the same time entered the twilight world.Big Bear was thrown off - he was too heavy.The bullet flew towards the vampire like a graceful dragonfly, flashed like a spark, and disappeared. If it weren't for the vampire's slowly widening, bewildered eyes, I'd think she'd dropped her protective cocoon herself... though that's only the prerogative of high magicians. "They are all under my protection..." A voice came from behind. I turned around—to meet Zaburon's gaze. Strangely, the female vampire did not panic.What's even stranger is that she didn't kill Yegor.The failed raid and the appearance of the dark mage was more unexpected to her than to us, because I waited... I've been waiting for something like this since I just took off the amulet. I'm not surprised he came so fast.The dark forces have their own way.But why does the observer of the dark forces think that this small cleanup is more important than staying in our headquarters?Had he lost interest in Svetlana and the whirlwind hanging over her head?How can we not understand what he understands? Damn computing habits!Combatants have long since weaned themselves from this habit, and their actions are based on primitive instincts—gut reactions to danger, struggle, victory, or defeat. Elijah has got the wand.Its faint snow-blue glow is too bright and too uniform for a third-level magician.It was hard to believe it was an outburst of his own power, probably the boss himself recharging the wand. Does it mean that he is prepared for all this? Does that mean he's waiting for someone who's his equal? Neither the little tigers nor the big bears change their appearance, and their magic requires no devices, let alone human bodies.Big Bear still stared at the female vampire, completely ignoring Za Wulong's appearance.Xiaohu stood next to me.Xie Miao rubbed his waist from time to time, walked slowly around to the female vampire, and appeared in front of her like a demonstration.He also gave us the Dark Mage. "They?" Xiaohu roared. I didn't even understand right away why she was upset. "They are under my protection," Zaburon repeated.He was wrapped in a shapeless black overcoat and wore a black fur beanie.The magician hid his hands in his pockets, but I was convinced for some reason—there was nothing in them, neither amulets nor pistols. "Who are you?" cried the vampire, "Who are you?" "Your protector and backer." Zaburon looked at me, not at me—just at me by the way. "I am your master." What's wrong with him, is he crazy?The female vampire has no idea at all about the distribution of power.She was a little excited.She had intended to die...to live no more.Now she has a chance to be saved, but this tone... "I have no master!" laughed the girl, her life becoming someone else's death. "No matter who you are, whether you are from the light or from the darkness, remember! I don't have one, and I won't have a master in the future!" She dragged Yegor and began to retreat to the edge of the roof.She was still holding on with one hand, while the other was pinching his throat.Hostages... a great way to stand against the forces of light. Maybe also against the dark forces? "Zabulon, we agree," I said.I put a hand on Xiaohu's tense back. "She's yours. Take her—take her to court. We'll honor the peace." "I'm catching them..." Zaburon looked forward vaguely.The wind was blowing in his face, but the magician's eyes opened wide without blinking, as if they had been cast from glass. "Women and little boys are ours." "No, only female vampires are yours." He finally looked at me and said: "Lightbringer, I take only what is mine. I respect the great peace. The woman and the little boy are ours." "You're better than any of us," I said, "but you're alone, Zaburon." The dark magician shook his head, and said sadly and sympathetically: "No, Anton Gorodetsky." A boy and a girl came out of the elevator shaft.I know them.Hey, I know it. This is Alyssa and Peter.Witches and wizards of the Sun Watch. "Egor!" Zaburon called softly, "Do you understand the difference between us? Which side do you prefer?" The little boy didn't say anything.It could just be that the female vampire's claws were on his throat. "Do we have any questions?" Xiaohu asked in a low voice. "Yes." I affirmed. "How do you decide?" Zaburon asked.His scouts have remained silent for now, not asking what happened. "I don't agree," Xiaohu said.She moved slightly toward Zaburon, and her tail lashed my knees excessively. "I very much disagree with the Sun Watcher's view... of what has happened..." This was clearly her and Big Bear's common opinion: when they worked together as partners, only one of them needed to speak their mind.I looked at Elijah: he was twirling his wand in his fingers, and he was smiling, a malicious, dreamy smile.He was like a little boy dragging a loaded Uzi into a gang instead of plastic.Apparently everything was the same for Semyon, who was dismissive of trifles.He has been running on roofs for seventy years... "Zabulong, do you represent the Patrol Team of the Sun Watchers?" I asked. There was a very brief wave of wavering in the eyes of the dark magician. What happened...Why did Zawulong leave our headquarters and give up the opportunity to follow and absorb an unknown magician with magical powers into the Japanese patrol team?This kind of opportunity should not be passed up—even for a female vampire and a young boy with great potential.Why did Zaburon come to participate in this conflict? Why, why didn't he want to speak for the entire Day Watcher Patrol? —Because I see it, without a doubt! "What I said is only personal." Zaburon said. "That's just a small personal disagreement between us," I replied. "yes." He didn't want to interfere with the patrol.Now we are nothing but others, despite being on the job, despite being hired to carry out tasks.But Zaburon believes that the conflict should not be developed into a formal confrontation. Why?Does he believe in his own strength, or is he afraid of the appearance of the boss? I don't understand how. And most of all: why he left command, gave up hunting.What about the magician who put a curse on Svetlana?The purpose that the dark messenger wants to achieve is to hope that everyone will hand over the magician to them, but now they will easily refuse? What does Zaburon know?What do we not know? "You poor..." began the dark magician.He didn't have time to finish—the victim acted on his own. I heard the roar of the big bear, an inexplicable, panic-stricken roar, and turned away. Yegor, who was clinging to the female vampire and had been a hostage for half an hour, disappeared. The little boy entered the depths of the Twilight Realm. The female vampire clenched her fists, not knowing whether she wanted to catch him or kill him.She swung her sharp claws quickly, but she couldn't touch the boy's body.Due to inertia, the female vampire hit her left chest. It's a pity that she is already dead! The big bear leaped and swept over the place Yegor was standing just now like a blizzard, knocking the female vampire to the ground.Her twitching body was completely suppressed, only her paws were showing weakly patting the furry side of the big bear. Meanwhile, Elijah raised his wand.The wand exploded into a white flame, and then the pale snow-blue light nearly went out.It looked as if the combatants held in their hands the beam of a searchlight ripped from a lighthouse, bright and almost palpable.Ilya waved his hands with obvious effort, and with a light that had not been seen in Moscow since the war era, he slashed across the gray sky - and threw a huge spear at Zaburon. stick. The dark magician screamed. He was knocked down and pressed against the roof, and the beam of light that rushed out from Ilya's hand danced flexibly and freely.It was no longer light, nor fire, but a white snake that kept rolling and covered with silver scales.The end of its huge body had been smashed flat into a hood, revealing a stern face with eyes as big as a truck wheel.Its forked tongue flicked thinly like a welding torch. I jumped aside, and its tail almost caught me.The fiery cobra retracted its head into its coiled body, and shot at Zaburon with a sudden lightning.Behind the blazing circles, there were three shadows entangled and fighting together, making a muddy mess.Xiaohu jumped at the witches and wizards of the Sun Watchers, and I hardly noticed. Elijah smiled slightly, and took out another wand from his waist.This time—it was relatively dim, and it could be seen that the battery was charged by myself. So does he have a weapon aimed specifically at Zaburon?Does the boss know who we're going to clash with? I cast my gaze towards the roof.At first glance, everything is under supervision and control.The big bear holding down the female vampire tapped its paws excitedly, and sometimes indistinct sounds could be heard from below him.Xiaohu takes on the Sun Watch Patrol - it doesn't seem like she needs help.The white cobra killed Zaburon. Anyway, we have nothing to do.Elijah held his wand upside down while observing the battlefield, apparently trying to determine which group of people to charge at.Xie Miao, who had lost interest in female vampires, patrol teams and Zawulong, walked up and down the edge of the roof while looking down.Was he worried about new reinforcements from the dark forces? I stood like a fool with a useless pistol in my hand... The shadow lay at my feet from the start.I took a step towards it and felt a chill.Not the cold that people are familiar with, not the cold that every other feels, but the cold deep in the twilight world.There is no wind here, and here the snow and ice melt underfoot.There is no moss here.Here is shrouded in a thick sticky mist mass.If this mist is compared to milk, this is milk with milk residue.Enemy and friend--they all became blurred, quivering shadows.It's just that the cobra fighting Zaburon is so fast and bright - this fight is played on all levels of the twilight plane.I could imagine how much power was infused into the wand, and it made me sick. Why, dark and light?Why?Neither the young female vampire nor the other boy is worth the investment! "Yegor!" I shouted. I'm already getting cold.I have only been to the second layer of the Twilight Realm twice. The first time was during class, when there was an instructor by my side, and the second time was yesterday during the daytime. The purpose was to pass through a closed door.Now I don't have a shield, so I'm losing power and everyone is losing power. "Yegor!" I walked through the fog.At this time, there was a dull blowing sound from behind - the cobra bit a body and kept beating it on the roof... I knew whose body it was... Time passed slowly. Although it was very slim, there was still a chance. The little boy hadn't lost consciousness yet.I walked toward him sneaking into the second layer of twilight.I tried to discern the situation, but found no body beneath my feet.I tripped, fell, got up, squatted, and came face to face with Egor. "Are you okay?" I asked strangely.I wondered because his eyes were open and looking at me. "yes." Voices here sound muffled but clear.The two shadows swayed completely together: the big bear continued to pull the female vampire.The latter lasted long enough! The little boy actually persisted for such a long time. "Let's go," I said, reaching out and touching his shoulder. "It's... hard being here. We might stay here forever." "It doesn't matter if you stay." "You don't understand, Yegor! This is suffering! Eternal suffering—disappearing in the Twilight. You can't imagine that, Yegor! Let's go!" "why?" "For survival." "why?" My fingers couldn't bend, and the pistol became as heavy as lead.Maybe I can bear it for a minute or two... I looked into Yegor's eyes. "Make up your own mind. I'm going. I have a reason to live." "Why do you want to save me?" He asked curiously, "Does your patrol team need me?" "I never thought that you would join our inspection team..." I said in surprise. He smiled.A shadow ran slowly past us, it was Semyon.What did he find?Who is unlucky? And here I am, with the last of my strength lost, trying to stop the young Other from committing a well-thought-out suicide...although he is destined to die. "I'm leaving," I said. "please forgive." The shadow caught me, it froze on my fingers and grew on my face.I tried my best to get rid of the shadow, and the twilight world let out a "sizzling" sound of dissatisfaction, expressing its disappointment with this behavior. "Help me," said Egor.I could barely hear his voice, and at the last moment I was almost out, he spoke. I reached out and grabbed his palm.I've pulled myself out of the twilight world, and the surrounding smoke has dissipated.My help was purely symbolic, and the main action should be done by the little boy himself. He did it. We return to the upper level of the twilight world.A cold wind is blowing in your face, but that's also comforting right now.The fighting around them intensified.The rubbed off gray looks brighter. In the few seconds we talked, something changed.The female vampire was still struggling in vain under the big bear...not them.The young male wizard was rolling on the roof, sometimes like a dead man, sometimes unconscious, and the little tiger and the witch were rolling around... not them. snake! The white cobra swelled and took up a quarter of the roof.It soars upwards as if it is inflated, as if it wants to fly to the low altitude by itself.Semyon stood beside the coiled snake, squatted down in an old-fashioned fighting posture, and shot an orange-yellow light ball from the palm of his hand at the white fire snake.It wasn't the cobra he was aiming at, but the man under it, who should have died long ago, but was still struggling... exploded! Bright winds mixed with dark fragments burst in all directions.I was pushed violently by the blast and fell on Yegor on my back, knocking him down too, but I quickly grabbed his hand.Xiaohu and the witch separated, flew to the wall next to the roof and froze.The bear jumped away from the female vampire, who was ragged and bruised, but alive.Xie Miao staggered and barely stood still, the translucent luminous body protected him.The unconscious wizard was the only one to fall: he fell and broke the rusted bars of the fence, and continued to fall like a heavy bag. Only Elijah stood like a pillar.I don't see any shields around him, but he's watching what's going on with interest as he clutches his wand. The remains of the cobra flew upward, drifting like hazy smoke, and gradually dispersed, scattered like fireworks, losing their light.Under the pile of fireworks, Zawulong stretched out his hands in a complicated and peculiar posture, and then slowly stood up.He lost his clothes in the fight and is now completely naked.His body had changed, taking on the features of an ancient devil—dull scales in place of skin, a grotesque head covered with shaggy fur, and tiny eyes with vertical pupils.The fat limbs swing from side to side, and a short, divided tail hangs from the tailbone. "Get out!" Zha Wulong shouted. "roll!" Along with all this, there will appear in the world around you...sudden extreme sadness and unreasonable, blind joy, heart attacks, blind actions, disputes between good friends, betrayal by loyal lovers...people don't see what happens here things, but it can affect their hearts. What is this for? Why all this for the Day Watchers? At this moment, I suddenly felt very peaceful.This cold, rational feeling has hardly passed in a long time. Insidious trick.Everything is going according to the plan of the Day Watchers Patrol.Let us consider this first, and take this as a premise.然后我们把一切偶然的情况联系在一起，让我们从我在地铁里的狩猎开始吧……不，让我们从一位姑娘被注定要成为一个不可能不爱上她的年轻女吸血鬼的食物那一刻开始吧。 思绪在飞速转动，好像我此刻变成了一台无线电发射器，与其他人的意识连接起来，就像我们的分析员有时候做的那样。不，实际情况当然不是这样的……只不过是几块智力游戏拼板微微动了起来，像带有生命一样苏醒了，开始在我面前自动拼装起来。 守日人巡查队看不上女吸血鬼…… 守日人没有因为这个具有极大潜在能力的小男孩而去加入到冲突中。 守日人这么做只有一个原因。 一个具有巨大潜力的黑暗魔法师。 一个能巩固他们的阵地……不仅能巩固他们在莫斯科的阵地，而且能巩固他们在整个大陆的阵地的黑暗魔法师…… 然而他们毕竟也达到了自己的目的，我们答应交出黑暗魔法师…… 这个神秘的魔法师是个X，方程中惟一的未知数。可以把叶戈尔称为Y，因为固定不变的魔法师对一个新的他者来说太了不起了。毕竟小男孩是一个已知数，就算还带有令人费解的因素吧…… 方程中这个令人费解的因素是人为造成的，是为了使问题复杂化。 “扎武隆！”我喊了一声。叶戈尔在我背后转动，他想站起来，从冰上滑过去。谢苗放弃魔法师，依旧抓住护栏，冷静地观察着伊利亚和当前的局势。大熊朝全身颤抖、试图站起来的女吸血鬼走去。小虎和女巫阿利莎又开始靠近了。 “扎武隆！” 魔鬼看了看我。 “我知道，你们是为谁而战！” 不，我还不知道。不过我开始明白了，因为拼板拼好了，摆在我面前的是一张熟悉的面孔…… 魔鬼张开了血盆大口——像金龟子似的，颌骨向左右两边分开了。他越来越使人想起巨大的昆虫，鳞片长在惟一的介壳上，生殖器和尾巴耷拉下来，侧面身子开始长出新的肢体。 “那么你……就会成为一具死尸。” 他的声音仍然是原来的声音，甚至还具有了一种深思熟虑和颇有修养的腔调。扎武隆向我伸过一只手——那只手猛然甩了几下，变长了，长出了越来越多的关节。 “到我这儿来……”扎武隆低声说。 所有的人都一动不动地停了下来，除了我——我朝黑暗魔法师走过去。我多年来加强的那道心灵防御此时丝毫不起作用，我怎么也无法摆脱扎武隆的控制。 “站住！”小虎扯开嗓子喊道，不再理会疲惫无神但仍龇牙咧嘴的女巫。 "stop!" 我很明白他的意思，但是我控制不住自己。 “安东……”背后传来了声音，“转过身来……” 这我可以做到。我不再看那双瞳孔竖直的金黄色的眼睛，转过头去。 叶戈尔蹲着，他已经没有力气站着了。奇怪的是，他还有意识……要知道外界已经不再为他补充精力。就是这种从一开始就能给自己补充能量的本领引起了头儿的兴趣。方程中的Y。它使情况变得复杂。 叶戈尔的手掌里有一个挂在铜链条上的骨制护身符。 “接住！”小男孩喊了一声。 “别接它！”扎武隆怒吼。但是晚了，我已经弯下腰，抓住落在我脚边的护身符。我触到烧焦了的圆形雕刻物时，就好像抓住了一块炭。 我看看魔鬼，摇摇头说： “扎武隆……你再也控制不了我了。” 魔鬼吼起来，同时向我冲过来。他再没有控制力了，而精力依然充沛。 “嘿嘿……”伊利亚用教训的口气说。 正在燃烧的白墙出现在我们之间把我们隔开。扎武隆吼叫起来，撞到了有魔力的障碍物，然后被迫后退。他可笑地晃动烧伤的爪子，他一点不可怕，更多的是荒唐。 “解题的方法有多种，”我说。“题目很简单，是吗？” 房顶上一切都静下来了。小虎和阿利莎女巫站在旁边，他们不想互相攻击。谢苗时而看看我，时而看看伊利亚，不知道是谁使他感到更奇怪。女吸血鬼轻轻地哭泣，试图站起来。她的情况比所有的人都糟糕，为了在与小虎的搏斗中活下来，她失去了所有的力量，而此刻她竭力试图复原。她从黄昏界中吸取了异常的力量并变成了一个模糊的影像。 风好像也静止了…… “怎样使一个自古以来就纯洁的人变成一个黑暗魔法师呢？”我问，“怎样把一个不会憎恨的人拉到黑暗一方？可以给他增加各种各样的不愉快的事……逐渐地、一点点地，希望他对一切都感到愤怒……但是没有见效。人太纯洁了……太纯洁了。” 伊利亚轻轻地、赞同地笑起来。 “她惟一憎恨的人，”我望着扎武隆那双只有仇恨的无神的眼睛，“就是她自己。这就是出人意料的一招，不寻常的一招。让她的母亲生病。让姑娘伤心，让她为无力和无缘帮助母亲蔑视自己吧。把她赶到一个角落里，在那里只能恨……就算是恨自己，但也是恨。的确，是的，一箭双雕的情况也是有的。一个很小的机会是一个不大熟悉业务的守夜人巡查队队员……” 我两腿发软——我确实不习惯在黄昏界待这么长时间。我支持不住，跪在扎武隆跟前，我很不喜欢这样。谢苗穿过黄昏界抓住我的肩膀，大概这种事他干过一百五十年。 “他不熟悉作战工作……”我重复说，“不会按示意图行动。不会同情和安慰姑娘，对她来说同情是致命的。就是说得引开他，制造那种让他忙得不可开交的形势。好让他被人扔到二级任务上去，而且还要用个人的责任心、好感和手边弄到的一切东西把他捆绑在这个任务上。为了这点可以牺牲普通的吸血鬼。对吗？” 扎武隆开始变回原样了。他迅速地恢复了原来虚弱的知识分子的面貌。 ridiculous.Why?我已见过他处在黄昏界中的那副模样，这形象看见一次就永远也不会忘记。 “千方百计，”我重复道，“我保证，斯维特兰娜的母亲根本不应该因绝症而死去。对你们来说，这只是施行了一次小小的干涉，在允许的范围内……但这样一来我们也应该获得一次相应的权利。” “她是我们的！”扎武隆说。 “不是。”我摇摇头，“戾气根本不会爆发。她母亲的身体会恢复的。我马上去斯维特兰娜那儿……而且我会把一切都告诉她。姑娘会加入守夜人巡查队。扎武隆，您输了。反正是输了。” 散落在房顶上的碎衣片慢慢地聚集到了黑暗魔法师跟前，拼合在一起跳了起来，套在外表优雅、对整个世界充满忧虑的魔法师身上。 “你们中谁都无法离开这里。”扎武隆说。在他背后黑暗开始降临，好像张开的两个巨大的黑翼。 伊利亚又笑了起来。 “我比你们所有的人都强。”扎武隆斜视了一下伊利亚，“你借来的力量是有限的。你们将永远留在这里，留在黄昏界中，而且会陷入以前你们连看也不敢看一眼的那种更深的地方……” 谢苗叹了口气说： “安东，看，他至今还不明白。” 我转过去问： “鲍利斯·伊格纳季耶维奇，用不着伪装了吧？” 年轻的作战队员有点蛮横地耸耸肩膀说： “当然，安东什卡。在行动中我难得有机会看到守日人巡查队的头儿……原谅我这个老头吧。我希望，换上我的面貌的伊利亚也同样感到有趣……” 鲍利斯·伊格纳季耶维奇恢复了原来的面貌。是一下子，没有任何舞台的过渡变形和灯光效果就恢复了。他穿着长衫，戴着绣花小圆帽，不过脚上是一双无跟的软底便鞋，外面还套着胶皮鞋套。 他愉快地看看扎武隆的脸。 黑色的翅膀没有消失，但是已经不再增大，只是迟疑地拍打了一下——好像魔法师想飞走，但又下不了决心。 “结束这些吧，扎武隆，”头儿说，“如果您立刻离开这里。离开斯维特兰娜的家，我们就不再提出正式的抗议。” 黑暗魔法师毫不迟疑： “我们会离开的。” 头儿点点头，好像没想得到别的答复。可以想到……但他放下了魔杖，接着我和扎武隆之间的屏障消失了。 “我会记住你在这件事上扮演的角色的，”黑暗魔法师快速地低声说，“永远。” “记住，”我同意说，“这有好处。” 扎武隆抽搐双手——巨大的翅膀合着拍子拍打，接着他消失了。但是在这之前，魔法师朝女巫看了一眼——女巫也点点头。 啊，这点我很不喜欢。随后的是蔑视——不是极端的，但通常是令人不愉快的。 虽然脸被抓得血迹斑斑，左手也脱臼耷拉着，阿利莎仍脚步轻盈地走到我的跟前。 “你也应该离开。”头儿说。 “当然，十分乐意！”女巫回答，“但是在这之前我有个小小的……很小的权利能用。是这样的吗，安东？” “是的。”我小声说，“七级干涉。” 什么人将会遭到打击？头儿吗——笑话。小虎、大熊、谢苗吗……无稽之谈。叶戈尔吗？最低等级的干涉可以对他怎么样呢？ “敞开心扉吧，”女巫说，“对我敞开心扉，安东。七级干涉。守夜人巡查队的头儿是见证人：我不会越过界限。” 谢苗呻吟起来，把我的肩膀抓得生疼。 “她有这个权利，”我说，“鲍利斯·伊格纳季耶维奇……” “好吧，随你的便，”头儿轻轻回答，“我看着。” 我叹了口气，暴露在女巫面前。她也毫无办法！毫无办法！七级干涉——她永远也不能使我转到黑暗一方！这简直是很可笑的！ “安东！”女巫柔和地说，“把你想说的事告诉头儿。说出真相。老老实实、准确无误地干吧。就像你应该干的那样。” “最小的影响……”头儿重申道。如果说他的声音里有悲痛的话，那么这痛深得让我不忍听见。 “方法很多，”我说，同时看着鲍利斯·伊格纳季耶维奇，“双方都是。守日人巡查队牺牲自己的小卒，守夜人巡查队是牺牲自己，为了崇高的目的，为了把具有无限能量的魔法师吸引到自己方面来。可以牺牲年轻的、坠入爱河的吸血鬼；可以牺牲一个具有微弱超能力的小男孩；也可以让自己的同伴饱受痛苦。只要达到这个目的，一切手段都是可以使用的。两个彼此对峙了千百年的伟大魔法师挑起了目前小小的战斗。而光明魔法师在这里处于劣势……他以一切为赌注，而失败对他来说不仅是不愉快，而是进入黄昏界，永远进入黄昏界的一步。但他还是以所有的人为赌注，不论是自己人还是不相干的人。是这样吗，鲍利斯·伊格纳季耶维奇？” “是这样的。”头儿回答。 阿利莎轻轻地笑起来，然后朝清扫孔走去。她此刻顾不上飞行。小虎毫不留情地扁了她一顿。尽管这样，女巫的情绪还是很好。 我看了看谢苗——他移开了目光。小虎慢慢地恢复人形了……但她也竭力不看我的脸。大熊短促地吼了一声，没有变身，而是朝清扫孔直跺脚。他比大家都更难过。他太直率了。大熊是个优秀的战士和妥协分子的反对者…… “你们都是坏蛋，”叶戈尔说。他使劲站起来——不仅是因为疲劳，此刻头儿在给他补充能量，我看到一股在空中缓缓流动的细细的力道——一开始总是很难从自己的影子里钻出来的。 我紧跟着走了出来。这并不难，在最后一刻中有不少能量冲进了黄昏界，因此它失去了通常带有的富有侵略性的粘附力。 几乎是一瞬间我听到了令人讨厌的、轻微的响声：这是女巫从房顶上跌落到柏油人行道上。 其他人也紧跟着出现了。可爱的黑发姑娘，右眼下方有块紫血斑；稳重矮壮的男人，颧骨被摔破了；穿着东方长衫的商人……大熊已经走了。我知道，他将在自己的住宅里，即“熊穴”里干什么。喝稀释的酒精饮料和朗诵诗歌。多半是一边大声朗诵，一边看着音量调低的电视肥皂剧。 女吸血鬼也在那里。她情况很不好，嘴里不知嘟哝着什么，摇晃脑袋，想舔干净被咬断的手。这只手徒劳地试图长回到原来的胳膊上。周围一切都溅上了血——不是她的，应该是最后一个牺牲者的血…… “走吧。”我边说边举起沉重的手枪。手冷不防抖了一下。 子弹“啪啪”响起，穿过躯体，姑娘的侧身出现了裂伤。女吸血鬼呻吟起来，用一只好手按住伤口。另一只手吊在一根筋上晃来晃去。 “不要，”谢苗柔和地说，“不要，安东……” 我还是对准她的脑袋。但就在这一瞬间，天上垂直飞下一个巨大的黑影，这是一只蝙蝠，大得像一只南美的兀鹰。它张开双翅，挡住女吸血鬼，抽搐着、变化着弯曲起来。 “她有权上法院！” 我无法朝科斯佳开枪。我站着，看着我的邻居，年轻的吸血鬼。他也没有移开视线，直勾勾地凝视着。你跟着我溜进来有多久了，是朋友还是敌人？何必要救同类，阻止迈出使我变成一个死敌的那一步呢？ 我耸耸肩膀，把手枪别进腰部。你是对的，奥莉加。这所有的器械都是废物。 “是的，”头儿确认道，“谢苗、小虎，进行押解吧。” “谢苗、小虎会护送她的。”头儿肯定说。 “好，”小虎说。她完全不是出于同情，而是理解地看了看我。她用矫健的步伐朝吸血鬼们走去。 “不管怎么说，最严厉的惩罚在等待着她。”谢苗低声说了一句，并跟着走去了。 他们就这样离开了房顶：科斯佳抱着不停地发出呻吟的神志不清的女吸血鬼，而谢苗和小虎则默默地跟在他们后面。 我们三个人留下来了。 “孩子，你确实具有超能力，”头儿温柔地说，“虽然不是很大，但要知道，这已经超过大多数人了。如果你同意做我的学生，我会很高兴的……” “走你们的吧……”叶戈尔粗鲁地说。男孩撇了一下嘴，无声地哭了。他想忍住眼泪，但怎么也克制不住。 只要稍稍施加一点影响，比如七级干涉，他就会觉得比较轻松了。他也会明白，如果不用尽各种手段，光明不可能与黑暗斗…… 我朝黄昏界的天空抬起头，张开嘴，接住冷冰冰的雪花。要是变冷了就好了。永远变冷。不过不像黄昏界那样。变成冰，但不要是混浊的雾，变成雪，但不要是灰沉沉的泥泞，变成石头，但不要无痕地融化了流向四方…… “叶戈尔，我们走，我带着你。”我建议说。 “我……很近……”小男孩说。 我又站了很久，吞咽着风和雪，也没有发现他是怎么走的。我听到头儿的问话：“叶戈尔，你自己会叫醒父母吗？”——但我没有听到回答。 “安东，如果这可以安慰你的话……小男孩的生物电场和过去一样，”鲍利斯·伊格纳季耶维奇说，“没有任何……”他抱住我的肩膀，他现在个子矮小，一副可怜相，一点不像保养得很好的大企业家或者是一级魔法师，不过是一个把自己打扮得年轻一些的老头儿，在没完没了的战争中赢得了目前一场短暂的胜利。 "very nice." 我对这种情况真的感到欣慰。没有任何生物电场，会有自己的命运。 “安东，我们还有事。” “我知道。鲍利斯·伊格纳季耶维奇……” “你能把一切向斯维特兰娜解释一下吗？” “是的，大概……现在可以。” “请原谅。但我要利用我手中所有的牌……我的那些人。你是与她联系在一起的。一种平常的、神秘的、怎么也解释不清楚的关系。没人可替代你。” "I see." 雪落在我的脸上，在眉毛上结了冰，一道道地融化在脸颊上。我好像觉得，我会冻僵的，但要知道我没有权利这样。 “记住我对你说的话了吗？成为光明使者要比成为黑暗使者难得多……” “我记住了……” “你将会更艰难，安东。你会爱上她，会和她在一起生活……生活一段时间。然后斯维特兰娜会离开你继续前行。你将看着她越走越远，她的层次越来越高，超过你所能达到的……你会感到痛苦。但这是没有办法的，你的角色注定你只是在开场时出现。每一个伟大的魔法师、每一个伟大的巫师的情况都是那样。他们踩着别人的躯体，踩着朋友和恋人的躯体前行。否则就不行。” “是的，我明白，一切都明白……” “我们走吧，安东？” I am silent. “我们走吧？” “我们不会迟到吗？” “暂时不会。光明有自己的路。我领你走近路，而以后——以后你只是走你自己的路。” “那么我再站会儿。”我说。我闭上眼睛，想感受一下雪花怎么颤动地、柔软地落在眼皮上。 “要是你知道，我有多少次也这么站着就好了，”头儿说，“就这样，望着天空，祈求什么……时而祈求祝福，时而祈求诅咒。” 我没有回答，我自己也知道，我什么也等不到。 “安东，我冻僵了，”头儿说，“我很冷。像人一样——很冷。我想喝点伏特加然后钻进被窝，躺在那儿等你帮助斯维特兰娜……等奥莉加消除气旋。之后我就去休假。让伊利亚代替我，既然他已经在我的身体里呆过，然后去撒马尔罕。去过撒马尔罕吗？” "No." “要是说实话，没什么好的。特别是现在，那里没什么好的，除了回忆……但是回忆只是对我来说。你怎么样？” “我们走吧，鲍利斯·伊格纳季耶维奇。” 我擦去脸上的雪。 还有人在等着我。 这是惟一能阻止我冻死的事情。