But then, the Finns hadn’t thought about that yet. They were led out of the hall, beside themselves with joy. Yukha kept trying to break away and start shaking everybody by the hand, but the vigilant guards forced him to walk out by nudging and shoving him.
Edgar shook his head. He actually felt quite glad that the Dark Brothers had been spared. But what a price to pay. He would probably have preferred a quick death.
‘The next matter this hearing needs to consider has not been announced in advance,’ said Witiezslav. ‘The Inquisition requests the leader of the Night Watch of Moscow, known under the name of Gesar, to step into the circle of the accused.’
Zabulon smiled in triumph.
‘And also the leader of the Day Watch of Moscow, known under the name of Zabulon.’
Edgar was delighted by Zabulon’s slightly perplexed expression. But just how genuine was it?
‘The Inquisition’s first question is for the Great Magician Gesar.’ Witiezslav was speaking politely now, but very firmly ‘Gesar, have you carried out interventions in the Book of Destiny of the Great Enchantress Svetlana Nazarova, here present, with the intention of compelling the said Great Enchantress to become the mother of a Light Messiah?’
The hall fell silent.
‘Rephrase your question, Witiezslav,’ Gesar said in a soft voice. ‘Or I shall take offence.’
The vampire bared his teeth in a smile.
‘Answer the substance of the point, Great Magician Gesar.’
‘Very well,’ said Gesar with a nod. ‘I was not expecting these accusations, but … I will explain for the benefit of the Tribunal.’
‘You were expecting them,’ thought Edgar. ‘You were expecting everything, you cunning old intriguer.’
‘An intervention of that kind is impossible in principle. Even for me,’ Gesar declared modestly.
Witiezslav seemed confused by that.
‘But, Great Magician Gesar, Svetlana Nazarova’s Book of Destiny—’
‘Shows that she will become the mother of the greatest of all Light Enchantresses; in poetical terms, a Light Messiah.’ Gesar smiled contentedly. ‘This is a matter of great joy for the Night Watch of Moscow … and, indeed, for all Light Ones. But the respected Inquisition must understand that such things cannot be written into a Book of Destiny. Absolutely not. There is no way. Not even by using a certain artefact familiar to you, which belongs by right to the Night Watch.’
‘But interventions were made in Svetlana Nazarova’s Book of Destiny?’ the vampire continued to insist.
‘Yes,’ Gesar said and nodded. ‘As everybody, or almost everybody, knows, it is possible to make a new entry in a Book of Destiny, but it has a direct effect on the balance between Light and Dark. It is fairly simple to introduce trifling changes to the destiny of an ordinary human being. It is rather more difficult to make even insignificant changes to the destiny of an Other. And the more powerful that Other is, and the more serious the change, the greater the disturbance suffered by the Light and the Dark. Respected members of the Tribunal, can you calculate the consequences that would ensue from introducing into a Great Enchantress’s Book of Destiny an entry that would make her the mother of a messiah?’
No one replied.
‘Any one of us … all the Others taken together, would be dematerialised if that kind of meddling were to be attempted. We’d be reduced to dust. The world would collapse. And you accuse me of committing such an act!’
‘Light Magician Gesar, what changes were entered into Svetlana Nazarova’s Book of Destiny?’
Gesar shrugged.
‘Nothing but trivial details! I am obliged to be concerned for my colleagues’ well-being, am I not? A trip to some Italian resort or other, a course of lessons in a driving school … and something else. I can present a detailed list, if you wish. There was nothing serious. Just the little pleasures of human life.’
Witiezslav thought for a moment and asked:
‘Where were the new entries made? Before or after the entry about the birth of the greatest of all Light Enchantresses?’
‘I think, before,’ Gesar said with a smile.
‘And in that way, you adjusted the time of the event.’ Witiezslav was not asking a question, he was thinking out loud. ‘You maximised the probability that Svetlana’s future daughter would be a Messiah of the Light.’
‘Possibly,’ Gesar agreed. ‘But what of that? All I did was to improve the daily life of one of my colleagues.’
‘And could you not have used other methods to improve Svetlana Nazarova’s living conditions? Free holidays, bonuses, friendly advice?’
Gesar looked genuinely offended now.
‘I made use of what came to hand. The Inquisition has a right to be surprised if I hammer in nails with a microscope. But you cannot possibly charge me with that.’
The Inquisitors exchanged glances. This time the silent consultation lasted for almost a minute. Edgar felt a trickle of cold sweat running down his back. It would really cause a commotion if the Inquisition accused Gesar. The dematerialisation of a Great Magician was not such a simple proposition as dealing with the four Finns.
‘Not cognisable,’ Witiezslav said eventually. ‘Great Magician Gesar, having heard your explanations, the Inquisition accepts that you have not violated the letter of the Treaty—’
‘The letter or the spirit!’ Gesar corrected him sharply.
‘The letter or the spirit,’ the vampire agreed in a voice that betrayed his frustration. ‘However, your actions are still considered to be dubious and dangerous.’
‘No more so than the attempt by the Day Watch of Moscow to eliminate Svetlana Nazarova shortly before her initiation,’ Gesar snapped. ‘Do you have any more questions for me?’
‘No,’ said Witiezslav. ‘You may return to your seat.’
Throughout the questioning, Zabulon had stood modestly on the very edge of the circular grille. He didn’t seem upset that no charges had been brought against Gesar. And that made Edgar feel uneasy.
‘Dark Magician Zabulon, the Inquisition also has some questions for you,’ said Witiezslav. ‘Was the attack by the sect of the Regin Brothers provoked by you?’
‘No one is obliged to testify against himself,’ Zabulon said dully.
‘Is that a confession?’ the vampire asked in a lively tone.
‘No, it is a reminder of the law. You have no right to ask such a question. Therefore I shall not answer it.’
‘Very well. Your objection is accepted. Great Magician Zabulon, have you been planning, in order to oppose the future Messiah of the Light, to resurrect the Great Magician Fáfnir, who was consigned to the Twilight and dematerialised more than a thousand years ago?’
Zabulon began blinking rapidly and exclaimed in an astonished voice:
‘Where did get you a nonsensical idea like that?’
‘Did you act to prevent the initiation of Svetlana Nazarova and carry out other actions directed against her?’
‘Yes, within the limits permitted by the Treaty,’ Zabulon replied briskly.
‘And Fáfnir?’
‘What about Fáfnir?’ said Zabulon. He looked at Edgar and winked.
‘Why did you send to Prague a certain member of the Day Watch, ideally suited for participation in the rematerialisation of Fáfnir?’
‘I have no idea what you’re talking about.’
‘Did you plan to exploit the following parallels: Fáfnir as the Antichrist, the four Regin Brothers as the four horses of the Apocalypse?’
Zabulon burst into laughter. He laughed and wheezed happily for a long time, the way someone might laugh if they pulled off a risky but very amusing hoax. Then he wiped away the tears that had sprung to his eyes and said in a calmer voice: