Just for one moment Igor Teplov, already transformed into an almost insubstantial shadow, turned to glance at his comrades. With a glance that looked guilty. But otherwise, he looked only at Alisa.
Then he disappeared.
The Twilight closed up. The air in the hall was icy; white, bristling hoarfrost clung to the walls like a shroud of mourning. The triumphant smile slowly returned to Zabulon’s face. Gesar gazed at the empty circular grille with a weary, sad expression.
‘Well?’ Zabulon cried. ‘Well? You see? Now where’s your mentor? Where is he, the only one who was capable of educating the Messiah of the Light?’
He laughed and patted Lemesheva’s head – she was standing on her knees in front of him. Then he turned to the Inquisition and said:
‘Yes, it was a Day Watch operation. Within the limits of the Treaty. The exchange of two equal pieces – Alisa Donnikova for Igor Teplov. Do you have any more charges to bring against us?’
‘The Inquisition has no charges to bring against you,’ the vampire said slowly. He rubbed his face with his hand. ‘In view of all the circumstances, the Inquisition will consider the question of the early restoration of Svetlana Nazarova’s power. But that … will be later. Everyone … everyone may leave the hall.’
Svetlana was the first to rise from her seat. She walked up to Zabulon and stood for a second, looking into his face. Edgar suddenly realised with a sinking heart that the enchantress was going to strike the magician.
But all she did was say something to him. Then she turned away and walked out abruptly.
Edgar’s legs felt stiff and awkward as he left his desk. He almost bumped into Gesar, who was musing sadly engrossed in his own thoughts. Anton immediately came up to Gesar, pushing Edgar aside. He exclaimed:
‘So what does this mean – Svetlana’s daughter can be an Other, but not grow up to be the Messiah of the Light?’
Gesar nodded.
‘Why?’ Anton asked stupidly. ‘Surely Svetlana herself …’
‘Being a Great Enchantress and raising a Great Enchantress are two quite different things,’ Gesar said wearily. ‘Alas. I … so far I can’t see anyone else to match Igor. I … I didn’t know how much he loved that witch! I would have looked for some other way.’
‘Whose daughter will it be?’ Anton suddenly asked. ‘Svetlana’s and …’
‘Whose? If you stop standing there like a fool, gawping at an old idiot, and go after your wife – it will be yours!’
Anton gave a feeble nod. And dashed out of the hall. Edgar also wanted to ask Gesar a couple of questions, but he caught the Light One’s glance and decided not to risk it. He turned away and stepped onto the narrow grey Inquisitors’ wedge that jutted out between the black and white halves of the hall.
The Inquisitors were already pulling off their robes. One of them casually tossed his into Witiezslav’s arms, opened a portal and disappeared. The others left the more usual way through the door.
The vampire looked at Edgar and asked:
‘Want to try it on?’
‘I’m not sure the cut will suit me,’ Edgar replied quietly.
‘Who knows? But it’s worth a try. Or are you intending to go back to Moscow?’
Edgar carefully took the crumpled grey material out of the vampire’s hands. He asked awkwardly:
‘I beg your pardon … but what was it that Svetlana said to Zabulon?’
‘An Inquisitor has to have good hearing.’ A crooked grin appeared on the vampire’s face. ‘Almost nothing at all. I’d call it a curse, but the Light Ones don’t even know how to curse properly. She said: “May no one ever love you.”’
Edgar nodded. He shrugged and said:
‘He doesn’t need anyone to, anyway.’
This book includes excerpts from songs by Vladimir Vysotsky, Yury Burkin, Kipelov, and the bands Aria, Voskresenie and Nautilus Pompilius.
Moscow – Nikolaev – Lazurnoe
June – October 1999
Copyright
Copyright © 1998, 2004 Sergei Lukyanenko and Vladimir Vassilyev
This English translation copyright © 2007 Andrew Bromfield
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
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Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication has been applied for
THE DAY WATCH
Seal Books/published by arrangement with Doubleday Canada
Doubleday Canada edition published 2007
Seal Books edition published January 2009
eISBN: 978-0-307-37367-0
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