The Day Watch (55 page)

Igor was the first to say anything. “What hurts most is that he’s right about some things.”

“If you’d been told that you have to give birth to a Messiah, then I’d talk to you about what’s right or wrong,”

Svetlana replied abruptly.

“That would be rather, well… difficult for me,” Igor admitted in an embarrassed voice.

Anton was the first to smile. He looked at Svetlana and said, “Listen… I remember how indignant you were about the injustice of destiny-that generally speaking, Others only have children who are ordinary people…”

“That was just an abstract indignation…” said Svetlana, throwing her hands up in the air. “Boys, I think someone’s already been smoking in here…”

Igor handed her a cigarette without speaking.

“Why do everything like that, behind our backs,” Svetlana complained as she lit her cigarette. “And what sort of mother would I make… for a Messiah? And a female one at that!”

“Well, Messiah is just the appropriate term, that’s all,” said Igor. “Relax.”

“I’m no virgin!” Svetlana declared gloomily. “And in general… I don’t think of myself as a paragon of virtue…”

“Don’t draw irrelevant parallels.”

Strangely enough, Igor seemed to have calmed down. For real. He was sharp and focused.

“Anton, why don’t you say something!” Svetlana burst out. “Doesn’t all this concern you at all?”

“I very much hope that it concerns me directly,” replied Anton. “And I think we ought to go out now and join Gesar. It’s tough on him sitting out there and waiting.”

“He already knows everything… in advance…” Svetlana said and turned away.

“No. He doesn’t. If we’re really not pawns, he doesn’t know.”

There was the soft sound of guitar strings. Igor was leaning against the wall, holding the instrument. He began singing so softly that Svetlana and Anton both had to stop talking.

The devils ask me to serve,

But I serve no one.

Even myself, even you,

Even the one who has power.

If he is still alive,

I do not serve even him.

I have stolen just enough fire

Not to need to steal any more…

Igor held the guitar out and gently lowered it into an armchair. People put their instrument down like that when they’re sure they’ll be back soon.

“Shall we go then?”

Edgar was the first Dark One to enter the Tribunal’s meeting hall. That was the procedure. He entered through one door at the same time as Anton came in through the door opposite. They bowed their heads to each other in a polite greeting. Edgar did not feel any particular resentment for the Light One and he expected the feeling to be mutual to some extent.

Yes, compared to the small, neglected room in Moscow University, this hall certainly made an impression. This was Europe, after all.

Stone vaulting-heavy and oppressive, but at the same time giving a sense of security and calm. A simple metal chandelier, but with about two hundred candles, and Edgar could have sworn the candles had been burning for more than one century already. They said the Berne department of the Inquisition was located in an ultramodern building, but the Prague department was in a truly ancient one.

Edgar liked the old style better.

The round hall was divided into two parts: One was faced with light marble, the other with dark. There was something at once naive and exalted in this simple visual representation of the two Powers. The little desks for the prosecutors stood at the center, beside a circular metal grille covering a dark hole in the floor.

A wedge of gray marble reached almost to the very center of the hall. That was the Inquisitors’ area, and they, of course, were already in their seats. Seven of them. In principle the Inquisition was not regarded as a power equal to the two Watches, but Edgar knew that those seven included two Great Ones-one Dark and one Light. If it wished, the European office could probably fight Gesar and Zabulon on equal terms.

That was good to know.

Anton was followed in by three Light Ones from Moscow. Gesar… well, of course, where would they be without Gesar! Svetlana… that was natural too. And that Uzbeki, Gesar’s secretary or personal assistant.

The Dark Ones were already walking along the corridor behind Edgar. Zabulon… Sensing the approach of his chief, Edgar involuntarily looked round-and received a friendly nod from the head of Moscow’s Dark Ones. Well, well… smile, you Judas … you’re even worse than Judas: He betrayed his teacher, but you’re betraying your disciple!

But then another two Dark Ones followed Zabulon into the hall. Edgar had been prepared to see Anna Lemesheva, but not Yury, who winked mockingly at him. The same Yury who had given Edgar the timely warning about Zabulon’s underhand schemes-he hadn’t been prepared for that!

Edgar forced himself to turn away from his colleagues and look straight ahead.

Igor was brought in last. Two rank-and-file Inquisitors walked in beside him and accompanied him to the circular grille, three meters across, in the center of the hall.

There was no special magic in that circle, or at least Edgar couldn’t sense any. And the mechanism that had once been used to invert the grille and plunge the accused into a deep well shaft looked as if it had rusted up long ago and was no longer used. But even so it didn’t look as if standing on that circle was pleasant.

However, Igor paid no attention to that and stood in the center of the circle with his arms crossed on his chest.

“In the name of the Treaty…”

One Inquisitor came forward from the group. The only one who was not wearing gray robes. Witezslav, the Higher Vampire.

“We are Others. We serve different Powers…”

Edgar mechanically repeated the words of the Treaty, trying to work out what Witezslav would start with. And how he could extricate himself from this mess now.

“Today the European Tribunal of the Inquisition has to consider a claim brought by the Night Watch of the city of Moscow, Russia, against the Day Watch of the city of Moscow, Russia,” the vampire announced after the reading of the Treaty. “A counterclaim by the Day Watch of Moscow against the Night Watch of Moscow forms part of the proceedings. Its subject is the duel between the Light magician Igor Teplov, and the Dark witch Alisa Donnikova…”

There were no surprises so far… Edgar felt himself clutching the dark, cool wooden top of his desk and made an effort of will to calm himself down. After all, he was an experienced lawyer. And how were legal proceedings between people any different from legal proceeding between Others?

Except, of course for the nature of the sentence…

“However, the sequence of proceedings will be changed somewhat,” said Witezslav. “The Tribunal is also obliged to resolve another two matters connected with the main claim. The first concerns a sect of Dark Ones who call themselves the Regin Brothers, who are guilty of attacking the Inquisition’s vault and stealing the artifact known as Fafnir’s Talon, smuggling it into Russia, and resisting the Night Watch of Moscow. Bring in the accused.”

Another two young Inquisitors led in the four Finns. Faint smiles appeared on the faces of all the Others present-after all, it was impossible to imagine a more ludicrous-looking quartet.

“There is probably no need to recite the circumstances of the incident,” said the vampire. “Everyone present is familiar with the materials collected by the Inquisition on this case. The Inquisition’s job is to pronounce judgment. Just, impartial, and strict.”

It was clear from the expressions on the faces of the four accused that they were not anticipating leniency.

“The punishment for a crime as grave as attacking employees of the Inquisition and stealing a highly dangerous artifact from the vault is unconditional-dematerialization,” the vampire declared. He paused and then added something that made the Finns lift up their heads: “But… But the accused did not participate directly in the incident in Berne. As the materials of the case make clear, the leaders of the sect, who unfortunately were killed while being detained, made the four young magicians act as couriers. Therefore, the Inquisition qualifies their actions only as smuggling and resisting the Night Watch of

Moscow. There are also extenuating circumstances: profound and sincere remorse, assistance rendered to the investigation after detention, the youth of the accused, and the absence of any previous offenses. If the Night Watch of Moscow can adduce any further extenuating circumstances and will withdraw the personal accusations against the Dark magicians, the Inquisition has the right to mitigate its sentence.”

Gesar stood up to speak for the Light Ones. He spread his hands in a broad gesture. “The Night Watch of Moscow has no… personal charges to bring against the accused. In addition, we believe that the leadership of the sect of the Regin Brothers was provoked into committing its crime by a certain… a certain unidentified Dark magician.”

“That has not been proved,” said Witezslav.

“Only the identity of the provocateur has not been established,” Gesar said with a smile. “The fact of his existence is in no doubt.”

Witezslav nodded and turned to face his six colleagues. For a few moments the Inquisitors shared their thoughts with each other without speaking. Then Witezslav looked back to the four motionless Finns. “In the name of the Treaty, bearing in mind the clement attitude of the Night Watch, the absence of any grave consequences, and the other extenuating circumstances, the Inquisition offers you the right to choose your punishment. The first option-you are condemned to death by hanging but your civil rights will not be affected…”

The large young black man sighed heavily and the Chinese and the Finn grabbed his elbows and held him up.

“The second possible punishment is that from this day until the end of your lives you will be forbidden to use magic. You will have the right to live ordinary human lives, without using magical means to prolong or improve the

quality of those lives.”

The Finns looked at the Inquisitor, stunned. Zabulon giggled shrilly, but immediately assumed a serious expression.

“The second… the second!” Yukha Mustajoki said in a choking voice. The others nodded.

“Does anyone present have any objections?” Witezslav asked.

Gesar got to his feet again. “As a small gesture of goodwill… we consider it possible to permit the accused to use magic… minor magic… with inanimate objects.” It seemed as if Gesar had to struggle to pronounce every word, that he was forcing himself to show mercy. “Say, to find some… small item… that’s been lost… a key or a coin… To drive the flies out of a room… according to the regulations, flies are regarded as inanimate, are they not? To clean the carburetor in a car…”

The vampire’s face expressed faint surprise.

He doesn’t understand, Edgar thought.

“The Inquisition has no objections…” the vampire said eventually. “Apply the seals to the accused!”

Two Inquisitors raised their right hands, and fine threads of glimmering energy streamed through the air toward the accused. The seals were applied permanently, leaving the condemned prisoners capable of only the very weakest forms of magic. Probably the Inquisitors really hadn’t understood that Gesar’s unexpected kindness had only made the punishment worse. It was one thing to be completely deprived of all magic and gradually come to terms with life as a human being. It was quite different to feel every day that you were a helpless cripple who had to manage with a pale shadow of your former abilities.

But then, the Finns hadn’t thought about that yet. They were led out of the hall, absolutely crazy with happiness.

Yukha kept trying to break away and shake everybody’s hand, but the vigilant guards forced him to walk out simply by nudging and shoving him.

Edgar shook his head. He actually felt quite glad that the Dark Brothers had been saved. But what a price to pay… He would probably have preferred a quick death.

“The next matter for this hearing to consider has not been announced in advance,” said Witezslav. “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.” Witezslav 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, Witezslav,” Gesar said in a soft voice. “Or I shall take offense.”

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 Tribunal.”

You were expecting them, thought Edgar. You were expecting everything, you cunning old schemer…

“An intervention of that kind is impossible in principle. Even for me,” Gesar declared modestly.

Witezslav 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 happily. “This is a 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 artifact 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 Darkness. It is fairly simple to introduce trifling changes in the destiny of an ordinary human being. It is rather more difficult to make even insignificant changes in 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 Darkness. 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?”