But I was up to the challenge, and I asked an even more idiotic question.
'Where to?'
'London,' said Egor.
Then suddenly, as if he had just realised how funny our conver sation was, he laughed. As nonchalantly and light-heartedly as if he held no grudges against the Night Watch, Geser, me and all the Others in the world...
A second later we were slapping each other on the shoulder and muttering nonsense like 'Well, would you believe it... ','I was thinking just recently...', 'What a surprise!' Pretty much the standard response for two guys who have been through something pretty important and rather unpleasant together, quarrelled with each other and then, after years have passed and life has changed, discovered that their memories of those times are basically pretty interesting.
But, at the same time, two guys who don't feel warmly enough about each other to embrace and shed an emotional tear at their meeting.
The passengers nearby looked round at us, but with obvious goodwill. A chance meeting of old friends in such an unexpected place as a plane always arouses sympathy in everyone who witnesses it.
'Is there some special reason why you're here?' Egor asked anyway, with a note of his old suspicion.
'Did you fall out of your tree?' I said indignantly. 'I'm on an assignment!'
'Really?' He narrowed his eyes. 'Are you still working in the same place?'
'Of course.'
'This story is told in the first part of the book The Night Watch.
Nobody was taking any notice of us any more. And we were left hovering uncertainly, not knowing what to talk about next.
'I see you still haven't been initiated,' I said awkwardly
Egor went tense for a moment, but he answered with a smile:
'Ah, damn the lot of you! Why would I bother with that... you know yourself that I'm barely even seventh level. That's pointless, whichever way I go, Light or Dark. So I just sent both sides to hell.'
I felt a sudden tightness in my chest.
Coincidences like this definitely didn't happen!
'Where are you flying to?' I repeated, making Egor burst into laughter again. He was probably regarded as the life and soul of any party - he laughed so easily and infectiously. 'No, I know you're going to London, but what for? To study? A holiday?'
'A summer holiday in London?' Egor snorted. 'Why not in Moscow? One stone jungle is the same as any other... I'm going to the festival.'
'In Edinburgh?' I asked, knowing what the answer would be.
'Yes, I graduated from the circus college.'
'What?' Now it was my turn to gape in surprise.
'I'm a conjuror.' Egor chuckled.
Well, would you believe it!
But then, it was an excellent disguise for an Other. Even for an uninitiated one ?they still have minor powers that exceed normal human abilities. They're natural stage magicians and conjurors.
'That's just great!' I said sincerely.
'It's a shame you're going to London.' Egor sighed. 'I would have got you into the show.'
And then I did something stupid. I said:
'I'm not going to London, Egor. I'm going to Edinburgh too.'
It's not often that I've seen joy disappear from a face so fast, to be replaced by unfriendliness and even contempt.
'I see. So what do you want from me this time?'
Egor, you...' I hesitated.
Could I honestly say that he had nothing to do with it?
No.
Because I didn't believe it myself.
'I see,' Egor repeated. He turned round and walked to the middle of the cabin. There was nothing left for me to do but step into the toilet and close the door behind me.
There was a smell of tobacco. Even though it was strictly forbidden, passengers who smoked still fogged up the toilets. I looked in the mirror and saw the crumpled face of a man who was short of sleep. Even though I am a lot more and a lot less than just a man ... I felt like banging my forehead against the mirror, and I did, whispering silently to myself: 'Idiot, idiot, idiot...'
I had relaxed. I had believed that I was starting a straight forward work assignment.
But how could that possibly be, when Geser himself had sent me on my way?
I splashed cold water on my face and stood there for a while, staring angrily at my own reflection. Then I took a leak, pressed the pedal to release the blue liquid disinfectant into the steel toilet bowl, washed my hands and