'I go out onstage and juggle with different-coloured fish, get it? And then they fly up into the big top and disappear. The only thing is, I haven't figured out how to do it yet... '
Poor stupid conjuror. To do that, you have to be an Other. Even an uninitiated one.
In actual fact, even without being initiated, or having made that first entry into the Twilight, an Other is capable of far more than an ordinary human being. And in Egor's case everything was far more complicated. He had entered the Twilight when he was a child. He had even broken through into the second level - although he was fed Power by someone else, since his own abilities were minimal.
But he had avoided going through with initiation, and remained what he was - an indeterminate Other who did not know how to control his abilities and had not turned either to the Light or the Dark. His Book of Fate had been rewritten, returning him to his initial condition and giving him the chance to choose again ?but he had refused to make a choice.
And he had decided that he was an ordinary human being.
Egor himself did not understand how he performed his act. He was certain that he was controlling the little balls very deftly, skil fully transferring them from one hand to the other before launching them into the air again, and then adroitly replacing them with a special kind of ribbon that was evidently weighted at several points to make it all easier.
In actual fact a trick like that is impossible.
But Egor was quite certain that he performed his act without any magic. Like a very dexterous ordinary human being.
The spectators applauded with expressions of lively, genuine delight on their faces, the kind of delight that you only see in the faces of children at the circus. For a moment the world had become magical and wonderful for them.
They didn't know that that's the way the world really is ?our world...
Egor bowed and walked round the circle quickly - not collecting money, although they were holding out notes to him, but simply looking in the eyes of the spectators.
He was drawing Power from them, feeding! Without even real ising it, he was feeding on the emotions of his spectators!
I started hastily making my way out of the crowd, but the spec tators behind me were pushing forward, there were children jumping about at my feet, and a semi-naked girl with studs in her pierced lips was breathing hotly in my ear. I was too slow, Egor had spotted me. And he stopped.
There was nothing left to do but open my arms wide.
Egor hesitated for a second, then whispered something to the girl with the tray, who was following him. He squirmed his way into the crowd. People made way for him, but they also slapped him enthusiastically on the back and made delighted comments in various languages.
'I'm sorry, I just happened to be passing,' I said guiltily. 'I wasn't expecting to see you at all.'
He looked at me for a second, then nodded.
'I believe you.'
Ah yes, he was at the peak of his Power right then. He could sense a lie intuitively.
'I'll be going,' I said. 'That was a great performance, I was fascinated.'
'Wait, I need to wet my throat,' said Egor, setting off beside me. 'I've been streaming with sweat... '
Some curious little boy grabbed hold of his sleeve. Egor politely stopped and unbuttoned his shirt to show that there was nothing in it. Then he took a light, silvery little ball out of the air and handed it to his suspicious spectator. The kid squealed in delight and dashed across to his parents, who were standing nearby.
'Really great,' I said appreciatively. 'Do you perform in Moscow? I could take my daughter to the circus.'
'No, not in Moscow,' Egor said, frowning. 'Do you know how hard it is to get into the circus back home?'
'I can guess.'
'If you're not from a circus family, if you haven't been jumping around the circus ring since you were five years old and you haven't got any contacts... And if you get an offer to perform abroad...' Egor frowned. 'To hell with them! Next year I'll be performing in a French circus, I'm just negotiating the contract, then they'll really be jealous...'
We sat down at a table outside the nearest cafe. Egor ordered a glass of juice and I asked for a double espresso. I was feeling sleepy again.