But Semyon was not inclined to try any experiments. He drove forward very smoothly. Zabulon stepped aside and waited until we'd halted between a dirty Zhiguli and an old Nissan. Then he opened a door and got into the back seat.
It was no surprise that the door's locking device didn't work.
'Evening, watchmen,' said the Higher Dark Magician.
Semyon and I exchanged glances. Then we looked at the back seat again.
'Almost night,' I said. Semyon might have a thousand times more experience than me, but as the one with the greater Power I would have to do the talking.
'Yes, night,' Zabulon agreed. 'Your time. Off to Edinburgh?'
To London.'
'And then to Edinburgh, to investigate the case of Victor Prokhorov.'
There was no point in lying. Lying never helps anyway.
'Yes, of course,' I said. 'Do you object, Dark One?'
'I'm all in favour,' Zabulon replied. 'I'm almost always in favour, strangely enough.'
He was wearing a suit and a tie, only the tie knot was lowered slightly and the top button of his shirt was unfastened. He looked just like a man who was in business, or who worked for the state. But the mistakes in that assumption started with the word 'man'.
Then what do you want?' I asked.
'I want to wish you a pleasant journey,' Zabulon replied coolly. 'And success in investigating the murder.'
'Why are you so interested?' I asked after an awkward pause.
'Leonid Prokhorov, the father of the deceased, was identified as an Other twenty years ago. A powerful Dark Other. Unfortunately,' Zabulon said with a sigh, 'he did not wish to undergo initiation. He remained a human being. But he maintained good relations with us and sometimes helped us in small matters. It's just not acceptable when your friends son is killed by some petty bloodsucker in a raving fit. Find him, Anton, and roast him on a slow fire.'
Semyon had not been present at my conversation with Geser. But, to judge from the puzzled way he was scratching his clean shaven chin, he knew something about Leonid Prokhorov.
'I intend to do that anyway,' I said cautiously. 'You have nothing to worry about there, Great Dark One.'
'But what if you need some help?' Zabulon asked, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. 'You never know who you might run up against. Take this...'
An amulet appeared in Zabulon's hand. It was a figure carved in bone, a snarling wolf. The little figure had a distinct aura of Power.
'This is contact, help, advice. All together.' Zabulon leaned over the back of the seat and breathed hotly into my ear: 'Take it... watchman. You'll say thank you to me.'
'I won't say that.'
'Take it anyway'
I shook my head.
Zabulon sighed.
'Very well, let us have the foolish theatrical effects ... I, Zabulon, do swear by the Dark that in presenting my amulet to Light Magician Anton Gorodetsky I do not entertain any evil intent and do not intend to harm his health, soul or mind, nor do I demand anything in exchange. If Anton Gorodetsky accepts my help, this does not impose any obligations on him, the Power of Light or the Night Watch. In gratitude for his accepting this help, I grant permission for the Night Watch of Moscow to make three interventions using Light Magic up to the third level of Power inclusive. I do not demand and shall not demand any gratitude in response. May the Dark be my witness!'
A small dark sphere like a miniature black hole appeared, spin ning on his palm beside the carved figure. A direct confirmation of his oath by the Primordial Power.
'Even so, I don't think I would? Semyon began.
At that moment the cellphone in my pocket rang and switched Itself into loudspeaker mode. I never used its multitude of various functions: speaker phone, organiser, games, built-in camera, calculator, radio. I only used the built-in music player. But this time the conference-call function came in handy...
'Take it,' said Geser. 'He's not lying about this. We'll work out what he is lying about later.'
The connection broke off.
Zabulon laughed and carried on holding out the carved figure. I raked it off the Dark Magician's hand without saying a word and put it in my pocket. I didn't have to swear any oaths.
'Well then, good luck,' Zabulon continued. 'Ah, yes! If it's not too much trouble, bring me a little magnet from Edinburgh for the refrigerator.'