is only possible between soul-mates and people who have other close connections.

'No . . . She's surprised at the question. She says the Fuaran isn't tied to any particular place. The book will work in the Himalayas or Antarctica, or in the Ivory Coast if you want it to.'

'Then . . . then find out if Witiezslav could have used it. After all, he was a vampire, a lower Other . . .'

Another pause.

'He could have. Any vampire or werewolf could. Dark Ones or Light Ones. There are no limitations. Except for one – the book couldn't have been used by a human being.'

'That's clear enough . . . Anything else?'

'Nothing, Anton. I was hoping she might be able to give us a clue . . . but I was wrong.'

'Okay. Thanks. I love you.'

'And I love you. Get some rest. I'm sure everything will be clearer in the morning . . .'

The subtle thread stretching between us snapped. I shifted around on the bunk, settling down more comfortably. Then I couldn't help myself, and I looked at the table.

The pointer of the compass was still rotating. The Fuaran was still on the train.

I woke up twice during the night. First when one of the Inquisitors came to Edgar to report that some reports or other were missing. The second when the train stopped in Tambov, and Kostya quietly left the compartment.

It was after ten when I got up.

Edgar was drinking tea. Kostya, looking pink and fresh, was chewing a salami sandwich. The pointer was rotating. No change at all.

I got dressed on the bunk and jumped down. I'd found a tiny piece of soap in the bundle of bedclothes, and that was the only personal hygiene product I had.

'Here,' Kostya muttered, moving a plastic bag over towards me. 'I picked up a few things in Tambov . . .'

The bag contained a pack of disposable razors, an aerosol can of Gillette shaving cream, a toothbrush and a tube of New Pearl toothpaste.

'I forgot the aftershave,' said Kostya. 'I didn't think of it.'

It wasn't surprising he'd forgotten – vampires and werewolves aren't too fond of strong smells. Maybe the supposed effect of garlic – which is actually quite harmless to vampires – is linked with the fact that it's smell makes it harder for them to find their prey?

'Thanks,' I said. 'How much do I owe you?'

Kostya shrugged.

'I've already given him the money,' Edgar told me. 'You're entitled to expenses too, by the way. Fifty dollars a day, plus food, on submission of receipts.'

'It's a good life in the Inquisition,' I quipped. 'Any news?'

'Gesar and Zabulon are trying to make sense of Witiezslav's remains.' He said 'remains' in a solemn, official voice. 'But it's hard to get much out of them. You know yourself – the older a vampire is, the less there is left when he dies . . .'

Kostya chewed intently on his sandwich.

'Sure,' I agreed. 'I'll go and have a wash.'

Almost everyone in the carriage was awake already, only a couple of compartments where the merrymaking had been a bit too intense were still closed. I waited in the short queue and then squeezed into the barracks-like comfort of the carriage's washroom. Warm water oozed sluggishly out of the iron tap. The sheet of polished steel that took the place of a mirror was useless, spattered all over with soap suds. As I brushed my teeth with the hard Chinese brush, I recalled my night-time conversation with Sveta.

There was something important in what she had said. Yet it had gone unrecognised by both of us.

I had to understand it.

When I got back to the compartment I was still no closer to the truth, but I did have an idea that I thought might lead somewhere. My travelling companions had already finished their breakfast and, when I closed the door, I got straight to the point.

'Edgar, I've got an idea. On a long stretch between stops your men unhitch the carriages. One by one. To make sure the train doesn't stop, one of them monitors the driver. We watch the compass. As soon as the carriage with the book is unhitched, the pointer will turn towards it.'

'And?' Edgar asked sourly.

'We get a fix on the book. We know which carriage it's in. Then we can surround that carriage and take the passengers aside with their luggage, one by one. As soon as we find the killer, the pointer will tell us. And that's it! No more need to