'How do the independent Watches of Russia and, say, Lithuania, interact? Or Russia, Lithuania, the USA and Uganda? In the human world what happens is clear enough, whoever has the biggest stick and the thickest wallet calls the tune. But the Russian Watches are stronger than the American ones. I even think . . .'

'The strongest is the French Watch,' Gesar said, sounding bored. 'Strong, but extremely lazy. An amazing phenomenon. We can't understand what the reason is – it can't just be a matter of consuming massive quantities of dry wine and oysters . . .'

'The Watches are run by the Inquisition,' I said. 'It doesn't settle disputes, it doesn't punish renegades, it runs things. It gives permission for one social experiment or another, it appoints and removes the leaders . . . it transfers them from Uzbekistan to Moscow . . . There's one Inquisition, with two operational agencies. The Night Watch and the Day Watch. The Inquisition's only goal is to maintain the existing status quo, because victory for the Dark Ones or the Light Ones means defeat for the Others in general.'

'And what else, Anton?' Gesar asked.

I shrugged.

'What else? Nothing else. People get on with their little human lives and enjoy their little human joys. They feed us with their bodies . . . and provide new Others. The Others who are less ambitious live almost ordinary lives. Only their lives are more prosperous, healthier and longer than ordinary people's. Those who just can't live without excitement, who long for battles and adventures, and struggle for ideals – they join the Watches. The ones who are disillusioned with the Watches join the Inquisition.'

'And? . . .' Gesar asked, encouraging me to continue.

'What are you doing in the Night Watch, boss?' I asked. 'Aren't you sick of it yet . . . after thousands of years?'

'Let's just say that after all this time I still enjoy battles and adventures,' Gesar said.

I shook my head.

'Boris Ignatievich, I don't believe you. I've seen you when you're . . . different. Too weary. Too disillusioned.'

'Then let's assume that I'd really like to finish off Zabulon,' Gesar said calmly.

I thought for a second.

'That's not it either. In hundreds of years one of you would have finished off the other already. Zabulon said that fighting with magic is like swordplay. Well, you're not fighting with swords, you're fencing with blunt rapiers. You claim a hit, but you don't really wound your opponent.'

Gesar nodded and paused before speaking. Another dense stream of tobacco smoke joined the blue-grey cloud.

'What do you think, Anton, is it possible to live for thousands of years and still feel the same pity for people?'

'Pity?'

Gesar nodded.

'Precisely pity. Not love – it's beyond our power to love the entire world. And not admiration – we know only too well what human beings are like'

'It probably is possible to pity them,' I said. 'But what good is your pity, boss? It's pointless, barren. Others don't make the human world any better.'

'We do, Anton. No matter how bad things still are. Trust an old man who's seen a lot.'

'But even so . . .'

'I'm waiting for a miracle, Anton.'

I looked at Gesar quizzically.

'I don't know exactly what kind of miracle. For all people to acquire the abilities of Others. For all Others to become human again. For a day when the dividing line won't run between Other and human being, but between good and evil.' Gesar smiled gently. 'I have absolutely no idea how anything of the sort could ever happen, or if it ever will. But if it ever does . . . I prefer to be on the side of the Night Watch. And not the Inquisition – the mighty, ingenious, righteous, all-powerful Inquisition.'

'Maybe Zabulon's waiting for the same thing?'

Gesar nodded.

'Perhaps. I don't know. But better an old enemy you know than a young, unpredictable freak. You can call me a conservative, but I prefer rapiers with Zabulon to baseball bats with a progressive Dark Magician.'

'And what would you advise me to do?'

Gesar shrugged and spread his hands.

'What advice would I give you? Make up your own mind. You can get out and have an ordinary life. You can join the Inquisition . . . I wouldn't object if you did. Or you can stay in the Night Watch.'

'And wait?'

'And wait. Preserve the part of you that's still human. Avoid falling into ecstatic raptures and trying to impose the Light on people when they don't want it. Avoid relapsing into