'Because, my dear boy, in this arena it's still possible to achieve something. The potential of Europe and North America has already been exhausted. Everything that was possible has already been tried there. There are a few things being developed right now. But all those countries are already half asleep. A healthy pensioner in shorts with a video camera – that's the prosperity of the West. We need to experiment with the young ones. Russia, Asia, the Arab world – these are where present-day battles are fought. And don't look so offended, I love my country as much as you do! I've spilled more blood for it than you have flowing in your veins. What you've got to understand, Antosha, is that the battlefield is the entire world. You know that as well as I do.'
'Our war's with the Dark, not with humans!'
'Yes, with the Dark. But we can only win by creating an ideal society. A world that will be ruled by goodness, love and justice. The Watches don't exist to capture psychopathic magicians on the streets and issue licences to vampires! All those little things take up time and energy, but they're by-products, like the heat from a light bulb. Light bulbs are meant to produce light, not heat. We have to change the human world, not just neutralise the Dark's minor outbursts. That's the goal. That's the path to victory!'
'Olga, I understand that.'
'Wonderful. Then you have to understand something that's never said in so many words. We've been fighting for thousands of years. And all that time we've been trying to change the course of history. To create a new world.'
'A brave new world.'
'Don't be so ironic. We have achieved something, after all. Through all the blood and suffering the world is becoming a more humane place. But we need a real, genuine revolution.'
'Communism was our idea, then?'
'No, not ours, but we supported it. It seemed quite attractive.'
'So now what?'
'You'll see.' Olga smiled. A friendly, sincere smile. 'Anton, everything will be fine. Trust me.'
'I need to know.'
'No. That's exactly what you don't need. And you don't need to worry, we're not planning any revolutions. No prison camps, execution squads or military tribunals. We're not going to repeat our old mistakes.'
'We're going to make new ones instead.'
'Anton!' she said, raising her voice. 'Think about it, will you, what are you doing? We have a really good chance of winning. Our country has a chance to live in peace, to flourish. It could become the vanguard of humanity. Defeat the Dark. It's been twelve years in the making, Anton. And it's not just Gesar's project, the whole senior level's been working on it.'
'What?'
'Yes. Did you think it was all being done on the spur of the moment?'
'You were keeping tabs on Svetlana for twelve years?'
'Of course not! A new social model has been developed. Various elements of the plan have already been put into action. Not even I know all the details. Since then Gesar's been waiting for the key players in the plan to come together, in space and time.'
'Who exactly? Svetlana and the Inquisitor?'
The pupils of her eyes contracted, and I knew I'd guessed it. Or part of it.
'And what else? What part am I supposed to play in all this?'
'You'll find out when the time comes.'
'Olga, so far magical intervention in human life has never led to anything good.'
'Don't come up with those old schoolroom axioms,' she said, getting really worked up now. 'Don't think you're any wiser than anyone else. We've no intention of using magic. Calm down, relax.'
I nodded.
'Okay. You've explained your position. I don't agree with it.'
'Officially?'
'No. In a private capacity. And as a private individual I believe I have the right of opposition.'
'Opposition? To Gesar?' Olga's eyes opened wide and the corners of her lips curved up in a smile. 'Anton!'
I turned on my heel and went out.
Yes, it was laughable.
Yes, it was absurd.
It wasn't just a crazy project dreamed up by Gesar and Olga. It wasn't just an attempt to repeat a failed experiment. It was a meticulously prepared operation, planned over a long period, and it had been my bad luck to get caught up in it.
An operation approved at the highest level.
Approved by the Light.
Why was I getting so involved? I had no right to be. None at all. And I had absolutely no chance either. I could console myself with the wise parable about the grain of sand that stopped the clock, but right now I was a grain of sand caught between mill wheels.
And the saddest thing of all was that these were the mill wheels of my own side. Nobody would persecute me. Nobody would fight me. They'd simply stop me doing all those stupid things that wouldn't do any good in any case.
Then why did I feel this pain, this unendurable pain in my chest?
I was standing on the terrace, clenching my fists in impotent fury, when I felt a hand on my shoulder.
'Looks like you've managed to figure something out, Anton.'
I glanced at Semyon and nodded.
'Hard to take?'
'Yes,' I admitted.
'Then just remember one thing. You're not just a grain of sand. Nobody's just a grain of sand. Especially if he's an Other.'
'How long do you have to live to be able to guess what someone else is thinking like that?'