The Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko

only the small change, Anton. An operation like that will get you promoted, but it won't save me. The really important part is the girl with the vortex.'
    'They're already dealing with her, Olga. They've taken me . . . us off the assignment.'
    'Never mind that. They won't be able to handle it.'
    'Oh no?' I asked ironically.
    'They won't. Boris Ignatievich is a very powerful magician. But this isn't his field.' Olga half closed her eyes in a mocking smile. 'I've been dealing with Inferno eruptions all my life.'
    'So that's why it's war!' I exclaimed, catching on at last.
    'Of course. You don't get sudden eruptions of hatred like that in times of peace. That bastard Adolf. . . he had plenty of admirers, but he would have been incinerated in the very first year of war. And the whole of Germany with him. The situation with Stalin was different, adoration on a monstrous scale like that is a powerful shield. Anton, I'm a simple Russian woman . . .' – the smile that flitted across Olga's face showed what she really felt about the word 'simple' – 'and I spent all the last war shielding the enemies of my own country against curses. For that alone I deserve to be pardoned. Do you believe me?'
    'I believe you.' I got the impression she was already getting slightly drunk.
    'It's lousy work . . . we all have to go against our human nature, but that was too much . . . Anyway, Anton, they won't be able to handle it. I can at least try, though even I can't be sure I'll succeed.'
    'Olga, if this is all so serious, you should put in a report.'
    She shook her head and pushed back her wet hair.
    'I can't. I'm forbidden to associate with anyone except my partner on the assignment and Boris Ignatievich. I've told him everything. All I can do now is wait. And hope that I'll be able to deal with this – at the very last moment.'
    'But doesn't the boss understand all that?'
    'I think he understands it all very well.'
    'So that's the way . . .' I whispered.
    'We were lovers. For a very long time. And we were friends too, something you don't find so often . . . Okay, Anton. Today we solve the problem of the boy and the crazed vampire. Tomorrow we wait. We wait for the Inferno to erupt. Agreed?'
    'I have to think about it, Olga.'
    'Fine. Think. But my time's up already. Turn away.'
    I didn't have time. It was probably Olga's own fault. She'd miscalculated how much time she had left.
    It was a truly repulsive sight. Olga shook and arched over backwards. A shudd er ran through her body and the bones bent as if made of rubber. Her skin split open, revealing bleeding muscles. A moment later, and the woman had been transformed into a formless, crumpled bundle of flesh. And the ball kept shrinking, getting smaller and smaller and sprouting soft, white feathers . . .
    The owl launched itself off the stool with a cry that sounded half human, half bird, and fluttered across to her chosen place on the fridge.
    'Hell and damnation!' I exclaimed, forgetting all the rules. 'Olga!'
    'Isn't it lovely?' The woman's voice was gasping, still distorted by pain.
    'Why? Why like that?'
    'It's part of the punishment, Anton.'
    I reached out my hand and touched one outstretched, trembling wing.
    'Okay, Olga, I'm with you.'
    'Then let's get to work, Anton.'
    I nodded and went out into the hallway. I opened the cupboard where I keep my equipment and moved into the Twilight – otherwise you simply can't see anything in there except clothes and a load of old junk.
    A light body settled on my shoulder.
    'What have you got?'
    'I discharged the onyx amulet. Can you recharge it?'
    'No, I've been deprived of almost all my powers. All they left me is what's required to neutralise the Inferno. And my memory, Anton . . . they left me my memory. How are you going to kill the girl vampire?'
    'She's not registered,' I said. 'I've only got the old folk methods.'
    The owl gave a screeching laugh.
    'Are poplar stakes still popular?'
    'I don't have any.'
    'Right. Because of your