ead¡¡shaking¡¡slightly¡£¡¡Somebody¡¡lurked¡¡in¡¡the¡¡shade¡¡beneath¡¡its¡¡laden¡¡branches£»¡¡their¡¡smallest¡¡movement¡¡caused¡¡a¡¡new¡¡cascade¡£¡¡His¡¡entranced¡¡reason¡¡made¡¡one¡¡final¡¡snatch¡¡at¡¡the¡¡reality¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hotel£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡reached¡¡to¡¡touch¡¡the¡¡door¡¡of¡¡the¡¡suite£»¡¡but¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡missed¡¡it¡¡in¡¡the¡¡darkness¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡time¡¡to¡¡look¡¡again¡£¡¡The¡¡obscured¡¡watcher¡¡was¡¡emerging¡¡from¡¡the¡¡cover¡¡of¡¡the¡¡branches¡£¡¡D¨¦j¨¤¡¡vu¡¡suffused¡¡Whitehead£»¡¡except¡¡that¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time¡¡he'd¡¡been¡¡here¡¡there¡¡had¡¡only¡¡been¡¡a¡¡glimpse¡¡of¡¡the¡¡man¡¡beneath¡¡the¡¡tree¡£¡¡This¡¡time¡¡the¡¡reluctant¡¡sentinel¡¡broke¡¡cover¡£¡¡Smiling¡¡a¡¡wele£»¡¡Lieutenant¡¡Konstantin¡¡Vasiliev¡¡showed¡¡his¡¡burned¡¡face¡¡to¡¡the¡¡man¡¡who'd¡¡e¡¡visiting¡¡from¡¡the¡¡future¡£¡¡Tonight¡¡the¡¡lieutenant¡¡would¡¡not¡¡shamble¡¡off¡¡for¡¡a¡¡rendezvous¡¡with¡¡a¡¡dead¡¡woman£»¡¡tonight¡¡he¡¡would¡¡embrace¡¡the¡¡thief£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡grown¡¡furrowed¡¡and¡¡bearded£»¡¡but¡¡whose¡¡presence¡¡here¡¡he'd¡¡awaited¡¡a¡¡lifetime¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨We¡¡thought¡¡you'd¡¡never¡¡e£»¡¨¡¡Vasiliev¡¡said¡£¡¡He¡¡pushed¡¡a¡¡branch¡¡aside¡¡and¡¡stepped¡¡fully¡¡into¡¡the¡¡dead¡¡light¡¡of¡¡this¡¡fantastical¡¡night¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡proud¡¡to¡¡show¡¡himself£»¡¡though¡¡his¡¡hair¡¡was¡¡entirely¡¡burned¡¡off£»¡¡his¡¡face¡¡black¡¡and¡¡red£»¡¡his¡¡body¡¡full¡¡of¡¡holes¡£¡¡His¡¡trousers¡¡were¡¡open£»¡¡his¡¡member¡¡erect¡£¡¡Perhaps£»¡¡later£»¡¡they¡¡would¡¡go¡¡to¡¡his¡¡mistress¡¡together£»¡¡he¡¡and¡¡the¡¡thief¡£¡¡Drink¡¡vodka¡¡like¡¡old¡¡friends¡£¡¡He¡¡grinned¡¡at¡¡Whitehead¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡told¡¡them¡¡you'd¡¡e¡¡eventually¡£¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡you¡¡would¡£¡¡To¡¡see¡¡us¡¡again¡£¡¨¡¡Whitehead¡¡raised¡¡the¡¡gun¡¡he¡¡still¡¡had¡¡in¡¡his¡¡hand£»¡¡and¡¡fired¡¡at¡¡the¡¡lieutenant¡£¡¡The¡¡illusion¡¡was¡¡not¡¡interrupted¡¡by¡¡this¡¡violence£»¡¡however£»¡¡merely¡¡reinforced¡£¡¡Shouts¡in¡¡Russian¡echoed¡¡from¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡square¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨Now¡¡look¡¡what¡¡you've¡¡done£»¡¨¡¡Vasiliev¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨Now¡¡the¡¡soldiers¡¡will¡¡e¡£¡¨¡¡The¡¡thief¡¡recognized¡¡his¡¡error¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡never¡¡used¡¡a¡¡gun¡¡after¡¡a¡¡curfew£º¡¡it¡¡was¡¡an¡¡invitation¡¡to¡¡arrest¡£¡¡He¡¡heard¡¡booted¡¡feet¡¡running£»¡¡close¡¡by¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨We¡¡must¡¡hurry£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡lieutenant¡¡insisted£»¡¡casually¡¡spitting¡¡out¡¡the¡¡bullet£»¡¡which¡¡he¡¡had¡¡caught¡¡between¡¡his¡¡teeth¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨I'm¡¡not¡¡going¡¡with¡¡you£»¡¨¡¡Whitehead¡¡said¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡we've¡¡waited¡¡so¡¡long£»¡¨¡¡Vasiliev¡¡replied£»¡¡and¡¡shook¡¡the¡¡branch¡¡to¡¡cue¡¡the¡¡next¡¡act¡£¡¡The¡¡tree¡¡raised¡¡its¡¡limbs¡¡like¡¡a¡¡bride£»¡¡shrugging¡¡off¡¡its¡¡trousseau¡¡of¡¡blossom¡£¡¡Within¡¡moments¡¡the¡¡air¡¡was¡¡thick¡¡with¡¡a¡¡blizzard¡¡of¡¡petals¡£¡¡As¡¡they¡¡settled£»¡¡spilling¡¡their¡¡radiance¡¡onto¡¡the¡¡ground£»¡¡the¡¡thief¡¡began¡¡to¡¡pick¡¡out¡¡the¡¡familiar¡¡faces¡¡that¡¡waited¡¡beneath¡¡the¡¡branches¡£¡¡People¡¡who£»¡¡down¡¡the¡¡years£»¡¡had¡¡e¡¡to¡¡this¡¡wasteland£»¡¡to¡¡this¡¡tree£»¡¡and¡¡gathered¡¡under¡¡it¡¡with¡¡Vasiliev£»¡¡to¡¡rot¡¡and¡¡weep¡£¡¡Evangeline¡¡was¡¡among¡¡them£»¡¡the¡¡wounds¡¡that¡¡had¡¡been¡¡so¡¡tastefully¡¡concealed¡¡as¡¡she'd¡¡lain¡¡in¡¡her¡¡coffin¡¡now¡¡freely¡¡displayed¡£¡¡She¡¡did¡¡not¡¡smile£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡stretched¡¡her¡¡arms¡¡out¡¡to¡¡embrace¡¡him£»¡¡her¡¡mouth¡¡forming¡¡his¡¡name¡¡¨Jojo¡¨¡as¡¡she¡¡stepped¡¡forward¡£¡¡Bill¡¡Toy¡¡was¡¡behind¡¡her£»¡¡in¡¡evening¡¡dress£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Academy¡£¡¡His¡¡ears¡¡bled¡£¡¡Beside¡¡him£»¡¡her¡¡face¡¡opened¡¡from¡¡lip¡¡to¡¡brow£»¡¡was¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡in¡¡a¡¡nightgown¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡others¡¡too£»¡¡some¡¡of¡¡whom¡¡he¡¡recognized£»¡¡many¡¡of¡¡whom¡¡he¡¡didn't¡£¡¡The¡¡woman¡¡who'd¡¡led¡¡him¡¡to¡¡the¡¡card¡player¡¡was¡¡there£»¡¡bare¡breasted£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡remembered¡¡her¡£¡¡Her¡¡smile¡¡was¡¡as¡¡distressing¡¡as¡¡ever¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡soldiers¡¡too£»¡¡others¡¡who'd¡¡lost¡¡to¡¡Mamoulian¡¡like¡¡Vasiliev¡£¡¡One¡¡wore¡¡a¡¡skirt¡¡in¡¡addition¡¡to¡¡his¡¡bullet¡¡holes¡£¡¡From¡¡under¡¡its¡¡folds¡¡a¡¡snout¡¡appeared¡£¡¡Saul¡his¡¡carcass¡¡ravaged¡sniffed¡¡his¡¡old¡¡master£»¡¡and¡¡growled¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨See¡¡how¡¡long¡¡we've¡¡waited£¿¡¨¡¡Vasiliev¡¡said¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡lost¡¡faces¡¡were¡¡all¡¡looking¡¡at¡¡Whitehead£»¡¡their¡¡mouths¡¡open¡£¡¡No¡¡sound¡¡emerged¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡can't¡¡help¡¡you¡£¡¨¡¡¡¨We¡¡want¡¡to¡¡cease£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡lieutenant¡¡said¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨Go£»¡¡then¡£¡¨¡¡¡¨Not¡¡without¡¡you¡£¡¡He¡¡won't¡¡die¡¡without¡¡you¡£¡¨¡¡Finally¡¡the¡¡thief¡¡understood¡£¡¡This¡¡place£»¡¡which¡¡he'd¡¡glimpsed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sauna¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Sanctuary£»¡¡existed¡¡within¡¡the¡¡European¡£¡¡These¡¡ghosts¡¡were¡¡creatures¡¡he'd¡¡devoured¡£¡¡Evangeline£¡¡¡Even¡¡she¡£¡¡They¡¡waited£»¡¡the¡¡tattered¡¡remains¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡in¡¡this¡¡no¡man's¡land¡¡between¡¡flesh¡¡and¡¡death£»¡¡until¡¡Mamoulian¡¡sickened¡¡of¡¡existence¡¡and¡¡lay¡¡down¡¡and¡¡perished¡£¡¡Then¡¡they¡¡too£»¡¡presumably£»¡¡would¡¡have¡¡their¡¡liberty¡£¡¡Until¡¡then¡¡their¡¡faces¡¡would¡¡make¡¡that¡¡soundless¡¡O¡¡at¡¡him£»¡¡a¡¡melancholy¡¡appeal¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡thief¡¡shook¡¡his¡¡head¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨No£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£
¡¡¡¡He¡¡would¡¡not¡¡give¡¡up¡¡his¡¡breath¡£¡¡Not¡¡for¡¡an¡¡orchard¡¡of¡¡trees£»¡¡not¡¡for¡¡a¡¡nation¡¡of¡¡despairing¡¡faces¡£¡¡He¡¡turned¡¡his¡¡back¡¡on¡¡Muranowski¡¡Square¡¡and¡¡its¡¡plaintive¡¡ghosts¡£¡¡The¡¡soldiers¡¡were¡¡shouting¡¡nearby£º¡¡soon¡¡they¡¡would¡¡arrive¡£¡¡He¡¡looked¡¡back¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡hotel¡£¡¡The¡¡penthouse¡¡corridor¡¡was¡¡still¡¡there£»¡¡across¡¡the¡¡doorstep¡¡of¡¡a¡¡bombed¡¡house£º¡¡a¡¡surreal¡¡juxtaposition¡¡of¡¡ruin¡¡and¡¡luxury¡£¡¡He¡¡crossed¡¡the¡¡rubble¡¡toward¡¡it£»¡¡ignoring¡¡the¡¡soldiers¡¨¡¡orders¡¡for¡¡him¡¡to¡¡halt¡£¡¡Vasiliev's¡¡cries¡¡were¡¡loudest£»¡¡however¡£¡¡¡¨Bastard£¡¡¨¡¡he¡¡screeched¡£¡¡The¡¡thief¡¡blocked¡¡his¡¡curses¡¡and¡¡stepped¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡square¡¡and¡¡back¡¡into¡¡the¡¡heat¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hallway£»¡¡raising¡¡his¡¡gun¡¡as¡¡he¡¡did¡¡so¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨Old¡¡news£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨you¡¡don't¡¡scare¡¡me¡¡with¡¡it¡£¡¨¡¡Mamoulian¡¡was¡¡still¡¡standing¡¡at¡¡the¡¡other¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡corridor£»¡¡the¡¡minutes¡¡the¡¡thief¡¡had¡¡spent¡¡in¡¡the¡¡square¡¡had¡¡not¡¡elapsed¡¡here¡£¡¡¡¨I'm¡¡not¡¡afraid£¡¡¨¡¡Whitehead¡¡shouted¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡hear¡¡me£»¡¡you¡¡soulless¡¡bastard£¿¡¡I'm¡¡not¡¡afraid£¡¡¨¡¡He¡¡fired¡¡again£»¡¡this¡¡time¡¡at¡¡the¡¡European's¡¡head¡£¡¡The¡¡shot¡¡hit¡¡his¡¡cheek¡£¡¡Blood¡¡came¡£¡¡Before¡¡Whitehead¡¡could¡¡fire¡¡again£»¡¡Mamoulian¡¡retaliated¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨There¡¡are¡¡no¡¡limits£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡his¡¡voice¡¡trembling£»¡¡¡¨to¡¡what¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡do£¡¡¨¡¡His¡¡thought¡¡caught¡¡the¡¡thief¡¡by¡¡the¡¡throat£»¡¡and¡¡twisted¡£¡¡The¡¡old¡¡man's¡¡limbs¡¡convulsed£»¡¡the¡¡gun¡¡flew¡¡out¡¡of¡¡his¡¡hand£»¡¡his¡¡bladder¡¡and¡¡bowels¡¡failed¡¡him¡£¡¡Behind¡¡him£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡square£»¡¡the¡¡ghosts¡¡began¡¡to¡¡applaud¡£¡¡The¡¡tree¡¡shook¡¡itself¡¡with¡¡such¡¡vehemence¡¡that¡¡the¡¡few¡¡blossoms¡¡it¡¡still¡¡carried¡¡were¡¡swept¡¡into¡¡the¡¡air¡£¡¡Some¡¡of¡¡them¡¡flew¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡door£»¡¡melting¡¡on¡¡the¡¡threshold¡¡of¡¡past¡¡and¡¡present£»¡¡like¡¡snowflakes¡£¡¡Whitehead¡¡fell¡¡against¡¡the¡¡wall¡£¡¡Out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡corner¡¡of¡¡his¡¡eye¡¡he¡¡caught¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡Evangeline£»¡¡spitting¡¡blood¡¡at¡¡him¡£¡¡He¡¡began¡¡to¡¡slide¡¡down¡¡the¡¡wall£»¡¡his¡¡body¡¡jangled¡¡as¡¡if¡¡in¡¡the¡¡throes¡¡of¡¡a¡¡grand¡¡mal¡£¡¡He¡¡let¡¡out¡¡one¡¡word¡¡through¡¡his¡¡rattling¡¡jaws¡£¡¡He¡¡said£º¡¡¡¨No£¡¡¨¡¡On¡¡the¡¡bathroom¡¡floor¡¡Marty¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡denial¡¡howled¡¡out¡£¡¡He¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡stir¡¡himself£»¡¡but¡¡his¡¡consciousness¡¡was¡¡sluggish£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡beaten¡¡body¡¡ached¡¡from¡¡scalp¡¡to¡¡skin¡£¡¡Taking¡¡hold¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bath£»¡¡he¡¡hoisted¡¡himself¡¡to¡¡his¡¡knees¡£¡¡He'd¡¡clearly¡¡been¡¡forgotten£º¡¡his¡¡part¡¡in¡¡the¡¡proceedings¡¡was¡¡purely¡¡ic¡¡relief¡£¡¡He¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡stand£»¡¡but¡¡his¡¡lower¡¡limbs¡¡were¡¡traitorous£»¡¡they¡¡buckled¡¡beneath¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡fell¡¡again£»¡¡feeling¡¡every¡¡bruise¡¡on¡¡impact¡£
¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡hallway¡¡Whitehead¡¡had¡¡sunk¡¡down¡¡onto¡¡his¡¡haunches£»¡¡mouth¡¡gaga¡£¡¡The¡¡European¡¡moved¡¡in¡¡for¡¡the¡¡coup¡¡de¡¡grace£»¡¡but¡¡Carys¡¡interrupted¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨Leave¡¡him£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡£
¡¡¡¡Distracted£»¡¡Mamoulian¡¡turned¡¡toward¡¡her¡£¡¡The¡¡blood¡¡on¡¡his¡¡cheek¡¡had¡¡traced¡¡a¡¡single¡¡line¡¡to¡¡his¡¡jaw¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡too£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡murmured¡£¡¡¡¨No¡¡limits¡£¡¨¡¡Carys¡¡backed¡¡off¡¡into¡¡the¡¡gaming¡¡room¡£¡¡The¡¡candle¡¡on¡¡the¡¡table¡¡had¡¡begun¡¡to¡¡flare¡£¡¡Energy¡¡was¡¡loose¡¡in¡¡the¡¡suite£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡spitting¡¡flame¡¡was¡¡fat¡¡and¡¡white¡¡on¡¡it¡£¡¡The¡¡European¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡Carys¡¡with¡¡hunger¡¡in¡¡his¡¡eyes¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡an¡¡appetite¡¡on¡¡him¡an¡¡instinctive¡¡response¡¡to¡¡his¡¡blood¡¡loss¡and¡¡all¡¡he¡¡could¡¡see¡¡in¡¡her¡¡was¡¡nourishment¡£¡¡Like¡¡the¡¡thief£º¡¡hungry¡¡for¡¡another¡¡strawberry¡¡though¡¡his¡¡belly¡¡was¡¡full¡¡enough¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡know¡¡what¡¡you¡¡are£»¡¨¡¡Carys¡¡said£»¡¡deflecting¡¡his¡¡gaze¡£
¡¡¡¡From¡¡the¡¡bathroom£»¡¡Marty¡¡heard¡¡her¡¡ploy¡£¡¡Stupid£»¡¡he¡¡thought£»¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡him¡¡that¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡know¡¡what¡¡you¡¡did¡£¡¨¡¡The¡¡European's¡¡eyes¡¡widened£»¡¡smoky¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨You're¡¡nobody£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡girl¡¡started¡¡to¡¡say¡£¡¡¡¨You're¡¡just¡¡a¡¡soldier¡¡who¡¡met¡¡a¡¡monk£»¡¡and¡¡strangled¡¡him¡¡in¡¡his¡¡sleep¡£¡¡What¡¡have¡¡you¡¡got¡¡to¡¡be¡¡so¡¡proud¡¡of£¿¡¨¡¡Her¡¡fury¡¡beat¡¡against¡¡his¡¡face¡£¡¡¡¨You're¡¡nobody£¡¡¡Nobody¡¡and¡¡nothing£¡¡¨¡¡He¡¡reached¡¡to¡¡catch¡¡hold¡¡of¡¡her¡£¡¡She¡¡dodged¡¡him¡¡around¡¡the¡¡cardtable¡¡once£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡threw¡¡it¡¡over£»¡¡the¡¡pack¡¡scattering£»¡¡and¡¡caught¡¡her¡£¡¡His¡¡hold¡¡felt¡¡like¡¡a¡¡vast¡¡leech¡¡on¡¡her¡¡arm£»¡¡taking¡¡blood¡¡from¡¡her¡¡and¡¡giving¡¡only¡¡the¡¡void£»¡¡only¡¡purposeless¡¡dark¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡the¡¡Architect¡¡of¡¡her¡¡dreams¡¡again¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨God¡¡help¡¡me£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡breathed¡£¡¡Her¡¡senses¡¡crumbled¡¡and¡¡grayness¡¡streamed¡¡in¡¡to¡¡take¡¡their¡¡place¡£¡¡He¡¡pulled¡¡her¡¡out¡¡of¡¡her¡¡body¡¡with¡¡one¡¡insolent¡¡wrench¡¡and¡¡took¡¡her¡¡into¡¡him£»¡¡dropping¡¡her¡¡husk¡¡to¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡beside¡¡the¡¡overturned¡¡table¡£¡¡He¡¡wiped¡¡his¡¡mouth¡¡with¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡at¡¡the¡¡evangelists¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡standing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡doorway¡¡staring¡¡at¡¡him¡£¡¡He¡¡felt¡¡sick¡¡with¡¡his¡¡greed¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡in¡¡him¡all¡¡of¡¡her¡¡at¡¡once¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡too¡¡much¡£¡¡And¡¡the¡¡Saints¡¡were¡¡making¡¡it¡¡worse