“I think . . .” I said, rubbing my throat and coughing to clear it—the Tiger had almost strangled me as he dragged me out of the Sarcophagus, he didn’t know his own strength—“I think any being that has a sense of humor can’t be all bad.”

Nadya sobbed and hugged me even tighter. Kesha hesitated for a second, then walked up and nuzzled against me awkwardly from the other side.

“Everything’s fine, just fine,” I said. “It’s all over now.”

“But where’s Arina?” Nadya asked in a low voice.

“In the Sarcophagus of Time,” I replied.

“Does that mean forever?”

“That means that never before has anyone ended up in a Sarcophagus that is impossible to get out of, with a Minoan Sphere that can open portals from absolutely anywhere . . . I don’t know, Nadya. Probably not even the Tiger knows that.”

I myself didn’t know whether what I’d said was really the truth or an attempt to console my daughter.

And I was even less sure if I wanted the ancient witch to make her inconceivable escape from that dungeon. It was basically fine by me if she stayed there until the end of time.

“Shall I try to open a portal?” asked Nadya. “The Twilight is settling down . . .”

“In ten minutes and thirty seconds the Great Gesar and Great Zabulon will open a portal to us,” Kesha suddenly announced. His voice had changed. As often happens with young prophets, the fright had started him prophesying. “Next week you will explain your actions at the Inquisition Tribunal in Prague . . .”

“That much I can figure out for myself,” I whispered, gazing at the tousled hair on the top of Kesha’s head.

“You are Anton Gorodetsky,” the boy continued. “You are a Light Other. You are Nadya’s father. Because of you . . . all of us . . . all of us . . .”

I held my breath.

But there was silence

“Did I say something?” Kesha asked timidly.

Isn’t that always the way!

Just when you really want to know if you did the right thing or not.

But no one will ever answer that question for you.

Not even the Twilight.

About the Author

About the Author

Sergei Lukyanenko was born in Kazakhstan and educated as a psychiatrist. He began publishing science fiction in the 1980s and has published more than twenty-five books.

Andrew Bromfield (translator) is a founding editor of the Russian literature journal Glas. He is known for his acclaimed translations of Victor Pelevin and Boris Akunin, and his work has been short-listed for numerous translation prizes.

Also by Sergei Lukyanenko

Also by Sergei Lukyanenko

Night Watch

Day Watch

Twilight Watch

Last Watch

New Watch

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Credits

Credits

Cover design by Gregg Kulick

Cover photographs: © Christian Hoehn/Getty Images (Man); © Toby Maudsley/Getty Images (Tiger)

About the Publisher

About the Publisher

Australia

HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty. Ltd.

Level 13, 201 Elizabeth Street

Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia

Canada

HarperCollins Canada