“Where do you get this?” I asked.

“You have to know the right place,” Glyba laughed. “See, Emmanuilich? I told you Anton was a rational person.”

“That’s just it, he’s a real person, human . . .” Jermenson said gruffly. He took a long leather case from his jacket pocket and held it out to me. “How about a cigar, young man? I highly recommend it. None of that sacrilege with a lemon, the only thing that goes with a good cognac is a genuine cigar.”

The Great Ones seemed perfectly placid and relaxed. Not at all as if they were preparing for a skirmish with the Tiger. But in that case what were they doing in the office?

“Has Gesar already told you?” I asked.

“About the Tiger?” Jermenson responded. “Yes, of course. I ought to be ashamed of myself. I’ve heard about this kind of thing before . . . It was a very long time ago, though.”

“And?” I asked abruptly.

“We’re going to sit here until the morning, gabbing the way that old men do,” Jermenson said, shrugging. “If he comes . . . well, then we’ll take a look. We’re not going to fight, just take a look . . . There’s no charge for looking.”

“You’re going to watch the Tiger kill the boy?”

“In a case like this, leaving is even more cowardly,” Jermenson replied coolly. “Why don’t you tell us what he prophesied to you at the airport? Word for word. Maybe Gesar’s wrong? Maybe the boy has already uttered his prophecy?”

“But then why would the Tiger bother to carry on chasing him?” Glyba responded. “No, you tell us, Anton. We’re genuinely interested.”

“ ‘You are Anton Gorodetsky, a Higher Light Magician. You are Nadka’s father. Because of you . . . all of us . . .’ ” I shrugged and spread my hands. “Is that any good as a prophecy?”

“No,” said Glyba, shaking his head. “Djoru’s right: it was a harbinger, induced by stress.”

“But there is something interesting about it!” said Jermenson, raising his finger. “Right?”

“Right,” said Glyba, splashing more cognac out into the glasses. “First, the prophecy will be addressed to one particular person. It’s linked to Anton. Perhaps because he’s the one the boy met?”

“Or because Anton saved him . . .” Jermenson said, with a nod. “And it’s important that he said ‘Nadka’s father.’ Our little friend doesn’t look like one of those children who address all little girls in that familiar fashion. That means . . .”

“That means the prophecy is linked to Nadya as well, and the boy-Prophet has to become friends with her.”

“And it concerns all Others—‘all of us’ is in there for a reason. But the clinching role will be played by Anton.” It looked as if this wasn’t the first time that Jermenson and Glyba had brainstormed together.