After a few seconds
«This time we mean to pick one of the more important of them and strike, while deliberately leaving openings — letting the others hiding alongside slip away quietly and carry word to whoever heads the Rose School in Backlund.
«And from the shadows the demigods of our vampire clan will be watching them. By following the chain through which the news is passed, we will find that person in charge — who must be an important member of the Rose School.
«After he is killed, or even captured, and once key information has been torn out of him, the next steps will follow.« Reasonable enough — they are using their own knowledge of the Rose School to draw up the plan rather than making themselves the bait, and the degree of risk can be effectively controlled, with no danger of wrecking Backlund… Klein gave a slight nod: «If that is so, then I can take part.« He did not say he wished to think it over and go back to gauge the danger first, because for Sharon and for the vampires this was neither an unavoidable nor an urgent matter; if his divination showed any problem, he could simply, as participant, call a stop.
«What sort of payment do you require?« Marije, his stance relaxing a little, opened the question.
Klein smiled: «If all goes without incident, I should like one free act of assistance from Madame Lenett Tinikolt. If I am forced to take action, then to that condition I would add the right of first pick of the spoils.
«You may discuss it with Madame Lenett Tinikolt first, and then write to tell me the answer.« In truth he was a little puzzled: if the plan was such, there was no need to involve him; with the messenger lady hidden in the shadows, anything Sherlock Moriarty might cope with by way of accident would already be covered.
«No need.« Sharon, with the exquisite, pale, doll-like features, shook her head lightly: «We can give the answer right now.« Then they have already discussed it with the messenger lady? Klein thought for a few seconds and asked frankly: «Then why don't you simply ask Madame Lenett Tinikolt directly to help and prevent the accident outright?« Sharon's pale-gold hair seemed firmly bound by her small soft cap, not stirring in the least; her voice answered, distant and ethereal: «She does not wish the vampire clan to discover Her existence.« I see… Klein weighed it, and then put another question: «You hold temperance in high regard. Why would you actively seek to deal with a key member of the Rose School?
«Or does revenge not fall outside the scope of temperance?« Sharon's blue eyes looked at him: «Over these past several decades, the Rose School has been striving to make the '
«And, besides, the Master longs for the wholeness of Her body.« If the 'Mother Tree of Desire' truly descended into reality, that would be a disaster beyond imagining for me as well… But what has this to do with the wholeness of the messenger lady's body? Was Her body once torn into fragments, with the pieces held by different key figures of the Rose School? Or can the body or characteristics of high-Sequence strongmen of the same pathway, through some ritual, become parts of Her body? Klein muttered inwardly a couple of times and asked, testing the ground: «Is the 'Sin' the Sequence 1 of the 'Anomaly' pathway?
«And what are Sequence 2 and Sequence 3 called?« The first question he had once asked Miss Sharon before, but at the time he had only got a rather vague answer.
Sharon answered without hesitation. Her speech was not quick, and the ethereal, inhuman quality remained: «I was not entirely clear about it before. Now I can say with certainty: Sequence 1 is 'Sin'; Sequence 2 is called 'Ancient Evil'; Sequence 3, in the old name, is 'Cursed Object', and in the present name, 'Silent Disciple'.« Meaning that the last time I asked, you were not yet sure? In other words, only after summoning the messenger lady did you recognise each other and learn more secret lore? Klein nodded with a touch of dawning clarity: «Then I have no further questions. Once you have fixed the time of action, write to me.« «Thank you.« Sharon again, weightless as a drifting body, lifted slightly and bowed in courtesy.
Marije pressed a hand to his chest and bent slightly in salute.
«No matter.« Klein rose from the high stool and, with a smile, set the top hat on his head.
This time, with no clapping sound, a crimson flame leapt up and swallowed him.
Under night's veil, Backlund: countless lamps quietly burning, like a starry sky veiled by clouds, come down to earth.
As a few «stars« flickered in turn, Klein returned to the rented flat on the edge of the East District.
He had just changed his clothes, ready to go back to Birkland Street in the North District, when by his ear there sounded the layered, illusory voice of prayer.
It came from a man.