The next day a car was sent for him. He didn’t even bother asking where and why they were taking him. On Smolenskaya Square, their car stopped in front of the entrance to the Foreign Ministry building, his escort showed him that it was time to get out. Having entered the central doors, he, accompanied by several people in identical strict suits, entered the elevator. The elevator buttons indicate that he was being taken to one of the upper floors of the building. After passing through luxurious corridors covered with dark red carpets, they came to the office door. They were expected: the doors opened, Kai went inside.
From the first office-reception, they went on to the second office. Entering it, he looked around: it was a huge office with expensive massive furniture, a half cabinet table, chairs around it. At the table, there sat an elderly, overweight man with a look that stared Kai with cold cruelty. Next to him – to his right and his left – sat several more men, similar to him, just as heavy, already aged, and with the same soulless eyes.
“Well, we’ve met, my boy. Finally, I see you,” the man got up from the table and began to approach Kai, who stood frozen in the middle of this half-dark office. The light came in here through the heavy drawn-off curtains on the dark green windows. It was gloomy and heavy in the office, the whole situation – this massive furniture, this twilight, these people – everything crushed and oppressed by the very appearance.
Kai realized that it was this man who was watching his life all this time.
The man walked slowly around him, carefully examining, and then, without ceremony, grabbed the chin and lifted his face, turning towards the light.
Kai jerked, but his hands were instantly grabbed from both sides by two huge guards.
“Handsome,” said the man and let go of the face, the guards let go of the hands. “Do not be offended, I’ve seen you only in the photo. I wanted to take a closer look,” as if it were quite commonplace, the man explained.
“Let’s go into the light of God, let’s talk,” he said, pointing to the glass doors that open onto the balcony. Even this phrase from his lips sounded somehow mocking, Kai winced, but he inhaled and followed the man to the balcony.
The balcony was huge, with two sofas, several armchairs, and a table in front of them. Indeed, here, in contrast to the twilight of the study, there was light – a bright summer sunny day. It was warm, a blue sky without a single cloud stretched over their heads. The balcony was framed by a massive, wide railing of marble, like everything else here.
Everyone went out onto the balcony, the man sprawled imposingly in an armchair, those having sat at the same table with him also moved here and took the sofa and armchairs. Judging by their faces and postures, Kai realized that they were waiting for a show program, where the main character was him.
“Well, here we finally met,” the man repeated, glaring at Kai. “Otherwise I only hear enthusiastic stories about you, but I haven’t seen anything personally. You’re good! You have not disappointed me, my boy. I’ve made the right bet on you,” the man paused, watching as cups were put and tea was poured in front of him on the table. Then, taking a cup, he began to stir tea in it. “You are good at everything. Such successes – and in such a short period of time. You are a talent, a child prodigy. But your main talent, you know about it, right?”
Kai was standing in silence, he was not offered to sit down, nor, let alone tea, making it clear who he was here, in such a way they indicated his place.
“So, your main talent, which I’ve discovered in you, is the talent to kill. Why are you sparkling with your eyes? It is your gift, my boy. After all, it is only thanks to you the guys have returned after that shootout. There were many more enemies, many more. Only you could avoid getting confused and save everyone, and all the rest turned out to be milksops, cowards. They got frightened, panicked. And you – no, cold mind, clarity of action. You put everyone away there. You have killer talent!
“I saved my comrades,” Kai snapped angrily.
“Perfectly! This is exactly what I suggest you do in the future. You will continue to work for us, develop your gift, so to speak, use your talent for its intended purpose. Let this be called the salvation of comrades,” everyone laughed disgustingly, the chief also laughed, only his eyes were just as cold and lifeless.
“I won’t work for you. Never!” again he answered them angrily, looking into those dead eyes of a living person.
“And you are impudent! I like it. Although, of course, you need to be brought down to your marrowbones, you will show your ambition in another place, but here you have to be nice and meek – do you understand that?” from the mouth of this man it sounded scary.
Kai shuddered, but keeping calm, he continued to stand and look into the eyes of the main one.
“Never mind! You will understand,” continued the chief. “Your mother has a weak heart. You know, anything can happen in the hospital, the staff will overlook …”
At this phrase, Kai rushed forward, but this movement was predicted, four husky guys intercepted him and, wringing his arms up, forced him to kneel. Kai struggled, a few more movements – and he managed to feel the inaccuracy in the actions of those who held him, and he took advantage of it. He was fast and accurate. Four big fellows were scattered in different directions on the balcony.
The chief enthusiastically clapped his hands and showed the guards with a gesture that they no longer needed to approach Kai. Then he picked up the phone. Looking into his eyes, he said:
“I’m making a call now, and you get your mother’s corpse.”
Kai froze, turned pale, saw how he pressed the call.
“Wait!” he shouted. “It is not necessary … what do you want from me?”
“Well, let’s start with obedience. Get on your knees,” seeing that Kai was looking at him, the chief answered into the phone, where they were already waiting to hold on.
“Yes, it’s me, do as we’ve agreed. Our boy wants to be convinced of our power. Let’s give him this pleasure.”
“Stop!” he shouted and fell to his knees.
“Wait, don’t do anything, it seems we manage to come to an agreement, but don’t leave there yet,” the man, looking into his eyes, put the receiver down on the table. “You probably still don’t understand who you are dealing with?” he said in an icy voice without mockery. “I have no time to play with you. I don’t have the time and desire to see you and talk to you at all. Jordan will do it, he will be my second self for you,” the chief waved his hand towards the door, there was a gloomy-looking middle-aged man, Kai realized that this was probably Jordan. “You belong to me. Completely. Your life belongs to me. You will work for me. Everything has already been decided,” seeing again the disobedience on Kai’s face, he continued. “Don’t you want it? Then you know what will happen – I will kill everyone dear to you, methodically and slowly, so that you have time to bury them and enjoy the pain of loss. You have a large family; it is pleasant to kill them – it will be a long pleasure. And in the end, I will kill Prokhor. Well, then I’ll decide what to do with you. You are so cute, it’s even a pity to kill right away. Probably, first, they will have you, and then you will die yourself. You will have such a life, my baby, – long and happy,” everyone again laughed with a vile laugh.
“What do you want?” not his own voice asked Kai.
“Stop acting like a child, I have no time to run after you and persuade you like a girl to go in bed. You are an adult already. All that I want, Jordan will tell you, and you will simply do it – and that’s all.”
He was kneeling before them with his head bowed.
“Get up already, otherwise you arouse pity in me, the old man.”
Kai got up slowly and with an imperceptible movement retreated to the balcony railing behind him, then in one deft movement, he turned and jumped onto the railing. They were wide enough, his coarse boots with thick soles just fit them. Kai staggered but caught his balance. Everyone froze, no one twitched. All looked at the young man standing on the railing.
He stood half a turn towards them, then stretched out his arms to the sides, under him below, although the net was stretched, if he fell from such a height, it would not have saved.
Kai looked at Moscow under his feet. Standing like that, with his arms outstretched to the side, he felt a flight. He hovered over this world, over the houses below, people, cars, life. Above him, there were clear blue skies and freedom. Just a step forward – and he would find it. Just a step …
“Don’t do this,” the chief’s voice changed. “You’re a church member, suicide is a sin.”
“It’s a sin to kill people,” Kai replied without turning around.
“It is a sin to kill yourself and not carry your cross to the end. You will go to hell and be damned for your weakness.”
“Are you a priest?”
“No, but I’m a reasonable person,” he paused. “We can agree. I underestimated you. But that makes you more interesting to me. Listen to me before you make a decision,” seeing that Kai froze, he continued. “You will be on a special account. You can dictate your terms. I am willing to compromise. Do you hear it? I am ready to listen to you. I’ve already understood that you will not be a puppet, but you being so rebellious, real suit me. I’ll make puppets from others. This is not a problem, but there is no one like you,” he paused, then continued in a more human tone. “Accept it, my boy. Yes, you’re out of luck, your ability, your giftedness, has caught our attention. You are the chosen one. It is your lot to work for us all your life. Take it for granted, as your cross – but you will always be the chosen one. You can always say something though everyone else who works for me is deprived of it, and I will be ready to listen to you and even make concessions. You will have a good life. Believe me. Of course, at first, you will have to work in war zones, and then you will move on to a quieter job, already behind enemy lines, and then, perhaps, you will take a place next to me with such and such a character,” he paused again. “Stop standing there already then, sit down on a chair – we’ll talk. I’m already dizzy from you.”
All this time, Kai stared into the endless blue of the sky, then looked down at the small world of people at his feet. He staggered slightly, but again caught his balance, then, turning, jumped off the railing and went to the chair offered to him opposite the main one.
***
Leaving the Foreign Ministry building at the end of the conversation, Kai caught a taxi and mentioned Prokhor’s address. He refused the car offered to him to take him to the place, they did not insist.
Going to Prokhor, he silently walked over to the bar with bottles and, pouring a glass of whiskey, drank it in one gulp. Prokhor went out to the noise, froze, watching this picture. All the other boys also silently watched Kai drinking. The fact that he did not have a face was not a simple figurative expression applied to him. That something happened again, everyone understood.
Prokhor went up to Kai and took the third glass he filled with him.
– My friend, I have not seen you so much, – Prokhor turned him to face him, – tell me!
– Give me another drink, please …
Prokhor returned the glass.
– Do you want to talk to me alone or with all our brothers?
– With everyone.
Prokhor led his friend to the sofa and made him sit down. Then he sat down opposite himself, lit a cigarette, handed him a lit cigarette. Kai took a few puffs nervously and spoke. Although his story was now confused and jumped from event to event, everyone understood its essence. And the point was that life does not belong to him now. That he works for the special services until the end of his days and there is no longer a choice. Prokhor and everyone just now found out that his mother was shot and she was in the hospital. And that this was the first signal to him to become compliant. Kai recounted the threat of reprisals against everyone, including Prokhor, if he refused.
***
Leaving the Foreign Ministry building at the end of the conversation, Kai caught a taxi and pronounced Prokhor’s address. He refused the car offered to him to go away, they did not insist.
Entering into Prokhor’s apartment, he silently walked to the bar with bottles and, pouring a glass of whiskey, drank it in one gulp. Prokhor went out to the noise, froze, watching this picture. All the other boys also silently watched Kai drinking. He was as pale white as a ghost and it was not a figurative expression. Everyone understood that something had happened again.
Prokhor went up to Kai and took the third glass he filled with him.
“My friend, I have not seen you so much,” Prokhor turned him to face him. “Tell everything!”
“Give me another drink, please …”
Prokhor returned the glass.
“Do you want to talk to me alone or to all our guys?”
“To all.”
Prokhor led his friend to the sofa and made him sit down. Then he sat down opposite himself, lit a cigarette, handed him a lit cigarette. Kai nervously took a few puffs and spoke. Although his story was now confusing and jumped from event to event, everyone understood its essence. And the point was that life now did not belong to him, that he would work for the special services until the end of his days and there was no longer a choice. Prokhor and everyone just now found out that his mother had been shot and she was in the hospital. And that this was the first signal to him to become compliant. Kai recounted the threat of reprisals against everyone, including Prokhor, if he refused.
“And what have you decided?” after a long pause asked Prokhor.
“They’ve made the decision, now I don’t decide anything,” Kai answered, looking into Prokhor’s eyes. “But I managed to agree on the terms with them.”
“How?” Prokhor exclaimed in surprise. “How did you manage to make them listen to you?”
“His office opened onto a balcony, this is some twenty floors, and maybe higher. I stood on the railing, and then they heard me …”
“Were you ready to jump?” Prokhor’s voice faltered.
“Yes, I was ready…”
“But this is a sin, a mortal sin!”
“Yes, this is what this man has told me …”
“You must carry your cross to the end, no matter how hard it may be. Forgive me for telling you such cruel things, but I would not forgive you, my friend, if you committed suicide.”
“Prokhor, I didn’t go for it. I am here with you and I am ready to carry the cross … pour me some more …”
Prokhor poured whiskey and, going up to him, hugged him by the shoulders, “Come on, you need to sleep. We’ll decide something. After all, the main thing is that you are alive, we are alive. Everything else is solvable.”
“Prokhor, do you understand what I will become now? I am a professional killer, I work for them, I don’t exist anymore …”
“Quiet, don’t say anything now. You are you. I will not leave you, we will not leave you. Do you hear it? We are all with you. I will find a way to take you away from them. Just give me time. Ok?”
Prokhor led Kai into the room, who, after nervous stress and drunk alcohol, could hardly stand on his feet.
***
How hot and thirsty! Probably after yesterday’s whiskey …
He opened his eyes, looked around – it was dark and hot. He began to move along the wall by touch, felt the handle of the door, opened it – a bright light struck his eyes. He closed his eyes, waited, then opened. Before him, an endless sea of sand stretched.
So, these were just memories of that distant past life.
He returned to the back of the plane, found water. It was too warm and tasted nasty. But he drank – it was necessary. There was still a lot of water. This meant that he still had time to remember the past.
He recalled that first conversation with the main one. Yes, then he did not jump. Was he bluffing at that moment? Probably not. At that moment, he saw only one way out of the trap into which he had been driven. Although he understood that it was a sin. He had no right to this, he must live and accept all the trials that were destined for him. But his actions made a strong impression on them. And they always remembered this, they realized that if they went too far with him, he would take a step into the abyss and they would lose the one in whom they had invested so much effort and money. For them, it was an unacceptable loss, and why, when they could compromise. And they did it, as he then realized – slightly loosened the nuts. But it was a victory, albeit just a little, but he preserved himself, his self, his personality. He did not become a limp tool in their hands. They began to negotiate with him, discussing their joint work.
Then they talked for a long time. But the bottom line was this he fulfills their task, they reduce the pressure on his life. He transmits his demands through Jordan, and their tasks also go through Jordan. That, in fact, is all.
That morning, when Kai woke up from oblivion after whiskey and nervous stress, he, sitting in the kitchen at breakfast, once again talked about it with Prokhor.
Prokhor then again was silent for a long time, then he said:
“I thought about it for a long time. About your life, about our life. You know, I now have a goal, for which I am doing all this: money, power. All this is for you,” Kai looked up at him in disbelief. “Understand, I can only snatch you from them by becoming stronger than them, that is, money and power will give me this. Do you understand me now?! It just takes time … be patient. I will organize everything here, and so things have gone uphill. There are the right people, connections. I will create my empire. I will become strong and powerful, and then we’ll see who will win. Do you believe me?”
“Yes, I believe you. I will endure. You’ve said right – this is my cross … but for what? But now it doesn’t matter anymore. I will carry it to the end.”
“I’m with you. We are together. I’ll take you away from them.”
Then they were sitting for a long time and talking about it. Then Kai darkened, looked at Prokhor.
“I want to go to my mother in the hospital.”
“Let’s go,” Prokhor stood up resolutely, making it clear that he would go with him. Kai didn’t mind.
Arriving at the hospital, he, Prokhor, and three other lads putting on their robes went up to the department. In the corridor near the ward, he ran into his brother, who blocked his way.
“What, bastard. Did you come to see what you had done?” not letting Kai pass, his brother said angrily.
“Let me go,” he did not react to this attack.
“You’ve come with criminals – are you afraid alone? Well, come in, look into the eyes of your mother,” the brother stepped aside, letting Kai pass. “Soon the father will come – he will kick you out of her!”
He went into the ward.
Prokhor and the guys all this time kept calm, realizing that this was Kai’s brother and for his sake, it was worth tolerating it.
His mother was in a separate room. He walked up to her, she looked at the ceiling, then looked at him. She was still under the influence of drugs, a thin tube of a dropping-bottle stretched to the hand. The look was expressionless. Kai sat down on a chair next to her, took her hand.
“Forgive me. Mom, I’m sorry. I love you,” he buried his face in her cold hand.
Door opened. He raised his head.
“Get away from her!” said the father menacingly. “Quickly! Or I’ll throw you out by the scruff of the neck!”
Kai didn’t want such a showdown in his mom’s room. He got up and, walking past his father, left the room.
“Go to your convicts, your place is there,” his father said in son’s back and closed the door behind him.
He saw the smiling face of his brother, who enjoyed watching this scene.
“Let’s go,” Prokhor said quietly, pushing him by the shoulders along the corridor.
Kai didn’t resist.
Already in the car, recovering a little, he said:
“Excuse me for my brother and father.”
“Don’t even think about it,” replied Prokhor.
“Thank you for not saying anything to my brother.”
“There is not the right place to sort things out.”
“You’re right, sorry, but he doesn’t understand this …”
“How is your mom?” Prokhor looked at the pale face of his friend.
“She is still on medication; she hasn’t even recognized me.”
“I spoke to the doctor while you were with her. The crisis is over. She will be on the mend. Now only time is needed for her recovery.”
“I am to blame for everything – do not interrupt, you still do not know everything … I am the youngest child in the family, the fourth. She was not allowed to give birth. Doctors warned that the fourth birth could cause complications in the heart. They offered to have an abortion … my father insisted on this when he found out everything from the doctors. She refused. During childbirth, she almost died, but the consequences of all this are a weak heart. You see, I’ve almost caused her death then and now …”
“Shut up! If she has had health problems, why then to make a fourth child? Didn’t your father think about that? And now he decided to put all the blame on you.”
“He loves her very much, very much!”
“It’s not your fault here. Stop harassing yourself,” Prokhor spoke dryly and harshly.
Kai was silent for a while, afraid to even speak to such a formidable Prokhor, but then he asked:
“Where are we going?”
“To my house, you will spend the night with me.”
“I’ll spend the night in our apartment. You have your life. Prokhor, please, no need. I do not want to bother you.”
“If you say that again, I will really be offended by you. When will a normal guy trade a woman for a friend? Here you are silent – and be silent, you will go to me!”
A tall and incredibly beautiful girl opened the door to Prokhor’s apartment. Kai wanted to ask about Masha, but fell silent, realizing that another had taken her place.
“And when does Prokhor have time?”
Masha was also a beauty, but this one … Then already in the kitchen, when this beauty, whose name was Galya, served them food and cut bread, Kai thought that such girls should sit on the throne, and not wash plates in the kitchen. She was so pretty that it seemed strange to see her in an ordinary apartment.
Seeing Kai’s admiring glances at his choice, Prokhor proudly declared when Galya left, so as not to interfere with their conversations:
“What, have you appreciated my choice? Is she good?”
“Yes, I only saw such girls on TV,” Kai answered honestly.
“So, I liked her too,” Prokhor laughed. “I know that you want to ask about Masha. I’m tired of Masha, so I’ve decided to change the blonde for a brown-haired woman for a change.”
Kai didn’t quite understand how a living person could be identified only by hair color. After all, there must be something more, but, looking at Prokhor, he did not talk about it.
They again switched to the sad theme of his life. Prokhor found out that his friend had only a few days, and then he left for a training camp, where he would continue his studies. But Kai agreed that on occasion he would be allowed to return to Moscow and see Prokhor. In the future, he would have regular trips to combat points for training, and then in general he would be sent to some country for several months to learn the art of combat. In general, his future was bleak.
At the end of the conversation, Kai hesitated, realizing that he needed to ask Prokhor this, but he did not know how.
“So, come on, lay it out,” Prokhor saw his confusion. “What did you want to ask? I can see from you.”
“Well, I want to ask … you are older … more experienced … I still do not quite understand everything … they said there that if I had not agreed, then after they would have killed everyone, they would not kill me, but they would use me until my death. What did they mean?”
Prokhor listened to all this in horror, realizing how bad his friend was, and when he heard the final phrase from his lips, he realized how much Kai was still a child. He looked at him. Perhaps now, after this question, Prokhor first looked at his friend a little differently and realized that his friend was becoming very beautiful for those who love it. Prokhor immediately understood what was at stake. But all these years he perceived Kai as a child, a younger brother, a best friend. And now … Yes, men would like his friend – he was so refined, slender, flexible, such lips, cheekbones, hair, and huge eyes.
“Prokhor, what … why are you looking at me like that?” Kai scaredly moved away from the kitchen table.
“You are still quite a child, “said Prokhor in a strange voice. “Let me explain to you later what they meant. Ok? Go to sleep now.”
Kai didn’t ask anymore, he got up and left the kitchen.
And Prokhor watched his soft feline movements, how he, without suspecting it, gracefully put his hand on the table, leaning against it and arching, slipped between the table and the door, and, as smoothly and easily stepping on the parquet, left.
“Oh s***! Bitches! Beasts!” Prokhor in impotent rage twisted in half.
He understood what they were talking about. And he just looked at Kai – the way others saw him.
Prokhor never understood this. Although he was calm when his mobsters were used to b***** the guy, passing him round. Prokhor was neither attracted nor excited by this. He perceived this as one of the methods of forceful influence, very convincing, and intelligible. He never took Kai to such events and forbade the guys to discuss it with him, believing that his friend is still small and it is too early for him to know this side of life. But now Prokhor realized that he had to show him this too. He, like an older brother, had explained everything and showed him, taking custody of him. So the time came for him to see what other guys do with guys.
