4
The unit commander and his deputy were sitting in the so-called “corner”: a recreation place after numerous hard tasks. There were two armchairs where they could relax contemplating the decorative fish in the aquarium on a small table under a real palm tree in a tub. For greater detachment from endless pressing problems, Henry Wood turned on the aquarium lighting and quiet music.
It was a routine ritual. As Lieutenant Colonel said, ten minutes of staying in the “comer” could substitute a two-hour sleep. Of course, it was not recommended to sleep at work. But service in the magical military unit required mandatory relaxation of the staff. After lunch, everyone had a relaxation session. Many mages fell asleep listening to relaxing music and lying on the couches. But these were real and necessary features of a purely specific work.
“It would be nice for me to have a similar corner,” thought Archibald Gottlieb. “We’ll have to talk to Henry until the final budget of the unit is approved”.
The Major did not just deputize Wood but was formally known as the “Deputy Commander of the Unit for the Practical
Application of Combat Sensitive Skills”. This meant that he, Gottlieb, was the most important figure in the newly created military unit. Like it or not, he was the person to be appreciated and cherished. However, it was Henry who skimmed the cream off, Henry who did not know a damn thing about the practical magic, well, almost a damn thing…
After ten minutes of relaxation, the commander and his deputy moved from their seats to their places. Pedant Wood sat at the end of the table, while Archibald Gottlieb sat aside. A classic scheme!..
Lieutenant Colonel placed pencils and pens in a pencil case strictly by the size, made a lean official face and asked shortly:
“What do you have, Major?”
“Miss Betsy Gordon is asking to breach the defense of the Russians.”
“What defense, God damn it? Can you be more precise?”
“Yes, Sir! Miss Gordon, one of (our) best mages, wants to revenge for the death of Harry Menvil, her child’s father.
“To revenge! I told you we shouldn’t be driven by revenge,” Wood said angrily.
“Then by what?” replied Gottlieb noticing a tiny gap in the defensive redoubts of his boss.
“Our cold mind, Archie. So, is our madam really that good? I mean, in a sensitive way,” Lieutenant Colonel added quickly fearing that Major would understand him wrong.
“Well, she’s not Astral Harry but something close to that.”
They went silent thinking their own thoughts.
From Wood’s point of view, “Betsey” mission was worth it, especially since there has been a delayed calm on the astral front. And bosses usually become irritable if you don’t please them with successes, even if they are small.
Major Gottlieb’s point of view in this strategically important issue coincided with the Wood’s one. However, he had his own opinion too. The mission would certainly stir up the battle mages’ activity and strengthen their enthusiasm for service. This was obvious, since any individual access to the infrared space required the maximum support of the entire sensitive community. And if Miss Gordon succeeded, his efforts – the efforts of Archibald Gottlieb – would definitely be noticed. He could certainly gain considerable points in this hard game called life. No wonder the Scripture says: “Knock, and it shall be opened unto you”.
Henry Wood promised to issue an appropriate order, so the Deputy Commander of the Unit for Practical Application of Sensitive Skills left the office. He forgot to ask whether they could render him the same relax “corner” he, Archibald Gottlieb, certainly deserved for his important and responsible position.
Well, it shall not open if you don’t knock…
Chapter 5
“Sergei Petrovich, let’s leave this topic. I mean, this… consciousness transfer, right. You’re trying to say that anyone can easily transfer to the body of another person?” the Analytical Department curator said thoughtfully, pushing aside the papers containing Larin’s written report on the newly formed military unit.
He took his thin little glasses off his nose and started to twirl them in his narrow long fingers. It seemed like he admired his dexterity as he twisted his glasses. But suddenly they slipped onto the polished table. The glasses arms turned upwards resembling a man who fell on his back with his limbs up. Lieutenant General frowned.
“You do know what might happen?” he forced out strained. “And… what exactly, Igor Ivanovich?” Larin asked cautiously as he couldn’t understand the reason why his boss’s mood changed. Obviously, it was not because of the glasses?..
Lieutenant General was sometimes called Eagle for his flexibility, the ability to maneuver and for the consonance of his name with the famous bird. Sometimes, in a narrow circle, someone even made mistakes, mentioning the witty Deputy Head of the department who knew how to get out of any delicate situation: “Eagle Ivanovich said yesterday…”
But words that flew out of the office owner’s mouth were not from yesterday, they were told today, right now:
“Up there,” he made a characteristic gesture pointing index finger to the ceiling. “They can interpret your obsession with Colonel Burlak in a different way.”
For a moment there was a silence in the office.
“Let me explain,” said Igor Ivanovich. For some reason he put his anemic glasses on his nose again, perhaps, to be more persuasive in a hard conversation with the stubborn analyst. “The fact is that anyone can use this opportunity. Imagine, Comrade Larin, someone who can also transfer to the One.
“The One?” exclaimed Sergei Petrovich. “What exactly do you mean?”
“This is exactly what I mean! This experimenter of yours can enter the consciousness of, say, our President. Our President, as you know, is also the Commander-in-Chief!”
“Yes, that’s… but wait, what’s the point in…” Larin startled to find the right words surprised by the unexpected Eagle’s speech. Igor Petrovich interrupted his subordinate:
“Why do you think they dissolved a similar unit headed by General Savin? You know it!.. And you also know how much the heroes of that legendary unit have done for the Motherland. And then bang! – they are dissolved!..”
“Then what should Colonel Burlak’s boys do?” Larin asked in amazement, surprised more by the short inappropriate slang word “bang”.
“Let them continue. They are doing the right thing, since the Americans are trying to attack us lifting their tails. We should cut their tails off so that we could see their asses! But we should not get into all these transfers and settlements.”
“Is this your official opinion, Comrade Lieutenant General?” The analyst asked with pressure.
“Just a recommendation, nothing more!” laughed the office owner. “Sergei Petrovich, please do not take it to heart. But… no arbitrariness in the direction indicated.” Lieutenant General was pleased with the fact that he explained the whole thing to his zealous subordinate so he uttered the words from Larin’s report: “Recipient! Percipient!..”
