Page 20 (1/2)

"How long have you been researching it?" I ask

He’s really angry now "Seven years"

In the front seat Philip snorts

"So you started before Zacharov got the diamond?"

"I’m the one who told him about it" Barron’s expression is firm, certain, but I think I can see the fear in his face He’s lying, but he will never ad There is no evidence in the world that will make him back off a claim once he’s made it If he did, he would have to adone

Philip and Anton snicker to each other They know he’s lying too It’s like going to the movies with therandparents The fareed to do this?" I say

They laugh more

I have to proceed very carefully "If the Resurrection Diaoing to be able to get around it?"

It seenorance or hesitation Anton grins atdeath work Whatever that stone is, it won’t stop your kind of ic

Heart to stone

Me? I’m the transformation worker?

Who cursed you? I asked the cat into be sick No, I’ to be sick I press ainst the cold , and concentrate on holding down

"I’m--," I start

I’ht repeats inrubber balls that just won’t stop banging into everything I can’t think past it

I thought I’d give anything to be a worker, but somehow this feels like a hideous violation ofto be anything less than the most talented practitioner of the very rarest curses? Except, I guess I’ anymore

"You okay over there?" Barron asks

"Sure," I say slowly "I’ e to spill half ofliquid is the first thing that makes me feel halfway normal

The entrance to the restaurant--Koshchey’s--is so ornate that it looks like soht it looks like gold Stone fire birds flank it, their feathers painted pale blue, orange, and red

"Oh, tasteful," Barron says

"Hey," says Anton, "it belongs to the fas Philip shakes his head

The sidewalk outside has the kind of stillness that co, and in that stillness I think the restaurant looks oddly majestic Maybe I have bad taste

Anton twists a key in the lock and opens the door We walk into the dark room

"You sure no one’s here?" Philip asks

"It’s theto be here? This key wasn’t easy to co to be full of tables and political people Rich bored folks that don’t sters Maybe some workers fro ourselves with them" He walks across the roo with a few huge blue crystals aht "There will be a podiu speeches"

I look around "What is this?"

"Fund-raiser for ‘Vote No on Proposition Two’ Zacharov is hosting it" Barron looks at ely I wonder if I was supposed to know that

"And I’ to just walk up to him?" I ask "In front of everyone?"

"Chill," Philip says "For thefor this to be idiots, okay?"

"My uncle has so to have his bodyguards close to him, because he can’t have his society folks or the other fah-up laborers to take turns as his entourage Philip and I are scheduled to be up his ass for two hours, starting at ten thirty"

I nod s of houses with chicken legs scah the skies, all reflected in massive mirrors All ourI see so when it’s only myself

"Your job is to keep an eye on us after that and wait for Zacharov to head to the bathroom He wants it cleared when he uses it, so we’ll be alone That’s where you’re going to give him the touch"

"Where is it?" I ask

"There are two"One has aHe’ll pick the other one I’ll show it to you"

Barron and Philip head toward a glossy black door stenciled in gold with the io in with Zacharov," Philip says "You wait a few o in yourself"

"I won’t be in the room," Barron says "I’ll be outside--with you--to oes se bathroom A mural of tiles takes up the whole far wall, an enorold flies in front of a tree covered in what look like cabbages but I assume are just really stylized leaves The hand dryer is attached to that wall, but soold as the tiles Stalls are along one side, urinals on the other, and a stretch ofbrass sinks

"I’ll play Zacharov," Anton says, and goes to stand at the sink Then he looks at me, and I think he realizes he’s about to be mock-assassinated "No, wait I’ll play o ahead," Anton says to me

"What do I say?" I ask