Web of light. Part 1. part 37

152.

"Well, yes." I was looking at the statistics table of the registration program for the working part of the sensor system — almost ten square kilometers of accounting area (along the perimeters, not the actual area, unfortunately). Of the almost two hundred squares of Takamiya, it is a drop in the ocean, but it gives an idea. The number of daily penetrations into the outer perimeter from roads surrounding adjacent neighborhoods has increased from a few to two dozen today. Interestingly, most of the little things did not cross the sensory area of the road: having felt that scanty outflow of magic, which was not sensitive for "normal" yokai and magicians, they sought to get out of an unpleasant place as soon as possible. And it was bad. No, it's not that I've inadvertently fenced off the area around my place of residence. The spirit level. So small that people could be interested in them as an energy resource.

The majority, however, consisted of all sorts of harmless stuff such as tree spirits of hollows, roots, plant symbionts, ranging from grass to the notorious sakura trees, idols living in bronze temple walls and copper statues, and other, other, other small things, the names of which were unknown not only to Shizuka, but also to the "Spirit Determinant for Exorcists"according to Jinguji's version. I got the identifier in the form of a thick firmware of paper sheets copied on a copier from the next year's manual in the sixties: Kouji-san distributed it to his staff, making a separate pair of copies for me. But the patrol team of the Detachment has already taken out about twenty tanks of varying degrees of contamination, several ghosts that were found from nowhere (usually these entities cannot move beyond a small area) and dispersed just a bunch of small evil spirits like poltergeists and all kinds of spirits of misfortune — just slightly stimulating the development of negative emotions in people. Naturally, one Ginko patrol plus a troika on duty couldn't really change anything, but at least something...

As for Kouji-san, I met him in a cold, empty pre-winter park. The weather perfectly matched the mood of the Director of the regional office of the Committee.

"That is, did I understand correctly that if something happens, you will have to repel the attack on your own?"

"Right. Most yokai are not interested in people as such — we just don't have any points of intersection, but there are also those who kill for the sake of killing. Such a creature in the city is a natural disaster, and a large number of civilians may die... just because they got in his way. Police fighting groups kept such spirits away from cities, and now Takamiya is just a set table according to their understanding, and the exorcists from the committee act as a condiment. Most of these "maniacs" are not very strong... and completely brainless. I really don't want to start a shootout in the city, but my office is strong enough to solve such a problem. It's worse if the opponent is more powerful... or there are several of them. Therefore, I will say it bluntly: all other things being equal, I would not risk resorting to the power of your clan, but when it comes to hundreds of lives... Can I count on Amakawa not to stay away?"

"The Amakawa clan will not stand aside..." I said slowly. "But that's not all. What about those who will come personally for the power of Hunters? There will be a majority of them, right?"

"This is not your war, Yuto-san," the committee member said firmly. "And yours... vassals may not... Be thrilled if you have to fight for other exorcists."

"My vassals will fight not for some "other exorcists", but for those who protect the peace of the citizens of the city where we live. Kouji-san."

We stared into each other's eyes: a sturdy man in his thirties with a little early gray hair (which I hadn't noticed before) and the eleven-year-old head of the clan, of whom only one person remained. I don't know what he saw in my eyes, but his expression subtly changed. It no longer matched the sad grandeur of late autumn, just the face of an ordinary man, nothing more. I suddenly realized that the Controller's eyes were not brown, but even gray, although his facial features were quite Japanese...

"Well, Amakawa-san, I'm glad that we agreed. There are no such strong fighters in my squad, but we are quite capable of supporting our neighbors."

Bow down. I bowed back and watched the man walk away down the alley for a while, until he disappeared around the bend.

"What do you say, Shizuka?"

"It looked plausible enough, you know." Mizuchi wrapped herself in a warm jacket. Because of the knitted hat pulled down over her eyes and the scarf covering her nose, the girl looked like a frowning sparrow, who had fluffed her feathers in advance for the arrival of winter. "Let's show Kaname the recording and see what she says."

"What do you think?"

"I'll say that it hasn't even been a year, and you, Yuto Amakawa, have already forced me to protect those I hated the most!" The snake squinted. And, although it wasn't visible under the fabric, I'll bet a thousand yen, she also grinned, so sarcastically.

"I didn't force you..."

"...But he convinced me! Even better, you know. You're playing the poor trusting girl any way you want... and not one, but four!"

"About kami-sama..."

"Don't sigh, but offer your hand. Like that. And act like a man, since you've already dragged a girl out on a date!"

"Wow! And when did I do it?"

"I'm surprised myself. So nimble! You know!"

Autumn park, dark tree trunks, almost leafless crowns. The gray, low sky overhead, now and then sprinkling another handful of small water droplets on my head. For an hour, problems and tasks ceased to exist for me, I just walked, breathed deeply and enjoyed the closeness of a silent companion. I didn't want to solve anything, even the annoying itch of the growing problem of the magical alarm system, I managed to get out of my head with some effort. An hour later, the world reminded us of itself: Do materialized next to us on the path in her invariably white robe and handed Mizuchi a cell phone. Our "contact" cell phone for communication with hinoyama. The Goddess of Rivers chuckled and handed me the phone. Message: place, time, name. Ageha has found new candidates to join the clan and the Squad.

153.

"I-it's cold!" Rinko almost jumped up and down, despite the fact that I forced her to change clothes twice before this hike in the mountains: someone decided that they could force themselves in a skirt and stockings like in the city. Moreover, the hefty lake on the shore of which the city is built works like a huge heat accumulator: it heats up slowly in spring and cools down slowly in autumn. It is still quite warm on the streets and there is no such piercing wind as here at the peaks. Ageha's done well, she's already worked out her advance, even from the top: not only has she found sane candidates for negotiations, but she's also chosen a place so that if anything happens, we don't ruin a couple of blocks. One disadvantage is that it's very unpleasant now among the hills, under an overcast winter sky. However, only two of us are uncomfortable.: Me and Kuzaki and Yokai don't freeze... or dressed warmly. Sasa finally got into a warm winter kimono, quilted like a blanket: Hiroe alone knows how much effort it cost. Mizuchi is wearing his favorite blue jacket. Kashi, dressed in an ordinary business suit and coat, does not like Japanese clothes. To my question, "why?" The spirit, which was wrapped up in organizational matters, replied, "I ate too many dead Americans." That's what society does to a huma... Yokai is doing it — even black humor has appeared! I hope...

I looked around my company once more: if I really understood at least a little bit about the social relationships among Japanese spirits, then I managed to assemble almost a "dreamteam" of local bottling! Two strong spirits, and Mizuchi is generally A-class in the taxonomy of exorcists, and Kashi is B+, which is also very good. Sasa the blacksmith is not so much a strong figure as a statuesque one... and at the same time, it certifies that we are exactly the ones Ageha agreed on. All this beauty is accompanied by the clan leader Amakawa, the only clan with whom "you can talk and negotiate." And for a "snack" — Rinko with a "Blessing". That is, despite all the problems of the last six months, I still managed to adequately prepare for the realization of my own... No, OUR long-term plan... at least in something.

We saw the team of the "second contracting party" ahead of time: in order to reach the flat stone platform where we were waiting for the Tengu, nicknamed "Smashing", they had to walk along the gentle slope of the mountain, overgrown exclusively with yellowed grass. However, it's not like they saw us later, especially considering this interesting bird that has been hovering over the mountains for about half an hour. Tengu is not just a "raven", however, he cannot fly himself... seem. The "Warrior Teacher"-another nickname from historical chronicles-was approaching us in the company of two students: at least all three were dressed in identical brown kimonos tied with wide monochrome belts. And each carried a sword tucked into his belt. Tengu's students looked like completely ordinary young people in traditional clothes, which perfectly concealed the details of the figure, but the Striker himself stood out — and how! Two meters tall, not at all typical for the short ethnic group of our part of Asia, a figure, without a twinge of conscience, I will say — heroic, and snow-gray long hair. "If you spray your hair and tint it, you'll look just like Zaraki Kenpachi," flashed through my mind.

As soon as the group of "ravens" reached the forty-meter line, I began to stare at the undisturbed auras of the Tengu and the fighters. Well, what can I say? The "right" one is at the level of Kashi, the left one is weaker, Striking itself somewhere in the Mizuchi area. However, at least twice as much experience, and also active, turned the "raven" into a terrible opponent — and now we don't even have insurance in the form of a sniper, the risk of detecting an ambush and disrupting negotiations was too high. Tengu would have had enough influence to arrange such a "black PR" for our company that it would have been possible to put an end to the plans on the spot. On the other hand, the spirit of war, which was "socialized" three hundred years ago, is unlikely to be able to cope with Mizuchi with one sword, and even some power over the air will not help him. The space around me rippled with the released force — for a few seconds, the entourage deployed their auras, overloading the protection of the clothes turned into amulets — a kind of spiritual etiquette in action. Not ten steps away, the retinue fell behind their Teacher, and I had to mirror the maneuver — step forward, bow and..

"Amakawa Yuto-san."

"Tengu "Smashing"-san."

I have received your invitation to negotiate, young Chief Amakawa.

"The one who handed it over was convincing enough for me to accept it, but I must say right away: despite those who are behind your back, there is blood and enmity between us. I'll listen to you, I promised you that, but don't expect sympathy just for the sake of words."

At that moment, I really wanted to see Rinko — the old yokai portrayed the "movie Yakuza leader" so well that I wanted to applaud. I think my friend appreciated it -so much pathos, and that's it... Damn, does Tengu really think that the plan "we will build a new world with humans and yokai" can be outlined in five minutes without straining?!

"I understand, Smasher-san." I politely replied and, making an inviting gesture with my hand, offered. "Join us, and so will your companions. Shizuka, please..."

The Goddess of Rivers nodded, lifting the water from the hollow, where the rains poured a whole small lake, and turned it into a thin-walled dome.

Slowly, so that the other side, God forbid, does not decide that this is an attack. In a few moments, the water crystallizes into a transparent bubble with two openings and a small vent on top. I casually touch the ice once, twice, turning the fragile structure into a normal temporary pavilion. I'm putting a small but powerful portable gasoline generator on the frozen ground. At this time, Kashi lays out a camping table and the necessary number of chairs in front of the slightly awesome guests, then drapes the windows and exits with thin film curtains. I put the heat generator on the floor. Now there's lighting, a laptop, a projector, and a large roll-up screen on a tripod.: it's good when you have your own email spirit (every nix administrator will confirm my words!) the capacity of a small truck. I quickly do my usual job — I connect this whole puzzle with different-sized wires. Finally, I turn on the power generator. Finally, our guests are finished off by a hanger raised from the grass, on which we calmly hang clothes. Shizuka, as a real secretary, starts handing out transparent plastic folders with documents to everyone — for the sake of solidity (and not to confuse), we have prepared complete sets not only for Tengu and Co.

"Dear sirs," I took the floor when everyone was seated. Armed with a laser pointer and a remote control for flipping through slides in a Pawer Point, I stood with my back to the screen and, without looking at the text, which I nevertheless thoughtfully printed out, finally began the topic of negotiations:

"At the beginning of our meeting, I will briefly describe the goals and objectives of the group of organizations currently operating in our person in the city of Takamiya. Pay attention to the screen..."

It's been a long time! At first, I told the story, then Kashi, Shizuka, and even Rinko took the floor. We did not leave aside too many interests of various parties to be presented to possible associates. Even if we were rejected, the lyrics and the sequence of the speeches were written by Hiroe and me in such a way as to "get into the brains" of raven and his entourage as much as possible. The same viral marketing: in any case, the spirits from the dojo of the Smashing somehow communicate with each other and with outsiders. One of the few islands of conditional stability in the cruel world of spirits attracted those who found themselves near the "school" with the opportunity to almost safely talk to other intelligent spirits, even if they did not possess the power comparable to half a ton of TNT. A little unfair? Not at all! It's a great way to convey your point of view to people who are convinced in advance that you're wrong, but who are nevertheless fine with logic and critical thinking. Naturally, the "trap" worked: asking questions and trying to figure out our long-term program (promised to listen? Now listen!), yokai got involved in discussions and arguments, defending their point of view, and without noticing themselves, they already went to adjust our developments, criticizing and offering their solutions. Tengu's students were especially good at this — they were already hoarse, and Shizuka and Rinko, as "housewives", took turns just managing to bring fresh tea and change the dishes. When it got dark, in the heat of the argument, the pointedly cold and calm Raven "dispersed":