He was still as tall, muscular, with fire in his eyes. His most terrible disadvantage in the physical sense was a slight lethargy at those moments when the situation at the

"shooters" was heated to the limit and the shooting started. So he was the last to know about the fact that everything had gone wrong… But he opened fire with a frenzy. You should see it. A big "eagle" fires like a man possessed, screaming all over "Ivanovskaya" and never hits anyone: all the bullets seem to fly in the wrong direction on purpose. And it's not that he didn't want to hit and aimed too badly, it's just that during such "eruptions" of emotions and adrenaline, his hands shook a lot, and consequently the weapon in these hands. In general, he is not a bad guy, but he takes his work too close to his heart and considers Koza-Nostra his direct family, probably because he has no family of his own. The organization simply pulled him out of the orphanage when he was seventeen and made him their "son".

He led me down a long corridor, stopped suddenly and pointed to a small door on the right: "The boss has moved in there for a while. I opened it and saw Jean Carlo lying on a disassembled sofa.

Usually a very formidable and strong-willed man without a single trace of insecurity in his voice, who always gave the right commands left and right, was now lying in bed almost helplessly. LaSkoltza knew how to find the right "warm" approach to each of his subordinates, so that he not only did a good job, but put his heart into it (possessing a wonderful talent – finding the "golden mean" between "carrot and stick"). He was very often directly involved in some cases, thus encouraging the guys. Three times the Ambassador was in critical condition after shootings, and each time, when his life seemed to be over, he had a second breath. Such people can be "waterboarded" for the rest of their lives, so the fact of his illness surprised me very much.

"Oh, I greet you Faust, come closer. – I entered, closed the door, and approached the sofa as requested. – That's it… well – he coughed, along with rusty wheezes and extraneous noises, it was clear to a fool (I emphasize, only to a fool) that it was pneumonia – at the hour of the meeting… you see… I can't, you see for yourself.... – he pointed to his throat – and you are the highest rank after me in all Bohemia at the moment – a smile spread on his face – yes… I remember myself the same way… Well, go… Cepino will explain everything – the cough was coming out of him.

"Get well," I replied and thought, "If only you were still sick."

11:44 p.m. July 21.

I was led to the end room of the corridor, where Cepino, who had a short mustache and narrow sideburns, was located. It was the first time I'd seen this guy, but I knew at once that he was no genius. I could see nothing interesting in his face. It seemed too trivial, even with the extra vegetation. The eyes are just empty and seemingly monochromatic (black circle on a white background). The forehead was too narrow, and if you could tell the weight of brains by it, anyone would say: "About 200 grams."

"Vice-boss," – quipped our young man. "What?"

"Now that's what you should be called…" "Call me Faust and don't call me Faust." "Whatever you say…"

"The brake lights don't work?"

"Yes, yes… Whatever you say… Anyway, there's a meeting with Koschei the Immortal…"

"You didn't get anything mixed up, did you?" "No."

"Are you sure?" "Yes."

"So who's the meeting with?" "With Koschei."

"Alright, Serpent Gorynych, you better tell me who he is and why we should mess with him?"

"He's the new head of the local mafia…"

"You must be the first to answer my first question." "His name is Koschey…"

"Cool. Someone tell me, are there any other smart people inducted here?"

Galanzio, standing behind me raised his voice, "No one else knows the situation except the Ambassador and Cepino, sorry."

"Nothing, Jarno, it's not your fault… So, Gorynych, tell me, what's his first and last name?"

"Jose Mortain." "A Frenchman?" "Yes."

"Have you looked at the dossier?" "No."

"Then what makes you think he's a he?" "Well… Last name and first name…"

"And my name is Faust, that I am a German?" "Ah, don't you think so?"

"Your next task will be a dossier." "Will do."

"Next. What does he want?" "Wants to talk…"

"I realize it's not to go to the bathhouse. What does he want?" "Talk…"

"Yeah, about what, your three-headed head." "About the case."

"Which one?" "Obviously important."

"Uh, how about a little more specific?" "I don't get it."

"Do you know what this is about?" "No. He just wanted to meet…" "He doesn't have a cell phone?" "He doesn't trust him."

"Have you, what, already tried it?". "I don't, the boss does."

"Well, okay I'll try it too. Isn't he a 'lefty' by any chance?" "What do you mean?"

"I mean, isn't he a policeman?" "Apparently not. The source is reliable." "Which one?"

"Police Connections."

"I see. That's probably what you said, 'Isn't he a cop?'" "I don't know? I wasn't the one who asked."