Chapter 9

Anna was looking forwards to learning how to drive with Semyon, but before that, she was intrigued to learn how Geser was going to teach her to use her gift. She wasn't even certain about the full extent of her power, only that she could things with electricity. At the Gorsvet Headquarters, Semyon took Anna's hand and lead her up to Geser's office at the top floor of the building. They walked in, Anna remembering the long table from her visit to see the Lord of Light last night.

"Are you fitting in well so far?" Geser asked.

"Certainly Boris Ignatovich," Anna replied.

"Did you behave yourself last night Semyon Pavlovich?"

"As ever sir," Semyon replied.

Geser glanced at Anna, who smiled and nodded.

"Good to hear," he noted. "Please take a seat."

Semyon lead Anna to the far end of the table closest to the desk, pulling out a chair for her to sit on. She sat down, Geser pulling out another chair and sitting down opposite her. He glanced up at Semyon, who was still hovering around waiting to see what he could do.

"Would you like to stay Semyon?" Geser asked.

"If you don't mind sir," he replied.

"Then take a seat my friend; you seem to have developed quite a strong friendship with out new recruit. This is very promising for you Anna. Semyon is a good man and he deserves to have a good woman as a companion; I'm sure you'll fill that one empty space in his life nicely."

She blushed and glanced at Semyon quickly.

"It would be a privilege," she said eventually.

"Of course," Geser replied.

"It doesn't take much to charm her," Semyon noted.

He smiled, leaning back in his seat and indicating for Geser to continue. The boss nodded his head and turned back to Anna, who was waiting expectantly to begin her training for the Night Watch.

"To your gift then Anna," he began.

"You said I need to control it," Anna replied.

"Of course; if you do not learn then you could die."

"I've been told that I learn fast."

"That does seem to be the case, but that is what I would expect from you. However, I will not be your tutor; I will give you this one lesson today and then I will hand you over to Semyon for instruction."

"Why Semyon?"

"He'll be more suitable than myself."

"I can charge things like batteries."

"So, you have learnt something unique there; it is what we call particle telekinesis where you can move small atoms with your mind. You have learnt to use magic with the energy that the electrons have; but you have not even scratched the surface yet! Any untrained Magician can turn a light on and off, but it is unusual that you have learnt to use electrons to your advantage. No Magician has been able to do that, not even Semyon here. Your potential is quite interesting."

"Nice one Anna!" Semyon smiled.

"I'm a Magician?" Anna asked, a little stunned.

"Of course. You have not been aware of this?"

"Never. I've only been told that I'm an Other."

"Well, now you know. Semyon can give your further tuition in that field."

Semyon smiled. "As one of the best below the boss here!"

"Can I do more?" Anna asked Geser.

"Of course!" he replied. "You could create an entire lightning storm at will if you concentrate all of your energy; even from within the Gloom. I imagine that is what Zavulon would love to use you for if you became one of the Day Watch. But I've been told you seem to use your powers to create light in the event of its absence. Ana Vyacheslav tells me you fear the dark."

"I always have done."

"And your strength awakened inside you by reacting to that."

"I always tried to make the lights come on in power cuts."

"You converted your fear into energy."

"That's what it felt like, yes."

"Have you felt tired after using it?"

"As a matter of fact yes I have!"

Geser nodded. "That's because you immediately use all of your energy in one go because you have not yet learnt to limit your usage of it. For example, you do not need the same amount of energy to charge a battery as you do to create a lightning storm. Do you understand that?"

"That seems plane enough."

"Good! Then we can begin."

"How do we start?"

"You have already mastered the strange usage of particle telekinesis, but only making electrons move in a space they are already in. For example, giving devices power simply moves the electrons through them. You need to learn how to make them move into places they do not usually go into, or cannot go into alone. For example, take that light switch over there on the wall."

He indicated to it.

"You need to learn how to take electrons and lure them into your hand. When using that power against a Dark Other, think of yourself a little like a Police Officer using a Tazer on a criminal. You can absorb some electrons from the plug and throw them at an enemy, stunning them and making an easy arrest."

"I can do that?" Anna asked.

Semyon suppressed a smile; she was exited about all this. She really would be a pleasure to teach.

"You seem surprised Anna," Geser queried.

"It's an awful lot of power."

"This is why you need to be careful. You could pull out anywhere between 1 to 250 volts of electricity and then throw those electrons at someone. That is the potentially the difference between a faint tingle and death."

"Can I control that?"

Geser nodded. "That is what I am going to teach you."

"How long will it take to master it?"

"As long as you take to master it. I am teaching you this simply because Semyon does not know how to use it, therefore I have to help you learn yourself. I will give you this one lesson today and then you'll gradually work things out for yourself as Semyon teaches you the other vital steps to become a powerful Light Magician. Do you understand that?"

"Of course sir."

"Semyon will instruct you to use the Gloom also."

Anna glanced over to Semyon, who nodded.

"It's not too hard," Semyon stated. "Seeing as you seem to learn quite quickly, you had no trouble coming out when I told you to. As soon as you can do it properly, you can go in for as long as you want, but it is very draining on your energy. The hardest part is something you may have to learn, and that's summoning the Gloom from within the Gloom. Only really powerful Others can sustain that for a long period of time without having to come out. Summoning a Third Level of the Gloom is even nastier; I've only gone that deep once and I never will do again."

"What can happen without proper training?" Anna asked, curiously.

"The Gloom can take you. It's said to be a fate worse than death."

"Have you been in before last night?" Geser questioned.

"I'm not really sure," Anna replied.

"Think back to a time when you found it incredibly dark; different but familiar like everything was normal, but not. A place where time travelled more slowly; the realm of shadows is also what it is known as."

"Yes, I've had that once! There was a winter thunderstorm before I came to Moscow; about two weeks ago. There was a power cut with it and I remembered how horrible it felt. I tried to make the lights come on, and then I suddenly found everything went really dark. Everything was different and I remember hearing mosquitoes all around me. Then, just as I felt myself drifting into unconsciousness into the darkness, my sister cut herself and her drops of blood seemed to bring me out."

"She distracted the Gloom," Semyon stated.

"But she's not an Other."

"Her screams of pain most likely woke you up," Geser added. "That was enough to give you some energy to distract the Gloom; so really it was you all along that allowed yourself to pull free."

"But last night, Semyon just touched me and I came out."

"But it wasn't taking you then and Semyon is incredibly powerful."

"What if I had stayed in longer?"

"If you went into a Gloom coma, Semyon would have needed to give it blood."

"Or someone else," Semyon added quickly.

Geser smiled. "Or someone else."

He turned back to Anna.

"Shall we begin?" he asked.

"When ever you're ready Boris Ignatovich," Anna replied.

"Good, so we'll start with what we were talking about before; moving electrons from a plug into your hand and throwing them away. Of course, this is the first case of this I have actually seen; not to scare you, but an Uninitiated Dark Other had this once and he killed himself."

"Great."

"You need to show me how you do it so I can guide you."

Geser got to his feet and unplugged his desk lamp, moving around the other side of the long table and setting it down in front of Anna. He returning to his seat and regarded her as she looked puzzled.

"Turn that lamp on," he instructed.

"Full power?" Anna queried.

"Yes; show me how you do it."

Anna took a deep breath and stared at the lamp, trailing her eyes from the bulb to the base and the plug. She reached out and took hold of the plug, holding both of the two round pins between her forefinger and thumb.

"Why do you need contact?" Geser asked.

"To give the electrons energy," Anna replied.

"You don't need to; let go of the plug."

Anna followed his instructions and let go of the pins.

"You need to see, not touch," Geser continued. "Where are the dead electrons?"

"They want to go to the bulb from the plug," Anna replied.

"Then concentrate on the bulb, you can ignore the rest of the lamp. Now, just focus the energy from your mind with your eyes instead of your hands. You may find less energy is wasted in heat using this method. I remember many trainees before you; Semyon took a surprisingly long time to keep his hands off things!"

Semyon blushed.

"You taught Semyon?" Anna queried.

"One of my most gifted students," Geser smiled. "Off you go."

Anna looked back to the lamp. "Eyes instead of hands?"

"It'll do exactly the same thing."

"But how?"

"Just imagine the path they take in your head."

Anna stared at the lamp, trying to block out the slightly irritating presence of the boss and Semyon watching her. She concentrated on the electrons and as she began to will them to move, she felt the energy build it. The light flickered a little and died before it eventually came on, lighting up that small proportion of the room.

"I can do it that way!" she proclaimed.

"You see, it's no different," Geser replied.

Anna cut her concentration off and the lamp flickered and died.

"Do you feel less heat now?" asked Geser.

"Yes, a lot less," Anna replied.

"That means you'll not get so tired. Through contact, you were easily giving away far too much energy and that made you tired. But now, simply through concentration, you are only giving away enough to move the electrons. It will make all the difference, especially when you go into the Gloom."

"What about the light switch?"

"We'll get to that. This will be a bit more difficult."

"Is it not dangerous?"

"You seem to be confident enough with the safety."

"So I could touch a pylon and not die?"

"Touch a pylon, and you will defensively steel all of the electrons."

"And then you'll have to give them back!" Semyon laughed. "Just think, you could go to a power station, absorb all the electrons from the pylons and then hold them to ransom. You could be rich, but we'd better not let that happen. That would be most inappropriate for a Night Watch agent."

"Indeed," Geser said, sternly.

"That's what the Day Watch would have you do."

Geser nodded and turned back to Anna.

"You will learn only to use your powers for others."

"Yes sir," Anna replied affirmatively.

"For now, we'll only concentrate on the technique of getting the electrons from the plug to your hand. Naturally, you will absorb a full supply of 250 volts, so we'll leave practicing your aim. Controlling the amount of voltage will become natural to you when Semyon teaches you about energy control. Then your aim will be perfected when he teaches you certain abilities."

"What do I use for a target?"

"Hmm, I'll leave that for Semyon to decide."

"I tend to manufacture my own targets," Semyon explained.

"Like what?"

"You can't muscle out of this one Semyon," Geser cut in with a smirk. "Our dear friend here has a funny thing about using himself as a target. Most Magicians, like myself, shield ourselves and get our students to use us as targets. Semyon never liked that idea, so he conjured up his own targets. However, you need a live target to practice stunning techniques on and I'm sure Semyon would volunteer to help you, wont you?"

"It'll be an honour," Semyon replied, flatly.

"Don't worry, only a few volts."

"Could I wear rubber boots or something?"

"It'll only be a tingle at the level."

"Just don't throw 250 volts at me!"

"I'd never dream of it Semyon," Anna told him, kindly.

She reached back and ruffled his hair reassuringly. "Don't worry."

"Not at all," Semyon smiled.

"Settled then," Geser stated. "I've worked out exactly how you do this now; I shall practice it myself sometime! I'll show you how to absorb electrons and then give them back. Afterwards, I think you need to visit your father and let him know how you're getting on. And then Semyon, you may teach her how to drive."

"Now that I'm looking forwards to!"

"Take your time over this Anna."

"I'll prepare for the worst," she replied.

"Don't get too frustrated if it doesn't work; I'll be quite amazed if you do manage to do it for the first time. All I need you to do is to take a good long look at that light switch on the wall and imagine the electrons flowing through the wires. Then you can use your energy to try and lure them to your hand. It'll just take you a while to give them just enough energy to jump through the air."

"What about voltage?"

"Don't worry about that just yet."

Anna took a deep breath and turned to regard the light switch on the wall. She looked inside, trying to see through into the thick cables and at the flow of electrons through them. There were millions of them, all of them waiting to be given her energy. She concentrated on a few of them, trying to give them energy like she had done with the lamp. She could feel that there was only a small amount she needed to give them to set them free. But the current was more attractive to them, and they didn't want to budge or go anywhere they couldn't.

She concentrated on the power of the current, feeling the energy it had and realising that it was a little more to allow the electrons to remain in the wires. Anna fought harder, gradually increasing her thought power to transfer an energy amount similar to that of the current. The electrons noticed it, but were too lazy to move. With an extra push, Anna caught them and pulled them away from the current. As she did, a shower of sparks radiated out from the plug and scattered across the floor.

"Not bad," Geser noted with a small smile.

"I gave them enough to leave!" Anna proclaimed, happily.

"You fought well against that current for a beginner."

"Can I try it again?"

"Of course."

"Are you sure?" asked Semyon, concerned.

"Let's see; it wont hurt her."

Semyon stilled looked concerned, but Anna turned to regard him and nodded her head reassuringly. She turned back to the light switch on the wall, her eyes now expressing a challenge to the current. She wanted its electrons, but it wasn't going to release them without a fight. She deepened her concentration, finding herself looking into the Gloom; teasing the electrons out of the wires would not be enough this time. She needed to show them through the Gloom that she had a want to possess them. As in power cuts, she desperately wanted the lights to ease her fear of the dark and that fuelled her energy into the electrons. Now she wanted the power of electricity at her fingertips, and that desire would fuel her energy.

The electrons were set free more easily this time and they showered to the floor as sparks again. Anna fought against the resistance of the air, summoning the power of the Gloom to help her move them. Eventually, a small bolt of light shot out from the light switch and into her hand. Almost nervously, Anna released the Gloom and looked at her hand, seeing the glowing electrons flowing through her fingertips. She glanced up, seeing the smiles on the faces of Geser and Semyon.

"You used the Gloom to do it!" Semyon proclaimed.

"I felt I needed it to give them more of an impulse," Anna replied.

"Remarkable for an untrained Magician to use it so naturally."

"I can feel them in my hand."

"That's 250 volts of electricity," Geser stated.

"What do I do with it?"

"Give it back."

Geser nodded to Semyon, who reached under the long table and took out an extension plug lead. He plugged it into the mains and switched it on, setting the four socket extension plug on the table. Geser indicated to it, Anna looking from it back to her glowing hand. She gradually released her energy, using the release to guide the electrons back into the mains. They all travelled away through her fingertips and back into the plug sockets, filtering back into the wires behind the walls.

"I think that'll do from me," Geser concluded.

"I had control over them!" Anna proclaimed.

"They will follow any direction you give them."

"It's almost like creating invisible wires."

"You can think of it like that, yes."

Geser nodded and got to his feet, pulling the extension plug out of the mains and wrapping the cord about it. He stored it away under the long table, pushing his chair back under the desk.

"I'm sure Vsevolod will like to hear from you," he stated.

"I'll drive her down," Semyon replied.

He got to his feet and pushed his chair back, offering Anna his hand. She accepted, taking it and allowing him to gently pull her to her feet.

"Semyon will carry on with your tuition," Geser explained.

"What will I learn from him?" Anna queried.

"All of the basic things a Magician should learn."

"Like driving," Semyon added with a smile.

"Enjoy yourselves."

Anna and Semyon left the office and travelled downstairs, she still staring at her hand in amazement. There was no tingling sensation left from the electrons; it was almost as if they had never been there. It was still all she could think about as Semyon lead them over to the yellow van and they climbed inside.

"That's really impressive," Semyon proclaimed.

"I never knew I could do that," Anna replied.

"I guess it would come in useful."

"I can keep the fridge running through a power cut!"

"That'll save your milk, I imagine."

They laughed and strapped themselves in, Semyon starting the engine and driving off away from the Gorsvet HQ. Anna had a sudden thought to contact Maxim and tell him everything that had happened in Moscow. Even though Vyacheslav probably would, it would be better if she told him herself. That thought passed the time quickly enough until Semyon parked the yellow truck outside the pub where Vsevolod worked. They climbed out, both of then laying eyes on Anna's father, but he was not sat at the table alone.

"Oh no," Semyon groaned.

"I've seen that man in the metro!" Anna noted.

"That's Zavulon, General of the Darkness."

"Hmm, that sounds bad."

He nodded. "Very bad."

The two of them entered the pub and crossed the room to where Vsevolod was sat with Zavulon. Both of them turned to regard the new arrivals, Vsevolod smiling at his daughter with surprise.

"Anna!" he exclaimed. "Glad you came."

"Boris Ignatovich said I should," Anna replied.

Vsevolod regarded her Gorsvet jacket.

"You became an electrician then," he observed.

"I guess it felt right for me," Anna replied.

"So it is true," Zavulon cut in.

He turned to regard Anna.

"The Light who came from Dark," he stated. "Geser didn't make that up."

Instinctively, Semyon put an arm about Anna's shoulders.

"Geser never makes things up," he growled.

"I'm tired of you Semyon Pavlovich," Zavulon replied. "Have you not taken the hint that nobody listens to you any more? You're just a Magician who's been on this Earth too long you're becoming an irritation."

"No one insults Semyon in front of me," Anna said, defiantly.

"Yes, Alisa told me you had a thing for the van driver."

"He's one of the nicest men I know."

"Playing the charmer Semyon, how touching."

"Why don't you leave, Zavulon?" Vsevolod asked.

Zavulon glared at Vsevolod. "You're telling me to leave?"

"Yes, my contract says I am not to be disturbed unwontedly by either side. You can stay away from my daughter too, you and that Witch Alisa. She chose the side of Light and she'll be another great Light Magician. You lost, Zavulon. You only sent Alisa to field her whereas Semyon had already succeeded in charming her. You should have been quicker."

"There's more to me than meets the eyes, Vsevolod."

Zavulon got to his feet and vanished into the Gloom, leaving the pub through the parallel door. Semyon and Anna sat down opposite Vsevolod, taking the offer of drinks when it came.

"Is that your first meeting with Zavulon?" Vsevolod asked.

"I saw him briefly in the metro," Anna replied.

"He wanted you to turn Evil."

"Then he should have stopped Semyon flirting."

Semyon laughed. "I'd liked to have seen him try."

"You like my daughter do you?"

Semyon blushed, Anna not failing to notice his sheepishness.

"He's a good man," he stated. "You deserve him."

Anna smiled. "Even the boss said that."

"Well, the odds are on you two then!"

He laughed and clapped Semyon on the arm. "Good luck."

Semyon reddened again. "I'm teaching Anna to drive."

"Well, top level Magicians are the best instructors."

One of the barmen arrived with the drinks, Anna noticing how good looking he was. But she smiled; the first thing that came into mind was how little she could compare him to Semyon. She'd have to face it sooner or later; Semyon was exactly the type of Russian man she looking for.

"When are we going driving then?" Anna asked.

"As soon as we've finished the drinks I'd say," Semyon replied. "Seeing as you are so eager to learn my professional driving skills. If anyone says I'm a dangerous driver, just tell them at my level, I can drive with closed eyes!"

"You're still in one piece I guess."

"Exactly!"

Vsevolod shrugged. "Driving is a useful skill."

"That's why I'd like to learn," Anna replied.

"You just want your own truck, don't you?"

"Those Gorsvet vans are pretty cool."

"But I'm still the number one driver," Semyon cut in.

She stroked his arm. "Of course you are."

They finished off their drinks and left Vsevolod in the pub to get back to his shift. Semyon climbed back into the driver's seat and drove them out of the centre of Moscow. Anna watched as the tall flat blocks flashed passed the window outside, noticing how they seemed to increase in quality the further they drove out. This was the first time she'd really seen the suburbs of Moscow. There were plenty of young children out in the streets playing in the snow. Anna glanced at Semyon briefly. She felt she could be quite happy living in Moscow with him, even if they hadn't really decided what would happen to their relationship. But would it be wise to give up her engineering course at home in England and stay in Moscow? She imagined that would soon be made clear.

Eventually, Semyon turned off the main road and drove carefully along a gravel track. They ended up coming into a vast concrete clearing that had a small building and a tower by it. It looked like a hub and landing strip of an abandoned airfield.

"This will do," Semyon stated.

"Is this used any more?" Anna asked.

"I don't think so."

"We'll find out if an aeroplane tries to land."

"I've come here before and it's been empty."

"Do you teach all people how to drive?"

"Oh no! There were some illegal Dark Others setting up camp here and luring tourists off the motorway. We had to come all the way out here to catch them. There were no planes then, so hopefully there'll be no planes now."

"When was that?"

"Oh, the week before you came."

"Not that long ago then."

"We were still looking out for your flight then."

"You knew my flight number?"

"Yeah; Anton saw it in a vision of his."

"What about you?"

"I only use the gift of the Seer occasionally. I've seen enough now to know that if I get a vision now, it's only when something bad will happen. Anton has them all over the place, but he's only been with us 8 years now. But Geser's getting nervous, as if something's going to happen. I recon it's to do with the Great Other. Everything depends on his choice and we're all a little worried that he'll choose the side of Darkness. If he does, we'll all disappear and everything dies."

"So everything you do is all for nothing?"

"Hmm, it'd hard to think that."

"Can you help him make the right choice?"

"Technically we cannot do that."

"You almost influenced my choice."

"Sort of, but you'd already decided long before we met. You fear the dark and you feed off the light to help control that fear. As soon as you first began to realise your potential, you had subconsciously chosen the side of Light when you first entered the Gloom. I'm just a bonus."

He winked at her and smiled.

"A bonus," Anna repeated.

"Why not?"

He laughed. "Driving then!"

"Whenever you're ready."

"The most important think to use when you're driving is the seatbelt. If you don't use it, then you risk crashing through the windscreen on a sharp corner when you're in a hurry to save Anton or something."

"I probably wont use to much as you," Anna commented.

"Don't push it, I am teaching you!"

"I'm only teasing Semyon."

"Glad to hear it. Alright then, you'll probably know the pedals; that little one's clutch and those two are acceleration and break. That's your gear stick, that's your handbrake and that little tab is the indicator. But at the best of times, you'll forget to use it so I wouldn't worry. Shall we swap seats then?"

"Not just yet!"

"Why not?"

"I have no idea how to control it."

"I can't really tell you how; you just do."

"Can I watch you do it first?"

"You've seen my drive."

"No, I mean to concentrate on you properly and watch exactly what you do. I think I gradually began to pick up Russian from listening to my music and Maxim speaking on the phone. Maybe I'll pick up driving skills from watching you again, this time more closely than before."

"Well, if you think it'll help."

Semyon started up the truck again, Anna observing closely what he did with the gear stick. She studied him closely as he completed a few laps of the airfield and runway. Her concentration was mainly on his smooth control at the wheel, the slight changes in footwork on the pedals, his concentration in the mirrors and his gear changes. How hard should it be? All she really needed to do was memorise Semyon's actions and hopefully be able to use them as well as him.

"Are you ready yet?" he asked.

"I think so," Anna replied.

"Now you try."

Semyon drove it to a halt and put on the handbrake, unfastening his seatbelt. They changed places, Semyon helping her over with a small push and watching as she put on the seatbelt and take hold of the wheel. Now she needed to see if watching Semyon had taught her anything. Semyon reached over to the steering wheel and rested his hand over hers.

"Stay calm," he noted. "You're nervous."

"I've never done this before," Anna replied.

"Of course. I remember my first lesson, and that was when I was already a top level Magician! I was terrified to death. Possibly not so much as my instructor was, but be satisfied I feel fine."

He glanced at her briefly.

"I'll take over control if you loose it," he added.

"Alright then," she sighed. "I'll give it a go."

Semyon gently took her hand off the steering wheel and rested it on the handbrake lever, letting it go. Exhaling deeply and trying to relax, Anna released the handbrake and slowly put her foot down on the accelerator pedal. As she continued to driver around the airfield, she kept imagining how Semyon would control the vehicle. And as she thought about that, her own actions seemed to imitate that of Semyon's She must have been doing something right, because the expression on his face looked impressed.

"You're a natural driver!" he proclaimed. "Just like I became!"

"I just think of how you do it," Anna replied with a smile.

"Watch me that closely do you?"

"Oh yes Semyon, exceptionally closely."

"Want a bit of speed?"

"Why not!"

"Do a lap up the runway."

Anna turned away from the exit gate and headed out towards the landing strip. She put her foot down on the accelerator, hearing the wheels screech under the sudden burst of speed. An exhilarating feeling came across her as she opened the window and felt the ice cold wind blow on her face. She had so much energy in the excitement of realising she could driver; she had control over a vehicle and it felt so good.

That energy remained with her as she reached the end of the runway and turned back to face the hub and control tower. She could fell the heat in her hands travelling into the steering wheel. Without knowing it, she began to feel the electrons converting her energy in electricity. She felt them attracted to her energy and she saw the combustion process within the engine.

"It's getting hot," Semyon noted, perplexed.

"You can feel that?" Anna queried.

"Something's combusting!"

"Oh crap!"

As soon as Anna realised she was giving energy to the electrons and igniting the petrol, the engine sent as surge of flames out of the exhaust pipes. But it was now too late to control it. With an extra burst of power, the yellow van hurtled passed the airport hub and crashed through the hedge, leaping across the gravel track and into a nearby field. Anna released the wheel and slammed her foot on the brake pedal before the van buried the front into a snow drift.

"What the bloody hell was that?" Semyon asked, shocked.

Anna glanced at him apologetically. "Sorry."

"You did that?"

"I'm sorry. I got to excited about the thrill of going so fast down that runway. That excitement began to turn into energy and I subconsciously gave that energy to the electrons in the van. They went into the fuel chamber and ignited the petrol. I didn't mean for it to happen, it just… well… did."

"Can you control that?"

"Oh yes, it just overwhelmed me. All that excitement."

"I hate to think what you could do to me then!"

Anna quickly understood him and slapped him hard across the arm.

"What?" he protested.

"That's disgusting Semyon," Anna replied.

He smirked. "Sorry."

He glanced at his watch.

"We'd better get back to Gorsvet," he explained. "It's coming up to 6:00 and we need to get over to the Cosmos hotel to have dinner with your lot at 6:30. Can't keep them waiting and I'm getting rather hungry."

"6:00 already?" queried Anna.

"Time flies when you're having fun."

"Can I drive us back?"

"I guess so, just don't get to excited this time."

"I wont now that I know what can happen!"

"Other than that, very good for the first time."

He smiled at her, she returning it and releasing the handbrake. She turned out and away from the small snow drift the van had made friends with and joined the gravel track. From there, she turned back onto the main road and headed back into the centre of Moscow.