Sergey Redkin
The Perfect Match
Prologue
He was sitting on the stone floor in the Hall of Prayer with his mind creating the worlds that he was the master of. He was about thirty-five, his head was shaved, and he was wearing a black kimono beneath black robes held shut in the front with a sash1. It was quite chilly for August, but his body did not feel the chilly wind that was getting through the open windows of the ancient2 pagoda nor the coldness of the old stones he was sitting on. He could feel that soon he would be able to project his power to the real world around him. The monks in the temple he was in knew better than3 to disturb him during his meditations. For the past five years, his power was constantly enhancing4, and the monks could feel that too.
There were three steps in his process of achieving Control, where he could feel that the power of his thought could make things move and bend5 other peoples ability to think and overpower6 their emotions. Before getting to Control, however, there were Calmness and Detachment7. He was in the process of getting calm when a bright lightning of a sharp emotion pierced8 through his mind. He saw the image of his father. He frowned9 at this unexpected occurrence10 and opened his eyes.
Hes dead, he whispered.
He sat in silence for another minute. His face relaxed and a smile appeared.
At last.
Chapter 1
Back to Business
Look at the Moon, Lizzy said, pointing to the bright big blueish11 circle in the sky.
It looks lonely, Mark said.
They were sitting outside a country cottage that used to belong to Lizzys late mother. There was no way for her to go back to the apartment she had shared with her dead boyfriend. The police were still looking for her in connection with the dead body that her neighbors started to smell and called the authorities to investigate. Her cousin Anastasia, being her closest friend and next of kin12, put away some of her stuff in storage after the police cleared the crime scene. When Lizzy reached out to Anastasia, it took a lot of effort to convince her cousin that she was fine and not brainwashed by some cult. There was a reason she could not contact the police just yet. Lizzy could not reveal13 why she was absent for more than two months either and tried not to see any other friends to avoid interrogation14. Everything had to be done discreetly15. The less people knew that she was back the better. Anastasia arranged for them to move into the cottage only after the police searched the place.
Its not lonely, it has the Earth, she said and put her head on Marks shoulder. Tonight, its called Blue Moon.
It was a bit cold outside, and they were wrapped in a quilt16 that Lizzys mother bought in some mountain village in Thailand where she went with her father, Peter, before they got married.
Is it always blue here? he asked.
Its not blue at all. Its just a name for the second full moon in a month, I think.
How many full moons do you usually get?
I think there are twelve, but occasionally you get the 13
th
I dont think our moons get to be called anything. Theyre just moons. Boring. I like your Blue Moon, even though it still looks lonely to me.
Tell me more about your world, she asked, getting cozier by his side.
I need to learn more about yours to know the differences better, dont I.
True.
Will we have time to do that?
I hope we will.
She kissed him on the lips and stood up.
We have a long day tomorrow, she said, gave him her hand and pulled him up.
***
The next day they were supposed to meet with their contact person Peters acquaintance17 who had promised to introduce them to a group called The Committee. The group that was secretly working on eliminating the threat that was coming from the late Dolions supporters. There were three ladies the groups leaders who held high positions in the medical research industry in three different countries. They knew about Lizzys role in eradicating18 Dolion and most of all about the unique qualities of her blood. They were eager19 to meet her. The man whom they were meeting had called the cottage landline two days ago. Mark was the one who talked to him and agreed on the details for the meeting.
Lizzy woke up early and watched Mark sleeping for a few minutes before jumping in the shower and starting breakfast. He walked in the kitchen still slumberous20 while she was making eggs and hugged her from behind.
Good morning, he said and kissed her on the neck.
Hi, sleepyhead21.
Howd you sleep?
She had not been sleeping well ever since she was violently introduced to the other world. She did not want to bother Mark with her insomnia22 and never woke him up. She could fall asleep for a brief time, but that didnt bring much relaxation. She would wake up and silently lie in bed, trying to get rid of23 the images of the dead people she knew or did not know well but witnessed 24their deaths. Despite the horror of those nightmares, there was one more thing that bothered her. After they came back, among the flashbacks of the past two months, she started to see a person who stood at a distance looking at her. He was present in almost all her dreams. The image was not clear, just a male silhouette in, what seemed like, a long coat.
Ok, lets eat and be on our way25. What time are we meeting the man? Lizzy asked.
10 AM sharp, so we still have some time.
She placed the pan with the eggs on a wooden cutting board that was already on the kitchen table, next to a watermelon they had bought at the farmers market the day before.
Could you get the forks, please? she asked Mark. Ill cut Mr. Watermelon here.
No plates?
Lets just eat from the pan. Its faster that way and no need to wash dishes.
Practical.
She sliced the fruit in half. Took one half and sliced it again in two equally big parts. Then she took one of the quarters and cut it quickly into five triangles. After that she put each of the triangles on its side and cut the red flesh out, tossing the green rinds in the waste basket. The pulp triangles were also cut into cubes. She used her knife to scoop up the cubes and throw them into a large blue china bowl. She did the same with the other quarter and the entire process took two minutes.
Where did you learn how to do that? Mark asked, watching the full process in fascination26.
Lizzy smiled. My mother learned that somewhere in Asia and always cut fruit that way. I guess I picked it up from her.
Its fast, Mark said and sat down at the table ready to eat.
***
The contact a short bolding overweight man in his 50s was waiting for them on the side of the road next to the gas station two kilometers away from the cottage. They walked to the meeting through the forest that Lizzy knew very well. She used to walk here with her mother when she was a little girl. It was a good day for a walk sunny and warm. They saw him before he spotted them.
Is that him? Lizzy asked.
I think so, Mark said. Fits the description.
Is there a code word were supposed to use to make sure he is our guy?
He told me that hed recognize us.
Not much of a spy, is he?
Lets do it then, he said and took a step out of the forest thicket27.
As soon as they were in the clear, the man acknowledged them with a nod and started to walk to a grey minivan that was parked near the gas station minimarts entrance. He opened the drivers door and slid the passenger door open. Then he got in the drivers seat, closed the door but left the passenger door open.
I guess thats our cue28, Mark said.
They walked to the van and climbed into the back.
Youre to follow the instructions, the man said as soon as they closed the door and gave them a large manila envelope. There are two passports, the car key, and some money.