Chapter 15 – Training

The next morning they are back in the same living room. In the kitchen Ulrich is already waiting, this time together with the professor. Looking at the boys he says, Good morning. Breakfast first. Then you change into these training suits and we begin. Gobby goes with the professor. German, you stay with me. He points to a set of sports gear – MMA leggings and tops, blue tracksuits, socks, and wrestling shoes. The boys exchange glances and nod. Breakfast passes in near silence. Each of them is thinking about what is about to begin.

After breakfast they change quickly. German takes his notebook and pen. When they reach the tatami room he stays there with Ulrich, while Gobby follows the professor into the room with the computers. Ulrich looks at German for a moment and then begins, All right, let’s be honest. At your current level you cannot stand against someone built for physical combat. Gobby has that advantage, and even now, if he were your enemy, you would lose quickly. And Drogo is far beyond that. He has spent years refining his skills, killing people close to the Lord. Your role is different. You are not the one who confronts the enemy. Your task is to reinforce Gobby.

For a moment a memory flashes through German’s mind – the door opening, Drogo standing inside his house. Quietly he asks, So there will be moments when I can’t do anything at all? Ulrich studies him and replies, German, tell me something. In my team with Vann, who do you think played the supporting role? German thinks for a second and answers, If Vann shot from a distance… then him? Ulrich shakes his head. No. I was physically weak. My ability is analysis. I study movement, posture, balance, the tension in a face. I look for the weakest points in the human body. That is why I use the lightest weapons – knives and anything with a sharp edge, even razors. I don’t cut because I want to. I cut because I know I don’t have the strength to deal serious damage with single blows.

While speaking, Ulrich leads German to the training dummy and points at the surface covered in scars. On this one I made thousands of cuts to understand how it works. A supporting role does not mean standing outside the fight. It means being inside the action. Vann received information from me about what needed to be done so that, at the right moment, I could use my ability and simply finish his main attack. Your strength is logic. You connect objects and circumstances. Our task is to understand how to use that so you can control the flow of the fight from inside it and amplify Gobby’s attacks. Come, let’s go to the weapon stand.

They walk to the stand. Ulrich gestures toward it and says, Take a look. Use your ability. Try to understand what could help you if you are forced into close combat. German moves slowly along the weapon stand, studying each item. Knives, blades, darts – each object sends his mind racing through possibilities. At last he stops in front of a thin metal spike. Ulrich notices the pause and murmurs, Hmm… yes, that might work. German takes the awl in his hand.

At once an image flashes through his mind – Drogo sitting on top of Gobby, the bottle shattering against Drogo’s head. Turning back to Ulrich, he says, I like the awl, but I need something else so I can use it safely at close range. We don’t have time for me to practice thousands of strikes on a dummy. Ulrich thinks for a moment. Then he nods slightly and says, Yes… there is something. Pepper spray.

For a few seconds he seems to be building the idea in his head, then continues, From today on you will learn to turn circumstances to your advantage. In close combat you blind the opponent first, then you strike the vulnerable points. That will compensate for your lack of physical strength.

He crouches, opens the lower drawer of the stand, and takes out several kubotans, placing them in German’s hands. Then he gestures toward the living room. They return there together. Ulrich walks to the bookshelf, pulls out a thick volume titled Anatomy and Acupuncture, and places it on the table. Looking at German he says, Here is your assignment. From this moment the entire house – and everything beyond it – becomes your training ground. Your target is Gobby.

German raises his eyes. Ulrich continues calmly, Read the book and find Gobby’s weak points. Use the kubotans to strike them. Use the environment to approach him or distract him. Anything around you can become a tool. Watching him closely, he asks, Is the task clear? German answers immediately, When do I start? Ulrich glances toward the corridor and replies, As soon as Gobby leaves the room.

The professor points toward a chair and says quietly, Gobby, sit down. Gobby obeys. The professor opens his case, takes out a metronome, and places it on the table in front of him. Gobby looks at the device and asks, Professor, what is that? The professor answers calmly, A metronome. It helps guide a person into a hypnotic state. Gobby studies it for a moment and then asks, And why do I need that?

The professor lowers his voice slightly. It is time for you to meet Deda again and become something beautiful again – what you once were. I hope this will work. After a short pause he adds, But first I must apologize to you. I will need to give you a pill that will help bring you into a trance. I will not do it without your permission. But without it, nothing will work.

Gobby grimaces, childhood memories tightening his face. Is it one of those pills? The professor nods slowly. Yes. One of them. But the pills you took before drained your energy and clouded your mind. I want to restart your system. When it resets, I will be able to speak with him. Your task is simple – you will relax as much as possible. The pill will raise your energy. When the brain and the body start working in different modes, a reset should occur. At that moment all defensive mechanisms shut down.

Gobby exhales slowly. I didn’t understand much. But if this is necessary… I trust you. The professor nods once. Then simply do what I say. Do not think. Just follow my voice. He hands Gobby a pill and a glass of water. Drink.

Gobby swallows the pill. The professor continues in a calm, steady tone. Bend your knees. Feet flat on the floor. Place your hands on your thighs so your elbows touch your legs. Curve your back slightly. Now look at the metronome’s needle. He starts it. The thin arm begins to swing from side to side.

Listen to my voice. Breathe in deeply through your nose. Now breathe out twice as fast. Again. Keep repeating the breathing. Watch the needle. Whatever happens, focus only on two things – your breathing and the movement of the needle.

The pill begins to work. Adrenaline surges through Gobby’s body. Blood rushes faster through his veins. Sweat appears on his skin. Heat spreads across his face and neck. His muscles begin to pulse under the skin. Still he keeps breathing, watching the swinging needle.

Slowly it begins to feel as if his body is working on its own, separate from him.

A couple of minutes pass. The room tilts. Gobby’s head spins and his body suddenly falls forward. The professor catches him just in time and leans him back against the chair. Gobby’s head drops back. His eyes close. He is unconscious.

The professor pulls another chair closer and sits directly in front of him. Leaning forward, almost face to face with him, he asks quietly, My friend… can you hear me?

For a moment nothing happens.

The world collapses into darkness. The professor stands alone. In front of him lies Gobby, his face submerged in a pool of black liquid. The position of the body tells the professor which direction he must go. He steps around him and moves forward into the void. Somewhere ahead a heavy crash echoes through the darkness. Another sound follows, ripples spreading across the black surface. From the shadows long black roots begin to emerge. They crawl over the professor’s boots, sliding beneath his trousers. When they touch his skin they pause, as if recognizing him, and then slowly withdraw. The roots part, opening a narrow passage, as if showing him where to walk. Without hesitation the professor moves forward. The darkness shifts around him. Soon he stops. Before him rises an enormous altar, towering far above his height. Upon it, deep in sleep, sits Deda. Thick roots coil around his body. They bind him like chains, yet at the same time they feed him, keeping him alive..

The professor calls his name. Once. Then again. Louder. And louder.

Suddenly the vision breaks. Gobby’s head jerks upward and stops inches from the professor’s face. He stares directly into his eyes. Veins swell around his sockets and run down his neck. His eyes open, filled with red. Well… hello, my old friend. A strange smile spreads across Gobby’s face, one that does not belong to him. He raises his hand, rests it on the professor’s head, and runs his fingers slowly through his hair. What is it, my friend? Decided to die? And where did all your hair run off to?

The darkness pulls them back again. Now Deda towers above the professor, immense, though his arms remain wrapped in the roots. The professor looks up at him and says with a faint smile, You haven’t changed. Only grown a little… and maybe become bigger. Deda studies him and replies, Still haven’t lost your sense of humor. I’m proud of you. So why did you come? I thought we said goodbye. The professor answers simply, He needs you. Deda shakes his head slowly. No. He doesn’t. The professor continues, You feel everything that happens to him. You know he almost died. Deda replies calmly, But he didn’t die. My strength is enough to keep him alive. I don’t want him to become an outcast because of me. He doesn’t need me. The professor looks at him for a moment and asks quietly, So you won’t help him? You won’t come back? Deda answers, No. The professor sighs softly and says, Then tell him that yourself. He steps aside. Behind him stands Gobby – small, fragile, exactly as he was the last time they met. He looks up at Deda with wide eyes. For a moment he simply stands there. Then he slowly lifts his arms toward him, asking to be held. Something tightens inside Deda. Gobby runs to the altar, wraps his arms around Deda’s enormous leg, and whispers, Come back to me. Deda begins tearing at the roots with all his strength. The thick cords strain and crack as he rips them apart. At last one massive hand breaks free. He lifts the child onto his palm and brings him close to his face. Gobby clings to him with both hands.

I’m here. Everything will be all right now.

The darkness collapses. Gobby sits in front of the professor and suddenly bursts into tears. The sobs break out of him violently, as if something inside him has finally broken open.en and violent.