Short story 244. By SifH I broke the fangs of the unrighteous, and made him drop his prey from his teeth. -Job 29:17 The door opens on oiled hinges, yet Viktor flinched because the apartment was whisper-quiet, the thick door and walls provided an effective barrier to all sound. It was dark inside, not a single shaft of daylight could penetrate the heavy curtains. The only possible illumination came from candles and oil lamps. Every light bulb had been unscrewed. There was a mild smell of...