Ilan Bird looked up at the dark building in the rain ahead and, after a careful glance, he spotted a tiny sickle emblem.
That somewhat reassured him.
He pulled down the hood to shield from the rain and walked under the eaves.
On the side, he found a small door and knocked six times, following a special rhythm.
Only then did the door open a crack, revealing orange-yellow light.
A child who looked no more than five or six years old timidly poked his head out from inside. One of his eyes was normal, but the other had had a large hole gouged in its socket and a mechanical eye inserted.
The child looked up at Bird under the hood, his unfamiliar face prompting alert; he hurriedly tried to close the door, but Bird stopped it with his hand.
How could a five or six-year-old child have the strength to compete with an adult?
With only a slight effort, Bird pushed the door open wide enough for him to slip through.
He quickly sidled inside and promptly closed the door behind him.
