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THE MYSTERY CITY CHAPTER 12
His right hand began to tremble, a wave of numbness, already familiar in recent days, went through his fingers. They are close, and this time it will be in earnest. But something happened in the cave. Previously silent, it was filled with an incomprehensible echo, devoid of a source. It was something between the rumble, whisper and creak of shells rubbing against each other in the surf. Their approach was impossible to confuse with anything. The wave of animal horror completely paralyzed the body, making it impossible to run or call for help. His right arm was twisted with a spasm and tightly nailed to his chest. The legs stopped holding the body, which already seemed to have partially stiffened in advance, and Alex fell to his knees. They were getting closer. Slowly, as if stretching out the moment of his triumph, while the uncomplaining victim marinated in his own fear. A little closer, and Alex's thoughts fled cowardly, leaving only a sticky panicky fog in his head, in which he sa
THE MYSTERY CITY CHAPTER 13
I remember our family calling us the "Mad Four". I remember our serene days. Yes, we did not create anything reasonable, good or eternal, but, on the other hand, we never harmed anyone. Every day in this Cursed City, I ask myself: what terrible thing have we done to deserve such a punishment? Is naivety so severely punished now? Or are we just unlucky? Wrong time, wrong place?At first I felt how They were sneaking somewhere invisibly, approaching my mind from within. How they test us for strength, study them, in order to then poison us with fear, enjoying its taste in our minds. I thought it was the worst.Later, I saw the dead face of my best friend lying on the stones of Istanbul. It was imprinted in my memory like a red-hot brand. It felt like part of my heart had been torn out of my chest. I was sure that I would not experience more grief.Already in the City itself, Ghoul's five razor-sharp claws ripped open my right side, only miraculously not touching the internal organs. Blee
THE MYSTERY CITY CHAPTER 14
Incredibly tall, broad-shouldered, eclipsing the horizon, the road to salvation in the Shop and even part of the thought process for his own salvation with his mysterious figure in dark Victorian clothes. A white mask with red and black patterns turned the Man into a living statue, raising doubts about his "humanity". Only a mane of real light blond hair, majestically lying on his shoulders, hot living hands and burning through gray-blue barite eyes that even the Mask could not hide, forced to believe that the Man was alive.Frozen in place, the Fox could only look at the Director of the Circus with a frightened doe, while the crowd of people and circus performers, not noticing anything, walked past them, willy-nilly forcing them to move towards the Circus. Time seemed to stand still, and only a light night breeze cooled cheeks wet with tears, sobering and reminding of the need to do at least something.“If I stay so meekly standing, he will take me to his Circus, put a mask on my fac
THE MYSTERY CITY CHAPTER 15
She smiled approvingly and, during breakfast, briefly introduced me to the products of the shop, promising that evening tea would correct all misunderstandings, and the old life would become a terrible dream on the way to a new carefree life. I was too crushed by the troubles that fell on our heads, I barely felt alive, I did not have the strength to doubt the words of a kind woman. I nodded and believed that everything would be as she says.The day passed quietly. Later I noted that all Saturdays are calm. People come for the usual teas, ointments and creams. There are not very many clients, there is time to relax, and from lunch until almost the evening - to take a calm nap.Claudia rushed to the closing, disheveled and angry, like an owl on the hunt. The sight of her added a few more coins to my panic bank, but she quickly regained her composure, smiling sweetly and patting my cheek as if I were her great-niece, and announced:“I’ll make tea for you, it will be stronger and taste c
THE MYSTERY CITY CHAPTER 16
The first night passed without dreams, but the morning did not bring the desired oblivion: I continued to remember everything, Claudia continued to tear her hair out. The first blue flask fell into my hands. The first of many. Drives them away from me, dulls emotions. Less tears, more rational approach to the problem.On the second day, I found Alex, found out that his new name was Thomas, got a reader card in the library under the name Hope, and took the volume of Lewis Carroll with me. As the day wore on, I managed to explore the city center and, so that Claudia would not see, I walked almost to the very Circus Tents. In daylight, the Circus did not seem infernal or satanic. Ordinary tents.Third morning. Still me. Claudia offered to replace her at the Lavka for a day's pay, and she would select the right composition of tea for me. From hopelessness and lack of alternatives, I agreed. At breakfast, I listened attentively to the tea course of the young soldier. During the day, the Te
THE MYSTERY CITY CHAPTER 17
Nobody could remember my name for more than a day, but, fortunately, the tailor kept records by numbers known only to him, and did not enter names in his account books. Soon my real gothic outfits were replaced with pseudo-gothic dresses. A more modern cut and fewer trim elements, but they looked quite organic in the city. The length from the knee to the middle of the calf did not restrict movement and allowed you to run without fear of falling. Having changed my wardrobe, I noted with satisfaction that for the first time I did not look like a mummer. And without stones in the garden of Claudia - the boss herself favorably accepted my new wardrobe, which does not violate the foundations of the old Lavka.However, even my survival resources were finite. I understood this, as well as the fact that Claudia's constant failures in preparing the tea needed according to the recipe lead to only one final. They will get to me. It may take them months, but they won't leave me."I don't want to
THE MYSTERY CITY CHAPTER 18
- To another planet or to the past, where the smartphone does not catch? Charlie suggested with an ironic smile. “Come on, I’m indulging in mischief here, and you’re knocking the whole mood down!” she snorted. "Tell me, what's wrong with your mother?" Also in Baltimore. They are doing well with their father. She has a small law office. Life is good, only the son is in trouble. I'm starting to think about whether I should put up a cenotaph here in advance, you never know. - Do not put in advance. You'll have to accept that there won't be a stone with the name of Charles Robert Turner on it. You'll manage! If you too… then I will stop floundering and dive into the river Styx with a pike. So you will have to live happily ever after in this city! - Order received! I will do it with full responsibility! - took Charlie under an imaginary visor. “Let’s not get sloppy today. Today we are just us. We walk, remember our "criminal" relatives. And tomorrow ... will be tomorrow! A moment of co
THE MYSTERY CITY CHAPTER 19
I open my eyes and try to move my arms. Alas, this is the cruel tradition of my nightmares: the wrists are tightly tied to the metal bars of the wrought-iron headboard of the old bed. Hands are extremely divorced to the sides, shoulders are already buzzing. I know that this is only a dream, that this is only a nightmare, but my lips whisper by themselves:- Mother! Mommy! - I sob, the picture floats before my eyes, and hot tears painfully disturb the weathered skin on my cheeks.“Please, please, I want this to end! I beg! No need! Let go! RELEASE! Anything but NOT THIS!!!" I want to scream.This is one of my worst nightmares. Alas, in recent months he has been my frequent visitor. A dream about a small fragile girl tied to a bed, half-sitting on an old mattress and waiting for her kidnapper. Oh, the irony of our notion of monsters, this is a normal middle-aged man with a receding hairline. He seems kind and helpful.He “even” feeds and washes the girl, takes her to the toilet and read