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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
THE MYSTERY CITY CHAPTER 20
“On this first night, the Death of Orpheus came to look at him sleeping ...” - the voice of the narrator swept through the empty hall. Two figures in identical blue overalls were sitting in the projector room, drinking fragrant tea with fresh sandwiches, watching the film attentively. Sometimes, in the silence between lines, their careful whispers could be heard, as if someone could hear their voices and demand silence in the cinema.The bottle offered by Charlie still had to be sipped. In the first minutes of the film, a cramp began to twist her hand, and the girl secured herself from an attack and Their approach.It was as if the fox had seen the film for the first time, although every scene was familiar to her. Having grown up on the works of the last century, she felt at home, plunging into the worlds of black and white and even silent paintings. However, Charlie's words fell on fertile ground. For the first time, she thought that every day of self-awareness in Nightmare City coul
THE MYSTERY CITY CHAPTER 21
She carefully ran her finger along the strings. Inside, all their evenings soared with tension, when they, like street musicians, just sat and sang songs to her at first awkward playing. One of the guitars was named "Bard" because it was the one they took with them on trips if they planned to spend bard evenings in unusual corners of the country. Dulled emotions due to the drunk medicine from Them on the eve of the evening walk did not allow me to shed tears, although a rich range of emotions danced in my soul.- What is its uniqueness? she asked in a trembling voice.- On the first day of sale, the heel of the neck was damaged. Then they carefully corrected it, and the restored guitar was returned to the market with a markdown. After this “injury”, it began to sound a little lower and deeper, as if the sound was wandering somewhere inside. Rolls on the tongue of a guitar before going out! Charlie spoke in a mysterious voice.Is this true or did the seller tell you this legend? - Lis
THE MYSTERY CITY CHAPTER 22
“I… thought I was going to lose you.” That they will take you right before my eyes! Charlie whispered, breathing heavily."I hope the Circus Director doesn't come for us!" she whispered into the void, staring blankly at the ceiling of the Tea Shop.- Sorry I…“You had no other choice. I would do the same if I were you," Lis said calmly. — Houston, we have a problem: seizures began to appear more and more often. They took me seriously. Or the body has simply become accustomed to this potion-medicine and now requires a dose more and more often.Charlie, afraid to move, looked at his friend, realizing how fragile and brittle her life had become. Surviving in the city for almost ten months, she seemed to him an unbroken heroine, but this illusion quickly crumbled before his eyes. That night they weren't even chased by the terrible monsters of Nightmare City, but they didn't go anywhere.“And they're not going anywhere. They're just biding their time, like with Zoe and Alex!" Swallowing ha