Optron #31 28 сентября 1999

Новеллы     Игры

Category X - Novella to the "Black Maria" (the end).

               Black Maria


         End. Beginning in | 30

{} Paul Vysotsky, 1999


                  Halt


  - And what we're lost? Why should
go further into the clutches of kung when other backs warm in 
camp? - Said Gartad, evil looking back.


  They had just settled down for the night. In
darkness, it was easy to get lost, go the wrong way
and did not return. Fireplace divorce was impossible to wander 
around the enemy - they just had to catch it. 

  Before Sunset is the youngest fighter Igor climbed a tree and 
then long told how many fires around. Kungovskih fires. Fires 
that burned fun and loud, but perhaps also as something

not like human beings. Kung-it had nothing to fear, they were 
hunters. 

 - Hush, Gartad, and then the whiskers stand on end -
Svetozar grinned, and the rest picked up by a loud laugh and a 
joke immediately shush each other.


  Gartad silent, even though everything and looked at
him, waiting for a response or simply pins Oaths. Even now he 
does not make noise really like him, even now, needed a 
companion. 

  - Well, - said Basil, rising. -
We must solve one. Where do we go. Ago? Or kung? And what do 
you - he looked and for all, and as if on each - that you

companions say if you return now?
And if you go east, even to the most
terrible, very enemy's in this world, then
at least we can say that our comrades perished in the fight for 
a reason. Fell in battle, cutting through us way!


  The last words he shouted, almost
zahripnuv, proudly throwing arm, pointing
somewhere in the sky and slightly to the east.

  The words themselves did not reach either before whom, and
Yet he listened to everything. And no matter was
what he said, because he said it
passionately and confidently. Simply, each of
these fair minded people after they heard a short, slightly 
hysterical words left feeling that the white

the old man must obey. And everyone appeared Sweety saving 
thought: "He know better. "And it did not need anything

decide for himself.

  Svetozar just noticed that when Basil valiantly stood up and 
was ready to to speak, his eyes flashed something

naughty and nasty corners of her lips up, showing white teeth - 
a sort of arrogance and mockery appeared on chinnom wrinkled 
face. 

  And for a moment - only for a moment - Svetozar fully 
understood what he thought, wanted and what terribly thirsty 
that person. And it can be was to convey a short and precise

thought, which is reflected in these usually
Good eye:

  "I now this fool ponarasskazyvayu ... In the dust I'll ride."

  He wanted power, power over all living things,
Kung and over on people, and even above such as the one 
yesterday with a scimitar hacked through the body. 

  "Why should I let him go to Vseslav?" - Flashed something in 
the mind of Svetozar, and a little later he had already raised 
the grateful eyes to his benefactor's Basilica. Began to 
believe in him than did not notice anything comrades, broken 
terrible black the will of the white old man.



             Last march


  The next morning was not the same as always. Some kind of 
cowardly silence hung in the air, without giving the birds 
singing and drowning faint whispering trees. Their somebody

waited, and they had to go into the clutches of the enemy.

  A quiet old man was very busy, as many
all shone. Constantly looking somewhere
up from time to time urged stragglers warriors. He walked with 
them for long, and very soon, after a brief, but none

However, if the solemn farewell
disappear in dissonant prognilyh trees.

  Weather spoils.

  Along with her spoiled - but what's there -
disappeared recent fighting spirit companions. Eyes somehow 
themselves looked down upon land, never seen from the 
magnificent green crowns of light. Stuffiness, all morning 
hanging in the air, replaced at first pleasant, as if expecting 
something fresh, and then pouring out rain.


  The first few hours just going around the playful streams, 
carried away from the trail and to evening, that and look, you 
will become - and fell into a huge puddle. Nobody said, but 
somehow understood. Witch shroud was washed from his eyes, but 
it still remained unclear images of the follow- bright life, 
and everyone was still convinced that he - a hero. 

  When darkness fell, they no longer remember where
go, and how they come back. Somewhere in the side
came the gruff staccato whistle, and
response - exactly the same. Nelyudsky whistle.
Some laughing and muted.

  As if from beneath the earth - from the trees -
everywhere have these inhuman monsters. They stopped at a small 
clearing, and full bright moon snatched from the darkness of 
stocky with kung wide short swords ...


  And soon around the smell of blood and
death and dying cries mingled with the
victorious cries ... And the squad is not.

  Hastily trained, with a hastily forged swords, with a tear in 
his native land perished great. Died just like that. 

  Svetozar with hanging, numb from the shock
hand, deaf and blind to all this
abominations, realizing that brought him the wrong way, held 
the longest. And when, after how the sword was knocked from his 
hands, and over him naked, hung a scimitar, he remembered the 
morning sun, evening, which seemed hangs over you ... And while 
the enemy curved blade cut through the air, Svetozar lived 
another life, and somehow not notice of death.




  Danilo cloud stood in front of the prince, frowning and 
looking straight into his eyes. Prince looked at the table at 
which sat something said. That the defeat of Kung, the valor of 
the soldiers, their bravery. And Danilo only eyebrows raised, 
more and more astonished at this round noggin with protruding 
beard and a long tongue.


  Appeared in the doorway of some tonkonosy,
tonkolitsy and generally too small in the whole person. 
Unnaturally bent, he quietly said:


  - Do not be angry, prince, bad news came. The whole squad 
that you sent the third day, interrupted ... A Khungi ... 
Khungi sent thirty skulls ...


  The prince did not seem to immediately heed of what he
interpreted. Shaking his head, he slowly
said:

  - And that anger? Then lost, and there
I find ... Danilo, you have already sent a new unit?

  Voivod wildly at the prince, strangely
shrugged and loudly said abruptly:

  - You have no name, the prince, in the language Rusich.

  He wanted something else to add, but silent,
terrible twisting his mouth.

  The messenger shook shiver, waiting
that are executed on the spot and a crooked governor,
and himself. He shuddered and Danilo, and
hut for a moment there was silence.

  And then roared Vseslav laughed
governor stood up and clapped on the shoulder.

  And the governor seriously looked at him and
just sweep his shoulder to throw a hand
went without a bow ...


  And long Danilo beat another kung, long begged the prince not 
to send people to death, and long Rusichi killed for no reason 
about that.


  And then wrote in the annals of a glorious
Duke, which defeated Kung and freed
impoverished countries.



          Afterword by the author.


  Too often bold and cheerful tick
on the form is more valuable than human life.

  Recently, using a fairly
realistic games I've tried to learn
limit of immorality for themselves. Set
boundaries that I even thought, even in
virtual switch can not.

  And I was scared. And ashamed.