Sergey Shcheglov - Castle: Part 3

SERGEY SHCHEGLOV
                        Z A M O K
                      Fantastic story

                             Part 3.

   The sound of swords made him stop. Hump del Raig chopped
with Gert, and three more of the monseigneur's men-at-arms, all in black, approaching
huddled close to the tent. Oleg froze, not knowing which side to take,
unable to leave in peace, the del Raiga gang, who did not expect so much
The massive attack seems to have already fled. Gert, smile gloomily
Having woken up, he easily dodged the terrible slashing blow of del Raiga,
and his sword with lightning - Oleg in a panic increased the pace of perception -
moved forward towards the enemy’s unprotected chest. Oleg did
a swift lunge, cursing himself for his indecision;  swords
They crossed with a ringing sound, and Hump del Raig growled in pain. Sword
Gerta finally got him, hitting him in the right shoulder, and the leader
the robbers remained unarmed.  Gert opened his eyes in amazement,
not yet understanding what miracle had deflected his sword, Oleg stepped
zeroed forward, shielding del Raiga and trying to assess the situation, and
I immediately noticed a shadow behind me - not with my eyes, of course, but with my sixth sense -
vom. The sword slid behind his back, parrying an as yet invisible blow, but they beat
something too heavy, he realized this from the weight that had fallen on the sword
tin, and only managed to tilt his head, saving vital
centers.
   Darkness.

                             * * *It looks like a club, Oleg thought stunned, when consciousness
returned. The darkness, however, did not disappear; it was almost tangible, solid
stuffy, stuffy. Dungeon, that is...
   Moving the skin on his head, Oleg whistled: wow
blow! The scar still stung - and it had been at least a day. Sut-
ki was lying around like a dead man, it’s good that they weren’t buried yet... However,
It’s just like looking at it: it’s dark, like a coffin.
   Now you can think about it. And it’s good to think... I got involved in an absurd...
I fight like a boy, and I got what I deserved. Time?
Somewhere in the evening, well, yes, the day has passed. Bad, bad...
   So where am I now? Apparently it was like this... This guy came
bandit, saw three people in ambush, pulled out his sword and everyone
I put three down - with such a sword it’s a piece of cake. Then his gang
came up.  We set up camp, either we liked the holy place, or
they were waiting for guests, or they released Hag on purpose to bring
Avengers.  And then there was trouble: Monseigneur's people
still gained the upper hand, finding themselves right at the ataman’s tent - and even
Oleg's intervention did not save the bandit from death. Or captivity. A
If so, oh, I've been a fool! Good thing they haven’t finished off yet... torture
They hope, apparently, they threw them here to rest.
   It's time to look around.
   Turning on his infrared vision, Oleg looked around the low
camera. Almost round, with a vaulted ceiling rising towards the center -
com, she representedordinary stone bag: single-
vein exit - at the top, a meter-long hole in the center of the ceiling, on the sides
only walls.  In the chamber - six or seven steps in diameter there were still
three: one figure glowed faintly opposite, two more - near the left
walls.
   So here you go, Oleg thought: a shared cell. Got it.
   The fellow inmates lay motionless. One would think
that they are unconscious; however, Oleg, who has seen a lot in his
century, I knew that in a stone bag prisoners sleep twelve-
fifteen hours a day.  These were also asleep, and Oleg could hear the light
some whistling.
   It's time to consider who fate brought us together.
   Oleg recognized the person lying opposite him immediately. It was Hump del Raig,
the chieftain of a bandit gang, and now a comrade in misfortune. He
lay with his back against the wall, his mouth open, a shapeless heap
powerful muscles, and sniffled one for all; skin on his still clenched
fists was knocked down - Oleg realized that this man did not immediately
fought with fate.
   The two on the left lay side by side, back to back, as if warming each other
friend.  Oleg assessed the temperature - indeed, it was cool,
sixteen degrees.  It was clear that these were old-timers: clothes
decayed in places, torn in others, unkempt beards, long
hair, skinny bodies. The one lying closer to Oleg was shorter,
and vaguely reminded someone, as much as it can resemble someone
a man bent over three times.But it was absolutely distant
unfamiliar;  his long beard touched the dirty floor, and he himself
lay on his back, resting his almost bald head on the knee of his companion
gray hair
   That's the whole situation. Oleg closed his eyes and concentrated:
I had to get myself in order.
   When the last remnants of the scar disappeared from his head, and from
of the blow, only memories remained, Oleg made a deep
took a deep breath and stood up. The silence was still broken only by the sounds of
nie del Raiga. Oleg walked towards him, remembering that Hump ra-
nen.
   His right hand was grabbed at the shoulder by a piece of dirty cloth.
teria. Oleg resolutely pulled the bandage away and dodged the blow
the giant instantly woke up and said clearly:
   - Quiet, Hump, or you'll be stuck with this wound for another week!
   - Oh, is that you, monk? - Hump rumbled, turning around. - You
do you understand about healing?
   Oleg did not answer, accumulating energy. After a few seconds
he brought his left hand to Hump's face, and his body relaxed.
Then Oleg took care of the wound, rejoicing that he was on time: it was already
began to fester.
   “Wow,” said del Reig, surprised by the disappearance of the pain. - I
I immediately realized that you are not an ordinary person! But tell me how you managed
reflect that blow?!  I only managed to notice how you cleaned
sword!
   “I act very quickly,” Oleg answered dryly. - Now you
You will see this for yourself. Ready.
   He quickly straightened up and steppedback. Hump del Raig began
feel his hand, obviously looking for a wound, and cursed in amazement -
Xia. Then again and again.
   - I was wounded, the guts of the devil! What have you done to me?!
   “I healed your wound,” Oleg answered. - It seemed to me that
your right hand will still be useful to you.
   - So you cured me? Isn't this an illusion? - Hump with noise
chilled, and a roar echoed through the cell from a mighty blow to the fist.
wall. Ha ha ha! I can hold a sword again! Glory to you, O great one
wizard! But tell me your name so that I can thank you
in your prayers!
   “My name is Oleg,” said Oleg. - Oleg del Myals.
   He just translated his last name - Solovyov - into local
language, - but Hump figured it out in his own way:
   - So you're from Trowhor? There is no place like this on the Peninsula! Myals
it's there, just around the corner!
   Oleg gritted his teeth: these constant suspicions in the beyond-mountain
he was pretty tired of his origins.
   “No, my homeland is much further away,” he said. - Is it really
is the country beyond the mountains called Trowhor?
   - I thought you knew. But now is not the time to chat. Went!
   Oleg was amazed:
   - Where?
   - How to where? To the keyery, we’ll hit the guards with our foreheads, we’ll get swords and
to freedom, to my guys! These are such pigs that they will never be
kill everyone, even if the monseigneur had at least five hundred archers!
   - To the locker?  - Oleg raised his head. It was up to the edge of the hole
another meter and a half.  The castle builders clearly did notassumed that
this stone bag will have to hold Hampa del Raiga. -
How did your guys leave you in trouble?
   - Saving the detachment is more important than saving the ataman, and what’s it worth?
chieftain who was captured?! - Hump approached Oleg and also looked
reel up. Only then did Oleg realize that his thug friend
what he doesn’t see in the complete darkness surrounding them. - What the hell is this-
comradeship?
   “Stone bag,” Oleg began to explain, but was interrupted
A weak voice came from the left:
   - Brothers!  And what I understood while listening to you is enough to
say - one of you is a great sorcerer...
   Oleg turned towards the voice.
   - What kind of dead meat is this? - Hump del Raig rumbled. Te-
what's the matter?
   “Wait, Hump,” Oleg peered into the darkness. - Maybe
this person will be useful to us...
   The man at the now right-hand wall from Oleg stood up; neighbor
he lay still as motionless. In infrared light it is difficult
see facial features; Oleg only noticed the long beard.
   “If you really are a sorcerer,” he continued pleadingly.
catcher, - save me from slow death and punish the evil dog,
desecrating this castle with his presence!
   - Ha, Oleg!  - Hump grinned contentedly. - I’m not the only one
account to Monseigneur!
   “I see,” Oleg said dryly. “Tell me who you are,” he asked
he is to the person.
   - My name is Edor Kron dir Panal; I was the keeper of knowledge incastle library;  but the monsignor came, and only one remained
guardians - keepers of the faith. I was ordered to collect all the books, and
They gave me a day for this.  And then the monsignor came with a new arrival
priest, and they began to read the list, and I showed the books, and
two books were missing. I swore I didn't take them - I was abandoned
here.  For two hundred and twenty-six times now they have lowered a jug for me from
water and threw food, but all this time I did not see the light. Are you
can you do it for me? - he finished in such a tone as if he was going to...
lap up.
   - How old are you? - asked Hump.
   “Fifty-six,” answered Edor, “I was born in the same year as
king.
   - With the king? - Oleg was surprised.
   “With a king without a kingdom,” Hump chuckled.
   - Yes! - Edor spoke with unexpected enthusiasm.  When-
then we were ruled by the just king XXXXX. But the bishop announced
country owned by lightning;  then when he died and came
Monseigneur, the king voted against him at the cantum. Monseigneur
beat him in the face, and then expelled him from the country. On the slopes of the mountains awaits
our king of the hour, to return with his loyal warriors and
establish justice! Help him, and fame and fortune will not
will leave you for the rest of your life!
   “Well,” muttered Oleg. - Restoration. Would you like
participate?
   - What do I need this king for? - Hump snorted.
   - And that’s true...
   Oleg thought feverishly.  Now I wouldget out of here; on
a couple with Hump to restore order in the castle; Edor will lead you to the supposed
to a just king;  gain trust and carry out restoration;
then order to catch all suspicious wanderers and
bring him to me for questioning. The search for a messenger must be done on a grand scale.
Otherwise, no matter who you think about it, it has nothing to do with it at all.
   And then it dawned on Oleg. Firstly, if the messenger had actually
He really wanted to meet, it wouldn’t cost him anything to find Oleg.
Secondly, if he does not want a meeting, but on the contrary, he is observing,
This means that he is masquerading under the guise of the one who appointed the envoy
there can be no home.  For example, Monseigneur. And that means from the castle
no need to leave; on the contrary, you have to wait, calmly go through everything
check it and prepare your own game in which you can improve
It is impossible to identify all non-messengers and find Him. And then say-
say: either stop fooling around, or say goodbye forever!
   Let him choose.
   Yes... But how to do it? Gather everyone in the big hall
and shout - “Who is the messenger - come out one at a time”?
   And the messenger is definitely in the castle. I've done so much here,
that the rumor is probably all over Trit. It even looks like he's killing me
My Splintered Dart led, somehow everything went too smoothly
it happened. Just yesterday... no, the day before yesterday... What kind of joke is this?!
   Oleg realized that from the moment of his capture from the Splintered
Four local days have already passed.Already! Hm, I won’t replace it
quietly, as six months pass.
   So, come up with a combination... How to distinguish a messenger from
the rest?
   Oleg thought and thought, and the more he thought, the more gloomy he became.
   It was a bad situation.
   The envoy, of course, perfectly entered into the role and
performed better than anyone else.  Oleg, on the contrary, was on board from the very beginning
mind; It never occurred to him to hide. Now it turns out
that the messenger controls every step and has enough time
find a worthy answer to any of Oleg’s moves.
   Unless it's a forceful move... An epidemic in the castle, or an earthquake-
nie, or - ugh!  - massacre... Yes, only such things were for Oleg
not to my taste at all.
   So, he thought, I’ll be stuck here for a long time. Firstly,
it is unknown whether the envoy is nearby and watching, maybe
he was tied up in the same way in another place and he is sitting somewhere in
in a stone bag, wondering why the earthling played such a joke on him;
secondly, it may happen that I have already done something wrong, and he
contact did not go through, and I will never know what my
fatal mistake;  thirdly, it seems that there was no messenger
in general, and so, radio hooliganism.
   So we'll have to wait. Six months, in local terms - a hundred
seventeen days and nights.
   - Oleg!  - Came the voice of Hampa del Raiga. - Haven’t you decided?
are you going to settle here forever?!
   - Oh yes...
   Oleg slapped himself on the forehead.Of course, in his plans he completely
I forgot about Hump. He needs to be rescued.
   - And I’ve already thought of everything! - Hump continued cheerfully. - I know-
shit, so...
   The plan was standard. Wait until the hole in the ceiling opens,
burp there, remove the guards, grab a weapon, kill the guards
kov - “each of us is worth ten of these wimps!” hang
monseigneur and rush to Drot, where, believe me, one of
my guys took root in an ambush!
   As soon as he finished, a stream of light poured into the chamber. In the ceiling
a hole opened and someone's head stuck through it.
   - Oleg!  - Oleg recognized Gert by his voice; and strange thing, he
It was nice to hear him. - How are you, have you recovered?
   “Everything is fine,” said Oleg. A crazy thought flashed - he
What, still hoping to get a second ingot?! - What's next?
   “Now the monsignor will interrogate you,” Gert dispelled him.
illusions.  - We discussed here - to pull you up into the sky -
dangerous; so crawl to the middle of the chamber and wait. Monseigneur will be
talk to you from top to bottom like a god.
   - OK.
   Oleg prudently retreated to the wall, also pushing away
Hampa. Gert's head disappeared, nothing happened for a minute, then
a black vessel appeared in the hole and immediately flew
down, crashing with a crash. It splashed and immediately flared up viscous
liquid. It became quite light.
   Now Oleg could see his neighbors.Hump is puzzled
looked at the fire, propping up the wall; to the left a man was crawling away from the fire
in rags, with unnaturally twisted joints, his face
it was visible.  Bearded Edor rubbed his eyes, shielding himself from
all the strength from the light.
   - Hey you, wizard! - the monsignor shouted from above. - Admit it,
you can do and...
   What else interested the monsignor remained unknown. Oleg
I just had time to yawn and get ready to answer when I saw something that
made him jump to his feet and rush towards the center of the cell.
Monseigneur, as if deciding that his head was heavier than his legs, rolled over
over the edge of the hole and flew straight into the flames.
   Oleg picked him up and carefully sat him down against the free wall.
   “Of course, monseigneur,” he said with respect after this,
don't worry so much!
   And he looked around suspiciously. Someone carried out a directed
suggestion, Oleg felt a barely noticeable surge of energy, but
who? Hump ​​del Raig looked at Oleg with cheerful admiration; Edor
with horror. The fourth prisoner still lay motionless.
   The monseigneur radiated impotent anger and fear.
   Gert looked in from above; on the face he was concerned, but internally
smiled. Oleg shook his head - what to do now?
   “Oleg,” a very familiar voice rang out, “here we are.”
were fussing.
   The voice came from a man in rags; now he turned to
face to the light, and Oleg recognized Bagen.
   - And you are here? - muttered displeasedlyOleg.
   - I!
   - What luck, monseigneur!  - said Hump del Raig, rubbing
hands. - There's even fire here!
   - Fire?
   Having said this, Oleg got scared: what’s wrong with me? So dumb in
in a matter of seconds. And at such a moment!
   “I’ve gathered you all here...” he proclaimed in a low voice.
Bagen.
   - Gert! Stairs! - commanded the monseigneur.
   “I’ll be right away,” Gert responded, disappearing, and only Oleg heard
his weak chuckle. - But who will climb it?
   Edor finally got used to the light and, staring at the monseigneur,
shook in surprise:
   - Monseigneur?? And are you here? Has your castle fallen?..
   “A rare bunch of idiots,” stated del Reig.
   “Led by us,” Oleg muttered. He successfully overcame his fear
completely stupid, he liked to sit against the wall, doing nothing
bark and watch this bedlam.
   “I gathered you all here,” Bagen said again, “by force.”
of my spirit, I gathered you so that you would answer before Eternity
tew.
   - Me too, brother? - Edor exclaimed, tearing up.
   Gert threw a rope ladder from above; she landed right in
flame and burst into flames instantly.
   - Idiot! - Hump and Monseigneur shouted in one voice; monseigneur
desperate, Hump - fun.
   “I’m sorry,” said Gert. - The fire needs to be put out...
   And splashed water on top.
   The stone bag filled with steam.  The fire was not damaged, but
the staircase went out.
   Monseigneur immediately jumped up and,pointing his sword towards Ole-
ha, began to back away towards the stairs.
   Oleg didn’t move. And Hump del Raig quickly put forward
ed left leg.
   Monseigneur stumbled, staggered and, grasping for air, fell
straight into the fire. His clothes caught fire; there was a roar of pain.
   Oleg stood up and gave the monsignor first aid.
   Hump ​​del Raig laughed at the top of his lungs. Gert echoed his thoughts
but keeping his face serious.
   - Enough! - Bagen said sternly.
   And Hump del Raig for the first time in his life stopped laughing inappropriately.
of your own free will. The fire went out.
   - You!  - said the one who sees through. In the coming twilight
Oleg saw how his bony finger extended in the direction
Monseigneur.
   He fell to his knees, throwing away his sword. Oleg realized that he was really
he is seriously going to repent.
   What nonsense, what is it?
   A little later Oleg realized what was going on. Began owned
wordless hypnosis, and mastered it quite well. I remembered the manuscript from
laboratories - similar things were mentioned there.
   - Speak! - Bagen exclaimed as he struck.
   “I, Hans Firzhikh ort Trit,” Monseigneur spoke dully, “here
For forty springs I have been living the death of others...
   Oleg listened to this ashen confession, the endless haze of death
tey, violence, fire, and was slowly imbued with pity. Such a wretched
lived a monotonous, flat life that seemed formidable and majestic
Kim Monsignor, who has achieved nothing and wants nothing...
   - Iburned forty fanatics in the last month, I destroyed seven
villages, I set fire to the Mighty Forest... - Monseigneur seemed to boast,
for he had nothing more to say, and his voice sounded as if from under
land. “I don’t even deserve to die.”
   I wonder, Oleg thought, how often does this happen here? And one more thing
one thing was interesting to him, something he didn’t even dare to think about, was it really possible?
and he, an earthling, will be called to confession by a strange old man? Or maybe
Maybe he is the messenger, and this is finally contact? But he
I must understand that I will not succumb to hypnosis...
   - What can you offer in atonement?
   The monseigneur began to shake, sobbing without tears.
   - I can only do one thing - fight.  But will death atone?
death?
   - Perhaps. Think! You? - Bagen pointed at Edor.
   - I, Edor Kron dir Panal, Guardian of Knowledge, have spent my entire life
behind books, leafing through the wisdom of centuries...
   Keep knowledge spoke confidently, on the rise, as if long ago
I was waiting for this confession and carefully prepared for it.
   - I didn’t do anything to anyone; I couldn't apply wisdom
naosov... I don't even deserve to live.
   - What can you offer in atonement?
   - I can only delve into wisdom - I am powerless to create it. I
I can't do anything.
   Edor fell to the floor, clasping his head in his hands.
   - You can too. Think. You?
   Oleg watched Bagen’s finger with interest. This time he
aimed at the broad chest of Hampa del Raiga.
   - I, Hump del Raig,- he spoke in some strange voice,
- all my life I move from place to place, leaving them a little poorer,
what I found...
   His whole life flashed before Oleg again. Childhood dream of
distant countries, an insatiable thirst for something new - and a complete lack
opportunities to change something, the position of an eternal wanderer, always
interfering, observing, killing - but not changing anything -
Wow... Oleg sighed. How hopeless...
   “My help turned into death, my punishment turned into mercy.” I
walked through the world as if I didn’t exist. I'm not worthy of oblivion...
   - What can you offer in atonement?
   - I can only be wrong. My hands are empty.
   Hump ​​ground his teeth;  raised his hands to the ceiling - and dropped
down.
   “Even you haven’t lost your future.” Think! - said Bagen.
   Now, that means it’s my turn, Oleg thought. Or Hertha.
   - You! - said the confessor.

   And the finger, having described an arc, rested on his own chest. Oleg
again I didn’t guess, but I guessed it - everyone says the same thing, as if
then someone speaks for them! Bagen is the envoy, he arranged this de-
a monstration to show what a person is - from “their” point of view
vision? I found someone to show...
   - I have prayed all my life. I'm not even worthy of heaven! - cried Ba-
gene and dropped his head onto his chest. - What can I offer in atonement-
laziness?  I can pray - my words are easy, - his voice sounded
deaf.  - I can speak for others - but they don’t hearhis
truth! But even I don’t lose hope! Think!
   He raised his head proudly. Now his finger was looking at Oleg.
   - You!
   - What can I say? - lightning flashed through Oleg’s head. Destroy
Bagen didn’t want to start the business, he respected this old man, “vi-
who speaks through and through,” but all the boring words have disappeared somewhere...
   Tears appeared in his eyes, and Oleg was overwhelmed by a whirlwind of pity for
to yourself. He spoke, like everyone else, floridly, clearly, earnestly:
   - I've been acting all my life.  I did what I could. I even did
more. And so I stopped acting; I began to observe. And nothing
has not changed! I don’t even deserve to be condemned... - What nonsense,
Oleg thought, what kind of nonsense am I talking about, it seems to be about that, but what
words!  Great Cosmos!  Yes, this Bagen managed to capture
control over speech!
   A moment - and Oleg brought himself back to normal.
   - What can you offer in atonement? - still asked
Sil Bagen.
   “I have nothing to bathe,” Oleg answered gloomily. Funny so far
At that moment the action no longer seemed funny to him.
   - There is one for you too. Think. You?
   Bagen pointed upward.
   Gert leveled thoughtfully:
   - I, Gert Porty, have lived like everyone else all my life. And not at all about this
I don’t regret... which means I don’t deserve to be punished!
   - What can you offer in atonement?
   - I have nothing extra!
   It doesn’t work, Oleg thought. Hypnosis doesn't work!
   He was pretty sure why.
   He realized what would happen a moment beforehow hump is noisy
inhaled and jumped up with a roar. With both hands around your neck,
Gert, who managed to pull back, fell back heavily with him.
   Sighing, Oleg helped them too. He was already reeling from
constant concentrations.  Today he wasted his energy on...
bone successfully.
   Gert thanked him and crawled away to the monseigneur. He quickly moved away
turned away from his guardian of faith.
   “We listened to everyone,” Bagen said. - But redemption must
take place. Let us decide which of us deserves the Highest!
   Silence enveloped the cell.
   Then Hump hesitantly, as if struggling with doubts, although
no one would suspect him of the ability to doubt, he said:
   - Oleg... We... It's time..?
   - No! - Bagen objected. - Think!
   Oleg thought.  Something is too gloomy about this “higher”; isn't it
Is there some connection here with the highest measure?..
   - I am! - Monseigneur threw himself on his knees with a scream. - Let me!
   “No,” said Bagen.
   - Then I will!  - Edor took the confessor by the shoulder. - I'm tired, I
capable only of betrayal...
   - No!
   - Maybe I'm worthy? - Gert asked insinuatingly.
   “No,” Bagen said again. He seemed to have forgotten the rest
words.
   - How is this?  - Hump del Raig muttered, trying to smile
to nudge. -Or are you hinting that only you yourself deserve such an honor?
you?
   “No,” Bagen answered. And he looked at Oleg.
   Everyone looked at Oleg.
   Oleg seemed to seeyourself through their eyes.
   A sad sight.  Tired, beaten, still bleeding, feeling-
ugly, confused... Tears appeared in my eyes again. I was
sorry!
   Bagen's hint was understood.  The cell was quiet, as if after an explosion.
Oleg felt the tension with which Bagen carried out hypnosis. All
was heading towards a denouement.
   And what’s most unpleasant is that Oleg still didn’t know who had sent
nickname
   Bagen said:
   “You have nothing to redeem, stranger—you have nothing to live for!” You
worthy to ascend! Accept the Highest with honor.
   So if you don’t sin, you won’t repent, thought Oleg,
repenting with strength.
   - We have to go.  Collect your thoughts, you still have an hour! - say-
Hall Bagen, getting up.
   Almost immediately, light poured down from above. Bagen took hold of the ladder:
   - Follow me! We must prepare a fire.
   Monseigneur followed first.
   Oleg automatically called out to Hump - “Hump, wait!” - but no answer
didn't wait. Del Raig was again susceptible to suggestion.
   Of course he could go out with them; but he didn’t understand anything - and
That's why I didn't do anything. There were five versions - according to the number of participants
fallen;  and there was not the slightest confidence in any of them. A
that means we should have waited.
   Let the messenger act on his own.
   The hour passed quickly; Oleg barely managed to regulate his body
and eat a few scraps from those lying on the floor. Cro-
Moreover, he finally formulated a contradiction: Bagen could not help
bemessenger, otherwise he would have begun his confession without waiting
Oleg, and he could not be a messenger, because it was too good
famous in these parts. The problem could not be solved, and this could have
just one thing to start...
   They threw the ladder; Oleg jumped up himself.
   The passage from the dungeon is winding and dirty; nothing about darkness
talk.
   Oleg walked behind a man in black armor holding a stinking
torch
   They went out into the castle courtyard; on a paved area in the shape of a corner
That eight group built a fire. Oleg did not expect anything else. Which one
nonsense, he thought again.
   It seemed that the whole castle had gathered to watch the ascension.  Lat-
nicknames, servants, Squad. They stood, sat, lay on the warm stones
yah yard.
   The man-at-arms in black threw back his visor - Oleg recognized Hamp - exchanged -
exchanged glances with Bagen, who stood right there, still in his
dirty rags,” and gently pushed Oleg forward.
   This is where I should lose my temper, Oleg chuckled to himself. Nobody would
left offended...
   He slowly walked forward, looked around nervously and climbed onto the
ter. There was no pole to tie. Apparently, Bagen was confident in
the power of your hypnosis.
   Oleg did not yet know what he would do when the high armored man
the torch was burning.  It was possible to disappear; it is possible - really possible -
rush. You can, if you are particularly stupid, burn out.
   - Light it up! - Bagen said firmly.
   Oleg looked at the crowd; hundreds of eyes looked at him,them
there was a dull, hypnotic faith burning, mixed with a strange envy.
Everyone smiled at him, leaving the sinful world, ordering them
live long to atone for your sins. Oleg suddenly realized that
will now succumb to general madness; but my legs seemed to be filled with pig-
collapsed, and he continued to stand, hoping that the pain would lead him to
feeling.
   A man-at-arms holding a dazzlingly flaming torch - fear of catching
made Oleg feel his legs again, fear that the fire would burn
too fast!  - began slowly, with a solemn step approaching
huddle near the fire. Music, Oleg thought, catching his breath: he’s already
completely in control, ready for action. But how? Where sent-
nickname? Although... this is a critical situation!
   He won't let me burn!
   Oleg shuddered, realizing what kind of thought had just come into his mind.
head.  Outwardly he seemed unperturbed, calm, even with some
the second delight awaiting the Ascension.
   The man-at-arms approached the fire itself and brought the torch to the watered oils.
scrap of dry logs. The flame quickly shot up, stopping
Viv Oleg recoils. And then a cry was heard from the crowd, similar to
to the cry of the man who had just spat out the gag:
   - A-a-a-a-a-lay down! Run!
   Hump, Oleg recognized the voice. So, after all, Hump?
   He didn't have time to think anything else. Some movement behind
what's there? it seems like an outer wall... a sharp turn, something catches
for clothes already on fire - damnedOphelia! - gaff? Why?
   Unable to stand on his feet, Oleg rolled from the quickly flaring
fire, drawn by a metal hook on a long handle. He's tied up
cashed this weapon, he had seen the same one on one of Gert’s henchmen.
   Plop!
   Oleg fell straight into a huge open barrel full of aromatic
matte Trit wine. The clothes immediately went out.
   - Faster, faster! - Oleg recognized Gert’s voice and jumped out like a bullet
from a barrel.
   So... Also Gert! Or... This thought seemed crazy.
   Are they really saving me just as a friend?
   He stood firmly on his feet, increasing the pace of his perception. The world around
frozen into a huge living picture.
   The well of the courtyard, illuminated by a huge fire - the flame on Ophelia
bright yellow, unusual, only bordered with scarlet, - in a gray bag -
cancer of the Tritian dawn;  rough pavement stones; behind the wall,
made of huge black blocks, on the left there is a tower and a dark spot
travel;  on the right - wooden buildings, black with age, vi-
dimo, stables and covered yard; straight - shiny façade of resin
of the Duke, on the balcony - Father Turing and the entire Ort family
Treat, even a baby in the arms of some woman, sad, but
enlightened faces - as if someone else’s death would make it meaningful
their life;  and everywhere - servants, men-at-arms, beggars, hangers-on,
washing and luxury, and over everything - the smell, the strong smell of swamp mud -
zi and sweat; in the middle of the crowd, silently frozen in ecstasy, exaltedstaggers, raising his hands to the sky, Bagen, thin, filled with some kind of
piercing force, his head slowly turns to the right,
a curve of amazement falls on the lips - on the right, in black armor,
rises, half crouching - now Hump del Raig will rush forward,
with his mouth open still screaming:
   - Run! Run!
   And behind it, it seems, the main gate is slightly open, and behind it is a ditch,
only six meters deep, although no - Gert, Hump... and if...
there's a chase, we need horses... that means a bridge