Unconquered Sun (23 page)

And the Fairy told it all story from beginning to end - of that day when Prinze changed until now. Animals supplemented the story in that part in which directly took part. Gaston attentively listened to their story in which it especially liked a story about the Supreme Privy Council of all Animals. He with a smile tenderly patted both on heads, praised their fidelity to the owners.

When the story was ended, there was already not less, than half of the eleventh evening.

Gaston, having frowned, gloomy reflected.

- I heard something about it, - he told, at last. - And about the Rocky Mountains, and about the Gold Hall, and about secrets and dangers of those terrible places though itself did not happen there. In the Oversea country of people do not let, it "a quarantine zone" … Much really men was gone, having looked in those magical mirrors. At first there were they unsociable, closed, insensible, then passed into nothingness. I can tell nothing consolatory in this respect … I know only one - I always felt, even when I found his blood-stained hat, even when we lowered it in a coffin, I felt that it is live … And, as you can see, it was not deceived. Here and now I feel that he is living …

- Both I … and I feel it, - the Fairy whispered, lowering the head on a strong courageous shoulder of Gaston and closing eyes, - differently I … would not get poisoned … in this … a campaign … - the Fairy, having several times yawned, finally ceased to fight against drowsiness and right there fell asleep, directly on Gaston's shoulder.

Gaston accurately and gently took it on hands as a fuzz - the Fairy was easy and thin, and Gaston was so strong that could drag off alone on itself the average size of a bear. Under vigilant supervision of both Animals carried it to the room.

Leaving, Gaston with regret looked at the Fairy - in a dream she was even more beautiful! Such quiet, such majestic face, a high clever forehead, regular features, nobly outlined sensual mouth swept on a pillow the hair shining gold in darkness …

"Eh, the brother if not you - steal I it and took away on the world's end …" - Gaston thought about himself, hard inhaled and went to make orders to servants tomorrow's morning.

And Animals carefully exempted the Fairy from clothes, changed clothes for a nightgown, covered with a warm duvet and went to bed with it nearby - the Kitten on the right, the Puppy - on left. To leave the Fairy one in others house - and especially thorough zveroyed and zveroubiyts-! And the Fairy as in the childhood, embraced the Kitten both hands and blissfully smiled in a dream. Dreamed it that Prinze was near, and everything at them was good …

6.

In the morning, at the first beams of a rising sun, the Fairy woke up, woke Animals the ringing song to Dawn and reminded that it is desirable for them to leave the city as soon as possible. Gaston volunteered to carry out them by the shortest way.

After a light breakfast the Fairy astride a white horse, Gaston - on black, Animals and Fane the baggage which is still flying in air started at way.

Gaston dressed in a usual green suit, nothing not issuing its provision, saw off them through the real underpass. To delight of the Fairy there was no limit.

Having gone beyond fortifications, travelers came to the small footpath let to wag between dense thickets of fluffy fir-trees and larches soon. Did not pass also half an hour as travelers already appeared in the deep wood without any traces of stay of the person.

But here the footpath brought them to a big stone with a memorable inscription.

- It is border of my possession, - with a sad smile Gaston told. - This stone was erected still by Roland Drevny for the successor - Rikkared.

- Thanks to you, prince Gaston, - the last time leaning on a strong hand of the knight so far descended from a horse, the Fairy sadly told. - You do not even represent how helped me, I very much liked to communicate with you. Forgive me for rash and sharp words sometimes. I will lack you … - the voice of the Fairy trembled and broke.

- To me too … I would like to go to release with you the brother …

- … but it is impossible, Gaston, you know, itself feel … You are a courageous knight and the great soldier, but fight with the Invincible Sun will be not on swords and even not on magic wands - even all Community of fairies combined powerlessly before it.

- I know, - sadly having hung the head, Gaston told, - I know … It is not my war, it is not war of the human race … And from it to me it is even heavier …

- Do not worry, Gaston, - the Fairy smiled and frayed him for a shoulder, - will come also your hour. If you trust feiny intuition - the strongest on light - you still will play a role in the history of Tselestiya, and we still will surely meet, believe … - And the Fairy suddenly absolutely unexpectedly for herself kissed Gaston on a cheek.

Gaston densely reddened and, without looking at the Fairy, answered:

- I too … trust …

And right there sharply jumped on the black horse, having taken by the bridle white. Without looking back, it jumped away, yet was not behind turn of a footpath.

- Only not to meet you, Gaston, on different sides of barricades … - the Fairy whispered. Having brushed away a tear and having loudly buzzed wings, resolutely departed on the East - there where the footpath, towards to the destiny and the happiness conducted. And after it her faithful Animals ran a trot.

1.

The way of the Fairy lay further on the northeast. Human possession - the so-called Commonwealth of sovereign kingdoms - appeared far behind, and therefore to be concealed there was no sense any more.

Only one wild woods reached for the East from human possession and to the Sea. It the Fairy had possession of not less wild and dangerous dryads which to meet there was no slightest desire. Thousand-year hostility of both races, their mutual misunderstanding, but not to a lesser extent and personal offense affected. The fairy could not forgive to the queen of dryads Cora of nine-months capture of Prinze in her Reserved Thicket who seemed to Prinze lasting only three days. Fane the jealousy much surpassing human and disgust for the dismissed customs inhabitants of dark thickets - very explosive should tell mix.

Therefore the Fairy, "having loaded" into the consciousness from collective memory of Community of fairies a district map by means of the Analyzer, planned a way in advance so that to avoid meetings with them. And therefore it was necessary to descend from well trodden footpath obviously laid not by people and to go through a thicket and a windbreak. The benefit, the Fairy has wings. It could fly up above kroner of the highest trees and, looking from above, to define the location more precisely. And therefore danger will get lost, it seems, was absolutely excluded., It seems, …

However approximately in an hour after a descent of travelers problems began with the main footpath. The light forest was replaced by an impassable thicket, and not just from fir-tree thickets, and from a juniper and prickly blackberry. The firm soil gradually absolutely disappeared. Where throw a look everywhere there was only a champing fetid bog. Clouds of mosquitoes and midges right there began to eat the Fairy. To animals it was good - they are plush!

And by the evening it became clear that the further way is "regardless of obstacles" closed. Finally the Fairy when at the last beams of the setting sun they buried to such bog through which it was simply impossible to be transported well came to this conclusion! Animals were completely in dirt, desperately stank. From the Fairy a hail sweat from a suffocating heat slid, it all was bitten by mosquitoes and midges against which the frightening-off spells did not work, and to kill them the hand at the Fairy did not rise - animals, in the end of the ends …

Of course, it is possible to try to fly over this bog by air, having dragged Animals on itself … But so far even the Fairy did not see the end to this bog. Its edge was lost in the twilight of a thicket.

2.

- … Well everything, Zveryatki, you as want, and I just have no forces! - the Fairy sighed and it was tumbled down on a damp and elastic moss. - I will not make any movement a wing, neither a hand, nor a leg any more - not mogu-u-u-u!

- Wait, the Hostess, well give though I will lay a plaid - you will soil everything, also you will catch a cold who will treat you? Mya-u-u-u! - the Kitten began to worry, feverishly rummaging in one of chests. He all was zamyzgan from ears to a tail tip dirt and ooze.

- Who-who … Well, of course, the master of medicine, the specialist in female diseases of the widest profile, - having wearily smiled, the Fairy tenderly looked at a careful Kitten and patted it on a plush head.

- Mr-r-r-r-mya-u-u! - enough the Kitten mewed, having found in a chest not just a plaid, but also folding tent, and a set of woolen linen, and it is a lot more what useful. - The best treatment is a prevention, your Highness, and I - unlike you - not the wizard. It is better not to risk … Hey, the Puppy, you what collapsed on a grass, and well give help - who will establish tent? - Also gave it an easy clip so the Puppy jumped and right there turned to work.

The couple of minutes - and tent was spread out, laid by a woolen warm plaid. A kitten with the Puppy spread out a marching bathroom for the Fairy, by means of special tablets purified marsh water and heated it to the necessary temperature. Together they helped the Fairy to be washed properly. The puppy poured water from a jug, and the Kitten worked a bast hard - even the Fairy will not reach a back!

Through some half an hour the Fairy had already blissfully a rest in tent, disguised as the Kitten in a fresh woolen tunic. And after and Animals did not refuse a bathtub, having properly rubbed each other with shampoo in turn - it it is necessary to sleep near the Fairy, and places of wons, watch what dashing!

And the district looked really ominously. In the afternoon it was not noticeable. Well the wood as the wood - and all here. And as the sun was gone, it became feel ill at ease even for plush Animals. Constantly some gurgles, some sighs, okh, uterine sounds flashing in the distance sparks yes the water which is suspiciously lapping in the bog …

From all this even at Animals blood of a styl in veins. And therefore, eventually, they solved in tent to the Fairy not to climb, and to remain here, directly ashore - you never know who can appear from this bog …

And the Fairy, on the contrary, was absolutely quiet and is even careless. Having washed in a bathroom and natershis by rose fragrant attar, she so languished that right there failed on a soft woolen plaid and at once fell asleep. Having seen it such, serenely sleeping, smacking the lips sponges in a dream as the child, Animals were even more executed determination not to sleep, and by all means to guard the Hostess.

Where there! Already in a couple of minutes the Kitten slept like a log, sitting, having leaned the elbows on a chest. And the Puppy who more got used to security service than his companion, however will sometimes close eyelids.

- Do not sleep, the Puppy, do not sleep … - the Puppy said to himself. - To a kitten that? To it it is pardonable … And you, a sentry dog, a shame to fall asleep on a post! You are a dog, a dog, the natural watchman, you have a scent, you have ears … at … you … … a-a-a-akhkhkhkh!!!... hvo ….s ….t ….

"Nevertheless I am the real sentry dog, - fatly he in the sleep thought. - All sleep, and I one am awake. After all and I was useful on this dangerous travel, and not just the Kitten … Here!" - the Puppy stretched enough, but suddenly something missed a bit at him in heart. Suddenly it seemed to it that someone looks at it … And not one …

The puppy wiped with cams of an eye and was dumbfounded. The trees surrounding them - shaggy fir-trees, clumsy and sickly marsh birches, branchy willows - as if began to move the branches though he did not feel any wind. From a bog the lingering uterine sound, then still, still was distributed … The gurgling and champing was heard, and on dark water the small ripple went.

It seemed that the bog came to life and just about will finally waken from the eternal sleepiness and will begin to live life. Life in which presence of strangers was absolutely undesirable.

And here still the full moon reached a zenith, and its in a deathlike way blue light filled in all island on which travelers settled down, but from this otherworldly light to the Puppy became still a zhutcha so there was a wish to raise a howl from melancholy.

Perhaps, the Puppy and made if the bog suddenly did not begin to boil, just like water in a teapot, and from a black chasm any figures did not seem. It is impenetrable dark stains they began to get out of water directly on their island, and and from all directions at once! The puppy could not believe the eyes - who could live in these bogs, well who?

"We-y-y-y … Who eshche-e-e-e-yo???" - in a deathlike way and ominously hissed in his head. And the Puppy from terrible whisper had on end a hair - from a tail to the top.

Already one of shadows entered the space lit with a moonlight. The puppy clearly saw the whitish figure covered with a green duckweed with the long hands and legs covered with long sharp green nails. Blue veins zmeitsya on in a deathlike way white skin, and lackluster whitish eyes burned with inhuman rage. A long gray hair of a creature fell directly to a waist. Blue lips, having grinned in a grin, bared a number of the black decayed teeth, and on a waist the Puppy distinctly distinguished decomposition traces.

And the creature, meanwhile, was selected closer and closer. Behind it, slowly, almost without concerning the Earth's surface, others quietly went. And behind - it the Puppy felt a back - the third crept.

Language stuck to a throat for horror. Even to raise a howl this minute the Puppy, perhaps, already and could not. Only the miracle could rescue them …

… The sharp blow overturned the Puppy from legs on a back, and it raised a howl as never in life howled - stridently, hysterically, shrillly. The blow loosened it tongue.

- You what, absolutely from mind went balmy, and?! From what oak you fell, dog you are the head?! What wood goblin you climb in a bog?!

The puppy looked back and saw that he on a neck lies in muddy swill, and on him the Kitten sits and holds it by paws.

- I … they … from a bog …

- E-e-e-h! The security guard - too to me, and still a dog is called … - annoyingly the Kitten waved a pad. - Because of you all here was smeared again! Let's go, and tent for a long time it is impossible to leave that. Places here bad …

- And - and-and … you slept too, the Kitten, I saw! - the Puppy tried to justify himself, removing from marsh swill on the land and trying to shake off.

- You live on light so much, the Puppy, and both you had no mind, and is not present! - the Kitten slapped it on a back. - If there is no - so borrow the neighbor, perhaps … We, cats, never completely sleep, garden you are the head! Always we will sometimes slightly open a peephole. And so, so I slightly opened a peephole and I look - you suddenly got up and popersya directly to the bog - as though someone conducted you there … - the Kitten scaredly shrank.

- And who? Well … who conducted me …

- And the wood goblin knows it! Bad it is the bog, an interior I feel …

And as if in reply the bog again, this time disappointedly utrobno bulknut, and calmed down.

After the story of the Puppy the Kitten lost any dream and the Puppy at all too. And now they already guarded frankly, without dream. But nothing remarkable occurred any more.

And as soon as the first beams of the pre-dawn sun seemed, the Fairy as usual wakened and left tent well rested, vigorous, become cheerful. Animals could take a nap with a clear conscience now - if the Fairy woke up, then they in perfect security now.

3.

At breakfast, having heard the story of the Puppy about a nightmare, the Fairy frowned.

- That is and - and - ak, ponya-I-I-yatno … Again they fell back into the old ways! Ooh, get they to me - I povydergat all hair! - also squeezed a cam so that bones turned white.

- Ch-what? Ch-what, hostess? - Animals began to worry.

- That-what? Usual tricks of dryads! They have so a good time, enticing travelers into whirlpools. They cannot influence me, and here you... - gloomy the Fairy told. - But another is even worse. If they did it, so first, they already watch us, and secondly, they somewhere nearby. Perhaps, prepare an ambush. To hide there is no sense any more. We are revealed. It is necessary to return on a footpath and already to go openly - let there will be an open fight, than game cat and mouse … Let's go, Zveryatki, we collect things and we come back to a footpath, and the it is rather - the better!

The footpath was quickly - did not pass also hour. As if itself jumped as a snake, towards to travelers and now travel went much easier and quicker.

Yes, it became much simpler to travel now. The backwoods were replaced by the ordinary wood, and the footpath conducted them on the firm earth which is generously covered with a soft cover from last year's leaves and needles. Animals considerably became cheerful and began to whistle different dance tunes of a melody, but the Fairy still remained alarmed. It continually touched by the Analyzer hand on a rim which continually flashed disturbing green light, and turned around around.

- They here, everywhere, prepare an ambush … - the Fairy whispered, having mentally probed the next time to the district. - So, Zveryatki, if something happens - hide for my back, densely nestle on the earth - I will cover you. In the wood not to run. It is clear?

Animals right there stopped whistling melodies, scaredly nodded and now followed strictly the Fairy, in single file, as the scared ducklings for mother duck.

Really, soon the danger which hung over them became obvious and to the mind which is not equipped with the Analyzer.

First, the players of the wood began to be changed again. Deciduous trees were gradually replaced coniferous, besides high, old, spreading, hiding the sun. The hubbub of crows and daws stopped. The wood became mertvyashche silent. The footpath became dark, something reminding thickets at the Limit.

Secondly, the footpath gradually began to sheer. Instead of the direction on the northeast, necessary to travelers (and specified on the card which issued in mind of the Fairy Analizator) or at least just on the East, it began to take away promptly to the South, and to go obviously to a hollow.

But the most important - leaves and branches of trees began to move, very quietly to fluctuate without any wind, to exchange words as if with each other in some unclear language. And the space between trees began to become covered by flakes of dense whitish fog.

"What can be fog at midday?!" - it is disturbing Animals thought about themselves.

- But, the Hostess, - the scared Puppy whispered by the shivering voice, - why they prepare for us an ambush, well, these dryads? We are the, and-av … More precisely, they are the former fairies!