Unconquered Sun (82 page)

- Keep to the point, the witness, - officially passionless tone said Pearl-white, having helped out all Community from an inconvenient situation. - Tell, please, court of all Community about corpus delicti of the defendant appearing on business under the name of "Prince".

Cora, at last, distracted from an amusing show and, having freely leaned the elbows on a back of a chair of Prinze, having thrown one leg for another and having crossed hands on a breast, told:

- And what here to tell? All is simple. My sister, Laura famous to all of you, asked me to help the next friend from people. I told that I agree - I cannot refuse to the beloved little sister, correctly? And so, she to me brought him and left as agreed, at me. But not free of charge it to help me?

The fairy sitting in the first row where it was necessary to protection, reddened as a peony:

- Your Knowledge, I object! The witness tells beside the point affairs!

- The objection is sustained, - quietly and passionlessly parried Pearl-white. - Everything that is related to the transaction of the defendant and witness - belongs to business.

- Continue, Cora, - according to the Second nodded.

- And so, - Cora indifferently continued, and the Fairy, having hidden the face burning with shame in hands, was going to hear the worst. - This came to me here the unfortunate little man, told that he needs my broom and a protectant from aroma of flowers of Oblivion and Pink Bubbles to kidnap the wife from Fey's Island, where as he claimed, his wife was held deception. - Cora made a significant pause. - And then, I, of course, pretended that these trifling thingummies cost very much and began to bargain …

- And what was a trade subject? - asked Pearl-white.

- And a trade subject, - having impudently grinned and having patted Prinze on long ago not a short-haired head of hear, Cora maliciously told, - it is impossible to call in such decent society … - the rumble of indignation swept on stands, and the Fairy was ready to fail under the earth with shame.

- … though … if you want …

- It is not necessary, not in these sacred walls, not before their Knowledge! - with pathos unusual for it exclaimed Pearl-white.

- As you will tell, white-haired hypocrites … - Cora contemptuously grinned. - And so, this little man, probably, gorged on from you your hypocrisy and refused (The fairy with astonishment raised the head). Then I suggested it the transaction - to give the first that he will see when he meets beloved - and it, the poor thing (she stroked the sleeping Prinze on the head), so was frightened of my first offer - generally, absolutely innocent from the point of view of "An order and Prosperity" of Tselestiya that it was ready for everything …

- And what was farther?

- And he is farther, in one lunar - a moonlight night swore about it on … Black Stone!

Outburst of indignation took stands, the Black Stone was considered at fairies as the greatest nasty thing, a source of evil and vicious strength of forest witches!

- … And so, I honestly gave all to it - and and not only the broom and a protective mask, and it is a lot more what - me and to most it was interesting to bring more headache to Community of Hypocrites, ha!

- "Honestly"? Black witch, as if not so! - the Fairy did not sustain. - You promised to detain him for only three days, and he stayed at you nine months, the liar! What you with it did all these months, answer, the thief of husbands and the profaner of others marriages!

- I object, your Knowledge, this remark has no relation to business, - raised a hand Pearl-white.

- The objection is accepted, - the Second agreed.

- In total? Finished? - impudently Cora asked. - And so, he really in nine months departed on my broom for the darling, safely kidnapped her. You know this history better me - as it inflated you at escape as you were dishonored by the Sea as you …

- Enough! - cried Pearl-white which extremely painfully endured a failure of its Award.

- … and so, when it returned with the favourite wife to itself(himself) to a family nest, he … safely forgot about the promise! An oath at the Black Stone! An oath which non-execution is capable to break the Great Law of Balance on which costs not only Tselestiya but also all Universe as you know … - with pathos raised a hand to the sky Cora.

- Charge thanks the witness for exhaustive indications. If Protection wishes, we can check all these indications by means of memory scanning as Cora, and …

- No! It is not necessary! - as stung the Fairy jumped up. - Protection can confirm correctness of indications!

- On what basis?

- On the basis of personal recognition of the husband.

- A strong reason, - agreed Pearl-white. - So, your Knowledge, dear sisters, we see that guilt of the defendant on this point is obvious. Not to you to say to me that Black Stones really have great force, though dark and disgusting for us, creations of light and good, faithful attendants of the Creator. Not to you to speak to me also about force of not executed oath …

The rumble of a consent swept on stands.

And the Second Knowledge, as always, quietly and passionlessly, spoke:

- Whether has what to tell Protection?

- Has, - loudly and accurately the Fairy answered. - Protection has a question to the witness from charge.

- Set.

- Answer, please, my dear Cora, to all Community as on spirit and what was an oath subject?

- As that, the first that …

- … I already know it, Cora, - the Fairy interrupted. - And what
upon
was this the first?

- And you do not know that … - Cora grinned.

At this moment, on the sign given by the Fairy in the Hall one more guard of "STING" entered, conducting for the handle … the little four-year-old girl!

Pretty, as doll: light curly volosik, golubenky, a little bit convex eyes, chubby pink cheeks and sponges, with the "sweetie" in small handles pressed to a breast in a children's golubenky dress and sandalika of the same color, and behind - still such small thin wings.

After the Hall the affection rumble swept. Fairies adored children, and especially - girls and the more so - girls of Community - their future, their pride, them … Generally, embodiments of all of the most valuable to them. Phrases "what charming child were heard!", "what sun!", "lassie!", "bittock!", "doll!"

And the daughter, meanwhile, having seen Prinze on a chair, with wild squeal rushed to the father, shouting "the Folder! The folder was! Hurrah!" Prinze woke up from squeal and something gleamed in his empty eyes because he even stood up from a chair, as if intending to meet requirements of the child, but that already with squeal rushed to it on knees and embraced handles him a neck.

- Folder! Daddy expensive! Was! Look what new sweetie at me! Look! It is absolutely similar to you the daddy! I made it … - and tightly seized the father's neck, and on Prinze's cheeks tears began to flow.

- Whether you, Cora recognize, this child? - indifferently the Fairy asked.

- Well, I learn … - Cora gloomy told.

- From where you recognized him, you never in life saw him?

- Yes I saw it, the Stone showed it …

Here it is simply impossible to describe reaction of Community. Stands just blew up indignation shouts: "Yes as you dare!", "hands off our children!", "not trozh them the dirty paws!" and all in such spirit.

- You it is correct, oh, my venerable sisters, guessed! And as you, my dear, will not understand feeling of mother and the fairy when it has to send the only daughter - hope and a support of Community - to paws of this rastlitelnitsa and the thief of foreign husbands!.

- Yes I did not kidnap him! - with insult Cora cried. - He to me came, upon my life! to Him …

But the Fairy did not allow it to finish speaking:

- … to this monster, generation of night, darkness, our nightmares, the evils, lawlessness, disgraces, immorality, godlessness and all that does not have the name! As you will not understand me, mother as you will not understand me, faithful children of light and good, morality and chastity! As I can put the child at the mercy to this dragon, this monster! Here also I had to forbid the husband to carry out promised! - Here it for greater effect sustained a short pause - after all well the Fairy learned at School of a basis of oratory! - So and on me, oh, sisters, wine! And on me too! So judge also me too! Take away from children - mother as want to take away the husband from the wife! Judge! I all before you! Judge also me together with it for perjury! - the Fairy cried and kneelt before Community, having inclined the head as though holding up a neck under the executioner's sword.

Stands blew up wild shouts of solidarity. Fairies as if from mind of a poskhodila. They broke from the places as a swarm of angry bees, and flew under the arches of the Hall of Meetings, violently crying out: "To pardon!", "to spare!", "female solidarity!", "hands off our children!", "… from our dolls!"

Cora has a snack a lip and gloomy was silent. It was not silly. Going here, she perfectly knew that reaction will be such. But it went to it. For the sake of Prinze, for the sake of those happy months which she spent with him - months which she will never forget the reminiscence of which will console her throughout the uncountable millennia of loneliness for a long time …

For the sake of it it was worth suffering this market of angry brood hens and to make a contribution to rescue of this person which became, let and not consciously, responsible for so many events in its such rare for luck life!

At last, all three Knowledge raised hands and the silence set in. "Bees" sat down on the places and were going to listen.

- So, sisters, I think, will not be surprise if We join the general opinion and we recognize that Protection presented the powerful circumstance which is very extenuating fault. Really, to execute such oath not only to the defendant, but also it would be difficult for each of us, also as the artful intention of the Night Queen who camouflaged the intention under foggy words which the defendant, on the natural weak-mindedness, typical for representatives of the weaker sex, could not understand is obvious. On the other hand, We cannot deny the fact of fault of the defendant, and therefore …

The death silence set in. There came the outcome - the announcement of a sentence!

- … We urge to speak, respectively, to Jurors - to Primogenital Fairies, then - to all Community.
Yes justice because it - above all will come true!
- and all three clapped.

However after everything told by Knowledge, the sentence was extremely clear. Both jurors, and Community found Prinze guilty on the last point, but with the softening circumstance which allowed to impose on it the most lenient punishment under this article -

- …
Compulsory re-education on Islands Blissful without a certain term!

In Skies jurisprudence language it meant that as soon as it shows good results of re-education - and such results as practice of "medical procedures" showed, begin to show almost everything for the second month - it will be returned right there home, to a family, on a dovospitaniye in house conditions under the leadership of his own wife.

- The sentence final and to the appeal is not subject!
-
summed up all three Knowledge
,
then
at the same time rose and majestically went to an exit.

Strazhnitsa "STINGS" led Prinze to an exit, having previously not without effort taken away the crying daughter from his neck clinging to it as the monkey - tomorrow to it loading on the ship which will carry it to departure of a measure of restraint was coming.

And the Fairy, pressing the daughter to a breast, cried with happiness, her darling is rescued now that through some few months he will return to it and all at them will be good now.

1.

When strazhnitsa of the 2nd department of "STING" put Prinze on the ship and programmed a security hoop on his head, the Fairy managed to spend with it a row several invaluable moments.

The prince was silent. After several sessions of preliminary "medical procedures" his head was filled with some lead fog. He hardly managed to understand who is he and where it actually is. Generally he just felt, without arguing. He felt how gentle handles of the Fairy iron it on the head as she says something to it a silent voice, something consolatory, kind, saw how in her eyes there are tears.

It was heavy to Prinze to leave the Fairy, but he could tell her nothing too. Thoughts persistently did not want to be born in his head exhausted with cleaning spells. It it is only sad and a little rather stupid, almost in an animal way, watched at a hem its snow-white tunics (The fairy for merits before Community was raised to the 1st rank) and listened to her gentle voice, without understanding, however, the pronounced words at all, and felt gentle touches of her hands to the skin.

And then the ship sailed away.

The prince stood on the deck and looked at the mooring which moved away from it further and further. The magical metal hoop controlled each his thought, each feeling. The prince approached the edge of a stern and, having undertaken hands a handrail, was bent through them all over that for a moment to bring closer the person Fei, the hand waving to it from the mooring. The magic hoop preduprezhdayushche contracted, having caused an attack of a headache such that in eyes darkened. The prince departed from a handrail, and the hoop accepted the usual sizes again, the headache ceased. And the pale tear-stained face of the lovely Fairy became less and less, her thin almost maidenly figure moved away from Prinze further and further.

Prinze is not able to be understood who is she where she leaves and why he has to leave it, but to it was sad at heart, and he cried as the child whom take away others aunts from mother it is unknown where.

And then the ship turned, bending around a big reef, and the figure of the Fairy disappeared. And Prinze, itself without understanding what happens to him, sat down on the deck and his shoulders began to shake in silent sobbing.

But it lasted only a couple of minutes. Suddenly the fairy teacher of the 5th rank from the 3rd department of "STING", in a grassy-green tunic and a raincoat approached it, and touched it with the end of the green magic wand. Prinze's head began to spin, he felt a sweet istoma in all body, pulled it in a dream.

He fell directly to the deck and instantly fell asleep with a blissful smile on lips. In a dream he saw the Fairy who sat near it on a meadow and ironed it on the head the thin gentle handles and smiled and quietly told something to it. The fairy of the 5th rank waved a stick and Prinze's body rose up on the invisible airbag and departed down, directly to an inhabited compartment, on the prepared bed.

2.

The fairy returned to the Palace, almost without feeling under herself legs with experiences and fatigue. She would prefer to lie down, have a rest right now, but now, being a fairy of the first rank, worthy to wear snow-white clothes and to fly on a winged animal - she chose to herself a snow-white griffin - she was obliged to be present not only at the general councils of fairies, but also at confidential meetings of the Supreme Privy Council of fairies of the highest ranks which these disturbing days sat especially often.

At all meetings it was discussed same. What to do is farther? And this question was very and is very actual. War with the Invincible Sun obviously came to a standstill, there was a stalemate, same as ten thousand years ago. Fairies could not rush into the citadel protected by sorcery of magic mirrors, and the Invincible Sun, outside their reach, could undertake nothing against fairies. The location of a den Murin still remained to unknown.

Of course, fairies took a citadel in a dense ring, of course, all territory was patrolled in the most thorough way, but it, perhaps, there was all armed forces of Community were capable of.

- … I think, I will express opinion of all sisters, - the fairy in pearl-white clothes declared, the Bearer of Tables No. 5, - that it is time for us to leave from here and to recognize this war finished. How many still to us to sit uselessly here? We are expected by a set of the cases concerning our Service in all corners of this world. It is time to fly already on houses!

The proposal of the sister was picked up by an approval rumble. To fairies rather bothered to do nothing here, someone beloved husbands and children, someone - favourite work, someone - favourite places to which fairies have surprising ability to become attached all heart waited for the house. Besides fairies awfully did not love war and burdens connected with it! And here still - neither war, nor the world …

- I object! - the Pearl-white fairy raised a hand, permanent Elder Sister "REAPED". - How we can leave this place when we know that the Invincible Sun in its secret vaults has weapons of mass destruction which application is fraught with death of everything of the world entrusted us by the Creator?! How you, sisters, can be such egoists?! And what if this madwoman in few weeks restores population of gold dragons and will receive, thus, delivery systems for the terrible bomb? You thought of it?!

Grumble of indignation and alarm swept on a close formation of the fairies sitting in strictly hierarchical order in the semicircular stands of the Hall of Meetings - on ranks and on proximity to the person of their Knowledge.

- Where then there will be our favourite gardens where then there will be our children and spouses where then there will be our laboratories and libraries where, I ask you where?! - It led round a terrible look of the fairies who turned pale for fear and triumphantly continued. - The invincible Sun has to be destroyed, the Gold Tower has to be destroyed, as well as a den vile Murin - once and for all, sisters, once and for all!

And all several thousands of sisters of the highest ranks in one rush rose from stands and exclaimed:

- Once and for all! Once and for all! Once and for all!

And only our Fairy did not rise from the place, and and remained to sit to the right of Triune Knowledge, sadly remembering events of last several weeks, and especially, time spent in the Gold Hall. But Lily Feya did not decide to speak in protection of "the only girlfriend".

This council terminated also fruitlessly, as well as previous. Again decided to wait for change of a situation, to wait for the course which the Invincible Sun surely has to make - could not agree to anything more again. And again the Triune Knowledge kept full silence, without expressing neither pro, nor contra, being completely shipped in the wise thoughts inaccessible to usual mind.

So the Fairy remained, being now their Knowledge attached to the person as if a birdie in a cage, on the Flying Island, directly opposite to the Gold Hall, one view of which evoked so much heavy reminiscence that her heart clenched from melancholy - melancholy for Prinze and pity to Lily and even to insufferably ugly Azail.

3.

The prince woke up from the easy pressure upon a skull. The hoop on the head slightly contracted, reminding that it is time to rise and go to have breakfast. Already there passed five days as it floated by the ship the captive.

The prince got used that the hoop constantly operates his behavior. Slava Sozdatelyu, procedures for "clarification" became less, and in the head it is not so empty. But the hoop, on the contrary, considerably became more active. He induced Prinze to certain actions, prompted the necessary thoughts and unnecessary itself cut, accustoming Prinze to be operated.

The prince went down in a refectory cabin. There already golems servants spread out food and drinks. The fairy teacher in grassy-green clothes of the 5th rank quietly and passionlessly looked at the entering Prinze.

- Patient No. 3570, how do you feel today?

- Thanks, better. I can already think and speak a little.

- I see. You make progress. What now you have to make, you remember?

The prince hardly collected the thoughts. Yes, something was yesterday …

So far Prinze tried to remember what occurred yesterday, he mechanically approached a table and sat down at it, but right there as stung jumped, having gritted teeth to a crunch from pain - a hoop so pulled together his skull that, appear, it just about will burst as a nut.

- There now, you forgot again, No. 3570, - discontentedly the shook a fine head the fairy. - I teach you, I learn … In total pointless, in one ear flies, takes off for another, - she threw up the hands, and in the opinion of her the feeling of a sincere regret appeared. - At first you have to rise, accompany to a table the fairy - your spouse - to serve her, and only when she nods to you, you can sit down and be accepted to food. Unless not so?

- So, - Prinze gloomy told, having bent the head.

- Not "so", and "quite right, madam", and it you forgot, isn't it? - it is already angry the fairy told - her beautiful face gradually lost passionless expression. - Now I, apparently, understand why you could come to such sad state! Your wife excessively razbalovat you! Get you to me - I would make the person of you! - important the fairy told.

- Get you to me, - did not sustain and imitated it Prinze, - I would run away from you in the first night!

Told, and it was right there bent from such wild head pain that from a nose blood rushed. The prince fell on knees, convulsively grabbing hands a cold metal rim and greedy gasped for air as if the fish cast ashore. His head was again filled with lead fog in which the last gleams of thought disappeared.

- You yourself harm, unfortunate you to the patient! - with notes of sincere pity in a voice said, instructively lifting a thin finger up, the fairy. - Well, as you will not understand that life in Community of fairies for you very much, is very simple - only do that you are told - and all! And you will be happy - believe me! - on a face of the fairy the charming smile seemed.

After that she got up, concerned a hoop stick, and it stopped squeezing the head. Then she ran a hand over his face, and a wound was right there stopped, and in a brain struck a warm stream from which the pleasant feeling spread on all body. It became easy, joyful, good. Pain right there disappeared.

The prince got up from knees, also smiled, and then easily and cheerfully made all that demanded from him. He took the fairy by hand, placed it, laid the table and obediently got up aside and when that made the easy movement by the head allowing it to sit down, he obediently sat down and was accepted to food.

- Well, here, you can, you can! - having joyfully clapped the hands, the fairy told. - If further so goes, then Blissful you long do not linger on Islands. Through a two-three of months I will return you to your wife absolutely another - tender, obedient, quiet, lovely and affable - the worthy partner in life for the maid of honor of her Knowledge …

But Prinze did not listen to it. He suddenly felt that he is strongly hungry. Because of mistakes at last lessons it repeatedly deprived of food. He greedy attacked on food especially as foods from pink clouds were exactly such, as well as at his native Fairy - incredibly appetizing and tasty.

But he did not manage to swallow and couples of spoons as a hoop were squeezed again by his skull and the spoon dropped out of hands.

- Well it that it, patient! Well as it is possible after such progress as a pig again - in dirt! Well, who you so taught to eat?! You that, the illiterate man from the remote village who, having come from a plowed land, devours food as a hog?! And? You spouse of the fairy! And fairies of the first rank! - the teacher pathetically upraised hands as if urging heaven to become the witness of this scandalous lawlessness and to join her just anger. - Where use of a knife?! Where napkin?! Where etiquette?! And who, well who you could teach to wipe hands about clothes?! Same it is absolutely incomprehensible! And to jam a mouth?! Well who?! Is it is necessary little by little, carefully chewing to have an opportunity to conduct a courteous small talk, your wife should not miss at dinner! And if she asks you about something?! You will not be able even to answer it with such mouth filled up to the top! - The fairy for anger even jumped and began to go here and there, not in forces to calm down. Then she got up, turned the person who turned white from indignation to Prinze and cried out:

- Everything, I have had enough! You are deprived of a lunch again!, in the cabin! Also think there at a leisure of the unworthy behavior! - and she pointed by the long thin finger to an exit.

Nothing remained to the prince how to follow again in a cabin with the stomach humming for hunger. In which already time …

Fortunately, the feeling of hunger suddenly was sharply replaced by drowsiness. It it is again lazy thought that tomorrow precisely everything will rise on the places. Having somehow reached the bed, he failed on a bed without undressing, and right there fell asleep. And in a dream all the time dreamed it as it again and again learns to use a table knife, it is correct to cut vegetables, to tie a napkin, is small pieces, etc.,
etc.
And the picture repeated over and over again, same. And only after the fiftieth or sixtieth repetition it could plunge into darkness of oblivion, at last.

4.

Blissful the ship arrived to Islands next day.

These islands really were not simple. It seemed, they were ideally created for terrestrial pleasure. White friable sand of flat beaches, palm trees, blue lagoons with soft quiet sea water, picturesque mountains in the center, a warm tropical breeze …