Звездопад / Starfall: Глава 21

Chapter 21

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 19:21

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Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 19:25

// You get used to everything eventually, even the impossible and unacceptable. That winged expression came back to Taer's mind again and again.

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 19:37

Everything around her was shaky, reality shook and scattered in a kaleidoscope of options when she tried to focus on something, but she thought she was used to it and even saw sense in this phantasmagoria:

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 19:38

// "These are all probabilities - variants - of what reality could be," Taer thought curiously as she watched the shifting figures floating around her as if caught between two mirrors, stretched out in an endless string of variants.

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 19:38

It was hard to get her bearings. The world around her, shaky and indistinct as if immersed in an endless blue twilight, was moving around her, but Taher wasn't there. She couldn't feel her own body. But she could look anywhere as if she had no neck or, perhaps, no eyes. At some point, she caught that she could focus on two objects at once, but she was afraid to experiment further. One thing was clear - she was in a small robotaxi, and many of the images she saw were of possible breakdowns, collisions, and other catastrophes. But they were faint, indistinct, almost nonexistent, and the odds must have been slim. She was probably alone in the car, simply because there were no images of other people, the ones that did appear momentarily, only to disappear again if you didn't focus on them - random hitchhikers in the flow of traffic. But where the robotaxi was going was impossible to understand. She was so absorbed in her ability to see events that hadn't happened yet that she was even a little upset when reality suddenly curled back to its normal state, regaining its usual colors and sounds.

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 19:44

"What would please the honored one?" The elderly merchant asked with his head bowed low.

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 19:44

Taher was still disoriented by the sudden change in her perception and didn't quite understand where she was: clearly not a taxi but already a street: the yellow light of street lamps, a corner of the dark sky, the movement of many people could be heard behind her: footsteps, fragments of phrases. She stood in front of a street stall with some souvenirs and, for some reason, a large collection of veils of all colors and styles and brightly painted masks.

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 19:46

The owner of the tent, who made no effort to feign subservient interest, was dressed in a shapeless gray hood with traces of many hasty meals and came from a "close-to-human" background. His skin was the color and texture of old tree bark, but the latter was probably a trace of his years.

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 19:47

// I guess you can meet different people in the capital, but this is definitely a place for a simpler crowd. But why the veils?" - She thought, clinging to the thought. She remembered that veils had something to do with something.

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 19:48

While she was realizing where she was, her hands removed money from her purse with careless grace:

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 19:49

"Take it not as payment but as a blessing." Her voice came out in the bored shorthand of a regular, and her hand, with a clasped card of one hundred creds, jabbed toward the dark blue veil behind the clerk's back.

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 19:49

The merchant smiled happily and hurriedly took the money with a bow and handed her the veil:

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 19:50

"Blessed is the giver, for his hand, the hand of Twilight." He recited the formula without hiding his understandable joy. Taer didn't know the capital's prices, but she was sure that a dozen of these veils could be bought for a hundred.

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 19:51

The vendor obligingly brought out a large mirror, but without waiting for him, she had already put on the veil, and she did it so quickly and confidently that it seemed as if she did it several times a day, every day of her life.

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 19:53

Having put on her veil, the "other" turned around without saying goodbye and joined the crowd that filled the wide street and moved leisurely toward a common goal:

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 19:54

// "The main temple of Twilight," Taer was almost unsurprised to see three huge black columns converging in the sky at one point, forming an empty pyramid or triangle, the symbol of Twilight. Taer had expected something like this after the blessings and the acquisition of the veil. She remembered it was customary to visit the temples of the Church of Twilight by covering one's face. // "But what is she doing here? Why the main temple?".

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 19:55

She moved through the motley mass of people, tourists, pilgrims, and worshippers, with occasional black threads of monks walking behind each other in oversized black cloaks, their faces hidden behind solid masks. Aside from the obvious tourists, most of the monks were not wearing the trappings of monasticism but were wearing veils, just as Taer was, which made it seem to her that she had completely disappeared into the crowd, blending in with the faceless mass:

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 19:57

// "You're a member of the Church of Twilight?" - Taer tried to convey her mental question to the 'other', not hiding her surprise.

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 19:58

"No." She heard herself whisper back. "I don't see the point of religion."

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 19:59

Taer thought she caught a subtle flavor of irony in the usual icy stream of homing that filled much of her consciousness.

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 19:59

// Cleric or monk?" - Taer asked, realizing the answer was clearly a trick.

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 20:00

"No." Guider shook her head, smiling slightly. "That would be vulgar."

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 20:00

The flavor of irony became even stronger, but the "other" no longer responded to Taer's further questions, silently walking forward...

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 20:04

// Not a Twilight Adept, but if she was a telepath, she wouldn't need to interrogate. Perhaps some financial matters..." Taer thought, languishing with powerlessness, but the "other" was walking fast enough, but it was still a long way to the temple, and at times like this it felt especially strong that she was not the one in control of her body, and it was incredibly annoying.

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 20:06

As they approached the temple, the stream of people divided into three unequal streams, each of which reached the foot of one of the columns. She was in the most numerous stream, where there were the most tourists.

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 20:08

Despite her limited religious education, Taer knew that the main temple of Twilight had three gates. One for the congregation, the second for the priesthood, and the third was always closed and meant for Twilight himself or something like that.

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 20:09

// Maybe they're not going to the temple at all." - It was hard to believe that this idle crowd was members of a church that had always been known for its primness.

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 20:11

She was right. The base of the temple's columns had been "undercut" to form a giant canopy, and underneath it, along the entire circumference, were tents with good luck charms, statues for good luck alms, and rows of small cubic offices finished in dark polished wood with walls of milky white illuminated plastic. Behind these rows of vending machines rose a huge gateway. In a perfect circle of gray stone, a hundred mers high was inscribed with a golden triangle with its apex downward, within which glowed a dark red metal cross, the left and lower ends of which were connected by a graceful loop - the cross of the alta. The gate was closed.

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 20:18

// This must be the Gate of Twilight..." Taer thought as she looked at one of the few symbols that had survived from the legendary times before Starfall. Against the grandeur and enormity of the temple and the gate, the tents with the merchants below seemed like small insects swarming around, completely out of place here.

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 20:23

"Like worms crawling in a dead giant, too blind and primitive to understand the greatness of the defeated or realize their irrelevance." she said aloud, and only after a few seconds did she realize, // "Did she say that? Or is it a guider? Or did she voice my thoughts? Were they even my thoughts or hers?".

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 20:24

"May I be of assistance in your search?" The unexpected phrase from outside stopped the panic that was beginning to set in Taer's mind.

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 20:22

A gray monk stood beside her, leaning slightly, a baggy, oversized, multi-layered asphalt-colored cloak that went down to his feet almost completely concealed his figure, his face was covered by a solid oval of a black mask, and his voice was clearly distorted by some device. It could have been anyone in front of her - a man, a woman, a member of another race, or maybe even a droid.

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 20:31

"Perhaps." The guider replied casually, glancing around leisurely.

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 20:31

The stream of visitors quickly dispersed among the stalls, offices, and statues, so it was no surprise that a woman in an obviously expensive business suit caught his eye.

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 20:33

"My search is a long, faceless one." With a sigh, the "other" continued in the voice of a man weary of formalities. And handed the monk a card of a hundred danarii. "Help me and bless me with good fortune."

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 20:34

The money immediately disappeared somewhere deep in the folds of the cloak, and the monk outlined an imaginary triangle around her with his palm:

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 20:35

"May the lost one grant you good luck and indulgence. What help is needed in your search?" He asked again, bowing slightly.

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 20:36

"I've got a big deal coming up. I'd like to get my fortune told. But!" The guider raised a finger warningly. "No need to try to slip me these tourist attractions. I want to go to a very specific master who was recommended by my clergyman." She pointed her finger at one of the white-walled offices, away from the main mass.

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 20:37

The monk turned around after following her gesture and spread his hands with a sigh:

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 20:38

"I'm sorry, Seeker, but there are a lot of people out there looking for help. If you leave me your contacts, I will sign you up and notify you when an appointment is available."

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 20:40

"I don't have time for this." The 'other' waved away capriciously and pulled out a new card, already five hundred danarii. "Maybe the lord of chance will smile, and I'll get a chance to get in without an appointment and right now?" She asked, holding out the money.

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 20:41

"All things are possible according to his will." The monk took the money and, bowing lower than before, went towards the office indicated.

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 20:43

// You gave him my wages for half a decade." - Taer muttered to herself, somewhat shocked at the amount of the tip.

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 20:44

"Any image needs confirmation." The "other" mumbled to herself, and added, with obvious sneer, "I doubt you need the money that badly."

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 20:57

// I doubt you need the divination. Taer snarled a little hurt by another reminder of her own helplessness. // Why are we here?"

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 21:36

"I see you're getting worn out..." The 'other' sighed and continued in a sissy tone. "Be patient a little longer little one, I'll finish my business and then I'll buy you something."

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 21:37

It wasn't a joke or even a quip. Taer clearly sensed the desire of the 'other' to specifically tease her, to irritate her, to drive her to something.

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 21:38

// What the hell do you want from me?". - She growled mentally.

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 21:45

"I keep waiting for you to do something," Guider admitted tiredly, watching the monk lazily. "But other than a suicide attempt literally drowned in self-pity, all you do is whine. I'd like to see some redeeming features of your existence... And not that I expect much from a child, but usually children are at least curious, and you're not even that."

Camrad_RIP 05.08.23 в 21:46