Звездопад / Starfall: Глава 25

Chapter 25

Camrad_RIP 05.09.23 в 19:54

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Camrad_RIP 05.09.23 в 19:54

Rustling the folds of his shapeless asphalt-colored robe that completely covered his body, the monk bowed low, stopping at the ordered seat.

Camrad_RIP 20.09.23 в 19:58

"Your visit is a blessing to us. Every guest, a chance to be in his presence." The gray monk's lifeless and monotonous voice had clearly been altered by some device, and his face was completely covered by a solid black oval mask.

Camrad_RIP 20.09.23 в 19:59

"Accept it, not as payment, but as a blessing." Alex handed the monk a small square of dark gold, a card of five danarii. During the "preparatory work," he also found out how to behave here,

Camrad_RIP 20.09.23 в 19:59

"Blessed is the giver, for his hand is the hand of Twilight himself." The money disappeared into the asphalt folds of the monk's robes, and he bowed low once more and went away, leaving a thin plate of menus on the table.

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 13:59

"Yeah..." Alex quietly stretched out, looking around the place of the date. "The atmosphere isn't very romantic."

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 14:00

The huge hall was shaped like a bagel in the sense that it was round, with a hole in the center. A huge hole, to be precise, fenced in no more than symbolically. Along the entire perimeter of the metal thread was a thin railing, behind which, many hundreds of meters below, lay the emerald surface of the sea illuminated by the golden ripples of the setting sun. Today was one of those rare occasions in the capital when the calendar and astronomical evening coincided.

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 14:01

It must have been in order not to distract from such an original view of the sea. All other decoration was simply absent. Literally. A long, narrow table of reddish polished wood, standing not far from the dip, a smooth black mirror of the floor, from which the granite blocks of columns soared to the dome of the ceiling, twisting slightly around their axis like the blades of a giant propeller. Columns of rough, unpolished gray granite were arranged like stones in a Japanese garden, overlapping each other so that sitting at one of the few tables could not see the other tables and their guests. The only semblance of jewelry - golden ribbons that smooth metal snakes braided the columns, only emphasizing the roughness of the texture of raw stone.

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 14:03

The ribbons, of course, were three for each column, and Alex didn't remember how many columns there were, but he could be sure that it was a multiple of three. The local beliefs were tightly tied to numerology, and if the sacred number of the Flame was two and accordingly even. The sacred number of Twilight was three and odd. And here, in the temple of Twilight, they tried to remind him about it at every step. Everything was a multiple of three or triangular in shape. The temple itself was made of three triangles forming a hollow triangular pyramid, under the top of which the "restaurant" was suspended. The triangular theme did not end there, of course. The seats for the guests, if you look at the plan, were actually the tops of three triangles inscribed in each other, adding up to the number nine, the "superlative" form of the three and the sacred number of the Gray Lady, a rather specific local saint or demigoddess responsible for death and mercy. In the sense that death is mercy, in some situations.

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 14:06

// "Doesn't look like much of a restaurant," Alex summarized mentally, shrugging uncomfortably.

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 14:07

He had the feeling that someone was watching him closely. He wanted to look around, but he didn't, for two reasons: first, because during the preparations for the "date," he had found out how serious the gray monks were about ensuring the privacy of their guests, and second, if he was really being watched, it was pointless to look around - you wouldn't notice anything anyway. Instead, to pass the time, he began to study the menu, which was very peculiar, like everything in this place.

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 14:08

The menu was "numbered": the number of the dish, a reference to the source of the recipe variant, and the name of the "interpreter." It was something like: "No. 7 Acclaimed Codex 243:5661 from Iolaus Tasid". No prices, no names. It was assumed that if you came to such a place, you would know the names by number - the menu had not changed for thousands of years. And thousands of theological works have been devoted to its study, in which, without any irony, they tried to find the hidden meaning in each of the known recipes. The only thing that matters is where the recipe comes from and who interprets it, i.e. the name of the "chef."

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 14:10

As Alex realized, the latter was paid a lot of attention to because the recipes had been preserved despite the millennia separating the present time and the legendary era. Even the external presentation of many dishes was known, but nobody knew what they were supposed to taste like, which opened wide possibilities for "interpretation." There were even some culinary competitions on this topic and recognized stars among the "interpreters."

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 14:11

"Have you decided what you're going to order yet?"

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 14:11

Taer's appearance was heralded by the click of her heels, which echoed through the hall long before she arrived, so the question didn't take him by surprise.

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 14:16

"Not yet. Maybe you can help me with that?" He asked, setting the menu aside and turning his gaze to Taer.

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 14:17

All in gold and silver: her face was hidden by an oval mask like the local monks', but not black, but gold, shining with mirror-polished metal. A fitted jacket with a high collar and puffy shoulders made of a material similar to dark golden foil. Her hair, contrary to custom, was not gathered at the nape of her neck but thrown over her right shoulder in a platinum wave flowing over the dark gold of the jacket and down over her chest. Silver pants and pale purple stiletto shoes to match the manicure. It was probably the first time Taer had ever worn high heels. She towered majestically over the dark gray figure of the monk accompanying her, like a golden statue of a goddess and looked so natural in a temple where money was essentially worshipped that Alex wondered if it was some kind of ceremonial garb.

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 14:18

In any case, he noted with a faint shadow of regret that there was no hint of the frivolity or playfulness that had set the tone for the meeting. Not that he'd expected anything, but he'd always liked tall girls.

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 14:19

"Are you hungry?" Taer inquired casually, sitting down across from him.

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 14:20

There were no chairs, only dark burgundy squares of cushions lying directly on the floor near a low, narrow table, so she sat cross-legged in Turkish.

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 14:24

// "It's the way she moves betrays her." - Alex thought, watching NeTaer - despite the stiletto shoes, she managed to sit cross-legged, even with some elegance. - "It seems like every move has been rehearsed thousands of times. Taer is not choreographed like that." He wondered for a moment if he'd seen it in anyone else. -It's not typical of humans, either."

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 14:26

The golden mask turned to him again, continuing to discuss the order:

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 14:27

"You can have something substantial, or you can have light appetizers."

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 14:27

"I'd eat something." Alex shrugged. "So, substantial."

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 14:28

"He'll be number three full, and I'll have a glass of Magran and an ashtray. Bring them at once." She threw to the monk who had accompanied her and, with a wave of her hand, dismissed him.

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 14:30

"You can take off your veil, by the way. The order will be delivered by a droid." Taer offered, taking off her mask. As always, she had the relaxed and contented face of someone who knew no worries, with a slight smile on her lips tinted with pale purple and silver lipstick.

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 14:31

"Yes? Thank you." Alex answered as naturally as possible, having spent dozens of hours studying the process of food delivery, especially how the droids overcame the two force shields covering the gap.

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 14:32

"You look great." He continued, too, removing the veil from his face.

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 14:33

The compliment was quite sincere but was made to change the subject sooner rather than later.

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 14:33

"I can't help but wonder, is there some religious meaning or symbolism in this garment? You look very natural in this outfit."

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 14:35

"No." Taer shook her head with a smirk and added with a slight shrug. "Those colors are in vogue among the burghers, and I like to be fashionably dressed. You could consider it one of my many weaknesses."

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 14:36

"I was under the impression that if anyone has no weaknesses, it's you." Alex sighed bitterly. He'd spent every available opportunity to search for her weaknesses, and still, he couldn't boast of finding any.

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 14:37

"Everyone has them." She waved it off. "It's just that you can fight them, or you can indulge in them. I decided to indulge. Because if I lose them, what's left? Tactical schemes and analytical circuits? It's just another combat unit that's already in abundance. Speaking of weaknesses." She added in a more cheerful tone. "I'll allow myself a smoke in your presence in honor of the holiday."

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 14:47

"As you wish." Alex agreed with a smile and didn't ask her what she meant by "another combat unit," though he was very curious. // After all, the real purpose of this meeting is not to answer questions.

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 14:48

"I'll wish." She returned the smile, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it from a long gold lighter.

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 14:49

Not Taer must have known with split-second accuracy how long it would take to fulfill her order, or if his theory was correct, simply foreseen it, being an adept seer. A black disk with a tray clutched in its thin paws silently floated out of the hole and placed an ashtray just as she lowered her hand with a cigarette after the first puff. In addition to the ashtray, the droid's thin mechanical paw placed a tall, clear glass filled with a dark liquid in front of her.

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 14:49

The glass steamed visibly, spreading a familiar aroma.

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 14:50

"Coffee?" The question burst out on its own as Alex was surprised to realize exactly what he was smelling.

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 14:51

"Coffee." Nodded Not Taer, looking at him with interest. "Would you like some? Of course it's not the same. Certain genetic differences are inevitable over several millennia of growing up on another planet. But the result is quite acceptable."

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 14:52

"I want to." Alex nodded immediately. He wasn't a special coffee drinker, but rather, the opportunity to taste something familiar again was pure nostalgia. The fact that Not Taer understood the word "coffee" perfectly did not even cause a surprise. He already had suspicions that she was another "transported person," and now, they were just confirmed.

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 14:59

"One Magran-rah, but warm." She ordered the droid, and when it collapsed back into the dip as silently as it had come, she added in an apologetic tone. "Didn't work out with the milk, though. The locals have convinced themselves that consuming the liquid coming out of another animal's tits is a wild perversion that one would only go for in the most desperate of situations. One wonders why this squeamishness does not extend to honey, but people have never been very consistent. So, instead of milk, it's the milk of a specific plant. The consistency is more like a cream but for lack of a stamp..." She wrung her hands.

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 15:02

"I'm more interested in why warm coffee?" Alex asked casually, making sure his voice sounded as natural as possible.

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 15:02

"Something wrong?" Not Taer raised an eyebrow slightly. "Have your tastes changed?"

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 15:05

"No." Alex shook his head, really preferring warm coffee. "Just wondering how you found out. Visionary talent?

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 15:06

"A visionary talent." Not Taer nodded with a look of connoisseurship. "That's the one. Well, or I've just known you for a million years." She added, not hiding her sarcasm.

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 15:06

"Literally a million?" With icy seriousness, he interrogated inwardly, ready even for the answer, yes.

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 15:09

"How to count." She shrugged with a smile.

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 15:09

She had such a sweet yet meaningful smile at that moment that Alex couldn't get rid of the thought. // "She seems to just like teasing me..."

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 15:10

Time is a complex thing. You can easily count orders of magnitude more than a million or even less than a year. Depends on what to count, how, and from where.

Camrad_RIP 21.09.23 в 15:11