Напряжение / Voltage: Глава 10

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The slightly cooler water washed over my feet, free from my sneakers and socks - they were lying just above, on the rocky ledge. The surface of the rock warmed my back, the sun smiled from above, and I wrapped my T-shirt around my head and savored an ice cream cone, the eighth in a row. Another ice cream lay in the water, wrapped in a bag, on the other side of a small lake, under a metal pipe with cold water. The tenth ice cream, or rather the second, I gave to Slavka, following our group near the giraffe enclosure.

Camrad_RIP 06.03.23 в 12:36

By the way, the giraffes were the wrong yellow-brown, not red-blue. But in general - tall, yes. While everyone was looking up at them, I snatched up a comrade, told him what to give to Tolik, and solemnly handed over his share. And for what happened next - I am not responsible at all! Although I could have guessed and warned, to be honest. I had wisely hidden the bag with the other eight pieces a dozen paces away, and I was worried that no one would find the stash at that moment.

Camrad_RIP 06.03.23 в 20:28

Anyway, Slava returned to the group with ice cream in his hand. Have you seen how a pack of dogs surrounds a cat? How do they stare at their rightful prey with hungry eyes, spreading out in a semi-circle and cutting off escape routes? How do they slowly approach with a low growl, tilting their heads slightly?

Camrad_RIP 06.03.23 в 20:28

"Slava, Slava, Slava," the pack hissed, "give us a bite, give us a taste, give us a lick. We are a little. We are a little. You are our friend. You are our brother."

Camrad_RIP 06.03.23 в 20:29

Slava didn't answer. He tried to cram the whole ice cream in his mouth. It wasn't working very well. Realizing this, Slava did the ultimate cat trick - he climbed a tree. Now the giraffes were looking up with interest.

Camrad_RIP 06.03.23 в 20:30

"Slava, get down immediately!" The teacher was worried.

Camrad_RIP 06.03.23 в 20:31

"We'll help, we'll save," smiled the pack and climbed the tree too.

Camrad_RIP 06.03.23 в 20:39

The bumps and small branches flew from above, and Slava was clearly aiming to jump the other side of the fence. Then a big man came and demanded that the mess stop, threatening to kick everyone out and not let them in again. We had to go down - especially since Slava had already finished his ice cream to the point where it could be put into his mouth completely.

Camrad_RIP 06.03.23 в 20:40

Anyway, I hurriedly left the secret post under the pine tree and turned onto another path. Soon Slavik would chew the contents of his mouth and be able to talk, and the question "where did you get it" had already been repeated ten times. We are friends, of course, and he is unlikely to give me away, but it is better to be away at this point.

Camrad_RIP 06.03.23 в 20:42

Then some idiot in purple jumped out at me shouting, "Gotcha"! For some reason, I thought he wanted to steal the ice cream.

Camrad_RIP 06.03.23 в 20:44

"What for?" He asked me resentfully, pressing his hand to his left eye. "I just wanted to talk!"

Camrad_RIP 06.03.23 в 20:44

That was awkward.

Camrad_RIP 06.03.23 в 20:49

"I'm sorry," I said penitently to the body lying on the path.

Camrad_RIP 06.03.23 в 20:49

And as an apology, I put a circle of the label on his lips with a decent piece of ice cream. I ripped it from my heart.
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Camrad_RIP 06.03.23 в 20:50

"Here, eat. Eat, eat, eat, don't be shy!" I offered with a sincere smile.

Camrad_RIP 06.03.23 в 20:51

The boy mechanically moved his mouth and ate the whole thing. They're wild, these purple ones. Ours would never eat paper. The scented toilet paper has weaned everybody off it. That's a wicked thing. It gives me the creeps when I think of it.

Camrad_RIP 06.03.23 в 20:53

I patted him on the shoulder and walked on, turning my head around with interest until I noticed a small gate between the bushes at another crossing of the paths. It was metal and covered with wire, and it threateningly said in red paint "Do Not Enter!", and just below that "DANGER!", and just below that "Staff Only!". If there had been a fourth line with the same tempting text I would have definitely broken the ban and entered. As it was, I just climbed over the fence to the right.

Camrad_RIP 06.03.23 в 20:56

Behind the fence was a steep path up, with small ledges on which I managed to put my feet, and in some places I had to help myself with my hands, taking a packet in my teeth. After about forty steps, there was a ladder that led even higher up, and it turned out that there was a real rock lurking behind the bushes and trees in the park! I quickly climbed up, finding myself on a flat top the size of my two rooms. There was a pond in the middle, touching the far end of the cliff with one edge. Where I climbed up was the very pipe from which cold water flowed, filling a depression in the rock. Further on, the water warmed up and fell three meters down in a veritable waterfall, flowing into another lake, with a tiger family on one of its banks. A little further away was also a grid of fences, with people behind them.

Camrad_RIP 06.03.23 в 20:59

The sun was shining behind me, so I didn't think anyone could see me, but I could see much of the park. I didn't like what I saw, either; there were figures in purple running around, obviously looking for someone. My intuition told me (I ate half of the ice cream in three bites) that it was me.

Camrad_RIP 06.03.23 в 21:00

I shrugged after a moment's thought - let them look for it. I tasted the water at different ends of the pond with my finger, found it wonderful for me (at the tiger's end) and for ice cream (under the chimney), and enjoyed skimming off the ice cream layer by layer, savoring and enjoying it. A little later, the idea of sunbathing came to mind - I would have even gone for a swim, but the pond turned out to be very shallow.

Camrad_RIP 07.03.23 в 02:40

After a while, the world seemed beautiful and glorious, and even the ice cream was gone (yes, it turns out that can happen too). The light breeze was blowing over my sun-warmed body, the water caressed my feet, and the gracefully walking tigers pacified my sight. The mood was so good I wanted to share the joy with the whole world. I even wanted to give the last remaining ice cream!

Camrad_RIP 07.03.23 в 02:42

I stood upright and looked for Slavka, who, if I understood correctly, should be limping and lagging behind the group, so it would be safe to attract his attention. But there was no Slavka. But near the grating of the enclosure, that girl was found. She was turning her head, her hair rising beautifully in waves; she, too, was intensely searching for someone. Even if it was me - strange hide-and-seek, by the way, but there was something about it - the peace of mind suggested the noble idea of giving in. Just a T-shirt to put on.

Camrad_RIP 07.03.23 в 02:45

"Hey!" I shouted, waving my hand. "Woman!"

Camrad_RIP 07.03.23 в 02:46

She twirled her head even more vigorously, clearly recognizing the voice but not seeing me yet.

Camrad_RIP 07.03.23 в 02:46

"I'm right here!"

Camrad_RIP 07.03.23 в 02:47

Oh, I think she noticed!

Camrad_RIP 07.03.23 в 02:47

"Go around to the side. There's a gate," I gestured in her direction, pleased that she had understood correctly, and backed away from the edge.

Camrad_RIP 07.03.23 в 02:48

After about six minutes there was a panting sound downstairs, and after another minute the stairs rattled, sounding the light footsteps of a visitor.

Camrad_RIP 07.03.23 в 02:49

I had already got the ice cream out, put on my sneakers, and was looking thoughtfully at the tigers (because the more I looked at the ice cream, the more I didn't want to give it to anyone).

Camrad_RIP 07.03.23 в 02:51

Almost immediately a hand appeared above the stairs, and a moment later, the visitor popped to the surface and came toward me. There was something tiger-like about her-perhaps her gaze and her gait. Her hair was especially pretty, lit up by the sun - the shine of tigers goes in waves like that when they move. Anyway, when she was one step away from me, I decided to give her an ice cream.

Camrad_RIP 07.03.23 в 02:57

"Here, help yourself," I handed her the last remaining treat with a smile.

Camrad_RIP 07.03.23 в 02:58

That's how good I am!

Camrad_RIP 07.03.23 в 02:58

The guest stretched her lips in a wicked smile and knocked the ice cream out of her hands with a sharp movement.

Camrad_RIP 07.03.23 в 03:01

The sound disappeared, time seemed to slow down - the wafer cup barely rose upwards, then froze, stopped over the precipice... and plummeted down, straight to the tigers.

Camrad_RIP 07.03.23 в 03:02

My heart ached with the pain of separation and longing, my fingernails dug into my palms, and the world shook. The sun no longer shone so brightly, and a cold wind blew into my chest, taking away all the warmth of the day.

Camrad_RIP 07.03.23 в 03:08

"Run," I exhaled, closing my eyes.

Camrad_RIP 07.03.23 в 03:08

"Apologise n...!"

Camrad_RIP 07.03.23 в 03:08

There probably should have been the word 'now' in there, but it's very difficult to speak with your hand over your lips and your fingers squeezing your jaw hard if you move.

Camrad_RIP 07.03.23 в 03:09

All the dashing ardor in her eyes was instantly replaced by amazement and consternation.

Camrad_RIP 07.03.23 в 03:10

"An invited guest is untouchable as long as he behaves like a guest."

Camrad_RIP 07.03.23 в 03:11

The sounds itselves gathered into words I had never heard but sincerely thought were right. I pronounced with as much confidence as they say that the sun rises in the east, like a law - as unbreakable as an afternoon snack at seventeen in the evening.

Camrad_RIP 07.03.23 в 07:07

"You're one step away from being a guest."

Camrad_RIP 07.03.23 в 07:08

I slowly withdrew my hand. The girl sharply stepped back, wiping her face away with the sleeve of her shirt.

Camrad_RIP 07.03.23 в 07:08

"You've completely lost your mind!" was shouted at me with indignation.

Camrad_RIP 07.03.23 в 07:09

I looked bitterly at the white dot in the grass at the foot of the cliff. Who's to say...

Camrad_RIP 07.03.23 в 07:13

"How dare you!"

Camrad_RIP 07.03.23 в 07:13

"Give you an ice cream?"

Camrad_RIP 07.03.23 в 07:14

"Raise your hand to me!"

Camrad_RIP 07.03.23 в 07:14

"Woman, I tortured a man for that ice cream for three months," I reminded her and returned her cold smile. "Don't test my patience and just go away."

Camrad_RIP 07.03.23 в 07:15

"I'm not leaving," she still stubbornly said, but now she looked wary, "not until you apologize."

Camrad_RIP 07.03.23 в 07:15