Напряжение / Voltage: Глава 25

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Camrad_RIP 16.04.23 в 11:41

We passed the security checkpoints almost without slowing down - the lights flashed from afar, and the metal barriers were immediately scattered in different directions, sometimes catching us at the last moment. There were three of them in total - one on the main street, one at the exit from the town, and one near the sign with the crossed-out inscription "Bagiyevo". The town was over, and with it, the princes' newfound possessions.

Camrad_RIP 16.04.23 в 11:58

"Won't we be punished?" asked Fyodor anxiously, looking at the speedometer arrow, which was hitting a hundred and fifty.

Camrad_RIP 16.04.23 в 11:59

"There's no one."

Camrad_RIP 16.04.23 в 11:59

The good road allowed for a fast drive, and the forest cut on the bends did not obstruct visibility.

Camrad_RIP 16.04.23 в 12:00

"And for the money?" He asked after a moment of hesitation.

Camrad_RIP 16.04.23 в 12:01

"You see, here's the thing..." I glanced at my neighbor, wondering if he would understand. I kind of have to. "I think I've been mistaken for someone else."

Camrad_RIP 16.04.23 в 12:01

"Who did they think you were?"

Camrad_RIP 16.04.23 в 12:02

"To a very toothy and vicious grey wolf," I tried to describe my feelings. "Which takes whatever he wants. And isn't afraid of anyone or anything."

Camrad_RIP 16.04.23 в 12:02

"Well, that's you, isn't it?" My brother said after a moment's hesitation. "Only you're not evil!"

Camrad_RIP 16.04.23 в 12:03

"Maybe," I smiled at him and looked again at the road, "but the evil grey wolf is not so much frightening with his teeth as with the large and creepy fangs of his kin."

Camrad_RIP 16.04.23 в 12:04

"I can bite!" Fyodor tsked.

Camrad_RIP 16.04.23 в 12:04

"Already appreciated," I reassured him with a new smile. "If all goes well, they will try to forget about us. They have other problems at the moment."

Camrad_RIP 16.04.23 в 12:07

"What if they don't?" my brother worried.

Camrad_RIP 16.04.23 в 12:07

"Then I'll think of more interesting problems for them." Slowing down a little, I looked around carefully. "Do you see a gap in the trees up ahead on the right?"

Camrad_RIP 16.04.23 в 12:08

"Yeah," Fyodor replied, stretching upwards.

Camrad_RIP 16.04.23 в 12:12

"Will the car get in, do you think?"

Camrad_RIP 16.04.23 в 12:12

"It should," the kid answered importantly. "But we're not leaving it here, are we?" He was a little worried.

Camrad_RIP 16.04.23 в 13:40

"No, of course not," I reassured my brother as I pulled onto the dirt road.

Camrad_RIP 16.04.23 в 13:41

Tree branches clattered against the windows and sides of the car. The bright afternoon light dimmed to a pleasant forest gloom. The trailer creaked behind me, clinging to the bushes on the frequent curves as the road wound deeper into the forest toward an unknown destination. It didn't even seem to be on the map - I'd studied the area near town when I was getting ready to go.

Camrad_RIP 16.04.23 в 13:50

Half a kilometer inland, they stopped at a suitable spot where the road took a detour, skirting a deep ravine with a shallow stream at the bottom. The road was separated from the ravine by a young thicket of trees, which kept the ground from falling but gradually lost the battle to the depths - the roots of the trees protruded from the slope, and they were not noted for their health and height. But the trees provided pleasant shade - and also obscured the foot of the ravine from casual glances.

Camrad_RIP 16.04.23 в 13:51

"Here we are," I told Fedor cheerfully as I got out of the car.

Camrad_RIP 17.04.23 в 12:04

"What are we going to do here?" My brother asked, waving off the gnats and coming closer.

Camrad_RIP 17.04.23 в 12:05

"Have you ever hidden a treasure?" I asked, looking carefully at the bottom of the ravine.

Camrad_RIP 17.04.23 в 12:05

A little further on was a great patch - high enough to keep the water out of the spill, with a hump of sandy rock overhanging it. Lucky for me.

Camrad_RIP 17.04.23 в 12:06

"Well, I was burying a hamster..."

Camrad_RIP 17.04.23 в 12:07

"No, the treasure is something very precious," I sat down next to him.

Camrad_RIP 17.04.23 в 12:12

"The hamster was very valuable to the sisters!"

Camrad_RIP 17.04.23 в 12:12

"Did you at least not bury him alive?" I asked suspiciously.

Camrad_RIP 17.04.23 в 12:41

"No, Alda chewed it and then brought it to me. Don't tell anyone!" Fyodor hesitated and looked around cautiously.

Camrad_RIP 17.04.23 в 12:42

"All right," I held up my hands, smiling. "You and I are going to hide the real treasure."

Camrad_RIP 17.04.23 в 12:42

"To come back for them afterward?"- my brother timidly clarified.

Camrad_RIP 17.04.23 в 12:43

"No, to be found by a real hero, like in fairy tales."

Camrad_RIP 17.04.23 в 12:43

"B-b-but... why should we give him our treasure?"

Camrad_RIP 17.04.23 в 13:35

"Because we don't need them," I said softly. "We'll take fifty thousand out of the pile and leave the rest here."

Camrad_RIP 17.04.23 в 13:35

"What do you mean we don't need it?! We need it a lot!" He stomped his foot in indignation.

Camrad_RIP 17.04.23 в 13:36

"OK - what do you want to spend it on?"

Camrad_RIP 17.04.23 в 13:36

"I... I want felt-tip pens! And plasticine!" Fyodor made a list of demands.

Camrad_RIP 17.04.23 в 13:36

"Here, take this." I handed him a small note. "It's enough for both. Anything else?"

Camrad_RIP 17.04.23 в 13:43

"Nah," Fyodor lost interest, busily tucking the piece of paper into his pocket.

Camrad_RIP 17.04.23 в 13:44

"For that amount of money, there must be suitable dreams," I waved my hand towards the back of the truck, "otherwise money will spoil and discourage us from working, upset us, and attract misfortune. Dad's money will buy us enough for a place to live, food to eat, and time to find a good job. Why do we need anything else?"

Camrad_RIP 17.04.23 в 13:45

"Then why did we get them?"

Camrad_RIP 17.04.23 в 13:45

"Because the Evil Gray Wolf had to take everything," I sighed. "If we'd taken less, they would have seen it as weakness and tried to kill us."

Camrad_RIP 17.04.23 в 14:02

"I see... And whoever finds it... the money will hurt him too, won't it?"

Camrad_RIP 17.04.23 в 14:02

"No, he's a real hero," I patted my brother's hair.

Camrad_RIP 17.04.23 в 14:03

"Have you hid the treasure before?"

Camrad_RIP 17.04.23 в 14:03

"Of course," I nodded in agreement, rising to my feet.

Camrad_RIP 17.04.23 в 14:03

"And were they found?"

Camrad_RIP 17.04.23 в 14:04

"Well... first they found the water pipes," I recalled looking for a hidden packet of biscuits on the orphanage grounds. "And then the backhoe came and buried it all. And then it turned out that Laika had found the treasure first and hadn't shared it with anyone..."

Camrad_RIP 17.04.23 в 14:04

Fyodor looked up skeptically.

Camrad_RIP 17.04.23 в 14:05