Житие Мое / Life of Mine: Глава 3

Chapter 3

Camrad_RIP 25.05.23 в 07:27

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Camrad_RIP 25.05.23 в 07:27

Protected by magic against all kinds of weather, the transcontinental express looked as if it had just rolled out of the locomotive depot as if it had not been surrounded by the salty winds of the capital, the blizzards of the continental Ingernika, the rapid movement, the alternating sun, rain, and frost. Against the grassy hills of Polisant the train resembled a beautiful child's toy. Only the tiny human figures bustling by the carriages gave away their true size. The hired carriages had already collected the crop of newcomers and were taking them through the hills to where the smooth surface of the vast lake sharply gleamed. Mihandrov was ready to welcome the wanderers, weary of snow and cold, and the express was on its way into the embrace of the humid tropics of the southern coast.

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 18:16

"Shame, what a shame!" wailed a decently dressed gentleman with a " Thirty Years on the Police" badge, clearly inherited.

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 18:17

"Don't worry, sir," the mustachioed chauffeur habitually consoled the chief. "It's not your fault! The station attendant misled you."

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 18:17

"Ah, Alfred, I could have seen him with my own eyes if I had looked around a little!"

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 18:18

The driver did not argue with this. The only car in Mihandrov, sneezing briskly, rolled through the crooked streets. Not too fast, though, for Mr. Clarence needed to exchange greetings with everyone he met, and there were plenty of them on New Year's Eve.

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 18:19

"Oh, Mr. Luman! Uncle Barry! Mother Melonie! Happy holidays, Grandpa Festor!"

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 18:19

Clarence had known half of the inhabitants of Mirandrov since childhood, and he was related to the other half. If the only policeman in town didn't wear his famous badge, the trip would be over almost immediately - then everyone he met would need to be talked to.

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 18:20

"It's the third hour," the driver tried to reason with the boss (he was a freelancer, and overtime during the holidays was not paid separately), "New Year's Eve is coming up. Shouldn't we look for our guest tomorrow?

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 18:21

"You don't understand, Alfred! Black mages are very touchy. We haven't met him, and what if they don't give him a room because of his dog?"

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 18:21

"It seems to me, sir, that the black mage will be able to stand up for himself."

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 18:22

"That's what I'm afraid of!"

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 18:22

The driver tried to hide the heavy sigh behind the noise of the engine, but as the car reached the intersection, the engine had to be turned off: he could not afford to take the wrong road - there was simply no way to turn around in the narrow streets.

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 18:25

"Hello, Mother Tusho!" called out Mr. Clarence to a dried-up old lady in a bonnet and ribbons, pacing somewhere with a puffy bundle in her hands. "Have you seen a stranger with a dog just now?"

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 18:26

"Yes, yes!" smiled Mother Tusho, delighted by the attention of the important man. "They went to Madame Parker's boarding house."

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 18:27

"Thank you," Mr. Clarence smiled sweetly, and Alfred pressed on, for he did not care to spend half an hour explaining himself to an eager old lady. A futile effort! By the time they left the town and reached Madame Parker's cozy two-story mansion, the guest was gone.

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 18:28

"The young man left his things and left," smiled the hostess, a burly, middle-aged woman with glitter in her hair, "He didn't say where. If I had known it was important..."

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 18:28

"That's all right, madam, all our business will wait until tomorrow!" resolutely took matters into his own hands, Alfred. Noticing that the chief was ready to object, he quickly added: "Sir, I think the mage is away on personal business, and he won't like it if we start chasing him."

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 18:30

"Yes, you're right there, my friend," Mr. Clarence gave in. "It can't be helped, we'll have to come tomorrow. Madame Parker, I hope so! Our guest must not be inconvenienced."

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 18:31

"Don't doubt for a minute. Happy New Year!" The hostess smiled coquettishly at Alfred and stalked off to her own guests - the eldest son had brought her first grandson with him for the holidays.

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 18:31

Up close, the Mihandrov boarding school looked imposing: filigree ornaments on the cast-iron gates (they can't make them now), strongly enchanted oil lamps (not all electric ones shine so brightly yet), big bright buildings, its wharf, and a park-like even Uncle of Quater could not afford in Redstone. From the road, I could see cobblestone paths running away, trees in three girths, a strange grove where flowers and fruits quietly neighbored one another, and a garden with flowerbeds where everything was in bloom. Yes, it wasn't Crowheart... I wonder how Joe had managed to send Lucik to such a place without references. Or did he have references?

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 18:35

I suddenly discovered that I knew even less about my stepfather than I did about my dead father. It was normal for a black one, but it was annoying - just when I was ready to find out something, something was bound to happen. I never got to talk to Harlick.

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 18:36

Absorbed by my thoughts, I walked through the gate and froze with the stupidest look, which must be how a leopard feels when it has mistakenly entered the antelope paradise. People were bustling in the square outside the gates (they must have been getting ready for the holiday), and they were all white, absolutely all of them - the students, their teachers, and the few parents who had decided to spend New Year's with their children but had not decided to take them home. Generally speaking, a fifty-fifty ratio is recommended for educational institutions. But either the rest of the students had gone on vacation, or the administration was unable to find enough regular kids in the right proportion. Anyway, even the usher, who greeted the guests in a sequined uniform and a cap with a big pink bow, was white. That's not even cream. That's refined milk.

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 18:40

I must say, this moment of my interaction with Lucik I did not work through. At the university, all the white ones were adults, and at home, they were my own. It wasn't like a bunch of unfamiliar kids with an unknown degree of sanity. How am I supposed to deal with them? I had a hysterical feeling about it! After taking two deep breaths and pouring as much honey into my voice as a tinned student's throat could handle, I approached the gatekeeper:

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 18:43

"Hello. How can I find Luciano Tamironi?"

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 18:45

At least I remembered the last name, and only because Joe wrote me letters.

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 18:56

The gatekeeper looked at me with a mixture of confusion and suspicion. That's what happens when you have a hunch before you realize it, but it's already frightening. That's nice. I haven't done anything yet.

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 19:10

"Thomas!!!" There was a jubilant shriek, and at the same second, Lucik was hanging on my back. And he weighs a lot.

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 19:12

"Hey, brother!" I retorted when I managed to regain my balance. "Here you are. Aren't you late?"

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 19:13

"It's perfect! Come, I'll introduce you to everyone!" And to the already dazed gatekeeper: "This is my brother! He came to see me for the holidays."

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 19:19

And Lucik dragged me to scare people:

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 19:19

"This is Miss Astra, the botany teacher. My brother is here for the holidays! Mr. Tanat, for math. Brother, for the holidays! Classmates. Brother!"

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 19:20

And everywhere we passed there was a plume of shocked silence behind us.

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 19:20

"Hey, what did you tell them about me?"

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 19:21

"That you are the best black mage in Krowhard!"

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 19:22

Ahem... Hopefully, no one will choke on the festive table. But the square and the guests were quickly behind me, and Lucik kept pulling me along:

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 19:22

Now we'll tell the principal that you've arrived, and then I'll show you my room!

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 19:23

Well, the guests will have time to come to their senses and decide where to run. Oh, why do I care about their heart attack?!

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 19:23

But it was not without excesses. We had been a quarter of an hour in search of the elusive principal (I suspected that she was running behind us, but one turns behind) when a gray-haired white man, most likely a mage, in a somewhat old-fashioned coat with a handkerchief in his pocket, appeared in the depths of the park. He was walking in deep thoughtfulness, not looking around, and clearly not at the party.

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 19:24

Lucik's behavior changed dramatically: he stopped jumping, took my hand in a dignified manner, and muttered in a whisper:

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 19:25

"The vice principal, Mr. Fox."

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 19:25

Well, I could understand my timidity in front of the management - even I, a fearless black mage, had sinned about it. For example, take Satal... Dammit

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 19:26

Like civilized people, we approached the gray-haired gentleman and politely greeted him.

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 19:27

"Mr. Fox," Lucik was the embodiment of politeness, "this is my brother, Thomas. I told you about him. He came to celebrate the New Year with us."

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 19:29

Mr. Fox noticed us. His reaction was strange. His eyes widened as he looked at me, and his face contorted into a grimace of almost mystical horror as if a talking ghoul had walked toward him. It was only for a second, and it was hidden by a curly white beard, but I could never take it out of my mouth. Grandpa looked as handsome as in a coffin.

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 19:30

I even felt ashamed.

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 19:31

"Nice to meet you!" I held out my hand to him, but the vice-principal looked at it like a live cobra.

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 19:36

Well, here it is, fainting. It was supposed that the main problem would be the children!

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 19:37

But, no, as soon as I spoke, Mr. Fox came to his senses, and, with some effort, he got a grip on himself. In short, he accepted my outstretched hand.

Camrad_RIP 08.06.23 в 19:38