Житие Мое / Life of Mine: Глава 4

Chapter 4

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 06:44

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Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 06:45

On the morning of the first day, I woke up with the first rays of the sun, which is not typical for me during the holidays. What could I do? The kids were sent to bed at eleven o'clock sharp yesterday (cruel, in my opinion), and I had no time to find a place in Mihandrov where a lone black magician could hang out. A little sleepy hostess served coffee on the open veranda. Max lay at my feet and successfully imitated a bored dog. It was surprisingly quiet as if we were not in the city at all. I could have sat in the creaky rocking chair with a blanket over my shoulders and a cup of coffee in my hand forever. Naturally, this happiness could not last long.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 06:57

A car with a distinctive striped coloring drove up to the boarding house, squealing with the transmission. Why is it that when it is a public office, the alchemist always has a crooked hand? I longingly watched as the driver strutted with the mistress. For some reason, I was sure he had not come to see her. And so he did! After receiving instructions, the newcomer headed for the veranda.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 06:59

Max reached up and yawned widely, hoping the man didn't have time to look at his mouth in detail.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 06:59

"Good morning!" The driver lifted his cap.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 07:00

"Good morning!" I tried to smile politely. Was it the boarding school that complained about me, or were the local services vigilant?

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 07:01

"We offer our deepest apologies for yesterday. We were ready to meet you, but there was an unfortunate misunderstanding! We're very sorry."

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 07:01

Meet me? Oh yeah, yesterday at the station, some clowns were jumping around the baggage car, but since I took Max in the compartment anyway, I didn't turn in my luggage either.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 07:05

So someone from Redstone called here. Wow, they're so vigilant. That's one word - Watchdogs.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 07:06

"It's no big deal," I shrugged.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 07:06

He relaxed noticeably.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 07:07

"Mr. Clarence is inquiring when you can meet with him?"

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 07:11

I wondered. There were still two hours until the Myhandrov boarding school opened for visitors, and there was absolutely nothing to occupy them with.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 07:12

"Let's do it now. Let me just get my papers!"

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 07:12

He smiled, and I went to my room to lock up the zombie and get the travel papers. Maybe I could convince the bosses here to put all the stamps in one piece, so I wouldn't have to go a second time. It was nice to know that Mihandrov Watchdog works from nine o'clock on holidays. What a bunch of workers! What can they do here anyway?

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 07:13

For the next half an hour, the chauffeur drove concentratedly through the narrow, paved streets of the days of the Inquisition, and I wrinkled my nose and tried not to listen to the tones of the poorly tuned engine. I would have to go under the hood, purely out of compassion - the car was simply being killed.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 07:14

The police in Mihandrov occupied a neat one-story building sandwiched between a hotel and a bakery. To the left of the door, three signs were hanging one below the other: "Mihandrov Criminal Police," "Mihandrov NZAMIPS Department," and, for some reason, "Mihandrov Society for the Protection of Animals." I remember being surprised at how they all fit in there, but when I opened the door, everything fell into place: in the tiny office behind the only desk sat, judging by the sign, Lieutenant Rudolf Clarence, the sole chief of everything and everything and at the same time - here I stared at the official suspiciously - initiated white. Curtain. What genius thought of entrusting oversight to a white mage? Curious to see who they have working on the cleanup...

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 07:26

I closed my eyes and started counting to ten. No, it was better to count to twenty. I had the feeling that my favorite teacher had managed to find something for me to do over the holidays.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 07:28

"So," I said quite calmly after about a minute, "what's our problem?"

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 08:24

And the fact that there are problems in such a place was quite obvious.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 08:24

"Uh..." The disoriented lieutenant tried to remember where he was going to start the introduction. Then he brightened up: "Rudolph Clarence!"

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 08:25

"Thomas Tangor."

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 08:26

We shook hands. I struggled with the feeling that what was happening here was nonsense. White ones have taken over the world. They're everywhere!

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 08:26

"You have no idea how glad we are to have you here! We've been waiting for you, waiting so long, I've gone to the head office three times and personally filed reports, but Senior Coordinator Axel is so intolerant..."

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 08:28

I courageously suppressed a groan:

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 08:28

"Let's discuss the case first!"

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 08:30

He nodded eagerly and stared at me. We were quiet.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 08:30

"So what exactly happened?" I couldn't stand it.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 08:31

"Wasn't it explained to you?"

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 08:31

"Let's assume that I wish to learn everything from the source."

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 08:32

"That's very wise," Clarence agreed, fidgeted in his chair, and began to tell the story: "It all started a year ago, after a scandal. NZAMIPS was investigating the suicide of a graduate of the Mihandrov boarding school, and in the process, it turned out that twelve former students had committed suicide in the last eight years. All were white."

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 08:33

The lieutenant's voice cracked with emotion, and my eyebrows crept uncontrollably upward. White suicide is an exceptionally rare occurrence. To drink, to go crazy, that's fine, but to commit suicide, that hardly ever happens.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 08:34

"It's just horrible!" Even thinking about what had happened seemed to give Clarence a hard time. "The old principal resigned, and a commission was working, but that's not the point. I was part of the investigation and noticed that the whereabouts of the four foster children had never been determined. Of course, these boys were rather unsociable, with no close family or friends, but white ones don't tend to go anywhere! And then, I juxtaposed these facts with my own experience. You see, Mihandrov is not such a small town. All the residents know each other, but not so close that every step is in sight. So, according to my observations, at least five lonely white ones have moved out for no apparent reason.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 08:37

+++ To relatives who don't exist, to a town no one knows the name of, just for business, and that was it. Two left personal belongings in their apartments, and the landlords had to put them somewhere in case the owners returned. Of course, all of this is my speculation, but it seems strange! I asked the central office to investigate potential otherworldly phenomena. My three appeals were answered only once, and I was told to wait.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 08:39

Naturally! No body, no case. It's normal practice, but Lieutenant Clarence looked genuinely distressed.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 08:40

"They must have all the men in the world," I consoled him. You can't tell a man that he's a fool. "Especially the ones who can still do the job. The otherworldly's activity has increased in the last four years, and the staff is old and shrunken. In Redstone, it wasn't until the ghouls ate the former chief of clearance that things got moving. No kidding."

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 08:45

"But you came!" Clarence flinched.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 08:46

It would be more correct to say that I fell in it.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 08:46

"I have a brother who goes to your boarding school."

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 08:47

My Lucik is in that snake's den! He must be taken from there. But where? Where is the guarantee that another school will be better? And where's the guarantee that all the missing people aren't living happily ever after on the South Coast somewhere... um... along with the suicides. Don't panic: I've got two weeks to figure this stuff out and draw conclusions, but I'm running out of time.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 09:02

"Well, your suspicions are quite understandable, Lieutenant. Though, it doesn't look at all like the undead, more like a homicidal maniac. We'll get to work. Do you have any information on the missing men?"

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 09:03

"Of course!" Clarence smiled again. "I've compiled detailed dossiers."

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 09:04

He pulled out a cardboard box from somewhere under the table and began to take out the puffy folders.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 09:04

"Can I take this with me?"

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 09:05

"Yes."

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 09:05

"One more request: let my participation in the case remain a secret. Why frighten the common people for nothing? The presence of a black mage is already a serious test for their nerves."

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 09:06

This is in addition to the fact that I might not be allowed to see Lucik.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 09:12

"Of course I understand," Lieutenant nodded with the look of a conspirator.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 09:12

"And if they ask what I was doing here, you say you're watching out for the dangerous guy."

Camrad_RIP 09.06.23 в 09:13