- Um, yes there is the wound! Now everything is correct, kid. And you will not notice how everything goes, - man discovered hanging on a belt a small handbag, and took out some glass vial, apparently with ointment, and a small roll of tissue. I instinctively cringed, but surprisingly, the pain intensified, ointment, covered the wound with a thin layer, it instantly easier to tolerable. Smeared my leg, man dexterously rewound it with a cloth, making a tight bandage.
- Well, that's another matter! Come on, try to get up! - he walked a few steps, pulling the leash and forcing the dog to retreat from the bench. I pulled off the bench first healthy leg and then gingerly pulled the patient. To my surprise, she obeyed readily enough, the pain only slightly increased, from a sharp going into a dull, throbbing. Grunting like an old man, somehow I managed to get up, even slightly shift your weight with the healthy leg.
Now, when the pain receded and the creation of cleared, I was dumbfounded began looking at her rescuer. He was a small man in a dark blue suit and shiny metal buttons and shoulder strap, strapped to her short baton. On his head he wore a hat with a high crown and a narrow, sloping fields. Completed image of shiny black shoes with round toes. His head popped forgotten in my time the word "policeman".
- So, - he said, eyeing me carefully look - and Tell me, what are you doing in the park at this time? Where are your parents?
- I do not know - here in my head something clicked - I do not know, sir. I do not remember.
- The fact that you're not a street boy can be seen immediately. Too much you clean, and well-mannered, immediately clear - it was evident that the man enjoyed my treatment. - You can call me Joyce Constable.
Constable thoughtfully scratched his head, moving his funny hat on his forehead. I, meanwhile, squinting his eyes, quietly looked at his hands, frantically clutching at the edge of the bench board. Ordinary boy's hand, a little dingy, sometimes bruised, with once neatly trimmed nails. Children's hands. Therefore, I am like a child. Oh-oh-oh, well that's too bad. The child has the forces and capabilities are much less, and the limitations of different complete. The man went on to say, I tried to focus on:
- And now we have to think about what to do with you. I just let go you can not, vagrancy - a violation of the law. And then, if you really do not remember anything about yourself, you sginesh before you find unattended. What do we do with him, and Jack? - Cop winking dog. He saw that the owner talks to me calmly, looked quite friendly, and even slightly povilival tail. - And let us send it to Emily, I think it's a good idea.
- Emily, this is my cousin, she was in charge of the orphan house in Hackney, - he turned already to me - you will be able to live there for a while, and I'll give an advertisement in the newspaper, but in police reports add. Suddenly, your parents are looking for you. The establishment Emily's full of your peers, and in any case, there you will be better than the street.
- Thank you, sir, - I decided to be as polite, counting on the fact that the sympathetic policeman can help me more, what none either. - Tell me, how can I find this shelter?
- Oh Well, damn! - Constable Joyce hearts slapped his hand to his forehead, - that I lost sight of. You will not find it without a map, but I can not let you spend only atonement in patrols.
He frowned, pondering something, and obviously weighing the pros and cons. Then the man's face smoothed out, and it broke into a smile.
- Okay, baby, hold! - he opened her purse on his belt, and took from it a folded several times a piece of paper - you need it, and I just will be given a new one. I will say that accidentally poured tea, or set fire to. The lieutenant, however, will scream, but nothing, not the first time.
- Thank you, sir, - I took the proffered cop rolled sheet and spread it. Map! That's the way!
The map was drawn in black ink on yellowed, frayed at the folds, a sheet of thick paper. In the upper right corner was an inscription - Londinium. Londinium, not London! And I was sure of almost 100%, which was in England in the early 19th century. Constable Joyce, meanwhile, continued:
- And I'll write a note my sister, and you Take it. Soooo ... Dear sister Emily, sending a young man to you, on behalf of the ... um ... - he looked - and the name you like?
Oh, Momma! And my name? By the choice of the system ... and where it is, the choice? How do you know that? I began frantically rummaging through the eyes around and mentally straining, trying to somehow cause the game interface, which I know must be present in such games. On the part of my efforts looked to be quite amusing.
- I ... do not remember, sir, - finally, I squeezed out of myself, making sure that my efforts were in vain. It sounded, I must say, terribly plaintively.
- Oh, you're well ... Poor baby. Wait, now have a look - Constable held out my hand and turned right Kurguzov floor of my jacket. Lined revealed mark, which bore the name "Sherlock Brown".
Wow! Here is the humor of the system, or Proteus, do not know who to thank. Give my character's name and the names of two of my favorite literary characters, it is necessary to arrange this!
- Well! Named Sherlock ... - Constable Joyce went on to write a note, occasionally repeating individual words aloud. - So, keep the letter - he turned back to me, - has a label directions on the map. And yet, suddenly hungry for the road buy thee to eat - along with a letter a man handed me a rather large white metal coin. - And do not forget, you definitely need to get to a shelter before dark, otherwise you arrest the night patrol. You do not want to spend the night in jail with the rabble?
And here, before I could say anything, before my eyes there was a semi-transparent window with the text, and the whole world around us stood in a daze. Finally, the desired interface! Text in the box read:
- to offer you the quest: "The way to" Start ".
- Usloviya quest - to get to the orphanage "A New Beginning" and to deliver a letter to his sister Joyce Constable Emily. failure condition - not to have time before nightfall.
The award - access to the private room experience (200).
About the penaltyshaft - overnight at the police station, reducing the reputation of a city police Londinium.
Accept the quest?
And two buttons: "Yes" and "No". To focus on "Yes" button, trying to mentally push it. Button is pressed, and at the same moment the world around again in motion.
Card and coin already clamped in my hand, and I did not even notice when the time to take them.
- Well, all the kid Sherlock, you happy way! I hope you find your parents. Now go quickly, do not stay - Constable Joyce pulled prikornuvshego under the bench dog on the leash, and after a few seconds they had disappeared around the corner.
I watched them. I must say, my acquaintance with the new world began quite rapidly, and I'm still not fully recovered.
Well, the initial goal I have, but first, I think, a good idea to look around, and in general to find out more, where is it that has brought me?
At the moment, I'm sitting on the bench in some park, seems to fall on the calendar, as the air around the dank and damp. Rain still does not go, but the mist that settles wet film on any surface, with his success replaces. Low clouds, the sun is not visible all around dirty-gray. Bushes dull bristling with bare branches.
Okay, before advancing in the path, it is necessary to appreciate what I have. Firstly, I have a card, and secondly - the coin. By the way, what is this coin? I fished out a gift constable and began to consider. To my surprise, the currency name was not specified. The obverse was depicted an elaborate coat of arms with a winged lion on a background of a smooth shield entwined ribbons, on the reverse of the unit was just knocked out. When you try to expand the map in front of me again jumped out the window with the inscription:
- Do you want to integrate the found card in the game interface?- and the "Yes" button "No". Of course yes! Press. The inscription in the change box:
- Map of Londinium and suburb successfully integrated, affordable scaling. Functional partially unblocked. To call a mentally say the word "map."- As
soon as I finished reading, the window has disappeared from the screen, a map of the lost hand, too. Mentally saying "card", I admire arose before the eyes of a translucent circuit of the city, focusing on any point, you can change the zoom level, to the point that it becomes legible house numbers.
Well, I have a card that is the direction of the idea can be put forward. The leg is almost did not hurt, Constable Joyce ointment was truly miraculous. Not sure that the medicine has reached such heights in the past, so, most likely, it's just a game time.
Firmly stepping on the bench in the direction of exit from the park, I suddenly flew head over heels to the ground! Something tugged at my leg! A second later realized that I had pulled myself simply stepping on the cord unleashed. Terribly uncomfortable things, well, that they no longer use. Squatting, somehow coped with the boot, erecting a clumsy knot. And getting up, he noticed a small shop cloth bag with the neck, the rope tightened.
The bag was sewn from thick, dark-brown fabric, rather rough and obviously waterproof. embroidered with the initials "SB" near the neck My initials! I tugged on the laces and dumped the contents on his knees. Slingshot, antique mechanical clock-bulb with a key on a chain, and a yellowed envelope on which was written a single word: "Sherlock".
Slingshot, I immediately put aside, there is nothing interesting in it was not. Although, for the other of my contemporaries, the subject might be mysterious and incomprehensible, but I knew that she like, though in his hands than ever before, and did not hold. And here the clock and envelope have been more interesting.
hours cover was completely smooth, but at the back was engraved with a strange image, a few circles with a common center, open at different places. Figure resembled a labyrinth ring, but I was too simple, do not pass this could only be a small child. Try pressing the button to open the lid of hours, I then saw a translucent system message: "20 must know the mechanics." Trying to make small key clock that hung on a short chain, has led to even more sad result: "30 must know the mechanics." Okay, back to it later, now the letter.
Pulling out of the envelope sheet of thin paper, written in minute handwriting, entirely decorated with monograms and flourishes, I sighed. Accustomed to a normal block letters, I had a hard time analyzed the handwriting. But as I read, surprise and excitement made me forget about the difficulties of translation. The letter read:
"Dear Sherlock!
aboutSTI me, my dear boy, that run off without saying goodbye to you. But it has its reasons of which you will find out in due time, and I hope you will not hold me to evil.
All of thesedy, we lived together, I tried as best I could replace your parents, though, and he knew that he could not fully do it. I wanted to see how you become an adult, as smart as your father, such as bold and kind, like your mom. But yesterday I learned something that changed all my plans. If I get lucky, I'll find your parents, if not ... In any case, I will go in the footsteps of their expedition, and yes will arrive with me Lord.
our upMick outside Grennismit I leave you, a testament to your age will be kept by my lawyer, Mr. Jobson. For you look after our housekeeper Miss Volfish, I left her with the necessary amount. If I'm not back in a year, then Mr. Jobson, on my orders, will direct you to one of the boarding school until the execution you eighteen.
Just my boChick, I leave you the key to the mystery of the disappearance of your parents. To use it you will be able only when you're ready for it. I hope I can manage to find them, but you may have to go through this the hard way myself. The main thing - do not lose hours in them the clue!
Ondeyus, see you soon, my dear Sherlock.
Liubovyu, your Uncle Jeremy. "
Before I could finish reading the letter, both in the air system zamelteshili translucent window layering and partially overlapping. I started to read directly from the top:
- to offer you the quest: "Saving the housekeeper."
- Usloviya quest - to find out the reason why you were on the street, and how involved in this Volfish housekeeper.
Onhail - the continuation of the quest chain, the experience (number of variably).
About the penaltyshaft - reduction of reputation with the housekeeper Volfish to hostile.
atnyat quest?
I narrow them confidently look at the "Yes" button, accept the quest, read as follows:
- to offer you the quest, "The Golden Key".
- Usloviya quest - to unravel the riddle of his uncle's watch and understand the key to what they are. Execution is in the progress of the global quest "Mystic expedition."
Onhail - experience (number of variably), active skill, charm, continued quest chain.
About the penaltyshaft - is absent.
atnyat quest?
Oh, and there's not a fine not. We accept, and finally, the last window, which, incidentally, is different from the previous frame of fine gold:
- to offer you a global quest "Mystic expedition."
- Usloviya quest - to pass through, which have been your parents and uncle, to unravel the mystery of their disappearance.
Onhail - variability.
About the penaltyshaft - variability.
atnyat quest?
Hmm ... The Cat in the bag. I accept in any case, no matter what the reward. So summarize. My parents were gone, apparently, a few years ago, my uncle, too, was gone, when - is not known. I was entrusted to take care of a certain Miss Volfish, for which paid money. But for some reason I found myself on the street, sleeping on a bench in the park, and no memory. All this is very, very strange.
Meanwhile quite lit up the sky from lead-gray became dull whitish mist cleared. You should have been nominated. I folded back into the bag all their belongings nemudrenyh, slowed only by taking in hand a slingshot.
As far as I know, any hero virtual game was supposed to have guns, and they possess in perfection. Well, or at least once, if not go perfectly. I am not possessed at all, my knowledge is limited to only a theory.
Having decided that before going to be a little bit to learn and practice, I fumbled under the bench a few pebbles and whirled his head in search of goals. Park on wet track jumping small gray Pichugov funny squeaking and periodically arranging quarrels among themselves for some piece found. In them I could not shoot, but the opener slip into a nearby bush Fat Rat seemed to me a good target.
Several times dropping a stone, I finally lost cunning device and could still run a shell around the side of the bush. Hmm, rezultatets. What sort of a rat, I would get into the bush to begin with. Laid out in front of a pile of stones, I started aiming to shoot bush. Rat, of course, long since fled. After spending about thirty stones, I made sure that began to fall into the goal conceived with a range of about 10-15 centimeters. Not bad for a start.
Already preparing to release the final round, the most weighty of all, I suddenly heard a distinct rustling behind her. Rat! I immediately turned and fired directly at the center of lush bush of some evergreen plants, hoping to accidentally hurt the alleged rodent.
- Aaaaaa !!!! - from behind a bush suddenly he jumped out of an old man in a long, dark, or jacket, or coat - Oh, you little shit! A slingshot, he will be here pulyat! - he ran pretty fast to me, in one hand holding the long broom, which he clearly was going to hit me, bringing his other hand to his lips, something incomprehensible. Suddenly there was a deafening, leaping trill. Damn, it's whistle, and now reinforcements arrive, the police even possible!
The system immediately informed me that my reputation with the janitor hostile, and start the timer for 10 minutes, during which time I will have to look for all the policemen of the region. Do not hesitate any more seconds, I picked up off the bench his sack, the benefit I folded it in advance, ran down dale, to the exit of the park.
Already running up to the gate, he saw police running away. Exiting the park was closed. Behind heard chugging catching janitor. Heart pounding from surging adrenaline. Seeing the right, under a tree, a huge pile of leaves, do not hesitate to jump into it, immediately dug with hi
s head!
The system has pleased two windows: "Stealth increased (0 + 10)". And the second: "you get the achievement:" vanish away like smoke "- you could virtually disappear in the air in front of the enemy, leaving him in the cold open capacity - Mimicry 1 (1).".
Now you have to sit still for 10 minutes, until the timer passes. Hopefully, at this point I do not freeze completely. Clothes on me pretty thin, and torn pants, too, the heat is not added. Meanwhile, the police rushed to the park gate. Janitor puffed out to meet them.
- What happened, Mr. Ashley? - sorry, I do not see anything out of the leaves, but judging by the young voice, it asked one of the police - well, we were very close to the park and were able to quickly come running.
- Why, I admire how I escaped with this little shit! What sinyachische nalilsya already! - probably the janitor showed the consequences of my shots.
- Who is that with you right?
- Some street puppy. What would tear it up! - he raged janitor - I bent over a fallen nest, and he's, stabbed me in the shoulder cobble a slingshot! Well at least not in the head, but it would be killed. God has saved!
- Lord, Mr. Ashley! It's just a kid, well, it would shugnuli and the whole business - continued all the same young voice. - Whistling use only as a last resort, you know, the whole city, and so on the ears because of these murders. I really had thought that once you found the corpse.
- Keep off me! - again hoarse bass janitor - I'm still on time is not moved. I will never forget this nightmare. It's been quite a girl, almost a child.
- I was patrolling a different area - joined in the conversation the other policeman - summaries read and do not know the details. The same was the fifth victim, Sergeant?
- Yes, Sommers, and found it was almost here in this place where we are standing. A young girl, 16 years old, strangled in her cheeks marked unknown symbols, like the previous victims. All of the girls killed drawings on the face are different attempts to decipher or to no avail.
- What a nightmare, Sergeant. Is it true that all the girls were virgins?
Named Sherlock Page 5