Named Sherlock

by Bagatur Zhamkochyan

  - That's right, Sommers. And our detective believes that this is likely to ritual murders. Just to understand, much intelligence is not necessary, but to solve this case is under the force only real genius!

  I was so engrossed in the conversation the police that he forgot about the freezing limbs, and suddenly appeared before the eyes of the window frame system cool scared me.

  - to offer you the quest: "The Night Strangler".

  - Usloviya quest - to learn more facts about the series of murders of young women in Londinium.

  Onhail - access to the quest chain "Case of Seven strangled", enhancing the reputation of a city police Londinium experience (number of variably).

  About the penaltyshaft - is absent.

  atnyat quest?

  Of course, I accept! Restrictions on the execution time is not present, so that it will be possible to do it in their spare time. The police, meanwhile, continued the conversation:

  - Well, then, Sergeant, have killer wait until you become a detective, then that exact thing unfold.

  - Hmm ... Okay, Mr. Ashley, so that your robber? he does not run out of the gate, we would have caught, can, through a fence siganul?

  - I do not know, Sergeant. It is too small for such a fence, but ran exactly this way - the rustle of leaves was heard quite close to my hiding place - maybe hiding somewhere?

  I paused, a timer counting down the last seconds. It would be very sad if I found just now. I've even stopped breathing and nearly only frowned on something sharp, glaring into my side through the layer of leaves.

  - Yes, and to hell with it! We will not find him, we still need to work around three quarters. - Simultaneously with the words of the police I saw the zeros on the timer and mentally sighed in relief - and you, Mr. Ashley, if you see this little bastard, just pull it with a broom along the ridge to teach it.

  A few minutes later, when the voices and the laughter died down cops away, and the old janitor, grunting, rustled back deeper into the park, I decided to look out of a pile of leaves. Making sure that no one in the area, the first thing pulled out a sharp object, which was lying the whole time. It was a strange blue hexagonal crystal, transparent, about the size of a finger. On each planar face was carved icon, similar to the Scandinavian rune. As I gazed into the crystal, nothing has changed, no hidden meaning I have not spotted. Ah, yet another mystery in my collection. With a sigh, I put the crystal in the bag, to the company to watch and write.

  Having decided that I would try more today in what does not get mixed up, I got out of the leaves, and hurried out of the park. I definitely need to have time to get to shelter before nightfall, and judging by the map, long way. We must hurry.

  Chapter 5.

  Park gates out on the wide street, quite clean, and full of people lounging. I'm not attracted much attention, so that mentally relaxed.

  Leg stopped hurting at all, and I confidently stepping on it, briskly stepped forward.

  Before the first turn, according to the map, I had to walk about a kilometer, so there was little time to think about what had happened that morning. In general, the start can be considered successful - I have less than an hour into the game, but I already have a current goal, and some another, for the future.

  There are weapons that I somehow learned to master, there is a map and money. Here are just still do not have access to the specifications, nor mine, nor objects. And the fact that these characteristics precisely there, at least say that they change what the system shall make known. And on his uncle's watch requirements confirm my theory.

  It is hoped that the full interface features are unlocked over time.

  In the meantime, a little out of breath, reached the turn. Lost in thought, I clocked up almost running, and got a lot faster than expected. The system, to my surprise, my comments on the race a small sign: "Endurance is increased 1 (2)."

  Aha! I understand the principle, characteristics increase as the use of the skills for which they are responsible. First comes the increase, then the total value in parentheses. Hmm. Something I'm not very hardy. I think the rest of the parameters can also boast such figures.

  The alley in which I turned, differed sharply from the bright and broad streets through which I had to go earlier. He was narrow, crooked, sloppy home, almost closing up, grimly hanging over his head, under his feet spilled vile stinking puddles.

  On the porch of a nearby house, sat an old woman in torn rags and smoking a pipe. She was like an ancient mummy is as shriveled and ugly. Hooked nose almost touched the thin lips, bare yellow skull shone through occasional strands of dirty gray hair.

  I turned around. Behind his back, still, there was a wide boulevard bright, well-dressed couples still leisurely strolled, talking quietly. The contrast was huge.

  Once again expanding the card, make no mistake, it is necessary to go here.

  - Deeetochka, Come to me, - the hoarse, raspy voice that seemed, could not publish a living person, however, belonged to the old woman.

  I involuntarily froze instantly numb. Eyes focused on her arm, she beckoned me. Nothing in life had not inspired me so much fear as the black, gnarled limb, with long yellow claws.

  - Do not worry, I will not eat! - suddenly shouted the old woman - I shall eat, eat, eat .. - sweep out between buildings echo. An additional portion of terror included panic mechanism.

  And now I nesus the alley, down dale, fueled by a vicious, vile croaking laugh grandmother and his own fear.

  Faster, faster! Legs are stretched forces, the heart skips a beat! Breathing is not enough, but the feeling that a terrible monster is behind your back, does not stop! It seems that if only for a moment to slow down running, as here you will hear an eerie hissing, and this black hand grabbed me by the shoulder, yellow claws vopyutsya, tearing the skin and muscles, right down to the bone!

  All forces are no more! Wheezing and panting, bent double, I fly in a narrow dead end between the two houses. I turn around sharply, ready to see his fear. Anyone.

  Exhausted, I fall to my knees and a few seconds blankly, not understanding anything, look at the report of the system: "Endurance is increased 1 (3)."

  - Yes, what would you have failed with his stamina! What kind of crap is going on ?! - spilling emotions in a scream, felt the icy claws of fear gradually released, and I can more or less adequate reason.

  Gradually, I began to fill the anger and bewilderment. Yes, I've never played such games. But I did not grow up in a complete vacuum? I've seen the commercials, heard the discussion of other guys, earrings, finally. And the more I thought, the more come to the conclusion that play into something strange. Very much the real, frightening and gloomy world was not like the bright, colorful, fantastic pictures, which I heard.

  Boasting campaigns, research dungeons, killing bosses and epic treasures, no one ever mentioned as authentic feelings of fear and despair. All in all situations to understand that they are in the game. I have the same for a few seconds captured animal terror and a real fear for their lives.

  A couple of minutes after standing, I calmed down, breathing slowly evened out. Then I think about all these eccentricities, and now I have a goal - how to get to the shelter quickly. In any case, pulled out of the bag slingshot and picked up a dozen small stones, I cautiously looked out from his hiding place.

  Lane seemed extinct. Brown, like zakopchonnye homes of once red brick, hung threateningly, more space between them was so small that it seemed even the air is then locked, and gives some deathly rotten.

  Involuntarily shuddered, a chill of fear still walked in his bosom. But there was no choice, and firmly clenched in his right hand a slingshot, I stepped forward.

  The alley was quiet, and even my despairing cry no one responded. Trying to simultaneously accelerate and do not attract too much attention, I hurried to pass unpleasant place. According to the map, I can overcome about a third of the lane, and then turn to a wider and more direct way. I really hope that it will not be worse than the boulevard near the
park.

  I finally calmed down, but the unfortunate passing lane. New Street is also not so hot beauty, but she, at least, was wide, not so gloomy, and was full of people.

  People are, however, very different from my previously encountered. All seemed to lay some track poverty and hopelessness. Young men, in groups of 2-3 people standing along the walls of houses, gave the impression of hungry predators. That, however careful and they escorted walking by appraising look, speak volumes. From time to time one or the other, separated from his group, and deliberately lax gait, folded for the next passer-by.

  Life here is clearly in full swing. By me and then passed, then sullen tired man in a greasy job jackets, the same tortured women in faded, faded dresses and bonnets. Ran grimy children, some already do unimaginable rags.

  - Hey, kid! Come here a minute! - I was approached by a woman of about forty to look at once colorful but now faded, sometimes darned dress. Bright makeup did not hide the unhealthy yellowness of the skin, swollen bags under the eyes, and the overall flabby once beautiful face. - Go, go, show why.

  - Dora, stop - a young girl, almost a girl standing next to, touched the woman's shoulder, - what do you want from him, it's a baby.

  - Oh, Molly, what are you for a fool. A child is not a child, what the hell's the difference? - she turned back to me, - Come on, silly, come.

  The woman did not seem to me dangerous, and the street was full of people, so I boldly approached.

  - Ah, you're my good. Look, Molly, what a rich jacket on him - she reached out with roughly broken off, dirty fingernails, and began to feel the matter. - Small gospodinchik, eh?

  - And the money you've got, kid? - woman suddenly leaned sharply, hissed in my face - the money there? A? See what show for the money! - Let go of my coat, she suddenly grabbed his rather big, almost completely bare chest with both hands, lifted and almost poked it into my nose, which finally pahnuv - the nightmarish mix of stale sweat, rotten teeth and sickly sweet perfume.

  - Dora's enough! - from my stupor brought Molly's voice that tugged at her shoulder, forcing recoil.

  I jumped down into three steps. Not that I'm afraid not. I was suddenly flooded the incredible feeling of disgust, I wanted to wash my hands, or better yet, take a shower.

  - Run, run, coward! - Dora laughed huskily. Her flabby chest heaving like a jelly. - Without you here runs, so clean and beautiful!

  Molly silently looked at me sadly. I was suddenly struck by a piercing beauty of this girl. Pale, almost translucent skin, gray eyes sad, weak, barely visible glow. Elegant neck, thin wrists, delicate fingers - she seemed fragile flower, by some miracle, growing up in the midst of overgrown weeds wasteland.

  - Go quickly, - she said quietly.

  I turned and walked away. The mood was spoiled completely. The world in which I found myself, I frankly did not like. The problem is not that I was expecting any miracles and pink fantasy does. Simply, he was so real, and at the same time, so frankly frightening and hostile, that I wanted to wake up.

  Time, meanwhile, is clearly coming to dinner, and stomach insistently began to assert itself. The thought of food made me speed up the pace. I do not know whether there were any penalties for playing time does not pokormlennogo character, but there is really wanted is simply brutal.

  Until then, I had already seen on the street hawkers with some victuals, and the smell of food soared everywhere. Deciding and going to one of them, I stared at the dark suspicious pieces laid out on a wooden tray. They looked very unappetizing.

  - Well, what are you looking at? - glumly I asked the seller, a fat man with a bluish, covered with purple-veined nose - will take or not?

  - What is it?

  - Do not you local? It smoked eel, what else, 5 for pennies a piece, just today fished. - The man pulled out a flat metal flask, drank something from it, and stared at me. - Well?

  - Mmm, give me one piece, please.

  - Bread is needed?

  - Yes, and bread too.

  - Then, you are 3 copper - the seller fished out of the bag, slung over his shoulder, a thin slice of gray porous bread, slapped him a piece of eel, and handed it to me. I gave him a single coin.

  - Thank you, sir - not counting, poured into his pocket a handful of the copper deposit.

  Unable to hold back any longer, he sank his teeth into the resulting sandwich. The bread was just terrible. It reminded me immediately a synthetic food that they gave us in the training center, only difference was that there was no sand in it, and the bread was present, and very nasty crunched on the teeth. But the eel was divine. This taste I did not feel any time in life. I did not even bother what I ate once a living being in the first place - it's not the real world, and secondly - hunger, as said before, is not my aunt.

  Until the end of the street it was not so far away, a few houses. I walked briskly, and after a bite, even around the world began to seem not so gray. Again opening the card, making sure that I was going in the right direction, and half of the way has already been passed.

  Confidently turning to the right, a new street, convinced that it is no different from the one I had just left. The same mud, the same mediocrity, the same gloomy faces.

  Trying to take an independent view of a local resident, I walked along the pavement.

  - Hey guy! - but what is it, when I was left alone already ?! - Help me, friend!

  The voice was young, tremulous, plaintive, and I involuntarily turned. I called out to sitting on the ground, leaning against the wall of the house back, a young guy. The lower part of the body had been wrapped in dirty rags, and showed me some strange. Looking closely, I realized that he does not have both of his legs below the knees.

  - Friend, help! - reiterated crippled.

  It seems that he looked quite friendly and even pity, but I remember a recent meeting with a terrible painted aunt heed too close.

  - How to help it?

  - Yes, those damn kids dragged my feet, when I took them for a few minutes to rest - for a moment I was taken aback by his words, then I realized that it was a prosthetic. - and threw them on the roof of the barn directly behind this house, - he pointed to the house behind her. - Will you help, friend?

  I, frankly, not particularly eager to crawl on some roofs and sheds, but suddenly frame appears with the text of the quest changed my plans:

  - to offer you the quest: "Do not do good ...".

  - Usloviya quest - to help the unfortunate cripple back legs.

  Onhail - achievement.

  About the penaltyshaft - is absent.

  atnyat quest?

  Quest's name was familiar, but I could not remember the full phrase. Oh well, never mind. More embarrassing is that no award can be said, has not been provided. On the other hand, and is easy to perform. Resolutely choosing "Yes" button, I turned to the waiting cripple.

  - What is really there, help.

  - Well, thank you, friend! - he pointed to a dark alley between two houses. - There's a passage in the back yard, and then the shed. And I'll wait here, will not run without legs something - he suddenly thin, uncomfortable chuckle.

  The passage between the houses, already narrow, was littered with some boxes, broken furniture and other incomprehensible stuff. Suddenly, I felt a strange feeling that I go there in any case is not necessary, and it is necessary to run away as quickly as possible, just go all out. For a moment, stumbling, I strongly stepped forward. Nothing happened.

  Mentally laughing at his suspiciousness, I cautiously moved another few steps, trying not to touch shoulders dirty box. A strong blow to the back of his head made the world around me scatter thousands of pieces, and then go out.

  Darkness.

  Cold.

  Out of the darkness slowly float to the words: "Do not do good, do not get evil ...".

  Slowly open your eyes, the image floats, flashing background some bright point-tailed and black flies. And only in the middle, very clearly, gold shines system warning label:

  - Congratul
ations! Quest "Do not do good ..." is executed.

  - Wami get the achievement "Doubting Thomas" - received a clear hint of intuition, you rejected it, having suffered with this fiasco! The award is not provided!

  Not having time to fully understand the scope and depth of their own idiocy, I once again falling into oblivion saving.

  ***

  - Dima, my son, get up! Come on, honey - is my mother. She always wakes me up for a long time in the morning, I pretend not to wake up. In fact, we both know that I have not slept, she just nice to sit side by side, stroking my hair, gently persuade. And I, without opening his eyes, just enjoy the moments of my mother's warmth, knowing that parents will soon go again for the whole day.

  - Well, get up well, my son, get up - eyes closed, smiling.

  ***

  - Get up, eh? Please, boy, get up! - my mother's voice floats away into the darkness, replaced by a stranger. - Boy!

  I am trying to open his eyes, all around the little swimming. I lay on my back, in front of my eyes darkening toward evening the gray sky above me inclined familiar face. Mental strain, trying to stir up the rebellious language:

  - Molly ... - a nightmare, it's my voice? A faint wheeze.

  - Well, thank God you're awake! Come on, I'll help you - the girl with the strength, amazing for such a thin and weak hands, grabbed me under the arms and put on his feet. If she let go of my hands, I would have immediately fell back into the mud. The legs did not hold, and I hung the bag.

  - Come on, hurry, we'd better get out of here. - Seeing that I was not in a hurry to show the wonders of reaction, Molly just dragged me portage.

  Nothing is wondering about a minute, I simply hung listlessly paddling legs. Then, slowly, to the extent that, as the blood rushes to the extremities, more confidently he began to build on the land. Making sure that I'm more or less can he go, Molly almost broke into a run.

  Never ran out onto the main street, we rushed some dark alleys, climbing over piles of garbage, scattering the rat pack.

  Finally, she stopped at the cluttered backyard of a dark, gloomy buildings. Between two stunted shrubs bare plants unknown to me, I saw low wooden door with a large padlock. Molly fished out from somewhere in the depths of the long skirt, the key and opened the door, bent over, slipped into the darkness.