Not seeing Donnie, I followed all went into the dining room, where he found it sad sitting at the table alone.
- What's up, friend? - my cheerfulness and joy soon came to naught, as soon as I see the downcast face Donny - you hurt someone?
- No, - he turned away, quickly running his hand over his eyes - all good.
Remains good mood instantly vanished when I realized that Donnie wipes tears, ashamed of them and trying not to show me.
- So, come on, tell me. Can you hear me?
- Leave me alone! - I flinched, not expecting such a violent reaction, Donald jumped up and rushed out of the room. What the hell?
Strongly stood up and I went another. Even if he is not aware of this, and denies he clearly needs help. Children, meanwhile, already took their seats, and I went freely in the empty corridor. Towards was Miss Emily:
- Come back to the dining room, Sherlock, - she said sternly, not allowing me to open his mouth. - I am aware of what happened to Donald, and I beg you, leave him alone for a while.
- But someone has offended, do you leave it like that, unpunished?
- Listen Sherlock - a woman's voice suddenly softened - I'm glad that Donald found in your friend, but you must understand - there are things that you can not do anything. Donald has to cope with this myself, to find the strength within themselves. And he finds it, for sure. Many people think that this is not true, but I know - Donnie is very strong and brave boy. Just give him some time, - she smiled and put her hand on my shoulder. - Now, go to the dining room, waiting for you today, a difficult day.
Still, it is very difficult. This is Miss Emily does not know about my plans related to Marissa. I think it would be me then even from the yard is not released.
Oatmeal is not puzzling why, quickly swallowing his portion and washed down with tea liquid breakfast, I hurried to the third floor, in the classroom. On the way to class, as well as in the dining room, I never got to speak to me, but I kept catching on other people's views of themselves. Looked, I must say, without much aggression, rather curiously, but attempts to get close nobody took.
Classes are led, already known to me, Mr. Birkin. Shaking hands, he gave me a whole stack of sheets of paper and a pen. Pointing to the free table, Mr Birkin said that for a start, will fill the test forms by which it determines the level of my knowledge, and will make a further training program.
It was familiar, and sat down in his place, I am confident zacherkal on paper. Well, without a pair of blots, of course, there were, at one point I even pierced through the sheet but, in general, to cope quite successfully. Test questions cover all known fields of literature, history of literature, and a history. Fortunately, no one came up with the local, game science, which I must confess I was afraid, and the questions were from the literature and history of the mine, the real world.
Meanwhile, Mr Birkin listened homework of my fellow students, arranging interviews for the study of the subject. I almost did not hear anything by going with his head in his test.
Two hours passed quickly, and the words of Mr. Birkin on the end of the lesson sounded like a bolt from the blue - I could hardly fill more than half of the dough. Even one unit of Intellect, which I got around the beginning of the second hour class, was not sufficient consolation.
Short change flew instantly, but the next 2 hours devoted to the exact sciences, which followed it, lasted just inhumanly long. For lunch, after which I were scheduled to have lessons with Mr. Shaw, I was already rather angry, trying to get rid of the formulas and graphs of functions and flashing before his eyes.
I honestly do not know what thinking mind if he believes that it's tedious learning can attract viewers. As for me, watching me die on a task or shame at the board, it is possible to fall asleep from boredom. Probably because my competitors are now saves the princess, kills the dragon, well, at worst hogs hit, and I'll solve the equation ...
Lunch turned expectedly poor. Liquid unsweetened tea and a slice of brown bread, barely covered by a thin slice of cheese so that it seemed quite clear. Swallowing all in the blink of an eye, I flew to a meeting with Mr. Shaw, anticipating a further 3 hours and grinding parts, the appointment of which I had no idea. But I was a surprise.
Show the old man was waiting for me with the same pipe in his mouth, sitting in a sagging armchair. Gesture, he pointed to the sofa, on the contrary.
- Good afternoon, sir.
- Hello, Sherlock. You are now alone, without his young friend?
- Yes, one - I did not want to discuss possible problems with the old man Donny.
Mr. Shaw puffed tube, obviously deep in thought. I tensed. The old man produced a strange impression - as if he had to have some bad news, and he does not know how to bring them to me softly.
- Sir, you want me to say something? - I decided not to pull, I ask myself.
- Um ... Yes, Sherlock. I know that Emily was not supposed to, but believe me, she wanted only the best for you. She told me your story.
I would not say I'm upset or angry. Yes, it was a bit frustrating, but more from the fact that I just was not expecting that Miss Emily, without my permission, I will discuss with anyone else. But on the other hand - it is the granddaughter of Mr. Shaw, it could suggest that she would tell him everything.
- It's okay, sir. I'm not angry - and it was true.
- Great, I'm glad. I would not want you to be harbored evil to my granddaughter, - the old man laughed. - But that's not what I wanted to talk to you. Emily told me about the hours that you have stolen, and that had something to do with the disappearance of your parents. I want you to tell me about them, as detailed as possible.
I closed my eyes, make it easier to bring before his eyes the image of the missing hours as he could, describe them. I even painted on paper is an image strange pattern on the back cover, as similar to the annular labyrinth. I mentioned also in the level of the requirements of the mechanics for their discovery and plant.
Mr. Shaw, frowning thoughtfully, carefully looked at my drawing, and then said:
- Sorry, man, I've never heard of these hours ... But I think I can help you a bit. If you return your loss, then you will not have to wait until you can open and make it, I can do it for you.
It was just great news. And I wondered how I myself had not occurred, so that Mr. Shaw is exactly the right skills, and probably even exceed these requirements.
- That's great, sir! I can not tell you how grateful I am! - I must say that the old man was able to show me back a good mood, great tainted events of this morning.
- Wait, that's not all. You do all day, as I understand it, will disappear in the city in search of clues. And our city, especially its eastern part - not a very hospitable place. Emily did not think about it, well, that's understandable - a woman. But I've just come to mind, you will not be able to fend for themselves, happen that - an old man, groaning, rose from his chair and came back with a small wooden box in his hands.
Even if I began to wonder about its contents - I could never guess. Just because such a subject never before seen. At my puzzled look, Mr. Shaw said with a laugh:
- Not only as you were a mama's boy, or you would certainly learned a spring bow!
A-ah, here it is! Indeed, how would I recognize him if I about it a couple of times just to read some old books and had no idea what he looks like? He knew only that it was a weapon of street hooligans, and it can be quite powerful, to the point, to maim or even kill.
Externally, the crossbow was much like the old single-shot revolver, had a comfortable grip, trigger, just in front of the index finger, the left side of the trunk is a narrow slit for cocking the spring and protruding lever. Among other things, he was equipped with more and fly with entirely.
In general, the principle of its operation was simple, reliable and understandable at a glance.
- Well, hello, my faithful companion, - Mr. Shaw pulled a crossbow out of the box, confidently pulling the lever and pulled the spring, and then pulled the trigger,
making the "blank shot". - For a long time I did not hold your hand ... - another minute twisting arms, Mr. Shaw sighed and obvious regret, handed it to me.
Taking a bow, I focused on it look, trying to find its hidden properties. Observation did not fail me, seem quite detailed specifications:
Crossbow mischievous Emil (unique)
Item Level 5
The minimum level for use: 3
agility +1
Accuracy +1
Wow! Unique! I remembered how my fellow students in the real world, boasting some uniques, and PPCR. I especially did not go then, but realized that it's kind of like something rare, very hard and pulled out to fight.
I do not know how much, on a scale unique and epic, would be appreciated this bow, but for me it was just the height of perfection. First, he gave one to mobility, which I lacked, and most importantly - open the precision parameter, which I have, and was not at all.
- Like? - by Mr. Shaw did not escape then, with what delight I saw the weapon.
- Yeah ... Uh-huh, sir!
- Well, I know! - Mr. Shaw handed me the box. - I made it myself, being about your age, only the mechanics, I started to learn a little early.
Thank you! Thank you sir! - my gratitude was not just words. And it's not that I felt so defenseless in the streets. Just thinking about where I can bring the search for hours and the criminal killing of girls, I came to the conclusion that it would be necessary to get at least a simple little slingshot, instead of lost, but here such a gift.
- That's not all! - Mr. Shaw, apparently now decided to work magician. - There is one more thing that also belonged to me and was very helpful in my childhood pranks.
Thin folder of previously unnoticed, Mr. Shaw took a piece of paper and handed it to me. It was a drawing. But to my regret, as I had not looked at him, curving and intertwining lines were incomprehensible to me. I looked at the old man.
- Yes, it is necessary to learn a little bit before you can study it. And to be a lot of work before you can create something that is hidden in it. But believe me - the old man chuckled - it's worth it.
- But what is that, sir? - I have not looked in the paper, the only thing that was revealed to me, so this information is insufficient intelligence. It was not clear even the name of the drawing.
- Oh, this is a very useful thing. She helped me, for example, to avoid the possibility of being locked in a dark closet for my tricks, or, on the contrary, from a locked cupboard allowed to steal jams and candies. It is a wonderful thing, it is very rare. It is called a skeleton key ...
Seeing my puzzled look, the old man frowned:
- I have not heard? And maybe - the key to all doors? Also you do not know? Well, maybe, though the name of the automatic lockpick you say something? - saw a glimpse of understanding on my face, the old man smiled. - Well, thank the Lord, but then I thought, you're absolutely hopeless.
- You left just pull up your skills to the required minimum - Mr. Shaw went on, - and in your hands is a wonderful tool that may one day save your life. And for this, you now have to work.
Well, I do not at all doubt. But now, when I had a clear goal in the near future before the eyes, the thought of working only caused a surge of enthusiasm.
Hoisted on the desktop with my heavy box set of the young mechanic, Mr. Shaw continued:
- Setting for you today is very simple. You'll have to make shells for his new weapon. No drawings will not, you have a crossbow, then think for yourself. And I'll go up to Emily, popyu tea.
Leaving me to think, an important gait of an old man retired.
I began to think. In the first place, it was necessary to decide what form should be shells. After some deliberation, I settled on two possible variants - short bolts or darts, and metal balls.
After thinking a bit more, the option with the balls, I also brushed aside. The problem was what to do by hand at least one ball, having the set of tools that I had - it was possible, but too long. The problem would be removed and the mold for casting molten lead, but that was not, that was not there.
So I stopped short bolts, the benefit of a few copper pins required diameter in my box were. Slice them into pieces of 10 cm long, I decided to do half of them just traumatic, blunt-tipped, and the rest - to sharpen as the island as possible.
Once this was done, I remembered something vague, half-forgotten, about ballistics and missile stabilization, made on each bolt three symmetrical longitudinal notches in a couple of millimeters deep. After all my torment, I got the result - even 2 units of mechanical skill, a total of 4, and 30 shells for my new crossbow.
Mr. Shaw did not come. I spread out on the table brand new bolts, admiring their warm copper luster and did not notice how dozed off, sitting on a chair.
I dreamed a strange cellar or dungeon, it is difficult to say. The walls were made not of bricks, all in the city, but with hewn stone, roughly treated, and strongly podtochennaya time and dampness.
The room itself, the ceiling of which I supposedly hung, is a circular hall, with four arranged against each other, dark passage, framed semi-circular, slightly crumbled arches. The edges of the room was lost in the shadows, the center of the flame was lit rough couple of candles that stood at the corners of the stone pedestal or altar.
Before him stood a man. Periodically dipping his finger in a copper bowl with something red, he slowly drew symbols on the altar, which I have, no matter how strained his eyes, could not make out. The man's face is also to be seen. No matter how I tried, I could not budge and change the observation position, so he could see only his shoulders and the top of the head with the emerging bald spot.
Faint sound suddenly sounded in the darkness of one of the aisles, diverted man from his classes. His hand, throwing brush, instantly plunged into his bosom, and came back armed with a thin dagger. Slowly, without making any extra sound, he went in the direction whence came the strange rustling. I still have not seen his face entirely, could see only part of the cheeks. Suddenly, some new noise caught his attention, the man began to slowly turn your head to the right, more and more showing the profile. Still a little bit, almost ... and ...
And I woke up, shaken by the shoulder of Mr. Shaw:
- it is necessary to save the night in his bed, and not in the classroom!
- Excuse me, sir, - I could not move away from the disappointment, there was a feeling that I necessarily had to know this man from a dream in the face.
- Indicates that you have time to do.
I silently pointed to the table where lay the results of my labor, pointy, and vice versa, carefully blunt bolts. Mr. Shaw shook a few of them in his hands, satisfaction pohmykal.
- Not bad, not bad. And what about the balls I did not do?
- I thought that the arrowheads will fly farther, straighter, stabilize them, again, you can ... And I would have the balls now and did not.
- That's what you done, - the old man laughed. - And here I am in your time, you would not believe, first balls made. Oh, how I am with them namuchalsya as to dart guessed. All - it has become serious again - today you are free.
- Thank you sir. - For a moment I hesitated, remembering his intention to take a set of mechanics to the room to train the skill in your spare time, but then decided that yet, not today.
So do not delay any more seconds, I went to the office of Miss Emily, to find out about the nearest library and possibly about what happened to Donnie.
Going previously in my room, I laid out a crossbow in the chest, there is poured out of the pockets of the shells. It will be necessary to come up with something more comfortable for them to wear than my bag with a knotted neck.
Miss Emily, as usual, was reading in a chair. When she saw me, she smiled at:
- Sherlock, I hope you did not come to reproach me for what I told you about my grandfather?
To be honest, I had forgotten that I had similar thoughts. Who from them is not exactly disappeared.
- Not at all, ma'am. On the contrary,
I will be grateful for it. I have come to you for help. Could you tell me if there is not far from us, public libraries? I would like to read a certain amount of literature ... - I really hope that it will not ask what it was. Miss Emily liked me and lie to her, I did not want to tell the truth but it was absolutely impossible.
- Near? I'm afraid that our area is not one where there is a search for treasure of knowledge ... In Hackney no audio library. The closest to us is the public library in the City. It is not so close, but it is huge. I'm sure you'll find everything you want. Come on, I'll show it to you on the map.
- Thank you, Miss Emily - get a mark on the map, I'm not in a hurry to leave. I am still worried about the issue with Donnie. Although I knew this boy just a couple of days, but attached as if had known him all his life.
- I wanted to ask about Donnie, ma'am ... What happened to him? Maybe I can do something to help?
The woman sighed and put the book down.
- Donald, - she said - have a family. He has a mother, younger sister, and soon there will be another, and maybe it will be a brother is not known.
- Wait, - I interrupted her, - and then what Donnie is doing at a shelter?
- Donald's mother was widowed a few years ago, - said Miss Emily - and for some time raised the boy alone. A year later, she met a man, and soon married him. Stepfather disliked Donny and constantly mocked him, beaten for the slightest infractions. Mother, afraid of losing her husband, do not come for the child. Donnie life became hell.
- It has been quite some time, and Donny was born tiny sister. All the attention the mother was wholly owned by it, and his stepfather, it seemed even more began to hate the boy. Until one day, he has not stated that it is not going to feed the baby from another man, and Donny brought here.
- Donald is still in love with his mother and has long forgiven her. Sometimes it seems tormented with the pathetic remnant of conscience, visits him, telling tales that ever persuaded her husband to allow her to take the boy. This morning she came back and told him that she is waiting for another child and the whole family is leaving Londinium to the suburbs, to the farm. And Donnie is here, in a shelter - Miss Emily spoke more and more quietly, she seemed to have difficulty holding back tears. - What do you think, what is it now?
Named Sherlock Page 14