Named Sherlock

by Bagatur Zhamkochyan

  Apparently, this was the very fact that the system was not enough, so I immediately received the notification:

  - Congratulations! Quest: "The Night Strangler" - is made.

  - Reward: 200 experience (800/1000). In order to improve the reputation of a city police Londinium, pass the collected facts detective Marchena you (not a requirement).

  Next plate receiving the long-awaited report on the quest:

  - to offer you the quest, "The Case of the Seven strangled."

  - Terms of the quest - to catch or kill the man responsible for the murder of women in Londinium personally or contribute to the city police.

  The award - the experience of (variably), improving the reputation with the city police Londinium.

  Penalty failure - no.

  Accept the quest?

  So, from the quest, it became clear that the two scenarios - I untangle the matter itself or transfer data, known to me, detective Marchena, which is not yet clear, believe me or not. Here worth thinking about. On the one hand, if I solve the case himself - and then the laurels to reap me, but on the other hand, should not have forgotten that I have a child, even an adult inside, and the city police, anyway, the opportunity is much greater. ..

  In any case, the time necessary to wait a little longer allows data to collect, Marissa, and then decide what to do with them.

  But as Molly, but now I'm pretty sure that she selected the next victim. Time after which the girl has to go to the unknown "lord" who was betrothed to her Dora, just in line with the expected time of the next murder.

  And here, precisely, would help the police, I have nothing to put pressure on the Douro, so she told me the whole truth. Perhaps it is just an intermediary, which uses face-down, and suddenly - a full accomplice? Then I would put himself under attack Framed Molly, and probably would have scared the killer.

  In any case, time to think while I was. Prior to surgery, with interior Norrie, in any case, I will take nothing.

  The huge clock on the wall of the library showed fifteen minutes past seven, and I decided to slowly advancing back to the shelter. At eight o'clock supper, and I did not want to miss it. Despite the cakes, which I was treated to Marissa, I felt quite a strong hunger.

  Thanking library employee for help and at the same time to find out where I could sit on the omnibus to Hackney, I left the library.

  Before the shelter I got confidently, without incident, and even with little time to spare. After changing clothes and leaving a crossbow in the trunk, I went down to the dining room.

  Donnie is still not there. After waiting a few minutes and check that there are all guys, except for him, I started to get up, as a look came across Miss Emily. Its almost imperceptible shake of the head, forced me to stay in place.

  For dinner there is some boiled potatoes in their skins, and again, the same liquid, unsweetened tea. I've already had begun to get used to the food, and little effort was not necessary to apply for it, what-what, and the food I was not spoiled.

  Initially, I had plans for the evening had one - increase intelligence in any way, as time was running out, and I still could not even read the drawing. But the absence of Donald at dinner changed everything. Anyone could argue - it's just part of the game, it is not even a person, what for a piece of system code to lose time ... I had no arguments. No. I just knew that Donny - my friend and I have to help him.

  Wait until all the kids wander off on his own business, I went to Miss Emily.

  - Donnie in the library - a woman handed me a paper bag, which put a few potatoes. - Take it, Sherlock, he had not eaten all day.

  I silently took the package and pulled to the second floor. I like no one else could understand Donald, understand his longing and loneliness. The day when my parents left me was the darkest day of my life. But I kept thinking about the fact that this sacrifice was for me, for my future, and I just do not have the right to break and bring relatives. Donnie also had a lot worse. Betrayed by the only native person in this world, infinitely forgiving, to believe, and still be loyal? This is difficult to survive and adults.

  The empty library pathetic figure hunched boy looked especially lonely. Going up, I put on the table a package of potatoes. It seemed that Donnie was in a catatonic, so it was fixed, it was not visible even breathing. Not knowing where to start, I just sat silently beside him.

  After a few minutes of silence, mixing his game and the real story, I began to tell Donny about how loneliness wave hits me when my parents were forced to fly. As I cried and did not sleep as homesick as I could not eat and learn. Spoke about the dreams that I dreamed every night for several months, I repeatedly experienced separation nightmare and woke up with a face wet with tears.

  Talked about how to burn, emotions are gone, leaving me devastated, broken, full of bitter realization that you can not fix, and life will never be the same again ... And I decided that I will not give that memory about parents, I try to be exactly the way they wanted to see me.

  He spoke about the earrings, which it then became my best friend, understand and support the unknown boy, who alone, in a strange place suffered the loss of loved ones.

  However, bearing in mind the prevention of Proteus, I had to transform the earrings in my virtual uncle, and parents do not have departed and disappeared in the expedition ... but emotions and feelings were absolutely real and sincere, and talking about it, I felt a dull ache, if troubling old already Poggio wounds.

  Facial Donnie nothing changed, he also was silent throughout my story, looked at one point.

  - Donald, I know that's hard for you, just unbearably painful. I do not know what else to say to you. You just do not forget that there are people who you care about. Miss Emily for you very worried, because she likes you, you know? - I know that this should not have said, and that he would understand it in the sense in which he would like, but the situation was critical. It seemed to me that the thinking of Miss Emily, Donnie will be easier to survive the treachery of his mother.

  - I, too, worry about you. We know a couple of days, but believe me, I always dreamed of such a friend like you.

  Donald was still silent, but it seemed to me, his gaze was no longer such a glass and eyelashes trembled slightly. I do not know why, but I decided that with him now would be all right.

  It was close to a release, and I went to his room. Already on the threshold of the library, I heard the words of Donnie:

  - Thank you, Sherlock.

  - You're my friend.

  Returning to myself, I lay in bed and began to make plans for tomorrow. Intelligence, I planned to partially lift during morning classes and try to catch up to the required ten after, in the library, reading educational literature. You may be able to kill two birds with one stone, finding any books on mechanics. Go out, I did not plan all the next 3 days, intending to devote all his spare time, the growth of its characteristics.

  That left open the question of the direct manufacture of the key mechanics of what level of need? While I did not know and could only hope that it will not be transcendent, because, after all, Mr. Shaw came up and collected it, while still a minor, "Emil prankster." On the other hand - Mr Shaw and a child was already a genius, so that the level can be quite high ... In any case, while I'm not increase the "intelligence" to the dozens, I do not know.

  With these thoughts, I fell asleep.

  ***

  - Then their eyes were opened not thirty or forty windmills that stood among the field, and as soon as they saw Don Quixote, then turned to his squire ...- I can perfectly read it myself, but I like awful when it does Mama. You can close your eyes and imagine how the mountain to lean Rosinante wobbly, rattling ancient, rusted armor and carried a tall, thin old man, full of intrepid quest to win the crowd of giants, in the name of Mrs. Dulcinea del Toboso ...

  Mom continued to read, and I, lulled by her voice, deeper and deeper into sleep, full of feats and follies, courage and service to the Beautiful Lady.

  ***

&n
bsp; I opened my eyes for some time could not recover. Inspired by yesterday's conversation with Donny dream reminded about how I did not have parents. Hey, at least I do not like the subjunctive, but if it was possible to win the competition, at least among the top three ... If the money was enough, so that they could return to Earth ... How many "ifs."

  In any case, it does not need to lie, with a sigh, and work! Inspired by this thought, I cheerfully jumped. First of all, charging. All the same, yesterday, but the number of sets increases by 5. Muscle initially protesting the habit, whine. I suffer, gritting his teeth. Upon completion, receive remuneration in the form of endurance, increased even by one force, unfortunately, today was not issued.

  Reaching the washroom cheered up and cold water is sent to the center. With great pleasure we see already sitting at the table Donnie. He is pale and looks painful, but it is clear that the crisis was over. Sitting there, silently smiling at each. Donald meets in my opinion, his eyes red from lack of sleep, but the smile is almost the same, that pleases.

  To my surprise, and I'm just not interested in it at all, it turned out, it was Sunday, and therefore to the usual morning plate porridge, given the tiny square of something sweet-baked. It turned out that this rice pudding. By the way, pretty good, a pity that so little depressing.

  - By the way, Donnie - decided to turn to another - say, you spend a lot of time at your local library?

  - Yes.

  - And you know very well the books are there?

  - Yes, I helped them set, and most have already read ... - Donny replied reluctantly, through force, still immersed in dark thoughts.

  - You know, I will need your help. - In fact, I was sure that I would help anyone, Miss Emily, for example, and even Mr. Shaw himself, but it seemed to me the right to ask for help is Donny.

  - What to do?

  - You know, I need to find all the books on mechanics, which may be in the library, and who is better than you can handle it?

  - Yes, I will help. Let's go to.

  - Wait, let's look for them after school, okay?

  - Today there are no classes, Sunday.

  Wow ... That is, I have to increase their own intelligence, to help the teachers can not count today. On the other hand, maybe it's for the better, of course, if I can find the book to me.

  - And in the craft classes at Sunday pass? - in another situation, perhaps I would have been glad to rest, but now these lessons I desperately needed.

  - Yes, they happen every day, of course.

  - Well. Then let's go to the library?

  Climbing up to the second floor, we went in the traditionally empty library. I do there never anyone but Donnie did not see. Apparently, reading from the orphanage are not held in high esteem, which is not surprising. In order to survive in the area of Hackney they need more practical skills.

  Donald clearly knew the location of all the books, because, without thinking for a second, confidently walked to one of the shelves and grabbed it seemed to me, almost half of the shelf of volumes, standing side by side. Bent on the severity, it is brought and placed it on the table stack of seven thick books, each of which was entitled: "Mechanics and Mechanisms", the volume of the first through the seventh.

  Shouting: "I'll get the rest!" Donny left me in complete prostration and fear of the monstrous body of literature, which was to be not just read like fiction, and carefully study and memorize.

  When he returned almost immediately, Donny brought this time a thin, abraded pamphlet paperback, titled "Living Dolls - skill or magic?".

  I must say that this book immediately aroused my keen interest, which is why I left it for later, and himself, thanked Donald for help, plunged into the study of the structural features of the various kinetic pairs. The next three and a half hours, I can not be called the most interesting and exciting in his life.

  Weary brain refused to focus on all of these liners and journals, ball and roller bearings, on the fingers and the eyes. Periodically, I found myself on the fact that I was starting to view pages automatically, without thinking in the content. Then I had to go back, reread again and again, particularly intractable pieces had even outline for a better understanding.

  By lunchtime, I beat a few chapters of the first volume of "Mechanics and mechanisms", and felt as if the mind is half turned me down. Never before reading is not given so hard. Opportunity to work with his hands after eating, seemed to me a deliverance. Received +1 Intellect and mechanics, seemed inadequate as a reward for the heroic work.

  Donnie, who all this time was sitting at the next table, reading some fat book (only, unlike me, he did it with obvious pleasure) showed where I can find her books later, if you suddenly come to engage himself. Note the location on the shelf, my friend and I went down to the dining room, where the boys were going.

  Today we are in for a surprise. Instead of the expected slices of bread with cheese, or no, we were given a pretzel with poppy seeds and apples. Judging by the surprised whisper, which flew through the rows of pupils, such luxury does not happen often.

  - Well, so now comes the philanthropist - Donny whispered blankly.

  -Who? - I did not understand at first.

  - Philanthropist. Listen - Donny pointed to the door with your finger. And indeed, her steps were heard, and clearly not a single pair of legs.

  The door opened, and in the room there was a strange woman, behind her came Miss Emily.

  - Children, - she said solemnly, - say hello to Mrs. Findish. Through her kindness and generosity you have today a delightful lunch. What do you have to say?

  - Hello, ma'am! Thank you very much, ma'am! We are so grateful to you, ma'am! - discordant wail students.

  The woman nodded graciously and said low, some velvety voice:

  - What are the cute boys. - Smiling, she slid a look at those, stopping from time to time, then one, then the other pupil. When Mrs. Findish looked at me, I cringed inwardly as if instinctively trying to become smaller. I can not explain what I was suddenly scared, she's just a moment looked into my eyes and then looked on. The only thing it seemed a little strange that on the face of a woman smiling lips, the rest face was immobile and his eyes looked closely and tenaciously.

  But in general, Mrs Findish makes a good impression. High, medium build woman who, apparently, as a young man was driving men crazy with hundreds, if not thousands. Even now, in the age is not the maiden, in my estimation, she was forty years or so, the woman was still surprisingly beautiful. Miss Emily, she is quite pretty now seemed a real ugly duckling next to the elderly, but still beautiful and majestic swan. Many children, especially those who are older, looked at Mrs. Findish adoring glances.

  - Honey - I noticed that Miss Emily from such treatment lightly jerked person - let's go, let's see your classrooms and workshops.

  - Of course, ma'am.

  When they left, I turned to Donnie:

  - And often there are the bride?

  - Sometimes - indifferently she replied. - Miss Emily constantly pester different charities, asks for money to our content. They send a representative who looks to see if we are quite thin and very hungry if we pretend that we can count on a handout. Only rarely, and give a little, because we have quite a rich institution - well fed, clothe, teach.

  - I wonder why is it suddenly so rich? Is the store revenues?

  - Of course not, the store brings very little. This house - the last thing left from the inheritance of Miss Emily. I do not know the details, just heard a couple talking ... - Donnie blushed. - In general, her family was very rich before, then something happened, I do not know. But Miss Emily had sold all his inheritance, leaving only the house, I put the money somewhere, and keeps us all on this income. But, in general, a little money, and sometimes there is even less, so she always goes and asks ...

  Wow. I, frankly, was struck. With the ability to decent and comfortable to live happily, she brings herself, in fact, a sacrifice, spending all the money for education and training of thirty boys,
giving each of them a chance to escape from the surrounding horror and build a new life.

  Still under the impression of what he heard, I went into the closet to Mr. Shaw. Donny went to Mrs. Rose, care for greenery in teplichke. He said that he is very fond of plants, because they are cute and harmless.

  Shaking hands with the old man show, I received from him a regular job. Looking at the drawing, this time saw not incomprehensible squiggles and a familiar element, called a rod. Issue the necessary materials for the manufacture of the old man retired. I do not know why, but the work went much easier, not like the very first time. Perhaps the fact that my level of mechanics was already five units, and maybe because now I knew what I was doing, and what the purpose of this particular detail.

  In any case, when Mr. Shaw came back, I proudly showed him 5 parts perfectly relevant drawings, polished to a mirror finish. The old man smiled faintly and said to me, get out for lunch. But it was evident that he was pleased with my progress.

  Lunch, in contrast to the wonderful lunch, again not pleased. Liquid broth cabbage strips and boiled potatoes, instead of bread.

  After lunch, the majority of the boys rushed to the backyard, enjoying a rare sunny days, and we Donny returned to the library. For Donald, it was a familiar route, and on arrival, he was clutching in her morning book, quietly died down. I just sighed and plunged into the world of slider-crank mechanism and worm gears.

  The end of this day and the next, was for me under the sign of the mad race for performance. I fell asleep on the books, re-reading the same place for two or three times, looked strange at first drawings as long as clearly failed to provide work machinery until you started to see it in the dynamics.

  I was eager to solve problems and equations with such enthusiasm that has caused considerable surprise and praise Mrs Lisp, our teacher of exact sciences. Mr. Shaw, too, was taken aback when I asked to complicate the task and increase the amount of detail that I had to do. All free time I kept plugging away in the library, watching with satisfaction as my settings, unit for unit, closer to the coveted top ten.