Named Sherlock

by Bagatur Zhamkochyan

  Okay, it's all the details, first of all, it was necessary to get to the inhabited places. Choosing the direction, I walked toward the city, occasionally shivering in the gusts of icy wind.

  While I was walking, his head slowly alternated painting last night. Resentment at Marissa are already greased and slightly subsided, obscured more vivid emotions of the battle with the rats and my escape from the cave. was one question that tormented me now - who chased me? And what was the room to which I never got, what happened there?

  Remembering my dream, one would assume that this is the room with the altar, which I have seen. And the man, who went the rustle of a knife - the one who chased me at night. But, as for me, it was necessary to make too many assumptions and facts, as such, was not. The only thing that I can say with confidence - the stonework was similar, but not more, just like the one I saw in his vision.

  In any case, as soon as I get a chance, I will try to go back to the dungeon and find out once and for all that is happening there.

  Deep in thought, I did not notice that has already reached the outskirts of Londinium. The picture that was revealed to me, was truly dreadful. Blue areas such as Hackney, or, say, Spitalfields - been frustratingly poor. However, people lived there, worked, somehow raised their children, and even in their hard life, it is sometimes its lighter moments. Immediately reigned utter horror ...

  Clinging to a series of gloomy factory walls of huts - curves, terrible, without doors and windows, it seemed, at any moment ready to fall on the heads of its inhabitants - was more like rotten coffins, than at home. Rats which there were many, slowly marched on their business, not even trying to speed up the pace at the sight of man. Rather, I sped up at the sight of them. Even though they were normal-sized rat, not giants such as those with which I was able to do some fighting, but still caused fear.

  I was lucky that at this hour the inhabitants of these terrible slums, most likely never work, we were still asleep. In this realm of disgusting filth and terrible poverty, my pants and shoes, it is whole and strong, would have passed for a royal attire, but for the handful of gold coins, which was in his pocket, no doubt, would have been killed instantly and without hesitation.

  These thoughts gave vivacity step, and wary, constantly looking around nervously, I hurried to leave the graveyard of human hope.

  Fortunately, a number of slums, surrounding the city, was rather narrow, and slipped it safely, I found myself in an area consisting seemed to come from some factory chimneys. They towered everywhere, where you do not roll the eyes, snatching them out of their insides clubs dense, black, sticky, even in the form of smoke.

  Out on the wide street, I suddenly faced with a mass of people on their way to meet me. Young and middle-aged men and women - different but with the same expression of some kind of severe concentration. Frown, pursed lips, no smile on gray, earthy faces. Suddenly there was a deafening sound made them at the same time accelerate the step. Factory whistle! Of course, I've never heard it before, but realized immediately. He waited until the convoy poredeet, I continued on my way.

  This industrial area in which I traveled, seemed endless. Due to the abundance constantly smoking chimneys, everything was covered with a thick layer of soot. Occasionally blurs the rain and deposited again and again - black made all the buildings ryabymi, covered grubby spots and stripes, from under which, in some places, once looked through the yellow bricks.

  Finally, turning to the wide boulevard, after half an hour of walking I saw the first omnibus. Jumping up a notch on the go, I almost fell heavily swaying and could barely restrain his good hand. The car was almost empty. Sat at the very end, I did not attract much attention. However, the conductor, with the sour face toward me, could be a big problem.

  - Here, sir, money for travel! - I first gave him a few copper coins that he recognized in me of solvent client.

  However, the conductor was in no hurry to take money. It explicitly drew my torn and blood-stained sleeve:

  - And what do you have to hand, man?

  - I was bitten by a dog, sir.

  - The dog? Hmm ... And where are you going?

  - I live in an orphanage, sir, in Hackney, - I do not like these questions, but had to answer as much as possible polite. I might at any moment simply throw out the omnibus, and would have had to walk three districts.

  - Well, - said the conductor finally - you can go. But God forbid you anything here dirty, throw immediately.

  - Thank you sir. I did what I will not touch, sir!

  - And this - man frowned - it was a normal dog, not mad?

  - What are you, sir! The most common dog, but they just had a lot of, and I am one ... So they attacked.

  - Well, yes, yes - sagely nod, the guard returned to the car head.

  Question man about a dog that could be rabid, sounded to me like a thunder - suddenly and scared. Given the degree of realism that distinguishes this world, I could easily get sick than anything - blood poisoning, rabies, even considering that I was bitten rat - plague. Moreover, ill myself, I could infect all around, start a new epidemic!

  Why, I now feel that I again strongly shivering, not sure about the plague, like she incubates for several days, but the inflammation of the lungs, after yesterday's swim and spend the night in the bush, I could easily make. We must soon get to a shelter, while I'm still holding on.

  Half an hour later a sensitive half-asleep, the voice of the conductor gave me the following:

  - Hey, man, if you need to in Hackney, come now, then we turn!

  - Thank you, sir, - I jumped out of the omnibus did not hesitate, and do not even wake up until the end.

  I looked around. The area is unfamiliar, it's no wonder the city was great, and even in the Hackney I managed to find the strength of three or four streets. By calling card, making sure that I am, in principle, not so far from the shelter, about half an hour brisk walking step. Here are just a brisk step now just will not work. I started to shake, just the same pounding. Special cold I could not feel, just general weakness and severe shivering.

  When I finally got to the shelter, the state was changed to the opposite - I was hot so I opened the jacket and unbuttoned his shirt.

  In order not to attract too much attention, I did not knock on the door of the front door and walked around the building and went from the yard. Judging by the sounds coming from the dining room, all the students were there. Strange, really still only breakfast? This is how much time I was getting, I thought, a couple, three hours, and it turns out that less? Or if it is lunch - while conversely, much more. I do not understand...

  Suddenly, the thought seemed so important, that I urgently needed to consider it properly. The legs have suddenly become unruly, and I swung and sat on the floor, his back against the wall. So after all, it's breakfast or lunch? I had to quickly figure it out, it's very, very important! Breakfast, or, still, lunch? The world around somehow floated and began to spin. It was not terrible, most fun and very interesting. I stretched out my hands, hoping to catch the fleeing image and return to the place, for some reason, it seemed to me that I could do it. The world was running away from me, and I pulled and pulled him ... And then I fell.

  ***

  I have a dream - summer, hot sun, green meadow. I'm a little grass to the horizon - on a belt. I run, run forward, and suddenly - green stems around me grow, become higher and higher, so they have obscured the sky! Or is it I decline? Exactly! Here by me crawling huge ant-sized air car, or even imperial! It is simply impossible to funny! And I laugh, pour, unable to stop! Ant turns to me a huge head and calling my mother's voice: "Sherlock Sherlock, wake up!".

  Who is Sherlock, I Dima? Or I Sherlock? And who, then, Dima? Oh yes what a difference!

  The air is hot, grassy forest dries their eyes, and, behold, yellow, dry, twisted from the heat stems tremble and bend under the pressure of the searing wind! As the hot ... Sweat rolls across the face and dries instantly, without bringing any relief grain. I'm scared. Grass ar
ound begins to char and flare, grass light up one after the other, getting closer and closer!

  - Mama! Mom, fire! - I have a heart-rending cry, trying to escape, but the flames buzzing wall covering me and falling, endlessly falling into this searing, fiery abyss ...

  And then comes the salvation - a wave of cold water beating me down, extinguishes the fire, cool palm regard to the forehead. Again, I heard a voice: "Sherlock, wake up, look at me." No, it's not my mother, but who is it? I should know, must!

  Having made an incredible effort, I suddenly opened my eyes. Something about me ... Room. All in the mist, the image floats. Young woman with a kind face. She looks at me and says something. I listen:

  - Sherlock, look at me. Can you hear me? - yes, it is her voice, she called me there, in the meadow, when I was on. I know her, her name?

  - Sherlock, do not go back on, hold on, you hear? - a woman's voice quieter, I again began to sink into the hot darkness. - Carry more ice and wet sheets! - woman shouting to someone, but I do not see anything. At the last second of consciousness suddenly I remember her name - Emily.

  ***

  I do not know how much time passed, but emerging from the depths of unconsciousness, I was aware of who I am and where. Most likely, I had a more intense heat, but regained consciousness completely. I clearly saw the room, whitewashed ceiling cracked, roughly plastered walls. It remains only an unpleasant feeling of unreality, is said to have been early in the development of equipment for diving in Wirth.

  Squinting to the left, I saw Donnie, sleeping in a chair next to my bed.

  - Donald, wake up, - my voice is impossible to know the weak, hoarse croak. I swallow saliva, making a second attempt - Donnie! Wake up!

  This time came a little louder, but still quiet and hoarse. But fortunately, Donald moved. To sleep in his chair, apparently, it was not too comfortable, so the sleep was sensitive. A couple of seconds later he opened his eyes, staring into nowhere pointless, then, seeing that I woke up, broke into a happy smile.

  - Sherlock, you frightened us! The doctor said that there is almost no chance, but I do not believe it.

  - Donnie, wait - now, when consciousness returned to me, it was necessary to do the most important thing, the only thing I currently care. - Donnie, you gotta help me save one person.

  - Sherlock, what are you talking about? You're delirious again? - Donnie jumped up from his chair and stepped to the door, intending, apparently, to call someone for help.

  - Donald! Stop! - I tried to sit up abruptly in bed, slightly raised his head, and fell back on the pillow, sweat from the terrible weakness. - If you are my friend, help, - I whispered.

  Seeing that Donny turned back to me, I continued:

  - There is a girl, Molly ... She lives on Vintersfild Street, they know it all, so it is easy to find. I have to bring her 10 gold ... - I suddenly froze, remembering that I do not know where my money is. - Donnie! Where is my stuff? I had hours and money?

  - All here - Donnie shown on the table. - Then watch, money, your bag.

  - Good. - I was in a hurry to finish, as the talk became more and more difficult, the weakness of the newly rolled on me stifling wave. - Donnie, I'm asking you, if you are my friend. Take 10 gold, take Molly, tell me. I promised her, and he could not. On you all hope, understand, it is a matter of life and death! - I did not know what else to say, how to persuade Donald. He will have to go to the violation of the regime, and it was something almost impossible for him.

  - I'll try. - You could see that Donald is not confident in their abilities. Obviously, it is very rarely had to leave the shelter in the time that he was in it. - As you say, Molly?

  - Yes, its all they know. Molly, you know it right away, it is a young, very beautiful, kind ... Ten gold, Donnie, this is very important. And as quickly as possible ... - I swam again, the room was shaking and blurred in my eyes. The last thing I saw - Donny, who took the money from the table. As he was leaving, I can not remember.

  He opened his eyes the next time I saw Miss Emily, sitting in the same chair that before Donald. She was reading a thick book, and seeing that I turned my head and smiled.

  - Hello, Sherlock. Well, how do you feel?

  How do I feel? Difficult to say - the head is empty, thought, as though scattered in different directions, a strong tinnitus and terrible weakness. But one thing is clear, I have to die, like, I stop.

  - I do not know ... It seems a little better.

  - Well, well, and that in fact we almost have to say goodbye. Donnie just went crazy, worrying about you.

  Donnie! Completely out of my head, if he complied with my request? Quest, Quest Is executed? Mentally cause maximum configuration interface, open the section "Quests", and ... Yes! Here he is! Listed in completed, you can open and view the notification:

  - Congratulations! Quest: "good turn deserves another!" made.

  - Reward: Experience 600 (1000/3000), the continuation of the quest chain available.

  I wonder why the continuation of N? Anyway, the main thing - that the quest is made and Molly paid to Mr. Ogger.

  - Sherlock, you need to drink medicine! - obediently I open my mouth towards stretching a spoon with some medicine. Now I am ready to drink anything, just to quickly get to his feet. And nothing, not even tasty!

  After a couple of minutes, I feel a strong drowsiness, and not able to resist falling into a deep, healing sleep.

  No clear dream I this time did not attend. Everything is filled with vague snatches of unintelligible things and events of the past, successive pointless and haphazard manner. After some time, I wake up weak, terribly hungry, and, apparently, apparently healthy.

  Room, this one is empty. Carefully sitting in bed, I cope with seconds dizziness, lower legs to the floor. Only now, remembering the sick hand, I look around carefully, tight bandaging. Hand does not hurt, the fingers, the tips of which protrude from under the bandages, seemingly not swollen, bent quite easily.

  Grasping for the guarantee of a chair, get up. Sways a little, but you can live. Taking off from the back of a chair, hanging on her pants and shirt, dress slowly. Phew! Instantly charter, again sat down on the bed. I have the feeling that it is not pulled on pants, and, instead of a horse, half-dragged imperial.

  A little rested, I got up. As an old man, stumbling on padded feet, panting, stopping for a breather every few steps, I went into the corridor. Most likely, I should not even get up, but the desire to talk to Donnie was stronger. I had to quickly learn all the details. I did not give the rest a strange interruption quest chain hope that Donald will be answers.

  Going out into the corridor, I was face to face with Donnie. At catcher, as they say, and the animal runs.

  - Sherlock! Why have you got? Miss Emily said, you have to lie down for a few days.

  - Wait a minute. Donnie, you do what I asked?

  - Yes. Are you not believe me? - well, just not enough, so he was offended.

  - Of course I believe! I just need to know all the details of what you said to Molly, she said ...

  - Well, I'll tell you, but only after you go to bed! Miss Emily tear us both head if you now see.

  Yes, I think that Donnie rights. I wake up obviously still early, so supported by a friend, I went back to bed. He sat on a chair standing near.

  - Find Molly really was easy - began Donnie - I asked and I was immediately shown. She was at home, let me in without even asking - who. And when I said that from you and give money, Molly burst into tears and began to talk about some of Eddie ...

  - This is her brother, - I said quietly, - he died. Molly said that I look like him.

  - And then she wrote you a letter and asked to kiss - Donny scowled - keep in mind that I will not do! And Molly said she did not want to have to return to you and to all the coppers. And it is something, someone promised. What and who - you'll understand from the letter. Here, - he handed me an envelope.

  With a trembling hand, I cautiously took the letter. Already about imagining that
there is found, but deep down hoping for the best, I began to read.

  "Dear Sherlock!

  Every day I thank the Lord for what he sends my way so many wonderful people.

  When my brother and I, hungry, tired, walked through the streets of the city, only kindness, which is hidden within each of them, did not allow us to perish. And every day I think about the people who helped and supported me through all the hardships and trials destined. About Dora, who took care of us, gave food and shelter, the neighbors are always willing to share the latest, even strangers, who buy my lace, giving a chance to live another day ... And about you, Sherlock.

  I began to think of you as soon as I saw. You were the same as I did when she left home - naive, frightened, trusting. I'm sorry that you, at the beginning of your journey, met such scoundrels as the Trickster, and Ray, but believe me, that is around a lot of good, kind people. And I know that you met them yet.

  Your friend, Donald said that you were ill and could not come himself. I very much hope that when I get back, you're going tohealthy and I can, with gratitude, to return to you personally the money that you gave to me. Duty to Mr. Ogger paid off and I can breathe easy.

  And forgive me, Sherlock, because I did not believe right away that you can get such a huge amount. Maybe then I would not give the word, and now I can not change. Yesterday from a gentleman who is waiting for me, a courier arrived with a gift, and I accepted it, confirming its obligations. You kept your word, Sherlock, and I also keep my, whatever it may cost me.

  Remember, always, even in the darkest hours, do not let fade away hope, faith and goodness that dwells in you. Hopefully see you soon, with gratitude and love,

  Your Molly. "