Lunch today was a "Baranja stew with potatoes." In fact, from the lamb were present some unidentified fibers and veins, and the stew itself was a potato and turnip mash-up. But the guys met "stew" cries of joy, and was taken up with great enthusiasm. Yes, and I'm used to the local cuisine, so too smartly worked spoon.
Suddenly, the stretched-out arms and legs made adjustments in my plans, and I reluctantly went to spend all the money in the store ready-made clothes, which yesterday bought a dress maid. Seller immediately recognized me, it's a low-key showing a smile on the stone before his face:
- Good afternoon, sir. You want to buy another dress maid?
- Um ... No, I - I, too, humorist. - I want to buy clothes for themselves. Full Set: trousers, shirt, vest, jacket or coat.
- Oh, I see you. One minute!
Seller disappeared into the back room. A few minutes later he returned, having taken me to a pile of clothes. Changing clothes in the dressing room, I was finally able to look at yourself in a full-length, and note any changes. I stretched out great, came in the shoulders, in the figure began appearing awkwardness and disproportion, inherent in teenagers. The clothes suited my size, long trousers and a plaid wool jacket, I looked even older. Clothing was pretty high quality, better than the one that was on me before, and I felt a pang of anxiety - and if I have enough money?
Coming out of the dressing room, I got an approving glance and nod Seller:
- Excellent sits, just as sewn on you.
- And how much it all cost? - I asked, and internal measurement.
- Eighty silver.
Eighty! Damn it! Yes, it's almost all my money! Gold give Mr. Robinson, eighty for clothes and all, is five silver. But I have no choice, I could not walk on Kensington, like the crows scared. Paying for clothes, I left the store and looked for a free cab, thinking that a couple of these trips and then everything, hello imperial and hiking. Eh ...
Abby Street was a short boulevard, very neat and clean. Planted with rows of trees, according to the individual, remaining on their leaves, maple, with neat pieces of lawn in front of each house, with dense thickets of bushes in front gardens - street, most likely, was amazing in those periods when everything is blossoming and verdant.
Building 22 was no different from the other houses - the same neat, small, in the same pastel colors, and like all the other houses on the street, decorated with intricate moldings. Tapping on a special platform bronze hammer, I froze in suspense, ready for anything. But not to what happened!
The door opened, and appeared on the verge of tall lady in a black dress with a hollow collar and gray hair, curled into a tight bun. For a few seconds she stared at me in silence, and, with each passing second, her eyes more and more rounded, until finally, with a fairly loud cry: "! You have found Sherlock", the lady is not me in his arms.
At her cry, on the porch of the house he jumped a man in a suit, with a kind face and beard. She looked at my face, he gasped:
- Can not be! Martha, do not keep the boy at the door, come in, hurry up!
I was still a little stunned a meeting instantly, Four Hands dragged inside the house. And a minute later, and without being able to utter a single word, I was sitting in the living room, on a soft sofa in front of a low table laden with plates of various cookies with a cup of hot tea in her hands.
Finally, the owners of the house quietly sat opposite, and allowed me to catch my breath.
- Sherlock, what happened to you? Where have you been for more than ten days? - in the good man's face with serious anxiety and excitement it was written.
- Are you Mr. Jobson?
Owners of the house looked at each other in bewilderment.
- Yes, I'm Arthur Jobson and this is my wife, Martha. Have you forgotten us, Sherlock? You do a lot of times we had a party, it's your favorite cookies ... - man confusedly pointed to standing on the table plate.
I do not know why, but I felt at that moment a strange feeling, I can not exactly describe it, but the closest would probably be - peace and security. Mr Jobson and his wife suddenly struck me as excellent, good people, I felt that they really worry and worry for me.
- Yes, sir ... I do not remember anything - and I am again, for the umpteenth time, told his story, every story acquires new details and developments. - And now, I want to expose Volfish housekeeper, because I am sure that it is somehow involved in what I found in this park.
Mr. Jobson couple of minutes was silent, staring at her hands clasped in her lap. Finally, he looked up at me:
- Sherlock, I can not tell you how sorry that all this happened to you. I'm a fool, I decided that my suspicions are groundless and through inaction, allow that there were all these terrible events. I'm from the outset was sure that this wicked woman. After the death of his wife, Anna, Jeremy was very lonely, he could not find a place, just in front of fading. He stopped to farm, began to drink. We found Miss Volfish ad, she was looking for a place housekeeper. The woman immediately I liked - intelligent, educated, charming. Only then I realized that in an attractive wrapper hides hideous nature - cunning, spiteful, greedy and envious creature. It turned out to be a lifetime shunned his position in society and wanted to get into the highest light. And your uncle, Sherlock saw her the key that will unlock the door for her.
- Within a few months since Miss Volfish appeared in the house of Jeremy as she moved to his bed. He never talked about it, but I have a friend, we've known for twenty years, I could not help but notice such obvious symptoms. With each passing day it became darker, apparently burdened by these relations. Miss Volfish on the contrary, was always nice and helpful, entangling his sticky web of care, from which so hard to break ...
- And then, one day, Jeremy came running to me in a terrible excitement, saying that he found the thread that could lead him to his missing brother and his wife, your parents. He was going to go after them, and, fearing that he could not return, made his will, in which he called you his heir. And two weeks later, you're lost. I was sure that this merzavka, anyway, put a hand to it but could not prove anything. Neighbors saw you, early in the morning coming from the house, you are not returned. Miss Volfish showed that missing your things and money that Jeremy had left her for expenses. Therefore, all thought you ran away from home, having lost control of his uncle's. Whether in his quest, or simply to meet adventures.
- I did not have any money - I said ... squandered - only uncle's letter and watches.
- Yes, I have no doubt that she stole the money. I am sure that in the plans at this intriguer was, at least, to marry Jeremy, and then tear it as sticky. But now that you have found, we can solve all the problems. Unfortunately, since you are a minor, you have not yet is a capable, that is, you need a guardian. But even then, according to the terms of a will, you can join the right of inheritance is only a year after the disappearance of your uncle, until the owner of the house is still it. Accordingly, you can not just expel Miss Volfish the street, you just do not have rights. But you, if you want, you can this year to stay with us, I think, Martha would not mind.
- I'm just glad this - the woman smiled. - You've already suffered, the poor child ...
To be honest, at this point I simply was ready to cry like a baby. After all, good people around me much more than the bad, and it does not depend on their living standards and social status. And even if someone out there in the real world, the one who is watching me, believes that everything around me illusion and digital dolls, but I knew the truth.
- I can not even tell you how grateful I am, you are so kind to me. But I can not do what you have to offer. Do not give Miss Volfish much time I should as soon as possible to find evidence of its involvement in what happened to me.
- Perhaps you're right. If this is merzavki whole year, then you will remain bare walls in the inheritance. I actually surprised that she still did not run away, having taken out the most valuable.
- Perhaps there is something to which she can not get to?
- Yes, most like
ly it safe Jeremy. That's just strange that she knows about it, for example, I have never seen him, although heard. Jeremy said that the safe is absolutely reliable, and that it is impossible to open the lock without the proper key. I think that it is in it.
- That is, I have to bring it to clean water to the point where it will open a safe ... - Plan I, in general, has already been. Here only it depended on so many factors, that the chance of a successful outcome has been very small. But other options I have not seen.
- That's right, Sherlock, that's just, I have no idea how to do it.
- Mr. Jobson, sir ... Will you help me, if I tell you that I have come up with a plan?
- Of course, I will do everything in my power.
After I spoke to Mr. Jobson, specifically what is required of him, a man deep in thought. At that moment, when I was sure that he would refuse, there was a question:
- Sherlock, but you really can do this thing? I've never heard of anything like ...
- I hope so, sir.
- Well, if you manage to create plans, I promise you that for its part will do everything possible to implement your plan! Only I need to think a little, how graceful it is to crank, merzavka not as stupid as we would like ... You say, she has a boyfriend?
- Yeah, so I'm told. Some teacher, kind of like walking into someone from the neighbors, to Gordon.
- It's fine, try to climb through it. I'm sure I can find a way, and soon we will learn many interesting things.
- I do not think that he agree to testify, or something like that.
- Do not worry about it, Sherlock, and this does not need to, I just want information. And these little people like this teacher, if it is exactly as I think about it, are inexpensive.
- Well, since you are all discussed, maybe just popem tea? - Mrs. Jobson handed me a new cup of tea instead of cooled, and moved closer to a plate of cookies. - Poor baby, you're so emaciated ...
- Thank you, ma'am - I gladly took a sip of hot, strong, sweet black tea. Too sweet, I thought. Still, I had a little bit to get used to the orphanage vodichke tasteless. Biscuits it was simply delicious. I did not notice that a couple of minutes umyal entire plate.
Oh, how I would have been nice and cozy in the house, but do not wait. It faced a great deal of work in the studio, and I still was not sure what the result will be that way, which I expected. And the detective could find me. Well, I hoped so. Riddle strange recognition and subsequent suicide of Mr. Appleton, and other oddities of the case did not give me rest.
Therefore, thanking the hosts for their hospitality and assistance, having received hugs and a kiss on the forehead from Mrs. Jobson, and a firm handshake from Mr. Jobson, I went back to the shelter. I Went, I must say, in a good mood, it just elated meetings and conversations. There was a feeling that there was a thin thread that connects me to my past. Although it is certainly not my past and the past of my character ... But, like mine. Something I'm confused. Yes it does not matter, it's moving in the right direction, and although it was a happy ending is still far away, but, at least explicitly clear course.
At the orphanage, from the threshold of my blessed Mr. Robinson, saying that he completed the my order, and I owe him another gold. With a sigh, she gave the desired result. Well, here I am again a beggar. Although, other people's money does not bring good, maybe for the better, that ended.
But the times were good. Actually, not the waist, but a real belt with a cartridge. Moreover, now that my bow is very convenient to hang and immediately whips out if necessary, and bandolier climbs twenty darts, so also, on closer inspection, I discovered the hidden features:
Belt marksman (rare), level 5
agility +1
Accuracy +1
Buttoned only at the lower buttons, the jacket makes it easy to grab the crossbow, but it hid a number of darts. To sincerely thank Mr. Robinson for his work and has not spared the money spent, I went straight to the studio.
before dinner time, I still was, and I decided to spend it to good use. Shall ask of Mrs. Rose wax candle, I, first of all, began experiments that could prove that the laws of physics in this world works the same way as in the real, with the fullness and authenticity. It made me the first of six, coated with wax copper cylinder, fully confirmed my assumptions. Everything worked! And the day after Mr. Shaw sees the improvement that he will have to accept and appreciate.
That's just before that is still very far away. So far, the bird was a bunch of disparate parts and I had not so much time to gather them together. During the time that remained before dinner, I had to do three of the six cylinders, and started to make a mechanism to replace them.
Work carried away, and when the knock on the door, it seemed to me that it took less than an hour. However, he called me to dinner Donny claimed that I really like three hours a locked workshop and do not go out. It seemed that I was a friend hurt. I must say that it's easy to understand, I really forgot about it completely, keeping in mind the idea that returning home is close and you need to quickly make a fucking bird.
In the dining room we have again had a surprise. Almost all pupils were sitting in their seats, we came among the last. Near one of the narrow stained-glass windows of Miss Emily talking to some woman, whose face was not visible. It seemed to me that this daveshny philanthropist, something similar was in silhouette, in a pose. However, when the woman turned around, I suddenly felt a cold wave ran through his back and his mouth itself fell open in surprise. She could not prove it, although it had the same eyes, the lips, oval face, so that there was a full copy. But, nevertheless, it was not. For one simple reason - the woman was under the age of twenty years.
Making sure that all the students finally took their seats, Miss Emily Begin:
- Guys! As you already probably know, we took refuge under the protection of Mrs. Findish, great lady and very well-known philanthropist. For today's wonderful food you need to thank is it - waiting until the approving roar dies down, the woman continued. - But, unfortunately, our savior suddenly felt bad, aggravated an old disease, and she was forced to urgently move to a place with a more suitable climate. However, despite all the tests that are now coming to its share, it has not forgotten about the poor orphans, and passed the baton to his daughter's care, which will now be our patroness.
- Lady Elizabeth, let me introduce you to our students - Miss Emily turned to her companion.
- I am very pleased, thank you! I am happy that I can participate in their lives, it's so exciting, to know that you can change someone's life - a young woman, smiling, slowly he looks around the seated boys. And the moment when her eyes met mine, I suddenly realized that never in my life have I seen a woman more beautiful, and, if so, to make her happy, you will need to turn the world upside down, I'm ready to do it without any hesitation.
When women finally came out of the dining room, leaving us alone with dinner, surging feeling of overwhelming love receded a little and I was able to remove from the face of a stupid dreamy smile and look around. Absolutely all pupils looked the same - with silly smiles and glances, gazing at nothing. After a few minutes before their faces began to appear meaningful expression. And after some time things finally began to eat, but now, from time to time, someone threw a spoon and rushed into the space look, full of dreams and silent admiration.
I do not know why, but it has left a mad adoration of some dismal. Suddenly I remembered a scene from an old novel about a boy who had been raised by wolves. The scene in which the old python Kaa danced their dance of hunger and helpless Bandar-logs obediently went to his mouth, unable to resist his will.
No, what nonsense, of course, nothing to do! Just for some reason, I remembered ...
Chapter 19.
The work did not allow me to sit around especially so followed Donny, I went back to the studio. He first flew through the open door:
- Oh wow! Show the old man gave it all to you?
- Well yes.
- That's lucky ...
- But what's that
lucky?
- Well, here's Mr. Robinson, for example, his disciples Instruments sells at exorbitant prices, or rather results in debt, and they then work out his few years.
I must say that the old master, and seemed to me more a little bit greedy, but I found it necessary to intervene:
- Well, everything is simple, Mr. Robinson pays for the tool with your own money, and I gave that to no longer useful.
Going to the makeshift table, Donny stood in awe before the gleaming brass fittings:
- Did you do this yourself?
- Yeah.
- Wow ... You know, Sherlock, you're in luck with the profession. However, I even envy you. That's when I could not go himself to the old man show, very much I am afraid of him.
I wanted to tell the story of Donnie Mr. Shaw, to make it clear that he is not a madman, but just deeply unhappy man, but I could not reveal his secret. So I just hastened to change the subject:
- Come on, I'm sure that your craft is not worse. By the way, you never told me not really what specifically you teach?
- Is it? I think I told you - I'm learning to grow herbs and recycle them. I do ointments, tinctures, just recently we have begun to study herbal pills ... This is very interesting!
- Yeah, yeah, sure, I remember. Well, you see, you are also very interesting profession, helping people - it's great! - to be honest, I was a lie. Nothing I could not remember most of all, turned a deaf ear, busy pondering his problems. That's just Donnie, this does not have to know, did not want to upset him once again.
- Do you really think that it is useful for my job?
- Well, of course. Moreover, I am sure that it is much more important than mine. You, your herbs may be able to save lives, and I will make toys.
Talking with Donnie, I did not lose time and covered with a layer of wax remaining three copper cylinder. I must say that chatter Donnie create a nice background, under which surprisingly worked well. After a while, I moved to the "offline listening" mode, picking out individual words of the story, and occasionally nodding and affirmative hmykaya. I must say that one really knows his business, if judged by the passion with which he told me some herbal infusion to treat indigestion, which - migraine, and some - heartaches.
Named Sherlock Page 27