In fact, nothing new, I did not know - first of all, the paper represented the interest of justice, as it is circumstantial evidence of guilt of Mr. Appleton and supplied his confession. They really steps described ritual reception of the power of one of the Dark Gods through sacrifices to him. That is why all the girls were killed near the water, which was an element of Dagon and his entourage, because it carried a crystal - is the label of victim empowerment. In this part, all consistent with the testimony.
However, serious discrepancies were further - in particular, Mr. Appleton said that the seventh victim - unknown to the old beggar who just died a natural death, and ritual, with no load. However, the paper argued that the seventh girl in this particular ritual - not just the victim, and the donor, who otbiralis years of his life. Well, this time, I am more than confident in the investigation no one will take into account.
But what is most interesting - the ritual was universal. Sacrificing enough people, you can scoop up in exchange for the power to do almost anything. The only problem was, that this was not enough one desire and need the knowledge, much of which has been irretrievably lost for thousands of years.
Another thing that struck me as useful, it was a short mention of the eternal sleep, in which submerged the Dark Gods. I understand that there is but Dagon, was full of people, and the strength of all were different. It will be necessary, if possible, look for information about that too. But what interested me, it was referred to their sleep.
The first, which, incidentally, confirmed by the words of the old woman prophetess, was that the sleeping gods feel that they are used, but the strength is not enough for you to wake up. Apparently, this situation did not suit them highly, and the one who carried out the rituals - playing with fire. And the second - and it was the most interesting - this is the moment that the thief had to spend huge amounts of force to maintain the balance on the verge to God and did not wake up, but did not go so deeply asleep that his power is not encapsulated in himself and I would not be completely inaccessible from the outside.
And there followed from this, again, two things - an unknown assassin standing behind Appleton, will not resort to this borrowing powers too often, as the risk - is huge. But he is no less dangerous, because it has a transcendent level of mind control skills, if he has enough strength to not give wake up, albeit weakened, but still, God.
What it does for me personally? It is not clear. The only time during which I was able to catch, was limited to the control of reason, that is, to the old woman, the prophetess. At this time the cost to ask her a specific question - what constitutes this force, and whether it is possible somehow to resist it? I still could not forget her shameful flight at the first meeting and how much effort it took me to overcome my fear then. Yes, exactly, that's what I'll do! In the meantime, you can finally eat in peace. I put down the paper, and strongly pulled up to her plate.
- Well? Do you think that this old woman? - Yeah, it looks like Donald properly connected just read the thing heard from me before.
- If it seems to you young and beautiful ...
- You never know if it is dragged strength from the gods, and could disguise. You do not know, that in fact it can?
- Well, here you are right. I do not know. That's just it seems to me that this is not an old woman. But talk does not interfere with it, I feel that she did not tell all away.
Having said the last sentence, I put a piece of chicken into his mouth, as if to show that as long as the conversation is over. Luckily, Donnie understood everything correctly, moving the focus from me to own plate. After chicken and salad, Marjorie served tea with microscopic puff pastry with strawberries and vanilla cream.
- Mr. Brown, a specially prepared Madame Petit, your favorite dessert.
- Thank you, Maggiore. Give Madame Petit, that I am very pleased - in fact I never palter. I was really pleased to receive signs of attention and care of so many people around me. Sometimes even the feeling that this is some compensation for the lack of attention in real life.
After dinner, contentedly puffing, we Donald spread to the corners. He sat in a chair with one of his new books, I took a sheet of paper and a pen, going to paint for myself further plan of action - the next day and the next few days. But suddenly there was a knock on the door prevented me to do it.
- Young people how was your night? - not an old man rushed headlong into the living room, Mr. Jobson exuded an aura of friendliness and good humor.
- Very informative, sir, - I replied. Donnie same attack again leaned embarrassment, and he silently but eloquently adoringly looked at the old lawyer.
- Yes? It is wonderful. Well, I see you as comfortable as in the good old days. And it smells delicious - Mr Jobson twisted nose, trying to catch in the air smell wonderful dessert Madame Petit.
- Sir, would you like a cup of tea? - I instantly took the hint. Now the main thing is that there are still those wonderful cakes. I hope that the maid came up to understand my questioning raised eyebrows correctly. At least she did not ask again, he nodded, and slipped out of the room.
Oh, actually visit was a bit out of time. I was going to organize their knowledge and to outline at least some plan, and for that I needed a rest and perfect silence. But given how much Mr. Jobson has done for me and Donnie, do not give it the time and attention - it would be ingratitude.
Making sure that the lawyer brought tea and cakes just the ones that we Donny ate for dessert, I decided to proceed in small talk:
- And how was your day, sir? As the performance of the court?
- Just wonderful! Sherlock, dear boy, I am so sorry that this time it was impossible to capture the stories! That's where your would be useful to record sound bird. It was my triumph, I standing ovation, jurors wept!
- What are you talking about, sir! It's just amazing. But I do not doubt you, sir. And Detective March, I remember calling you the best lawyer of the city. Or the most expensive? I do not remember exactly.
I must say that his words I immediately regretted, but Mr. Jobson was not offended.
- Sherlock, my young friend, in this world, unfortunately, nothing is done for free. But for me, money is not the determining factor. Yes, my services are expensive, but a few times a month I have to appear in court for free, and believe me, I do it not worse than his usual fee.
Immediately I mentally scolded myself that even opened his mouth. I felt unbearably ashamed of his outburst. Mr. Jobson very good and decent man, and I do not judge him for what he lives according to the laws of time and society.
- Excuse me, sir.
- You have nothing to ask forgiveness, my friend. It is absolutely normal for a young man of your age, consider that the world around - is unfair. Believe me, I myself was the same, if not worse. So was a rebel, just hold on, - the lawyer smiled, evidently remembering his adolescence. - And by the way, once the conversation turned to money. More useless young men of your age do not have their own pocket money. Therefore, I have decided that you will receive one gold per week for incidental expenses. Keep - Mr. Jobson put on the table in front of me and Donny on the large, light yellow coin.
- Try to celebrate, not to spend all at once. What to do with money - up to you, I do not necessarily report.
I must say - it was very helpful, considering our future trips to the shelter and not only. I took my coin, appreciated by looking at the lawyer:
- Thank you very much, sir!
- Donnie? Why are you frozen? Take it, it's yours!
Mr. Jobson was difficult to understand what happened to Donnie now, why he froze, staring at the slices of the yellow metal. And so, apparently, the gold was already something beyond his understanding. Donald digested resettlement in posh house, their future training at the master alchemist, new clothes and books, but this coin ... Apparently, it has become the very straw that broke the camel's back. In general, Donny again had time to realize all.
- Mr. Jobson, Donald just need to get used to. I think he had never seen su
ch a lot of money, and it is difficult to realize that now it's all - it ...
- I understand you, my boy - old lawyer confused tugged at his gray beard. - You know, I'll go.
- But, sir! You just come! - Is he still offended by my words? Here I'm an idiot!
- No, no, my boy. I really need to go ... I remembered one urgent matter. See you tomorrow at three o'clock.
- Yes sir. I spend?
- No, you're not worth it. I do not get lost. Donald, until tomorrow!
- Goodbye, um, Mr. Jobson, - some woodenly Donnie muttered, without looking up from the table.
As I looked at each other, a lawyer is absolutely silent and quickly left the room. I turned and nobody will be surprised. Donnie still stared at the coin frozen, unseeing eyes.
I must say, this strange scene left me completely bewildered. And what the hell just happened?
Chapter 10.
Rest of the evening was somehow crumpled. Donnie, after some time, still brooding and silent, went to his room. By the way, the coin he still took. I after he left a couple of minutes poslonyalsya of the living room, trying to tune in a working mood. Time to sleep was left, and I did not give up all thoughts somehow organize their thoughts and guesses, hoping transferred onto the paper, they line up in a logical scheme. But the mood soured dramatically detract from future work.
Suddenly I thought of the new victims of an unknown killer. I caught myself thinking that the death of Molly - a virtual character, made me suffer for real, and the death of the very real, living people - left almost untouched. With me that something is wrong? And do not ask anyone ...
Once again, looking around at the room, suddenly he caught the watercolor that hung over the fireplace. The same one where the magnificent temple with a shining crown was depicted. Oh, yes, it all went to hell! What I can not do it without a plan? Had nothing planned, and then I will not.
Climbing up to the second floor, without undressing, I fell on the bed and took off the nightstand nedochitanny novel. Yes, that's the way I am not a good person - rather than mourn the dead and to plan upcoming investigation, rather just read an interesting book. only one thing I can say in my defense - I'm still hoping to find some clues and hints at what it is, found it difficult to answer. Well, in the end, the book is not without reason called "Mystic expedition", just like my global quest! Considering conscience soothing, I continued reading.
"... the blood continued to drip. Desperate to stop her, the woman tore a wide strip of cloth from his own shirt, and, using, for lack of anything else, a bunch of dry grass instead of lint, built a new bandage.
Although the wound and does not pose a danger to life, the right hand of Tom hung his whip. After making several unsuccessful attempts to quickly grab the revolver with his left hand, he was forced to hand it to Rebecca.
- Oh, baby, you're ready to shoot without hesitation .. "?
"... no, a thousand times no! No light will slow down and hamper the movement, but the way back was not.
Flagstone, dropping behind them and cut off the path to the exit, almost became a funeral. That forgetting the pain shot through his hand, his wife had to pull out of an incident on the head of multi-ton monolith and is now paying the price, the newly discovered bleeding.
Trying not to think about the almost obvious sad outcome of their adventure, the man silently crept through the narrow, low manhole, occasionally hissing in pain, touching the wall of the injured shoulder.
- Tom! There's light! Look, we got! - Rebecca joyful voice which sounded far away ... "
"... think about it. At least, you can relax a bit.
- Of course, Becky. I'm sure we'll think of something.
Thomas was sitting in a corner, exhausted eyes closed. Rebecca anxiously looked at the beloved face distorted by pain and fatigue. Not being a doctor, she could not tell how severe blood loss, but one thing was clear - you need to get out as soon as possible.
Jar of water less than a half. Watered husband, Rebecca residue hidden in a bag. As if she herself did not want to drink - I had to endure.
Going up against the wall, she began to feel the clutch, in some mad hope of finding a hidden button, a hidden door or push bar. Stones, fitted so tightly that between them could not even drive a knife blade - do not give any chance.
Around the perimeter of the stone well, at a height of about five meters from the ground, has several circular holes of unknown purpose, but to reach them, even with the help of her husband, she could not.
Exhausted and desperate, Rebecca sat next to Thomas. Suddenly there was an odd dry rustle made her look up. Fate that awaited them, he suddenly appeared in all his ... "
- Sir? - barely audible creak open the door and the maid soft voice made me wince and drop the book on his knees.
- Oh, excuse me, sir - from the corridor peering Marjorie. - I thought you were asleep, want to extinguish the lamp.
- Yes, I became interested in something, - he rubbed his eyes. There was a feeling that under the eyelids and rolled grains of sand scratched. - And the time?
- Two hours, sir.
Two hours! What a nightmare, so I will read it. Resolutely he closed the book, I thanked the Marjorie and she pledged to immediately go to sleep. True, for a while I had to fight the urge to take the book again and see if Thomas got Rebecca out of the trap. But I refrained, and repeated several times mentally my favorite mantra: "I am tired, I want to sleep, go to sleep ...", still went to the realm of Morpheus, albeit with difficulty.
Morning came unexpectedly. Feels like the body, must still be dead of night, so he switched reluctant. The mood is due to lack of sleep was just horrible. Reluctantly poprisedav and porazmahivav dumbbells, I trudged into the bathroom. Head, after her a few minutes to take in the icy water, such as clear. But the unpleasant feeling of heaviness left.
After a quick breakfast, we went to Donnie classes at the shelter. Each, realizing that he has finally got its own money, insisted on paying the cab of his own pocket. I do not mind. I was quite amusing to observe how slow and difficult Donnie gets used to the fact that from now on his life changed dramatically. But ... Here I instinctively frowned - was one unaccounted factor that could spoil the great picture. Careless mother friend could sniff about his sudden wealth and roll up of its shares. What is to be done - I do not know. So let's hope that, at least in the near future this will not happen.
Finally, a cab pulled up to the gloomy building shelter. With a smile, looking round sharp as if pierce the sky spiers and pinnacles, lightly dusted with snow, I remembered the day when he appeared here for the first time. I'm quite seriously thought that in such a Gothic castle can easily accommodate a family of vampires, and in the basement is full of ghosts. Furtively glancing at Donny, I discovered on his face the same dumb smile. Ah, yes, Miss Emily ...
In the classroom, we again were among the first. Mr Birkin smiling, looked at us from behind his glasses:
- And my best students! As always, first. This zeal for learning is very commendable!
- Thank you, sir, - I smiled back. - Can I have something to ask?
- Of course, the duty of a teacher - to answer any questions of his pupil.
- Tell me, sir ... You, of course, know this writer, Jeremy Brown. Do you think it's a good book?
The teacher thought for a moment, then asked another question:
- What do you mean, Sherlock, the words "good book"?
- I do not know, sir ... I guess everyone has a concept - its.
- But what does it mean for you specifically?
- For me? For me, first of all, is when you start to see and believe. See the world that exists in the book, and believe in the people who live in it. When you cry, together with the hero, love and hate with it. I can not say for sure, sir, it is very difficult.
- Do not need to be exact, my friend, I knew you. For me - a good book, it is the one after which the inverted world, black becomes white, white - black, and whatever else the man did not notice yesterday,
today, evident only by the fact that he look at the world has changed after the reading. So, Jeremy Brown's book - not one of them. Do not think his works are not bad, they are quite interesting, exciting, it has a bright figurative language. But this kind of literature is too lightweight for me. She can make you forget about time, but will not leave a trace in the soul. You know what I mean?
- Yes, sir, I understand ...
- I am glad. I hope that did not offend you, young man.
Pupils, noisy crowd burst into a class, did not let me answer. At this point, I must confess, this was even pleased. There was no resentment, what's more, I'm well aware of the position of Mr. Birkin. And almost certain that in its place, from the height of past years, I have looked at the books in the same way. But now, when there is still a lot of the time, the opportunity to spend some of it on someone invented a fascinating story, too expensive cost.
Lessons were held as usual, did not even have passed, and passed. I do not know for what reason, I, a real humanist, a lover and connoisseur of good literature, suddenly began to enjoy equations. Independently, on their own initiative suddenly decided one of the most difficult, was in addition to another unit in the intellect, and even a considerable surge of pride.
In the same workshop, I was in for a surprise. Mr. Shaw was out on the table was a note written by him:
"Sherlock, you will have to work without my guidance, the benefit to you is what to do. I'll be back in five days, by which time you have to finish his flying machine. And my advice to you, think hard to improve its design. It certainly , the original, but in my opinion, is too simple. "
- to offer you the quest: "Independent work".
- Quest Conditions - until the return of Mr. Shaw to construct a sample of a flying machine.
- An additional condition: dorabotat drawing aside design complications.
The award - Experience (3000), in the case of the additional conditions - increasing the skill of mechanics (the number of variably).
Named Sherlock Page 42