- Yes? Well, maybe I will not argue. And with your investigation of how are you?
- Yes, until all at the same place.
- Sorry, sorry ... - thoughtfully said one.
I do not want to tell Donnie all the details, not because I did not trust, but only for the reason that he had seen him overcome his own thoughts and problems, and he struggled to focus, to meet me and to be courteous. Donny appeared some secrets, which he refused to share. Not that I have is alarmed or frightened, rather upset.
- Well, I have nothing interesting happened, I think I'll go upstairs and read.
- Yes, yes, - Donnie nodded as a Chinese idol.
Shaking my head, I went up to her bedroom. Poured into a glass of water from a carafe, and strongly shook to the entire contents of the vial. Well, what to pull out there? Donnie said that is not fatal, and reason not to trust a friend I had not.
Pale blue liquid rather smelled nice and was sweetish taste. Sip, I'm a few seconds listening to your feelings, will not notice any changes decisively overturned glass in one gulp.
A few minutes nothing happened, then inside, somewhere in the region of the stomach, there was a pleasant warmth, which after a while was replaced by burning and discomfort. A few minutes later my body was burning fire. Born in the abdomen, a hell of pain spread to every cell of my body ached, it seemed, even hair. I think I screamed, I can not say for sure. The pain was so unbearable that I began to lose touch with reality.
The last thing that I noticed in the approaching darkness, it is a burning sinister scarlet color system message:
- Attention, the pain threshold is exceeded! Forced reboot!
And then everything is covered by darkness.
Chapter 18.
Looking at the white ceiling, I felt a strong feeling of deja vu. It seemed that now opens the door and enters tearful Miss Emily, or Donny cooled with a plate of porridge.
Really opened the door, but the room looked not Miss Emily, and Marjorie. Seeing that I was awake, she was with a strangled cry pressed her hands to her mouth, and jumped back. Behind the door, heard the quick step, a vague noise, talking, and after a few minutes, the door opened again, letting frowning Mr Jobson and his wife, Martha, with a completely white face.
- Oh, my God, Sherlock! - woman rushed up to me, not trying to stop the tears that stream down her face.
- Well, you're scared of us, young man. It also had to arrange this! Good thing, there were - Mr. Jobson said affectedly stern voice, but it was obvious that he really is very, very worried.
- What happened? - I asked, and was surprised at how weak and helpless suddenly found my voice as that of a seriously ill person.
- As soon as you have to ask about this, but fortunately, Donnie himself told us everything. He messed with the concentration of the solution, which he gave to you, and you drank just five times the dose. In general, both are guilty, even though your friend frantically takes the blame on himself and now just the place itself is not found.
Poor Donny, imagine what is going on with him.
- You found Marjorie, you lying unconscious in the middle of the room. She immediately raised the alarm, Jerome went to the doctor, Donnie went for us.
- How much time has passed?
- A little less than a day. It's two o'clock in the afternoon.
Two hours! Damn, I also urgently need to be Mr. Shaw, now he has come back from his mysterious trip. And the model, I also need to pass the quest, but I never took her tests! So, once all the sick, it is necessary to crawl to the shelter as you like, even on all fours ...
I resolutely threw a blanket. Or rather, he tried to do it, but just could not. It suddenly seemed so heavy, as if it were made of a stack of wet skins. At the second attempt, finally freed from the captivity of the bed, I swung his legs to the floor and sat down. Dizzy, I poured over the body annoying, unpleasant weakness.
- Sherlock, my boy, are you sure you want to stand up? The doctor recommended to stay in bed a few days ... - seeing my strong commitment, Mrs. Jobson threw up her hands in frustration.
- Never mind, let them arise. This is not a disease, after a couple of days, the consequences will be. The next time will be more intelligent.
By the way, about the consequences. On the periphery of the line of sight blinking minimized icons, unread system notifications. Mental effort I opened the windows.
- Perception 5 (9)
- get a fine to the parameters (poisoning). Strength - 10 (0) -10 Endurance (1). Recovery options - one unit for game day.
Received an achievement! "Who does not risk, that ..." Who does not risk, that does not get the bonus characteristics! In pursuit of growth parameters, you have risked their health by drinking five times the recommended dose of the elixir. Perception of one (10)
Oh my mother! This is what, I now 0 units of power? Well, it is understandable why it seemed so heavy blanket. I wonder if I had not worked in the morning, and I have the parameters were originally lower, they would have gone in the negative, or not? And how I'd felt at the same time?
Removing information from the screen, I tried to get up. Legs trembling, but seems to hold. Well, I stand.
- It's okay, I'm okay.
- Well, good to hear, - Mr. Jobson smiled. - In general, the young man would have cost to punish you. But it seems to me, you're punished himself enough.
Yeah, you can not argue. You feel weak kitten, and in fact the front so much to do!
- Okay, now I'll send to you Donny, and he, poor thing, all got exhausted already down there - old lawyer walked out the door.
- Sherlock, dear, do not be angry at Arthur. He's a bit rude now, but that's just the excitement. We were very afraid, and Donnie and did just went crazy. You're too much it is not blame.
- Yes I am on anyone not angry, and do not mind - I hastened to reassure the woman. And Donny and not with it, he also warned me that it was five servings, not one. I just wanted to quickly finish with this.
- Oh, oh, oh, the youth - Mrs. Jobson shook her head. - And where did you ever take the time?
- Sherlock! Are you okay? How do you? - Donnie into the room with an arrow.
- All right, boys, you're here, let's continue to do, and Arthur and, perhaps, let's go - Martha came out after her husband.
- Well, what do you like? Do not be silent!
- It's okay, do not fuss. Everything has been fine, just great weakness.
- Phew! - Donny sat down on the edge of a chair. - You have no idea how scared I was! I really had thought that the bubbles are confused, thinking everything to poison you to death ... And then I realized that the solution properly diluted, and you also drank it all at once. You do it, I'm sorry, it's all my fault.
- Come this way, no one has done nothing wrong. You incorrectly diluted, I did not listen to you, and drink it all at once. In fact, both are guilty. But! Since the result is achieved, and the consequences will be soon, we will assume that everything went exactly as all intended. Good?
- Agreed.
- Well, well, - I took off from the back of the chair his clothes, and again sat down on the bed. Even a little effort, it seemed, to take away the last vestiges of my strength. I'm afraid that I do not manage to have to ask for help.
- Donnie, you'll be able to go with me to the shelter, or do you busy today?
- I can, playing we moved since it was not known when you wake up. Today I am completely free. But are you sure that you should go there? As for me - he gave me a critical eye - you just need to lie down.
- I'm sure. I need to be there just be sure, this is not even discussed.
- Good.
Oh damn! I had forgotten about Mr. Leksidi, but this problem also needs to be solved very quickly, while the old man in desperation did not lose his head, and not done anything stupid.
- Donnie, you can call Mr. Jobson, if it is not already gone? I urgently need to talk to him.
- Sure, just a moment.
Donnie made a dash for the door
, and I gathered strength and began to pull his pants. A few minutes later a knock on the door.
- Yes Yes! Come in.
- Sherlock, my young friend! If you think that I, at my age, so just running up and down the stairs, and even after a sleepless night, you are very wrong, the lawyer said, pretending to strictly, but actually smiling.
- Excuse me, sir, I was very uncomfortable, but it is really very important. We are talking about life and death of man.
- Lord knows, you never cease to amaze me! How did you manage to constantly vlyapyvatsya in such cases?
- Once again, I'm sorry, sir ...
- So, come to the point, let's not waste time. And I must admit that - then the old man yawned, - the order I want to sleep.
- Yes, sir. You see, one good man lost his job because of me. - Seeing the surprised attorney raised his eyebrows, I quickly recovered. - I did not do anything special, just fired him because he helped me, you know, sir? And he himself was in no way to blame and now will die of hunger, because he was kicked out into the street without a pension.
- So, now more - Mr. Jobson frowned and put on his pince-nez, which until then twisted in his hands. - What kind of person, and most importantly, what it helped you?
- Mr Leksidi, it works, or rather worked in the archives, in the central department of the Eastern Police District. I met him when I was searching your address, he helped me find it. And then it turned out that he used to be a detective and investigate crimes that are very similar to those that occurred recently in Hackney. Remember, six young girls?
- Of course I do, it is hard to forget.
- Well. I found this information in old newspapers, and came to him with the request to tell me all the details. Mr. Leksidi could not tell me when it learned the new head of the department, and he was fired. Now, he has nowhere to go, because all his life he worked in the police and nothing else can, and learn something new, it is simply no time.
- And what do you want from me? To take advantage of his connections and press to be reinstated?
- No, sir. About this I do not even dare to ask you. But maybe someone you know is, there is at least some kind of work? I ask you uncomfortable, but most have no one to turn to.
- So, Sherlock, stop this nonsense, give me a minute to think. Tell me, this is your Mr. Leksidi greatly advanced in years?
- I can not say, sir. He is all gray, but in appearance is not very old. He is smart and thinks very sensibly.
- Not very old, you say? I've got an idea ... At the Royal College of lawyers Londinium has quite an extensive library, and its scope can not be compared with some miserable police archives. So, the chief librarian of the forty years of working there are working in the same place, and certainly that year asking an assistant. But only the young man is not happy, is not in them, you see, to the right degree and reverence for books. Perhaps your Mr. Leksidi try? A similar experience he has, and there is a material familiar to him - the books and law books and copies of the cases.
- Yes, that would be just great! Thank you very much, sir!
- Do not mention it. I warn Mr. Ottisa that got him help. So. Tomorrow I will see him, talk ... Well, the next day, in the morning, let it fit to say that to me. And now, with your permission, I'll go, - Mr. Jobson rose from his chair. - And get ready for the fact that we will have a serious conversation. Tell me all the details about where you got back. Agreed?
- Yes, sir!
- So that's great.
Mr. Jobson came out, and I breathed a sigh of great relief. One problem is partially resolved, it remains only to warn of Mr. Leksidi. Released after the lawyer in the room jumped Donnie.
- Well, all we discussed? Are you ready?
- Yes, let's go - I fastened the last buttons of his shirt and stood up. The second time it was done a little bit easier, the head is not so dizzy, and overall, I felt more cheerful. Rejecting the help of a friend, I own down the stairs and out into the street. Stopping the crew, we plunged into it, and after half an hour were at the scene.
A strange expectation troubles spurred me, I suddenly remembered the words of doubt and Donnie about Mr. Jobson. Almost without noticing's relentless weakness and giddiness, to the backyard, I flew almost at a run.
There, a large crowd, with his head up, standing absolutely all students. Among the children with an enthusiastic view staring into the sky, there were teachers.
- Sherlock, look! - Donnie nudged me in the side - see the roof!
Lifting his head up, I felt like my surprise, in the truest sense of the word, the hair stand on end. Balancing on a steep slope, grabbing his hand from the base weathervane on the roof of the shelter, between the gothic towers, stood Mr. Shaw. The wind ruffled his gray hair and wide-open floor blowing coat. Having put his free hand visor to the eyes, the old man looked off into the distance.
What the hell is going on here ?!
- Fly, fly! - suddenly heard shouts from all sides. Flies? Who is traveling?
I turned to the side, where a look at all the others, and could not help wondering exclamation. In the gray, swollen with snow clouds sky, fiery phoenix flew my model. Already, probably, ending its mission, she returned to the launch site. Having described above us full circle, began to decline gradually in a spiral. At that moment, when the model flew over his head, Mr. Shaw just reached out and snatched it from the air.
- Come on, take, guys!
From the open attic window, near which stood Mr. Shaw, I popped a pair of hands, in which the old man gently handed mehanolet. Then he gently grabbing hold of the shutters, he disappeared in the window opening.
Oh wow! This is what happens, Mr. Shaw came back and did not see me in the classroom, he decided to test the model? It turns out that this ... By the way, she flew pretty well, most likely, nothing would have had to tinker with and customize. And how great Mr. Robertson painted her, the feeling that she really was burning!
Hum of voices around led me to my senses. Pupils enthusiastically whispered, glancing sideways at me. From such close attention, I suddenly felt uncomfortable, dizzy again.
- Sherlock, Donald - quietly came up to Miss Emily made me wince - do not you think that you both have something to explain to me?
- Um ... Yes, ma'am.
- Come to my office to discuss everything there. Lord, representation is over, - she turned to the pupils, - I ask you to go back to his studies.
Rising after the woman on the third floor, I looked askance at Donny, trying to find in his face the slightest signs of the timidity and excitement that engulfed him every time before when he met Miss Emily. Not seeing anything similar, I was forced to admit that, indeed, his childhood love was complete. That's only in the present circumstances, I would not say I was happy about that. Still, sigh of Miss Emily was much like a safer, than to suffer for Marissa. Let as hopeless, but at least it is not life threatening.
- So young people, - the beginning of Miss Emily as soon as we only went in - what can you say in your defense? For some reason, yesterday and today in the classroom absent Donald, and today was no you, Sherlock? Did you know that your grandfather was waiting for?
- I...
- It's all my fault, - Donnie did not let me say a word. - Yesterday I voluntarily resigned from employment, since I had to go on their own affairs. I did not warn anyone, because I wanted to leave everything in secret. And Sherlock was absent due to the fact that poisoned my alchemical elixir, and almost day remained unconscious. It's not his fault.
- ABOUT! It is wonderful that you stood up for each other, but next time, if you suddenly want to miss a class, talk about it to warn that no one worried.
- Excuse me, ma'am, this will not happen again.
- I hope so. Sherlock, how you now feel?
- Tolerated, thank you.
- Then be sure to go to his grandfather. I do not know the details, but he is delighted with your flying machine, and eagerly waited for you all morning. In general, I do not remember when I've seen him so hap
py and contented life.
- Of course, ma'am. I'm for it and came.
- Good. Well, young people are more will not keep you, and I hope that in the future we have with you such problems will not be. You are not strangers to us, and you, Donald, and did as their mother became three years. Do you think that no one will notice, and will not worry if you suddenly get lost?
- Sorry again - Donnie blushed and stared at the floor.
- All run.
Saying goodbye to Miss Emily, and pledged to be tomorrow, as a bayonet, we went out into the corridor.
- You're an old man?
- Yes, but do not you with me?
- What will I do there? I think I'll sit in, you're not against the library? Sam will be able to reach, or to hold you?
- Donnie, come on, I'm not dying. I will go myself well, I have almost all gone.
After seeing each other eye, I went down the stairs. I must say that its excellent condition I am somewhat embellished. The head is still a bit podkruzhivalas, buzzing in the ears, and the proud zero in the value of the parameter force, let me just barely lift his own feet. I therefore went without hurrying, trying to stay within reach of the things for which you can hold on, if anything.
- Come in! - a voice that Mr. Shaw responded to my knock, was amazingly fresh and I would even say, somehow rejuvenated.
- Good afternoon, sir.
- A! Appeared, quitter? And how to understand this? - Mr. Shaw sternly frowned, but it was obvious that he was not angry and happy to see me.
- Excuse me, sir. I was a little unwell.
- Ha! A little unwell. My work can be passed only if you almost died! Okay, let's leave, today we have a real holiday, so you can make some concessions.
- Holiday, sir?
- Yes, young man, it was. Did I say illegible, or you just slow on the uptake? Do not make me regret that I got in touch with you!
- Excuse me, sir, - I mentally scolded myself. With Mr. Shaw could not relax for a minute. Despite the fact that the old man treated me well, and his mood today was extremely iridescent, its corrosive nature of this does not change, and he was annoyed as fast.
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