- Sherlock, you do not understand!
What I do not understand, I, unfortunately, have not had a chance to learn. Noise and screams, suddenly donesshiesya the first floor of the house, clearly showed that our flight was over, and it began. It is obvious that the prisoners guarded by still more carefully than I expected, and positions were checked. We had to leave at once, do not pull, but who could know? And now - too late.
Marissa, immediately jumped to his feet, rushed about. In that tiny room, where we sat down, there was no window and return to no longer had meaning. Before we had time to get up and just get ready to battle through the square opening in the floor of the ramp light penetrated a plurality of torches, and, after a couple of seconds, about a dozen of the natives, bristling with menacing spears, huddled near the empty doorway.
Fire played on their faces tusklokrasnymi highlights, in this uneven light I could see how from a wide sleeves Marissa's palm slid throwing knife.
- No! - I shouted loudly, hide no longer had any meaning. - Do not resist. They will not kill us right now.
As an example of the others, slowly, so as not to provoke the natives and not to be in the second bristling with spears, like porcupine needles, I dropped to the floor, away from him, a gun, before standing next to the wall. The other prisoners had no weapons.
Marissa shrugged and held out his hands in front of him, showing all of the empty hand.
From a number of the natives suddenly went low, an unarmed man. Judging by the number of primitive pieces of jewelry made of leather and colored stones, which he was hung, it was clearly kakoeto local "bosses."
- No laila'oe ee holo hou aku, oe e uhai i kona mau wawae, - smiling, quite friendly, he said.
- What he says? - I asked Mikoto, just in case, too, broke into a smile.
- What are we to break legs to no longer tried to escape.
Smile instantly vanished from my face. Out of the corner of my eye I caught a slight, almost imperceptible movement of Marissa and I realized that she again took out my trusty knife, ready to sell life dearly.
What to do? His head was ringing up items, no bail-out in it for some reason, are not born.
- Tell him we're going to fight and kill many of his soldiers. Living - not dadimsya.
Mikoto, slowly and haltingly, translated my words. As I expected, no impressions are not produced. The man laughed, and the soldiers around him smiled openly.
- Mākou ua pomaikai lakou, e make no ka nani o Tlaloc!
- He says he would gladly die for Tlaloc ...
Well, yes, of course, how could I forget? Fanatics are usually for life does not hold. But, on the other hand, may have their fanaticism is precisely our chance!
- Joey, to me!
Dog darted out of a dark corner, where he lay motionless, no one until not seen, and stopped at my feet.
His appearance came as a bombshell!
- Keiki a Tlaloc ... - that's all I could squeeze head hunter, the rest just a startled silence.
Suddenly, one of them standing behind them all and therefore practically invisible to me, darted out of the room, down the ramp.
Seeing that the natives did not take his eyes off Joey, and some, it seems, are no longer around to notice someone other than him, I put my hand on the withers, to emphasize our commonality with them. So far, Joey was our only hope to avoid broken legs and more serious consequences in the form of a sacrificial altar.
Since then, as the room broke vaytukku hunters, it's been about ten minutes, but nothing terrible has not happened yet. I started to calm down, feeling the tension hanging in the air, gradually subsides. The natives still looked at Joey, pausing respectfully, and I almost believe that everything will be.
While not in the room there was already known to me the priest.
He flew into the room with angry, contorted face, it is clear that it is the second time diverted from chegoto important. Or maybe just the wrong time awakened. In any case, he looked very angry.
Exactly to the moment when his eyes stumbled on Joey. And instantly, his expression changed from razdrazhennobryuzglivogo at a loss. And I noticed it a fleeting shadow of fear. Although, maybe I just imagined it.
About a minute the priest incredulously saw Joey. Then he stepped back and ordered something else, pointing to our hand. Expecting seychasto all and will, I'm ready. No, I did not think about the resistance, but you have to be ready for anything.
However, to my surprise, the hunters were in no hurry to execute a direct order. Apparently, now in their souls a serious struggle took place, because Joey was clearly similar to the one of the children of Tlaloc, which I, by the way, he still had not seen. Probably, and they are now only legends heroes vaytukku tribe.
Priest, seeing that it is virtually ignored the order, raising his voice:
- E ki'i i ia koke! - both with his words, I felt the pressure on the mind, I suddenly wanted to run and even though someone else, but to grasp. However, this effect is even beside did not stand with those miracles, which was capable of a witch from Hackney, old Greta. So I easily dispersed the fog blanketed thoughts.
However, for the rest of this mental blow was not in vain. Marissa was white as a sheet of paper, Donny looked like a dead man, and Mikoto, which is obviously due to their age, was clearly heavier than the others, just silently fell to the floor.
I managed to pick up the boy, until slowly, as if snulye fish approached the natives, apparently still left inner struggle.
Obviously, the ability to suppress the will of the people at the priest was only very weak, judging by how easy this time, managed to overcome it. And the natives, only a few seconds, began to rebound, gaining confidence in his movements.
Doni Marissa and without any resistance picked up by the arms, and quite carefully, and led to the exit. I went myself, because no one dared to come closer, after Joey, protecting the owner, showed his teeth and growled menacingly couple of times.
Mikoto while he was still unconscious, and I had to carry him in my arms. Leaving the house, I looked around. Burns his hatred of the priest look, aimed in our direction, I shattered my dreams that will be able to negotiate peacefully.
interlude 7
"Saturday evening with Alia Warren" program Studio
- Greetings, dear viewers and visitors to our studio! On this Saturday night, as in the past, and the next, and I'm sure even mnogomnogo nights in a row, I'm with you, Alia Warren, and we are discussing the most interesting stories that happened with us this week!
- It is unlikely that someone of you managed to forget the amazing events related to the so suddenly, one might even say, suddenly, the termination of the marathon virtual worlds, we talked about a few issues ago.
- Indeed, how can we forget this amazing contest, given the hype that led to its beginning. This ambitious project was never, in the history of the development of mass virtual broadcast. Let me remind you: the three giant companies, thirty participants, unique, unique worlds. And in the final - absolutely amazing prizes!
- What could happen? But behold, the hand envious defeated, dying young, talented guys. The killer is caught, but the rock seemed to be hanging over the competition and its organizers. As a result, the critical failure custom-made software, mistakenly installed the new equipment provided by the participants, die three other young men. After that, kompaniyamiorganizatorami taken an unprecedented decision - despite the enormous costs of organizing the competition and developing worlds, it is stopped, and all the participants compensated for the time spent and given prizes.
- Well, that's it, the game is over, do you think? And here and there! Absolutely shocking news that our reporter had learned from an employee of the Tokyo Center for Biotechnology. Listen carefully to this blog entry, my friends!
"... sure, Irwin?
- Look, there's no nothing sure. Yes, but I know one thing - six bodies from the donor storage suddenly gained consciousness and tried to get out of the feed chambers.
- Excus
e me, Irving, I'm a little swim in the subject ... What is gained consciousness? How is that even possible?
- In obschemto, this non-public information. Not a secret, of course, but ... The fact is that for certain biotechnology research center is growing not only separate organs, but also full of body. They have completely ruled out the possibility of consciousness is only a part of the parasympathetic nervous system, even primitive reflexes are absent, so the law on cloning, we do not break.
- But otkudato this consciousness come from?
- I'll tell you more. It is there not just come from, is the consciousness of the individual. I managed to talk to one of them, before they arrived people from the NSA and all sealed. So, the boy gave his name and said that he had just been in the virtual, took part in the marathon, one that recently closed down ... and suddenly found himself in the feed chamber, covered in tubes.
- Took part in the marathon? What kind of nonsense.
- And that's not nonsense. At least no greater nonsense than the sudden acquisition of consciousness in the body, which even team up bowel movements are given by neyrointerfeys ... "
- So, my friends, so what really happened last night in Tokyo Biotechnology Center? How does this relate to the recent marathon virtual worlds, and where does the digging "VirtArt"? This tells us a special guest of our program, and we will return to the studio after advertising!
- Are you Aliya Warren, do not switch!
Chapter 18
I admit, I did not expect that the first meeting with the children of Tlaloc happen exactly at the same circumstances. No, not that I'm expecting much from the hospitality vaytukku, especially after what he saw in the square, but that so?
Although, it all started like a good idea.
Area, by the time we arrived, was almost completely crowded with people, and not only men but also women and even children. As I expected, the sight of Joey, the crowd echoed discordant hum, and all eyes turned on him intently.
- Yeah, your dog here, just like Prima Royal Theater, all attention to him - even at such a moment Donny could not resist the hairpin towards Joey.
- If I were in your place ernichayu not, I'm afraid that without it we would have gone straight to the altar. And so, perhaps, still have a chance.
But really, judging by how respectful attention to the natives viewed Gioia, a chance to somehow get out of this situation was, and rather big. I have to show the crowd his friendliness, he began to smile from ear to ear. But, by and large on me, and no one was looking, all the attention was concentrated on my right pet.
Armed with the guys who were guarding us, did not show much aggression, the crowd was silent, and the priest kudato disappeared.
- And it can really cost? - it appears that false sense of security embraced and Marissa.
- I would not be so sure.
And for sure. The priest, who did not have a few minutes, suddenly appeared on the wooden pedestal next to the already familiar to me stone. One is the neighborhood does not bode well. I was prepared for any eventuality, including even the fact that we have now will be sacrificed.
However, the priest suddenly began rhythmically shouting something, and the crowd, until now, we have to examine friendly enough, suddenly drained, koegde heard cheers and even crying. Degree of goodwill fell sharply, and I clearly felt again the mental pressure.
Fortunately, his power was at times less than that which I felt at the moment when he found the phenomenon of Tlaloc during the sacrifice. Then guess could be a long time - whether priest powers were not unlimited, whether it for a full indoctrination required certain conditions - drums, for example, or herbs which accept and even fungi, but only crowd is rushed suddenly to kill us, as it is clearly We called, and hesitated, worrying, like the sea.
But as you know, the water wears away the stone. And now more and more people from the crowd beginning to look at us with frank hostility and even hatred, and Donnie Marissa does unaccustomed to such influences, the newly glazed look.
But, apparently, the priest did not calculate the forces, and in that moment, when he abruptly pointed to Joey shouted out the phrase: «Pepehi i ka daimonio hookohukohu iho la ke keiki a Tlaloc!» - from the whole crowd, which, my estimation, has reached three hundred people, and even more moved forward just a dozen, others stood, swaying, staring straight ahead, dead eyes.
But we have to admit that this a dozen of us would have been enough, given that of the weapons we have left only a crossbow in his pocket, and two knives - one in my boot, the second at Marissa.
Salvation came from not waiting. The voice came from behind rovnehonko where was our convoy. The very low native, whom I took to be some piece local authorities, was so desperate, that was not afraid to argue with the priest. Pointed at the dog, he cried a few short phrases in their funny, barking language. And those people who are already heading towards us with a clearly malicious intent, stopped with a puzzled kind, someone even turned back.
For about a minute, I was surprised with the ever-increasing pererugivanie listened to the priest, and the unknown, but very nice to me the native parallel feeling all weakening mental impact.
- That would have to understand what they were saying, - I whispered, to no one in particular.
- Here's one thick, it's local Munduk shaman povashemu - suddenly spoke up Mikoto. It turns out that the little trickster has long recovered, and is now just lying in my arms, depicting a dying man and listening to everything around. - He says that you have to kill, and you break the beast, because he is a demon pretending to be the son of Tlaloc.
- And the second that?
- And he says that only he can solve Tlaloc, demon or not, and you have to take it. Because children Tlaloc left too little, and it turns out that they killed one of them and very angry deity.
- What priest?
- A priest says that you are not worthy to see Tlaloc, only the children of God, and his voice can be close to him. But he is willing to trust the word of his children, if the voice of Tlaloc appeared not loud enough to be heard.
The voice of God - it is apparently the pagan priest. The children, who will decide our fate - mechanical beasts, like Joey. And here is the priest for a surprise!
As if in confirmation of the correct translation, we suddenly again grabbed by the arms and dragged him deeper into space, bypassing the huge temple, behind which turned out to be a structure that I never expected to see in the jungle. Most of all, it looked like the Colosseum, only half dug into the ground.
Round ground, built of basalt slabs ubiquitous and about three meters recessed into the ground, was framed by a high stone bead, smooth on the outside, and forms several series of steps - seats inside, which instantly find numerous spectators. I do not know what this building meant before, but now there is clearly going to make a bloody spectacle.
We were pushed to the edge, hinting at the beginning of the fun. I turned to Mikoto, who suddenly lost all his nonchalance, and rather frightened pressed against my leg.
- Now carefully listen to everything I say, and try to translate as accurately as possible. Contact here this Smart guy, not a shaman - I showed eyes on natives who are perceived almost as our intercessor and potential savior. The boy nodded.
- I, Sherlock Brown, the great and terrible, ready to pass the test of Tlaloc children, and to do so without the help of my servants - I smiled sheepishly, glancing at Donny, but he did not react. - If I can win, I ask the grace to see the god Tlaloc, to bend my knees in front of him! Well, or whatever you usually express reverence, he came up with.
With this statement, I was hoping to kill two birds with one stone - to impress adequately minded natives for their courage, as far as I remember, in almost all primitive tribes, military pride and courage are always extremely highly valued, and could very well be the reason for pardoning the enemy and protect friends from the battle, in which, as it seemed to me, their chances would be even less than I do.
Although it is not known what actuall
y I have to - it may well be that I will die even faster.
However, my noble impulse and has not been evaluated.
- O ka poe e ole hālāwai ai me nā mamo a Tlaloc, e haawi mai i kou hanu i Tlaloc!
- Those who do not meet with the children of Tlaloc, give your breath to Tlaloc! - translated Mikoto.
Hmm. But I suspected that trick will not work. Well, at least he tried.
- jump, friends, - noting that one of our security guards once again made a threatening movement with a spear, as if to push me in the back, I decided to go himself. In the end, less chance to break his legs, and prepare for the emergence of something else, too, need.
I went down first, me jumped Donny and gave his hand to Marissa, who, despite the fact that she was dressed in slacks, designed for cycling, and less tightness in his movements, as in ordinary clothes, yet remained a woman, and on the ground, removing nearly three meters down staring with some caution.
- The child should at least regret bastards.
But no, it is obvious that Mikoto, in representation of local, was old enough to fight or die. Hesitated on the edge, baby got a solid jab in the back and flew into the ditch upside down. I barely had time to catch him, and he thus fell to the ground, stumbling on his own leg.
Climbing up, I felt a sharp pain in the ankle and realized that to fully rely on the foot can not, when you try to transfer her weight felt a sharp, almost unbearable pain. Well so out of place it!
- Only on this was not enough - Donnie immediately drew attention to the fact, as I wince and desperately limp. - not to break even? And the medicine in a backpack, and it took away ...
- Yes, like no, not even a sprain. Bruising just - I moved the leg, which moved quite freely, although in this case well hurt.
A loud clank and rattle metal distract us from contemplation of my injured leg. Abruptly turning on the spot, I felt my self-confidence to cope with any danger, which only can we meet, is fading away. Behind his back he heard a noisy sigh of Donny and strange sound that issued Marissa - whether nervous laugh, or sob. Mikoto, who stood huddled close to me, silently stood, becoming almost a stone statue.
Named Sherlock Page 84