Named Sherlock

by Bagatur Zhamkochyan

  Standing at the top, on the edge of the native gladiatorial arena, I do not really looked into it the device was somehow not up to it. So now it was a big surprise to see how far away from us in the end, along the wall of the floor moved, opening the rectangular dips. Black remained motionless for no longer than a brief fraction of a second to them, after which exploded, istorgnuv from his insides gleaming metal body!

  Assuming that these children will be reminded of Tlaloc Joey, I was wrong, ever. General, they had only one thing - they certainly were mechanical. But if Joey did a person in harmony with oneself and with the world around him, these monsters were clearly insane creation mechanics hands, and insane in the original sense of the word, that is absolutely lunatic.

  Mechanisms were three, and all, without exception, one by their appearance were able to get off the field, even a man of battle, quite bold, in other circumstances. Getting out of their holes, they did not attack and froze motionless on their edge, allowing us to consider all the details.

  After another second so scared we gnashing repeated, and dips again closed by metal plates, which preferred to their seats. Now it would be quite a bit to sprinkle sand, and their existence could only guess.

  His head suddenly flashed the thought that the same could happen to people if they so quickly fallen from such heights of development? Immediately rejecting it as inappropriate, I began looking at the creatures still standing motionless and shows no signs of life.

  The first beast, the only one that could be considered even close skolkonibud Joey was kakimto eerie hybrid of a rat and a crocodile. Or maybe not at all the rats, but the long tail articulate forced to think it about it. But the flat, earless chump, cut in half a huge toothy mouth, just do not connect at the back, was obviously from reptiles. Like a cold, unblinking stare tiny black eye. And let me say a thousand times that these are tools, and they can not experience emotions, and even more to show them, but Joey's eyes was love and devotion, and the dim light of a cold calm ruthless killer. And, incidentally, this beast was the whole of all, having all four paws, and only slightly dented and scratched body.

  The second thing was eerie likeness of a spider, while having a couple of absolutely terrible claws, which gave him the look of a praying mantis.

  - Save the Creator! - Marissa kept her eyes from that creature, and trembling voice told that the girl is really very scared. Iron, in my view, the lady turned out to be very afraid of insects, and most of them - the spiders, and a creation embodied the worst of her nightmares.

  Trying not to be distracted by emotion, I studied children Tlaloc was both opponents, trying to see their weaknesses. And if krokokrys, as I mentally called, was in pretty good condition, the spider lives and years thoroughly battered by depriving it of one of the legs, and eyes, which originally was set like this spider, and only two . And now he stayed at all the only one that has created a huge blind spot, and was supposed to help us in the battle. It remains only to wisely use that knowledge.

  - Spider left blind - I whispered, trying not particularly moving his lips.

  - I see. And that - the tail? Think poisonous or so for beauty? - just trying not to attract too much attention Donny asked.

  I must say, at this point one just hit me with his composure. Knowing his soft, gentle character and inability to stand up for himself as a child, I could not expect that Donnie will behave coolly, calmly analyzing the enemy's capabilities. Moreover, he noted feature, which I did not pay attention. True, I was a little to justify the point that from the place where there was Donny, he had the opportunity to see not only the enemy head-on, like me, but a little on the side. However, she looked more closely, I also noticed the tail is now rolled into a tight ring, topped with a sting, a palm-sized adult.

  - I think, if not poisonous, pierce - will not find Although I am more afraid of man.

  Here I am with Donnie certainly would not argue - "man," as he called him, and scared me. And not just scared, but directly to tremble at the knees.

  This creature, unlike the others, was obviously humanoid type. I can not say whether it was a copy of the person, rather resembling a monkey body proportions, given the long and almost reach the ground, hands.

  Unlike other opponents which have stood still and do not reduce us to ravnodushnoholodnyh views, "man" rhythmically swaying back and forth like a pendulum full of nightmare, and his eyes burned with the fire of hatred and outright absolute madness. The long and slender forelegs, which he rested on the ground, sitting on the bent back, the two curves were clamped blade, resembling a slightly reduced scimitars.

  Face it, in this case, it was a human, with a perfectly regular features, and in other circumstances, when he saw him, for example, shown in the picture, I would have stopped, struck by the beauty of this perfect. Immediately, this beauty only added to the horror of his appearance, combined with a strange hump creepy, sunken chest and twisted to such an extent, practical crippled legs that resembled the fact that they are not completely straightened.

  All this, coupled with the frantic swinging, created such an aura of otherworldly fear that I felt a stirring of hair on his head.

  - This is the most dangerous, focus on it!

  And here, a weapon in the hands of our enemy reminded me of what worth thinking much earlier. Weapons! It was just me and Marissa.

  Quickly bent down and I pulled due to the tops of the knife and threw it Donny. Mikoto also had to give a piece of obsidian, which is its sharp edge thickness could well argue with a steel knife. True, the pen he had to keep it was not very comfortable, but I hope we can keep the creatures away from the boy, and he did not have to use their weapons.

  - Stay back, do not go forward! - I have not tried to speak in a whisper, intuition almost screamed that all will votvot, after a moment. And she was not mistaken.

  The time that was allocated to us for understanding and intimidation is over and the priest shouted, practically squealed, a short phrase. And then frozen before us creature began to move.

  First he moved from place hybrid rats and crocodiles. It is absurd to even get by going through funny short legs, but at the same time moving quickly enough, the monster began to come to us in a wide arc, hugging the wall of the arena, as if afraid to move away from her. With a huge mouth, but with no one gripping limb, he was previously assessed me as the easiest target.

  I hope we get as quickly as possible to cope with it, as the other two, it seems to me, make sweat.

  - Spread - I shouted to his soldiers, too close, in my opinion, to keep together.

  Marissa, holding the knife in his right hand, his eyes fixed on the approaching monster, rebounded from Donnie kakimto feline movements. For a split second, forgetting about the impending danger, I admired her lungs kakimito weightless movements startled the confidence with which she held the knife, looking now as corny as it may sound, the real continuation of her hands.

  Mikoto, grasping his impromptu blade, too, did not look frightened child - despite his age, he certainly could have given a huge head start us with Donnie and the knife fight in which we all have been clumsy, and just in the ability to survive a battle with the enemy , obviously stronger than himself.

  I spun the drum, and took aim at fast approaching creature. Eh! Cartridges, that is, the arrows, not enough ... not thinking about anything else, pulled the trigger!

  Bamm! Metal bell, resounded immediately after the shooting, saying that I certainly was. That's just no visible damage is not caused, and mechanical rat did not reduce speed.

  - Joey, go ahead! Toss!

  Dog, a split second huddled hoisted in the air like a rocket. With all his weight, he attacked the enemy, knocking it on the dirty sand of the arena. Remembering that left a total of three seconds of stupefaction, as I pulled forward, that is forces, spit on acute pain, which again lumbago ankle.

  At the moment when I saw that my shot proved inconclusive, I noticed another koechto - housing plate on the side of the monsters were not just cr
umpled and scratched, as I thought initially. At one point, I noticed a small tear, through which could be seen frantically rotating gears.

  And what could be a devastating piece of metal, which carries the wedge and to hell working mechanism? Not allowing yourself to be distracted by a vague motion to the right, I put the muzzle almost in the very insides lay on his side and legs convulsively twitching monster, and once again fired.

  Bamm! At this time, the ringing was louder, somehow more cheerful, and was accompanied by a scattering of accompanying and tinkling clang. Lying creature, and not try to raise desperately scored legs, a huge toothy maw klatsnul several times, slammed with a terrible, guillotine sound. Only it is not frightened, bursting sound gear and tears spring to my ears sounded real music.

  Is this all, and we can handle the rest as easy?

  - Sherlock! - a desperate cry Donnie snatched me from the second prostration, and without thinking, I rolled to the side. At the same moment the knife in his hand swinging "man" wasted through the air. Bounced off "krokokrysa" no more signs of life, I focused on the new enemy.

  And I realized that not in vain considered his most dangerous. I confess - insisting that I wanted to fight on their own, I was counting on his amulet to "splinter dragon heart" that would make any mechanism indifferent to my person. And if it worked with the rat, it is not torn kill me, this creature, showing complete indifference to the action of the amulet, blazed open hatred. It burned in his mad eyes, broke into a strange, twitching, kakihto convulsive movements.

  - Keep it close, mister! It's a demon, he will devour your soul! - Mikoto's voice sounded hysterical. The boy, despite his combat experience little conqueror of the jungle, was scared to death. I confess, too, was afraid.

  In advance in anticipation of failure, I shot into a hideous creature. The arrow flew to the target, in this I had no doubt. The distance between us was less than four meters, however, the creature made a rapid leap to the side and easily led astray, trembled in a paroxysm of gloating, mocking laughter. Smooth, handsome face did not change expression, but I saw it outright mockery.

  Well, this is also the experience. I did not cause damage, but realized that the enemy too fast and hit him at that distance is practically impossible, you have to shoot at close range.

  Having made one unsuccessful attack, the creature has begun to slowly get us to the right, moving poluprisyade, kakimito ridiculous jumps. Hands freely hanging along the body and almost hurt the earth blades clamped in their knives, made rhythmic, wave-like motion, hypnotising his uniform.

  And when, distracted by these repetitive movements, I just slowed down, hands shot out from under the body, turning like a sparkling metallic ribbons, stretching a distance unthinkable for ordinary human hands. And if not for Mikoto, who, with a much better response, just pulled me back by his jacket, making recoil a step, I'm afraid I would have to lie on the sand with his throat cut.

  - Very fast! Keep close!

  Yeah. Death passed very close, showering me bad breath. Joy, as if feeling some political uncertainty, if not - the fear, clung to my leg, not trying to attack the enemy. However, I am not in a hurry to leave him in a fight and decided to reserve to a critical point.

  And again, like the first time, after an unsuccessful attack creature he was in no hurry with the new attack, preferring to circle around the arena, watching me with his frightening look mad.

  Moving in a circle to always keep before the eyes of the enemy, I could not help but notice how things are going sadly Donny Marissa. Arachnid mechanism distortions and limping, ignoring me, just pulled it to him. And now, friends hudobedno fought back from him only by the virtuoso knife Marissa, and the absence of eyes at the very creature that allowed them moving into the blind area, occasionally scratching the body, unable to inflict serious damage skolkonibud.

  Realizing that the mechanical strength and endurance being many times more, could be no doubt, in whose favor will end this conflict, given that on your sleeve shirts Donnie has blurred the bloodstain, and after the fight has just begun. Armed with knives, friends almost nothing could oppose powerful claws that looked quite capable of bite the hand.

  Now, if there is a second deprive the eyes ... Yes, just get close to him with a knife and stay alive at the same time - it is impossible.

  At this point, my opponent, finally, went back on the attack. This time I was ready for it, and immediately, avoiding a split second hesitation, jumped back. Again shot up rukilenty flexible as hoses, though completely devoid of joints, back in the face of the blade flashed brilliance!

  - I repeat, my friend! - flashed the idea coincided exactly with the moment of the shot.

  The creature jerked, trying to escape, but only a motion vector directed toward me, stopped her to move fast enough, and the arrow hit the target. But I do not go where I was planning to. Considering that the most vulnerable point in her are thin, flexible, weak-looking hand, I hoped, if not shoot, then at least enough damage to one of them, which would greatly facilitate the further fight.

  But it happened, too bad. Stuck like in a half-flattened, limited mobility in the knee joint, my brass arrow finally jammed it, and the creature, obeying the force of inertia, fell to the ground in the direction of their breakthrough.

  - Joey, go ahead!

  Dog pulled to lying on the ground essentially ignoring curling in the air, like the tentacles of an octopus, hands, his teeth either shoulder, or in the throat. There was nasty grinding metal.

  I was ready to finish off the creature, but Marissa's voice suddenly a ringing alarm bell made me internally chilled and forget about your goal.

  - Donnie, no! Oh, God, no!

  Turning, I saw a terrible picture - Donny squeezed the waist claw mechanical spider, hanging in the air, his head hanging on his chest, or is unconscious, or being dead. The second claw creature has entered threateningly over his head stationary.

  Realizing that it is not time to take a step, I threw up a crossbow and fired, aiming at a small, triangular head creature.

  - You are welcome! You are welcome! - I do not know to which of the gods of this world came the my silent prayer, but I was just in the remaining eye nasty spider, and he helplessly raising both claws in the air and releasing the victim suddenly whirled area kakomto mad blind waltz.

  Marissa sank to her knees and bent over Donny.

  - He's alive, alive!

  Not afford to relax for a second, just mentally breath, I turned to his creatures, ready to make the final shot.

  He did not need.

  I do not know how they managed to do it for those five or six seconds, I looked the other way, but it was all over. Arms around each other, like the best of friends, lying on the ground motionless, my faithful friend Joey and terrible, crazy creature, evil creature cursed god Tlaloc.

  Joy had stopped, the last effort to his jaw, bite, and separating from the body of the creature its deadly hand. Second hand being helplessly leaning, lying on the sand. The knife fell from opened his fingers. Mechanically absolutely noting man's hand, I realized that I could not take my eyes off the black as if painted in a shiny casing holes ... No! From wounds fatal wounds on the body of my friend, my faithful companion, Joey.

  - Sherlock, help!

  - Sorry, Joey, - I turned and ran toward Marissa, who tried unsuccessfully to raise Donnie, all covered with his blood and his.

  Friend has not regained consciousness, and on strong blood loss tells his white, with a blue face. Immediately tore into strips all available to us clothes, including my shirt, jacket and partially torn to pieces by cycling trousers Marissa, we have built a tight bandage, which is due to bleeding from a chipped shoulder bone was stopped. However, if not urgently provide full medical care, Donnie dies, in this there was no doubt.

  But we won, did not you?

  - Hey, you're the top! - I looked up, addressing the audience, who sat quietly, motionless as a statue, like being in a trance kakomto. - lets us, we passed the test!


  I was expecting a transfer, but Mikoto silent. Silent and Marissa, just a couple of seconds before softly whispering something Donnie, whose head was resting on her lap. Sensing something was wrong, I slowly turned away from the crowd.

  In the center of the arena, no longer helpless and threateningly raising his claws, there was a huge spider. He was again quite boesposoben, and lack of vision, it seems, did not stop. On his back, waving his only surviving hand, he sat "man", and spark of madness in his eyes seemed to burn even brighter, more dazzling.

  Already nothing on hoping, I stepped forward.

  Chapter 19

  That all was over, I noticed at once. Frankly, I was going to die. Knowing how hard and at what price could not even kill him, just a little hurt this evil thing, I did not expect to win.

  But step back, knowing that behind him is wounded, perhaps dying friend, I could not. And Joey's death must not be in vain.

  Because I blindly went ahead, forgetting that I have in the hands of ranged weapons, and you can not approach close to the enemy. I read a lot about how anger hinders in combat, and that is always, even in the most critical moment it is important to keep cool, but now ... It was as if a veil of madness enveloped everything, and I am like a rabid animal, does not recognize the arguments of reason and logic, wanting teeth to tear the enemy, giving vent to his anger.

  Therefore, in the first seconds I did not even feel the efforts of Marissa and Mikoto, unsuccessfully trying to hold me in place. Completely filled with his desire to kill, I did not realize what was happening, just noticed that all of a sudden it became more difficult to move forward. Then, through the dead silence that enveloped me like a dome, we began to break through their distant shouts.

  - Sherlock! Stop, stop, please! Everything is over!

  What is she saying? What's over? Here he is an enemy, I see him, he's alive. Brazen stands and grins, tossing in surviving hand a knife. I took another step forward, the voices fell silent again.