- Sherlock! You need Donnie!
Donnie? Before his eyes suddenly flashed the image of a bloodied each other, and I immediately came to his senses.
- Sherlock, look! Everything is over! Can you hear me?
- Sir, we won! Time! Time is over!
Time? What other time ...
A few more seconds, I stood, transfixed, still understanding nothing, but is no longer trying to break out of the hold my hand. Gradually stunning passed and began to look to celebrate the details.
Creature, creepy mechanical drider parody of the old fantasy novels, frozen, staring straight in front of him dead, expressionless eyes. Yes, but I did not deceive him - in these fixed eyes, I saw the gleam of the fire of insanity, which was burning fiercely just a couple of minutes ago.
But it seems that idea really came to an end. On the basalt rim of the arena rose the most native, thanks to which we got a chance to avoid the sacrificial altar. The man held out his hand and said a short phrase, after which the audience sitting on the platform suddenly hurried from their seats and, after a couple of minutes, next to us there was only himself, a priest and a few hunters armed with spears.
At the same moment came again a terrible gnashing of metal. Jumped up in surprise at the site, I turned to his enemy, regretting that looked away from him even for a moment. But, as it turned out, it was not an attack.
Again moved the metal panels and the creature disappeared under the arena, and not divided, parting gave me a close, the memory view.
I also will not forget you.
I had to take a deep breath several times, so as not to succumb to the desire to take off after him. Only now I realized that it really was over.
Glancing at the trampled, sometimes bloodied sand arena, I paused for a moment on the motionless body of Joy, which seemed to me a little, miserable, as though faded. Swallowing suddenly appeared in her throat, I resolutely strode toward Marissa, not paying any attention to the natives, silently watching us from above.
- How is he?
- I do not know ... - Marissa's voice suddenly so broken and weak, amazed me. It was evident that the girl, who grew up in filthy slums that can equally well depict languid aristocrat and pull the purse from an unsuspecting rotozeev now mortally afraid.
- Mikoto, help! - you can not lose another minute.
I turned to the audience.
I do not know if we got after this battle full of special status, but after the request voiced by me and translated Mikoto, backpacks Donny and Marissa were born and silently dropped into the hole after a couple of minutes.
I did not want to waste time digging into the content in the flickering light of the torches that surround the arena, so shook all right on the sand, especially not stand on ceremony. The latter on a pile of things had the desired box.
Not knowing how to properly use a miracle cure, I filled a bottle completely in half-open mouth friend other - right across the dressing poured on the wound.
It took only a few seconds, and Donny grunted, arched, rolled over, coughed painfully, frantically gasping for air.
Grabbing shakes in a hoarse cough other's shoulders, I supported him as long as he does not again leaned on his knees Marissa, have breathed smoothly and quietly, and as if even a little face turning pink.
- Ke hō'ike nei ma! E ku ma ke alo o na keiki Tlaloc! - again, his voice already familiar to me native.
- What else do they want from us? - I turned to Mikoto.
- He says that we have passed the test.
Before I could say anything to the boy before the man again began to explain something to him. This time, their dialogue lasted long enough, Mikoto is constantly being refined and asked again.
I managed to get to Gioia body, make sure that it is really no signs of life and come back to him in her arms.
- Sir, you need to go after them - Mikoto finished their negotiations, and now turned to me. - You will be allocated to God, and he will have to decide our fate.
- And you? Wait, what it means - I would be taken? Tell him that without you I'm not going anywhere!
- No, sir. You go alone. We are not touched. While this will not solve itself Tlaloc. He - the boy nodded to carefully listen to our conversation native - had promised that we would be considered vaytukku until Tlaloc itself determines our destiny. Up to this point we have not hurt anybody, they will give us food and singled home. But you have to go with them right now, and for us not to worry.
- And you? Maybe you go with me? How am I going to talk to this Tlaloc without you?
- No, sir. You have to go alone. And if it's a real god, he will understand you and you understand it. God always speaks the right language.
Disarmed this argument, I helplessly looked at Marissa. She smiled weakly at me and nodded. Donny, still lying on the ground with his eyes closed, now more like a wake than the dying.
- And if you do not go, my lord, they kill us for sure.
I glanced at the patiently waiting vaytukku and bumped into the priest's eyes burning with hatred. Trying to think only about what I have to, I silently turned away from him and went to the temple.
Raising proved not so easy as it seemed at first. And if in the first seconds after the fight, I gave strength and enthusiasm had been boiled blood adrenaline, then by the middle of the road, I fully feel and severity Joy body, which did not let go of, and the coolness of the stone ramp, which proved to be polished and before the slick in between notches that seemed oiled.
Once again, stumbled and had difficulty maintaining balance, I again came across a malevolent look and a waiting priest, whom he bored me back, standing at the foot. Well, I went on a date with a Tlaloc, and that with this minister of religion would become just push me down.
- Oh, no, you will not wait - I overcame the two-thirds of the way and was not going to give up.
I really wanted to throw the torch, which was now more than a load and more disturbed as bright, it is not such as to Londinium, the stars gave enough light. But he had come inside the temple. So they had to go to an additional risk, not being able to properly balance on a narrow ramp.
On the platform, which is crowned by the temple, I went with great relief and after a second, almost flew down, stepping on something round, turned inside out from under his feet with a dry thud. Ball? Coconut?
Lowering the torch down, I realized with horror that the round object that rolled and stopped a meter away from me, other than the human skull. One of many that framed area, forming a parapet improvised approximately meter width and height.
Site itself was large enough, five by five meters or so. In addition to the terrible frame, my attention was immediately attracted two things. Square section tunnel in its very center, and a strange structure made of bent, twisted girders and crumpled, sometimes cracked, concave and flat brass disc.
Purpose of this building remained a mystery to me until, until I noticed that all the wheels have been carefully polished and partially covered kakimto likeness of varnish and fixed so as to allow free rotation along the axis running through the center. All this has led me to believe that this ancient kakayato lighting system, designed to deliver sunlight down into the depths of the temple.
Similar drives attached to the vertical walls of the tunnel, only confirmed my guess.
Remembering lights on top of the temple, that I spotted when only came out of the rock of the crypt in the valley, I could not help smiling. It turned out that the sun is shining, reflecting in one of these old lenses, and not a huge diamond, which I then imagined himself.
Slowly moving along the folded out of the skulls of the parapet, I almost fell in suddenly arising under the feet of the rectangular cut-out of another narrow tunnel, which is at a steep angle kudato went down into the depths of the pyramid. Obviously, it was the entrance to the temple.
Lowering the torch as deeply as possible into the gaping hole, I saw that the passage, gently reflecting the dim light smooth basalt walls, turns left three
meters. In any case, other roads inside was not, except for the central shaft. But the desire to jump from a height tridtsatimetrovoy I did not have any idea.
Frankly - step into this narrow, almost the width of my shoulders hole was scary. Gaining courage, the last time I looked at the site, only now drawing attention to the fact that the terrible construction, as it turned out, had not been completed. The last series ended abruptly just near me, and a skull in it have not been secured. Realizing that this is not "things of bygone days", and takes place here and now, I felt like back in horror ran goose.
- I'm sorry ... I'm sorry.
I do not know what I was asking for forgiveness from those people, because I'm not in the slightest degree was not to blame for their deaths. But for some reason, after these words, it became easier and gained confidence in their abilities, but from the terrible walls like a breath of warmth.
My eyes drew one of the skulls, which seemed to be a little stand out from the total number was as though a little lighter, brighter. For a moment it seemed that the wave of support and encouragement comes from him. Realizing that this is just a fantasy, I, however, said: "Thank you", and then turned and strode resolutely into the darkness.
As it turned out, boasting a naked basalt surface could only the first three meters of a narrow corridor, as soon as I turned the corner, how to open the same terrible picture - from the floor to the low ceiling the walls were lined with human skulls. For a moment, it seemed to him that his appearance, I called their dissatisfaction, because, almost feeling his back condemning the views, hastened to pass on.
I'm coming down on the eerie tunnel, feeling prevailing madness creeping around me, trying to run their slippery tentacles right into your soul. The idea that thousands of people have found their harrowing end to the sacrificial altar a crazy priest, and after his death became just another brick in the wall of this terrible, did not give me rest.
I threw the torch in his left hand, ignoring the fact that, because of Joey, was forced to press it too close to the face and now constantly felt the heat of the fire cheek.
Right hand, now free, I touched the wall. Dead bone was warm and rough, and it seemed like a thousand eyes followed me. In the oppressive silence, somewhere on the edge of perception, I suddenly heard a quiet chorus of voices who wished me good luck. I was not afraid of revenge of the dead, although it allows the appearance of ghosts in this world. I'm really almost to tears was sorry for these poor people who deserve such a horrible end only what was once caught on the road vaytukku. And for what? Well, soon I'll find out.
Suddenly, from touching to the next skull like a weak discharge current passed through the fingertips and instantly obscured review the system message:
- Congratulations! Quest: "Mystic Journey" is made.
- Reward: 35000 experience (5000/40000), the continuation of the quest chain.
- gained a level!
- Stage 10 (available for distribution characteristics - 1)
- The limit of!
Running diagonally message, I immediately turned to him, along with the next, and on which is not looked.
Well, it turned out that the parents of Sherlock really went that way and turned into yet another brick in the wall of terror. Now that I knew exactly where to look, he saw that the two skulls, located so close to each other, that touch the temporal bone, stand out from the total number of weak, almost imperceptible glow.
Uncle? It turns out there at the top, before the descent, it was he? but most likely, given that the parents of the missing five years earlier.
How long have I stood in one place, absorbed in itself - I do not know. The sad discovery suddenly inspired by the idea of the inevitability of death, which had never occurred to me. Looking at the empty eye sockets, staring into eternity, I suddenly realized that my real parents did was once I leave. And it suddenly seemed the worst nightmare of all that could happen to me.
How are they? Why do I find this photo? Whether it is connected with kakimito trouble in their real lives?
- If you want to find out, it is necessary to go down a little deeper - voice suddenly resounded in my head, made me start and almost dropped the torch.
And Mikoto was right ... As he's said? God always speaks the right language? Well, still, if he speaks directly in your own head. Well, I think, this god not much time left for him to enjoy interrupted lives and shed blood. Most likely, it will be worth it, and my own, but I just can not do otherwise.
Pausing for a few seconds in anticipation of the continuation, but it and not waiting, I strongly moved down, no longer stopping and staying focused on anything.
Two more inclined segment, rotation, and I froze in front of a dark rectangular opening. Torch light, though, and penetrates only a couple of meters, I have not met any obstacles. This indicated that the front is not just another corridor, and kakayato room. Obviously, this was the end point of all my travels.
A brief second, stumbling over the threshold, I strongly stepped inside.
The room, which opened my eyes, the least fit to be a dwelling place of God, rather more like a variety of metal waste dump. Piles of twisted junk filled every corner of the small room, snout space of a few square meters remained only at the entrance.
About a minute later I turned my head in confusion. No, not that I expected, not this.
Remembering the ritual in the square, I imagined the classic surroundings of a pagan temple - the barbaric luxury, fire, piles of gold, strange mysterious symbols, blood and naked slave in chains ...
Although, with the slaves, perhaps too much, this is not a fairy tale.
- How often the truth is different from our ideas about it, do not you, my friend? - smooth voice has not broken the silence around the dusty, as was heard again in my mind.
Without answering, I carefully put in a cleared area floor body Gioia, ran his hand over his head, mentally saying goodbye to a faithful friend, he took a bow and shifted comfortably interchangeable drums.
On second thought was that the desire for revenge - not the right feeling, and if you remember all that I have read, most often Avengers, no matter how noble their impulses, themselves, in the end, turned into villains. But thousands of broken lives, seemed to cry to me, and I call for help all his determination, he was going to search the mechanical debris.
Before you begin to search, once again I looked around the room, hoping to see something that is not noticed immediately. But, as I looked, there was nothing that could ever recall chemto mechanical god, as I represented among environmental devastation. Perhaps my earlier assumption that no Tlaloc long gone, true, and I really can not find anything here? But, then, whose words I have heard?
Suddenly surfaced unpleasant thought, and I, shaking his head, tried to discard it immediately. But she, like not going to go anywhere, and again reminded me what to call people who are guided by strange voices, once started to sound in their heads.
- Oh, no, do not wait! - I was hoping that my voice sounded strongly, but noticed in the timbre of uncertainty and fear. Angry, I put a torch in the holder, found on one of the walls and began to search.
Methodically and carefully, I began to rake the piles of copper and brass stuff. At other times, I would love to try to find out from some ancient mechanism remains certain parts, sometimes very finely crafted, decorated with intricate carvings. But now there was no time, the mysterious quiet timer chirped in his pocket, counting the seconds, the fate of friends who have remained outside was unknown - all customized me no worse than a whip.
After seeing the torch to the next, the most lit corners, nothing like a mechanical human figure, or at least I have not found a torso. Discarding kick fell under the foot rest of a semicircular kakogoto Corps, I went to the biggest pile, unfortunately, is located in the semi-darkness.
Bent double, to have at least some political can see what lay in front of his nose, I started to dig.
- Turn around! He's back! - voice suddenly resounded in my head,
was no longer so calm and quiet. He demanded instant obedience. I turned and raised his gun before the time to understand what is happening. And, as it turned out, in time.
Since thereby a curved blade, which he stabbed a man at the altar, I was quickly swept Munduk priest or, as he called Mikoto. Obviously, his plan was not to allow my communication with Tlaloc.
Wham! Wham! Wham! I managed to fire three times, until I realized that the arrows simply bounce off with the ringing of a copper breastplate, in which he was obrjazhaja. Fortunately, every shot slowed the enemy, and after the last one, and all stopped for a split second.
Do not hesitate, even not particularly aiming for, I picked up the outstretched right arm just above, and fired twice more. And at the same moment he was knocked down a man whose weight exceeded my at least twice.
With a sweep flopped on the floor, right on the scrap heap, immediately I felt like my back digging into kakieto sharp pieces of iron, I, nevertheless, even in the fall had noticed how huge dagger falls out suddenly weakened the hands of the priest.
Have I got?
Pull their socks up, I rolled off himself motionless body and jumped. Looking into the face of his enemy, for a moment felt his throat drove nausea.
Both arrows stuck almost in the same place - in the right eye men, having gone into almost the entire length. Obviously, death was instantaneous.
- I was lucky. Tvoito victims suffer longer - an impulse, I raised his foot to kick a dead body, but then lost them. - It remains only to find your host.
- Oh, those ungrateful people! Only they can be expected of this - I'm saving his life, and he, moreover, that kicks me with his foot as rubbish, so also is going to kill!
Kicks? Come on, can not be!
I walked over to the discarded me so casually rounded object, calmly stepping over a body lying on the road. Kickbacks, he turned to the other side, and I realized that this is not nothing but a headache. Brass, was once polished to a high gloss coated complex ligature patterns, and now crumpled, iztsarapannaya, savagely, "meat" torn from the body mechanical jaguar head.
Named Sherlock Page 86