A little trembling hands, I raised my head and set it upright to face him on a pile of rubble.
- Disappointed?
Before answering, I could not help thinking. When he came here in search of the culprit of what happened, I have not seen in this role no one else but bloody Tlaloc. Mad god who, in my opinion, had to sit on a mountain of skulls and eating the hearts of their victims, lying among the piles of garbage in the mechanical overgrown with dust and mud room, more like a prison cell. Was I disappointed? Rather confused.
Apparently, taking my silence for consent, the voice continued:
- However, I can understand you. Not all of us fails to meet expectations. I think before to satisfy his thirst for revenge, do you hear me? By the way, I can assure you that I am not the owner of the unfortunate.
Voice still rang in my head, and it was strange to associate it with this lifeless, mangled part of the mechanism, which now stood on a pile of others like her.
In fact, I was not sure that this piece of metal and is Tlaloc, I admit, not much would be surprised if it turned out that this is only a play designed to confuse me.
But, it was worth only a flicker in my head at the thought, as a mechanical head with a quiet clicking opened her eyes, and I saw his eyes, apparently cut from kakogoto gem, unless, of course, at a time when they were made, were not able to cook for glass.
- I hasten to dispel your doubts, it's really me - quiet, toneless voice that uttered head, sounded unpleasant, causing its timbre the real creeps.
There was also a dissonance that I saw opening beastly mouth full of teeth and heard the smooth and calm human voice. But those were just details. The most important was that spoke really head to doubt it was not necessary.
- Are you thinking you are reading?
- Not at all! - voice began to broadcast again only mentally. - You just do not know how to control their emotions, and your lack of confidence was simply written on his face.
Slowly, I began to feel anger. Yes! I will not hide, I came here with certain thoughts and specific mood, and making sure that the parents of Sherlock and his uncle really died, going primarily to punish the guilty, why would I not worth it.
For many telltale signs that the end of my journey has already accumulated a lot of indecent, I concluded that it was really all finals. And the purpose for which I was all the time - it is here and not somewhere else.
But this poor chip once a complex mechanism, not pulling on the role of the main villain in this story, so does this mean that it is not over yet? Or not as easy as it seemed initially?
- Oh, baby, are you ready to listen to my story? - this time his voice sounded blatant mockery.
I decided not to respond to his antics, threw his jacket on the floor and sat down at her. In his pocket rang timer, recalling the time. However, it was still a lot, too, at least, should have been enough for a story.
- I'm ready. And by the way, why the forgotten native god tiny tribe in the mountains, talking so wisely? Somehow it is unnatural - I'm not trying to hurt him on purpose, but it sounded insulting.
- God speaks to each in his language. And I, all the same God, even though this - it seemed to me, or in his words could be heard the bitterness? - So what, you're ready to listen to my story?
- Begin.
- So, the story began almost five hundred years ago, at least during this period, the witness whom I happened to be, I can report. I was created by the people, by the best masters of the tribe vaytukku, which were not subject to such wonders. And if you, my friend, did not run headlong from the crypt recently, I could see with my own eyes what a blessed time.
- I was claustrophobic - felt heat on his cheeks, I got angry. It is not enough that I was forced to blush full of ancient piece of copper.
- Oh, yes, I know how you people are not functional - it seemed to me, and his voice really sounded superiority?
And by the way, and how he knew about what was happening in the crypt? And in general, as it receives information about the world, being in this prison cell? Do not forget to ask.
Tlaloc, meanwhile, went on, apparently, completely immersed in the memories:
- People vaytukku at the time were really very strong, and if they were even for a fraction of warlike, could easily have seized the power far beyond the valley. But the tribe vaytukku people were masters, which did not appeal nor the strength, nor power, nor greed.
- They were familiar with the ancient art of making a living for the sake of comprehension which young masters perfected throughout his life. But given this ability is not everything, and often happened that in his old age, having spent years and years, the master could not comprehend it.
- And then, seeing that the ancient skill so capricious, and it becomes less and less people willing to give their lives for the sake of mastering them, the best adepts vaytukku tribe decided to create a god. God, the main desire and the only joy in life is service to the tribe. God, which they have decided to transfer their skills to create life. God, who has served, in turn, caused the death of their creators.
- So, they created me - the voice was silent for a few seconds as if reliving the events, or gather strength for future stories. Then, he continued:
- The first decade of my birth was a time of maximum development vaytukku culture. Together with my best creators and masters of the tribe, we are constantly working to improve the lives of people. Mechanical hunters drove themselves caught game, tiny mechanical monkey picking fruit by me invented cutters and loaders were built stone houses and this pyramid, which later became my crypt.
- Later? And what it was before?
- Oh, it was an observatory, my friend.
Obviously, my wide open in amazement eyes looked funny, as the voice clearly chuckled:
- Surprisingly, yes? And you thought there are always people bellies flogged?
- No, but ... The Observatory? It's ... Should be a lens, a telescope - I had once tried to imagine the vision of the picture.
- It was. There were a lot of things that are not davnymdavno. Do not forget how many years have passed. It was the time of the present prosperity. Yes, but in less than one generation, all began to collapse.
- People vaytukku, accustomed to live in fullness, not applying for this no forces completely forgotten not only the art of creating mechanisms, but also even more ancient - hunting and the cultivation of maize. For all of them have done the mechanical helpers that big set was created. And as long as they had enough - that there was no trouble. But the years have passed, and the situation began to change.
- Sunset began with the moment when the exhausted vein of native copper, which was only in these mountains. From this point on the production of new mechanisms it has become impossible. But be honest, the work was complete and that remains. Indeed, by the time when it happened, living masterovmehanikov was not, and had to do everything myself.
- You listen to, so it sounds like you do, and not a god, so kakayato servants - I could not resist one more antics.
Tlaloc about half a minute silence, then a sigh, said:
- You see, my friend. When I create, it was important to keep a delicate balance to the forces that they give me, it was enough to serve vaytukku people, but not enough to rule over them. In the end, this resulted in the fact that maybe I was not so much - I could set up mechanisms, but not the wave of the hand, and as heavy, hard work, as well as my creators. The only difference was that I was doing it faster and could work around the clock. But even that I did not have time to keep on top of vaytukku destiny stone rolling downhill rapidly.
- The next century all teeter on the edge, my arrangements, of which more and more rapidly reduced, while providing comfortable accommodation tribe, although it is not as well-fed and carefree. But, one day, there was one event that really marked the beginning of the end.
- One of the men vaytukku found near the village of a new plant, which had never seen before. Clearly, the seeds were brought outside the rece
ntly passed storm. I do not know why he decided to start to chew its leaves, but do it in a few minutes, suddenly I felt like the luckiest man in the world, and continued to have them for two hours. From this point on tribal life changed dramatically for the next two hundred years.
- If, before a terrible find vaytukku least remind people, now they have become virtually the plant. During this period, in addition to the production and processing of food on my shoulders fell the task of feeding, because those who tried grass at least once, can no longer think about anything else. For three generations, the number of inhabitants of the valley fell in four. I already do not have enough time to repair mechanisms, but now they need to and it was much less.
- Wait, - I interrupted again. - This is what is coming out, you - God. Your people in front of you turn into addicts, and you do not do anything, just to feed?
- Yes. Exactly. All the matter in the restrictions that were imposed on me to create. I can not impose its will on any one person people vaytukku is an immutable law. I can not resist the will of the people vaytukku person. But at the same time I have the will of its own and can dream of, as otherwise would be able to create life.
- I mean, you just could not do anything?
- That's right, my friend, that's right. People of my people want this kind of life and a death, and I could only watch helplessly.
- But how then did these skulls? Sacrifice? Why such a terrible fame outside the valley, if it was peacetime, is slowly dying breed?
- It started with the advent of the human valley because of the mountains. While the aliens had nothing to fear for his life. Vaytukku previously been friendly to strangers, and now do not pay attention to what was happening around them. But the rocks were really high and people outside were such a huge rarity that attracted interest even in misty grass brains.
- The man who came to the valley, was a great shaman. He knew how to make others see things that do not exist in reality, and could break the will of anyone. Attracted by the echoes of my strength, that felt far away, he came to the valley, hoping to find its source. And I found only a dying breed, and their mechanical sender, whom they called their god.
- Do not understand my destiny and at first saw only rival, the man tried to kill me because I'm the only one who did not submit to his will. And he succeeded.
- Yes, what are you for God, if you can break that easy!
- I can not cause harm to humans tribe vaytukku ...
- But that was a stranger, do not you?
- Before you try to kill me, he married a woman of the tribe vaytukku and became part of it. I could not lift a hand against him. He came at night with my own hammer and smashed me to pieces. What an irony! He threw me into the mine observatory from which I had once watched the distant stars, and standing on top of it, declared himself the new God vaytukku. And I could only lie there helplessly in the dust.
- But, as it turned out, my ministry vaytukku brought us closer together than I could have imagined. Once the mechanisms that were still able to move, on the orders of the stranger destroyed all Datura grass in the valley, vaytukku remembered me and flatly refused to recognize the stranger god. In all other respects it is easily subdued them, but in the matter of divinity, he had not managed to break them - God could just be me.
- Then was invented the legend of Tdadoke, which was so badly damaged in a battle with another god, who wanted to seize the valley, he could no longer take care of its people. And in order to restore his strength, we needed a victim, many victims.
- A victim could really force you back? - I could not resist the question, even though he knew his absurdity.
- Of course not. Victims needed him. Each death has added a modicum of power, very little woman, but it adds. In fact, this man very lucky that he met vaytukku. His strength would not be enough to then, to keep in subjection a number of ordinary people, but for those whose will is destroyed, it was quite enough.
- Now, all thoughts vaytukku were fixed on something in order to get as many victims as possible. After all, they were led to believe that only depends on how soon the deity returns. And the invader forces is quite enough for you to show them slowly recovering god, while the real Tlaloc was lying in a pile of trash.
- Although, I must say, one day in this ongoing nightmare seemed almost perfect. The fact that a couple of decades after its inception, the stranger started a stupid habit down to me, and for a long time to talk about how painfully dying next victim. Obviously, it gave him great pleasure, which is not surprising, because the smell of his madness was felt far and distorted people's minds and even things around him.
- And in a truly wonderful day, he climbed the pyramid. Then he kakimto miraculously stumbled and fell right into the central shaft with a thirty-meter height. By the way, if you'd like to be dug here in the far corner, he would have discovered what was left of it.
I shivered involuntarily, throwing a glance at the dark corner.
- But, as I understand it, this was not the end?
- Of course not. It would be too easy. He left a son, who gladly picked up the banner that fell from his father. Lacking father's forces, he demanded to increase the number of victims, and at the same time and decided to finish the former observatory on your taste. The first skull was he brought here.
- But, as it turned out, from snake eggs can hatch only a snake, so he did not have time to catch up with the forces of his father, as he was slaughtered in his sleep by his own son. Which, by the way, you and kill half an hour ago.
- Uh, - I looked at the roll in the side of the corpse. - So, I saved the tribe vaytukku?
- Do not flatter yourself, my friend. Yes, you helped them escape a little earlier, but now they are much more independent than they were fifty years ago. Rather, you saved those people who would be killed before vaytukku finally come out of the submission.
- Then I do not understand. Why I had to get in this place? After all, I was supposed to?
- You do not understand? Strange. It's amazing how being so inattentive and distracted, you even got here. You too believe in the reality of this world. This is your strength, but your weakness. Remember, boy, do you also have a job.
Already starting to realize that being that calls himself a god Tlaloc, not at all what it claims, I did not ask any questions. Just launched a system message that is never read back in the tunnel.
- to offer you the quest "Return wings of a bird."
- Terms quest - free of Tlaloc.
- Award - is absent.
- penalty failure - no.
- That's what I'm thinking? This is my goal? - voice as I tried not to keep yourself in the hands trembled.
- Yes, my friend, this is your goal. Not revenge, but help. Hammer behind you, on the right.
I turned around. A huge sledgehammer with almost a meter handle standing on the striker just behind my shoulder. I do not remember, that would have seen him before. It seems that this strange god there are still forces in the small miracles.
I gently moved the head on the hard floor.
- Goodbye.
Not waiting for an answer, he grabbed with both hands the heavy handle, swung and one clever finished earthly journey accident bogaraba Tlaloc.
- I hope you found my freedom.
Chapter 20
- No no no! Not this! Bring me back, now! - I'm almost deaf from the screaming. That's just looked like that I have no one heard.
Transparent cover gelkapsuly slid open and I jumped out of her like a cork out of a bottle. Stood for a few seconds, struggling with dizziness and nausea, then twisted his head in search of the delegation met.
The room was empty, all the other capsules were opened and abandoned. I looked around their eyes and went back to her, still not losing hope to get back. But dead Control Panel said that the door is shut, no way back.
Not yet fully realized the scale of the disaster, I darted around the room, checking all capsules at a time, do not even think about the fact that t
hey are, in theory, they should be set up to completely different worlds. To be honest, at that moment I seemed distracted, though he was not aware of this and.
I wanted to howl with despair, and by his own impotence! Why now, why ?! When in mortal danger of my friends, when they can, so that there is sure to be killed in the same second as soon discover the corpse of a priest and the wreckage of Tlaloc. Although the true fate of Tlaloc nobody guesses ... Damn! Yes, it makes no difference at all, they would be killed immediately and a priest!
What to do! I have to go back as soon as possible! Perhaps the outside, I'll find someone else who can help me!
The panel, which manages the front door was locked, and I felt that I was beginning to embrace the very real panic.
- I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. It was not as easy as I thought ...
I spun around. Voice came from the plastic screens, which separated from the rest of the capsule missZelda, the only girl among the participants of the marathon. How long has it been the same! As if at all in another life.
Infoekran on the wall lit up, and it appeared the image of man. For a moment I was sure that I see Proteus. But a moment later realized that it was a completely different person. Rather, the same, but looking completely different.
Even at the time of the first meeting Proteus struck me with his sick kakimto crushed views. He looked like a man who lives without hope, without joy - full of gray, though slightly erased. Now I watched a young, energetic, self-confident young man. Of course, it was interesting that the reason for such a change, but now I am worried about the problem is much more important.
- You see, a person losing a part of himself, often do not even notice, because with the emotions and feelings out the memory of them. And when once again finds, it turns out that it's much, much harder ...
- You can bring me back? - I was not configured for philosophical discussions and, therefore, do not hesitate, rather rudely interrupted.
Named Sherlock Page 87