On unknown paths, step 2 into the void. On unknown paths

Anya Sokol

On unknown paths

Step into the void

Without reason

Once again I stepped into the circle and once again came back. When an invisible furnace is blazing hot in your face, and your throat is constricted by the flow of hot air, whether you like it or not, you retreat. There was no way to overcome the invisible boundary unceremoniously: the more effort, the hotter the air and the stronger the recoil. Instincts screamed that we should not just leave, but run away. The healer's protective spell suddenly became very actively protective, not letting anyone into the house, reflecting your strength, the more you wanted to enter, the more it fought back.

What’s going on, oh, oh,” the grandmother wrung her hands once again.

Can you do anything? - I barked, not paying attention to her efforts.

Of course, you don’t interfere in family affairs, I remember. - The words were full of sarcasm, I was still angry with him because of the Granins and could not help myself.

The Guardian disappeared into thin air. It was stupid to call him at all; it was more out of despair and helplessness.

There was no one in front of the house except my grandmother and me. Actually, I would have been quietly lying on the sofa with a book if Marya Nikolaevna, returning from her daily promenade, had not seen Konstantin bursting into the house towards the “crocodile face” shouting: “The end of you, creature!” The grandmother rushed to me for help, of course.

I had already been trying for ten minutes to penetrate the suddenly aggressive protective spells that surrounded the squat white house with an invisible red-hot circle. Grandma was great at wringing her hands as a support group. The neighbors tactfully retreated to their homes, preferring to eavesdrop on the family quarrel from a greater distance and with greater comfort.

I walked a little further and again tried to get closer to the house, deep down naively hoping that this is where the spell would give way. Two steps: one towards the line, the other beyond it - the air became hot, my throat burned, not allowing me to take a breath, and I retreated. Again.

There was the sound of breaking glass. And a scream. Bitter, furious, doomed. And, without a doubt, female. I rushed there. Shards of glass fell like sharp icicles onto the withering grass.

Oh, Mother of God, heavenly intercessor... - Grandma, not lagging behind, was baptized right as she walked.

Nooo! - Pashka’s piercing cry flew away into the gloomy autumn sky, making us forget about caution.

I rushed to the door. The hot air stood like an impenetrable wall, it seemed that one more tiny step inside would boil you alive. Back. Yavid no longer screamed, but howled so hard that the hair on her head stood on end. I rushed again. And I didn’t even immediately realize that this time nothing was holding me back. The magic has disappeared, the air is dry and cool. I flew up onto the porch and jerked the door open. There is no time to think that I am, in essence, no one against the healer, a bug against a titan - it will crush me and not notice. Sometimes there are moments when you don’t think, but act; as a rule, they become the best or worst episodes of your life. Walls, windows, doors flashed by, but I knew where to look for them and ran straight there. I stumbled into the bedroom with the grace and noise of a hippopotamus. And the more irrational the picture that appeared before my eyes turned out to be.

Over the past few days, there has been even more dirt and scraps, not to mention the smell, a pile of rags that used to be either clothes or bed linen, on the floor there are broken boards with fragments of porcelain instead of a table with dishes. The breeze stirs a dirty piece of curtain that has either been torn or chewed. The headboard of the new bed was broken, causing the mattress to skew to one side. On the former bed of love sat former lovers, now parents. Thick-walled fragments of a malachite egg lay at their feet, and on their hands, curled into tight rings, glistening with wet black-green scales, lay a small snake with clawed hands.

“Congratulations,” I blurted out randomly between hoarse inhalations and exhalations.

Konstantin raised his head madly, clearly wondering where I had come from, the man’s left eyelid twitched convulsively. For some reason, green eyes focused on my hands, and I was surprised to realize that I was squeezing the handle of a hunting knife in my palm, and with the correct straight grip. Nikolai Yuryevich would be pleased, it’s not in vain that he drills movements into me, trying to record them at the level of reflexes, until today I thought that without success, and on you, I grabbed a weapon subconsciously, without noticing it myself. However, this is not the right time to be proud of yourself.

This is a baby snake,” Pashka, unlike the black healer, was completely happy, although incredibly dirty, “give him a name!” - she demanded from the shuddered Konstantin.

It seems that for the first time I understood the black healer, moreover, I even sympathized and felt a little sorry for him.

Let him be Never, - a man was found, - let him not believe anyone or anything. You do not mind?

Pashka snorted happily.

May I congratulate you? - Alexy entered the room.

This is not how I am used to seeing him: not with glowing golden pupils, not with an elegant pattern on the skin very reminiscent of Khokhloma painting curls, not with amazing fiery wings behind his back.

As the head of the Yukov family of non-humans, I welcome a new kinsman, a new presence. - He leaned towards the little snake. - Make us proud of you!

“He will,” Pashka nodded.

Have you already chosen your husband? - asked the phoenix.

Well, well,” the yavi drawled, the gaze of her copper eyes with double pupils ran around our picturesque group, passed the silent and thoughtful “happy father” waiting for the nonhuman’s answer, and stopped at me, or rather, at the sparkling blade that I was sheathing . - Olga, will you do us the honor?

Uh-uh,” it was my turn to squeeze out vague sounds.

Of course, it will,” Alexy answered cheerfully, “she knows that refusal is an insult to the family that cannot be washed away even with blood.”

I agree,” I was so hasty with my answer that I started to stutter.

That’s great,” the phoenix hugged me by the shoulders and pulled me towards the exit, “congratulations again.”

The new parents continued to look at the small scaly creature in their arms, and I cannot begin to describe the expression on the black healer’s face.

A grandmother was hovering at the front door, curiosity was about to overcome fear.

Alive? - asked Marya Nikolaevna, trying to see at least something behind our backs.

Yes. - Alexy took me out onto the porch and closed the door, to her great disappointment.

Not a trace remained of the nonhuman’s good mood. The eyes went dark, the pattern faded and disappeared into the skin, thin feathers began to fall off the wings - flashes and burn right in the air.

“What an angel of God,” said Marya Nikolaevna and bowed to the waist.

I admit that you didn’t know, because this information is not advertised, but for the future, in order to avoid today’s unrest, know,” Alexy raised his index finger, becoming like a strict teacher, and the class in my and grandma’s face listened to him with unflagging attention, “ a cub of a race of non-humans will hatch only if its father breaks its egg, and not just breaks it, but hits it with all his might, wanting to kill, splashing out all the anger that has accumulated on its mother.

So she pestered him on purpose? - I was amazed.

Certainly. Otherwise, why would she push the sorcerer to the extreme and risk her life? - He shrugged his shoulders, as if we did not understand the obvious. - Patient man Konstantin, I didn’t even expect it, just a week ago they were waiting for the baby snake. I remember, on the contrary, I killed my first-born three days ahead of schedule, I couldn’t stand it, he was young and bad. With the second, it will be more difficult when you already know what is expected of you, and you can’t get angry properly, and without this, without a sincere desire “to let this egg fail,” nothing will come of it. The shell is stronger than stone, and only the pure hatred of the closest creature, the one who gave you life, can crack it. - Alexy pursed his lips, looked somewhere into the distance and, without saying another word, came down from the porch, raised his collar and walked down the street.

My grandmother and I looked after him with great sadness. I don’t know how she is, but I didn’t feel very good.

We left the village early in the morning, two days later, when the first frosts had already frozen the ground at night. Pashka carried Never on his back in a special backpack. The baby snake slept most of the way; once I caught the attentive gaze of his light green eyes, like those of a healer. I tried not to look anymore, although I understood how stupid it was.

How much will I have to “care” for the child? - I asked the question that was tormenting me.

Strongly! - Pashka answered cheerfully. - Become a second mother. “I must have turned pale, because she laughed and added: “Inferior!” Your cowardice will one day get to me. Are you able to hold a child in your arms for ten minutes at the dedication?

1
Without reason

Once again I stepped into the circle and once again came back. When an invisible furnace is blazing hot in your face, and your throat is constricted by the flow of hot air, whether you like it or not, you retreat. There was no way to overcome the invisible boundary unceremoniously: the more effort, the hotter the air and the stronger the recoil. Instincts screamed that we should not just leave, but run away. The healer's protective spell suddenly became very actively protective, not letting anyone into the house, reflecting your strength, the more you wanted to enter, the more it fought back.

“What’s going on, oh, oh,” the grandmother wrung her hands once again.

-Can you do anything? – I barked, not paying attention to her efforts.

- Of course, you don’t interfere in family affairs, I remember. – The words were full of sarcasm, I was still angry with him because of the Granins and could not help myself.

The Guardian disappeared into thin air. It was stupid to call him at all; it was more out of despair and helplessness.

There was no one in front of the house except my grandmother and me. Actually, I would have been quietly lying on the sofa with a book if Marya Nikolaevna, returning from her daily promenade, had not seen Konstantin bursting into the house towards the “crocodile face” shouting: “The end of you, creature!” The grandmother rushed to me for help, of course.

I had already been trying for ten minutes to penetrate the suddenly aggressive protective spells that surrounded the squat white house with an invisible red-hot circle. Grandma was great at wringing her hands as a support group. The neighbors tactfully retreated to their homes, preferring to eavesdrop on the family quarrel from a greater distance and with greater comfort.

I walked a little further and again tried to get closer to the house, deep down naively hoping that this is where the spell would give way. Two steps: one towards the line, the other beyond it - the air became hot, my throat burned, not allowing me to take a breath, and I retreated. Again.

There was the sound of breaking glass. And a scream. Bitter, furious, doomed. And, without a doubt, female. I rushed there. Shards of glass fell like sharp icicles onto the withering grass.

“Oh, Mother of God, heavenly intercessor...” Grandma, not lagging behind, crossed herself as she walked.

- Nooo! – Pashka’s piercing cry flew away into the gloomy autumn sky, making us forget about caution.

I rushed to the door. The hot air stood like an impenetrable wall, it seemed that one more tiny step inside would boil me alive. Back. Yavid no longer screamed, but howled so hard that the hair on her head stood on end. I rushed again. And I didn’t even immediately realize that this time nothing was holding me back. The magic has disappeared, the air is dry and cool. I flew up onto the porch and jerked the door open. There is no time to think that I am, in essence, no one against the healer, a bug against a titan - it will crush me and not notice. Sometimes there are moments when you don’t think, but act; as a rule, they become the best or worst episodes of your life. Walls, windows, doors flashed by, but I knew where to look for them and ran straight there. I stumbled into the bedroom with the grace and noise of a hippopotamus. And the more irrational the picture that appeared before my eyes turned out to be.

Over the past few days, there was even more dirt and scraps, not to mention the smell, a pile of rags that used to be either clothes or bed linen, on the floor there were broken boards with fragments of porcelain instead of a table with dishes. The breeze stirs a dirty piece of curtain that has either been torn or chewed. The headboard of the new bed was broken, causing the mattress to skew to one side. On the former bed of love sat former lovers, now parents. Thick-walled fragments of a malachite egg lay at their feet, and on their hands, curled into tight rings, glistening with wet black-green scales, lay a small snake with clawed hands.

“Congratulations,” I blurted out randomly between hoarse inhalations and exhalations.

Konstantin raised his head madly, clearly wondering where I had come from, the man’s left eyelid twitched convulsively. For some reason, green eyes focused on my hands, and I was surprised to realize that I was squeezing the handle of a hunting knife in my palm, and with the correct straight grip. Nikolai Yuryevich would be pleased, it’s not in vain that he drills movements into me, trying to record them at the level of reflexes, until today I thought that without success, and on you, I grabbed a weapon subconsciously, without noticing it myself. However, this is not the right time to be proud of yourself.

“This is a baby snake,” Pashka, unlike the black healer, was completely happy, although incredibly dirty, “give him a name!” – she demanded from the shuddered Konstantin.

It seems that for the first time I understood the black healer, moreover, I even sympathized and felt a little sorry for him.

“Let Never be,” a man was found, “let him not believe anyone or anything.” You do not mind?

Pashka snorted happily.

- Can I congratulate you? – Alexy entered the room.

This is not how I am used to seeing him: not with glowing golden pupils, not with an elegant pattern on the skin very reminiscent of Khokhloma painting curls, not with amazing fiery wings behind his back.

– As the head of the Yukov family of non-humans, I welcome a new kinsman, a new presence. – He leaned towards the little snake. – Make us proud of you!

“He’ll force you,” Pashka nodded.

-Have you already chosen a leader? - asked the phoenix.

“Well, well,” the yavi drawled, the gaze of her copper eyes with a double pupil ran around our picturesque group, passed the silent and thoughtful “happy father” waiting for the nonhuman’s answer, and stopped at me, or rather, at the sparkling blade that I was putting away in sheath. - Olga, will you do us the honor?

“Uh-uh,” it was my turn to squeeze out vague sounds.

“Of course it will,” Alexy answered cheerfully, “she knows that refusal is an insult to the family that cannot be washed away even with blood.”

“I agree,” I was so hasty with my answer that I began to stutter.

“That’s great,” the phoenix hugged me by the shoulders and pulled me towards the exit, “congratulations again.”

The new parents continued to look at the small scaly creature in their arms, and I cannot begin to describe the expression on the black healer’s face.

A grandmother was hovering at the front door, curiosity was about to overcome fear.

- Alive? - asked Marya Nikolaevna, trying to see at least something behind our backs.

- Yes. – Alexy took me out onto the porch and closed the door, to her great disappointment.

Not a trace remained of the nonhuman’s good mood. The eyes went dark, the pattern faded and disappeared into the skin, thin feathers began to fall off the wings - flashes and burn right in the air.

“What an angel of God,” said Marya Nikolaevna and bowed from the waist.

“I admit that you didn’t know, because this information is not advertised, but for the future, in order to avoid today’s unrest, know,” Alexy raised his index finger, becoming like a strict teacher, and the class in my and grandma’s face listened to him with unflagging attention, - a cub of a race of non-humans will hatch only if its father breaks its egg, and not just breaks it, but hits it with all his might, wanting to kill, splashing out all the anger that has accumulated on its mother.

- So she pestered him on purpose? – I was amazed.

- Certainly. Otherwise, why would she push the sorcerer to the extreme and risk her life? “He shrugged, as if we didn’t understand the obvious. “Patient man Konstantin, I didn’t even expect it, just a week ago they were waiting for the baby snake. I remember, on the contrary, I killed my first-born three days ahead of schedule, I couldn’t stand it, he was young and bad. With the second, it will be more difficult when you already know what is expected of you, and you can’t get angry properly, and without this, without a sincere desire “to let this egg fail,” nothing will come of it. The shell is stronger than stone, and only the pure hatred of the closest creature, the one who gave you life, can crack it. – Alexy pursed his lips, looked somewhere into the distance and, without saying another word, went down from the porch, raised his collar and walked down the street.

My grandmother and I looked after him with great sadness. I don’t know how she is, but I didn’t feel very good.

We left the village early in the morning, two days later, when the first frosts had already frozen the ground at night. Pashka carried Never on his back in a special backpack. The baby snake slept most of the way; once I caught the attentive gaze of his light green eyes, like those of a healer. I tried not to look anymore, although I understood how stupid it was.

– How much will I have to “care” for the child? – I asked the question that was tormenting me.

- Strongly! – Pashka answered cheerfully. – Become a second mother. “I must have turned pale, because she laughed and added: “Inferior!” Your cowardice will get to me someday. Are you able to hold a child in your arms for ten minutes at the dedication?

- Well maybe.

- Glory to the lower ones! Don't act like that, these are moral obligations. And as you know, we have a hard time with this. What is not written in blood is not necessary to do. You will make an excellent lady, you won’t mind your own business, and I can do with Nevers whatever my darling wants.

For some reason, her words made me shiver and cast a guilty glance at the baby snake.

We left the dirt road and stopped. On the right hand of the stitch stretched a wonderful wasteland, perfectly suited to our plans, or rather, now, at the beginning of winter, there was bare, hard earth, occasionally covered with warts of dirty brown grass. In summer and spring it was a beautiful and vast meadow with lush grass, and behind it a lake that gave moisture to this land. In fact, most of our people walked from here to filii de terra, there is a lot of space for writing out spirals, and it’s a stone’s throw from Yukov. I’m not a fan of simple paths, but others don’t like to complicate things.

-What happened to the desire to slash someone in the filii de terra face? – I asked, watching as the snake went for the first circle. - Has it disappeared?

“I don’t believe it myself, but yes,” Yavid grinned, “at one time he didn’t want me to lay an egg.” Now let him look and envy, and I’ll give up the honor of slashing his mug to someone else. The land of children will let me in, don't worry.

“You know better,” I exhaled and followed.

The visit promised tempting prospects, and I categorically did not want to lose such a chance because Pashka did not take something into account. It would be stupid not to use this wonderful, and most importantly, completely legitimate excuse to see my daughter. Those who are happy are obliged to attend the dedication of the cub to higher and lower powers.

The land of children greeted us with the summer sun, a light breeze and the soothing sound of the green crowns of birch and linden trees. I took off my jacket, leaving myself in jeans and a cotton T-shirt, and lifted my head, exposing my face to the warm rays. From late autumn into eternal summer, where trees shed slightly faded leaves in order to immediately grow new ones, where rains are rare and pleasant, where the earth produces crops all year round, where our children live. Path to filii de terra revealed itself to us already on the second orbit, perhaps the presence of Nevers played a role here.

The buildings began immediately behind a narrow forest belt, through which one could see roofs littered with colorful spots of foliage, like an old blanket with patchwork patches. Children's laughter and bird call. Although the noisy companies looked at us, they did so without aggression, rather with curiosity. Here, on the right, near the wooden barracks building, three kids carefully turn away their faces so that we in no way understand how interested they are in strangers. I, on the contrary, peered into each one, my heart skipped a beat, as soon as I noticed a blond head in one company or another, and each time disappointment ran like a sharp blade through the nerves stretched like strings. Again, not her.

Pashka knew where she was going. Three houses in a row and a giant patch of bare earth behind them. They were waiting for us there. This morning this circle looked even more like a platform for holding a pioneer assembly, maybe it was all because of the crowd of people lined up in an even semicircle on the opposite side. Children and adults, students, teachers and mentors. Some, just like the real people, were holding assorted bundles in their arms, rocking strollers, adjusting carriers on their stomachs and backs. Frighteningly cute hands with even more frightening claws poked out of their vests and rompers, some raised their heads and moved the tassels on the tips of their ears, some cried, showing the world sharp fangs and forked tongues.

Pashka stood up from the right edge, nodding to her acquaintances as she walked and receiving in return the same polite nods and a couple of greetings. The steady noise of quiet conversations, sideways glances, strained smiles.

The day before, I looked at the short piece of official information that was posted on the open network. In short: dedication to the highest and lowest is a kind of analogue of christening, when a child is dedicated to the powers or gods, like among people. The initiation is held three times a year in three places significant for evil spirits: in the owner’s castle, in our case the Gray Citadel, in filii de terra and in the place where the very last, freshest and purest spring broke through. The latter, although not often, changed. Water was changeable, like the wind, it could come out into the world in any place and for any period of time, and after a couple of seasons, at the whim of the higher and lower, it could disappear. At the moment, such a place in the Northern Reaches was Hare Hill, where the next dedication was planned, in three months. What awaited us was a less pretentious ceremony, unlike the one held in the Gray Citadel, but a more traditional ceremony in the land of children. Well, we are not proud, dedication in the safest edge of eternal summer among children's voices and light laughter more than suited me, judging by the smile of the snake, so did she.

Shifting from foot to foot, I did not immediately notice that the noise began to subside, that the faces of those around me acquired that overly solemn expression, so characteristic of overly official events. I don’t know what signs others were guided by, but for me initiation began with slight discomfort, anxiety, which was not even immediately defined.

Something was coming. No, the earth did not tremble, the light did not dim, the sounds did not increase, but at the same time, everyone who was now standing next to me on a patch of bare earth knew it was coming. But if you asked what “it” is, I wouldn’t be able to answer clearly. There was a lingering feeling of an impending “something”. This is how the world becomes thinner, and where it is thin, the connection with those who created it, with those whom we are accustomed to call higher and lower, is strongest. The connection is a reminder that those who have the power to destroy everyone and everything have left and are not yet going to return, for which they are honored and praised.

Everyone froze. The circle of flat ground, on which not a single blade of grass grew, cracked with a dry sound, as if a branch had been broken in two. The bare earth was lined with faults. Not chaotic cracks that appear on dehydrated soil, but straight, clear stripes from one side of the circle to the other. There are many lines, as if drawn with a sharp stick. At first glance, the lines appeared haphazardly, overlapping each other and without order or purpose. To me they reminded me of a pattern sheet from a sewing magazine, with lines of varying thicknesses woven into a chaotic web, trapped in the confined space of a thin piece of paper. But it was worth taking a closer look, and it became clear: they could not be drawn in any other way. There was logic, although not obvious, but ephemeral, like the taste of something vaguely familiar, when it seems that in just a minute everything will become clear.

The cracking died down, and in the center of the intertwining lines appeared a short, fragile figure with flowing dark brown hair, wearing a vaguely familiar chunky knit sweater and jeans with trendy holes in the knee area. In the land of eternal summer there appeared someone who is not hot even on the hottest day, just as Efim is not cold in his tunic and cap even in the most severe frost.

Mila smiled, the bracelets on her wrists glowed with an elaborate inscription. Let them tell me what they want about the nature of the guardians, about their freezing on the border of life and death, I saw in the curve of the young girl’s lips the usual uncertainty and carefully hidden fear.

“The guardian’s first dedication,” the yavi whispered, unfastening her backpack and taking Nevers out of it.

Mila extended her palms in our direction, a gesture typical of magicians who want to show the audience that they do not have an ace up their sleeve.

I hesitated, vaguely imagining what was required of me, but Pashka had already thrust a groaning, moving bundle into my hands and shoved me with her elbow so that I had to step forward involuntarily. Together with me, a dozen and a half people stepped into the interweaving of lines; anguished crying flew over the lined ground; some of the initiates were not happy with what was happening.

The guardian's arms raised and her head fell back. The girl froze in this strange, appealing pose and began to sing. It did not look like the recitative of a spell, nor the sincerity of a conspiracy. Not a scream, not a groan, not a laugh, but all together. A call that sounded like music. A thin young voice called to the departed high and low, begged and bribed, everyone who heard it was ready to follow him to the ends of the earth and beyond. A piercing song of the soul that touches the very heart, to which it is impossible not to respond. And they responded. Praise be to them, not to themselves. Only their shadows, only a reminder of past greatness.

The lines lit up, responding to the light from her bracelets. Hundreds of small rays made their way from under the ground, illuminating the cracks from the inside. Inopportunely, the thought came that all this was very reminiscent of a disco - dance floor, light music and an overly creative DJ. The little snake liked it too. The heavy and hard bundle began to move, the thin scaly tail, having gained freedom, swayed from side to side a couple of times and suddenly, bending, grabbed my wrist. The scales were so cold that I shuddered. The edge of the diaper shifted and large diamond-shaped eyes stared at me. I held the bundle at outstretched arms, and anyone looking at me from the outside would have said that I was doing this for the first time in my life, the movements were so awkward and uncertain. This was not entirely true. I could not afford intimacy with this child. It was an inhuman, albeit a small one.

The guardian's song ended on a high note that flew into the sunny sky. Everything froze. The light shining through the lines went out. The silence hit the ears like a hammer, and even the little one who categorically disagreed with being dedicated fell silent. A string began to tremble inside, a very familiar sensation, it seemed like we had stepped on a transition. But this time it was the other way around: Mila, with her song, invited part of an alien world here, and timelessness began to pour out from the cracks under our feet. The fog completely hid my feet. From its white mess rose shadows, slanting, grotesquely ugly, stunted. They did nothing: did not move, did not rush towards the human figures, the outlines of which were blurred. The shadows lined up, like us, in an even semicircle opposite the keeper.

My breathing became unsteady, and I didn’t even notice how I instinctively raised Nevers higher, just in case. A guttural cry, that Mila, whom I knew for only a short time, could not extricate such a sound from herself. The keeper of the filii de terra is another matter. Having received the command, the shadows raised something like hands to the sky. The girl clenched her fists, shaking them in the air. The shadows lengthened, as if the sun had suddenly decided to fall below the horizon. And they ceased to be shadows, ephemeral and intangible. The power of the highest and the lowest filled the darkness from which they are woven. Formidable force.

The hands of the nearest one, like gardening pikelets, swung towards the baby snake and touched me. The call of timelessness immediately pierced my head like a sharp thorn, making me want to drop everything and run into the saving darkness. The shadow-paw rose higher - towards the surprised scaly face. I looked around in panic. On the right, a woman of about fifty, or what looks like a woman of about fifty, a kind of grand dame, boldly held out a pink bundle forward, a blond tuft sticking out from a heap of blankets. The curved shadow immediately grabbed the light top of the head with crooked parodies of hands with such force, as if it were not a ghost in our world, but lived, felt, needed, was material. The child screamed, as piercingly and bitterly as children can when they are sincerely offended by a terrible, painful world. The first cry, which sounded like a signal, was followed by a second baby and a third. A young man a little further away impatiently shook the child in the lilac romper and, when he clicked his teeth in fear, he thrust it into the raking hands of the nearest shadow.

I looked at Nevers, he answered me with an equally frightened look and hiccuped loudly. Yes, he is a monster, but he has not yet eaten or bit anyone, and compared to my Alisa, he is pure and innocent. I pulled the squirming bundle towards me and stepped back.

“Olga,” Pashka’s voice came through the collective crying, and the tone was not at all approving.

I understood that I was doing everything wrong, but I did not have the strength to give up my child with my own hands.

A chill crept down my spine. I turned around, another shadow, on the other side, extended its hook-like fingers. From each line several shadows grew at once. They either lengthened or shrank, trembled and moved, resembling algae in the water column. The advantage is that they could not or did not want to completely leave the crack in the ground.

The rest of the kids were safely throwing tantrums in the claws of the shadows.

I knew that everyone in the circle and outside it was looking at me, perplexed. They judge and gloat.

- Don't be stupid! - Pashka again. – We need to finish the dedication.

That's great, let them finish it. I know what timelessness does to the mind; I don’t think that a recently born, or rather hatched, child should feel it too. Whether it’s the case with people, he sprinkled water, kissed a couple of pictures, put on a cross amulet - and that’s it!

I caught the guardian's gaze. A brief moment of recognition. I defiantly hugged Nevers to me. An unambiguous gesture. Mila closed her eyes, the girl’s face froze with sharp angular features. She made her decision. Me too. Hands with small palms, which until recently had just as clutched Igor to themselves as I did a baby snake, stretched out in my direction in a pointing, commanding gesture. The bracelets changed color from red to white. And together with her, this movement was repeated by all the shadows, all who did not have children. There were more initiates; our souls accounted for more than a dozen at once. Why such an honor?

The people from timelessness still remained in the cracks, remaining in their world, they stretched out in ours, lengthened to get to the goal that Mila was pointing at. Everything was obvious, shadows stood in a dense formation in front, people and non-humans were behind outside the circle, we had nowhere to go. I was able to delay the inevitable for a moment. Turning around, I covered the child, let them grab me first. Who knows, maybe this will be enough for them. A stupid hope, I knew it wouldn’t be enough, but I couldn’t help but hope. Crooked fingers ran through my back. Through. And they grabbed onto the baby snake. Two prizes for the price of one. Nevers screamed. The pain in his voice made me want to shrink into a ball, I felt his fear and despair. The bundle shook. The tail squeezed his wrist.

The children entered timelessness and I along with them.

The song stopped on the verge of audibility. The higher and lower came into our world through their shadows. And they took what was offered to them. And they retreated, dissolving in the now unbearably bright sun, dispersing the fog and returning clarity and color to the world. This time the silence was alive, with the rustling of the wind in the leaves, distant voices and the rustle of footsteps.

I straightened up. Nevers was still sobbing; large drops of tears, like peas, froze on the dark scales of his face. The lines under our feet remained, but they no longer connected the worlds. I ran my boot over the nearest one, erasing it, the usual pattern on the ground. It's all over. We are in filii de terra. And we are alive.

The latter is unlikely to last for long, since the creature jumped up to me, took the child with one hand, and with the other grabbed my hair and pulled it so hard that my gas went dark.

- What are you doing? – she hissed, her face was covered with scales, the reality threw off her human form.

- Let me go! Hurt!

“It must hurt, but that’s not enough,” Pashka pulled me close to her face, or rather, her muzzle, “you saw what the others were doing?” I saw it! You're not blind! Why is it so difficult to repeat? Tell? – The hand twitched, muscles rolled under the scaly skin.

And yet she restrained herself, closing her eyes for a moment and uttering a short growl, to my relief, she unclenched her fingers.

- What a fun dedication you have. “I staggered and rubbed the back of my head.

- Stop clowning around! - the yavi barked. – Stop separating yourself from others. Today, because of your pride and self-will, Nevers could be denied initiation. After this, the children are strangled in their cradles. Do you hear? If you don't change, one day I swear I will take your heart out, even if I have to regret it later. Stop living by your useless principles! It's time to decide whether you are with us or not.

I remember somewhere I’ve heard something similar before, with less expressiveness and more persuasiveness. She was interrupted by the little snake, the one from whom this was least expected. Never turned his dark head, blinked his large light green eyes, extended his hand towards me and snorted loudly. Pashka twitched. The little snake was already reaching with both hands. A smile, a priceless first joy, illuminated a funny little face.

- What? – Pashka gasped. -What did you do with him? – The voice broke into a squeal.

“She became happy,” answered the guardian who appeared next to her. – Instead of giving the child away, she protected him, covered him with herself, pleased for him. We have a real initiation here, a real initiate and a real joy, for the first time in many years. At my first ceremony. Thank you,” the girl turned to me, her eyes laughing, “thank you for everything.”

- My pleasure.

Never continued to stretch out his paws, and my hands were itching to take him. I didn’t even want to remember the recent alienation and distrust towards this creature. A child is like a child, prettier than many in our tili-mili-trend.

– What does true dedication mean? – Ivid growled, but it didn’t make the slightest impression on Mila. – What were the others doing here?

“Ask them,” the keeper shook her head, and her shiny hair scattered over her shoulders, “they came, handed over the children to the lower ones and are satisfied.” This makes no one feel hot or cold, only the children are upset. To dedicate means to know. Look at your son, he knows her. She and Olga don't have an ounce of blood in common, but they will never need their mother's amulet. He is dedicated, she is happy, they know each other. You have a person to whom you can fearlessly entrust the life of your son. This is dedication, a gift to you from the departed higher ones.

“No,” Pashka shook her head, “it’s impossible!” They would have known about this.

I couldn’t resist and touched the outstretched hand; my eyes immediately caught the black bruise encircling my wrist. Nevers snorted amusedly.

“No,” the keeper waved her hand, “they don’t even hear us.”

We looked back. Conversations, laughter, albeit strained in places, someone growled, someone rocked a child, someone moved from one family to another. The circle, empty until recently, was full of evil spirits, but none of them paid attention to us. No sidelong glances or whispers, as one might expect after what happened. We were invisible in the crowd.

“And you won’t tell anyone,” Mila touched our lips with her fingertips, and I felt a slight tingling, “you won’t be able to.” The sacrament of initiation remains a sacrament. For others, a beautiful and perhaps meaningful ritual.

Pashka wanted to ask something else, but we were interrupted, so much so that we never returned to this conversation.

A thin cry was heard from the green area behind us. A child’s voice, full of pain and horror, because it’s unlikely that anyone will be able to make such a sound if you’re not being cut into pieces. The keeper turned pale and immediately disappeared into the air.

- IN filii de terra the children are safe,” Pashka frowned, whose face brightened, the scales dissolved, giving way to smooth skin, the differences were forgotten, although the voice of the creature lacked confidence.

Before she had time to finish speaking, I was already running towards the green strip of variegated trees. One thought was racing through my head: I never found Alice.

A strip of mixed forest in filii de terra was a cross between wild thickets and a park. Well-groomed paths and chaotically growing trees, mown grass and quinoa thickets near the fence, beautifully decorated flower beds against the backdrop of poisonous hemlock.

The path readily fell under my feet, threatening to soon take me away from the land of children. Several other guests at Safety Island followed my example. Not everyone had excitement on their faces, more often than not there was anticipation. This meant one thing - blood had been shed somewhere nearby.

I passed the first row of trees, a copse consisting mainly of bushes and thin, fragile birches, and stopped at the edge of the clearing. Most curious people did not immediately understand whether their senses were deceiving them, because the impossible happened. Lying on a narrow path was a boy of about eight, bright copper hair, freckles on his round face, faded blue jeans cut to shorts, a wide T-shirt, black sneakers with white laces on his bare feet. And on top of all this there is blood, a lot of blood. The eyes are closed, the breathing is loud and convulsive. But the boy was breathing, despite the lacerations starting just below the collarbone on the right side and going down to the groin. I’m not a doctor, but even without one it’s clear that things are bad, my stomach has turned into a bloody mess.

One of those who came running before us tried to provide assistance to the wounded man, even if it consisted of a cursory examination and a lashing order, like a blow:

- Healer! Alive!

The man standing closest with a beer belly and hands with thin needles of nails licked his lips carnivorously, swallowed, but, to my relief, quickly walked towards the buildings. Meanwhile, a swarm of brilliant sparks fell from the fingers of the one bending over, enveloping the wounded man. He used magic. The edges of the wound turned silver, the flow of blood flowing out in sluggish spurts stopped.

Aliska came out into the clearing. Sensing my state, she raised her head and winked cheerfully. I really wanted to hug the fragile figure, but I was able to restrain myself, remembering how such a manifestation of feelings could be interpreted by evil spirits. Only as a weakness.

The man stood up, brushing off his knees, and his place was immediately taken by a pretty girl, not much older than my daughter in appearance.

- Must survive. – He looked around the clearing.

I met the eyes of my daughter's icy mentor, and he chose not to recognize me.

“How interesting,” said Pashka, who came up to us. Never was sitting in a backpack behind her and, judging by his eyes sticking together, he was going to get a good night’s sleep. A chain of scales crawled across my face. “Are you still alive, Ugrim?” What a shame.

Sasha stood at the edge of the abyss. She only had half a heartbeat left to take the final decisive step. Life was already over for her, she knew that for sure. And no one will suffer for it. “Disappear... Disappear... Never experience pain again...” The hand trembled, the phone flew down, and the girl leaned forward.

Hey, are you going to stand there long? - a voice came from behind her.

What? - Sasha looked around feverishly.

How long will you stand, I say? You are delaying the movement. - The impudent dark-haired guy crossed his arms over his chest. - Maybe I want it too... Come on faster!

What's faster? - Sasha got nervous. - There... there are a lot of places... go... admire the beauty... there... - She waved her hand along the cliff.

Yeah, don't make an idiot out of me! This is a place for void people. You see, there's a sign over there.

Whom?! What other sign? - Sasha looked at her feet.

Yes, that's it! “The guy came up and pointed to an arrow made of stones.

I don’t understand what kind of void creatures these are... - Sasha muttered, completely confused.

Wow! - the guy grinned, stood on the arrow and suddenly stepped off the cliff.

And... - Opening her mouth, Sasha froze.

The guy has disappeared! He didn’t fall, didn’t fly up, but simply disappeared, as if he had entered an invisible door. Having forgotten how to breathe, the girl stood and stared at the place where the impudent guy had just been. Only a few minutes later I woke up, carefully leaned towards the cliff, and looked down. Now for some reason she felt scared, she hurried to move away from the edge of the cliff. And yet, Sasha was tormented by the question: “Where did the guy go? And who are the void people?” She looked around briefly, as if afraid that someone would see her and think she was crazy, stood on the arrow and looked down again. There was an unpleasant feeling in my stomach.

“What if I take a step... What if... I crash? What if there are no void creatures? But... I..."

Torn by doubts, Sasha stood at the edge of the cliff for some time, then stepped aside and decided to wait, in case the guy returned.

The weather in the mountains changes very quickly. Only the sun was shining, and a moment later the wind rose, clouds rolled in... Realizing that she would get wet through and through if it rained, Sasha hurried to return to the base.

She came to the house quiet, thoughtful. She answered her friends’ questions calmly and even exchanged a few words with her ex-boyfriend. Now she somehow didn’t think about him at all. My thoughts were there, on the rock, with the strange “voidman”. He did not let her go that night and the next two days, while the rain poured.

Sasha was able to get to the rock only on the day of departure. She ran to the cliff, all out of breath, with her heart breaking into pieces, stood on the switch, looked around and said loudly:

Hey, come out!

The words seemed to fly away into emptiness. No answer, no hello, as they say. Feeling like an idiot, Sasha sighed and trudged back to the base.

Life is a strange thing. Sometimes it bends you so much that you want to die. And then suddenly he showers you with surprises and gifts, as if asking for forgiveness.

Sasha immediately liked the new acquaintance. Tall, dark-haired... Feelings overwhelmed the girl and carried her into a whirlpool of happy events. The year flew by in one breath. And so she goes to the mountains again, but this time with her beloved.

Wanting to show the groom places dear to her heart, Sasha brought him to that very cliff.

Did you know that if you give a gift to the mountain spirits, they will definitely fulfill your wish?

No, I did not know. But…

Sasha suddenly remembered that ill-fated day and the phone that had fallen out of her hands, the thoughts that were tearing through her head and the flickering desire: to never experience pain...

I believe in legends. - Vadim smiled and threw his backpack off his shoulder. - Let's give something to the mountain spirit. Make a wish.

It would be better if you did it. - Sasha also smiled, but thought to herself: “I’m already happy!”

Vadim took a white ribbon from his backpack, looked thoughtfully at the top of the mountain range and unclenched his fingers, trusting the gift to the wind. The ribbon smoothly rose into the air, bent like a snake, and flew down.

The young people stood at the edge of the cliff for a long time, admiring the beautiful views. Sasha’s thoughts were now bright and pure. Only just before leaving did she suddenly remember again about the “emptiness” and when Vadim offered her hand to help her go down the stones, she looked back. In the very place where the stone arrow was, a black-haired guy stood and crossed his arms over his chest, smiling.

"Thank you!" - Sasha said mentally.

Always happy to help! - answered the mountain spirit.

“So who are the Voidmen?”

Find the answer yourself,” the guy shouted and stepped into the void...

Sasha, why are you stuck there? - Vadim became worried.

She hurried to accept his help, and when she came down, she asked:

Have you ever heard of void dwellers?

No, what?

Well, I once heard a word... now I’m suffering...

Hmm... Let's go back to the base, look on the Internet, ask our friends. Let's find it together...

Or we’ll forget,” Sasha shook her head, suddenly clearly realizing who the mountain spirit called the void people.

On unknown paths. Step into the void Anya Sokol

(No ratings yet)

Title: On unknown paths. Step into the void

About the book “On Unknown Paths. Step into the void" Anya Sokol

Finding themselves in another world, people turn into magicians and dragons. At worst, they gain great strength and great self-esteem.
No one becomes a scavenger, eating corpses. Or maybe it’s not customary to talk about this?

But I, Olga Lesina, rarely follow the rules. I will tell you about a world where monsters live, and how scary someone whose life is more valuable than anything else can be.

On our website about books lifeinbooks.net you can download for free without registration or read online the book “On Unknown Paths. Step into the void" by Anya Sokol in epub, fb2, txt, rtf, pdf formats for iPad, iPhone, Android and Kindle. The book will give you a lot of pleasant moments and real pleasure from reading. You can buy the full version from our partner. Also, here you will find the latest news from the literary world, learn the biography of your favorite authors. For beginning writers, there is a separate section with useful tips and tricks, interesting articles, thanks to which you yourself can try your hand at literary crafts.

It seems that for the first time I understood the black healer, moreover, I even sympathized and felt a little sorry for him.

The path will be Never, - a man was found, - let him not believe anyone or anything. You do not mind?

Pashka snorted happily.

May I congratulate you? - Alexy entered the room.

This is not how I am used to seeing him: not with glowing golden pupils, not with an elegant pattern on the skin very reminiscent of Khokhloma painting curls, not with amazing fiery wings behind his back.

As the head of the Yukov family of non-humans, I welcome a new relative, a new one, - he leaned towards the baby snake. - Make us proud of you!

“He will,” Pashka nodded.

Have you already chosen the "rad"? - asked the phoenix.

“Well,” the yavi drawled, the gaze of her copper eyes with double pupils ran around our picturesque group, passed the silent and thoughtful “happy father” awaiting the nonhuman’s answer, and stopped at me, or rather, at the sparkling blade that I was sheathing, “Olga, will you do us the honor?

Uh, - it was my turn to squeeze out vague sounds.

Of course, it will,” Alexy answered cheerfully, “she knows that refusal is an insult to the family that cannot be washed away even with blood.”

I agree,” I was so hasty with my answer that I started to stutter.

That’s great,” the phoenix hugged me by the shoulders and pulled me towards the exit, “congratulations again.”

The new parents were still looking at the small scaly creature in their arms, and I can’t even begin to describe the expression on the black healer’s face.

A grandmother was hovering at the front door, curiosity was about to overcome fear.

Alive? - asked Marya Nikolaevna, trying to see at least something behind our backs.

Yes,” Alexia led me out onto the porch and closed the door, much to her disappointment.

Not a trace remained of the nonhuman’s good mood. The eyes went dark, the pattern faded and dissolved into the skin, thin feathers began to fall off the wings - flashes, and burn right in the air.

“What an angel of God,” said Marya Nikolaevna and bowed from the waist.

I admit that you didn’t know, because this information is not advertised, but for the future, in order to avoid today’s unrest, know,” Alexy raised his index finger, becoming like a strict teacher, and the class in my and grandma’s face listened to him with unflagging attention, “ a cub of a race of non-humans will hatch only if its father breaks its egg, and not just breaks it, but hits it with all his might, wanting to kill, splashing out all the anger that has accumulated on its mother.

So she pestered him on purpose? - I was amazed.

Certainly. Otherwise, why would she push the sorcerer to the extreme and risk her life? - He shrugged his shoulders, as if we did not understand the obvious. - Patient man Konstantin, I didn’t even expect it, just a week ago they were waiting for the baby snake. I remember, on the contrary, I killed my first-born three days ahead of schedule, I couldn’t resist, he was young and bad. With the second, it will be more difficult when you already know what is expected of you, and you can’t get angry properly, and without this, without a sincere desire “to let this egg fail,” nothing will come of it. The shell is stronger than stone, and only the pure hatred of the closest creature, the one who gave you life, can split it,” Alexy pursed his lips, looked somewhere into the distance and, without saying another word, descended from the porch, raised his collar and walked down the street. street.

My grandmother and I looked after him with great sadness. I don’t know how she is, but I didn’t feel very good.

We left the village early in the morning, two days later, when the first frosts had already frozen the ground at night. Pashka carried Never on his back in a special backpack on his back. The baby snake slept most of the way; once I caught the attentive gaze of his light green eyes, like those of a healer. I tried not to look anymore, although I understood how stupid it was.

How much will I have to “care” for the child? - I asked the question that was tormenting me.

Strongly! - Pashka answered cheerfully. “To become a second mother,” I must have turned pale, because she laughed and added, “inferior!” Your cowardice will one day get to me. Are you able to hold a child in your arms for ten minutes at the dedication?