>The Labyrinth of Inter-Time
Juriy Tashkinov
© Juriy Tashkinov, 2024
ISBN 978-5-0062-2850-4
Создано в интеллектуальной издательской системе Ridero
Part 1. The Mystery of the Order of the Vernikov
Chapter 1. The world behind the mountain
A lonely mountain broke away from a huge mountain range reaching to the very horizon. The seemingly endless blue sea eagerly caught the reflections of the tired sun, which was trying with its last strength not to drown.
– How long can you endure! – the girl shouted, breaking away from the guy’s embrace.
– Well, go! – he said, trying not to show emotions, so as not to escalate the already tense situation. Although everything was boiling inside. – Is someone holding you?
She sobbed a couple of times and walked away, muttering something under her breath. And he, without turning around, walked in the other direction.
They came here to mend relationships that were falling apart at the seams like an old shirt. But you can’t make a broken vase new. It seemed like this was the end.
He walked a little more, and one could already see the last reflections of the dying Sun on the surface of the sea. He always dreamed of watching the sunset at sea. And finally, the romantic’s dream came true, but did this make my soul warmer?
He lit a cigarette to drown the ghost of a lost feeling in tobacco smoke. And then he took out a flask to drink some bitter whiskey. And don’t care about the Highway Patrol. Today he can do anything!
– Dorian! – he heard the echo of a well-known voice. Former grievances immediately evaporated, and he rushed to the side where his beloved’s voice came from.
Twenty steps. Two hundred. Five hundred.
– Angel! – he shouted, and the mountains echoed him with a long echo. – Angel, where are you?
Only an echo was the answer.
He stopped only for a few seconds to catch his breath, and then began to run further. When he had no more strength, he shouted again:
– Angel!
And again silence.
– Angel, my love! Where are you?
How often do we realize that we have lost a loved one when he is no longer around.
Dorian looked around and realized: something was wrong! It seems like the same mountain, the same sea on the horizon. The air is not like that at all. Oh yes! How could he not notice right away: the sun was on the other side. He didn’t remember the night at all, but during his run the evening gave way to morning, and somewhere behind the mountain the first rays of sunshine flickered.
He rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn’t dreaming.
– At least I’ll take a swim in the sea!
He had to walk for quite a long time: he never found the car. Angel probably left without even saying goodbye. Dorian stripped naked, because there was no one to be shy in this wilderness, and rushed into the cool water. It was his first time at sea. And for the first time I saw such crystal clear water!
– We need to buy a house on the beach.
What clean air, there is no familiar smog that was a constant companion of megacities. Having got out of the water, the guy lay down on a stone to dry off. And then he pulled on his trousers. He wrapped the shirt around his waist, because the sun was already starting to get hot.
An unfamiliar sound was heard nearby, and Dorian walked in its direction. Behind a small ledge stood… He didn’t immediately remember the name of this creature. Locker? Curl? Oh yes, a horse. I once saw these in Cinema. But this is an almost extinct species! Where does the horse come from here? They say there are no more than a hundred of them left, and they live in the Reserve.
There was a bag nearby. He opened it, seeing a lot of food items. Ah, that’s what was missing for so many hours!
The dried lamb filled my empty stomach with a pleasant lump. But it’s real lamb! Not the usual meat substitute, but a completely natural product! The last time he ate meat was as a child, while his father worked as a Guardian. They had direct supply of first-class products. Dorian was envied by everyone in the class when he brought a fresh apple, and not jam from a tube, like everyone else, or a raw potato, and not custard mashed potatoes made from starch. But then my father was taken away, accused of participating in a conspiracy.
He continued to lie there, reminiscing about old times when something cold pressed against his neck. A tall young albino stood next to him, his sword pressed to Dorian’s throat.
– Thief! What do you need here? How long have you been spying on me? Who sent you? – the stranger’s eyes glowed with anger and irritation.
– Nobody sent me! I came myself. Is this your place?
– You lie next to my horse, faithful Dolt, eat my food, and dare to say that you ended up here by accident? I haven’t believed in coincidences for a long time! Speak! Who are you?
– My name is Dorian. And you?
– As if you don’t know yourself! – said the stranger.
– Nobody sent me! How many times should I tell you? Calm down, guy! Let’s put down your weapon and we can talk in a peaceful atmosphere. I have some whiskey, we can drink to meet you. And I’ll pay for your food, if necessary. Don’t be so angry about it.
The albino lowered his sword and sat down on a stone.
– Sorry if I offended you in any way. I have no one to trust, life disappoints people. Call me White Wolf,» with these words he extended his hand. Dorian shook it hesitantly.
– A wolf? What a strange name?
«I took this name for myself when a white wolf saved me from a pack of fellow tribesmen. You know that it is better not to reveal your real name to anyone, so that demons and magicians do not take over your mind.
Dorian glanced sideways at the stranger’s sword, so he did not make comments about «demons and magicians.» Fate sends him strange friends after all!
The wolf rummaged in the bag and took out an apple. Then he pulled out another one.
– Will you? – he handed the fruit to Dorian.
They sat like that for a while in silence and chewed the delicacy.
– Where are you going? – the albino interrupted the silence.
– We need to go home, to Stelton. I just don’t know how to get there! The girl took the car, and the wallet was in the glove compartment. You’ll have to hitchhike.
– Are you seriously from Stelton?! – the stranger rose to his feet, again pointing his sword at Dorian. – I told you that you are a spy! How did you know the name of my hometown? Who sent you?
– Will you ever calm down! You need to treat your paranoia, White Wolf. What spies!
– A person from my hometown couldn’t be here!
– Yes, the world is not a small place, but you should never rule out the possibility that fellow countrymen can meet a couple of thousand miles from their home!
– I haven’t been home for more than ten years. Ever since I came into this world.
– You know, by your appearance we can say that you came into this world more than twenty years ago. And not like all the children, but that the aliens forgot about you when they left the planet!
– How long have you been here?
– Here – at the sea? Or how long ago did you «come into this world»? I’m twenty-five, if that, and I came into this world at birth!
– It looks like you’ve been here quite recently.