making this up.» Mara asked for the tenth time that day
.
– No way! Come to my place now, and I’ll show you this
sword.» You have to believe me, it’s true!
Lina was very afraid that Mara would not want to support her
she hoped that her friend would advise her on what to do, that
from now on it would not be her, but their concern. I really wanted
to share a strange problem with someone-someone who
really believes and will help me do the right thing.
At Lina’s house, they went up to her room, and the girl
crawled under the bed.
She pulled out a dusty boot box and opened the lid. Mara sat down on the floor in front
of the box and took out a bundle.
«Careful, it’s very sharp!» Li-
na warned. «Let me help you!» she began to unroll
the sheet-wrapped object.
A silver sword flashed in front of them, its edges
reflecting everything around them. Mara took it by the hilt. Her intelligent
eyes carefully examined
the find with a penetrating gaze.
He and Lina had been friends since first grade. They both
studied well and got along well, trusted each other with
their secrets, and even called themselves sisters. In the
last year, Mara prepared hard with her parents ' encouragement
By the time she was ready to enter the language institute, Lina
had a hard time growing up and slowed down her studies. All this
led to the fact that they began to see each other less often, and
they had fewer topics for talking. Still, ask any of them
if asked who her best friend was, they would not hesitate to name
each other.
– Have you figured out what to do with it yet?» Mara asked
.
52
– No, I just started to come
to myself and calmed down a little after all these adventures, —
Lina answered and added: – And what would you do?
Mara, who always reasoned sensibly, answered:
– I think we should take it to the church – " she said, and
put the sword back in the box. – Since it was lost, as you
say, by a real angel, it is logical to assume
that there he can easily find it and take it away, and
there are also his assistants – priests who can give it
to him… well, at least they probably
know better what is wrong with it to do.
«Great idea! Lina beamed with joy and hugged
her friend, who hugged her back.
Lina was especially pleased when she said «we». It
meant a lot, and Lina silently thanked her
for it. After wrapping the sword back in the sheet and stuffing the bundle
into their backpack, the girls headed for the center of town.
The church was completely silent and there wasn’t a soul in sight. Soft
,warm light streamed in from the windows. It smelled of wax and wood.
They walked along the benches to the altar and looked at the painted walls.
the figures of the saints raised their heads, looking at the high
carved arches of the cathedral. Wooden angels hovered there,
and painted skies decorated the ceilings —
Lina and Mara felt so small and inconspicuous in this huge room
…
A man in a black robe came out of a side door. He
was middle-aged, with a curly white beard that reached almost
to his chest, and a round belly that heaved with every
loud exhalation.
«I’m sorry, please! Lina asked him. —
We need your help!
– What, what is it? «What is it?» he asked anxiously.
– We really need to talk to the priest, this
is very serious!
«He pointed with his palm at the first row of benches:
53
– Have a seat, what’s your emergency?»
Lina sat down
next to him, and Mara sat down in the second row next to them.
In her story, Lina decided to omit the first part
about demons, so as not to shock an adult
and not immediately create the impression of a madwoman. She
only talked about the angel and how she had found his sword, and
now she asked for advice on what to do. How do I return this
probably very important item to its owner? She even once-
she returned the bundle and showed the sword to the priest. He listened
in silence, nodding frequently, swaying his body back and forth,
and refused to pick it up. When Lina
finished speaking, he nodded again, stroking his beard, and answered:
– I’ll tell you what, my daughter, whatever happens» – he held up a
finger – " I think the angel
gave it to you for a reason.
He sighed and continued —
«We have an image here. Come on, I’ll show you.» —
He got up heavily and walked slowly along the benches
to the opposite wall.
At the end of the room, in a recess, stood
a human-sized wooden statue of an angel, painted with paint – the
work of a master, a true work of art.
«Here,» said the priest. – I think that you should
pray and tell God about all the issues that
concern you. And I am sure that sooner or later you will get
answers to them. I’ll leave you to it. If anything, come back again,
do not hesitate. I’m here almost always.
When the priest had gone, Mara touched the statue.
– You’ve seen this one?“ – What is it? „she asked.
– No, not really… In general, of course, it looks similar, but that
one was in pure white, and this one in blue… and the wings are different…
that one was much bigger and not as straight… I don’t know,
it