at the door interrupted his thoughts.
«Come in,» he said.
Dinara entered the room. She had changed into simple home clothes and let her hair down. In the dimness of the room, her eyes seemed especially dark and deep.
«Can’t sleep?» she asked, sitting on the chair by the table.
«Too much information for one day,» Alexei replied, returning to the bed. «It all seems… unreal.»
«I know,» Dinara nodded. «Even for me, having grown up with these legends, everything that’s happening feels like a dream. Or a movie.»
«Do you really believe this story?» asked Alexei. «About a crystal with unusual properties?»
Dinara pondered before answering:
«I’m a historian. I was taught to rely on facts, on documents, on archaeological finds. But I also grew up here, among these mountains and legends.» She looked out the window at the starry sky. «There are things that science cannot yet explain. Especially here, at Issyk-Kul. The lake holds many secrets.» She turned to Alexei. «And you? Do you believe?»
Alexei touched the medallion under his shirt. It was warm again, almost alive to the touch.
«A week ago, I would have definitely said ’no,»» he answered honestly. «But now… after everything that’s happened… I don’t know. This medallion behaves strangely. And people are willing to kill for it. So there must be something to this story.»
Dinara nodded.
«That’s why we must find the crystal before Karabaev. If the legend is even partially true, in his hands, the «Key of Solomon’ could become a dangerous weapon.»
«Or the greatest blessing for humanity, if one believes in its healing properties,» Alexei remarked.
«It all depends on the person who possesses it,» said Dinara. «At least, that’s what the legend says.»
She rose, preparing to leave.
«We need to get some sleep. Tomorrow will be a difficult day.»
At the door, she stopped and turned back:
«I’m glad you’re here, Alexei. Despite all the dangers… I’m glad we’re together again. Good night.»
«Good night,» he replied, watching her leave.
After Dinara closed the door, Alexei sat motionless for some time. Then he took off the medallion and placed it on the table by the bed. The silver disc gleamed dully in the moonlight streaming through the window. The symbols on its surface seemed to form mysterious patterns that were impossible to read but somehow felt familiar, like a long-forgotten dream.
Tomorrow. Tomorrow they would set out in search of the secret that the medallion had guarded. A secret that could forever change their lives.
With this thought, Alexei went to bed. He dreamed of mountains, caves, a lake glowing from within with a bluish light. And the figure of a monk standing on the shore with outstretched hands, as if offering something or warning about something. The monk was saying something, but Alexei couldn’t make out his words. Only the medallion on the monk’s chest glowed, and this light was the only guide in the surrounding darkness.
Chapter 5: The First Loss
Twilight quickly gave way to impenetrable darkness. In Rustam’s house, everyone had long since gone to bed; only from a small window on the second floor did the faint light of a kerosene lamp filter through – Ermek was reviewing old maps of the area, trying to find the safest route to the caves.
Alexei awoke to the sensation that the medallion on his chest was vibrating. It didn’t feel like anything natural – the silver disc was pulsating as if trying to warn him. He sat up in bed and listened. Outside, silence reigned – no familiar chirping of crickets, no rustle of leaves. A strange, tense silence.
He rose silently and approached the window. Moonlight flooded the garden, transforming the apple trees into bizarre silver sculptures. At first glance, everything seemed calm, but intuition told him something was wrong.
At that moment, Alexei noticed movement by the fence – a shadow gliding between the trees. Then another, from the opposite side of the garden. They were moving deliberately, surrounding the house.
Without wasting a second, Alexei ran out of his room. In the hallway, he collided with Dinara.
«They’re here,» he whispered. «The house is surrounded.»
Fear flashed in her eyes, but she quickly composed herself.
«Wake Ermek,» she said. «I’ll warn grandfather.»
Alexei nodded and headed for Ermek’s room. But before he could take three steps, the sound of breaking glass came from outside, followed by a muffled explosion. The house filled with acrid smoke.
«Flash-bang grenade!» Alexei shouted. «To the exit!»
He grabbed Dinara’s hand and pulled her toward the stairs. At that moment, the front door crashed off its hinges, and dark figures in masks and with weapons burst into the house.
«Upstairs!» Alexei commanded, changing direction.
They ran up the stairs just as Ermek rushed out of his room with a hunting rifle in his hands.
«Through the window, to the garden!» he shouted. «I’ll hold them off!»
«No, Uncle!» Dinara exclaimed. «They’ll kill you!»
«Do as I say!» Ermek snapped, taking position at the stairs. «Grandfather is in the far room, take him and leave through the western window. There’s an apple tree there; you can climb down it.»
Alexei pulled Dinara to Rustam’s room. The old man was already on his feet, dressed, with a small leather pouch in his hands. His calmness in this situation was astonishing.
«They’ve come for the medallion,» Rustam said, looking Alexei in the eyes. «Karabaev will stop at nothing.»
From below came a gunshot, then shouts and sounds of struggle.
«We must hurry,» Rustam approached the window and opened it. «Dinara, you go first. Help me climb down, and then Alexei should jump.»
Without hesitation, Dinara climbed out the window and skillfully descended the thick trunk of the apple tree. Rustam handed her his pouch, then began to climb out unhurriedly. For his age, he moved with remarkable confidence.
Alexei nervously glanced at the door, expecting the pursuers to appear. From below came new shots and curses. Ermek was still holding off the attackers, but it was clear this wouldn’t last long.
When Rustam safely descended, Alexei climbed onto the windowsill. At that moment, the door to the room burst open, and a man in a black mask with a pistol appeared on the threshold.
«Stop!» he shouted.
Without hesitation, Alexei jumped. The apple tree cushioned his fall, but it still hurt. A shot rang out from above, the bullet whistled past and embedded itself in the tree trunk.
«Run!» Dinara pulled him along.
They dashed through the garden toward the back gate, with Rustam following them at a surprising speed for his age. All around, shouts echoed, and flashlight beams darted among the trees.
«This way!» Rustam pointed to a narrow path winding between the trees.
They ran beyond the garden’s bounds and found themselves amid tall cornfields. Dark stalks closed over their heads, hiding them from pursuers. Behind them, more shots rang out.
«What about Ermek?» asked Dinara, breathing heavily.
«Your uncle knows what he’s doing,» Rustam replied. «He’s distracting them so we can escape.»
They