A cat in the window
— Look, Kern, let’s go, let’s go there! There’s a light on! — Thea shouted joyfully, pulling our guide by the hand, — there are people, get out! And the cat in the window!
Thea laughed.
I looked at her face, all scarred from acid rain, and sighed.
— These are not people. We won’t go there,- I said.
She somehow fell into disgrace, went limp, like a sharply withered flower. Thea whimpered and looked once more at the mirage that the dead city was creating.
Although dead, he needed inhabitants. Also dead. Everything ate everyone. The absolute idea of »everyone for themself», which experts and coaches of the plastic world loved to propagate. And when the problems faced by the world were those that can be solved only when everything is done for everyone, of course, the world could not stand it.
— Let’s go to the sea. We’ll spend the night there,- I said.
The Sea was safe. The evil spirits — the uncleans — were afraid to approach all one hundred meters of the beach strip.
Thea, head down, walked behind us, sobbing softly. I grimaced in annoyance. It’s still the damn cat. Creatures are getting smarter. Everything is developing. And the uncleans. And what was lifeless. If you want to survive, develop. The uncleans understood. But people didn’t.
Even when it couldn’t be any clearer, people still managed to break into gangs and exterminate each other. How did they hope to survive on their own?
I felt a hand on my shoulder. Rakhmet, a hunter.
— You whispered again, people are afraid,- he said warmly.
— Oh yeah, I am whom they should fear, aha, — I spat out angrily.
Rakhmet spread his hands.
— I have no other people for you.
We smiled at each other.
— But there must be, — I said, — there must be those, others, somewhere. Well, Indian Sikh-communists, I don’t know, German communes, Russian Bolsheviks. Somewhere there are others, Rakhmet, the adults. Let’s find them, shall we?
— Let’s take the people to the Sea first,- he said soothingly, gutturally.
I sighed.
— Let’s go to the Sea, — what else remains for us.
How to say "thank you'" to you?
The Sea was light. Compared to cities. Even the rays of the sun penetrated through the gray veil of nothingness. So forgotten sun. All over the gray canvas, both in the sky and on the line of the beach, lay lace patterns. But it’s better this way, in places where the sun managed to break through, it burned out the rest of the enraged life. The black stripe of the Sea separated the gray sky from the gray earth. Our house, which hid us from acid rain, tornadoes patrolling the beach, and other gifts of nature that were fed up with people, did not bother the Sea. Actually, it was it that gave us this house, bringing a reinforced concrete bulk to the shore, with rooms, stairs, in some places there were even mirrored windows. And we could not give anything to the Sea in return. I came for water, immersed the bottle in a dark abyss and took out a transparent salutary moisture. I thanked, but it was so pathetic and so stupid. The Sea was fresh when we took on water and salty when we had to sail to the islands. Why it helped a bunch of people, I didn’t know. I asked, yes, I asked, stroking the dark surface, how I could repay to it. But of course it didn’t answer. Didn’t know, probably.
Silvera came out of the house.
— Dinner is ready, — she announced the good news and looked at me expectantly. That was my turn.
I nodded, and she incredulously, inquisitively, continued to look at me.
I looked back.
— Thea,- I called.
The girl enthusiastically looked up at the natural huge kaleidoscope. She looked at me, reluctantly looking away from the sunny lace. Indeed, if you choose between this and me. I chuckled.
— Thea… — Silvera called in disbelief.
Thea shuddered and looked at the woman, screamed and rushed to her.
I turned away and rubbed my eyes. Unnecessary joy.
Why did we gather these survivors around the cities? After all, we had nowhere to lead them. There was no paradise. No land was waiting for us anywhere.
First meeting
It’s night. Everyone went to their rooms to rest. Someone plays the guitar, someone laughs, lovers make their love. Everyone knows that nothing will happen here. A safe place in a dangerous world. The ours are not even afraid of the attack of people, because breaking through the strip of the uncleans that stands until the morning on the edge of the beach is a task with an asterisk.
I went ashore, sat down by the dark surface. Through the gray veil in the sky, the light of the stars and the moon made its way, painting the thin veins of the cover in multi-colored lace, which was reflected in colored spots in the Sea.
There were more and more of us. Not every day, but often.
I understood that the rooms in our house would eventually run out. The building on the shore will not be able to accommodate all the survivors. And food. While everything was going well, there were more of us, the Sea gave more and more fish and other marine animals. It threw out algae, which could be dried and crushed — salt was obtained. Becoming insipid, it threw out other plants to us, which could be crushed and used as flour. The sea took care of us. But I didn’t know why, and it scared me.
I was afraid that if we taught to save the Sea, then a cult would be born. People were already looking at us, the first ones on the beach with an unhealthy gleam in their eyes. A fanatical gleam. They were already ready to create a new god, since the old one turned away from them. Let there be Sea.
A new cult in many years will lead to the same disaster. I thought I understood why it happened. The Nature tried to shake up humanity. It was tired of greedy hypocrites. Only those who know how to live not only for themselves will survive now. In our world now it was impossible to survive alone. All nature rushed at the «lone wolves». It is a depressing sight to watch how they try to fight in their hostility with the united angry world.
We must rid the future of the cult. It is necessary that there be no priests, no savers, no other spacers between nature and man. No chosen ones. The chosen ones, the very idea of being chosen, always brings people only troubles.
— Why are you doing this? How can we repay you? — I asked, touching the dark surface.
— Why shouldn’t I do it? — I heard and shuddered.
In the darkness next to me was the silhouette of a thin man. He was not and appeared. The unclean. But the uncleans cannot enter the beach. The Sea?
Not that prey
— Are you sure it was him in the coordinates? This unclean? — The Sea appeared suddenly nearby, but I’m already used to such appearances. And when I was on the shore, I did not twitch from the fact that someone suddenly called out to me. If I am on the shore and did not hear steps before the voice, then this is the Sea.
— Yes, I am sure. Why?
The Sea looked at the dark patterned expanse. To himself. Another subject flew between the sea and the clouds.
— Tell me how it was,- he demanded.
I told, for the umpteenth time. I came, I saw, I called, I brought, I drowned him.
— Was there no one else there? Was he not bound? Couldn’t they just leave him there?
— No, he wasn’t bound, he was just powerless.
— The Unclean, without power? Why?
— I don’t know. I thought he was human.
The Sea was silent for a while.
— I’ll give you new coordinates.
— Isn’t that what you needed?
— Nope.
— Maybe you can tell me what you are looking for, then I can search better.
— It’s a man. But if you see something at these coordinates, bring it here anyway.
— What does he look like?
— I don’t know, — the Sea smiled.
Somehow he smiled so much that I felt something that I never wanted to feel. And I thought I would never feel it again. Jealousy.
I found him
I tried to focus my eyes, but reality remained blurred. I’m like in a room. The back of the head hurts. Someone hit me on the head. Damn gangs. But these are people, not evil spirits. Evil doesn’t hit you in the head.
— Woke up, — I heard a voice.
I shook my head, but there was no one in the room. It’s a warehouse, already empty, I guessed.
The group and I made another round, went to the store … well, we went to the store, because there were coordinates that the Sea gave me. I reached for the tourniquet around my neck. He was right there. Somehow it became easier and I breathed a sigh of relief.
— What do you need? — I was able to speak. It looks like I came to my senses and was out for a short time. Only the back of the head ached, and then the pain subsided. I was thirsty, I saw a bottle of water near me, but I did not drink. You never know. You could always drink from a tourniquet.
— Question is what do you need? -the voice asked mockingly.
— We are just survivors, going around the city, in search of all the necessary things and surviving people,- I explained.
Probably a man lived here, a survivor. Scared that we are a gang.
— There are many of us, we settled down well, if you want, go with us, — I continued, — we are not a gang.
— You’ve been following me around for months. What do you need?
— I don’t follow anyone…- I said in surprise.
The tourniquet suddenly trembled and somehow joyfully slipped from the neck, heading for the door.
— Sure? — they didn’t believe it there, — aren’t you looking for me, right?
And then it hit me. This is probably the same person that Sea is looking for. Crap.
What to do? To tell him everything or lie?
I heard a laugh. Apparently, the speaker saw me, although he was standing outside the door.
— Do not follow me anymore, otherwise you will not get by with a slap on the back of the head. The door is on a timer, it will open in ten minutes.
— Stop! – I shouted, – I will say, do not leave!
Water splashed into the airtight door. But the door did not have time to become unclean, so the water could not harm it. I thought so.
Not jealous at all
— Did he say so? — Sea laughed.
He sparkled, refracting the rays and sending them back into the sky.
— Yes. Well, you saw, he locked me up, I couldn’t do anything. There was a stone on the coordinates, probably with which he hit me.
— Yes, Yes. It’s ok. Did the compress helped?
— Yes, thank you, — I rubbed the back of my head. — what’s now?
— Keep searching. Be careful now. But now you do not need to take things from the coordinates. Just carefully get there and look around, he’ll be there somewhere. I will watch too.
— Do you know who is it?
— Yes.
— Will not say?
— Why?
I didn’t know what to answer. And for some reason I wished we hadn’t caught him. But I knew that if I met him, I would not let him leave. But we can start to fight and I can kill him? By chance, huh?
Behind the fence
It was amazing. Who in our time needs a fence, and even with barbed wire? How can one not be afraid that this thorn will wrap around the throat at any moment and suffocate?
The group and I walked past the fence, to check that it was dangerous inside, and there was no need, we went to the supermarket to replenish supplies. With the ropes of the sea, evil spirits no longer seemed such a problem, so we could go where the gangs were afraid to go. And after one of them was burned by the sea, they didn’t come to us either.
And suddenly I heard a cough outside the door. Human. Male. Maybe a dog? Although there are no dogs left in the city. I stopped. The group too. Rakhmet looked at me questioningly.
The black cord around my neck moved, coordinates splashed onto the track. I already knew the coordinates of the city almost by heart.
I gestured to Rakhmet at the fence. We’ll have to climb up there. There is what our protector of the sea needs.
So, you say, he'll come
I stared at the blackness in front of me. As impenetrable as our future. Although much more beautiful than it is. Future. How much longer can we hold on? People need their homes, their land, their place. But we didn’t have a place. We were guests of Sea, which was not at all botheres by that the world was dying. Sea was not going to die, he did not even seem to notice what had happened. He knew, but… he didn’t care. Looks like he just cared about that jerk.On the shore, the prisoner, the Unclean, huddled white, Sea gave him a name — Reflectedray. The Unclean helped our commune, carried out the orders of Sea, did not try to escape, sometimes I saw him sitting on the edge of the beach and crying. Just like alive.
Sea appeared next to me.
— I saw him, — I said. I didn’t want to continue. But I had to, — he said that he would come.
— When? — Sea asked impatiently, restrainedly evil.
— He said that he needed to finish something, he said it would take a couple of days.
— You offered to help?I was silent. No, I didn’t. I didn’t want to help him.
I was actually hoping that this something would kill this jerk.
— Where did you see him?
— In an abandoned house. There is also a fence with a thorn.
— Does he live there?
— I don’t know.
Sea began to get angry, black waves began to beat the shore. The evil spirits screamed thinly and desperately, bouncing off the water.
— But you say that he said he would come?
— Yes.
— How it was?
— I said that we have a commune on the shore, that you protect us from the Uncleans, give us a home, water, food. And that you look for him. He was surprised, and said that I should not follow him, he would come to you himself.
Just will finish one thing. I also asked him when. He said he needed a couple of days to finish everything.
— Finish? Did he say so?
— Yes.
— Fine.
Squares of «apartments» lit up in our house, yells of joy were heard, today people celebrate. Sea «turned on» the electricity. He did this sometimes, but I was shy to ask him for it, and even ask if it was possible giving to us electricity forever. Only when it was needed, I asked for. Sea has never refused. But he turned it on only sometimes when he was in a good mood. The water that everyone kept at home began to glow and illuminate the space. The devices that we were able to save began to work.
Multicolored patterns moved across the dark water, casting shadows on the clouds that protected us from the angry sun. The blackness was covered with bright patches of ornaments.
— How beautiful, — I said.
— Do you think? he demanded.
— Sure.
— Well, — he said thoughtfully, — I hope it’s really beautiful.
I knew he was drawing it for him. Who is he to him? A lost brother? An enemy? Maybe an enemy? After all, when he thought the Unclean was him, Sea tormented him. My mood also up. Yeah, why did I decide that he needed this moron, not to destroy?
Indeed, it’s a good evening today.
He is preparing
Sea was busy. I approached several times, but he did not pay attention to me, did not materialize next to me. He just constantly drew something on his black surface. Sometimes I saw his silhouette, somewhere in the distance. He threw patterned layers into the clouds, and the sky was painted with a sacred ornament. People sat on the edge of their rooms and watched Sea paints. I felt his joy. Can one be so happy about the upcoming meeting with the enemy? Is it possible, right?
What's your business here?
It’s evening. It was the third day. I mean, this jerk was supposed to show up last night and he didn’t. Of course, something could stop him. Or maybe he just cheated. But Sea was waiting. And when night came, he was waiting and getting angry.
When it became clear that this jerk would not come, Sea darkened, hiding all the patterns. Everything sank into darkness. People in the house fell silent, realizing that in a bad mood, Sea could demolish the house at any moment, or stop holding back the Uncleans… whatever. He doesn’t even have to do anything to destroy us, he just needs to do nothing. And only few will survive.
— Listen, I’ll go look for him tomorrow and won’t come back until I find him. Will you look after the camp? — I sat on the sand.
— No need, — he whispered.
— Listen, why do you need him, huh? I mean, who is he to you? — I asked as nonchalantly as possible.
— What’s your business here?
— I’m just worried about you. Well, after all, you help us … and … I care about you.
So good.
— You’ll be fine, don’t worry, — he said angrily and mockingly.
— Yeah, I’m not talking about it, I’m talking about you. Maybe you can tell your story? Well, you know, I’ll be an observer and maybe things will change.
It was a sad joke. The world has turned into what we now see, also by the Observer.
— He had been coming once. And now I want him to come and not to leave.
I didn’t want to know more. But Sea said nothing more.
Meeting
New evening. Heavy black silence. Not that silence you think. Only the people, feeling the mood of Sea, fell silent. Waves rumbled on the shore, 19 gulls squealed ominously and mournfully in the sky. The spray reached the wall of the Uncleans behind the beach, and they died with a screech, the luckiest ones jumped back. Someone approached the patrol. It seems to be not the Uncleans. But it would be better if it’s the Unclean. He came. I went to the attendants. Sea seemed to feel it too. Him. The black surface immediately lit up with patterns, the sky shone. A black wave shot up into the air, towards the patrol, and remained on the shore as a dark male silhouette.
— He came to me, — Sea said impatiently, examining the newcomer.
— All right, — the duty officer nodded and walked away.
Yes. It’s he. I came up too.
— Hello, — Sea said.
— Hello.
— You had to come the day before yesterday, — Sea said demandedly.
— No, I hadn’t to, — the guest smiled.
And Sea smiled. Angrily and attentively he looked into the eyes of the guest and smiled brightly.
— I told him, — he nodded at me, — I would finish one thing and come.
— Did you? — Sea asked angrily.
— Well, I am here, — the guest spread his hands.
— Okay, you came, it’s the main thing. Let’s go, — Sea waved his head and went to the water.
The guest followed, confident, not frightened. And I didn’t know what to do. Unless to shoot this idiot in the back. Sea, of course, will be mad. Maybe, let it be, huh?
Together
For some time I did not see Sea. And his guest too. The last thing I saw was how a black wave covered this idiot, washing him into the sea.
Everything was ok in the camp — water, food, electricity. The Uncleans could not penetrate us. A necklace made of dark water helped to cope with the Uncleans in detours.
I tried not to be distracted from work. Not to think. Milida was getting more and more insistent, and this annoyed me. I didn’t want to offend her and didn’t want to play her flirtatious games. The head of the camp is, of course, the best couple at such a time. The most beautiful girl in the camp, of course, should belong to the boss. This is what happens in the wild. The best female goes to the strongest male. But we are people. Yes, the world threw us back to the beginning, but we are still here, why forget the best that civilization has come to. The beginning is to correct mistakes, but not to start from the beginning.
The Unclean also walked as if plunged into water. Yeah, a bad joke. The Uncleans plunged into the water — die.
Sometimes I heard the laughter of Sea or his guest.
Sometimes I saw their silhouettes.
Sometimes I wanted to go to Milida, but that would not be fair. I wanted to stay human.
Around the campfire
On the shore of one of the islands where we went for fish, a fire was shining. I went there. This idiot was sitting by the fire, drinking something from a mug.
I said hello.
— Hi, — he smiled brightly, — sit down. Or did you come to Akhshaina?
— Is that his name? — I sat down next to him and he pushed the mug towards me. There was some dark liquid in the mug, like the waters of Sea.
— Well … He called me this name, hey, come to us, — he called the Unclean, who wandered along the edge of the coast.
The Unclean shook his head.
— Oh, wait, — he gently, it seemed to me, touched the water, too gently, and it, as in the biblical myth, parted aside, — run.
The Unclean cautiously glanced at the path to the island and somehow ended up by the fire with one movement. What is dangerous creatures.
— Arev, — he introduced himself, holding out his hand to me.
— Karis, — I replied, shaking his hand. This hand was kind of weird. Some of the knuckles of his fingers were wrapped in black duct tape. Or was it not duct tape?
— Reflect, sit down, don’t be afraid, — Arev smiled as if nothing had happened. As if he didn’t care what happened. At all.
The Unclean sat down next to him and stared at the fire.
— Akhshaina will come soon, he… — Arev flashed a smile again, like a forgotten sun, when it was kind, — looking for something.
Reflect smiled. Yeah, these creatures can imitate anything.
— A present? — asked the Unclean.
— Well, sort of.
— What will it be? — with curiosity asked Reflect. As if the Uncleans might be curious about something.
— A knife. He said he had a silver knife from the time of Hades somewhere.
I chuckled. Indeed, what else can be given now.Arev reached for the mug and touched Reflect knee with his palm. The Unclean screamed and recoiled. Arev cursed.
— I am sorry, I’ll be more careful. I forgot.
— O-okay, — Reflect sat down neatly, now closer to me.
— What’s happened? — I asked.
Arev raised his hands. Yep, it’s not duct tape. This is water. Water was wrapped around his fingers.
— What is this? — I asked. I tried to ask curiously, not demandingly. I don’t know how I’ve managed it.
Arev seemed confused.
— Are you one of us? — Reflect was surprised, opening his innocent eyes, — the last species… I meant, the water of Akhshaina does not corrode people.
— Are you the Unclean? — I was surprised.
— No, no, — Arev sighed, — no, of course not. I’m just human. It’s… kind of tenderness.
— How is that? — careless, I need to ask more careless.
Reflect wrapped his arms around his shoulders and winced.
— It hurts.
— It hurts only when you aren’t loved, — warmly and, hell, how arrogantly, so condescendingly, smiled Arev, — when you are loved…
This idiot looked thoughtfully at his palm.
— It’s strong, but it doesn’t hurt. Like… a strong hug.
— I would run away, — Reflect said.
Arev laughed, wanted to ruffle his hair, but withdrew his hand.
— You wouldn’t run away if Akhshaina loved you.
Now all the survivors wore survival clothes — camouflage, hunting jackets, everything is waterproof, comfortable, with a lot of pockets, light, warm, and so on. I remember that Arev was also in a sand military uniform. Now I noticed that he was wearing a light longsleeve and simple light pants. Not afraid of getting dirty, cold or danger.
— You changed your clothes, — I nodded.
— Yes, it’s more convenient, I’m tired of the uniform.
— Me too. But without it, it’s dangerous to walk around.
— Well, I don’t go anywhere now.
— Well, you never know, suddenly you might have to.
— Well, even if I have to, I’m quite protected.
He looked down and I followed his sight. He had no shoes on, and Arev’s feet were also wrapped in the blackness of Sea.
The world shook for a while.
— Are these fetters? — I asked, unable to look away.
— No, it’s… instead of feet, so I can walk. You know, all this romantic crap, for I not leaving anymore.
He chuckled. I would like to sympathize with him. But he didn’t seem to need it. A man with gnawed phalanges and torn off feet looked peaceful and confident. He sat, gave us tea from some fragrant herb, chatted friendly with the Unclean and me. Not suspecting that the Unclean, having such an opportunity, would gladly kill him.
And I.
I wanted to wound him
I don’t know what happened to them, but Arev resolutely was leaving the beach. Sea roared, breaking the shore. I thought that Akhshaina could easily stop him, because Arev only walked thanks to the dark water that formed the feet of this idiot. And since Sea did not stop him, then he did not need him anymore, right? I sat quietly on the beach, in disbelief. Is it over?
Reflect was next to me.
— He will leave now, and Akhshaina will flood the shore and rush after him.
— He can just stop him.
— I heard them arguing. Akhshaina seemed to say something about personal things or something like «this is my personal business», and Arev immediately jumped up, saying, stay with your personal crap. And Akhshaina got furious, said that he would still be with him, that he was already in him. Arev asked if these are also your personal things and tried to tear the pieces of Akhshaina out of himself.
Reflect shivered. For him, probably, Arev was merged with death.
— Akhshaina said that these were gifts. Arev nodded and walked away.
And then I heard Akhshaina’s thoughts. He will simply spread the sea where Arev stops.
I cursed. We must stop him.
— Arev! — I caught up with him, — You can not leave, he will follow you. Akhshaina will flood the shore. People will die.
Arev thought, looking doubtfully at the sea.
— Pack your things and leave. I can’t stay, Karis, — he shook his head, — it won’t work. It just won’t work. It won’t be good either way, you got?
— No, I don’t get! I don’t understand why a thousand people have to die because of your love games!
Arev ran his hands over his face.
— People must be capable. They must be able to build life, they must not be parasites. They should not be depended. From you, from the sea. If they don’t get their world back, they’ll die anyway.
— Can I go with you? — asked Reflect, furtively looked around the Unclean. He was afraid that Sea would leave him as a torture toy when Arev left.
— Let’s go, — agreed Arev, he patted me on the shoulder.- Akhshaina thought that when you stop, he will spread out to there.
Arev chuckled and shook his head.
— For what?
He looked towards Sea.
— I need someone who has no personal affairs and personal things. Otherwise, it will not work, there is no point in following me.
Arev looked at me.
— I can not stop as long as you need to take away your kindergarten. That’s all I can do.
Arev turned around and went to the checkpoint on the beach. Reflect went with him. Maybe it would be an adventure story, how Arev and Reflect survived in the city. But I couldn’t let them go. Couldn’t let Arev go. I shot him in the back. Reflect squealed, as the Uncleans do, thin and high, tearing the membranes. If we were not on the beach, then everyone would have lost their hearing. Arev fell. I wanted only to wound him, and just drag the wounded man into Sea. Or not. Or I wanted to kill him. Reflect howled cautiously touching Arev, it could now take possession of his body, make him seem to come to life, already as the Unclean. If only they had time to go beyond the beach. Or, I don’t know, maybe Akhshaina’s ropes would forbid to do that. I don’t know if he died or not, only Sea shot up and fell on Arev, covering Reflect, taking them away. I was afraid that Sea would do it along with the beach. But it seems that Akhshaina only wanted this jerk. Still.
Mergering
The Unclean washed up on the shore. He was sobbing heavily and trembling, standing on all fours. Alive. Akhshaina did not kill him. Reflect should write books, if he lives to see a new civilization. He has seen so many crap and experienced it.
A disk appeared above the black surface. Light burst out of it, as if the forgotten sun had returned. The light illuminated the water and it seemed to me that I see some huge silhouette. The huge disc above the water looked like a web of flesh. In the middle, something crucified throbbed painfully and ominously.
A few moments and the light set fire to the flesh on the web. The edge turned golden-red. There was either an agonizing, or a languid moan.
Reflect turned to the disc and stared at it without looking off.
I went to.
— Do you know what this is?
Reflect nodded.
— Merging.
I didn’t want to look at it.
Happiness isn't a reason
That frightening disk hung over the sea for several days. People cautiously asked me what was the matter. Isn’t this a bad omen. How it pissed me off. The world is on the verge of death, nothing works, even the laws of physics are acting up, even death is not death, but they are looking for rituals. Signs. Everyone is waiting for God’s coming. I only tried to prevent them from making a god out of Akhshaina. There have already been advances. Ravshana came to me, brought a gold chain that she had kept, asked to ask Sea to return her husband, who had disappeared somewhere. I might have been rude to her. But I got very angry. She came to pay the priest, to ask me to beg the god. I shouted that it was just a spirit, perhaps the Unclean, just kind one. This is not a god, no need to appease him, no need to look for priests! She blinked as if from blows, from my words. She nodded in fright, left the chain on the shore next to me and ran away. I took the chain and called out to her.She stopped, frozen in fear. I went over and gave her the chain back. She burst into tears, rushed to my chest, hugging. Everything seemed fine, she understood. But then I saw her naked, dancing by the sea. She decided to find another priest or become a priestess herself. Akhshaina did not answer her. He was not going to become a god for us. After a few days, the obscene disc stopped pulsing and sank into the water. Akhshaina did not appear for several days, but there was a radiance over the sea, the sea flashed, played. Those who huddled together in the camp went on romantic walks, looking at the marine play of color and light. Everyone felt that Akhshaina was pleased. So he will protect and bestow. Fools, they did not know that their life did not depend on his good mood. In happiness, he could wash away our camp so that nothing would distract him from his games with … I was sure Arev had not died. And Sea will definitely come to me, ask for that shot.
Return or take away?
When we returned to the camp, people were standing at the edge of the sea and looked fearfully into the sky. It was shadeless, dark blue, as long before. The circle of the sun shone over Sea, and a multi-colored rainbow was there. The once common view now frightened. Because if this is the real sun, then this is death. Because the sun has become poisonous. If the sky is shadeless, without patches of clouds, then sky doesn’t protect us anymore. We haven’t time to escape, and Sea will not protect us from the sky. People understood this, so they wanted to die, remembering the usual beauty of Nature, when it had not yet hated humanity.
We haven’t time to run away. I have. I don’t have things. The sky above the city is normal, overcast, I just need to get away from the beach. I can even shout it to everyone, if they do not gather stuff, everyone get time to escape. Damn.
I imagined what a howl would begin now, and everyone would begin to collect their junk. But they haven’t time for it.
I talk it long time, all these thoughts, of course, flashed through me in a split second. If we just could hide with the same speed.
Akhshaina appeared nearby. That’s who moved at the speed of thought.
— Hello.
— Hello. We need to leave, right? — I asked, — the clouds have dispersed, the sun will now burn everything.
— No, it’s a cloud. It’s just that color. There is nothing to be afraid of.
— And the sun?
Akhshaina smiled dazzlingly.
— It’s not the Sun. This is the light from the sea. I just decided to remind people of something nice.
— Thank you. It’s very… kind.
Akhshaina looked at the radiance.
— It’s not my idea — he waved off, — I came to find out.
Here it is.
— That shot, did you want to return him to me or take him away?
To return, do you remember, right, that I wanted to return him?
Watch the sunrise
Akhshaina even drew the sun for us. We could see sunrise or sunset. It was, of course, not the real sun. The real one would burn us. But it looked like that one, affectionate, forgotten. People liked it.
I also love to look at these painted sunrises and sunsets. Loved. But one day, while admiring the sunset, my focus suddenly shifted. Like, you know, in these children’s pictures. Or when you look at the mesh fence and the cells suddenly become larger.
I suddenly saw something like another space. Their space. Their silhouettes. Their happiness.
May no one will die
I looked at the foamy waves, at the bottomless funnel where the marauders fell screaming, along with their scooters. They say, they used to say, that the sea is soothing. Yeah. Now we can spend the evening in peace.
The main gangs in the city already knew our group, so they didn’t attack. It’s a seaside city. Not only did my black necklace release a sadistic genie, and many had already seen how the black water dealt with those who dared to attack my people, he could appear anywhere, at any time. Himself. Akhshayna. I’ve already heard rumors that people saw him just as I had. Since he got his victim – I still call that idiot that way, although I understand, I saw, that he was not a victim at all – he’s become… more social, let’s call it that way. So maybe this isn’t just rumors. Maybe they really saw him. Or maybe not, maybe it’s some other uncleans.
But new gangs appeared in the city too often.
Not every day, of course, but still too often. They came from other places, now we knew that it was not the city that hated us, it was the world. It’s like that everywhere. It’s the same across the ocean.
Sure, the nimblest, the strongest, got the best seats. But it didn’t help them much, the previously rich, who still stayed, had to survive like everyone else. Who would protect them? Who will risk themselves for the parasites when the system collapsed and access to resources became not so dainty. Who needs money when they can turn into the uncleans at any moment? There was nothing to pay with. Because any payment could bring death. You never know where the uncleans might be. Sects and preachers proliferated, but they died faster than new gangs appeared. The gods must have gotten tired of listening to false chatter. Untouchable shrines of all denominations weren’t scarying the uncleans, they were winning.
New gangs time to time tried attacking our settlement. Maybe they didn’t listen to warnings, or maybe nobody warned them. It’s convenient to get rid of the competitors using someone else’s hands. Those who divided the city, or rather, thought they divided the city, knew, attacks on our camp would end in death. The newcomers didn’t know it. These are the newbies. They decided to attack from the Sea. They saw from some island there was no patrol on the water side of the beach. They took their scooters and went for the loot.
Now I was listening to the sound of the waves and the screams of the drownings. Some were trying to swim away. I don’t know if Akhshayna was having fun drowning them or he didn’t care. He would give some hope that they could get away, and then I would hear a scream of terror.He drove several of them in waves across the black surface until the scooters ran out of fuel. And they had to watch the blackness swallows their buddies. And wait for it to come for them.
Gleam sat on the shore. I was waiting too. He knew that a few, maybe these ones, on scooters, would be given to him. He will immerse them, still alive, in spores of the uncleans and send them to the city. And the living deads, walking incubators, will carry the infection further.
I tried to explain to Akhshayna he shouldn’t let the uncleans breed, shouldn’t help them. Because they kill all living things. But Sea shrugged.
– But you think you all worth help, even though you kill no less. Even each other. The uncleans don’t kill each other, at least. Maybe they’re a better life form.
I had nothing to say to that. We couldn’t unite even now. We remained the same, thieving, greedy, petty. Even in front of the face of extinction, we all adopted the same religion – «You die today, but I’ll die tomorrow.»
«May no one will die» sect had no followers. At least, I haven’t met any.
Akhshayna doesn’t dissolve or hurt Gleam now. The unclean can even swim. Or rather, move in the water, skittishly and eerily. Inhumanly.
I knew it was all Arev. He’s the one who told Sea not to kill Gleam, and he’s the one who told him to help the uncleans. Jerk, as I told.
I didn’t want to think that maybe Arev was a follower of that sect. I didn’t want to give him any good thought, and I kept looking for confirmation that I was right, that Arev was an asshole. No luck so far, but I have all time for it.
Returning
– Hey, have you seen Luke?.. Kashim, give it to me back!
I don’t know, was it someone’s birthday, or someone was celebrating their religious holiday, and the rest joined in, or they were just celebrating a quiet day.
I sat on the shore, as well, although closer to the water, away from the fires. Reflect sat nearby. It’s not that we became friends, but when I didn’t have anything else to do for the day and I sat down to reboot and relax, he was there. Or he just looked at the water, like me, or was telling me something.
A sharp sound, like the uncleans screaming, tore the space apart. I jumped up, grabbing the black rope, intending to throw it at Reflect, although I immediately realized that he could not be so stupid as to attack at Sea. This is certain death.
The music and laughter in the camp gave way to screams.
Over the sea, in the darkness, a bird flew, turning white. Or rather, not a bird. Like a lot of white lights that formed into a bird.
The uncleans. Above Sea. I felt a cold snake of fear crawl up my back. Reflect looked at me and cowered.
«Everyone to the house!»I shouted.
There was no need to shout over anyone; now everyone was silent and looked at the white web of death that was approaching.
People rushed into the house.
Rakhmet and several guys were next to me.
«Why doesn’t He overwhelm her… them?» asked one of the guys, Palan, I think his name was.
«I don’t know,» I shook my head.
The bird stopped screeching and now flew silently.
«Do you know how to deal with it?» Rakhmet asked Reflect.
The uncleans moved his head vaguely.
«I will try.»
I understood Reflect’s confusion. If Sea has stopped protecting us, then he simply has a whole camp of donors. And if this is a test, then we should help, Ahshayna could appear at any moment.
The bird swooped down on Reflect’s shoulder and screeched again, as if telling him something.
We clenched our knives tighter. Although knives against the uncleans are useless.
Reflect touched the bird and stroked its back. She began to gurgle frighteningly and contentedly.
«This… this is my bird,» said Reflect. – I mean, it’s from my dispute. It somehow found me. It flew to me.
Reflect and the bird were silent for a while. There is no need to speak to the uncleans, they hear each other that way. Maybe our thoughts can be heard too.
«It says that Akhshayna let it come to me. It won’t harm anyone»
Reflect looked at me.
«Can she stay?»
Rakhmet shook his head.
I felt sorry for the boy. It’s strange, actually. Indeed do the uncleans get their affection? The bird has found its creator… as if they are normal and know how to love.
«It can stay if it behaves well and doesn’t pester people. And don’t let it squeal.»
Reflect smiled. He already knows what it means to people.
«Thank you! It won’t.»
He gently stroked the bird again; it opened its mouth but made no sound.
«Soon we will have an additional camp, a camp of the uncleans,» Rakhmet said displeasedly and asked Reflect sternly, «will any more of your brood of bastards show up?»
«I… I don’t know, the disputes are independent, we don’t have any special connection…» Reflect began to explain, «I don’t even know how it found out that I was giving birth to it.»
«Ok, but be aware. I’ll drown you both if it seems to me that you’re up to something here,» Rakhmet warned and went into the house to calm people down.
There was no point in warning. I was sure that Akhshayna had already warned the flying uncleans. I smiled. So he didn’t turn his back on us.
Adult
“Karis, there’s something again…” Rahmet approached.
“What’s now?” I asked irritably, tearing myself away from the book. What a joy to read.
We found a library, all the books there were, of course, tainted by impurity, but we dipped them in the Sea, the impurity died, and what remained was just a regular book. A bit soggy, but only slightly. It didn’t hinder the reading. I hadn’t seen books for so long, and finally, there was time to read.
But Rahmet didn’t pay attention to that; he understood it wasn’t directed at him, it was about the situation.
“There’s this huge beast over Sea. Black, with glowing eyes. The reflection hid around the corner and is whimpering. Apparently, it’s not impurity.”
I exhaled confusedly and stood up. Over Sea, as far as the eye could see, indeed, a dark bird had spread its wings. It covered the horizon with itself and touched Sea with its beak, apparently drinking.
People rushed to the shore, though they should have hidden behind concrete walls.
“Kariss, what is that? Will Sea protect us?” someone asked. I watched the monstrous sight unwaveringly.
“I think so, but just in case, take cover in the house,” I ordered, and Rahmet began herding everyone inside.
I approached the black water and touched its surface with my palm.
“Ashkhaina?” I called.
He immediately appeared beside me.
“This monster… is your friend?”
“I hope so,” Sea shrugged with a narrow shoulder.
“And who is it?”
“An adult. You wanted to find them, right?” Ashkhaina smiled, warmly looking at the creature.