Wandering Spark - Part 18
Varan looked around.
The grotto was the largest seen by him before and, of course, the most beautiful. The sun penetrated into it not only from under the water but also from above, from the cracks in the dome. The Stalactites reached for their reflections, forming a colonnade; calcareous streaks seemed like a drapery.
Nila was already climbing somewhere upstairs; Kruchina, accustomed to rest in the " chamber", stretched her neck across the water and drowsily sighed.
"Come here!" Nilla called. Varan flopped down from the saddle into the water and climbed onto a flat stone, shocking himself off. Spray flew around.
On a dry square platform, leather cushions lay in disarray, there was a brazier with the remains of coals and a mountain of mother-of-pearl fragments. The pitcher from the wine cracked and lay now in a meager red puddle. Nilla has taken a broom and a scoop from somewhere.
"You'll tell the owner, that was cleaning the grotto. Sometimes, serpanters can do quite a mess."
Varan reached out for the broom. Nila did not give it at once. There was a moment when they stood face to face, holding four hands a smooth shaft with four hands. Nilla was silent and explained nothing.
Her eyes, ever narrowed, in the semi-darkness at last opened and each eye pupil seemed to be the entrance to a mine.
"It's a guest's way," said Nilla, her voice was dull as if holding tears. "We're taking visitors through it. It runs along the shore, along with the edge, so it is light here. And if you turn inwards - there are such transitions... such labyrinths... and there it is always dark."
"Do you like it when it's dark?" Varan asked, feeling the warm broomstick in his hands. Neela nodded sharply.
"Sun hurts my eyes. I do not like it."
And glasses, Varan wanted to ask, but he bit his tongue in time. Gorni that are familiar with the bright light does not wear glasses. And overseas guests - they generally believe that the smoky glasses of pods hide lies in their eyes and greed. That's why the owner liked it so much that Varan's eyes are accustomed to the sunlight...
Nilla was waiting for something. She did not take a demanding look.
"Let's go deep?" Warily suggested Varan. She nodded again.
"And the owner?"
"The master told me to take the girls for a walk and clean this grotto. Until the evening he won’t look for us," she finally released the broom.
Varan, turning away, quickly rattled cracked shells, rattled in shards. Nilla picked up the pillows and cleaned the brazier. Silently, without looking at each other, they put the garbage in a sack, tied a heavy stone, dragged it to a ledge over the water, pushed it; the waves dispersed on the water, several bubbles rose.
Someone of ours will have a gift in the autumn, Varan thought. However, in autumn, garbage is also good: to strengthen the dams or other purposes...
Neela whistled softly. The serpenters raised their horned heads. Their bulging eyes glowed green.
Not bothering to go down the ladder, Nilla jumped into the water from the edge of the rock. Beautifully, without a splash, she screwed herself into the water and emerged right in front of Kruchina, grabbed the saddle:
"Stop snoozing, crone! Go!"
Varan closed his eyes and jumped as well. The water seemed dense, like a skin on a drum; Varan emerged, stunned. Zhurbina squinted with contempt.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Part 11
Part 12
Part 13
Part 14
Part 15
Part 16
Part 17
@originalworks
The @OriginalWorks bot has determined this post by @crosswell to be original material and upvoted it!
To call @OriginalWorks, simply reply to any post with @originalworks or !originalworks in your message!