Wandering Spark - Part 43
If only this reaches the lord. Not even so. If only it reaches the magician - the island will be immediately locked from the whole world, the guests won’t go out, the rafts won’t come. There will be no drowned jewelry in the off-season. There will be nothing to eat for bottomland population. And next season - and after the next, again and again, rich Gorni will take their family anywhere, just not to "this damned Round Fang".
Varan put the banknote in his bosom. He decided to go to his father. Recently, he too often relied on himself and was too obviously stupid. He decided to go to his father and tell everything as it is. Varan felt relief. He climbed out of the cave and wiping his lips every now and again (the damned blood kept on going), jumped from stone to stone to the road.
Where are you going?
Varan stumbled. The man who appeared from nowhere blocked the way; the man had gray-blue eyes and long hair. The broad-brimmed hat cast a shadow over the face, which was too pale.
"Where does the blood come from?" Asked the Imperial Magician, coming closer. "You were diving?"
Varan took a step back. He took his hand from his face; lips immediately became wet and nasty-sticky.
"Stop," said the magician imperatively, holding out his hand, and Varan froze.
"It's not for you," the magician grinned with the corner of his mouth. "Come on..."
"Where?!"
"Somewhere where you could wash your face..."
The blood on his face dried up, pulling on the skin. Varan thought if it was possible to throw out the bill so that the magician couldn’t see it. Or is it too late now?
Without taking his eyes off him, the magician removed a flask from his belt. He pulled out the cork, and held out:
"Here, wash."
Varan splashed from the flask in the palm of his hand. The hand came down from the cold, the water was icy and clean. Varan gently licked it. It was fresh, not from other place than from personal Lord’s stocks. It is foolish and even dishonest to waste such water on washing. With a wet hand on his face, he returned the flask to its owner:
"We don’t pour fresh water here."
"Strictly," the mage narrowed his eyes. "Maybe you want to drink?"
Varan, pausing, shook his head. A rainbow banknote burned his skin under a wet shirt. Cursed Shuu, but it is probably shining!
"You dived a lot," the mage said. "I'm amazed how you do it... People, like animals. Yes, I would like to spend my childhood on the Round Fang."
Varan touched his nose. The blood stopped. His power - this guy in a broad-brimmed hat - said "stop," and it obeyed, Varan’s own blood.
"Look," the magician was now looking at Varan over his shoulder. "Beautiful."
If it's a trap, I still cannot get away, Varan thought and looked at the sea.
From the Round Fang, the ships went away like a fan of birds. Multicolored sails seemed especially bright in the light of the evening sun. From time to time, clouds of smoke rose above the sides, and after a few seconds, claps came. The guests saluted the island, saying goodbye.
And above the ships floated, blowing its sides, painted balloon, inflated with fire. Varan thought that the air balloon was more beautiful than the sun.
"They catch the last wind," said the magician behind Varan. "They leave... There, where there are no seasons."
In his voice, there was frank envy. Varan thought: if you don’t like seasons, then sail away with them, we don’t hold you here.
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 Part 18 Part 19 Part 20 Part 21 Part 22 Part 23 Part 24 Part 25 Part 26 Part 27 Part 28 Part 29 Part 30 Part 31 Part 32 Part 33 Part 34 Part 35 Part 36 Part 37 Part 38 Part 39 Part 40 Part 41 Part 42
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