– It is not necessary, he was rare… I don’t want to say, – Erik half rose from the ground. He hardly resisted not to express what he thought about his father, who never was for real.
– It is not unusual when a native person becomes strange and hateful.
Although Anders said all right, his words caused a desire to thwart it.
– He was not only a stranger, he was the one who broke the TV remote on the head of his son, because, he fell asleep and didn’t turn it off. He did it because the sound of the movie disturbed his sleep.
At the same moment Eric turned away from Anders, and looked into the distance, at the high mountains, he wanted to get on them and hide there from all that had happened to him. He wanted to be on the brink of infinity, naively believing that this way he will be able to escape. Eric regretted that he spoke about the immoral act of Karl Lanter. Now Anders probably guesses what Eric tortures himself.
To his delight, Anders didn’t continue the conversation and left him alone. Eric went on to test the newfound opportunities, but alone: he raised fallen snowflakes in the air and made them spin around. He was in the center of a small tornado. His fantasies started to turn out to overcome the barriers, which were built by conventional laws of impossible. Although he still didn’t give a full account of his actions. Its results were made at random, like a computer game, whose control you haven’t fully learned and you are trying to lead the way in it blindly, to the touch.
Returning from a curve hill, Anders stopped the training of Eric.
– I think you have enough for today, – he said, approaching him.
– Ok, – Eric nodded.
Artificial tornado crumbled to the ground.
They returned to the rock, on the hillock. Anders absented to hide his car; he disguised it under a thick layer of snow.
When the broad-shouldered man closely approached the rock, he moved his hand a little bit, and then there was a roar. The gnarled barrier was split into two parts, and then budged: the moonlight filled a cave, in response it threw out the stale air, which was trapped in it for a long time.
– Very cute – Eric whispered.
Moonlight froze in the cave twists, the tunnel began to fall, Eric and Anders continued to walk down the corridor, hiding in the darkness. A few minutes later they were at an impasse.
– Are we lost? – Eric wondered when he saw nothing in front of him.
Anders awarded his question with a heavy sigh; he pressed his hand to the barrier: the ebony doors opened wide.
Four giant stone columns supported the sky; the domed ceiling was decorated with bright stars, which were sliding on the supports. Marble women in marble coats shrouded columns over the full height, holding a cup, from which was emanating a bright golden light.
Under the ring of mezzanine, between the columns, were placed the archways. In total there were four through passages in the corridor, which were allocated with metal frame: a thin thread sprawled the arc on the wall, like the veins on the exhausted hands. One passage led into the dining room, the other in the living room, and the third led to the library. The fourth passage led to the exit of a luxury home, through a non-illuminated long tunnel, through which they had just stepped inside the mansion.
A spiral staircase gently poured into the balcony circle, standing out from the center of the hall. Following the dark-haired Anders, Eric climbed the stairs, looking at the bas-reliefs of people and animals, which were hidden in the shadow of the mezzanine. The bulges at the basalt walls displayed the proud ram, a mighty bull, half-naked men with swords in his hands, a huge cancer.
– This is the image of zodiac signs – Eric guessed by looking at the stone embodiment of the majestic lion.
– For the former owner of the mansion they were the symbols of faith – without turning notified Anders.
Eric wondered who owned this matchless house, which was reminiscent of the medieval cathedral, which interspersed with ancient temple. He wasn’t going to wait for a long time to find out the answer:
– And who previously owned this house?
– The man who saved my life – Anders quietly satisfied the curiosity of Eric.
– He died?
Eric somehow was convinced that it was true.
– Yes.
Once Anders confirmed his thoughts, Eric asked:
– How?
The man stopped and turned to Eric with a stern face. He regretted that he touched the wound, which he obviously was trying to forget.
– When a person stands in the way to achievement of one’s dream, that time dedicated to his life is significantly reduced. My advice to you, Eric – don’t destroy someone else’s dream, because you can lose your own.
– So, he was killed. – Eric didn’t ask, he commented the meaning of the words of Anders. He nodded.
Without saying a word, Anders turned and walked away, and Eric followed him.
Along the upper mezzanine were placed twelve doors in a circle. Each of them was decorated with a symbol of the zodiacal constellation.
– Oh, Yeah. Probably for your friend zodiac really played an important role in his life. If we consider, how many images are here.
– It was his faith – reiterated Anders.
– You mean religion? – Wondered Eric, when he finished examining one of the doors.
– There, where he was born, the stars – is the belief, art, life, and the law.
After Anders finished, he stopped at the door, where two babies were pictured. Eric was surprised, because he was born under the sign of Gemini, at the first day of summer.
– And where he came from, your friend?
– Already out of nowhere – briefly replied Anders. – This is your room – please! – He pulled the handle and opened the door. – You should put yourself in order, so I won’t interfere you.
Anders foisted to Eric the bags with clothes, he was already going to go, but he suddenly stopped.
– Sorry if I made a mistake with the size.
– Come on, – Eric closed the door, and then opened it. – Thank you, – he growled at last, and as soon as possible, shut the door behind him again.
In the room, which he was granted, easily could fit all the property of his family. Rough bronze statue glittered like foil from candies. Its arms and legs unnaturally bent, and the head rushed up and followed by eye into shrouded with clouds sky, which was flowing above the transparent ceiling. Curved humanlike creatures without a face and without gender were randomly leaning on the ghostly wall, which surrounded the dial, which was spreading out on the floor. The acute second hand was moving in the opposite direction around the marble stool, which enchanted by the presence of ideal simplicity.
– It’s funny.
It was the only thing that Eric was able to utter, thus expressing his perplexity to freak show atmosphere.
After a couple of tentative steps forward towards the reclined bronze statue, he saw glittering gold handle, the door of cream shade color was barely noticeable, hiding behind a bathroom. In the center of the white square was a huge granite boulder, turned out to be a real bath. Outside the reservoir for bathing looked clumsy, and even a little dangerous: sharp edges of the cleavage didn’t inspire confidence. But inside the bath was a continuous smooth surface.
Throwing his bags