«All ears, my Queen!»
«Have I offended you somehow?»
«You are the most curious creature that…»
«Perhaps… are you jealous of me?»
«Me?!» the Guardian exclaimed in surprise and, without looking into my eyes, laughed… too artificially. «For whom, Alice? For the ninety-year-old Baba Yaga? For the Master of the swamp hellcats? Or for the Waterman from Nowhere? By the way, who is there on the menu tonight? A Killer?»
«The title of the book „A Shot in Vienna“ doesn’t mean murder,» I said meaningfully.
«Yes, I’ve read his story! Even if he didn’t commit a crime in Vienna after all, how much poison did he release into his potential victim while he was chasing her in a thirst for revenge? Do you think he’s not a murderer? The Forces of Darkness have much more servants than those who are officially on the payroll! Besides, your hero fought in the recent war and there…»
Speak of the Devil, and the Killer, a man in the prime of his life, immediately materialized in the hall with a lovely companion. The guests were looking forward to bloody confessions, they had no idea what he would end up shooting at.
While I led the party, as usual, standing with my back to the Giant Mirror, the Guardian was watching me from behind the counter of the sleeping cafe, and the Cat wandered among the guests, sniffing something.
Suddenly, the Witch, the author of «The Devil’s Trill», introduced by me at the first party there, appeared in the hall.
The Guardian gave her a displeased look, which she immediately noticed, being frozen at the entrance. However, as soon as I announced the break for an autograph and photo session with the Killer, the Witch sailed up to me.
«May I take a picture of you?» she asked with a mysterious smile.
«Of me?!» I raised my eyebrows in surprise. «Why? A professional photographer took a billion pictures of everybody, including me, during your own party here!»
«Please, Alice, just one frame!» exclaimed the Witch and added in a whisper, «Hurry!»
Her mesmerizing voice and magical look frightened me no less than «Hurry!» and the Guardian’s bell of the previous night. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the Guardian hurrying towards us and Roman entering the hall.
«Hurry up!» repeated the Witch, looking around nervously.
I remained standing with my back to the Giant Mirror when the Witch took a picture of me, but the Guardian immediately grabbed her hand.
«Milady?» he said sternly. «Taking pictures of portals is strictly prohibited!»
The Witch mysteriously looked into the Guardian’s eyes, while there was some movement on her phone, something was appearing, flickering and disappearing. When that stopped, she silently handed the phone to the Guardian. He scanned the file folder, but apparently found nothing criminal. The Witch headed for the exit. The Guardian followed her, and I hurried to my table…
«How are you?» Roman asked calmly, and I wanted so much to bury myself in him, so that he would hug me and… express compassion or protect?.. no, there was no such word there and then…
«This Mansion is the most mysterious place in our city I have ever been to,» I breathed out and added mentally, «What’s going on? Do you understand anything?»
«And what other places in the city have you been to?» Roman asked aloud obvious nonsense, in my opinion.
However, I thought about it and got into a wall of fog!
«Aah! Well, of course, to the Union of Writers!»
Roman kept silent, and then, as if gently stroking my back with his eyes, said,
«Let’s go on!»
«Whatever you want,» I nodded obediently.
Task No. 7. SACRIFICE
…The sacrifice is one of the ways to attract the attention of the Higher Forces to oneself. However, you should sacrifice not what you decided to part with as unnecessary after the inventory, but what is very dear to you.
You give something as a gift to someone who needs it or to whom it is more important now. Silently. Without regrets. Taking nothing in return. Preferably in secret, even from the one to whom you donate something.
One can sacrifice not only an expensive item or money, but also something intangible. The simplest example is a smoker who gave up smoking. You can donate your time.
The amount of the sacrificed will be returned from the Heaven Office to the benefactor’s checking account. One can use it partially or completely to pay off one’s dishonorable deeds (debts to Heaven) or, if a person is energetically clean, to pay for the fulfillment of good wishes.
The Magician doesn’t owe anything to anyone. He constantly makes sure that he is owed…
I heard the sound of the bell, and at the same time I noticed the King of Swords, who had come to the Open Microphone to walk me home at night. I turned my gaze to Roman, but he just ran his hand along my back, releasing me to the stage and to the King of Swords.
***
I returned home, lit the candles and thought, «What else and to whom do I owe here? What to sacrifice?!»
Almost immediately the serpentine beginning in me started hissing seditiously, «Didn’t you sacrificed too much to not understand what you have been paying for all your life, even if now, 33 nights left before…»
The familiar trill of the phone brought me back to turn me inside out and finally shoot me.
«Can ask? U love babies? I want job 1 year & make babies. I want babies. If u want. As God want… boy + girl. Yes? How u want? Tell me… Tell u want 2… Translation: Do you want children, Alice? How many children do you want? Tell me! Tell me the truth…»
I collapsed into bed and roared.
8. Лекция по Нежитиведению
Я зашла в комнату с ящиком для писем Творцу. Страж присел на стул у двери, пока я сканировала каждую деталь.
– Что ни вещь, то портал, – выдохнула я.
– Согласен, – без каких-либо эмоций подтвердил Страж.
– Как там всё происходит, в Портале?
– Я не могу ответить тебе на этот вопрос.
– Кто-то уже уходил?
– Книжки уходили… и возвращались… другие…
– А здесь есть те, другие?
– Конечно, – Страж улыбнулся, но явно не собирался мне их показывать.
– А ещё? – продолжая