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Out of breath, Ethel caught up with Zara in front of the square, where a multitude of mechanical butterflies with bubbles filled with heart dust were flying. It glowed and shimmered in their small bodies, enveloping the viewing deck in a soft scarlet glow. Zara didn't turn to him, but she smiled, slowing her step.
"Where are you going so fast? We've only just met, and you're already running away from me," said the young man with a feigned reproach, and then froze, noticing the amazing luminous beauty around, then came to his senses again and rushed after the girl.
"I get it, you're using this beautiful place as a diversion to get away. But believe me, nothing can compete with..." and he stammered, for when they emerged from the scarlet haze, they found themselves in an empty space in front of a low stone fence. Beyond that was the lower tier, and above it was the massive Palace of the Usurper, rising to the heavens like a black wall and a crown of lights. There was a gap only on the right side of it, where the lights of the inner palace shone.
"Do you know what that gap in the wall is?" Ethel asked, fascinated.
Zara shook her head.
"How about that, the golem tamer doesn't know the Saga of Sammarius!" they both laughed, and he continued, "It's not a classic text, though, but an addition about Tamen's heroic ascent."
He cleared his throat and began to recite:
"And valiant Makitu Kwal sent warship to a battle’s call. With fiery heart and courage all our hero brave Makitu. He vanquished foes, his frigate blazed. To fight again his spirit raised. Then down the rope his form was raced. Descended bold Makitu. The palace walls in thunder broke. The ship’s blast left a veil of smoke. Behind it sailed, purpose-storke. The captain stout, Makitu.”
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He finished and turned his head toward Zara, who was looking at him with a smile. Ethel was immediately embarrassed and went through his pockets again.
"Here, look!"
And he threw something over the fence in front of him. There was nothing for a while, but then glowing lines rose from below, drawing a frigate floating on the waves. It made a circle around the square and took off into the sky, twinkling and glowing with multicolored lights. The gathered people and Zara applauded. The girl laughed and covered her rosy cheeks with her hands. Ethel turned to the casual audience and bowed:
"Come! Come! Safrona Chemical Theater at the intersection of Cutters and Puppeteers!" and turning to Zara, said, "As for young tamer, I invite you right now!"
Zara staggered, and he nodded at his cart.
"Don't think anything wrong, I need to take the tray, and then I'll be happy to walk you home."
Zara thought for a moment, her gaze fell on the stray dogs who had also come to watch the show, and she shuddered and mechanically grabbed Ethel's hand.
"I'll take that as a yes," the young man smiled.
They returned to the elevator and walked down the Heart Square past the Thirteenth Moon to the Craftsmen District. There, at the corner of Cutters and Puppeteers, there was indeed a double door with a beautifully carved inscription "Chemical Theater," and at the bottom was a note in paint "Ethel Safrona." The young man chattered like a magpie, taking advantage of his companion's silent interest. And she looked at the small hall, filled with leaky seats with worn-out numbers, the crumbling plaster, and the stage, with hastily nailed boards of various sizes, which lacked credibility. Ethel, pacing lightly on them, led her backstage, where his chemical laboratory was located, and with glowing eyes began to tell her about the contents of beakers and flasks, about heating elements and how the figure of a rabbit was obtained. But Zara did not listen, just enjoying the sound of this unexpected man's voice. He sounded like a big kid lost in his infatuation. And she loved it. There were no passionate people in her life. Except for the old magister, but even he was rather an exception to the rule.
She noticed the light at the opposite end of the laboratory and squinted her eyes. Ethel turned there, too, and said:
"Oh, you're there, buddy? Come here and meet someone."
Zara could make out a figure behind the pile of glass, hesitantly separating from the table and heading in their direction. Ethel switched on a couple of gas lamps, and a man - still young, in a simple shirt and pants, with a black beard, regular features and beautiful but keen eyes - stepped into the light.
"My dear tamer, this is my assistant Alladi, or just Al. He helps me. And he uses the laboratory at his pleasure. Al, this is a silent golem tamer."
"Good evening," Al said dryly, and gave her a hand, which she quickly shook.
"Can I go now?" he asked just as dryly and with a little irritation.
"Sure, of course. I won't be needing you tonight," Ethel said absently. "Unless you sort out the tray, please, and I'll escort the lady to her home."
Al reluctantly nodded, cast a brief glance at Zara, and walked toward the cart. Zara lowered her eyes, feeling uncomfortable tension, but Ethel took her by the arm and led her to the stage.
"Let's go. Al is often in a bad mood lately, some family problems. Let's not disturb him," he said sympathetically and helped her down the rickety steps into the hall.
"I'll lock up!" he shouted backstage and hurried after Zara, who had already risen to the exit and was standing under the small balcony for two people. She could barely contain her smile, watching how clumsily, obviously worried, the young man hurried to her, stepping over the chairs, and himself laughed at his haste.
"Yes, yes, I am intrigued and deprived of the peace of your silence," he said hurriedly as he opened the doors for her, "But something tells me that you are not mute, am I right?
Zara nodded and stepped out with her cloak hood on – it was drizzling rain outside.
"Wow!" Ethel patted himself on the head. "Just a minute!"
He disappeared into the hall and returned a moment later with a cylinder on his head in the color of his green suit. Locking the door, he offered her an elbow and said:
"Well, lead the way!"
Zara took him by the arm, and they walked down the alley on the rain-shiny sidewalk.
As they made their way through the crowd of dolls lined up for repairs in the alley, Zara caught a glimpse of one that looked a lot like the one Magister Wolfie had stolen from the auction.
"Poor things," the young man said sadly, looking behind Zara at the long line.
"There are no good craftsmen at all. I wanted to become a puppet master myself, but no one teaches, everyone is self-taught. I went to the library and came across a book on chemistry. I couldn't tear myself away," he shook his head and looked dreamily at the houses propping up the sky, where streams were beginning to trickle and pound, accumulating in the gutters. The rain increased remarkably, knocking the heart dust to the ground and drumming loudly on the intimidating figure of a black knight who was connecting his horse to the black smoke pipe. Seeing him, Zara instinctively clung to Ethel, but then recoiled in embarrassment.
On the approach to the Heart Square, the rain stopped, but the companions immediately ran into more trouble. Two drunken men, barely on their feet, began shouting at Zara.
"T's her! I'm tellin' ya," blubbered the fat man, too drunk to make sense.
"Where?" the tall man, who was struggling to hold on to the fat man and waving his free hand, whirled his head absurdly. "Show me! She owes us the doll!"
Then his gaze focused briefly, and he finally saw Zara.
"This one?!" he shouted in the fat man's ear, so that he fell to the sidewalk.
"Yes! Her! That's her. Fuchi, come quickfly, look!" he shrieked, making monumental efforts to get up.
Zara tensed. Ethel stood in front of her.
"Don't be afraid, I'll take care of it," he said with a shudder, and took a step toward the drunks.
The tall one was staggering toward them. Ethel reached into his pocket, but no sooner had he done anything than Zara came out from behind him, walked quickly up to the tall man and slapped him so hard that he was thrown to the nearest lamppost, knocked to the ground and collapsed on the sidewalk without moving. Then Zara went over and grabbed the fat man by the scruff of the neck, looked him in the face, which made him turn white and seem to sober up instantly, and cracked his face on the stones of the sidewalk. There was a crunch, and the fat man went limp. And the girl, as if nothing had happened, returned to the stunned Ethel, took him by the arm, and led him to the "Thirteenth Moon" tavern at the other end of the square.
When they approached the noisy, like boiling broth, windows of the tavern, the young man recovered a little and looked at Zara in surprise – standing in front of him and adjusting her dress, the girl smiled guiltily.
"Left no crumbs," Ethel could only utter, "I wasn't wrong about the tamer."
He tried to smile, but it came out crookedly, and Zara laughed. He giggled, too, but then suddenly burst out laughing. They could not stop laughing and laughed loudly until their stomachs cramped. Ethel could not stand it and first leaned against the wall and then sat down on the wet stones.
"Oh-ho-ho-ho, how the tension is coming out," he said, wiping tears from his face. "Listen, teach me, will you? I was going to throw a smoke bomb at them, so we could escape, but what you did to them..." he laughed again. "Where did you learn that?"
Zara pointed to the door of the tavern, hiccuping.
"Do you live here?" the young man seemed surprised.
Zara nodded.
"Your parents’?" he asked, taking out his handkerchief and wiping his face.
Zara nodded, but then shook her head.
"You mean not your parents'? Is it yours, then?" Ethel raised his eyebrows in surprise.
Zara smiled, hiccuped, and nodded.
"Well, I never! I now know the owner of the most dissolute establishment in the whole lower tier! No wonder you fight like that."
At these words, a boozy thug stumbled out of the pub, but saw Zara and immediately rushed to retreat.
"Ha!" the young man exclaimed. "What a reaction! I wish the bandits were afraid of me too, I wouldn't have to pay the guards of the theater!"
He stood up, took off his hat and bowed to the girl.
"I'm so pleased to meet you, tamer of oblivion-water lovers!"
Zara laughed and tapped him on the arm with her basket.
"Hey, careful, I give up! Your uppercut might cost me my life!" Ethel put his palms out in front of him.
Zara smiled, hiccuped, walked over to the young man, and after a kiss on his cheek disappeared behind the door of the beer house. He stood staring ahead of him for a while, and then suddenly remembered.
"You didn't tell me your... name," he said into the void, and elated, he walked back down the square with a dancing gait.
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When Ethel entered the Theater, it was quiet and empty, and Alladi was already climbing the narrow stone stairs in the east tower of the station. The small windows barely let in the light of the moons, and Al walked almost gropingly, trusting his instincts rather than his eyes. Inside the tower was an elevator that connected all levels of the station and allowed the attendant magisters to move between platforms without merging with the human flow. At the very top, in the observation tower, there was a streak of yellow light under the door, and voices could be heard. Al went to the door and knocked three times, and then, after a pause, two more times. The voices died down, and someone got up from a chair and came to the door.
"From the thirteenth moon..." began a deep female voice.
"Bad news come soon," replied Alladi.
The deadbolt creaked, and a full-figured woman appeared in the doorway, her hands covering her eyes and mouth. Al did the same, and the woman, peeking through her fingers, nodded at Al and cleared the way.
The rhyme he uttered tugged at his tongue as he entered a small hall with a round podium in the center and rows of chairs next to it. The podium covered the top of the elevator winch located one floor below. Two gentlemen were seated on the podium. One looked like a cloud, and the other, with the black round glasses, looked like a dried vegetable or a snake. All around, on the chairs, there was a wide variety of people from both the lower and upper tiers, some of whom turned and nodded to Al, who was seated against the wall on piled canvas sacks.
"And what do they expect? What kind of action do people expect when our hands are tied? When they persecute and burn anyone who dares to speak their mind?" a stout gentleman spoke to the audience, and his mustache seemed to become electrified.
"You should do what I do," the vegsnake said, "You should make a travesty of everything. You're very lucky that I'm with you and not with them. They'll devour themselves, give them time. If I were you, I'd help them."
A short, thin, middle-aged man, who smelled of damp, latrine and fried meat, sat down next to Al and asked in a low voice:
"So, did you meet him?"
Alladi nodded curtly.
"Disturbing the void again," the thin man nodded toward the podium.
Al hesitated, but then shook his head. An elderly voice sounded from the distance:
"I have been studying all modern construction projects for decades. And not one, I repeat, not one is carried out with the perspective in mind. They spoil the view, nowhere else in the middle tier can you see the horizon, everything has become like below. Was this possible before? No. I believe that we should blow up these monstrosities for the sake of the very essence of harmony and beauty in urban agglomerations. Art pushes us to do this!"
The cloud laughed.
"Forget your social terrorism, dear Mr. Sh. Do you think that if we blow up a couple of high-rises, something will change and people will feel harmony in the layout of the City?"
The thin man lowered his eyes, then asked again:
"When?"
Al lowered his eyes to the floor too, then looked at the thin man and replied:
"During the alignment of the moons."
"We're people of knowledge," the stout man didn't let up, "Yes, I have many disagreements with her, but I support what she's doing."
"She lives with him!" a voice came from the other side of the podium.
"She sacrifices herself for the common good!" the cloud turned on his chair and almost fell from it, indignantly searching his eyes for the unexpected speaker.
"Our bird is in the cage," laughed the vegsnake.
"How long have they been talking like that?" Al leaned over to the thin man.
"An hour and a half," he sniffed back.
Alladi turned his head, then stood up and walked between the chairs toward the podium. The cloud and the vegsnake immediately turned their predatory eyes on him.
"Where do you think you're going, young man, we haven't fi...," resented the stout man, but Al had already climbed to the podium, looked around at the crowd, and spoke:
"Brothers... and sisters. We can't. No. Not even that. We no longer have the right to remain silent. We must act. There is so little time left until the end of the lunar cycle that we have no minute for contradictions. You all remember well the prophetic poems of the poets of ancient times. We are living at a defining moment when there is no room for words."
"Do you propose to burn in the inquisition flame?" a voice came from the audience.
"Even so, if it helps in any way!" Alladi shouted back.
"Young man, but..." the vegsnake protracted. But Al interrupted him.
"You," he said to the people on the podium, "You, babbling these useless excuses and jokes trying to look smart. You think this is going to get things moving somehow? Do you think if we continue to fear for our skins, anything will change? The responsibility for the deaths of our comrades and thousands of the poor is on our hands."
"Young man, what are you suggesting anyway?" the vegsnake asked with a carnivorous smile, pulling down his glasses, which exposed his cataracted eyes.
"Me?" Al was surprised, wincing at the blind gaze.
"Yes, yes," the man nodded in response, looking somewhere in front of him, "I can't see you, but I can sense your fiery desire to sacrifice yourself for the good of the people. So tell me, how are you going to do it?"
Al remained silent, inwardly choking with the urge to speak out.
"That's right. I see you don't have any suggestions either," the blind man grinned.
"I do," Al said, "But that's none of your business."
"Well, if it's none of my business, what business is it of yours what we're talking about here?" he said calmly and leaned back in his chair, adjusting his cufflinks.
"I came to say..." Al began, but this time he was interrupted by the cloud.
"You have come to discourteously disrupt our conversation and the rules of the meeting, and have said nothing that anyone here wouldn't already know."
"I..." said Alladi, who was already shaking, looking around the hall, staring at him with displeasure, but then he jumped off the podium, proceeded to the door, unlocked it, and slamming, disappeared into the darkness.
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