Swaying on the swing, Sasha said in a businesslike manner:
A treasure is there.
How do you know that? Misha asked in surprise.
I feel. The boy answered absently and added: We need to visit there.
Are you a fool?! Yes, I will not return to this underworld for anything. Misha categorically declared.
Youre a fool, Mishka. Youre scared of someone who has not been around. And remember that miracles do not happen in this world. As an adult began to talk Sasha. And theres sure to be a treasure!
Listen, Ill tell you Sasha. It was still when I slept in the cradle, my mother told me. I came here from Moscow with professors and academicians with all kinds of equipment. And lets explore the castle. Everyone said that this was the last refuge of some rich breeder Demidov.
Yah?! Sashas eyes flashed with curiosity. But rather tell me what they were looking for.
So, my mother told me that the basement of the castle was enlightened by radar there.
So what?!
You do not have to interrupt! So, it turned out that underground water-filled rooms were found underground. And that there locator highlighted a heap of submerged some tools.
Well, and you Mishka refuse to go there. Since this breeder was richer than the tsar himself, he hid his treasure there as well.
And you think that the scientists who conducted the search there were worse than us with you or what?
Well, do not be any worse, Mishka. Sasha answered evasively. Did you find the treasure?
No, Sasha, you did not find it. Mamma said that they stayed there for six months. They were digging, drilling, looking for a shorter time, and they could not find a damn thing.
Yes, we saw that there is a lot of garbage, whole heaps and ruins with a fresh breakage of the walls. Sasha commented. But after your story, God himself told me to go again. But Sasha thought for a moment.
Whats that? curiosity prevailed, and Misha began to look in Sashins mouth with interest, waiting for an answer.
We just need to prepare thoroughly and so that our mothers do not suspect anything. He looked at Misha curiously.
You, Sasha, wait, what will I answer? If I refuse, then youll still go there alone, so?! If I say this to your mother, Ill be a traitor, right?! Misha reasoned, Ill have to agree.
Yes, I saw on your face that you rejected the style. Said Sasha.
You will condemn me, I will completely refuse, I understand! Misha painted an insult on his face.
Well, do not be angry, Im so friendly. I will not call you any more mug, you are my best friend, comrade, and also a cousin.
Well, of course, where to go, were brothers with you, even cousins. Answered without offense Mishka.
The guys conferred for a long time on what to take with them, how to dress and when to make a sortie to the old castle. From the side it was evident that the two boys on the playground were amused by the fact that they were riding on a swing, climbing on sports equipment scattered here and there on the site, and running after each other in catch-ups. When it was time for dinner, Mishas mother called them to dinner from the balcony
Friends agreed on the next day, when their mothers will still sleep, go to the old ruins. With this and ran into the kitchen, trying in everything to be obedient. Sasha without a reminder that to sit at the dinner table you have to wash your hands took a towel hanging from my mothers bed and under the surprised mothers looks went into the bathroom where Mishas hands were washed. Friends with carefully washed hands sat down at the dinner table.
You would have stayed with my sister; otherwise my bored one is here. Lovingly looking at her son, Mishas mother said.
Yes, no, Olga! Sashas mother flatly declared. Yesterday, when our skittles disappeared, I thought that I would die of grief if something happened to him.
Well, as you know, Natasha. We see so little, you know! Olga sighed sadly. Then she took the uncorked bottle of wine and filled the glasses.
Well, Natasha, lets at least drink on the path. Sisters clinked glasses of crystal, and drank to the bottom.
Sasha looked inquiringly at his mother:
We, Mom that we are leaving? His gray eyes widened with sudden curiosity.
Yes, son, tonight by train. I bought tickets in advance, so as not to hang around in queues. Thank you, that during the reign of Peter the Great the local breeder Demidov laid a railway there. And this tower, sideways on its side is it, too? Sasha with wide eyes looked at his mother and tried to cheat, seizing the moment when my mother began to talk about the historical events of Nevyansk, he asked pitifully:
Mom, leave me with Aunt Olya, now its a vacation, you do not need to do any lessons. Immediately I like at home, you yourself said, when we got here, that youll leave me for a whole month already?
No! You know my word. I almost died of fear for you, for your yesterdays trick.
The categorical tone of Natashas aunt, finally persuaded Misha that Aunt Natasha would take Sasha away and that he would be left without a friend for the rest of the holidays, cast down in despair. In the evening, Sasha and Aunt Natasha left on a passenger train in the direction of Yekaterinburg
Misha did not like these departures of my mothers sister, on those rare days when she came, and then after the departure of Aunt Natasha, her mother went for a long time, sullen and evil. Often, Misha got slapped for any little things that, as it seemed to his mother, prank and disobedience. And now, especially when Misha suddenly lost his crony friend, its twice as bad for her to stay with her mother, who is not in a mood. And he decided to go himself on the planned route, without worrying about maternal experiences and fears.
In the morning my mother woke Misha:
I am urgently recalled from leave to work, I will come late. Eating in the fridge, warm it up on the stove. Look here, that there was an order, you almost adult already get used to independence. She got dressed, and, taking the business folder, with some papers, left the apartment.
From the unexpected luck that he is now left to himself and can go where he wants. As soon as the mother closed the door, Misha jumped out of bed and began to gather for sally. Having packed everything into the school backpack, which he considered necessary, and, having dressed in a tracksuit, with a backpack behind him, he slammed the door of the apartment. And then he remembered that he had forgotten his mobile phone. He hurriedly opened the door with the key, returned, at that moment his Smartphone rang.
Yes mom. The mothers anxious voice asked what he ate, which Misha answered: Ive eaten, Mom, now Ill take the book and read it according to the set program. He lied. At the second end of the wire, already calmer, the mother replied, Okay, son, Ill call you back.
The conversation on this was interrupted and with a sigh of relief, Misha, closed the apartment door with a key
It was scary to go to the castle. The farther he left the house along the deserted weeds, which was abundantly growing everywhere, the more insistently the images of the suddenly revived human skeleton chained to the basement wall in the castle arose. Mishka in every possible way chased away these eerie memories, but memory inexorably aroused fears. What was left for them to do, how could they not turn and rush home from home? However, the shame for his cowardice and cowardice will then pursue him all his life, and Mishka involuntarily cringed from the chill, which suddenly penetrated with fear for the sports jacket. No, since he decided to go he will overcome himself and these worthless fears of a nonexistent danger and, most importantly, before himself he will overcome. With encouraging thoughts, he was already more confidently stepping forward
Chapter 3.
Through the ruined bridge he moved and already stood at the castle, still not daring to take the most important step into the breach of the fortress wall and move on to the goal.
After hesitating for a minute, he finally made up his mind and entered through a breach into the courtyard of the castle, overgrown with grass and bush. The surviving space was gaping with the blackness of the rectangular hole in the entrance to the round, half-ruined watchtower. Misha walked with a firm gait. From the outside, if you watch him at these moments, it was clear that the boy is familiar with these places, as he moved confidently and vigorously, without any circumspection, peculiar to people entering the unexplored for the first time
The morning sun penetrated into the round room, illuminating the steps leading down to the gaping entrance to the basement, which the guys opened the last time. Misha looked with fear in the blackness of the door, where the bones of the scattered skeleton were. Imagining this picture, which recently brought Misha into a heart-rending fear, he again hesitantly froze at the steps of the entrance to the cellar. As he did not have enough Sasha in those moments, of course, Sashka would not fail to laugh heartily from him. The imaginary picture of Sashas ridicule encouraged the boy, and with a sinking heart he began to descend. With every step that brought him closer to the entrance to the basement, fear grew. At the very entrance, he took out their side pocket of a backpack Smartphone, turned on the flashlight bulb. A bright light pierced the blackness of the entrance, snatching out the white splinters of firewood on the stone floor. Oh, its not firewood, its the bones of the skeleton, scattered here and there. At first, the fear stopper tied the boy, he stood, as if stumped, not daring to move from his place. But gradually fear let go of him, numbness passed and, daring, he decided to shoot on the video of the Smartphone this picture with human bones on the floor in the dust of the cellar. During this occupation, suddenly, his Smartphone made a bell sound, frightened by an unexpected call.
Misha hesitated for a while to answer. Then a moment later he looked at the call screen. Sasha called. Masha accepted the call and saw Sashas laughing face on the screen.
Oh, hi! he said, Why can not I see you? You, whats in the castle, or something, in the basement with a skeleton, or whats so dark, you can not be seen?
How do you know where I am?
Yes, Im joking. What do you think, I did not see how you put in your pants when you draped from the basement, eh? Sashas mocking laugh rang out.
See for yourself what Ill show you! Misha became a flashlight Smartphone to illuminate the remains of the skeleton, passing the image to Sasha. The friend was silent, without making a sound
Sashas Smartphone lay on the kitchen table, behind which he sat, waiting for Mom to fill the plate with soup and put it on the table. When the bowl of soup set in front of Sasha, at this very time Misha began to broadcast the shooting of the basement remains of the skeleton of the castle. Sashas mom, seeing human bones on the image, grabbed the Smartphone in horror, and heard:
Well, which of us is a coward, and Sashka?! Mishas voice shook Sashas mother to the depth of consciousness.
Misha continued to shoot a terrible picture, and, marveling at the silence of his friend, said:
What, you there the boy, it is not terrible, and?!
No, Misha, Sasha is not scared, Natashas aunts voice drove Misha into a stop. He turned off the smart phone, and resolutely rushed to the exit from this eerie place. Misha knew for sure that Aunt Natasha would immediately call her mother, and Mom would immediately rush home, forget about work, and forget about everything and only to make sure that nothing happened to him. Misha, in the blink of an eye, found himself near the doorway of the tower, when suddenly a warning thought flashed through the depths of the subconscious: We must close the basement so that there are no unnecessary questions. And he ran down to the green ring, which had turned green from the old times, to install the torch. He grabbed the ring and struggled as best as he could, yanked. The cellar door creaked wildly with a wild screech. But Misha did not see this anymore, the terrible creaking and grinding of the sliding door, drove the boy away without looking back. A few minutes later, when Misha ran through the wasteland home, Mom called the Smartphone.
Yes mom!
You, what do you allow yourself, ah?! My sister calls me and says that you are now in the former prison for convicts, who were kept there for construction work, when Demidov rebuilt and started his plant. And if the wall collapsed?! A brick on his head would have fallen?! And in the basement would be overwhelmed? What do you think, woe is you mine?! The mothers voice rang in the phone.
Mom, Im already approaching the house, nothing happened to me.
Wait for it! Ill get home!
From these words, Misha was not so offended as for Sashas betrayal. Sasha passed it to his mother and now the friendship is over. A new call rang. A call from Sasha is indicated on the screen. Misha, with vexation, dialed several buttons, removing Sashas phone from the Smartphone database. Now he has neither a friend nor a cousin of a traitor. I did not want to go home, but pity for my mother took over and unwillingly, overcoming the inevitability of punishment, he wandered the weeds of the wasteland home
Half an hour later, from the moment Misha entered the apartment, my mother came. The woman did not have a face. She, without taking off her shoes, rushed to her son:
You know, she turned to her son, breathless, if it was not for Sasha, I would have poured you over the very outset.
And what did he tell you? Misha asked insinuatingly, putting off the textbook on Russian literature.
He said that you promised him to show a horror movie that you could download from the Internet. And that you did not go anywhere. Natasha, too, then I apologized. Sashka said that in this horror film shootings were conducted in places similar to our ruins jail and that you walked looked at the similarity, when Sasha and his mother came to us.
From these words, Misha eased from the heart, and the mother in the meantime continued: I did not believe a single word of it until I came home. You really did not go anywhere?!
Of course not, Mom! Misha answered smugly and confidently. About Sashka, he thought that what a cunning, how cleverly held our sisters, will go far right. And I thought about my sneakers that I was lying in the bathroom. Mother just washed there and, finding dirty shoes, left the bathroom, holding sneakers in her hand.
And whats that?! looking with alarm at his sons eyes, she asked anxiously, feeling that she was being led by the nose.
Theres dirt since last time. Without losing, coolness and, lazily, as if the evidence here is nothing to do with, in the mothers investigative file on the concealed son with all her strength to sally
Is there fresh mud here? Mother did not give up.
Well, I went out into the yard. Lied Misha. He hit the ball a couple of times, then returned, only the shoes got dirty. And when you called me, I was just approaching the house from the playground; I told you that Im coming to the house.
I have to cleanse myself; otherwise I will not be able to buy such expensive shoes so often.