Aaaaaaah, save me!" Roxy frantically panted and waved her arms. Edol, on the other hand, tried to remain calm, even though it looked like they were in trouble. The tree was stronger than they were.
Then the guys heard voices. As it turned out, they belonged to Roxy's friends, Evie and Thea. The girls also stepped into the Forest and fell into the clutches of the Tree. Well, more precisely, the branches. The situation seemed hopeless who could help them and explain to the tree who was the boss? There was darkness all around and not a single living soul (at least not a human one). The "brave" four couldn't think of anything better than to start screaming together. Yelling. Swear a little teachers or parents surely wouldn't recognize it.
The end would have been near, but, as it should, a miracle happened, arriving just in time: for a moment the darkness was illuminated by a bright white flash, and the children could see something marvelous. It was the wings of a butterfly. The tiny butterfly, like an intercessor, flew past the children and approached the tree. Then it began to flap its wings quickly, like a hummingbird. Waves invisible to the ordinary eye began to emanate from them (but the children were in a magical place!), as if attacking the mighty tree. Of course, nothing terrible happened to it, but the careless schoolchildren were released. The silhouette of the butterfly disappeared as suddenly as it had appeared.
It took Roxy, Evie, Thea, and Edol about a few seconds to realize what had actually happened to them. Everyone was intact alive and well. Who had saved them? No one knew. It couldn't have been an ordinary butterfly an insect weighing little more than a gram? Then who? Or what? This place was clearly home to powerful forces beyond the reach and control of man. Evil dwelt here. And evil has no place in this world. At least not in the City. We have to save him. Warn the others. Call for help. Gather an army and defeat the monsters. If necessary, raze all the Forests and Steppes to the ground. Or lower.
Shall we go back? " Roxy was the first to speak, as expected.
What was that?" Edol asked, scratching the back of his head.
We failed the mission, you oaf! " Roxy shouted at him. How could she, a real star, successful in everything, screw up? Not catch a single scary beast? She was loved, no, just adored by the whole school, and she chickened out! They can't let that go!
I remember the old woman," Evie said slowly, almost syllabically.
What? Nonsense We were in the forest," Roxy countered.
You were the first to set foot in it, and Thea and I were here for a while," Evie explained. Right, Thea?
Uh-huh," she mumbled. As before, so now, you couldn't get many words out of her. "And who are they all just a bunch of losers!"
Anyway, listen," Edol said, there's no point in us staying here. We've got to go home no, we'd better go to the police. They'll come and arrest these vile creatures.
Yeah, and let them get what they deserve. Kick them, and kick them hard!" that thought didn't seem so stupid to Roxy.
Let's get out of here before it gets dark," Evie was drawn toward the house, toward the chips on the shelf and the phone charger.
Okay, let's go.
The four started back the way they'd come. Their journey had been almost useless, but now they had a purpose: to find and kill evil monsters. Better than cramming for algebra and geometry exams.
People? Here? And who are they? " a worried Galya asked the butterfly, who had just returned from the Forest. Of course, unless you mean those poor children
They were human youngsters. Four of them," sang the butterfly.
I saw them. Apparently, they all went into the Forest.
Yes. They're dangerous.
You think so? I am not sure they're dangerous at all. People haven't come to our land for centuries. Except, of course, for the simple farmers. But they don't care about us.
We could be in trouble. We could be attacked.
By who? Children? Aren't they schoolchildren?
There are adults.
I don't know. I'll tell Louise.
Louise is a child.
She's going to be a Butterfly! The only one in the whole neighborhood.
That won't happen for a while.
Then forgive me, but what do you suggest?" it seemed Galya was beginning to lose patience. She didn't want to change the way things were and fight people instead of her and Louise's carefree life. The world had changed. Years and centuries had passed, and knights and kings had been replaced by programmers and designers. Of course, Galina was far from modern urban realities and generally the problems of existence, but now, and indeed, vigilance will not be superfluous. I'd have to send Louise on a little errand.
When Galina approached the house, she found the girl sitting on the doorstep with her arms around her knees. "Isn't she crying? I don't remember my Louise ever crying at all".
Is everything all right?" the old woman asked timidly, stroking the girl's back.
Yes, it's just" she mumbled. Galya, this is love
What? What are you talking about, honey? " Galina didn't understand. Louise is only twelve, and the time is definitely not yet right.
The time has come, " Louise objected in response to these thoughts. But there are no wings. That doesn't matter, though.
Louise, wings have nothing to do with love. Nor with first love. Tell me, who is he?
I don't know it myself, Mother. Our eyes met for only a few tiny moments. But I am different now.
You've met a real human boy?
He's Niels. That's his name.
And do you need him?
I need him badly.
Do you? Well, I can't help you now. But here's what you're gonna do: Go to the border and cross the border into the City. There's a lot of streets find a store on any of them and buy a newspaper. Bring it to me.
Are you, uh seriously? " the girl couldn't believe her ears. I'm going to the City? To the people? That's unbelievable!
Yes. Here, take five coins to pay for the paper. Go on, go on.
I of course I'm going!
There was no trace of her former sadness. The girl threw on her polka-dot jacket (it was already evening, and the cool breeze was making itself felt) and ran down the path again. To think that for so many years she had dreamed of going to the City! There are many, many people there: men, women, schoolchildren, old people and babies. Louise would see a new, vast world. And in it, that's where Niels lives.
Roxy, are you sure you want to do this? " Evie asked her friend. They were on their way home.
Of course I am. I want to be consul or minister of the City. I want to rule for real.
What if they don't believe us? Or it turns out there's really no one abroad? What then?
But we've seen it all ourselves! Yes?
Thea just nodded, and the boy shrugged. Sure, Roxy wasn't a bad girl, but power games were a risky business
No one knew there were two different worlds.
Niels slept and saw Louise's eyes, while Louise herself ran to the border. Some paths seemed to lead them to each other. This is how marvelous stories are supposed to begin.
After the entertaining scene, the Tree said to its butterfly helper "Thank you". It respected its world. It is only a pity that the play about salvation did not make a proper impression on the frightened schoolchildren. They did not realize that good and evil do not exist. They are one. And the world of people and nature should also become the same.
Chapter Five
Louise ran faster and faster, but soon her left side stung and she had to stop and catch her breath. She was almost there the lights of the evening houses in the distance. Multistory buildings. With elevator and balconies. The city beckoned the girl with its mystery. It turns out that to get to the fairy tale, and do not need to go far just ten minutes along the path through the Forests and Steppes. Louise was so used to her world and home that she didn't even know if she could manage alone in the City. Reaching the border, the girl closed her eyes and stepped into a new, foreign land. She passed a cottage community, in one of whose houses Niels Mountain lived, and reached a paved road where strange carriages with huge burning eyes drove. "They must be cars," the girl reassured herself, and moved on. She hadn't met any people yet maybe everyone was already asleep. But, although the first stars were beginning to light up in the sky, the City was noisy music was playing from the windows, buses and rumbling trolleybuses, crowds of people were still coming out of the entrances leading to the subway. Tired moms and dads were rushing home.
"Where can I find the store?" Louise whispered to herself in a trembling voice. She's scared. It's dark. No one is around. Or maybe there is someone who wishes her harm. "There's nothing to do, I'll have to find out the way," the girl decided and politely addressed a man passing by:
Excuse me
What do you want? " the man asked sullenly.
Can you tell me where I can find the store?
Are you not from here, or what? " the passerby was surprised.
А Uh, yeah. I'm new here.
There's a grocery store across the street," he pointed to a small building with a lighted sign that read "Products 24".
Oh, thank you so much. I can buy a newspaper there, can't I?
Well, yes," the man replied and walked away, muttering to himself: "Who in his right mind would buy a newspaper?"
It worked. Soon Louise would be home. And the night would be over.
The girl quickly jumped across the road, not even knowing about the crosswalk. The path was lit by streetlights, but Louise did not pay attention to the "zebra" drawn on the asphalt with chalk.
She knocked timidly on the door of the store, but got no answer, opened it herself and looked inside.
The store was small, and the windows were full of all sorts of things in brightly colored packages. The only products Louise could recognize were weathered loaves of bread and plastic bottles of milk; chips and potato chips were unfamiliar to her. The tired saleswoman, a full-figured middle-aged woman, turned to her unhappily:
Well? Speak.
А I'm sorry," Louise hesitated, but still she was not confused. Do you sell newspapers?
Yes, by the cash register. Which one do you want?
The newest one.
Five coins.
No problem.
She did it! She will go home, then lie in bed and draw a portrait of Niels in her mind, and in the future (the summer is so long!) she will use pencils and make it for real. The city frightened the girl so big and always running somewhere. Now it will be nicer to hide under the blanket, lighting everything with only a tiny but bright and hot fire in her heart.
The unknown always seems simple, but until you personally experience everything. Louise would definitely return to the City she must see Niels again.
The girl was already rushing home, but suddenly something stopped her it was her heart. "The settlement," it whispered.
There was a light burning in a single cottage. It tugged at her. Niels went to the window and saw a small figure. A girl. With long hair and wearing a light jacket. Louise. Niels waved to her.
The girl didn't answer. She just stood looking up until the lights on the first floor of the house went out. Then the front door opened and Niels's father shouted:
Get out!
I should say it wasn't necessary. There was no one under the window. Niels climbed back into bed and prepared himself for his father to come up to his room. His footsteps were already echoing down the stairs.
No girls, he knew.
Did you bring it? Good girl," Galya praised the girl. Louise even thought: "Does the nanny even need a newspaper?" In fact, she did what if people showed up in their little world with guns? We need to find out more about them.
I was scared.
What's wrong?
It's dark. You don't know what's around the corner.
But you wanted to go to the City so badly.
Why did you let me go alone? " Louise asked; she was beginning to feel drowsy.
Go to bed," said Galya suddenly.
I want to see the boy.
You'll run away tomorrow.
What?
Good night.
Confused, the girl went to her bedroom. "I'll find you. I need you," she whispered and fell asleep.
I'm waiting.
Father, I want to sleep.
No, I want an explanation! Who was that girl standing under the window?
I I don't know her. She must have been passing by.
Liar! A girl doesn't go out alone late at night! Well, so what? " dad insisted.
I have my first day tomorrow. I have to sleep.
Suppose I believe you, Nielson. But next time I won't let you get away with anything. Remember, you'll stay in this house forever. Your mother and I decided it a long time ago. We birthed you and raised you, so pay us back. You'll have to serve and kill things that shouldn't be.
What are you talking about?
Go to sleep!" he slammed the door and left. It was clear that Henry thought his son was nothing. There was no love, only duty.
Louise started to comb her hair in front of the mirror as usual, but suddenly she froze in horror her whole face was covered with some spots. The girl knew that she was not allergic to anything, and yesterday she had eaten almost nothing. And if she had, it was unlikely that her mother could know about it and tell Galina. Then what is it? What if she's sick with something?
Galya, Galya, what is it? " Louise ran into the kitchen where Galya was already reading the newspaper. The same one Louise went to get yesterday.
What's wrong? Don't scare me, baby.
Do I have spots on my face? Where did they come from? They weren't there yesterday, I remember!
Let me see," the old woman called the child closer and began to scrutinize her face, in some places even a little probing.
Everything is clear. Don't worry," after a minute she announced the "diagnosis". You're growing up, Louise.
What do you mean? " the girl was embarrassed.
It's just pimples. Hormones.
What's going to happen to me?
You're becoming a teenager, that's all. It's perfectly normal. It's as natural as birth and death.
I don't want to die," Louise said sternly.
You don't have to," Galya laughed. Shall we have breakfast?
Come on. I'm terribly hungry," agreed the girl.
It seemed that Louise was ready to eat an elephant: a plate of porridge was followed by toast, cocoa and marmalade on agar, and then spoonfuls of flower jam straight from the jar. The poor girl couldn't stop.
Louise, what's wrong with you? Aren't you full?
I want more!" she exclaimed. One jar of jam had already been emptied.
Wait, stop! You're not sick? You've never been like this before you've always eaten little and selectively. You used to pick out all the bones.
"Adolescence. Ah, how long ago it was" Galya added to herself.
The uniform fit perfectly, but the helmet was a little tight. All in all, Niels looked fresh, neat and warlike. But it was scary. Did his parents dislike him and want him to die in battle? "No, of course not. I'm a man after all," the young man reassured himself. It was time to leave the house the squad should come for him and take him to the place of the meeting.
"I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying home. My face is disfigured!" the poor girl was completely confused. She knew where Niels lived, just as she knew that there was a spark between them. An invisible thread had stretched out. First love, like in a fairy tale. One part of her soul had to find and see Niels at all costs, and the other part didn't want the shame of meeting someone else. What to do?
Niels but they hadn't even met. Is there such a thing? Just fall in love. She's only twelve, she's a child but her heart says otherwise. She's a magical girl, and Niels is just an ordinary man. A boy. Not Butterfly at all. She will fly, and what about him standing on the ground and watching? It's not fair! "Maybe I don't need these wings so much? " Louise pondered. "That's what mom and dad don't need me. I'll take it and not accept this silly magic! I'll go to the City and look at people to spite them! Mommy loved Daddy, just Daddy, so why can't I?"
Louise decided not to be discouraged. She dressed quickly, pinned her hair back, tied her apron and promised Galya to be there for lunch.
"Run. Look for love," the old woman only smiled. But she was uneasy at heart what could those young men from the City do? At first glance it seemed that there was no one but farmers and butterflies in the Forests and Steppes but there were not. There were those who flew. Those who hid. Those who lived underground. And then there were Galya and Louise. By the way, the girl often asked if there were no other Butterflies in the neighborhood; Galya answered in the negative, and it was true. Louise was really alone at least, if she didn't get a visit from her mommy.