Читать книгу Chronicles of the coast, or a ray of sunshine in the semi-darkness. Fantasy - Larisa Sugatova - Страница 6

Grandma Lisa and I were sitting at the table when Ty came in the morning a couple of days later, having breakfast. He joined us and drank a compote of fresh berries.

The sun had not yet had time to rise high, and we set off with him. I wanted to see what kind of city, my grandmother ordered me to go to the bazaar and buy various spices and good tea.

We walked along the narrow river behind the house, crossed the moss-covered greenish stones to the other bank and skirted the village. We headed down a small road towards the morning sun. It shone gently, warmed everything around.

The cold sea was roaring to the right. The dark sea surface glistened in the sun, and the foamy waves slowly rolled onto the shore, slowly running back. All day we walked and walked along the steep steep bank. Only once sat down to have a snack. Before the journey, grandma collected tortillas and sorrel pies in our shoulder bag, gave us a bottle of milk.

When the sun began to decline to the west, Ty suggested making a fire and having a good rest. He found a stream, cooked a soup of cereals, which he took with him from home. The fire was made of brushwood. We also spent the night there, and in the morning at first light we had a bite of the remaining soup and tortillas and set off.

By noon, in the distance, you could already see the wooden gate, I was overjoyed, the road pretty battered me. Walking in the heat all day, spending the night in the forest, walking again without rest, is still somewhat tiring for me.

Behind the gate there are various houses, but mostly also wooden. Occasionally there were stone ones. Old sidewalks made of planks lay along the road. Yes, almost everything here is made of wood.

This town was located in the tsunami danger zone. During earthquakes in the sea, there was a huge wave coming here.

We came to the market. There, in the rows, merchants were selling various things. The numerous smells started to make my head spin. Unwashed bodies, various spices, «fresh» fish from the coast, delivered the day before yesterday, pork giblets and cheap wine all together created a feeling of something sticky and unpleasant. Oh, no. I didn’t like such places. We hardly found where they sold herbs and teas. We bought what Grandma was punishing.

Ty haggled, chose. I didn’t know how to do that at all. I could only take the first thing I came across, I had never bargained before.

«I’ll wait for you at the exit,» Tyu said. I have always disliked pushing in a crowd and rather tried to get out where there is more air. I made my way through the crowd and stood waiting. Ty soon appeared with a puppy in his arms. The little white fluffy dog looked trusting.

– Where did you get it? I asked.

– Yes, some bad, very angry guy was selling. It became a pity.

– How cute! Come on.

We walked around the town, the dog sat mostly in Ty’s arms. A fluffy ball. They gave food to our new friend. The dog liked the cakes from Ty’s bag. On the way home we walked along the shore, looked at the surf. When they went through the forest, Ty suddenly became alert.

– What are you doing? I asked faintly.

– Quiet! – Ty expressively pressed his finger to his lips, gently pulled my hand, and we hid behind a large bush. After a while, two guys in long light shirts with red embroidery on the chest, intercepted by black belts, passed by.

«Who are they?» Why are we hiding? – I whispered to Ty right in his ear, – Should I be afraid of them?

– Let’s just say we’re not friends, – he looked at the departing guys with dislike, but without fear.

– Is that a reason to hide? I was surprised.

– I don’t want you and the dog to get hurt. By the way, what are we going to call our friend? Ty looks at the baby affectionately.

– Bark,» I reply.

– why?

– I like it. And you?

– Yes, me too, – Ty’s lips stretch into a smile.

It was still not possible to avoid a meeting with Ty’s enemies. After a while they came out to meet us from behind the tall trees. Apparently, they settled down there for a rest.

Ty warned me to stay behind him and not talk to the guys coming towards me. I’m not very sociable with strangers, you didn’t have to warn me.

Strangers tried to provoke Ty with rude words, pushed him to fight.

«Hey, Ty, do you want to talk?» – said one.

«He doesn’t have the courage,» his comrade answered the first.

And I stood up for Ty before he could answer.

– We didn’t touch you, go about your business, – I said, looking at them boldly and pulling my head into my shoulders internally, as if I wanted to hide from other people’s eyes more quickly.

One of them was staring at me intently.

– Well, who is this with you? – the tall blond guy hissed angrily to Ty, – You have such a defender.

This arrogant guy looked me up and down. His gaze sent shivers down my spine. It seems to be a pleasant face, good-looking, but there was something slippery in it, it is clear that he is a big fan of women, and those usually like such handsome men, but not me. Sometimes there was something predatory in it, and it looked like fire, which attracts moths so much.

«None of your business. Come on, Fox,» Ty took my hand, and we walked without looking back.

– Ty, who are they? I ask when they have moved away to a sufficient distance.

– Glen’s. Actually, they are kalshirs. And the one who spoke, Glen, the son of the leader. Or rather one of the sons, the eldest. His father is in charge of their village.

We walked for a long time. The sun was scorching mercilessly. His clothes were soaked, trickles of sweat rolled down his back, temples, neck. Well, at least it’s not raining, it’s not very pleasant to walk on wet grass in wet clothes.

We spent the night in the woods by the stream. We often met them here. We ate by ourselves, fed the dog and talked.

Grandma was delighted with the purchases.

We were glad to finally be in the house by the river. After a hasty meal, we ran to the lake to swim.

– Ty, catch up! I shouted cheerfully. He ran after me, pretending to tell me that this is not the way to do with a tired person.

– So I’m like that too, we’ve been together with you all this time! – I did not remain in debt, – But now how great it will be!

The cool water pleasantly chilled the skin. Washed off the sticky sweat. We swam and dived.

We refreshed ourselves and went ashore. The skin was instantly covered with goosebumps. Rather, she pulled on a clean T-shirt and jeans that she had brought with her. The skirt and blouse need to be washed.

– Ty, let’s wash our clothes,» I suggested to him.

«What am I going back in?» he looked at me in surprise.

– I brought you a clean shirt and pants. Grandma gave it to me.

We thoroughly washed and rinsed our dusty clothes. Ty was good at doing laundry. Then we sat for a long time in the dense shade of the trees until the heat of the day subsided.

From Ty I learned the history of his village.

Many years ago it was a small town. There were several mines in the vicinity, and in those days people drove around the main street in horse-drawn carriages. The mines have been worked out for a long time. The main street is overgrown with grass. Most of the houses were destroyed, rotten, the forest came very close to them. Now they were building houses next to the forest, where the outskirts of the town used to be. The village went more and more into the forest. So it turned out that the village was now located behind the old ruined city.

The sun was already setting, and we went to Grandma’s house. She was waiting for us with freshly brewed tea and pies with sorrel and strawberries.

Soon, at my request, we went to the old town. There’s nothing much to do anyway, at least I’ll look around the area where I found myself.

A depressing picture appeared before us. There was an unpleasant smell of desolation and decay in the air. A cracked old wooden table stood next to one of the dilapidated buildings. His legs were entangled in vines. There were traces of crumbling cement nearby, and the platform itself, on which the table stood, was cracked and overgrown with grass that made its way through numerous cracks. The eye sockets of empty windows against the background of old dilapidated walls looked creepy. A sad sight.