Comrade Crocodile studied me with attentive white and gray eyes.
- Julia, forgive the immodest question, but who is this young man to you?
And the truth by whom? But my tongue, before I could control it, gabbed.
- He's the grandson of a grandfather friend. Aunt Masha asked me to look after the child and civilize him. Show me the fork there, the plate... satellite! Or it's just cows and goats in their village!
- Julia! - Charles is outraged. I didn't even drive in my ear.
- So the young man will get used to it, will find a study to his liking, or a profession to his mind...
- Yulia!!!
This time, the outrage was stronger.
I patted Charles on the arm.
- Sashka, no offense! Adults are all human! It is clear that in your village you have no prospects. And in our city may appear. And I look after you only for the first time!
It was pure truth. Just... I didn't know if the Vampire Council was in the city or the village? But who cares? What difference does it make? And the watch is temporary! And the guy needs to be civilized!
- But between you... excuse me again, no personal relationship?
- Unless they're deeply friendly," I honestly said.
What else can I have with this poor man?! He'd have to lie down, not think about women!
But Crocodile Sr. seemed to have calmed down a little.
- Then I'll go on. Yulia, didn't you ever think that your talent is a huge responsibility?
- And more than that. It's also a lot of problems and a breakthrough of my unnecessary obligations. So what?
- Not only that, I know you inherited your abilities from your grandfather.
- I wouldn't advise my grandfather to touch it," I squinted.
- No way! And we don't need your grandfather, neither do we, he.
- That's right. Then what do you want?
My head was stupid, stupid.
- Yulia, did you ever think that your abilities would be inherited by your children?
I wouldn't have thought about it. And the kids got scared! They'll inherit their abilities...
What if there's a bunch of vampires who want to use them!? We'll do something!? Rent the offspring out? Wait until they're old enough to choose their own vampires? Or is it just something else?
And who do I give birth to them from?
Oh, your genetics!
- To give birth to children, you need to find a decent father and a caring mother for them," I finished with my grandfather's phrase.
And the psychic suddenly sprayed in such a sweet smile that at least the fruit is tinned.
- Exactly! Exactly, Yulenka! It's rare to meet such an intellect at such a young age! And I'm sure you'll make a wonderful mother! As for your father... have you thought about anyone else?
- About who? - started something coming to me.
But it didn't get there in time. With the joyful smile of a hungry cannibal, a comrade pushed his son forward.
- Julia, you know Genochka's heart is still completely free! Perhaps you should get to know each other? Talk? Sit somewhere tonight?
I almost grunted. In "Wolf Fight" or something? To Vivaldi's music, under the nose of vampires...
In fact, this Gena inspired me no more than a fungus, a glade of bastards! I needed that crocodile relative for three years! If I'm in conflict with Mieczysław, it's because of someone worthy!
- I don't have time," I cut it off.
- What if you think about it?
The look of the grey eyes was unexpectedly serious.
- Julia, you have virtually no choice. Neither do we. All people have a serious duty to God and society. - It sounded so pathetic that I almost threw up. - Understand, Gena is not the worst option. You might even like each other. You'll have time to socialize. Make friends...
I shook my head.
- I'm still too young for kids.
- The childbearing age counts from sixteen," I was glad. - And the first task of a girl with paranormal abilities is to give birth to as many children as possible.
- And how many children does your Tatiana have? - I was even wondering.
- She has no children. It's a very sad story, Julia. A young girl, a cheerful group of teenagers who went for a ride on motorcycles - and one of the bikes flew into a truck. Tatiana was seventeen years old then. And she was pregnant. She lost the baby. And so did the ability to have children.
- I'm sorry," I just said.
Yeah, I was mad at the psychic. But I didn't want that for her. I didn't want that for anyone.
- That's why Tatiana is a very unhappy man. Her boyfriend died then, too. And she was in a coma for almost a month. Then she was tested, and psychic abilities were found.
- Does everybody check who came out of the coma? - I couldn't help it.
- Those who have suffered a clinical death can be tested. They do.
Oops. Me, too!? Is that me, too? Ask me straight?
You don't have to. I won't get an answer anyway. And anyway, I don't have enough brains to count!? Obviously, there's no way I could have been missed. I was very "lucky" at Snegirev's that time, in winter...
Gene Genich looked at me from under his thick lashes. You were waiting for a question?
I didn't say anything... What next? Without waiting for a reaction from me, comrade continued.
- You are one of the few women in our field with psychic abilities.
- One of the few? - I was worried.
- There are two other girls," the psychic just explained. - Just three per area.
- I haven't seen them, no... They don't work with you?
- Their abilities are even smaller than mine. Speaking objectively, Tatiana is the strongest specialist of the four of us.
I nodded and looked at Gene Gene with respect. You have to be able to recognize your strengths and weaknesses. He does. And that's great.
- That's why those two girls dedicated themselves to family. They give birth and raise children.
And then it came to me. I couldn't even breathe.
- Of course, from those with certain abilities? Yes?!
Gene Gene lowered his eyelids for a second. He didn't nod. He didn't give me some more distinct sign. But...
- Of course, the marriage is legal and blessed by the church, they entered into it out of love.
- Of course, I strained it. My hands clenched their own fists. The fingernails were soaked into the palms of my hands. And I also resented - why do I need a manicure?! Yes, to get a grip on myself. The pain in the palms had a sobering effect.
The painting became clear before disgusting.
Gene Genich actually informed me that I was at the right age for childbearing. Right. He doesn't know about the Vampire Seal of the IPF. Neither does he know about the fact that at this age I will stay forever (if no one gets hurt). And so... you can give birth until you're 40. Okay. If you don't feel sorry for a woman, you can give birth until the age of forty-five. And you hinted - by your own will? - that I'm already being seen as such.
And if they do, they make plans. And if they do, they can put them into practice.
Oh, Mom!
I pulled myself by a strand of hair.
- Gennady Gennadyevich, I appreciate your kind offer.
- But will you say no?
The grey eyes were sad. I nodded resolutely.
- You know what I mean. But I'm grateful to you.
I was really grateful. Forewarned means armed. And since I am armed...
Well, what then?
I didn't know yet. But I'll think about it later.
- As a thank you, go out to a cafe with Gena," said Crocodile Sr. simply and seriously. He didn't, though. Don't make fun of him. Gennady Gennadievich. Wow. The scariest of the set of local psychics. And the weakest. And the people are kind of good.
Especially when he stopped biting and started talking quite seriously.
And I was wondering, for a moment, if it wasn't th
e mask of all his stories about crocodiles? Maybe he's a lot smarter and more serious.
Maybe.
And if I go to a cafe, I won't lose anything. But...
- Gennady Gennadyevich, I'd love to go to a cafe. With you. Or - with you and your son.
The grey eyes were calm and serious.
- Then I would be happy to invite you to a cafe somewhere this weekend?
- As soon as I pass my political science exam. It will have to be celebrated," I smiled.
Yeah. And Alfonso da Silva's going away as well. And at least you can breathe in peace.
- Julia, I'll leave you my phone. And you'll call me when you're free. Is it a deal?
- It's a deal.
Gennady Gennadyevich gave me a simple white card.
"Dr. P.A. Crocodile G.G."
And the phone.
- Doctor of what science? - I specified.
- Pedagogical.
- Oh, I see. It's a pleasure.
I put the card in my pocket.
- And so do I. I'll be waiting for your call.
We smiled at each other. Not for long. Because Rokin was rushing to us from the hangar.
- Julia?
- Oh, yeah? - I said it, knowing that the beautiful "home" is moved to the "beautiful far away".
- The Holy Father wanted to talk to you...
I didn't want to talk. It didn't work out. Too much happened to leave the people without explanation.
- Is he coming, or should I go to him? I'm the only one who's honestly warning you - I can throw up all over the place. Sorry, I'm not used to this. In the first minutes it was still like this, and now it's backing down.
Rokin looked back at the hangar we had left and shook his head.
- Okay. I'll get him in here. Is that better?
- It will be," I agreed. And Rokin headed back to the body.
The crocodiles stepped aside and talked about something. And I didn't want to go to the hangar. Going back to the hangar where I almost got grabbed by those blots?!
Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr...
- Is it cold?
- It's disgusting. And nasty thoughts are spinning.
- Because of these two? - Charles shone his glasses towards the Crocodiles.
- They told me some unexpected and not very nice things right now. We should think about that. And meet them again.
- Yulia, are you sure this is a good idea? You can't trust the IPF.
- Who can? You can't have the IPF? Vampires? Werewolves? Who!? Shit!
While Charles was thinking about a difficult question, Padre Miguel came out of the hangar and headed towards us. He was just as chipper, big and in a windy cassock.
- Julia, good afternoon! It's good to see you!
- Whatever the reason? The girl was killed," I snapped at her. - And she was murdered very cruelly.
- Of course I mourn. And I will pray for her poor soul.
- Your grief is written all over your face.
- It will be written. When we catch this evil. And I hope, with your direct help. Rokin told me that you don't want to go back there. Is there something wrong?
- That's it, I snorted. - I'm a biologist, not a butcher. And Natasha is my classmate. Her poor parents. What will you tell them?
- That she got hit by a car. You can't tell them the truth.
- Why?
- And what truth is Julia?
I was thinking.
- I don't know. You could talk about a maniac...
- And stir up the whole town? Not for business, just for fun...
- And why just like that?
- And how else? You felt it in there too, didn't you?
- I felt," I confessed grimly.
- Can you share your impressions?
What, I'm not sorry. And since this time I was not dragged anywhere (such "geniuses" as Vadim, who put a girl in the hand of a living human heart ... that is already dead, and, no matter, the main thing - and so understandably, it was not here) had to tell the past conclusions.
- I don't know why, but I think it's really a sacrifice. And it's been pumped out of the victim. Including the life ones.
- That's right. Right now, our psychics can go up to her, examine her, which is what they do. And they say about the same thing. Unfortunately, we haven't figured out the symbols yet. It seems to be a Scandinavian rite of execution. But the way her heart looks...
- Her heart?
- It's like a mummy. Dried up dusty lump. It's like she died a hundred years ago.
And then it's the same.
- Anything else? The ritual? Maybe some kind of symbolism? Or runes?
- Nothing else is known yet," the Holy Father shook his head. - Too little time. We have not yet had time to make inquiries.
For a few seconds, I hesitated to tell or not to tell about the first murder. I mean, the Lavric sacrifice. But... how do you tell? What would it look like, actually?
I'm not the only one who's attracted to you as a consultant, and the Prince of the City drove me to a dead body. He (the Prince) is a bit of a vampire, and I also know where he stays during the day, I know a lot of werewolves and in general - I am a surname. Personal and Knyazevsky.
And then go and soap up the rope. Because I'm gonna be wiped out by the IPF. And if there's anything left, they'll bury the rest with me.
Oh, yeah! And this guy that Sasha - he's actually Charles and a semi-dragon. So who wants to repeat the feat of Dobrynie Nikitich - get in line and pay a hundred bucks for the attempt on the whole nose yet.
So I didn't tell you about Lavric. I put my eyes down and sighed.
- You see, Mikhail... sorry, I don't know...
- For you, Julia, you can just - Father Michael...
- Okay. Mikhail Batkovich.
Charles snorted behind his back, but he didn't interfere. Pop (or whoever he was) cursed as if I had sprayed him with butter acid, but he didn't fight.
- You saw for yourself - I don't work with the team. With this blonde guy, we've had a longstanding disagreement with your psychic, too. The only other people I can work with are two Gennadies.
- But their level of strength is yours...
- Incomparable. But at least they don't pick on the nose. And I don't have to put it down all the time and forcibly.
- I can talk to...
I raised my hand.
- Volunteer work didn't do anyone any good. You know that. By the way, I told Gennady everything that happened.
- And personally, is there anything you'd like to add?
I shrugged my shoulders.
- What can I do? It's not like I'm an expert. I'm still a little girl! But I can see that the girl's been pumped out of her strength. And the life forces and how many of them were there. I can't imagine why she was the victim. Who she might have crossed paths with - and where? We went to school together, and she didn't show any special talents. In general - about the dead either well or nothing, but Natasha was amazingly talentless in her studies. I couldn't feel the strength in her either.
- She was a good girl, Julia. Ironically, she was a very believing girl.
- It didn't stop her from shitting everyone around her. It's possible that that's why they took her when they needed the victim. I'm sorry about her parents, but no one's gonna be sorry about the course.
- You've become cruel.
- We were. And if you want to grow a population of good people, put us in other conditions. So that we don't have to fight for existence every day.
- You don't have to.
- That's right. My grandfather was fighting for him. And I know how hard it cost him, and so does Leotrans. And it's not just work. Syl. Nervous. The life of my family. My father was killed because of this firm. In fact, you know my opinion. If you understand what this symbolism means, you'll know everything else. Saying goodbye?
- Yulia, are you sure you don't want to stay?
- To watch the process of taking out a corpse? I've been dreaming all my life. I'm sorry. I
didn't get a plastic bag, I can't puke.
- That's not what I mean. I can talk to our experts, you can go to a cafe, sit down, talk to them, I think you'll find it useful to exchange experiences...
Yeah. I don't have enough crocodiles!? Anyone else to talk to?
- You suppose? Well, put it back. Communicating with your people doesn't end well for me. It's gonna end worse for them. Someday. Let's not tempt fate. Are you gonna give us a ride, or are we gonna take a ride?
- I will ask Vasily, - Mikhail Batkovich nodded.
- That's good. My conclusion is, the man was drained of all his strength. I don't know where she went, but certainly not for a good cause. I don't know the symbols, either. The library's got the rest.
- We'll be sure to find out all about these symbols. If you want, we'll let you know. Thank you for coming and helping us, Julia. Our guys couldn't even examine the body. And I'm very sorry that you have to look at such horror.
The voice was honest. The eyes were looking straight and open. And - he wasn't lying. I sighed. I fell asleep somewhere. And I made a decision.
I'll give them that string. And let them figure it out from both sides. That way it'll be more reliable. And on the vampire line and the IPF line. And as for the vampire, I'll talk to Mieczysław tonight, the clarification won't start until tomorrow - and nothing will happen.
- You just don't know everything yet. First of all, it's not an obstacle, it's a network. It's a trap network.
- Oh, yeah?
Mikhail Batkovich seems to have been genuinely surprised. And I went on.
- It's a network. Whoever can tear it up, that's where it'll settle. And it's got-- I mean, there were a couple of leeches in it.
- Leech?
- I think they look like blots. Evil, predatory, aggressive. They'll stick together, suck up the power, and eat.
- And who will benefit from this power? Who do you think?
- I have no idea. And who, and where, and how... And that's not all. Do you remember the construction site opening?
- Underground passage?
- Yes.
- And what was interesting about it?
- A lot of things. I got in there with a friend. And when the excavator started digging up the ground... there was something similar. It would fly away, settle on people, eat them! That's how these blots are here.
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