Unconquered Sun

by Philipp Bogachev

When the poor vegetarian lunch came to an end, travelers drank on a modest drink of water with "a pink concentrate" and went deep into the continent. Already closer by the night coastal sandy dunes turned into the real barkhans. They began transition through the huge desert using the most ill fame in Tselestiya - the Desert of desires.

  Yes, the glory about this strange and terrible desert flew about all country long ago, and was wishing to get there, despite such, apparently, attractive name very little.

  The nature of this desert was studied by inquisitive fairies rather well. And it consisted that sand of which it consisted possessed very unusual properties. As well as any sand, it accumulated and reflected a sunlight so in the afternoon it stuck together eyes and was heated. But it had a property not only to reflect and accumulate light and heat. It could accumulate human desires. All those who there once went and especially those who go now. What the person dreams of, dreams what he wants - everything remains there, everything takes shape - and sometimes a form very ominous...

  The majority of those who went to the Desert of Desires perished or came back mentally ill people. The severe statistics which was conducted by all-knowing fairies was such is - 9:1 - nine dead and one madman. Nobody managed to pass the desert.

  This circumstance also led to the fact that fairies declared the Oversea country a quarantine zone and always exposed special security patrol of "STING" not to pass there casual travelers. It allowed to reduce sharply mortality in this region. Even to fairies access to the Oversea country was limited. Fighters of "STING" were only allowed to fly to the Desert and only with a definite purpose (protection, research, investigation).

  If they needed to get to the Rocky Mountains, then they preferred to fly over the desert on specially trained winged animals as there will not be enough forces of the ordinary fairy to fly over such long distance without landing. And if they have to have studied magic properties of the Desert of Desires, then they took samples of magic sand by means of specially designed golems. By the way, properties of sand to study - studied, and here distinctly to answer a question why after all no one from the Desert comes back live-healthy - fairies scientists could not answer. Mentally ill people could not answer it, and the dead and even less so.

  And here to this damned place our brave travelers also held the way. Other way to the Rocky Mountains was not.

  2.

  At first anything special did not occur. Well, the desert and the desert - a lot of sand, hot, getting thirsty. The fairy had to work much to cause an easy breeze which would cool them, but to support it it was constant above her forces. Attempt to conjure though some cloudlet in general failed.

  First, it was connected with the fact that the fairy had no magic wand withdrawn from it by the Cream-white fairy, and without it efficiency of magic was much lower. To conjure without stick - it is all the same as for the person, for example, to dig the earth barehanded, but not a shovel. And, secondly, the desert as though opposed to any sorcery - magic formulas were confused in the head, lips did not want to say them, hands did not want to move, and support of a ready spell every minute all became more difficult. So the Fairy reconciled soon, and she had to continue a way under the sun without breeze.

  It is good still that the simplest spells sent to search for water still worked. Few times they managed to find sources and to fill flasks up to the top. But all the same tried to save. Who knows that this desert will throw out further away?! But the desert for some reason persistently did not want anything else to throw out as though enticing travelers further and further then to deal shortly with them at one stroke...

  - I do not like this silence, and-av, - with a sigh the Puppy grumbled. - Neither breeze, nor cloudlet, nor birdie, nor snake or jerboa. In total as though died out!

  The kitten kept silent and even more strong blinked to prevent damned sand to get into eyes.

  "What you will tell here? One is clear, a godforsaken place", - he thought, but aloud told nothing.

  The fairy was silent too and persistently tried to remember chapters of the textbook on magic geography of Tselestiya, the Desires devoted to the Desert. But five thousand years which passed the let know the - nothing, except the name, she remembered any more. The fairy studied so well that she was often given marks automatically. It relieved it of cramming of lectures before examination, but also the passable material quickly disappeared from the head. "Now it would be useful to me...", - she thought with regret.

  So, at the very least, there passed day, came it is time to prepare for a lodging for the night.

  The fairy flat-out fell to sand, she could not kindle magic fire any more. Everything left on these damned breezes and cloudlets. It was necessary to get an emergency ration from the dry branches collected on the way by the Kitten and the Puppy and to kindle a small kosterok. In this desert, as well as in everyone another, night was cold. The discharged air, as we know, quickly heats up, but also quickly cools down.

  The fairy, Kitten and Puppy were half-dead for fatigue and did not even think to put guard. And, as it became clear, vainly...

  The fairy settled down on the air-bed which to her Animals hardly managed to lay. She refused tent - until they establish it, she will just die of fatigue! The benefit, weather stood windless, the sky is cloudless. And the Fairy did not want to strain Animals - they were on the last legs too.

  However the most surprising was that as soon as the Fairy laid down, a dream it vanished as if by magic. Yes, the body continued to be ill and ache for fatigue, but there was no wish to sleep at the same time at all. It really happens when you strongly are tired and will be alarmed, and therefore it did not surprise the Fairy at all. Whether a joke - at first this mad sleepless night at Cora - and it after two days of heavy break through Drevlyandiya! Then collision with "STING", then - fight on the coast and in addition - all day standing on the desert!

  However, what to do? How to pass away time to a dream?

  In the head impressions of the last days turned. Desert, Cream-white, Mora, Laura, Cora … Prince! Well as without it? For the sake of it it it was let in this mad wandering!

  Some time the Fairy tried to take control of the thoughts, to stop their impetuous current, but, without having sustained unequal fight, gave up. She dared to dream of Prinze again. About what would be if it … Yes, yes, if it some wonderfully was near …

  Someone it is imperceptible, but quite persistently enclosed thought in the head of the Fairy - only dream, only present, only think of it …

  The melancholy for Prinze and boredom from the compelled sleeplessness overcame the Fairy and it was with all the heart given to this desire.

  "Yes, let here, right now Prinze will come to me. Yes! It is not important how it will appear here, not important, the main thing that this it happened right now!"

  Still a little bit, easy tension of memory and … Here it, same as then, on the eve of the disappearance. A green waterproof jacket and trousers on laces, jack boots, a round hat with a feather, a little oblong long face, fair short slightly curly hair, a thin noble nose, densely squeezed lips, pensive blue, a little bit on stare, a receding forehead … "Full coincidence! And let it will come and will be not such, as that damned day, and it what it was … earlier"

  The fairy strong narrowed eyes, put hands on a breast and prepared for a meeting with the dream.

  3.

  The fairy got up from the air-bed to warm up numb legs and to be aired a little.

  Animals slept like a log. Poor things! They so were worn out! The fairy though flew from time to time, allowing to have a rest legs, and they did all way on shank's mare …

  She with love looked at the plush friends (friends, the closest and native, but not servants!) and touchingly sighed. They slept in an embrace on the air-bed as small children. The fairy wanted to stroke, caress Animals, but she was afraid that will wake them, they deserved a dream. Let will have a rest after the journey, at last.

  She took several steps deep into of the desert
and stopped. It was chilly, cool. As it would like that somebody embraced her, pressed to the breast, warmed the breath … As it lacked Prinze! Heart jammed from melancholy, and she quietly sobbed, crying on sand.

  Yes, fairies - powerful race of magicians. Each of them one movement of a finger is capable to defeat the knight of Avalon chained from legs to the head in armor. But at all this external power they are so lonely! They so lack usual terrestrial human heat! Usual caress, usual tenderness, usual care, usual love … The fairy once again chilly shrank and already wanted to return back to a bed as from top of a barkhan saw in the distance … Well, of course, it!!!

  To it it was cold too, to it it was lonely too. The prince tightened to a limit all laces on a jacket and with the head muffled in a raincoat, probably, therefore he also did not notice the Fairy.

  The fairy wanted to call him, but shout got stuck at her in a breast. She worried, and nervousness - the bad assistant …

  And then the Fairy herself ran to it, having absolutely forgotten that she has wings. Her thin white legs coordinated in deep and friable sand. She stumbled and fell, having let out shrill cry.

  But Prinze already noticed it and rushed towards. He ran up to it and gently took the Fairy on hands. He carefully carried it back, on barkhan top, put on soft, still warm sand.

  The fairy slightly slightly opened eyes and saw directly over herself an alarmed face of the Prince. But its attention gave to the Fairy such pleasure that she pretended as if hurt and slightly moaned.

  Having taken her by hand, he by the trembled voice said:

  - Darling, what is with you? You did not hurt? It I am guilty, did not notice you at once! To me it was so lonely, so bad that I and nothing noticed nobody around … What I settled! Well what is with you, expensive? Well, answer me, I beg, tell though the word!

  With these words the Prince, having put her head to itself on knees, bent better to hear its breath. And the Fairy, without having sustained, opened eyes, and having promptly clasped with the thin handles his neck, with a force attracted to itself. He became puzzled and easily was caught in it artfully set a trap. The fairy greedy took his lips the lips as the traveler exhausted from thirst a glass of water, and it could not be sated with a kiss. And after a while both of them already lay on sand and could not and did not want to unclench the embraces …

  - As I waited for you, darling, as hoped how I trusted, and here, you are with me again! - at last, having sated with love, the Fairy whispered. It lay near it on sand and ironed it on the head as then, in a hut …

  - And I came, - Prinze answered, without opening the eyes closed from pleasure. - Your belief, your hope, your love brought me to you, I am with you … as … again earlier as always …

  The fairy lay and considered in the star sky. How many they were in this boundless, bluish-black firmament! Still warm sand pleasantly heated a naked back.

  The fairy wanted to tell something to it, but changed the mind. To it it was so good that there was no wish to break this blissful silence. She groped to the right of herself his hand and strong squeezed it. Any more it did not need nothing …

  Suddenly, she felt alarm. The fairy opened eyes and saw that Prinze already got up and begins to put on quickly.

  - You where it, road? - alarmed the Fairy asked. - Even all night ahead, let's lie down together still! Where you gathered at this time of night, a-a-a?

  - It is time for me back, expensive, to the Invincible Sun. I now her guest, her captive … Now She is my hostess, but not you …

  - CHTO-O-O-O? - The fairy right there jumped on legs, without noticing the nakedness. - You what, perhaps, went crazy?!

  The prince tightened the last laces on a jacket.

  - But I at It, am not present me with you, expensive! You perfectly know it! - also looked at it it is so sympathizing, as compassionately, as on some mad which owing to an illness cannot understand the elementary things obvious and to the child.

  - But … - the fallen voice the Fairy said, still clinging to a straw. - I see you, we together … … as … with you here earlier …

  The prince sadly smiled, strong embraced her, and then looked her fool in the face:

  - Just both of us sleep with you, understand? You in a dream called me to yourself, and I came. But I cannot remain with you even till the morning - it is necessary to me still the long way back. I have to appear at It till the dawn. You understand it?

  But here the Fairy did not sustain.

  - No, I do not understand, and I will never understand! Immediately remain! I so want, I order you, I to you rule, I … - the Fairy wanted to tell something else, but here Prinze turned to her a back. Sadly having bent the head, he quietly walked back, carefully going down on a barkhan. And just now the Fairy noticed that his legs left on friable sand of traces and cried on all desert …

  The fairy jumped from the air-bed and long could not recover. Her all body was wet from sweat, heart fought so that it, appear, just about will jump out of a thorax. The fairy felt herself - the clothes were on the place.

  - Oh! I, probably, roused all Animals the cries, the hysteric woman unfortunate! - The fairy rushed to Animals, but … Their mattress was empty!

  The fairy wanted to go for their searches as suddenly she was called by someone's painfully familiar voice.

  The fairy sharply turned back and saw... Prince! Yes, the most real, dear Prinze. Here his short fair slightly curly hair, blue thoughtful eyes, the thin line of the squeezed lips, a chin... raincoat... the waterproof green jacket sewed by the Fairy … Exactly as on the eve of disappearance from the house …

  His face was lit up by a soft smile, hands revealed to clasp the Fairy in arms, and eyes lit up passionate fire. The prince took a step forward and by a soft gentle voice said:

  - As I am glad that I see you, expensive! I so yearned on you... Embrace me, the Beautiful Fairy, I was so tired of loneliness, of our separation, but now all is over. We together... forever... - And with these words he took one more step to it towards.

  The first desire of the Fairy was will rush to its embraces, to nestle very strong on his breast and to begin to cry. The Fairy so grieved for Prinze! Especially now, when it dreamed it such real, such real, such loving, ardent and passionate … And then this awful parting, this new loss!

  Oh, the Creator as the Fairy grieved for Prinze! Though they were married practically nothing - some five years from ten thousand years that she lived in this world, but during this time she managed to get used to Prinze. When you not one when to you is about whom to take care, eat whom to caress and to embrace, eat with whom to divide a dinner or walk, to share the thoughts and feelings to whom to sing the song and, the most important with whom to bring up small kids is a greatest pleasure. Especially for the magicians doomed to eternity. Seven years ran for the Fairy as a moment, fine, flashing, but only a moment, and therefore it was so insufferably difficult for it to reconcile to separation.

  The feeling of the pressing melancholy pushed her forward. She pulled the thin white handles to Prinze and was ready to rush to his opened embraces as suddenly something stopped it. Arose thought in the head: "And from where it here? How it got here, to this desert?"

  The fact that it seemed to it such natural while she dreamed, looked strange if not to tell, terrible now. Heart with a needle was pierced by alarm, on a forehead cold sweat acted. The fairy instinctively recoiled back:

  - How you got here, my dear Prinze? What do you do here? Unless you not in captivity?

  - Ah and … Whether everything is equal!? - in Prinze's voice the irritation note flashed. - Yes, I ran, ran, pursued me … And now I here, with you, forever... - the Prince whispered the last words with some passion unusual for it.

  And then, with some strange impatience continued:

  - Well, embrace me, expensive, protect me from a pursuit, from this cold, for this fear, embrace me rather! - Also took some more steps forward.

  The intuition prompted to the Fairy that it is threatened b
y danger, but her reason not in forces was to explain what occurs. Perhaps she fell asleep also to her again to act nightmares?

  And here dawned on the Fairy.

  - Dear Prinze, forgive me, I forgot and how call our small kids?

  - Kids? - puzzly he asked again. - Well, what now it matters, the silly woman! - "Prince" raised the voice. - You see, I freeze, I am cold, I was tired to what all these questions?! Just embrace me, expensive! - And with these words he took some more steps towards.

  Suddenly the Fairy felt some treacherous weakness in all body. She felt, the earth crumbles under the feet. The head was filled with some lead fog, to a throat nausea rose. The penetrating unwinking gaze of "Prince" looked in one point, it is slightly higher than the level of eyes of the Fairy, and the monotonous voice worked usyplyayushche.

  Suddenly the subject fell into hands of the Fairy ice some smooth and cold as. In the head cleared up at once.

  "Pocket mirror! Magic pocket mirror of the Queen Laura!"

  But time for thoughts was not.

  - And well, the impostor, - be looked here! Be looked whether you are similar to my dear Prinze!!! - not by the voice she cried out and directed a pocket mirror on Pseudo-Prinze.

  Terrible, abstruse shout was distributed and instead of Prince Fey saw a disgusting and ugly black shadow, something reminding a huge fat shaggy spider who rapaciously stretched the ugly feelers to Fey...

  The fairy screamed for horror and disgust, but the fear gave her force. It flew up in air, at the last minute having evaded from deadly "embraces" of a monster. But could not depart far - in a body treacherous weakness was still felt. Feeling what not to stretch to it long in air, she said a spell and stooped down down, directly in the center of the formed saving circle of a magic flame.

  Feelers tried to get it and there, but the languages of magic fire harmless to the exorcist appeared too hard to the enemy. Having lost part of the vile feelers, the carnivorous desert ghost recoiled back. Because in a circle of magic fire even ghosts are not capable to get …