Unconquered Sun

by Philipp Bogachev

  - And why at dawn? - with anxiety the Fairy asked, having smelled something rat. Gloomy preventions of Azail instantly emerged before its mind's eye.

  - Nothing strange, - the ring of gold hand bells was heard again. - Just my device works at dawn. I would like that you, my dear, saw it in operation …

  The fairy attentively looked at Prinze, about herself slowly including, 1 … 2 … 3 … 4 … 10 … 20 …, calming thoughts, and saw how Prinze at these words of the Invincible Sun slightly pulled, almost absolutely imperceptibly, the head. But it to the Fairy there was enough to be convinced of WHAT this Yellow Witch is going to show her. Perhaps, it also was that what already Azail hinted it twice at. But the counting rhyme helped the Fairy not to find the thoughts.

  Instead she smiled and, having made the interested person and having tried to open more widely eyes, having represented sincere surprise and admiration, told:

  - Oh, your Perfection, I am so grateful that you put in me such trust! It would be very interesting to me to look at your invention, I always so like to learn something new! - and delighted clapped the hands. - But I am not sure that I will be able to appreciate your opening, I am a malosposobna, simple mediocrity. I as the handicraftsman, it is only capable to reproduce ready samples, am not able to create anything new …

  - Well you, well you! - hasty interrupted its Voice. - Be not over-modest, expensive, you are very talented, I see! To overcome the Desert of Desires in such a way what you made it … And it is so dexterous to gain the confidence to Flying Monkeys and to use their help in the purposes … I do not speak about this very interesting fight at the Coast … To admit, you struck me with the resourcefulness! - told the Invincible Sun, again finding out that all memory of the Fairy long ago and carefully is studied by it. - You very much, very creative young magician. And I think that under my management, you will reach still big heights …

  The fairy with order was bothered by this chatter of high society. She already understood what the Invincible Sun drives at, and now to postpone implementation of its plan of death was similar. It will have no other chance any more. It is also that course which the Fairy so waited for all these days. And she decided to go for broke (as whether its plan will work - it had no slightest confidence) and began to act. Just as the card player driven that is called into the corner by the courses of the strong opponent in despair spreads on a table only available for it, a trump carefully sberegayemy "for rainy day", and the Fairy took the last, desperate offensive.

  - Your Perfection, you are so informed on life of the country of fairies that sometimes it seems so to me that you also have relation to it, maybe, I am mistaken? - the same tone of high society the Fairy said, efficiently cutting a knife big fragrant bright red exotic fruit, at the same time internally shuddering from the fact that at any moment of her intention can be opened.

  There came the awkward pause. Usually garrulous Invincible Sun suddenly became silent. Whether deciding how to answer, whether words of the Fairy awakened in her some memoirs.

  The pause was interrupted by Prinze.

  - Darling well you? Unless its Perfection can concern to fairies? It, undoubtedly, the being of the highest order … - passionless and some sleepy voice was said by Prinze.

  Prinze's intervention for the Fairy was obvious not by the way, and she from disappointment wanted to whack it properly a leg under a table, but restrained. Conversation can not be struck up again as that time. But absolutely unexpectedly for the Fairy the Invincible Sun answered.

  - No, why, your guess is right. I really once was among fairies of Community. It was so long ago that it is difficult for me even to remember when it was …

  - I and knew, your perfection that it so! - very much trying to represent delight, the Fairy exclaimed and clapped the hands. - It was so pleasant to me to learn that we are sisters! But tell, please, your Perfection in what rank you served in the country of fairies?

  This time the pause lasted much longer. And again this nasty Prinze interfered when nobody about it asked him!

  - Darling well, of course, its Perfection was a fairy of the highest rank, unless it is not obvious? - he spoke by the same dozing lifeless voice again.

  "Oh, as it wants to be whacked, oh, the Creator! Well, why it climbs where it is not asked!?"

  But the Invincible Sun answered, though reluctantly.

  - Is not present … - the Voice hardly considerably trembled. - I was a fairy of the third rank … not the highest … However, it was so long ago!

  - Oh, your Perfection, - pretending to be the perfect little fool delighted the Fairy cried out, having clapped the hands, - as it is great that we had very much the general! To me it is so pleasant to know that such powerful magician left fairies of my rank! And tell, please, and what is your name, well, what is your name, which you had in the country of fairies, to sacrament of renunciation, a name which you were called by mother, you remember?

  This time silence was the answer it only. In reflection in a mirror it was possible to see how the Invincible Sun looked away from the Fairy and from Prinze, and looked down, having entirely retired into oneself. And here Prinze did not sustain:

  - Darling you see that its Perfection does not want to speak on these subjects! What difference whom She was earlier? Who needs this past, after fairies defiantly attacked her Perfection, there is no return to it any more!

  And then, having a little reduced turns, already quietly continued:

  - You, I see, have already supper, it is time for you to have a rest, to you to get up early tomorrow. Give, I lead you to your rooms and I will wish you kind dreams … - With these words the Prince got up and took was the Fairy by a hand …

  As suddenly in the hall the Kitten and the Puppy and, as always directly rushed, jumped on the places and indifferently at once began to eat greedily the viands which are spread out on a table, as if ate nothing week, and besides again naked pads!

  In other time the Fairy from shame would die of such brazen violation of etiquette, but this time she with relief sighed - unexpected arrival of Animals gave a reason to remain it at a table for some time. But after all externally the Fairy pretended "terrible" and, having reddened, strictly told:

  - Zveryatki my dear what you afford it, a-a-a?! How many you will dishonor me before our Hostess?! The creator, well when you learn rules of conduct in decent houses?!

  - More quietly, more quietly, expensive, - unexpectedly soft voice of the Invincible Sun was distributed. - Let eat as they got used, it is not necessary to lecture them. In their spontaneity there is something amusing, children's …

  - And at you, your Perfection when you were a fairy, - having used a remark of the Invincible Sun, the Fairy right there advanced to the attack, - too, probably, there were Animals, huh? Interestingly and what you had them? Too Puppy and Kitten or some others? It is so interesting to me about it to learn about everything, it turned out that we so with you are similar!

  This time awkward silence on her question was not.

  - To admit, expensive, I will not be able to answer these questions any more … - the metal voice hardly trembled, and then somehow too hasty continued. - The matter is that it was so long ago that I already also do not remember, I do not remember at all … To me it is a lot of years, I was not in Skies so long ago, everything is forgotten …

  It was also waited from the Invincible Sun by the Fairy. On it there was also all its calculation. And it was not slow to use minute, applying the blow prepared for this case long ago.

  - But it is not difficult, your Perfection! Here, look here, and you remember everything at once! - and with these words Fairy unexpectedly promptly snatched out the Truth Mirror from a dress bodice, having sent the reflecting surface directly to a face of the Invincible Sun, NEVER SMOTREVSHEGOSYA V the REAL MIRROR!

  Suddenly shook all hall, as from an earthquake. The throne of the Invincible Sun failed on a floor. All magical mirrors at once turned black and went out. The prince, having jumped w
as at first to take away from the Fairy Zerkalo Pravda, it was bent from pain and plummeted to earth in wild spasms. And all palace announced such inhuman howl from which Animals got from chairs on a floor and hid directly under a table for fear, having closed ears pads. The fairy proshib cold sweat, she absolutely became deaf for some time, but did not release a grasp and even kept on a chair. The equal golden light always lighting to the hall went out, and everything plunged into outer darkness.

  What was farther, the Fairy did not remember because her forces ran low, and she fell unconscious.

  3.

  Izumrudno a green lawn was small, all steps to thirty in the diameter, but for the little baby Lily it seemed the whole world. The adult fairy will pass it and will not notice, but the baby Lily spent on this lawn days without a break.

  Creator! How much here was interesting! Here the big ant drags on himself twice the wooden blade of grass surpassing him - what hard worker! And here the butterfly with white wings flits from a flower to a flower - she collects sweet nectar by the fluffy long hobotok reminding a straw through which usually Lily drinks pink juice. Here the bumblebee as a little bear cub angrily buzzes, flying from one clover on another, - what he is an amusing fatty! Such clumsy, such important! And here the small caterpillar creeps on a grass - she needs to eat much to become then a butterfly!

  As all this was attractive for an inquisitive crumb of Lily! For days on end without a break she was ready to watch these such tiny, such lovely beings!

  - Li - and - and - and - whether - and-and-and! My dear, the daughter, you will miss a lunch! Let's go, I made for you a glass of tasty pink juice and soup of pink dandelions, go to me, expensive! - called from where the little researcher a gentle female voice.

  - Mothers, I do not want! It is possible I still I will take a walk? I do not want to eat at all!

  - Be not capricious, the child, - with an easy reproach said a maternal voice. - You know that little girls have to obey mother! We go, you are waited by a lunch!

  Lily very much loved the mother. As called mother, Lily did not know - only her number, but she could not mix the mother with anybody! Such beautiful, such harmonous, with the long curling golden hair and a round face with golden skin, covered with freckles. And what it had eyes! As big mountain lakes, dark blue and bright! Lily very much was proud of beauty of the mother and wanted to be in everything similar to it. "My mother - the best!" - liked to speak to Lily.

  And mother, in turn, worshipped Lily. They were as two girlfriends especially as Lily is as like as two peas similar to the mother.

  Mother for Lily was more, than mother - she for her was everything. The father Lily never knew also brothers and sisters at her for some reason too was not. But there were mother's Animals! Them was three - the Puppy, the Kitten and Oslenok. One of brown, other of gray, and the third of black plush. Such amusing! With eyes from color buttons! With such long ears and round pads! Just charm. Lily very much liked to potter and let with them them into the small children's secrets and even to sleep with them on one bed! They so touchingly embraced her the plush pads from all directions! However, now all three Animals stayed at home to help mummy to set the table - and in researches of different forest small insects they could hardly help her something.

  Yes, Lily very much loved the mummy, very much … But for some reason now she wanted to insist on the - by all means.

  - I am not a child and not the little girl, mother, I am a fairy and to have dinner I not poydu-u-u-u! - Lily's crumb - zheltenky, pretty as a dandelion, with the person covered with pink freckles in a zheltenky print dress in red peas cried out. With these words it straightened small wings and as that clumsy bumblebee, loudly buzzing flew up in air and that is forces departed away.

  - Lily, child, where you? Where you got to, my daughter? - the alarmed maternal voice was distributed. - Lily, well, where you?!

  But Poured and light caught a cold …

  It at once cleared the big bar to fly over crowns - so quicker. Lily for some reason wanted to depart as it is possible further from mother that her annoying voice did not distract her from supervision over all these small insects any more, did not prevent it to be in the cozy small world!

  Suddenly the wood began to change promptly. Light birches, lindens and aspens were replaced by dark fir-trees and cedars. This part of the wood was absolutely unfamiliar to Lily! Here to it it became terrible.

  "Where I flew?" - with alarm she thought. In addition, and she was tired to fly, and it was necessary to take rest urgently.

  Without thinking twice, Lily began to descend and landed on a small island in the middle of a bog. High fir-trees and cedars completely covered the sun and below the frightening twilight reigned. In addition from a bog unpleasant putrefactive smells proceeded, and it periodically made lingering frightening sounds of the marsh gases breaking loose. Lily it became terrible and she began to cry, called mother. But nobody responded. Only the bog continued to make frightening uterine sounds.

  Lily cried not for long. Soon she heard some easy sheburshaniye, then rustle turned into a crash - as though someone was torn through a thicket. The baby to death was frightened and stood, not in forces to stir.

  Suddenly she saw how the small olenenok, such still young, on thin legs got out to a clearing all covered with a light down. From the fairy it was separated by only muddy marsh swill.

  - Oh, olenenochek! - delighted Lily gasped and stretched to it small, still in an infantile way chubby handles. - What pretty, what lassie!

  Olenenok, having seen her, at first scaredly jumped aside aside, but then, having seen that the fairy still the child himself stretched to it. Shy shifting from one foot to the other, he approached the edge of marsh swill and with astonishment stared at the fairy brown, still childly innocent eyes. It lasted only several moments, but for Lily it was not happier than moments! Such pretty, such chudnenky, such small olenenochek! Such mild brown eyes, such thin legs which are uncertainly standing on the earth with small korichnevenky hooves, such light brown fur coat!

  - What pretty … - the little fairy only also managed to whisper.

  But here the crash was heard. At first Lily thought that mother the olenenka runs for the cub and was already going to observe a touching scene of their meeting.

  However the olenenok took a nap, having wildly made buldge out the big round brown eyes, screamed and headlong took to the heels, but was already late. From three parties, having cut with it ways to flight, on a glade three huge terrible wolves - growth from a decent mastiff jumped out. Wool on their backs rose on end, terrible yellow hungry eyes and otversty mouths, utykanny big white sharp teeth, did not foretell anything good. For horror Lily could not move also a finger. Shout got stuck in a throat, without having escaped outside. She for the first time saw these forest monsters, she even did not suspect about their existence!

  Olenenok, seeing that he is surrounded, rose directly at an edge of the bog and plaintively looked towards Lily, as if asking her about the help, made some strange sounds reminding whether low, whether bleating. And Poured, without understanding what does, stretched the handles to an olenenka and said the only spell in which mother managed to train it - cotton was distributed and air around an olenenka was filled with aroma of roses and jasmines, and from above on it the lots of petals fell down … This only thing that the young fairy could make … And during the next moment wolves snatched on an olenenka - one of them gnawed through to it a throat from which right there the fountain blood poured down, and two others began to tear to pieces still the live, convulsively twitching little body.

  And then Lily cried - so loudly, more than ever in life!

  Wolves noticed its presence only now. Having let out uterine roar, volkolak approached directly an edge of the marsh water separating from them Lily. Even for these fast and skillful predators the jump on such distance could end with death. And therefore they were also not solved on a jump - impatiently wandering around, darting baleful looks at the fairy
and shcherya the terrible blood-stained mouths.

  And Lily all shouted and shouted the high thin shrill voice - while there were enough forces, tears a hail flew on its cheeks, pale with experiences. At last, forces left it and she did not faint, a bag having failed on a marsh moss.

  Lily in the small wooden bed, regained consciousness at home. It lay, densely wrapped up up to the chin with the wadded blanket sewed by mother from multi-colored rags. The head and its neck were tied carefully up by a towel.

  - As you frightened us, the child! - softly, with a reproach, such acquaintance, such gentle maternal voice said. Warm and tender maternal hands touched Lily's forehead. - Well still Animals noticed where you departed! We were rushed off the feet you to look for! It was necessary to lift up to me all Keepers! The creator, my heart nearly became torn when I saw that you there, on this island, lie as dead, and these awful volkolak go nearby! - On cheeks of mother tears, large about a pea, spread.

  - Mummy, why so … Why so, mummy … Why olenenok … Why … - Lily's little body shuddered from sobbings. She turned away to a wall and silently sobbed.

  - Forgive me, the child … I did not follow … These creatures managed to break out of the Limit again …

  - Mummy … Why olenenok … Why, mummy … WHY!!! Answer, mummy! It such pretty, mummy! Why!!!

  - More quietly, more quietly, child, more quietly … Now Animals will come, will read you the fairy tale, everything will be good … More quietly, more quietly … Here they!

  To a bed quietly, all on tiptoe approached three Zverenk.

  - And what we to you will sing the fairy tale now, Lily what interesting! - unanimously Animals cried forcedly fervent voices. The kitten and the Puppy right there got because of a back a harmonica and a pipe, and Oslenok - the book with notes.

  - I do not want the fairy tale, I do not want, leave me alone! Mummy, why the olenenok died why, answer me mummy! I do not want the fairy tale! I do not want! - in a hysterics Lily cried. Its round face swelled up from crying, as well as her eyelids. Handles squeezed fingers in cams, as if threatening someone.