LITMIR.BIZ

      Orel woke up and yawned with enjoyment. Still half-dreaming, he stretched lazily and covered his face with his palms, trying to rub his sleepy eyes.

      "Oh gods!" he flinched feeling thick cloth of the bandage over his right eye and recalling everything. He shivered, his sleepiness gone without a trace. He sat up in bed abruptly trying to suppress trembling.

      Nikto who slept next to him opened his eyes and reached his hand squeezing Orel's palm.

      "Easy, easy, don't be afraid. Lie back," he said.

      Orel lay down obediently.

      Nikto didn't let his hand go, kept squeezing it. "Don't tremble, calm down," he smiled at Orel. "C-a-l-m d-o-w-n."

      With his free hand Orel stroked Nikto's fingers, black with tattoos, and gently touched the short stump of his ring finger.

      "Nik, you're here, with me," he said, moved.

      "Yes," Nikto stopped clenching Orel's palm but didn't let it go. "Though it is you with me. It is my room." He laughed softly.

      "What happened yesterday? I don't remember anything," Orel tensed again.

      "I healed your eye and soon you will be able to see as before."

      Orel touched the bandage on his face.

      "You healed me."

      "Yes, yes," Nikto took his hand off the bandage, "just don't touch it."

      Orel turned to him.

      "I won't be single-eyed, will I?"

      Nikto smiled shaking his head.

      "You won't. You'll have two eyes, like before."

      Orel lay back in the pillows, relaxed.

      "It's so good. But is it for sure, Nik?"

      "For sure, don't worry. But you can't get up yet, do you hear me?"

      "Yes, I hear. I won't make a step without your permission!"

      Nikto laughed again but didn't say anything.

      "What time is it?"

      "I don't know," Nikto shrugged. "But your friends are gone."

      "Why are they just *my* friends?"

      Nikto rose slightly smoothening his hair.

      "Well, they are mine, too," he grinned.

      "I asked you not to quarrel again."

      Nikto turned to Orel. "We didn't quarrel."

      "And with Lis?"

      "And with Lis."

      "Do you resent him badly?"

      "Arel, I don't want to talk about it now. I need a shot. Later, okay?"

      Nikto got out of the bed, came up to the table, took his bag and started preparing a dose. He stood near to Orel, turned with his side to him; Nikto's bare feet were buried in the thick fur on the floor. Setting the syringe against his neck under the angle only he knew he injected the needle into his vein.

      Orel turned away.

      "You're doing it standing," he said. "You really are a finished man."

      "Orel, it's ridiculous," Nikto said.

      Orel passed his hand over Nikto's thigh.

      "Nik, will you stay with me for a while longer?"

      "As long as you want," Nikto returned to him. "I'm all yours."

      Orel moved making some place for him. "Then sit down."

      "Okay," Nikto took out a few pills from his casket and swallowed them washing them down with wine from a bottle. Orel swallowed hard.

      "Nik, can I drink now?"

      Nikto gave him the bottle. Orel grabbed it gratefully and gulped quickly. Having emptied it, he stretched happily.

      "Gods! Can anything be better? I'll have my eye, I have my wine, and my Nik is with me!"

      Nikto sat next to him, turned Orel's face to himself.

      "I need to check if everything's all right."

      Orel got pale.

      "I'm scared."

      "Don't be foolish. Besides, you take pain well, I noticed."

      Nikto untied the knot and took the bandage off carefully. Orel froze submissively.

      "Nik, you can't see well, how can you check my eye?" he said suddenly. Nikto covered Orel's mouth with his hand.

      "Keep quiet. Don't worry, I'll always see what I need."

      He passed his fingers over Orel's eye, just

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