LITMIR.BIZ

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of the child. Mom hugged me, and now I stroked her hair. It was such an unearthly, pleasant feeling of care. What a birthday present I’ve got! Only the news of the war spoiled the moment of happiness.

      – I love you! I won’t let anything happen to you! – I assured.

      In the history of our world, I’ve heard about only one war. The leader of Phaeton’s army was a magician who, like my father, had the gift of controlling the element of water. Alice said that then the whole sky was illuminated by lightning strikes that reached the ground. Many settlements were burned down, and even the Ellenian and Weirian elf forests were harmed.

      Now I’ve decided that I can protect our house, and grandpa Marash will help me, because without magic it will be difficult. As the saying goes, together we are stronger.

      Mom expected hostilities to unfold from day to day. Now I had the tools and I knew what to do. Grandpa Marash and I pulled half-meter steel rods from the old hangar. A year ago, I traded them for a rare typewriter that was aging in a bunch of scrap metal in a closet under the stairs. Alice said that it wouldn’t be useful to us even in working order, but for the merchant Paco it’s just right.

      From the rods, I made an umbrella-like structure, covering the tip with liquid silver. I proceeded with the rest. Of course, I didn’t have any rope, and even more of this length. And I was thinking how to replace it.

      – Master, will the liana fit? – a skein of green vegetation hung on the old man’s shoulder.

      I clapped my hands happily.

      – It will perfectly fit! And where did you get it?

      – I grew it, – Marash smiled. – Only a little. Is it enough?

      – Well, not enough… Maybe we can stretch it out with magic? I asked uncertainly.

      – Magic? I think we can! – Marash agreed.

      It’s been two days already. Mom watched as Marash and I fiddled and tried. The spiers were installed, the liana conductors soaked in saline were hung and grounded. I threw the ends into the lake. We are ready. We will only need to raise the spiers, by means of magic, just above the highest point of the roof during hostilities. And then the lightnings won’t scare us.

      I looked at an oak tree in the very center of the backyard garden. It is too dear to me. I also put a spire next to it and connected everything with one liana.

      In the evenings my mom and I had tea. But not in the living room, but in the kitchen, with the servant. Mom missed the simplicity of life. According to her, the arrogant urban society was annoying. She wanted coziness and warmth.

      We spent time together like before. We walked and laughed. We baked cinnamon rolls. We were happy, I was… I enjoyed. We often came to our oak tree. And now I was lying, closing my eyes with pleasure, under the tree crown. I wondered. An oak tree in a coniferous forest. It is also a tree. All magicians – are people, even if I am not a magician, but I am a person! And I’m not afraid to be an outcast.

      The whistle and heavy boom shook.

      – It’s started! – my mom exclaimed, jumping up sharply, and grabbed her belly.

      Water ran down her legs.

      – Mom? – I looked wondering at the wet sand.

      – Waters have broken. Nicholas, your little sister decided to be born at the wrong time… Help me!

      Mom screamed and bent down as if someone had hit her in the belly.

      – Mom! – I ducked under her arm and let her lean on myself.

      From the house a governess and a young maid were rushing towards us.

      – Alice, waters have broken. Reemay is asking to get into the world… – Mom smiled bitterly.

      The sky was covered with thunderclouds. It darkened abruptly around. Marash raced from the stable at full speed.

      – Hostess, go inside, quick! Niko, tell me what to do!

      – You know. Raise the spiers just above the roof and secure them. How long can you hold on? – while I was talking to the gardener, Alice took mom into the house.

      – I will hold on as long as necessary! Don’t worry, master, I only look old, but the magical powers don’t age, and I have a soul…

      I smiled. I love grandpa Marash! He was always on my side. And he believes in me, unlike my father.

      Whistle. Pink-purple flashes above the clouds. A net of lightning lit up the entire sky. The discharges began to fall on the ground here and there.

      – It’s time, Marash! Come on! – I shouted.

      A scream was heard in the house. It was mom. I rushed into the house. Dinah grabbed me just in front of my mom’s bedroom door.

      – Let me go! – I snapped.

      – Where are you going? Aphelia is giving a birth. You can’t go there! – a friend scolded.

      Another puffy scream. The door flew open. I saw a large wooden tub. Mom was sitting in it up to her chest in water. The white shirt was soaked, she had an oak branch in her teeth. She gripped the side of the tub tightly, so that the knuckles of her fingers turned white.

      – Well, step aside, men shouldn’t be here! – Alice snapped up mildly.

      Varya hurriedly rushed behind her with a pile of towels.

      – Niko, don’t bother! Do something useful. Heat some water. Dinara will help you!

      Varya kicked the door to my mom’s chamber with her foot – and again there was a scream. But not so loud.

      Mom realized that I was at the door and, apparently, she restrained herself so as not to frighten me. In the street, the noise increased. The thunderstorm became worse. Dinah pushed me on the shoulder.

      – Let’s go. Come on! – She commanded.

      I almost rolled down the stairs when another thunder shook the walls of the house. A flash of lightning came streaming with blinding light in through all the windows that weren’t shuttered.

      Dinah staggered back.

      – Why should I heat the water? – I didn’t understand.

      He grabbed two clean wooden buckets from the stove and put one under the tap.

      – Well, of course you didn’t understand. It’s for your sister and mother. The water is needed to wash them after the childbirth. You should listen open-mouthed and carry the water!

      Dinah grabbed the buckets from my hands and poured the water into the pots. She threw coal into the stove and tied her skirts. I could hardly hold a laugh, she looked so ridiculous. She looked like a goose, only her neck should be longer, and she will look exactly as a goose.

      – Don’t grin, do you think it’s comfortable to run up the stairs in a dress? I’ll tell you! No, at all. You should try and only after that you can smile! – the girl muttered resentfully.

      Her words erased my smile. There was such thunder clap that my ears were plugged, and then came the crack of a falling tree that was very close. I looked out the window. A burning tree fell on the liana that was connected with my oak. Grandpa Marash stood right there, wet of the pouring rain, without his raincoat. I rushed outside.

      – Where are you going? – I heard in pursuit.

      But I was already rushing to Marash.

      – What happened?! – shouting over the rain, I tried to clarify the situation.

      But everything was obvious. Two spiers, between which the liana was stretched, tilted.

      – Lightning hit the tree! – Marash

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