W. Hamilton
A boy in the space
–-"What fool told you to dress up as an amphibian?" – What is it? " she asked, as we took shelter in the shadow of the cliff from the bright light of the night satellite.
– "I wanted to be a dragon, " – I sighed. – "He was a fool. Now everyone will remember how my tail fell off.
–– "Forget it. No one will remember, I promise. I will give them the drink of oblivion, and they will remember only what I teach them".
–-"Karilla, is that true?"
–– " What?"
–-"That you practice it?"
–-"Magic? Sure."
My head was a little noisy, but the wind from the sea was blowing away the last of the dope. I probably didn't drink as much as the others, because I knew that Carilla would want to take me away for a farewell ritual. And make me promise something I didn't want to do, and a promise I might not keep.
"Tarrell, do you realize we're breaking up?"
Her voice was strained. I was talking a little slowly. I confess that I celebrated the coward, not daring to say the main thing.
– "You'll walk me out, won't you?" But no, we're taking off very early, and you'll be misunderstood if you show up".
– "And I don't care, let them understand as they want."
–– "But they might think we're engaged?"
–-"And we aren't?"
–-"Look here, why should we bind each other with promises that might hurt us?"
– "You're a stupid guy if you don't understand a damn thing." I'm here for you, understand".
– "What are you saying?" This can't be happening! It just can't be. We've never met before, not even on the Internet".
She chuckled.
– "I didn't see you, but the Partner Search Program picked you out of the Foreign Intelligence Database. Your father didn't mind, much less mine.
–– "Carilla, are you telling me that the Program found me as a donor for you?" DNA, all right, snotty kids, is that what you're saying?
–– "And even so! – Stop it! " she hissed.
I tore off the last piece of the crocodile and tossed it aside.
–– "Don't be a fool, Turrell, the program worked for you, too. I'm the best match for you".
–-"Damn your program, the devils of the universe would have you!"
I started walking toward the fire, not listening to her. It was getting light, and the boys were already getting ready to go back to camp. At the girls ' building, the boys kissed everyone but a scowling Karilla. She opened the heavy door and stood waiting for them. The girls blew me kisses, not daring to do more than that, and the heavy door closed softly behind them. The night bird stirred, struck the brass plate with its heavy beak, and said something.
– "Nevermore! Oh nevermore!" – Krispy said.
–– "It's about all of us," – I said. – "What never, oh never! Listen, did Carilla give you the drink of oblivion?"
They snorted.
–– "We don't remember. Maybe I did. Did she give it to you?"
–– "Maybe she did, I forgot, too."
Our loud laughter startled the night bird from its branch.
An hour and a half later we were seen off: The director of the colony, Captain Jarvenue, who looked like a rook in his civilian clothes, the chief tutor and tormentor, Monsieur Trix, and for some reason the assistant cook, Mademoiselle Lucire, who provided us with a bag of pies of her own making for the path. The kind woman was smiling, but wiping her wet eyes. They escorted us to the landing pad, where they handed us over to the commander with all due ceremony. As I climbed the ramp, I took one last look back. My heart was filled with sadness,and I only just realized that my childhood was over, and that it wasn't so bad here. I was also hoping to see Karilla, but I don't know why. But she didn't come. So it's over, the girl with the lightning-filled eyes and the tongue that pulverizes you. Even so, I thought, we're not on our way. I won't let anyone control me. When I caught myself thinking this, I realized that all the plans of my re-educators had gone to the place called down the drain. I'll have to talk to my father like a man. That was the last thought before falling into artificial sleep.
In the dream, I relived everything, from the very beginning, from the first memories.
Chapter 2. Madam Bonjour
That evening, it was raining outside the glass wall of our house, causing despondency. The trees in the garden were soaked by the jets of water, the flowers drooped and bent to the ground, and the wind wrinkled the surfaces of puddles on the paved paths. I looked at this picture, and tensely waited for my father to speak. But he was silent, sitting in his chair, all the time while the new employee, a black woman named Nancy, was collecting dishes from our large table, where ten people could eat, but only my father and I had dinner. As she left the room, she muttered something in French.
"What did you say, Nancy?" – My father asked.
The maid stopped and turned her head towards him. Her chiseled profile against the background of a light cream wall seemed to me carved on a cameo that I had once seen in a museum.
– I said, your son hasn't eaten anything again. That's what I said, Mr. Bork. And what is his soul holding on to, such a baby. Maybe we should show him to a doctor?
– What? – the father was surprised. "Haven't you eaten anything again, Turrell?"
– I ate a pie, Father.
– Ah, okay then. Go on, Nancy, we're all right.
My father was lost in thought again, taking my word for it. And I had lied to him. I was severely depressed. The food wouldn't get into my mouth, and after eating a piece, I would run to the toilet, holding my mouth so that I wouldn't throw up on the precious Persian carpet that was recently laid. It was another sign that my father would soon bring a new wife to our house. Otherwise, why would the commander of a Separate Fleet have such a sentimental luxury? And I didn't understand why he didn't want to give me to my mom. He didn't care about me, and she would have taken better care of me. Of course, she did not have such a luxurious mansion in the prestigious area where she had been the mistress for ten years and from where she left into the unknown. But I knew that if my father wanted, he could provide a normal life for her and me, a good school for next year, insurance and other things. But he kept me with him.
– Dad, when will I see Mom? I asked, seeing that he was getting up".
"I'm afraid it won't be soon, son. Your mother is seriously ill, and she cannot see anyone while in isolation".
– "Is Mom dying?"
–– "All people die some day, son. Accept it. You're going to college soon, and you're not getting ready, I know. You don't eat much, you just play a game called "Ask the Dragon" and listen to music. And the tutor complains about you. What's going on with you?"
– "Dad, someone has erased Mom's pictures from my computer, have you got any copies?"
– "They are in the files somewhere. I'll look for it, but just start to come to your senses. Nine years is not seven. And know this: soon there will be one girl living here… or rather, one lady… and I will ask you to behave appropriately."
My father went to the door. His large figure was reflected in the panoramic glass, where I turned my gaze, as the night lights flashed outside. I always tried to catch this moment, but now the round lanterns were blurring, and not only from the downpour: moisture ran into my eyes. Thunder rumbled outside, and lightning sliced through the darkened sky.
The lady appeared three days later, she was brought in a late-model car, I saw them on a commercial. And now in life. Quite tall, elegant, with a bunch of carts and suitcases, her father's passion proudly walked to the porch, where the new doorman was already standing at attention. Nancy and I saw it from my room window.
– Look at you. Straight from the cover and to us. Do you like it, Tarry?
"Why is she here, Nancy? Does my father want to marry her?
– It looks like it. Has he divorced your mom?
– She's sick. He won't even let me see her, he's hinting at quarantine. And he has blocked her contact from my website.
– So, she's not sick, a virus in a computer is not a virus in life. Something's not right here, Tarry. Do you want me to find your mom through my network and say hello to her?
– I do. Come on.
So Nancy and I formed a secret conspiracy. But she could not find her mother, after several attempts, her father's service stopped these attempts.
–– I'm sorry, Tarry, it's not working. I was warned, and if I continue, I will fly out of this job like an arrow from a bow, and even with a bad characterization.
So Nancy told me. But nothing could keep as us away from reading the articles in the press, on the web, and watching the news. That's how we found out about my father's promotion, now he was the Admiral of the space forces. At first, Emilia – that was the name of my father's mistress – avoided contacts with me, but I felt that she was watching me closely. Similarly, a snake watches a rabbit before it attacks. However, I convinced myself that my feelings were deceiving me, that I simply did not love her because she took more place in my father's heart, than my mother had. But one day something happened that defined our relationship. My father was called to work that day, even though it was Sunday. As always, I woke up early, as I needed to improve my math. I studied online from nine to half past ten. There was half an hour left before the class started, and I decided to go out into the garden. It had rained the night, and the air was filled with the scents of flowers and grass. Turning the corner of the house, I sat down on a bench under the balcony, behind which was my father's bedroom, and suddenly I heard Emilia cameout onto the balcony. She was on the phone. At first I didn't listen, but suddenly I became alert.
– It seems to me that he is not eager to divorce his wife, although he tries to convince me that while she is ill, it would be dishonest on his part. And this boy is always getting in the way, reminding me of her. All I can hear is: "Dad, how is Mommy, is she feeling better?" I hate this snot. I don't know what to do. Or rather, I know… but …
Then Emilia, apparently looking down, saw me.
– Are you spying, you little scoundrel? Instead of learning math? Get out of here, and if you say a word to your daddy, you're going to deal with me. And I'll try to fix you, and don't you dare get in my way!
She was already shouting after me as I running away as fast as I could. When I decided to return to the house, having wandered along the paths to calm my heartbeat and anxiety, the door was blocked, and I could not enter until eleven o'clock. In the evening, my father severely reprimanded me for skipping class.
– You have all the means: an interactive whiteboard, excellent communication, the best teachers, and you allow yourself to walk around the garden instead of classes!
I stood all the attention in front of him, like his subordinates, I looked at the floor, trying not to cry, because he hated and despised tears.
– What, are you numb? Can you say something in your defense?
– Father, I couldn't enter the house because she… closed the entrance.
– Is she? Who do you mean?
– Madame Emilia,– I mumbled.
–– what? Are you saying that Emilia blocked the doors? What for?
– Because I heard her talking on the phone.
– I am an officer, and I will not ask you to pass on other people's conversations to me.
– But she said…
– Shut up, puppy! Go to your room and don't dare go out for two days. You'll eat there too. I'm depriving you of communication for all the time, except for classes.
– Father, but tomorrow they will show the training sessions of the astronaut training school! New training methods, spaceflight costumes, management skills!
I was so excited that my voice trembled and tears welled up in my eyes. After all, I had been waiting for this event for three months, watching the competitive selection of participants, from which they made a real show, in which bets were placed, various incidents occurred, passions were boiling.
"Honey, don't be too hard on the boy," Emilia cooed, appearing out of nowhere like a fury in a movie about a traveller in the Universe. She put her hands on my father's shoulders, hugging him from behind, and rubbed her cheek against his shoulder. She added: