Вадим Иванович Кучеренко
In Year of Active Sun
–
Have you been living alone so far? He asked her quietly.
She nodded affirmatively.
– Alone in the whole world, – he went on, – alone in time and distance. Alone in your dreams and wishes. And there is no one who could misunderstand you, offend you with indifference… You must be happy.
– No, – she broke silence, – I was lonely.
– Yeah, long time ago I used to think like you, – he smiled sadly, – and at one of the sleepless night I found her – a tiny star in the sky. She was the brightest of all the stars and the furthest. She was shining tenderly at me. We were looking at each other dreaming. You might ask me: about what? It doesn’t matter. The whole world was sleeping except two of us. When all stars died away at dawn, she was still staying in the sky for a long time. Parting was painful for her as for me.
The boy’s voice shook and he got silent for a while.
–
But after each parting there was a new meeting, wasn’t there? The girl asked overcoming her shyness. She wanted to hear his whole story.
– When you love someone, each parting, even the shortest, seems to be the whole eternity, he continued. – So, I decided to go through the Universe to meet her and never depart. She couldn’t come out of her orbit, meanwhile nothing was holding me on this planet. I constructed a flying balloon in order to take a space voyage. I have said goodbye to those very few things, which were dear to me at the Earth… But suddenly, my star started flickering, as if she was saying goodbye to me. Then she flared up, making a fire arch in the dark night sky and disappeared in the depth of space. What happened to her? Where did she disappear and why? I don’t know it. But since that day, I know that one should never think of idle dreams, since they make only harm.
– How long ago was it? – The girl asked. But having noticed that he frowned, she added: – You may not answer if you don’t want to.
– I forgot when it happened and don’t want to recall, – he replied sharply. – And don’t look at me so accusingly!
– I don’t accuse you, – she said quietly.
– But I see a mute reproach in your eyes.
– You are mistaken. My eyes are mute.
– No, they are very eloquent! Your eyes… – the boy got silent, not having finished, and his pale cheeks ware flashing. Suddenly, he exclaimed surprisingly: – How could not I notice that before! Your eyes!
– What about my eyes?
– Their glistening is the same as the light of that star. Aren’t you her sister? Where did you come from?
– I don’t know, – the girl replied honestly. – I have always been here.
– Who are your mother and father?
– I don’t know.
– Who are you?
