Creature

 

"Let's assume you're good by nature, but certain factors have shaped traits in you that you can't control, but you succumb to them in your helplessness..."

SI, 98.10.12

* * * * *

A Creature was walking around the room. A completely ordinary Creature, with a large, misshapen head and short legs. The long fur hanging from its belly swept the Persian carpet that covered the floor like a fur hat.

The Creature walked and searched. Sniffed. It tottered here and there, turned, looked at the floor, and shuffled its feet on the carpet. With an indecisive gaze, it took in the vase of flowers on the table, the carafe of water standing beside it, and the tapestry hanging on the yellow wall. The shaggy tapestry depicted a flower—the Creature didn't know which one. He had never seen living flowers. Perhaps it was a sunflower, or perhaps just an ear of rye bowing to the Wind.

"What are you looking for?" "Are you sure you know what you're doing here?" asked the Voice, which must have belonged to Someone Important, as it came from the very top, just above the ceiling.

"I don't know," the Creature replied absentmindedly, his eyes fixed on the Green Dragon embroidered on the carpet. The Green Dragon flapped its wings, smiled, and winked at the Creature. The Creature disappeared a moment later, swirling in the air above the Creature and the Green Dragon.

"Then perhaps you know what you're doing here?" the Voice of Someone Important asked politely.

"I don't know," the Creature replied. The Green Dragon opened its large mouth, flashing its teeth. The Creature jumped back, but the Green Dragon only yawned, then covered itself with its tail and curled up on the carpet. It didn't look menacing at all now.

The Creature continued walking. It tapped and toddled. It smiled to itself. It was a good Creature—the kind that doesn't frighten people. They don't come at night banging chains, and they don't put on white sheets with holes for their heads.

"Do you know anything? Who are you, exactly?" The Voice of Someone Important persisted. The Creature smiled in response.

"Don't talk to him. It's not worth it!" said the stranger. It wasn't the Green Dragon, who was dreaming of tasty sheep. It wasn't the Voice of Someone Important either. And it wasn't the Creature either. It was a Fly.

It had flown in from Outside through the open window. It wanted to rest for a moment and stretch its tired wings. It was sitting on the ceiling, its head turned indifferently. It was unclear whether it was speaking to the Voice of Someone Important or perhaps to the Creature. What difference did it make? Does the voice of an ordinary Fly count?

The Creature stopped. It slowly looked up in surprise. The Surprise was just as curious, standing right behind the Creature, narrowing its large, round eyes.

The Fly liked that the Creature was looking at her. No one ever paid her much attention. It was small and hard to spot.

"Hello," the Creature said. Short and simple.

The fly fluttered its wings.

"Come down from the ceiling!" Someone Important's voice was clearly irritated, but the Fly ignored him.

"Tell me why?" the Creature asked.

"But what 'why'?" the Fly replied.

"Why isn't it worth talking to him?"

"Simply. It's not worth it."

The Creature lowered his raised arms. His gaze dimmed again, as if Someone Invisible had blown out a light burning in the Creature's enormous head.

"I don't understand," the Creature sighed.

"I'll show you. Want it?" the Fly suggested. The Creature

nodded.

"Come with me." The Fly bounced off the ceiling, landing nimbly on the floor next to the Green Dragon. The Green Dragon, awakened by the noise, opened one eye and, realizing the Fly was too small to eat, fell back asleep.

The Creature considered this. He had always been afraid to go Outside. He had spent his entire life here, on this carpet. He knew and liked this place. He even grew accustomed to the Green Dragon, who breathed fire when angry but never harmed anyone. The Creature admitted to himself that he was even afraid of Fly, who was bigger than him.

"Get on me," Fly urged. The Creature made up his mind in an instant. He took one last look at the Persian rug and settled comfortably on Fly's back.

"We're taking off," Fly shouted joyfully, and rose into the air with the Creature on his back. The Creature, who was now as green with fear as the Green Dragon. The Creature was afraid of flying. He only learned this now. He had never had the opportunity to learn this before.

* * * * *

They soared high, far away, right up to the ceiling. Fly was a good acrobat; she gracefully flew through a crack in the open window. The difficult moment came for the Creature.

First, the Wind struck him. A wind he had never encountered on a Persian rug. With it came the Cold. Even the Creature's thick fur couldn't protect him from the chilly air.

"It's cold today, isn't it?" Fly laughed. She felt the Creature shiver against her back. The loud rustle of wings drowned out the Wind's cries.

"I guess we have to wait it out somewhere. I can't fly for long in this weather."

For a moment, the Creature regretted leaving the cozy carpet. For just one brief moment, because the Wind laughed loudly and gave him a friendly nudge on the back of the neck.

"Hold on, or you'll fall!" the Wind shouted, trying to outshout himself. It could be done if you really wanted to.

Gray streets slowly passed beneath Fly and the Creature, along which dark figures strolled. Vehicles also drove along, sending streaks of yellow lights ahead. The Creature had never seen people. He had never seen cars. But Fly was the one who began to tell him about them, and soon the Creature felt he knew everything. Maybe not everything, but a great deal.

They flew on. The Wind was still with them, singing loudly. He seemed quite content with his work. He did nothing but chase ahead and whistle.

"I wish I were a grown-up," said the Creature, snuggling against the Fly's back. "I wish I were a grown-up!

" "But why?" asked the Fly.

"I wish I were as big and powerful as the Wind," said the Creature. "I wish I could fly to the Garden someday. See real Trees and Flowers. Then return to the Persian carpet and never leave again. Tell the Green Dragon everything.

" "We could fly to the Garden," replied the Fly. "I've been there myself several times. I know where it is.

" "Let's fly there!" asked the Creature. "I've always wanted to fly there."

The Fly veered in response and accelerated. The Wind, which had accompanied them at first, quickly fell behind. Finally, discouraged, it gave up and flew away to another location. The Creature poked its head out from behind the Fly's broad back and looked down. He had become somewhat accustomed to the heights and wasn't as afraid as he had been at the beginning. Besides, they were flying low now. Far away on the horizon appeared a gray fence, resembling from this distance the edge of the Persian carpet on which the Creature lived. The fly flew fast, but the fence approached very slowly. It steadily grew, however, until they were quite close.

"We're almost there," the fly announced. "In a moment and we'll be in the Garden!"

A moment later, the fly flew over the fence. The creature saw the sharp edges of the boards in the blink of an eye, and they were already in the Garden. IN THE GARDEN!!! If someone had told the Creature yesterday that he would visit the Garden the next day, he would never have believed it. He had always wanted to be here, but he hadn't known it would happen so suddenly.

The fly perched on a tall tree and began stretching his tired wings. The creature dismounted from the fly's back and looked around. This was the first time he had seen the tree from such a close distance. He smiled happily. There were a lot of busy creatures around. Some were running up and down the tree trunk, looking terribly busy. Some had wings like the Fly, and they moved quickly through the air, seeming to be mere thin lines against the blue sky and the green-and-yellow leaves.

"There you are!" a familiar voice shouted suddenly and so loudly that the Creature jumped in fright. But it was only an old acquaintance—the Wind, which had caught up with the Fly and was now dancing among the branches of the old Tree, tearing off orange leaves and throwing them to the ground.

"You'd better hide!" said the Wind. "I saw Rain not far from here. I think he's coming here."

"Who's Rain?" the Creature asked, but the Wind only laughed in response and vanished. He sped away again, leaving a prickling silence in his wake. But in a moment, the Creature's ears adjusted to the sounds around him. He could now clearly hear the angry shouts of the Tree Dwellers.

"Get out of the way, get out of the way!" shouted a large Beetle, hurriedly moving toward its lair.

"Here comes Rain! Here comes Rain!" repeated a small creature, long and winding, nestled in the brown bark.

The Creature looked around. After a moment, he spotted a small opening in the Tree's bark, inviting him to explore it from within. The opening beckoned and beckoned; if it had hands, it would surely have drawn the Creature toward it. The Creature glanced back at the Fly.

"Let's go there," he pointed to the hole in the bark. "I don't want to meet that Rain at all."

The Fly looked in the indicated direction and recoiled in disgust.

"It's not safe there," she said after a moment. "We'd better wait here on the branch, with the others."

The creature lowered its head resignedly and sat down next to the Fly. Suddenly, it heard a loud, approaching noise, like the Tree's call when it spoke to the Wind and tried to outshout him. The Wind should have appeared by now. After a moment, it came running.

The Creature looked surprised. The Wind didn't look at all like the old acquaintance who had gently and friendly nudged the Creature. He looked different. Long, matted hair covered much of his face and seemed to have a life of its own. It curled just like the Green Dragon's tail when he was hungry, and the Green Dragon was always hungry. Except perhaps when he slept and dreamed of a hearty meal. The Wind seemed much older than he had a moment ago; dark stubble covered the lower half of his face, and he wore large gold earrings in his ears. A long black cloak covered him completely, except for his head and raven hair. He was staring at the Creature as if he didn't recognize him at all.

"Hey!" said the Creature, unpleasantly offended by the Wind's indifference.

The Wind looked at the Creature more closely.

"I'm the Wind! And who are you?

" "You're not the Wind?" asked the Creature.

"The Wind is my younger brother," the Wind replied, and departed, hooting at the top of his lungs. He left behind a stinging Cold that dug its sharp needles into the Creature's neck.

After a moment, there was an even louder roar. It was the Rain. A heavy Drop struck the Creature on the top of his head, spraying everywhere like a suddenly blooming flower. But the Creature no longer saw the ropes of water falling mercilessly on the Dwellers sitting on the branch. He suddenly jumped up and ran into the hole in the Tree, forgetting the Fly's warning. He didn't even notice they were entering a dark abyss

; he snapped the thin, almost invisible rope with his foot.

The hole was warm and cozy. It was also quite dark. The sounds from outside barely penetrated the thick bark, muffled and faint, like the singing of people working in the fields heard from a great distance.

The creature didn't particularly like the dark. It never got used to it—it always fell asleep earlier, when the Sun was still at its post. Now it felt very uneasy as it tried to peer through the gray curtain that concealed Mystery, perhaps even Danger.

A dull cough sounded nearby, causing the creature to jump as high as it could. At that same moment, a faint ray of light appeared behind the gray curtain, which turned out to be intricately woven from thin threads. A large head peered out from behind the curtain, carefully observing the creature as it swung its legs in the air. The creature didn't notice it at first. After a high jump, he knew he should have fallen to the ground, but for some reason he didn't. The thin threads that woven the gloomy gray curtain also covered the ceiling of the room, and the Creature clung to them tightly. Surprisingly, the tiny threads easily held the Creature as it struggled to free itself, only to become even more entangled in the treacherous ropes.

The head disappeared behind the curtain and a moment later reappeared, along with the rest of its owner. More precisely, its owner. Now it approached the Creature, gazing at him with a hundred calm, dispassionate eyes.

The Creature flinched. The unfamiliar creature was several times larger than the Fly, perhaps even as large as the Green Dragon. It possessed eight legs covered in thick hair and terrible jaws. It stared with a horrifying, silent calm.

"Who are you?" the Creature asked, feeling itself trembling.

The creature watched him intently, still maintaining that eerie, chilling calm.

"You're not from here," it stated rather than asked, speaking in a pleasant, feminine voice. After a moment's hesitation, it added, "I am Spider, mistress of the hole in the Tree. But I'm not asking you who you are.

" "I am the Creature.

" "It doesn't matter," Spider smiled with terrible jaws, which looked rather comical. "It has lost its meaning since you entered."

The creature fidgeted and squirmed. He felt great Anxiety and Fear, which seemed to be frequent guests in Spider's apartment.

"What's the point of all this?" he asked after a moment, unable to look away from the hypnotic gaze of a hundred calm eyes. Only after a while did he receive a dispassionate answer.

"Everyone has to live somehow. Some are created to be good, and some are meant to be bad. In every fairy tale, there has to be someone good and someone bad.

" "You're just the bad one, aren't you?" the Creature asked. Spider only replied again after a moment of deep thought.

You called me cruel, strange stranger,

who can barely pronounce my name.

When I stood first in line, at the front,

you grabbed me tightly with your sharp claws

and hurled pathetic accusations.

You placed the royal crown on your head, burning me

red with your glowing words

like a ruler—a merciless judge.

At your sides you have counselors who proclaim my verdict.

Behind your throne, fear and ignorance stand,

and they tremble before me and fear me,

though each of them would like to possess my wisdom.

Applause all around, the populace rejoices,

as always when the executioner hangs a hateful beast.

"I'm not simply the bad one. You're not simply the good one. I must live harming others; that's my role; I didn't invent it."

Spider approached and, with large scissors held in her front paws, severed the Creature from the ceiling, deftly catching the limp body entangled in silver, magical threads. The Creature couldn't move an arm or a leg, only turning his head slightly. He already regretted not listening to Fly and staying outside.

The landlady of the hole in the Tree's bark, however, showed him no ill intentions. She cut the threads painfully binding the Creature's body and said,

"Run now! You're too small to be eaten." She showed him the opening through which the Creature had entered the Spider's lair. "Never come back again, you might be less fortunate."

The Creature peered through the hole. Outside, Gale was carousing, accompanied by a gloomy man in a brown bowler hat and an old, threadbare vest, beneath which peeked the red suspenders holding up his wide trousers. It must have been Rain. Wet and Cold were with them. Only when the Creature heard the sound of approaching footsteps behind him did he, without hesitation, break into a run towards the branch where he had left Fly.

* * * * *

The night in the tree passed peacefully. Wet and Cold had a wonderful time, completely ignoring the Tree Dwellers, chasing each other here and there. They were everywhere – the Creature noticed with surprise that even when he saw them right in front of him, he could still hear their conversation from behind and to the side, as if they were appearing in different places at once.

After a long time, the Sun appeared. She greeted the Tree, politely nodding to all the creatures, and moved on. The Tree lit up with millions of droplets, sparkling and shimmering with all the colors of the world. Soon Wet departed, and right after him, so did Cold. The Tree Dwellers stopped shaking and quickly returned to their duties. Shouts and calls of urgency arose again.

The fly stretched and spread its wings, shaking off small droplets.

"I'll be ready to fly in a moment," she said to the Creature, who had dozed off on a branch and was now awake and looking around, not yet fully alert.

"Where are we going to fly now?" the Creature asked after a moment.

"Maybe for breakfast," the Fly replied, without thinking too much about it.

"Okay," the Creature replied simply.

Soon they were airborne. The Creature wasn't as afraid of flying as he had been the day before. He had become somewhat accustomed to the heights and wasn't frozen in fear at every sharp turn the Fly made.

In the distance, they saw a house. It was quite similar to the one the Creature had lived in before his trip. The house had the same windows, roof, and even a veranda bathed in sunlight. As they flew closer, the Creature felt completely at ease.

"I like it here!" he exclaimed in the Fly's ear.

"Mmhmm..." the Fly replied indistinctly, already smelling fresh bread and butter on the table.

They flew into the house through the slightly open window. The Fly sat on the table, threw the Creature off his back, and began feasting. The large piece of bread quickly disappeared down her throat. The Creature had barely tasted this delicacy when the Fly exclaimed,

"Time for dessert!" She deftly climbed up the plastic box and peered inside.

"So much butter! Who's going to eat all this?" she exclaimed with delight.

After a few clumsy attempts, the Creature stopped climbing the smooth wall of the box.

"Leave some for me too!" he pleaded.

The Fly didn't listen. She was too busy chewing and separating the butter pieces. Besides, the pieces didn't particularly enjoy being eaten by the Fly. They always dreamed of occupying some high position, even on the Sandwich. Unfortunately, sometimes you're not where you want to be.

The Creature had to content itself with the bread crumbs lying on the table. Besides, not long after, the Fly jumped down from the box and remembered the Creature.

"Get on me, let's fly on," she shouted, nudging the Creature. The Creature had already become adept at quickly jumping onto Fly's back and now, in a single bound, settled comfortably on her back. Fly took off.

They flew out through the open window – the same one through which they had arrived at the House. Fly headed towards the Maple Tree with Flowers. Perched on her back, the Creature couldn't get enough of the Sun, who tickled him with her rays and gently massaged his limbs, which were aching from sitting so much. Fly, too, seemed pleased with the company of the warm Mrs. Sun, whom everyone liked and always patiently awaited her arrival.

"We'll fly to the Meadow now!" Fly shouted joyfully. "You'll see many strange but beautiful things."

The Creature clung tighter to Fly's back. Now he was impatient; he wanted the journey to be but a flash. But he soon forgot his haste, seeing below him...

"Carpet!" exclaimed the Creature. "We're home!"

The Fly descended, and the Creature quickly realized he had been very mistaken. What from above had appeared to be a uniform, flat red cloth was in fact many Flower heads, standing side by side and gazing reverently at the Sun. The air was cut by the noise of thousands of tiny wings, the rustle of brushed grass, and the ever-increasing number of falling leaves. The wind combed the Flower stems and the ubiquitous grasses with its comb, giving the plants the movement of a sea wave.

They landed gracefully next to a large gray stone. The Creature jumped off the Fly and lifted its head.

"Hey!" he shouted to the nearest Flower, but the latter didn't even turn. He was much larger than the Creature and considered himself more important.

"What do you want?" the Flower asked reluctantly after a moment.

"Let me climb on top of you," the Creature asked. "I want to see the garden."

The Flower said nothing this time. Without hesitation, the Creature began climbing the flexible stem. He quickly made his way to the Flower's head and perched among the red petals.

The sight that unfolded from here was breathtaking. He saw the heads of other Flowers side by side, bending simultaneously in a strange dance, and lower down, close to the ground and above it, a vast number of Garden Inhabitants. Some crawled on the moss and grass that covered the occasional protrusion of the cold, brown earth; some jumped merrily among the blades and stems of the Flowers. Finally, some, and these were the Creature's most envious, flew high, sometimes higher than anyone could see—only the faint rustle of tiny wings could be heard.

The sky seemed within reach—the Creature raised his hand, and for a moment it seemed to him that a large, fluffy Cloud, resembling well-whipped cream, flowed majestically through his fingers.

Suddenly, the flower the Creature was sitting on sagged under the unexpected weight. A strange, black creature with yellow stripes was looking at the Creature, or perhaps a yellow creature with black stripes – the Creature didn't know this and didn't consider it at the moment. The only thing that was certain was that the creature had fallen from the sky and landed beside him. The Creature became a little frightened.

"Who are you?" the Creature asked.

The strangely colored creature said nothing. From a large pocket on its belly, it pulled a long, thin straw, one end of which it placed to the Flower's head and the other to its own lips. A loud smacking sound was heard. The nectar flowing through the straw disappeared into the unfamiliar creature's cavernous throat, which closed its eyes along with its Pleasure. After a moment, when the limited supply of nectar no longer allowed for further satiation, the creature took out the straw, carefully licked the remnants of its drink, and tucked it into its breast pocket. It smoothed its whiskers and stretched its wings, looking like a stretching human who had just woken up in the morning and was getting ready for a cup of cocoa and a roll with butter. Only then did it look at the Creature.

"Who are you?

" "I'm the Creature."

The mysterious creature nodded, though truth be told, she'd never seen anyone like her before, nor heard a name like that.

"I'm Bee."

The creature decided not to hide the fact that she'd never heard of such a person.

"What do you have here?" he asked, pointing to Bee's pocket. Bee looked at him warily.

"Better not be too curious," she cleared her throat, "I'm at work now.

" The next question that occurred to the creature was, "What's work?" but he decided it would be rude to ask a new acquaintance who wouldn't tell anyone about herself.

"Show me something interesting. I've never been here before," the creature asked.

Bee thought for a moment.

"You should see the lake. It's that way," she said, waving her hand, indicating the direction and making a farewell gesture. The Creature watched her for a moment longer as, in a heavy, awkward flight unlike the Fly's acrobatic feats, she dodged a long line of Flowers, only to perch on one.

The Fly agreed to give the Creature a ride to the lakeshore and flew off, minding her own business.

The Creature was utterly baffled. What he saw was undoubtedly the strangest of all the mysteries of the world he had ever seen. A silvery sheet of netting, made of thousands of silvery meshes, dazzling the eye with its carefree, cheerful expression, lay over the lake's surface. Here and there, the lazily moving dark back of a Fish could be seen, and occasionally, the monotonous cover was interrupted by the protruding back of an aquatic Plant, disdainful of its terrestrial relatives, who could only quench their thirst during the Rain. The creature soon realized that water was wet and provided a pleasant coolness in the heat of the day, when a gentle breath of fresh wind blew the drops from his entire body.

* * * * *

The creature quickly became acquainted with the inhabitants of the lakeshore: an entire family of Frogs who had lived there for a very long time, a Bittern who lived in the reeds along the shore and practically never left his nest, and a multitude of Harvesters, related to the innkeeper of the hole in Mrs. Spider's Tree, but much smaller and less threatening. He watched with envy as the Swimmers glided across the water's surface, looking like professional ice skaters trying to break a speed record. He never once accepted the invitation of the passing Fish to join him for a swim – he had seen these animals swallow creatures not fast enough or simply careless bathing in the lake several times, and had learned that besides peace and harmony, lawlessness and a struggle for existence reigned on the picturesque lakeshore. In the evenings, he listened to the Frogs' concert and counted the stars lit by the mysterious lighthouse keeper hidden in the darkness.

Thus the days and nights passed. The sun rose with increasing reluctance, and she favored everyone with her radiant, warm smile with increasing sparingness. The wind, which had seemed to have died down somewhat at the beginning of summer, now ran tirelessly again, trying to be everywhere at once. His brother, the Gale, whose arrival was always preceded by cries of terror and hostility, also visited him more and more often. The time for the bright streaks falling from the sky had passed, the rye ears had long since lost their heavy heads, and the trees had begun to faintly turn golden.

* * * * *

One day, the Creature met the Fly. She was sitting on the shore of the lake, intently observing her Reflection in the still water. The Reflection looked quite like her, only at times it seemed to quiver and grimace, as if in a distorted mirror.

"I have to go," the Reflection said. "I can't wait here for autumn and winter."

The Creature nodded. He, too, had had enough of his journey, much like a mountain peak lover who, descending into the valleys in the evening, contentedly carries his baggage of experience and experiences but has no desire to repeat his journey again. The creature knew he, too, had to return.

"Get on me," the Fly ordered. "I know one more place you should see."

The creature turned and took one last look at the lake.

"Let's go," he replied after a moment.

* * * * *

The Fly nimbly flew between the stems of small Flowers, their heads hanging sadly, as if anticipating the imminent arrival of Evening and Coolness. The creature jumped off its companion's back and stretched, yawning widely.

"We'll spend the night here," Fly pointed to a small hole in the ground big enough for the two of them. The Creature didn't care – he'd gladly stretch out anywhere and fall asleep, gazing at the evening sky, already lit up here and there by the pale glint of stars and the Moon, which gazed at the world with the solemnity of dark craters like eyes. However, when he snuggled into the soft bedding, he changed his mind and thought that the burrow Fly had found was the best sleeping place he could find. Before Night could arrive, the Creature and Fly were long since deep in sleep.

* * * * *

On the porch of the House with the red tile roof appeared the Real Person – a little Girl. It was early in the morning, the child had gone out into the Garden to run and play in the last summer rays of the sun, pale and tired from a heavy night's sleep, full of sighs and dreams, and tossing and turning in bed. The entire Garden was enveloped in a thick Mist. It poured like milk into every nook and cranny, touching every blade of grass individually and gently tickling the Creature's back.

The Fly decided to spend the entire day under a spreading burdock leaf. She felt best where she was invisible to everyone, while she could observe the goings-on undisturbed.

"Don't go too far," she warned the Creature, preparing for bed and preparing a soft bed of fresh leaves and grass.

The Creature was eager to see the Girl up close. It was the last day of their expedition. He and the Fly had already agreed that the next day they would return to the Creature's House and spend the winter on a Persian rug, near the Green Dragon's dwelling. After winter, the Creature would never leave the rug again—he decided that was where he felt best and safest.

The Creature poked his head out from among the green leaves. Just then, the Girl turned towards him and approached quite close, laughing merrily and waving her arms as if trying to shake off the delicate mist, as airy as spiderweb threads. The Creature looked at her with great interest. Up close, she was truly large. Larger than anyone he had encountered on his journey.

Suddenly, the Creature sensed something was not quite right. The Girl was clearly looking in his direction, and a look of interest appeared on her face. After a moment, she moved decisively forward toward the Creature, crouching in the slightly yellowed grass. The Creature shuddered and immediately fled in panic. There was no doubt that he had been spotted. He didn't want to find out what the Girl would do to him once she caught him. She was very fast.

"Run! Jump on me!" shouted the Fly, who had just woken up and seen the whole situation. She spread her wings and tested the ground beneath her feet.

The Creature had never run so fast before. He'd never had to. It felt like the ground was slipping away from under his feet as he leaped onto Fly's back at the last moment. The girl almost caught him with her fingers. Fly took off and, with visible difficulty, fighting the Wind pushing her, tried to rise higher. Suddenly, the world shook from its centuries-old foundations, and everything went dark.

* * * * *

When the Creature shook himself, it was Night again. The darkness that had been running beside her like a great gray dog ​​had mercifully wrapped a thick blanket around what was left of Fly, and now it lay nearby, almost an arm's length away. The Creature had a little better luck. Just a little.

He tried to stand up, or at least move—his body, always following every thought, like a puppet listening to a conjurer's strings, now refused to obey. The Creature was surprised to discover vast reserves of Power slumbering somewhere within, and at the same time, a feeling that they were bursting forth in a rushing stream he couldn't stop in any way. Something seemed to have unleashed itself within him.

"Help me..." the Creature whispered softly. He didn't address anyone; he simply said it. But someone heard his whisper.

"I'm here!" the Wind said decisively, rushing past. It was everywhere.

"Why... yes... exactly..." the Creature wanted to ask, but his stubborn lips, out of spite, could only manage a few words.

"Not everyone can reach where they're going," the Wind replied, and then seemed to pause, lost in thought. He had seen this image hundreds of times, but this time he was struck by the overwhelming feeling of emptiness the moment he stopped running. It was as if running were his entire life, giving meaning and strength to existence. But then he shrugged and ran on, even faster than usual.

"That's how I wanted to be... I had everything... wait... get me out of here!" "The Creature choked out with effort. The wind didn't hear, but he returned a moment later, smoothing his lush, raven-black hair.

Take me with you to Death Valley, where a golden royal crown awaits

every ordinary man . Enter with me into a magical land. Let us laugh at the wind and beat the clouds, which, like waves, build snowmen , adorning their whiskers full of sea foam. And a moment later, they fly onward into the wide world. When you cross the threshold of life , know that a second life will not be granted to you. You will never get your chance again, despite what people sometimes think.

The Creature fell asleep. The kind of sleep you cannot sleep through and from which you cannot wake up. His last thoughts ran to his Home and sat on a Persian carpet, right next to the Green Dragon. From then on, they would remain there forever.

Outside, everything fell silent—only the faint rustle of leaves reminded us that the World was preparing for the arrival of someone new. Perhaps it was also preparing for someone's departure... "It is good for those who sleep and will never wake," the Wind sighed with relief, burying the Creature and the Fly under a blanket of dry leaves, and then ,

without stopping, it moved forward. Just as it had run thousands of years before.