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  RECREATION

  I did not manage to know why I will be surprised here, because at this moment a girl came out from the nearest hut. It looked like she already knew about our presence, because she went straight to us. Maybe Oleg called her?

  The girl warmly smiled. Tall, slender, red-haired belle. Attractive not only physically. Her aura, 3 meters in diameter, surrounded her body like a large dome. It shimmered and pulsed by energy.

  When she came up to us very close, her eyes flashed by purple fire. She held out me her hands. And although I was a disembodied cloud, felt emanating from her flows of love.

  - What you are! - I could not resist.

  - And you have beautiful black hair!

  - Have you seen my body?

  - And not just seen – red-haired Cleopatra archly smiled, - I hope you do not mind against the African plaits?

  - Oh! - Only I could utter.

  She winked at me and looked like a friend from my Institute.

  - You will like to be here.

  Then to Oleg:

  - Alex, finally, you're back with us. We missed you so!

  - I, too, Maria!

  Hence, the girl named Maria.

  - I'm sorry, was not presented at once.

  But why Alex? He is Oleg.

  - Everyone call me like he or she want. I do not mind - said Oleg-Alex.

  - You know, He reminds me Alexander the Great. Same strong and recalcitrant. I have not conquered him.

  - The instinct of procreation is strong even in you, - Oleg said, - what to say about people.

  - Well, you sent us in the morning such parcel! - Mary changed the subject. Matteo and Simone came running and said that we have guests. We went out on the shore, and there are your 10. And they stayed in the form of balls, did not transformed into people, probably the journey was urgent. They ask: "Will you take for a while?" We look, and between them in the air two human body soar. Women. One older - in nightgown. And the other is yours, Anastasia, in pajamas.

  We asked: "Where from did you teleport them with such hurry, not even dressed?" They replied: "From the Arctic". We were surprised, but of course agreed.

  - The Dark?

  - Yes, intensified, not joke.

  - Where are the others?

  - They have work. I am myself coping well. Probably, in the evening they will be. And now flew, you need to wake up.

  Maria showed the way. I followed her in one of the huts. There on two wooden beds two women were lying - my mother and me.

  How unusual to see myself out of body. I was at the same time in two places - sleeping and floating in the air. And how can you not believe in life after death?

  In the hut it was very cozy and tidy, and it was unusually spacious. Red curtains created effect of fireplace.

  Mom. Thin and a little pale. Age, however. I'm also not fat, but not pale. Age too, but in another sense.

  - What should I do? - I turned to Mary.

  - Wake up.

  - I do not know how to start. Previously, it by itself was occurring...

  - You need to approach to the body, to embrace and enter, preferably through the head.

  - Maybe I should call Oleg?

  - Why? We can do this ourselves. I'll help.

  Maria stood up near the head and put her palm on the forehead of my dense body.

  - So, let’s begin with God! Come on!

  I flew up to... myself, touched. How dense! And then I began to plunge inside, as if putting on tight clothing. It was not very nice. A feeling as if I was trying to get into a burrow.

  During the penetration the feeling of lightness and freedom was disappearing. Weight pulled hard. Oh, how I don’t want! But it is necessary.

  Well, I'm here. And as soon as I completed this convoluted maneuver my body like a machine whose engine was started, began to revive. Organ systems have gradually started to come into their usual mode. Heart, lungs and head. I was waking up. Oh, how long time I slept! How limbs were numb. And back hurts – I was sleeping in an uncomfortable position, and also all these "flights"…

  Finally I opened my eyes.

  - Hello!

  - Good morning! Did you got sleep enough?

  - A month in advance!

  I sat down, then tried to get up, but swayed and almost fell.

  - Slow down.

  - And what about my mom? Why is she still asleep?

  - I specifically did not give her to wake up, waiting for you. Imagine - she wakes up, and not at home. You are near, but sleeping and did not get up. Why such strain on the heart?

  - Yes... right decision.

  - And now I will stop my impact, and you will slowly wake her. And then explain. Is she skittish?

  - Not very. Once she with one shopping bag forced to flee three bullies.

  - I like such heroic women. - Red curls were bouncing to the beat of laughter.

  I decided not to scare mom. She slept soundly, smacked her lips. Probably hungry.

  - Mommy, wake up - I gently stroked her hand - wake up, dear.

  A few seconds later she opened her sleepy, but still very beautiful brown eyes:

  - Nastya, is it you? What happened?

  She looked around.

  - What a strange light? You bought a new lamp? Oh, you're in the room all rearranged! And where from are these beds?

  And finally:

  - Where are we?

  - Mom, take things as they are. Let's just say we are not at home. And where we are you learn after. Do not worry, we are with my friends. This is New Year's holidays.

  - My daughter, what a holiday?! I work tomorrow!

  - We are in the south. Call for work, take days off, you have them for a month.

  - Oh, how confusing is all this... - mother had wailed in bewilderment, - I am here, in a strange place, in a nightie. What do I wear? - She had got out of bed. - Though where is a mirror here? I need to comb my hair and to perform my ablutions.

  - Mommy, now everything will be. I'll introduce you to one girl. Her name is Maria. She is very cute. She will help.

  - Nastya what you do to me! I'm not used to such things. And the father will call, what to say?

  - Do not tell yet. We will try to come back for the holidays. Let's just relax and rest. You've earned it.

  Mom looked at me for a long moment and then waved her hand.

  - Well, you’ve persuaded.

  After these words, a swarm of moths of happiness began to whirl in my head. We're here with my mother, who has forgotten about herself and works, works... Let she will rest, experience something new, walk on the beach, look at the palm trees...

  - And what is a city where we were brought? – Mom continued questioning.

  - This is not a city. It’s a small place near the sea - Burulus. Maybe you get some more sleep?

  - I enough sleep! – Mom decisively cut off.

  I came out of the hut. After a night in a lucid dream, it was like to put on the shoulders a heavy bag. But I tried to adapt and do not despond.

  Oleg and Maria looked at the sky. Pale-blue, in contrast to the bright blueness of the North. Without clouds, very transparent and as if crystal, it rang from the heat. I ran to friends:

  - Hello!

  Oleg looked back:

  - Are you okay? I promised a night journey, but it lasted longer than necessary.

  - All right, I learned a lot overnight.

  - Brave! - Maria nodded approvingly. - But this world is not so simple.

  - I will not be a witch.

  - Yes, they have a bad end. Servants of the Devil. How is your mom?

  - I explained how could. She reconciled. And even happy... I think so. She needs a clothes and a comb and with a mirror.

  - Now let me do. - And Mary rushed off to the hut.

  I was left with Oleg.

  - Do not regret about everyth
ing? - And a shrill glance of green eyes.

  - You may not to ask.

  - I'm sorry I snatched you out of habitual life.

  - All my life I wanted to have someone snatched me so. The life was so familiar. As a birdcage. And the soul, like a bird, it wants to fly. Oleg, what is now?

  - Live now. Enjoy the moment.

  - Whom are we waiting for? Who are the friends of Maria?

  - They are great. You know them, or rather heard about them.

  - I?!

  - Yes. You'll see.

  Another mystery. Who are they? About whom could I hear? Maybe a group of hown scientists? The camp in something reminiscent a research base. Or are they the same as Oleg?

  - Nastya, I leave you for a time – the Master called me, - I will be back in the evening. Maria will take care of you. He squeezed my hand... and vanished into air.

  No, I have never learn such a way of moving.

  I heard footsteps behind. Mom came out of the hut in a new dress - elegant turquoise blouse and light breeches. The clothes suited her. It seemed my mother began to get used to occurring in our lives changes. She in a businesslike way was examining the camp - it seemed she was looking for, where was the toilet and kitchen. Maria followed her but did not interfere. They communicated on Russian and English. Many years of teaching English at school were not in vain - my mother easily spoke with a foreigner.

  - It’s pity I have no camera! Such a beauty! – Mom started lamenting, but stopped short.

  - Why not? I'll bring it. - Maria ducked into the hut and returned with great Canon. – Shoot, Lyudmila Michaylovna, from the heart!

  And both, talking about everything that came into their heads, went for a walk between the trees and flowers and taking pictures. Both of them are with active character. I'm by nature rather observer. Permanent employment is not for my soul. Sitting, slowly walking and watching the world – this is my favorite pastime. Mom calls me an idler, Dad - a quitter. I justified my passion for the contemplation by example of Buddha - the most famous idler from all living on the Earth. And also I recalled of Martha and Maria in the Bible. Martha constantly fussed around the house, but exactly a light-hearted Maria, sitting at Jesus' feet, deserved a lot of his love.

  So, if you a lot work by hands, rearrange things, wash, scrape and so on – it does not mean that you are on the right track. You need something more than that. But what? Love, maybe. Attention. The desire to understand this world.

  And the garbage has a right to exist on an equal footing with a human. It is also the God particle.

  Interestingly that I thought about Jesus here. Egypt, Israel is close. The name of Maria. Perhaps it all reminded me.

  I liked to be here. Although everything was unfamiliar. I was still entirely a product of Western civilization, accustomed to comfort. However, there was something that was not in the apartment, in a cold Murmansk - an abundance of greenery. Leaves, grass, flowers. Insects scurrying hither and thither. Buzzing, leaping, chirring. Initially, some of them frightened me and irritated. But then I used to. Maria warned me from snakes and scorpions and just in case asked me not go too far. She gave me a new phone.

  - Do not rely only on telepathy, if anything, call me. I'm at number 5.

  Mom, meanwhile, followed us and every five minutes was interested – when is the lunch time in this lovely guesthouse. It seemed that hunger gave her confidence. I did not believe that this is my usually quiet Parent.

  Mary invited us into one of the huts, at the table and put in front of us a few dishes with tropical fruits. In addition to the familiar bananas, pears and grapes, there were about a dozen species, which I had never tried. Still there was standing jugs with juice. But my mother asked tea. And tea magically appeared.

  We were eating, and I liked this tropical diet more and more.

  But Maria herself for some reason did not eat anything.

  - I do not want, - she said. I will wait for all. - And you eat, do not hesitate.

  After a light and tasty meal, when it was about four hours, we went to the sea to wash off the heat and dust. And long time we were lying in the white foam of the surf, basking in the sun and take a look through the slits between the fingers, using the hands like the screens. Bliss enveloped us, and I felt such peace, what I have not experienced, except when meeting with Oleg.

  I have believed that happiness exists. Mom, in my opinion, became even younger. Recreation was good for her.

  And nevertheless a blissful relaxation could not embrace me whole. In my mind, the door to the future was present, where I wanted to look. Interestingly, I thought, what will happen tonight? Do not think, live – thought came up into my head. Maria? I looked at her. She was dozing in the sun, eyes closed, face in the flows of warm easy breeze. Maybe she... Most likely.

  We were similar to those of mermaids whose curiosity led them close to shore. Legs were concealed by water, so if you want you could imagine that there were tails. The small crabs and also some sea living creatures scurried around. Actually, I noticed that here no one insect creature did not attack me. Interestingly, this is the magic? Usually, bloodsuckers smell me from afar and bite at every opportunity. Animals were here, but unobtrusive, well mannered. Even mosquitoes did not bite. One malarial sat down on my hand, but for some reason it changed its mind and flew away. Yes, something was "strange". But this "strange" suited me fine. After molesting midges of northern forests here it was very "without-insect-ly”

  - And the mosquitoes here did not bite - suddenly mom sounded my thought.

  Mary was silent.

  Mom continued,

  - Masha, Oleg, who is he to you? A friend or a brother?

  - Both.

  - It does not happen - my mother did not lag. In my opinion, she decided to make him the son in law.

  - Mom, stop immediately. - I felt ashamed, and I gently tugged at her sleeve.

  - Nastya, what have I asked? It’s just interesting for me.

  - I told the truth. He's my friend. But he is also my brother, but not by blood but by the Spirit.

  - So, he is not a brother - mother matchmaker felt sad.

  In my heart I knew that my mother probably was playing a role, and so we did not take her questions seriously. Maria, it seemed, have thought the same.

  - Girls, I very like to be here - suddenly mom changed the subject – I was sad, that for several years we with Nastya did not go anywhere. And the father is always in the seas. But you never know what awaits you around the bend. I keep telling it to myself and others, but this turn... Thank you! And you, Anastasia, and you, Maria!

  - It's Oleg - I added – all began from him.

  - And thanks to him! To all of you!

  From excess of emotions mom began to cry.

  I squeezed her hand:

  - What are you, Mom? All is good!

  - Yes, and I cry from this!

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Tatiana Danina's Novels