Introduction.
Chapter 1. Urban bustle.
Chapter 2. Unexpected news.
Chapter 3. Pleasant chores.
Chapter 4. Interesting find.
Chapter 5. The mystical message.
Chapter 6. Waking up from sleep.
Chapter 7. Mysticism.
Chapter 8. Through The Looking Glass.
Chapter 9. Secrets of the past.
It's a beautiful day. Lit by the sun, drizzled fine "mushroom" rain, someone calls it "blind". The air is warm, thick and enveloping. It is saturated with various smells of plants and forests. Have you ever been in the woods after a rainstorm? This is a rich oxygen-rich aroma of pine needles, foliage, moss, tree bark, mushrooms. You want to inhale it deeply and inhale it for the future. In the conditions of the city, admit it, such air is a shortage.
Waking up, Alain and Alina brewed delicious coffee and went out on the porch of the house. The sun's rays broke through the clouds and trees, and the droplets of fine rain, falling, refracted the light and glinted. The birds flew low, chattering incessantly. Alain, squinting, smiling a little, looked around, sipping his coffee. On his face it was clear that the morning was beautiful, the nature around was magnificent and that life was good.
At that moment, Alina quietly approached him and, putting her arms around him, kissed him, clung to him, joining in the silent enjoyment of the environment. Her light brown hair fluttered in the breeze, and her blue eyes were filled with quiet happiness.
-Oh, what a beautiful morning, fresh air...!" sighed Alina.
- Yes, I agree. It's cool here. Look, over there, what a nice house people have built, well done. Soundly built. Alain said. "And the coffee, mmm... it's delicious, honey. Thanks.
-I tried.
Suddenly, a melody started playing, it's a smartphone call. Alain picked up the phone with a little haste. It was the Arias in the play.
- Hello, Alain. the man greeted.
Hello Arias In The Play. Happy recovery.
- Alain, thank you. I take it you found something interesting and probably in the attic? the old man suggested.
-Uh, yeah, Arias in the play, You're right. I assume that You knew that this conversation would take place. Why did You leave the mirror here? Alain was a little nervous and full of questions he wanted to ask all at once.
- I'm sure You have a lot of questions. The phone is not convenient. Alain, I suggest we meet and talk. I'm in Alatyr, Troitskaya street-22, come.
-All right, that's settled. We're leaving, we'll be there in two or three hours.-It's really better that way," Alain decided.
-All right, I'm waiting,- the old man said.
Alain and Alina gathered quickly, soon they were ready for a short trip.
The couple set off. The highway is not Federal, and therefore, it seemed like a hermit's road, empty and detached. One lane in each direction, few cars and very little civilization. There can be no question of comfortable, equipped network gas stations every 5-10 km of the way, as it happens on Federal highways. But there is an advantage, you can learn the life of the Russian hinterland, contemplate the national color and way of life.
What do you think of a car trip? Of course, the comfort and sensations will depend on the class of car. As we already know, Alain's car was an " E " class. Comfortable enough not to notice the three and a half hours of travel in the company of a cute girl. Driving a car on the highway is a kind of meditation.
An interesting stele of the city of Alatyr meets all those who stay. Its appearance speaks about the historical heritage, about the origins.
The car crossed the border of the locality. The city is small with a population of about 34,000 people. The official date of Foundation of the city is considered to be 1552, the time of the first mention of Alatyr in the Patriarchal (Nikon) chronicle:
"И учал государь мыслити з братом своим со князем Владимиром Андреевичем и з бояры и с всеми воеводами, как итти х Казани и на которые места; и приговорил итти государь надвое, вмещениа для людем, а самому государю итти на Володимерь и на Муром, а воевод отпустити на Резань и на Мещеру, а сходитца на Поле за Алатарем."
This text is one of the fragments of the description of the last (third) campaign of Ivan IV on Kazan, which ended with the conquest of the Kazan khanate.(material from Wikipedia)
Arriving at his destination, Alain called the old man and arranged to meet him at one of the restaurants in the city. When they met, they greeted each other warmly, like relatives. This sometimes happens, you do not know a person for a long time, but you perceive him as an old friend, a good comrade. The old man exuded a fatherly warmth and kindness of soul. He was open and bright, delicate in conversation, had a speech without words-parasites, which is rare in these days.
- Ariy Arturovich, I think You understand that I want to ask You about the mirror in the attic. How is this possible? Is it a miracle, witchcraft, unknown lost technologies? A portal? Or is it a very cool joke? Filled with impatience and anticipation, Alain blurted out his question excitedly.
Alina watched in silence with interest, trying not to disturb or frighten away something important, as it seemed to her.
The old man began his story.
- Alain, Alina, my dears. I will tell You my story. I will tell you how it was, where the mirror came from, why I left it, and much more.
After a short pause, as if remembering something or choosing a moment from which to start the story, the old man pondered, and then continued...
-Um, how do I explain it to you? Yes, indeed, the mirror is a portal, just as you suggested, Alain. But this is not just a portal, it is a bridge to a parallel world, an existing world. Yes, it is. We live in one of the planes, so to speak. Our world is multi-faceted. These are other universes, other worlds, some of them hostile. All these worlds are inhabited by people or races very similar to humans. It is hard for the layman to accept this...
The old man was worried that he might frighten young people or cause skepticism, distrust, laughter, in the end. He paused to confirm the seriousness of the young men and the desire to understand the secret. The old man asked Alain and Alina if they were ready to listen further. The young people agreed, their eyes full of childish curiosity, they need answers to questions. Catching this, calming down, the old man continued.
-Well, the inhabitants of different worlds are very similar and most of them are human, but there are others, gray ones. But it's not about them. Any reflecting surface of the object can serve as a portal, but the object should not be simple, but enchanted, enchanted. These spells, witchcraft, are like programs on computers, but of a different nature. This mirror has become a portal, the plot itself was kept by my ancestors and passed it from mouth to mouth, it is not recorded anywhere. I'm the last one who knows him. The mirror leads a person to places where he would like to be, which he can imagine, imagine. But it can be far, very far away, and to return, you need to imagine the place of return again. Therefore, the portal is good if the thoughts are accurate. If You do not have a clear understanding, image and feelings - the mirror will not bring You home and You can travel, wander all your life. This is a very fine-tuning tool and requires the same from the user. The two of you may not get to the same place if you don't present it clearly. You can be scattered in different worlds, different planes, at different times! You have to be prepared, you have to be able to think about one thing, think the same way, and have common goals. If people like to follow the rules and hold hands, it is easier for them to move through the portal. Do you understand what I'm saying?
This is not a joke. One thing happened in my life.... Once, we had a big fight with my wife, she went to the mirror, first just to calm down, look into it, and then...apparently on emotion, she took a clover petal, one of the envelopes and stepped into the mirror...without me. For 10 years I do not know where she is, waiting for her. I hope she can imagine her home, the place where she lived and come back here. I live here now, at her parents ' house.
- We wish that she returned to You Ariy Arturovich.... And maybe it is that time is distorted? Can she come back in 10 years by our standards, but not realize it because she will only have one hour there? Alina asked.
-Yes, you're right, daughter. This is possible, depending on which world it will fall into and in which plane in time. I hope she doesn't get lost. the old man looked sad, his eyes were a little red, and it was clear that feelings were flooding into him.
-I'm sorry, I'm a little...well...-the old man began to apologize with a tremor in his voice. -Ah, it's my own fault. That's why I left the mirror, because I was afraid that I would dare to guess where she was and rush to find her. Many times I wanted to, many times I stopped myself. I just realized that I could lose her completely and decided to wait, wait for her return. And the children here, son and daughter, granddaughters. I love them and I can't leave them. I hope my Nastya will return.
- Yeah... Ari Arturovich, I have a couple more questions. Have we tired You out? I suggest we meet again soon, if You have nothing to do, if you are not busy. In the meantime, we are on vacation and could live in Your city. - Alain looked at Alina, waiting for approval. Alina nodded in response.
-All right, guys. I agree, it's getting late, I'm really tired. Old age is not a joy! We'll continue tomorrow, if you don't mind? -the old man joked.
- With pleasure! - the guys answered in one voice.
Read more:
Chapter 11. Meeting with magus.