Free Project Ouroboros by Kseniya Makovetskaya Page A

Thanks.
    Aleph, trying not to make much noise, took the small couch, but then decided to talk.
    — El’Athar?..
    — Yes?
    — They say the same thing in different languages.
    — Yeah, I thought so.
    — I know them all. All of these languages.
    — What? — Aleph saw that the agent sat up in bed. Now he watched him so closely that it became embarrassing.
    — They said it seems... that Methatron's Cube can be unlocked with the Sephiroth Tree key, that those who want to do it live... on the outside or in the abyss, I do not exactly understand. And yet it is: "We are here, help us, look for us..." Lord, they cried and begged for help...
    Aleph sniffled, trying not to burst into tears.
    There was an awkward silence, a few minutes later interrupted by a heavy sigh of the agent:
    — I'm sorry, I did not have to show it to you. I just wanted to know....
    — You did the right thing. At least, maybe it will help me find out who I am... You do not have to apologize.
    — Maybe we should heal you wounds? I have some medicine.
    — We might. Tomorrow. However, I do not know if it would work.
    — I'm glad you're here.
    — I am glad as well. Thanks for everything.
    — And there is something else... — Aleph spoke again, when the agent put his head down on the pillow. — I'm afraid to say it, but I have to.
    — What?
    — I heard his voice out there, — the musician sniffled again. — I was one of them. It was me asking for help, me...
    — Do not cry... — El’Athar got out of bed and walked over to the couch. He held out his hand, intending to pat the boy on the head, but at the last moment, when the Aleph almost felt fingertips on his hair, jerked his hand away. And then he sat down on the floor and leaned against the arm of the couch.
    Falling asleep, Aleph only saw the dark tangled hair, and the last phrase "Good night" quietly dissolved in a dream.
     
     

Chapter 13
     
    El’Athar was awakened by a terrible headache. It seemed that someone burned with a hating, contemptuous look the defenseless, suffering from a hangover landlord.
    The agent jerked awake, not knowing what was happening, but when, finally, focused his look, saw a red haired Lamashtu standing in the doorway.
    — Ah, Tharsis, it's you... How did you get here? — El’Athar only now realized that he had spent the night having drunk half a bottle of rum beforehand, which he had bought just a few days ago. The agent sat down with great effort, feeling that his head was being torn apart.
    — Dr Tekhina told how to get here. The door to the apartment was unlocked — Lamashtu shrugged and looked around. — Where will I sleep?
    — In the next room, I'll show. In the fridge there is a snack if you wish. — El’Athar, sighing heavily got to his feet and looked at Tharsis, whose face looked haggard after a hard night shift, and the shadows under his eyes were caused by fatigue. — You look exhausted. A hard shift?
    — No, as usual — Tharsis yawned, then grinned, eyeing the agent. — But in general, I look better than you.
    — Thank you for your kind words — El’Athar grunted and smiled involuntarily. If you still need something, just tell me. — The agent came out of his bedroom and the redhaired man followed him:
    — No, I am going directly to sleep.
    — And I'll have some coffee! — A voice from the next room declared.
    El’Athar sighed and showed Tarsis his room, went to the kitchen.
    There was a beep of the pager.
    "Mr Director General awaits you at 12.00. Rada".
    The usual message caused a sudden panic attack: the thought that Aine Soph had learned about El’Athar's copied materials from the Ministry of the Interior Affairs flashed in his mind. But El’Athar knew it was impossible. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
    His head ached so badly that everything was getting dark in front of his eyes, and the coffee did not help to recover. At night, he drank too much rum, but it was no longer something special. Once