Но добрые Судьи в Городе Солнца, в ответ на нашу последнюю просьбу, учитывая смягчающее обстоятельство в виде моего сна, позволили нам вернуться на Землю в Город Дождей уже призраками, чтобы хоть чуть-чуть побыть вместе перед очередным воплощением, в детали которого нас пока ещё не посвящали…
август 2006
5. The City of Rains
It was the other way round: in the City of Rains we were greeted by the Sun!
We stepped out of the express train onto a platform filled with sunlight.
«No one will notice us, there’s no need to rush anywhere, and we can do whatever we want,» Denis said thoughtfully. «It’s so great to be absolutely free! Even if for 24 hours only.»
«Yes, Denis! I feel the happiest in the world!» I said enthusiastically in response.
We walked through the City of Rains in the morning, hand in hand, both of us with small backpacks, wearing blue jeans, dark blue T-shirts and brown boots, just like the day I had got the most important dream. Sometimes we stopped and passionately kissed each other, not ashamed of passers-by.
«Think about it, Yana, this wouldn’t have happened without your dream,» Denis smiled.
«It was Angel the Guardian! He took me by the scruff of the neck like a kitten and poked with my nose in you,» I smiled back.
We walked along my favorite embankment, checked out the temple, and then came to the place where girls used to arrive in white dresses with little bunches of flowers.
«I wish I were here like that, too…» I thought.
«Of course!» Denis immediately read my thoughts. «That’s how it’s going to be, next time.»
We both were not free and owed something to everyone. It was scary to think how many people fussed around us, constantly demanding one thing or another, but offering nothing in return, not feeling even an elementary gratitude, not to mention respect.
Denis and I felt like completely alone beings in the Universe. Perhaps, apart from children, whom we saw too rarely for various reasons, nothing kept us on Earth.
Until I got that dream…
We went into a cafe to have a talk finally!
«Believe it or not, Yana, the world became completely grey, I lost any interest in life. I neither watched TV nor read newspapers or books, I didn’t care what car I drove, what clothes I wore, what I ate. I came home from work late at night and went to bed, and then I had breakfast in the morning and returned to work again. I didn’t want to see or hear anyone, to talk to anyone…»
While Denis recounted his life to me, starting from birth, I listened to him realizing that our destinies were so similar that I could tell him nothing about myself. It seemed strange that for so many years we had been nearby without noticing each other.
«Yes, I liked you, and yes, you were always around, but you looked absolutely happy and never gave me even the slightest hint…»
Until I got that dream…
We climbed to the observation deck and stood in silence for a long time, enjoying the view of the City of Rains, in which the Sun was shining.
I felt at the dead end, too. The real life was whizzing by somewhere outside the windows and at breakneck speed. I could barely keep up with the calendar pages in my business diary.
Until I got that dream…
Sailing in a boat under the lowest bridges of the City of Rains, we were more silent than talking. A stronger and more experienced soul was next to me, and I felt calm, but…
«Are you thinking about what will happen to us after we get back? Yes, Yana? You don’t have to think about anything,» Denis answered, reading my thoughts, and hugged me gently and affectionately, stroking my hair and kissing my neck…