Star Angels. The New World. Viktor Khorunzhy

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      “Daddy, that’s wonderful!” she jingled in a melodious voice. “And… may I ask how… significant would those finances be? I’m asking to make my mind about the shop to go to,” she added quickly so her father – perish the thought – would not hold her for a plinger.

      Michael burst into laughing:

      “Enough for you to have a wander round the best Flitton shops. Besides, there will be enough for cinema, amusement ride, and some ice-cream.”

      “Fine,” Katy gave up, “we’re skipping classes tomorrow. But promise me we’ll turn to the library to pick up some material for our report… Haven’t you forgotten that, I hope?”

      Of course, how could Alice not recall that? She volunteered herself today at Mr. Blake’s class. But the topic was too interesting: Ancient Egypt. And Katy was assigned to assist her.

      “Yeah,” Alice had to admit it, “we can’t let Mr. Blake down. Fine, we’ll drop in. I guess it won’t take a lot of time.”

      Katy sneered to her sister’s carelessness.

      Michael had dinner and lied down on his favourite sofa next to the TV. He had never actually watched the TV itself but he liked lie reading some book or newspaper.

      This time, while Katy was washing the dishes, Alice went off to her father’s room and brought him a new detective story they had recently bought at the book store.

* * *

      Katy was lying in her bed while Alice was combing her hair before going to sleep.

      “Alie…” Katy gave way. “You’ve been talking about the birds today… as if the feeling is common to you.”

      “What feeling?”

      “Well… when you realize you don’t belong here… That you are awaited somewhere else, and everything surrounding you now is not yours, not real…”

      Katy bated her breath. She was afraid of her sister laughing at her, always so rational and sober. But Alice remained serious.

      “It’s weird…” she answered after a while of silence. “I thought I was the only one to have that feeling lately. I thought I was probably just growing old to have these thoughts popping into my head.”

      Katy spluttered with laughter:

      “You? At your short eighteen? What am I then? An ancient geezer? Just like Mrs. Thompson?”

      “Pretty much, when you’re lecturing me on…”

      Alice didn’t manage to finish the sentence. The pillow, thrown by Katy, tumbled her hair again. Alice didn’t remain owning so, having ditched all dreary thoughts, they were soon giving a good hearty laugh, holding a pillow fight they used to have when children.

      That serious and disturbing conversation was lost somewhere in their scattered beds.

      Having chilled out, the girls lied down. The wind was roaring outside the windows.

      “Listen, Katy,” Alice suddenly said in a soft voice, “I’ve seen what was in that dad’s envelope.”

      Katy turned to her:

      “Have you read his letter?” she whispered with a rise.

      “I didn’t mean to… Dad wanted me to bring him the book, and it was lying on the table and the letter was lying open next to it. Well…”

      “What did it say?” Katy gave way as her curiosity got the better of propriety.

      “It said: ‘Time has come! Come back!’ And a lettering: either Mater or Nuter, I don’t recall exactly…”

      Katy’s sleepiness vanished as if by magic.

      “What the ‘time has come’? Where do we have to ‘come back’?” she thought, staring into the gloom of the room.

      There were too many questions, each and every answerless. Thoughts where hustling in her head chaotically.

      Trees were rustling outside the window, bringing drowsiness upon her. Soon Katy has closed her eyes.

      “What an odd day today was,” she had a chance to think before falling into a deep sleep.

      Chapter 2

      Unexpected Talents

      In the early morning, Katy crept stealthy to her sister’s bed. She had a festively wrapped package in her hands. With bated breath, not to wake Alice up, she thrust her hand to put the present next to the serenely sleeping birthday girl’s pillow.

      But then suddenly Alice captured Katy’s hand with a single flash-like move without even opening her eyes.

      “Alice!” being surprised, Katy let the package slip to the floor. “What's up with you?”

      Her sister opened her eyes and gave a soft stretch:

      “Oh, Kat, I’m so sorry. I did that reflexively… And what is that?” she grasped the package. “Is that for me?!”

      “Well, whom else?” Katy answered, rubbing her hand, having not completely come to herself after facing her sister’s crisp response.

      Meanwhile, Alice tore blatantly apart the elegant wrapping, decorated with a bow.

      “Wow!” she uttered breathy, pulling out a red velvet bag, embroidered with beaded ornaments and large rhinestones. It could be worn both over the shoulder and down on the back, like a backpack. It was Katy’s own handmade. It took her almost a moth to create this wonderful accessory in secret from her sister.

      “Where did you get it?” Alice has already been trying the purse on atop her pajamas. “I’ve never seen such, not on anyone!”

      “And you won’t,” Katy answered proudly. “I’ve made it myself. Happy birthday, sissy!”

      Alice gave Katy what looked like a chokehold.

      “I adore you,” Alice confessed seriously. “There’s no better sister anywhere in the world. I mean it…You know… Sometimes I feel like I will stop at nothing for you!”

      These words made tears come to Katy’s eyes.

      “Okay then,” she answered in a deliberately stern voice, having sniveled, “Let’s get dressed… We seem to have a great lot of plans for today…”

      The door cracked carefully open, and the girls caught a sight of Michael’s grinning face.

      “Can I come in?” he asked. “I’ve been knocking for nearly ten minutes already.”

      “Come in, dad!” the girls chorused. “Sorry, we got ourselves talked away…”

      They had flung themselves at his neck, and he, as so often when children, threw his arms around his daughters and gave them a lift up almost to the ceiling. The girls shrieked with elation and fell over Michael, turning all of them into a nickering hodgepodge on the carpet.

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