Marianne hastened to leave the way he had come, and, before picking up the backpack, decided to carefully study the situation around from afar. The branches he collected were left to lie in the snow and were striking. It came to Mariannes mind too late when he made a detour around the trees and turned around for the tenth time. In vain he did not sprinkle them with snow. He did not go back to them every minute was precious and hoped that the branches on the opposite side were not so noticeable.
Mignis got down from Mariannes head and sat on her shoulder. Marianne saw, when he turned around, how she stood up on her hind legs and moved her long mustache. Mignis was his eyes from behind.
Do you see anyone? Marianne whispered, barely audible.
Mignis crawled to her ear and said:
Nobody.
Marianne nodded. Migniss tail slid across her cheek, and the mouse was gone. The young man crept up to the lake and looked around his camp.
And really nobody. Where has this man gone? Gone or is hiding somewhere nearby?
Behind, from behind the lake, there was a prolonged howl. Wolf. A deadly cold ran over Mariannes skin. This guttural sound burst into the peace of the forest like a thunderclap on a sunny day. It seemed that needles fell from the branches of the fir trees.
The source of this sound was nearby, somewhere behind the trees on the other side or closer.
Marianne ran to his backpack, forgetting about the fear of entering the camp. He threw it over his shoulders and rushed to the spruce. It seemed to Marianne that this was the only way out.
To his surprise, Marianne very soon found himself almost at the top of the tree. It was impossible to climb further the branches bent dangerously, bent down and cracked. The palms were scratched, the jacket was covered with snow and small spruce needles.
Marianne looked down. Through the many branches below, the place of the fire was guessed. A faint haze rose from that place. The fire was almost extinguished. An excellent view of the lake opened up from the tree. No one around. No wolf, no man.
Maybe the wolf will pass by?
Marianne had no idea that he was afraid of wolves. Suffering to panic, Marianne forgot about everything. Now he found composure.
Blink? She is all right. Her nose was visible from a hole in her pocket. In addition, Marianne had to cover the fire with snow and hide the traces of his sleepover. Wolves can probably wait a long time under a tree if they realize where it has gone.
And then a cry came to Mariannes ears. Quiet at first. Then a loud cry of pain. It was the voice of a man, not a wolf. And he called for help. Without hesitation, Marianne rushed downstairs. He flew from the tree, hitting thick branches and scratching against the rough bark, ran to scream. It was not far away. A man lay in the snow.
Rogue!
Judging by the clothes, one of them. The snow beneath him was scarlet red. The man floundered on his back and wheezed, holding on to his throat. A dog-sized animal was sitting on the robbers fur coat. His fur shimmered with a silvery sheen as it fluttered. A giant fish with the paws of a lizard tore the robbers chest with its paws and mouth, and he tried to throw off this creature. Marianne quickly took out a knife. Shouting: Get out! Go away! " rushed to the lizard fish and swung his knife. When he slashed the creature across its shiny back, it jerked, bristled, and grabbed even harder into the arms and neck of its victim. Marianne struck again and again. The creatures body arched and fell into the snow. A bloody mouth with long, sharp teeth appeared in front of Mariannes face. The creature screeched disgustingly, turning into a whistling whisper. Marianne stepped back, stumbled, and fell to his elbows. The lizard fish crawled away with unnatural movements, leaving a bloody line behind it. Marianne jumped to his feet, knife held out in front of him. But the creature didnt think to attack. She crawled away and still hissed disgustingly. Marianne felt something pressing on his chest. It was Mignis who could not find a place in her breast pocket.
Hush hush. She left. Shes gone, Marianne said quietly, as if afraid that the creature would rush at his voice. Then he turned to the wounded robber. He looked awful.
Marianne dropped to his knees in front of the man and covered the wound on his chest with his hands. He saw in an educational film how to provide first aid to the victim, but in reality he realized that he was helpless.
The mans neck was scratched, the fur coat on his chest was torn into small pieces. The victim first held his hands in front of his face, then carefully laid them on the snow. Fingers on both hands were seriously injured. What was left of them looked more like minced meat. The frightened eyes of the older man stared at Marianne. His face was also covered in blood, his mouth was twisted in pain.
Marianne shouted:
Help! Anyone! Perhaps the robber is not alone here. Then his friends will come to the rescue. Help!
Marianne screamed and screamed until he was exhausted. Nobody showed up and shouted back.
The man was breathing heavily and looking at Marianne. It was clear from the wounds and blood loss that he would not survive without medical attention.
Are you alone here? Marianne asked. You need a doctor. Tell me where is the nearest village or at least one person, and Ill go for help!
The robber was silent. Marianne looked around. See no one. I tried to remove my hands from the wound, but the bleeding intensified. I had to press on my chest again.
The man stuck out his tongue, then swallowed and asked:
So you didnt kill Cassius?
What? Whom? did not understand Marianne.
What he says? About whom? Is this the time to think about some Cassius?
And Barclay was furious. Thinks you killed him with an ax. For a moment a smile flashed on the lips of the man. I didnt believe it But Barclay thinks differently. Damn him with his ideas! I see you are just a child, you could not have done this.
Cassius? Maybe you mean Viator? did not understand Marianne. I did not kill anyone! Didnt kill! He was shaking. Better tell me where to find your friends. I will bring them, they will call doctors, rescuers. They will help you!
The man shook his head.
Its end. And I managed to move here. In such cases There is no one here. Even wild animals bypass these places Here is my payback. And this damned Wolf Mountain is very close. So that she was wrong!
The man was confused in his thoughts, but the words about grief abandoned in agony alerted Marianne.
Do you know where Wolf Mountain? blurted out Marianne. Are there people there? Can they help?
Wolf Mountain? I saw her from afar. What kind of people are there! Inhumans! Thats who is there. A strange place. Damn anyone. No, people dont live there. They look like you and me, but they are not. Even animals feel them and are afraid. Nobody knows how many there are and where they came from
The man exhaled and closed his eyes.
Oren Hadley. Thats my name. Tell people if you get out of here that I am dead. Tell me where it happened.
Why dont you tell me where to look for help? Marianne asked, not noticing that he was shouting. Now he was sure that this was one of yesterdays robbers. Where are your friends? They are close? I will call them
Oren shook his head and croaked:
Maybe before I die I will do at least one good deed. I will save you. And my soul will be sent to heaven. But my heart is still heavy