And, perhaps, by prior agreement, they deign to lift the curtain by the edge (Vladimir Vysotsky, songs for the audio performance Alice in Wonderland), that is, lift the veil of Mystery, for you personally as well. Just turn the first page of Alexandra Kryuchkovas book and start reading.
You want your life to become an exciting Game, dont you?
Gunnar Arshinov,
member of the Union of Writers of Russia,
laureate of literary awards
the Moscow City Organization
of the Union of Writers of Russia,
and all of my thought-forms prototypes!
Chapter 0. PROLOGUE. The GLOVES
A few years before
I stood by the sea, with my back pressed against the Dark Tower, looking up into the black starry sky. In August, the stars used to fall there. I wanted to catch one of them to make a wish (the most common one, for mutual love), when suddenly the phone rang.
Hello, Alice, Ray called me, as usual, from an unidentified number.
Hi, I said softly, being afraid he was only a dream.
How are you? Where are you now?
Im catching stars at the Dark Tower. It looks like your Tower. I wish you were here with me now
Dont forget I am a ghost
And I woke up
***
You remind me of that man, so
The sorcerer? Roman asked.
The Magician, I clarified, being mentally in the Other Reality in search of my gloves. We are going to give a performance on the 14th of February. I want you to play him.
Anything for your sake, Roman smiled.
Probably he admired me in some field and somehow, silently and somewhere in the depths of his soul. However, there was an invisible inner connection between us, which he probably did not feel. Roman reminded me of Ray
What is the role?
You will come to me out of the Mirror every night. Until you take me away from here
***
As usual? Seafood salad or chicken? asked Pasha smiling. He was a good-natured boy, waiter in a restaurant on the seashore by the Dark Tower. He spoke my language a little bit.
Yesterday I had chicken, so today bring me salad, please.
I glanced at my watch Almost midnight! but I wasnt alone in the restaurant. However, it was always calm there, and Id never got afraid to return home late. Or rather, to the house where I used to live in summer.
Okay. And coffee from me. Want, my girl?
I didnt scold Pasha for addressing me as his girl, and I left one euro for tea. How many years had I been coming there? And always, with the exception of joint evenings with Dimitra, my friend, a local resident, I dined at that restaurant.
***
Gloves the black ones
Where did they come from?
The Guardian of the Portal recorded their appearance in his diary. He loved numbers, dates. They were symbols. As well as the gloves.
The Guardian sighed, carefully took the womans gloves in one hand and the antique lantern in the other, left the Portal for the room, and then descended into the Dungeon to hide his find in the gloomy dressing table of the pantry.
Has she come back?
***
A year before
Some boxes of shoes I opened them one by one and took out three pairs of brand-new orange sandals. A man approached me. I could clearly see his figure, but his face was foggy I embraced the stranger and I woke up.
A man with a small belly appeared in my dream last night
Im losing weight! Review the dream! Probably he is already without a belly!
When are you coming back?
All flights are cancelled! The borders are closed! Ive got tickets for August, but Im not sure. Thank God Im alive and okay
How long have you believed in God? I thought sarcastically and involuntarily remembered Ray, and then, for some reason, Roman. So stealthily the Autumn used to creep up on me and, as usual, caused bouts of nostalgia.
***
Where does Your Majesty wish to stroll? asked the King of Swords.
Like all Kings, he was married, as for the suit of Swords, he was a military man, and for some reason the military men were fond of me. Sometimes he walked me culturally in the city.
Take me to the Mansion, I answered suddenly.
Maybe its better
To the Mansion! I kept insisting.