Project Ouroboros (7 page)

The month turned out to be intense, one had to do a heavy load of work, and Aleph could't note that a lot of new people appeared in the city; Now the streets were no longer deserted, and in the hall of the local theater there was always a crowd.

The young man saw the changes when he walked with El’Athar along the main street of Anshan. Agent was allowed to take custody of Lamashtu, and now, slowly approaching El’Athar's house, Aleph turned his head in different directions, like a child, trapped in a strange place: it seemed to him that just in a month the trees stretched almost to the skies and houses became several times larger. He was like in a different world!

— It turns out that I missed so much while working — said Aleph aloud. — When I lived on the street playing the flute, it was much easier for me.

— Don't you like to work? — El’Athar grinned.

— The last time I was walking over a month ago. How many people there are... — Aleph only had time to look around.

— A new economic department has just opened in the National University. It has begun recruiting students and teachers. As you can see, this trend is popular — El’Athar pulled out his keys.

The house where the agent lived was completely white. Tall and narrow, with a single entrance and a huge number of small apartments for civil servants, it grew up as if from nowhere. Approaching the door, El’Athar showed how to punch an individual code for each apartment on the touch panel. A message appeared on the screen that the lock was unlocked, and the agent invited the guest to enter the house.

Beautiful shiny building with large windows, high ceilings and spacious balconies only recently had been put into operation, and inside, even in the elevator there was a strong smell of paint.

— I don't have a palace, of course, but there is enough space for all of us. I have prepared a room for you and Tharsis, I bought two beds and a wardrobe — Agent let Aleph inside and gestured toward the door behind which was Lamashtu's bedroom furnished.

— It's great — the young man threw his backpack, as empty as in the first days of stay in Anshan on the bed of his choice.

— Coffee?

— No, thanks, I'm saving.

— I'm sorry, I forgot. You generally do not eat?

— I love fruit, especially sour like lemons. I don't get sick of them.

— I prefer sweet ones — El’Athar led the guest to the kitchen.

— No, it's not for me, but I understand the hint. I'll buy something sweet — Aleph smiled.

— I do not understand how you live, how your body works, if you do not eat. I wonder if you have dreams and whether you feel any emotions. Everything is so strange — El’Athar sat down on a chair by the window, and turned away from Aleph.

— I need to sleep a lot — Aleph sat across and put his hands on the window sill. The view from the apartment was really good and the young man thought that the agent should stare at the reflection of the sun in the sea waves every day drinking coffee, as it seemed so close that one could reach it with a hand.

Hearing the sound of the cup put on the window sill, Aleph looked at the dark liquid with suspicion.

— You know, I have never even tried this drink — now he did not have absolutely any desire to speculate about the nature of his organism, the mood was too melancholic for this. He wanted to rest and to watch the sea outside.

— Here, try it — El’Athar gave him the coffee — it is without sugar.

Aleph took a sip and smiled.

— Not bad.

— Drink, I will make some more. By the way, now you should not necessarily work. And Tharsis as well. Is he coming in the morning?

— Yes, he has the night shift today.

— He needs a lot of sleep too?

— A little less than me. Maybe because his body is more receptive to food. But it's hard for him to work for twelve hours.

— He can quit. Go for a walk, play the flute and sleep. At home you do not bother me, I'm not here so often.

— Mr Director General is too ambitious to stop removing officials with your hands?

— He is.

— I do not like him. And Dingir with his parents, too. We were told that we should be with them, and we were in this terrible room in the basement of their office.

During a conversation El’Athar never turned, continuing to examine the sunlit horizon. Aleph was OK with it, when the agent stared at him, his frown burned out a hole somewhere in the solar plexus. That is why in the presence of the agent the youth often felt some confusion.

He did not quite understand why El’Athar took them to live with him, because the agent had never been interested in Lamashtu. He didn't come to see them in the centre, did not feel any sympathy for them, or show heightened interest. But, nevertheless, today Aleph was there, and he felt that the answer to this question would soon become clear, because El’Athar never did anything without a reason — at least, so the young man took a man who was next to him.

— And Trier Lugal, what kind of a person is he?

— They are all unpleasant — Aleph nervously shrugged, plunging into memories. — I once heard Lydia telling her son that Trier was very different before the expedition "Merkhaba"... They are obsessed with their nasty work — Aleph suddenly seemed frozen.

He recalled the events and his face hardened. Looking out the window with unseeing eyes, he could hardly utter a word.

— You know, the study of Dr Tekhina is interesting, it can be useful for people. But what Lugal family does is disgusting. Once I saw how they connect the wires to the cervical vertebrae of some unfortunate animal. I do not know the names of the animals, but it was big enough and something like a human. Throughout the experiment it was bleeding on it's neck, but it remained motionless. Perhaps it was under the same tranquilizers that I was.

Aleph did not know whether it was right, but if he should tell someone everything that happened to him during that time, it was El’Athar. Somehow the young man was sure that the agent would approach the story seriously and listen to the end.

— What?.. — Agent turned sharply, quickly putting the cup on the table. — Why didn't you tell me that they did something to you? Why didn't Tekhina say anything?

— She knew nothing. Dr Ami took my blood sample and did a scan. Then she let me go, Dingir didn't take me home, but to the "corner of Dr Moreau."

— Tekhina also works at the centre. How could she not see you?

— She doesn't know much. Her office and common rooms are located on the same floor, but behind the cupboard there is a door that leads to the floor below. There are lots of huge rooms. I cannot describe everything in detail, but I have seen so many things wrong... it's incredible... — Aleph paused for a moment. — Most of the time I slept or was under the influence of drugs on the operating table. And I remember almost nothing. I remember that human-like animal with big ears and kind sad eyes. I saw it only once, then... Is it alive? I would like to take it from there... I saw a lot of strange instruments ... and there was a dump. Like a closet. Used tools some body parts... and mostly — bones.

— Why didn't you tell me anything?

— Nobody knows anything. Even Tharsis.

— He was not with you?

— No, he was immediately released. I think he knows that I did not fall down the stairs, but we never discussed that. I heard them say that the others were not needed. I was enough. They said I was the key to the tree. Or it was a dream, I do not know...

— Fell down the stairs?

Aleph drank coffee in one gulp and began to undress. He took off all his clothes and stood in front of the agent, allowing him to see his thin body. It was almost completely covered with cuts, burns and scars.

— You had to tell me! — Agent abruptly jumped up from his chair and stared at the frail body, riddled with fresh scars and scratches.

— I do not remember anything. My mind exists only for a few months, and I want to understand who I am and why I'm here so much. If I am not human, then what am I? — Usually quiet and indifferent Aleph's voice became higher, but the young man immediately wilted. — I didn't know what to do...

Aleph dressed.

— Come on, — El’Athar rose — I have to show you something. Something that only I know.

The agent finished his coffee and left the kitchen. The young man automatically reached for his cup, but there was only thick — pellet stuck in the throat, Aleph coughed. However El’Athar did not even turn to see if everything was fine.

A minute later, the young man followed the agent. He himself could not understand why, but he was a little scared. As if something important was going to happen that day. The most important thing of all that had happened before.

Aleph stood at the entrance to the room, leaning against the doorjamb and watched El’Athar boot the computer and drop into a chair.

— Ready? — The agent turned.

— Yes — Aleph came and sat down beside him.

El’Athar launched a strange video, at the first frames young man's blood literally froze  in his veins. Video lasted only two minutes, but when it ended, Aleph could not recover for some time. There was a lump in his throat, his chest was filled with horror — so strong was the emotion for the melancholic nature of Aleph that it was unbearably difficult and painful. In the end, the young man overcame his fear:

— I need to see the video several times. I think I can understand what they say ... Where did you get it? — The last question broke suddenly.

— Archives of the Ministry, the expedition "Merkhaba" — as calm as ever, said El’Athar. — No one knows that I have a copy. I really want to understand what has happened then.

— Now I understand why Dr Lugal behaves that way... I'm sorry, I am sleepy ... I'm so tired. Can I go? Tomorrow I'll watch it again.

— OK, let's go.

They silently entered the Lamashtu's room. El’Athar pulled out of the closet pillow and blanket, and began to spread Aleph's bed.

When El’Athar left, without even wishing good night, Aleph laid down, but soon realized that he couldn't fall asleep. As soon as he closed his eyes, there was an image from the video, the voice, so well-known and close, but somehow terrifying. Being alone was unbearable, but the young man had to find the courage to decide to go to the agent's room.

El’Athar laid in bed, idly surfing the TV channels and did not notice that someone was standing at the door.

— Aleph?..

— Can I sleep here on your couch?

— Of course.

— 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 Aleph slept El’Athar realized that dark thoughts that had accumulated during the evening in the back of his mind fully occupied his mind. He couldn't get out of his head the video, wounds of the young men, especially a deep cut under the shoulder blade, strange sensations somewhere in the solar plexus, so disturbing and sticky, as if something very important and scary was about to happen, but in fact day after day nothing had happened. It was so sickening that an open bottle of spirits was not long to come up, and on the background of the quiet sniff of Aleph sip by sip, it emptied.

El’Athar wasn't afraid to wake his ward, he turned on the television and blankly watched the spots on the screen, sitting at the edge of the couch on the floor.

Consciousness was clouding with each sip, but was it getting better? Much tormented special agent for many years, so many questions remained unanswered, so many fragments of memories and some strange imagery came to mind, but El’Athar did not understand what they were about, did not remember anything, could not catch a single frame in his head to see it clearly, every time there was only finish left, tart and pinching as if he had forgotten something very important, as if his life had begun a few years ago.

All this did not allow to breathe, and only now, when he first saw the case of  "Merkaba" this darkness began to disperse, there appeared hope that it would help him to understand not only the secrets of the government, which had tried many times to destroy him, but the truth itself. El’Athar liked the word 'truth', as if it could answer all his concerns as a key to the enchanted door. Only the nerves were damaged so that only liquor helped with neurasthenia, it had in recent days not only been soothing, but also a good sedative.

At first it seemed that the shower can relieve the severe headache and remove the circumstances of the sleepless night, but it didn't get any better, the sound of running water was only annoying. Maybe it was also the fact that El’Athar recalled that in three days it was Tekhina's birthday. And this was the very moment when he wanted to see her the least of all, and to explain why he did not pick up. To tell Ami that he didn't feel anything for her, and her behavior and falling in love just caused annoyance, would be unpleasant. And, to speak frankly, the company of a TV set, a sofa and a bottle of rum seemed much more attractive to him than their meetings from the very beginning.

What was Tekhina thinking when she got involved in this? Did she really think that someone will just help her with her research? But now to pull Ami out from "Enki" was impossible: Aine Soph was too well aware that he could never find a better specialist in neuroscience.

After showering El'Athar began treating Aleph's wounds, as promised. When finished, he pulled the first available T-shirt stretched under the arms and his favorite jeans. And then he left hurriedly.

Even if not called by Aine Soph El'Athar would still prefer to leave, the feeling of helplessness was too much for him. It was impossible to go back to the past and to get rid of all that Aleph had to endure in the "corner of Dr Moreau". But the agent could not bear to accept the incident. The day before, he was struck dumb like a fish, and the lump in his throat prevented him from breathing, but El’Athar had no choice but to pull himself together.

— Mr Aine Soph? — Rada showed the breathless Special Agent into the office.

— Sit down, El’Athar — said Director General to the agent pointing on the chair across from his desk. — You are late.

— Excuse me, new concerns — sitting, El’Athar shrugged.

— As I promised, a cash award in the amount of one salary was transferred to your account.

— I would in any case fulfill all your orders.

— Caring for Lamashtu is not the responsibility of the security officers.

— I am grateful to you for all that you are doing for me, Mr Aine Soph.

They fell silent. El’Athar staring blankly off into the wall, waiting for Aine Soph to let him go or say something else.

— I have one more errand for you. — During the conversation Mr.

Director General didn't move and did not look at the agent, preferring the pattern on the wooden door of his office.

— I'm ready to start working.

— Trier Lugal wants to return to Greenland to the place of his previous expedition, but you must understand that I cannot send him unattended.

— I see. But I was told to take care of Lamashtu and to look after Dr Ami. What about them?

— Take them with you. Take care please of choosing a signalman and a geologist. I wish these people were not from the "Enki".

— The University of Elam is full of professionals. When?

— Tomorrow morning. This is very important to get back there as soon as possible, El’Athar.

— I understand.

They fell silent again.

— You have removed your name from the archive. How did you manage it?

— I'm not sure that I even have one. Actually, the same as you, Mr Director General.

After just half an hour El’Athar already climbed the stairs of the National University. Faculty of Geology was located in the main building on the main street of the city. A new beautiful building, traditionally for the higher education institutions, was stylized in classicism and fascinated newcomer students at a glance, but the agent was completely indifferent to the architecture, and did not know how glass shopping center differed from the Notre Dame Cathedral.

Half an hour later he was sitting in a small office, talking to two middle aged men who agreed to take part in the expedition. Everything was simple enough: all expenses were undertaken by the research center, salary was more than decent, confidentiality agreement was signed with the information about how to obtain an advanced payment.

El’Athar knew Tekhina was waiting for him in the hall of the Department of Geology and they were only separated by the door. The agent did not see Dr Ami, but understood that she would come immediately, as soon as she had heard about his visit to the university — such behavior was predictable and obvious. Tekhina wanted explanations, but he had absolutely nothing to tell her, not a new word came up in the last two weeks that they hadn't seen each other. Only one way out appeared in his head, and he did not like it, but nothing else came to mind. Damned instruction of the Director General, it pursued him, and declared the love at every opportunity.

— Hello, Tekhina — El’Athar came out the secretariat room.

— Hi, — Dr Ami sat on one of the chairs, placed in the hall.

— I was just going to see you — the agent sat down.

— Why is that? — She smiled.

— There is a case. — El’Athar never looked at Tekhina, preferring to look at the documents signed a few minutes ago. — I am leaving tomorrow.

— For how long?

— For a week. I think that you've heard about the expedition to Greenland.

— Yes, of course, Dr Lugal is going to participate.

— Do you want to go?

— When?

— Tomorrow.

— You're crazy, I have three days before the operation!

— Is it possible to postpone? I have no choice, i have to go. If you go with us, then we'll meet at the military airport at 7:30 in the morning. Take everything that you consider important for the research and for a week's stay. — El’Athar stood up and without saying goodbye, was gone, as he still had too much to do, scheduled for that day, to spend precious minutes on doctor Ami.

The agent was already down the stairs to leave the building when something pricked his chest and it became hard to breathe. The old injury reminded of itself, the pain appeared suddenly and became so unbearable that everything darkened before his eyes, and he had to sit on the landing to recover, but with each attempt to inhale it was getting worse.

An image of the man who ten years ago had made the fatal shot, miraculously leaving the future Special Agent alive flashed in his head. Sometimes his chest ached unpleasantly, it was hard to breathe, but there was no such pain for a long time.

It didn't become easier, colorful spots flashed before his eyes, and those cruel, cold eyes, making the shot. As luck would have stairs were empty, there was nobody who could help or do anything at all. A sharp pain resonated in bright flash in his head, and then it was dark. He wanted to clear his throat, but couldn't, as if a lump was stuck in the throat, and so much blood throbbed in his temple, a moment longer, and he would lose consciousness ...

... from the dark a figure in a suit appeared. First a ray of hope flashed, but then everything inside went cold — the figure seemed impersonal, as if it has brought this darkness that enveloped the world, and chest pain. The voice was whispering, disjointed words that did not make sense, but the guest, entrenched in the mind wanted to stay there, making it impossible to open the eyes.

"...I warn you, you know... I always warn you..."

— Hey, are you there? Are you alright? Are you a student? — Some young man stood near the special agent. El’Athar opened his eyes to the bright light that blinded him, he saw only blurred outlines. Little by little, the figure became clearer and the agent looked up, saw the worried face. The pain has receded El’Athar and he tried to breathe deeply, but the cough was finally able to break out of the throat, freeing it from something that hurt to breathe

— Let me call an ambulance! — the young man didn't calm down, but no action was taken in a hurry.

The cough grew stronger, until finally, the agent was able to spit out what was hurting him — a dense clump of tangled black hair. But that was not all, El’Athar continued to cough up to a metallic taste in his mouth. More blood came and he held his mouth shut, but the red thick liquid was seeping through his fingers.

— Fu*** sh** — he heard from the student before he hurried off the ladder, shouting: — Call an ambulance!

El'Athar lay down on the cold concrete floor. He tried to remember the man who had  long, straight black hair, but the only person he knew died long ago. The blood continued to drip from his lips, but it was easy to breathe and his eyes closed by themselves. How sleepy he felt. He wanted to sleep so much...

Many employees of "Enki" thought that for El'Athar nothing was impossible, that he was probably a former spy, and everyone knew that if you entered a search engine request to the World Wide Web "El'Athar" it would not find a single mention of him even in databases with restricted access. Over time, it turned out that this name was just an invention of Mr Aine Soph, but then who was that man?