Chapter One.
It was somewhere in the beginning of July. The session was already over, many students sighed with relief - now the majority were to take up the practice. For someone it was a pleasure. In any case, on his faculty Jake English thought it was the practice of this kind - he and his best friend, Dirk Strider, studied at the faculty of history with a grade to the study of folklore. What could be more interesting? No, of course, sometimes Jake would rather do something like archeology - to go dig in the earth to find someone's bones or, what would be even cooler, the ancient treasures... but he had to be content with what he'd had. Because the visit to the excavations was promised as a bonus to those who'd make the best report about the practice. So, it was worth to try for the following satisfaction of own adventurism!
One day, English ran into his and Dirk's common room in a hostel. The most joyful smile was on his face.
- What, returned from the shooting range of the police department where your uncle works in order to tell me that you've shot the target several times once again? - Strider was sitting on his bed, repairing a mechanism as usual - it wasn't clear sometimes why the hell this guy had followed Jake on the same faculty after high school, when he would have been better on the mechanics... - You know, English, it stopped impressing me a long time ago, I must tell you...
- You'd better not have started lecturing but listened instead, - English snorted and laid before him a paper with a printed web page. - Here.
Dirk distracted from the mechanism and picked up the printout. Then skeptically chuckled with face, which, as always, had no expression on it.
- And what? - he asked in an indifferent tone, slightly adjusting his triangle-shaped shades (which he, by the way, NEVER took off - only when sleeping).
- What does it mean - "and what"? - Jake said, shocked a bit. - It seems I'm the only one who's doing the practice... - he plopped down next to Strider, taking the printout away from his hands. - This is a place that I chose for the study.
Dirk glanced at the paper again, then shrugged his shoulders.
- ... A small town near the Rocky Mountains that almost nobody visits? Well, you sure are a genius - always find the wildest places...
English just shoved him in the side.
- Nah, you didn't understand anything... Listen here, - he began to read. – «This town is remarkable in the fact that it keeps the memory of ancient traditions. Local Historical Society is the pride of the town. But saying all this, it is needed to be mentioned that a lot of people disappeared in the town. And then they were nowhere to be found... There are rumors that this is somehow related to one event in the history of this town, and so there are such effects...» So, that's it!
- Okay... You decided to look for adventure on your ass. And drag mine as well. Did I understand you clearly? - Strider returned to the mechanism that he had been repairing. - So here's my opinion: don't be lazy and look a bit more. Because you never know what might be in such places...
Jake wanted to retort. But then sat a little closer with a tricky look.
- ... Well, you could honestly have told me that you're afraid to go to a place too far from civilization, - sometimes it was easy to dissolve Dirk for the «weak». Especially for this type - since everyone knew that Dirk Strider is afraid of nothing. Like a fearless samurai... Why samurai? Because the guy often spent time watching anime (the evidence of that are his very own shades that are similar to a pain in the teeth in their form to the glasses of a single anime character) and had a personal katana. Not sharpened one... but the real one.
A corner of Dirk's mouth trembled a little, but that is all that reflected on his face.
- What makes you think I'm scared? - his voice was calm.
- Well... You refuse to go. So I thought that probably the town with a small amount of the population and even with such a part in its history can... um, at least deprive you... - said English with an innocent smile.
This time Strider put the mechanism away. He ran a hand through his blond combed back hair (it only made him more «anime») and looked at Jake.
- Okay, let's go there. So that I can get rid of you already, English ... - he sighed shortly. - But mind yourself - your adventurism can lead us to a not very nice place...
- Don't worry, bro! - English only grinned more. - If that happens – we'll get out of any shit. Moreover, I don't think we can get in such awful trouble!
Dirk was silent for a minute, then said:
- When are we leaving?
- ... We can set off even tomorrow!
- As you say...
The trip to the place was pretty boring. But what to do - for the sake of the task you have to be patient. But after a few days the boys were already there.
Of course, Dirk clearly felt that it will end up with no good. But he couldn't explain why. It isn't because he has seen and read all sorts of things where small towns are always cursed, and the main characters fall into a trap from which not all of them get out. No, absolutely not!.. It's just... the senses stubbornly insisted that the trip was a bad idea and that they'd needed to think better. And his senses never lied to him...
All fears were confirmed when they'd entered the town. In appearance it was practically empty. There were very few residents, which... at least put you on your guard. When they asked the local head about this (there always was not the mayor but the head of the town), he explained it with quite unconvincing (on Dirk's opinion) argument - the majority of people went to visit the other cities. It was also interesting how happy the head was about the fact that guys were going to stay for the study of local history. He immediately handed them the key of the Historical Society and wished them good luck.
After talking with the head of the town, they stopped for the night at a local motel. It looked not really attractive, but possible to live in. And most importantly – nobody disturbed them.
It was late evening. Jake was sitting and taking notes - as he said, «it is necessary to record observations of each day for making a really good report later». Strider did not mind - at least nothing special was required of him as always. Only bringing the food to their room. And it's not much of a work.
Dirk was busy with his katana which he took with him, occasionally throwing glances at English. It's good that his eyes were hidden behind the shades – if not, then his friend would have already known that Strider had been silently watching him. And not in the normal meaning...
Speaking frankly, Dirk liked Jake for a long time - since the school time. They only met each other - and this cheerful adventurer in the old-fashioned rectangular glasses that loved blue-skinned beauties and movies about the adventures seriously had got him. It was useless to deny it, so Strider had accepted it and just started watching the guy silently. And not just watching - he had a personal collection of photos of English, made, of course, without him knowing it. In such moments, Dirk felt like a ninja - invisible, acting immediately and always achieving the needed result...
- ... Hey, Dirk, I'm asking you. Where are you floating? – Jake's voice pulled Strider from the thought.
- M? Sorry – was lost in thoughts. What did you ask? - he said quietly.
- I asked: what do you think they can keep in the Historical Society? - English bit his lower lip with his large front teeth (which are always in the sight) and smiled dreamily. - Certainly some treasures left by the Indians!
Dirk just exhaled quietly.
«Well, as always...» - he thought, while saying aloud:
- Everything is possible, everything is possible... We'll see tomorrow. And now let's go to sleep.
Jake nodded, put his notebook aside on the bedside table and turned off the lamp. They both settled in their beds and gradually fell asleep...
The night flew by unnoticed. And surprisingly calm. But... the next morning began with a not very pleasant thing.
- Dirk. Dirk, wake up!
The guy frowned slightly - Jake had a really bad habit was to push from bed at the beginning of dawn – fumbled his shades on the bedside table and put them on. Then he got up and looked at his friend.
- What is it?.. - he said a little sleepy and then stopped. English looked extremely worried. He hesitated a little, then said quietly:
- ... All people have disappeared!..
