that the kind words pleased him.
Keijigen, meanwhile, dressed to perfection in a new
three-piece suit, was already sitting at his computer, scribbling
an address on a piece of paper.
«Here,» he said, waving a piece of paper in the air. – Let’s go!
While that rascal is still out there…
They hurried out.
50
How reluctant I was to get up! But a school is a school.
The alarm went off at six-thirty, and Lina trudged off, half asleep,
to wash her face.
My mother was already busy in the kitchen.
«Oh, I thought you were at Mara’s,» she said, surprised,
seeing Lina make her way to the bathroom.
The little girl ran to her and hugged her:
«Mummy, I love you so much!» I’m going to wash up and still
make you breakfast.»
The surprised woman smiled:
– I love you too, my daughter. What’s the matter with you today
?
At school, Lina approached her friend during recess:
«I need to tell you something! You won’t believe
what happened yesterday! I saw an angel. And probably a demon.
– what? Are you stoned?» Mara expected anything
but words about angels and demons.
«No,» Lina continued in a half – whisper. «Seriously!
I freaked out yesterday and left home – " and she began her
story.
Slowly, from recess to recess, she told me
Mare explained everything in detail and embellished her impressions.-
51
when school was over, they went home together
,discussing what had happened.
«Well, tell me that you’re kidding me, that you
’re making this up.» Mara asked for the tenth time that day
.
– No way! Come to my place now, and I’ll show you this
sword.» You have to believe me, it’s true!
Lina was very afraid that Mara would not want to support her
she hoped that her friend would advise her on what to do, that
from now on it would not be her, but their concern. I really wanted
to share a strange problem with someone-someone who
really believes and will help me do the right thing.
At Lina’s house, they went up to her room, and the girl
crawled under the bed.
She pulled out a dusty boot box and opened the lid. Mara sat down on the floor in front
of the box and took out a bundle.
«Careful, it’s very sharp!» Li-
na warned. «Let me help you!» she began to unroll
the sheet-wrapped object.
A silver sword flashed in front of them, its edges
reflecting everything around them. Mara took it by the hilt. Her intelligent