The sun blinding the eye … above, above … so small from this top …
A blow – and soil leaves from under feet. Let it be so. So the Majority decided. A flash of light before dimming eyes. Only an instant.
Just a single instant.
And – the Eternity.
Mess
- Pssss … come over here! - a voice came out of bushes.
- Stand where you are no matter whoever you are! - Ivan almost jumped up from surprise, having somehow inexplicable managed to rotate him in the jump for two hundred sixty seven and half degrees in direction to a source of potential danger.
- And what should the flying ones do - stop right where they are flying? - a reasonable question came out of bushes once again.
- Whoever is here, show yourself! - a hero, for many yet unknown, and for us already named, continued making his proposition.
- Hey, stop being afraid of me already! - someone hiding in bushes soothingly noticed. - Look, you’ve stopped on your way, but what’s a big deal? You have been wandering through this local forest aimlessly nevertheless. And here you’ve got a nice chance to chit-chat with somebody heart-to-heart … with me, for instance.
- And where might you be, I wonder? - a brave one, who have already recovered from a first shock, wasn’t appeased in the curiosity. - You may turn out to be a terrible and horrific monster, trapping lonely travelers on their way to people, you know?
- Oh, pardon me, what’s the point for me to be nasty! - a sniff came somewhere sideways this time. - Who will covet us in this case? Besides, we are not awful, but peaceful and truly democratic, to say so. We bring happiness, struggle for human rights. A freedom of choice, relations, conscience. And so on, and so forth.
- So, you are a female? A representative, of so to say, fair sex? - Ivan was taken aback.
- Well, fair for someone, and nasty for another. It all depends here on the level of reason, as they say.
- From what? - Ivan didn’t understand.
- Well … it’s such a thing - level. And the reason - what’s the reason? Simply a profanation! - a giggling came out of the next tree. - Where were you going here, I wonder?
- On affairs! - Ivan muttered. - I am not going to tell strangers everything, especially having not seen them eye to an eye. Maybe, they don’t even possess the eyes?
- Maybe they don’t … - a reasonable notice doubled itself. - And, maybe, ones such as me don’t even require it.
- Hey, you, eyeless monster! I am gonna fire at you an arrow from my bow, and where it will strike e - either to an eye, or some other body spot - is a minor matter! - barked Ivan and got behind bow and arrows.
- Well, you are not some sort of cupid to stick all passers-by with arrows of love, are you? And besides … what if it turns out that I am that wonderful frog-princess, whom you are required to kiss to further live on together with her in a happiness and consent till death itself won’t separate you? Wouldn’t you really want to try it out, m- m-m-m? - the voice of female stranger was getting more and more tender and viscous.
- All right, - Ivan finally agreed. - I will always have the time to make a frog for needles from you, - he summarized. - But you must be leaving your bushes hideout strictly one by one, and keep in mind - I am holding you on sight!
- Oh, just look at what courageous and brave companion I have found! I am almost burning whole from desire! - stranger girl sang with pleasure and, finally, left her bush-like hiding place.
- A-a-a … o-o-o … u-u-u-u … e-r-r-r … you are such … - mumbled Ivan.
- Beautiful, huh? It has been so since my very birth.
- That’s not the word …
- And what sort of word would it be, m-m-m? - mysterious acquaintance continued smiling, gracefully pacing before Ivan.
- Mine - that’s the word!
- Well … maybe yours as well. There is time for everything … By the way, my name is Mess.
- Mess? What a beautiful name! - Ivan exclaimed. - Ivan! - he presented himself.
- And to you, Ivan! - Mess smiled.
- What do you mean “and to you”? - he misunderstood.
- And to you I am pleasant as well, as I see.
- Yes … you are all such … sparkling … such … unusual … thing … many, probably, don’t even possess such ones …
- Yes, yes, - Mess tenderly agreed. - I know. That’s me. And you were going to shoot me at first, my rascal! - she threatened calmly.
- Well, I had no idea that you were such… unusual. I have thought that you are probably some sort of marsh witch that will enchant me and then drag off into her den.
- Well, what’s the point for me to enchant you? All in all soon you will come running for me yourself … darling, - Mess continued singing sweetly, beating about the bush round Ivan. - Where will you, people, go without us, Messies, - what do you cost without us, oh consumers of ours? - she made a purring sound slightly more silently.
- And can I … touch you? - Ivan offered bashfully.
- Yes, you can, touch me if you dare… - Mess allowed. - You can even take me on hands …
- So soon? - Ivan was shocked. - And shouldn’t we before that …?
- And what should we wait for? - Mess questioned. - I do clearly see that you desire to have me … so take me, have no hesitation. The more you will desire me, the more a person from a small letter you will keep becoming …
- Perhaps, a person from a capital letter? - Ivan was confused.
- Well, no way! - Mess sniffed. - To be a one from a capital letter you have to deserve it first. We, Messies, are not made to make you as such. We are for different sort of whims, - she added.
- And is that not … dangerous? - Ivan carefully asked, slightly touching Mess’s body.
- Well … maybe you’ll get stricken with a lightning the first time, - Mess smiled. - And afterwards … however, what the reason for you, people, in that “afterwards”? You have to enjoy life to the full, not even seriously reflecting on consequences, right? To gather in hands as many as possible ones such as me, Mess. Especially if they are going to you on bails … And besides, to possess lots of beautiful Messies today is sort of a style and fashion!
- Well … I don’t know … something here is … somehow … - Ivan breathed heavily and started to doubt, having drawn his hand away from Mess.
- What, have you got struck with electricity? - Mess purred. - After you get the first charge, it will be easier from that on. I am going to call my girlfriends afterwards to make you a company. You will caress, care and cherish them more than humans for your entire life, and look, the life has already passed. I have thought up a fine plan, right? - said Mess and nestled on Ivan with all her body.
- Well … I … this … that … you know …
- Do you want me to call for my girlfriend? - said Mess without unhooking her hands from Ivan’s neck.
- What sort of girlfriend? What for?
- Oh, you will see that soon enough! - Mess replied. Thi-thi-thi, here you must be! - she started singing, and right there somewhere from bushes a second not less mysterious lass came out, being, probably, even more dazzling and shining that Mess herself.
- Thingy! - the girlfriend of Mess presented herself. - Girlfriend of Mess.
- What the reason do we need her? - Ivan frowned.
