Chameleon by Otto Gramm (new reading .TXT) 📕

– I fell in love like some nerd with a college star. – He shuffled around the dusty floor, leaving long strips of tracks. – Of course, I didn’t leave, of course, I wallowed in my odious criminal world, but the girl had an appetite. I wasted all and even got myself in debts up to my eyes. She was eleven years younger than me. She brought me back to Islam, although by that time I had been in all the faiths of London – prayed for my sins, like some last slut. Then she introduced me to her friends and they introduced me to parkour. That’s what she adored. Can’t say I didn’t like it. Though I preferred skate and swimming. But I accepted what she imposed and I entered that water.

A year later Skorvi injured his spine. It happened during one of the runs, when the company tried to cross the street by the roof of a moving double-decker bus. Just when Mitch jumped on it, the driver slammed on the brakes, and the guy flew off the roof right under the wheels. His lower body was paralyzed. The doctors, shrugging their shoulders, said that he would never walk again. Eileen left him; friends came to see him less and less often until they forgot him. Left alone, Mitch began to think about the drugs stored in the warehouse at the end of the corridor: quiet hack, mix, drink and finish. However, every time a bout of depression gave way to anger and he decided to live in spite of everyone and everything. So he lived in the hospital for three months. He fixed techniques for nurses and they allowed him to stay there.

Soon the first Good Samaritan appeared in the face of his old employer: Mitch was offered a job again. This time the guy was taken under a reliable wing. He spent most of the time indoors, only occasionally strolling in his wheelchair along the rich garden of the arms dealer. But, alas, the poor master was soon removed by the competitors. After that the young hacker went back to semi basements.

– One day my doorbell rang. For the first time in two years. I doubted it, but still opened. And there I saw a posh woman in a strict black suit, like a character from the “Matrix”. – Alex shrugged. – It’s a movie... She said that her boss wanted to offer me a job and that if I handle, he’d promise me a generous reward. I asked what his offering was. She answered – a walking tour along the Battery Park in New York. I laughed, but she solemnly handed me an envelope and left. There was only a small file... – Mitch paused. – ...of your warder.

Alex narrowed his eyes, but showed no more emotion.

– I was asked to find him. All they knew was that he was somewhere in Asia.

– Was that Linda?

– Yup. She came four days later. I haven’t closed my eyes since, but I found something: your laboratory and your code.

– One-one-four?

– Yup. They were already preparing your escape, but they needed a hacker to crack the files and create a legend for Elvira.

– Where did you get her?

– She was found by one of our old friends – Nath. One day you’ll meet.

– Did you have that walking tour?

– Kyle kept his word. We met in a small cafe nearby and immediately our meeting went into a brainstorm: the coffee table quickly drowned under various documents, pictures and under my two laptops... Although, you know, when he took out his tablet, I was ready to give my guts. The same evening I walked... more accurately drove on board Chameleon. Well, two weeks later, just after Elvy started working as Warren’s assistant, Kyle and I did walk in Battery Park.

– And why didn’t Elvira choose Plan B?  – Asked Alex. – Why wouldn’t she join you?

– There are some nuances. – Came a low gruff voice. Turning around, the interlocutors saw Scotsman in the doorway.

Alex did not recognize him at once: a white T-shirt and a dark beige jumpsuit with an incalculable amount of pockets were all in black oily stains, his hands, neck and face looked the same. A loose beret slightly shifted back, hid thick curls underneath. With an open face, Will seemed younger. His ears were slightly protruding, but looked nice. The last point, which Alex noticed, was the lowered top of the jumpsuit and braces wrapped around his waist.

– What nuances? – He asked Will.

– Firstly, uncommonness and talent, secondly, empath must feel you as a perfect team player and thirdly, nothing should keep you on Earth. Elvy didn’t match two of the three parameters. She is strong and gifted, but she lacks coherence and her three younger sisters hold her. So... – Will drove away his depressed mask and, looking at Alex, inquisitively raised his eyebrows. – How do you like the loft? Feel scared of dust?

– It’s fine. – The new replied with a grin.

– Okay then! – He spread his hands. – Finally, the arguments about it will end.

– Were you arguing? – Alex was a little surprised.

– Well yes. I myself once wanted to organize here another gym. Cleaned it up a bit. However, it was long ago, so stop looking at me with such skepticism, Skorvi! In short, if you find my tools, I’ll owe you one.

– Okay. – Alex quietly laughed. – Do you have anything to lubricate the door, by the way?

– I guess so, but I need a check. – Will thoughtfully straightened his beret. – Aw yes, and Kyle wants to see you.

– Fine. – He got up and headed for the exit. – Is he in the cabin?

– No, he’s in his room. You know where it is.

The door to the captain’s room was next to the hall and looked just like all the other doors. Alex knocked gently and walked inside. 

– Wow! – He burst out as he entered.

– Come in, Al. – Kyle’s voice came from the depths of the room.

– You have a real library here! – The guest said, admiring with delight the wonderful rows of bookshelves that stretched along the entire right wall. Thin bars of platinum, intertwined like shoots of wild ivy, created a web of niches, where old volumes were preserved, dressed in leather, corduroy, velvet, blackened silver and gold leaf. About dozen specimens were privileged to rest on individual, personal shelves behind a thin transparent partition. Although Alex wasn’t much versed in antiquities, he was sure that there were kept the eldest of the book brothers, whose age might count centuries, or even millenniums. Between the silvery shoots, there were bright blue lights, which here and there gathered in floral patterns of pure crystal (or maybe a diamond?). On a closer look, Alex noticed that streams of light playfully poured inside of these flowers, like the rays in deep waters.

– Impressive!

– Everyone can have his hobby. – Kyle said flatly.

– I’m talking about the luminous patterns. – The visitor, at last, forced himself away from examining the shelves and turned to captain. – Did you do this?

Kyle sat in a massive chair and carefully studied what laid before him on a small round table top. It was unusual to behold him wearing bright clothes. White shirt with a stand-up collar and gray trousers quite contrasted against the image of a mysterious man in black.

– These are the remains of an old forged mosaic. Now they serve as archives, in which we store the information we need. – He answered, while examining tiny pieces of rock through a holographic magnifying glass. On his left hand, he wore a glove made of gel-like material with laser claws.

– Just a second, Al, I’ve almost finished. – Captain added without glancing at the guest.

Alex did not even look at what he was working on.

– Is that a stilath?

– I’m trying to assemble it: one side is slightly broken.

– So it’s not working, is it? – Alex asked with some disappointment. Kyle shook his head no. The accidental feat of the new was annulled.

– Of course, I will try to restore it. – Captain spoke out, trying to attach a tiny piece. – But these stones have a very complicated structure. As the last resort, one of my old friends, Ramman, could work on it.

– An how...? – His question was forestalled by a raised index finger of Kyle.

– Look around for a while. – He said in a serious tone. – I allow you to take one of these rare books.

Alex hemmed and turned back to the bookshelf. In addition to the books, it also stored collections of antique figurines, amulets and unknown symbols on papyrus. Ancient cats made of dark ceramics, placed in a row in front of one of the closed niches stood out the most. Closer to the door hung a dream catcher (though there was no bed in the room). The wall opposite the entrance was a continuous panoramic window (as in all rooms). Next to it, the library was connected to a wide desk, over which familiar schemes floated, but unlike Mrs. Presley, on Kyle’s table reigned an exemplary order – there was nothing at all, except for long rounded patterns. Some of them glowed. Alex recognized familiar system of rooms’ luminescence.

“Mitch was right: everything is really well-convenient in here.”

Without questioning the host, he pressed one of the strips. Immediately a narrow shelf with samples of colored minerals came out.

“Cool!”

 Alex took captain’s silence as permission and started examining the stones. As he put the last one to its place, he opened another cache. After fourth or fifth shelf, he began to feel Kyle’s displeased glare, but this only aroused guest’s curiosity.

– Gee! – He muttered, taking a transparent stone the size of a tennis ball, decorated with a very unusual cut. – Heavy one...

– Please, careful with it. – Low voice of captain sounded. – This diamond is priced as one small state.

Alex, throwing the stone into the air, yelled and rushed to catch it. As he grabbed it with both hands, he carefully returned it to its shelf.

– Not afraid to keep such value openly?

– Everyone here knows about my collection. Not only the crew. For them, these are just trinkets that please the eye.

– And for you?

– A sample of aesthetics and accuracy. Once you’ve given these qualities to stones, you’re perpetuating them in a new form, a new life.

– Jeweler-philosopher! – Alex hemmed again. – And did you have any hard ones?

Kyle interrupted his work and fixed a narrowed gaze on the guest. For a few short seconds he pondered over the answer, then pulled off his glove, rose and headed for the bookshelf. His hands simultaneously pressed two transparent panels, after which there came another secret niche. He took out a small black box.

– This one. – Kyle handed it to Alex.

The latter took it and hesitantly looked inside.

– What is