The Before Short Story Series. Part 1 - Иван Перепелятник

‘No! I’m here! I’m with you!’

‘Well, I see. That’s it! Let’s finish. You’ve had a rough day. You need some rest. Besides, you are not yet used to the local climate and thinned atmosphere. Even here, at an altitude of two thousand meters, the oxygen content is ten percent lower. And the jet lag as well! I’ve completely forgotten all the rules of hospitality for joy of meeting you.’

Edward and Ruslana finally stopped resisting, agreeing with Igor’s arguments.

‘Light frost in August! Invigorating, I must say!’

‘Yes, Rusya, this is not Moscow plus thirty for you. Clears your head at once. Wow, now I would like to have a roll in the snow… it reminds of a Russian banya!’

‘Ed, welcome for a nice snow in six months. There will be frost for you, and snow with plastic.’ Everyone laughed.

‘But you’d better promise to tell us your story! You must! Got it?

‘Agreed, Ed,’ Igor placed his hand on chest. ‘I promise!’

‘Well, there you go! And where are all your cars? Where did you hide them all?’

‘So it’s all about efficiency again. Do you know how much land and building anything costs here?! I don’t know either. But I think it’s not cheap,’ Igor smiled. ‘Everything is thought out to the minor detail. Garages are built into the ground floor or basement level, as the width of each of the ledges does not allow for a parking space. That’s why the development of the area implies building townhouses, but not individual houses. Efficiency in everything! The name of our village could be followed by a slogan—Bholi: effective all four seasons!’

‘How does Bholi translate, Igor?’ Ruslana asked.

‘Tomorrow in Nepali. We are looking ahead, friends!’

Robin

‘Igor, are you saying you haven’t seen Robin since the moment you met us?’

‘That’s right, Edward. I do not know where she’s gone! Damn it!’ Igor was pacing briskly back and forth around the living room. Edward and Ruslana, sitting helplessly on the sofa, watched the growing nervousness of the girl’s father. ‘Maybe she is with this guy. I’ve been trying to find some information about him in her room, but there’s nothing there. Right. I need to calm down and figure out what to do. Calm down and think.’

He sat down in a chair and closed his eyes for a couple of seconds. Edward and Ruslana sat frozen, so as not to interfere with him in any way.

‘So that’s it. First. I’m going to the hotel now. I’ll try to find out from the staff if they know the guy with whom Robin might have been seen. Ed, could you go down to the sky lift and ask if anyone has seen her there?’

‘Of course, Igor. We will help in any way we can.’

‘I’m sorry, guys. But the situation like this is…’

‘Stop it. I hope Robin is okay. You know how it happens with teenagers. She’ll show up soon," Edward was encouraging. ‘Calm down, don’t you worry. We’ll find out everything.’

‘I know how it is with teenagers. Don’t know how it is with my daughter. Okay. Guys, thank you.

In 40 minutes, Igor and his two friends were at the Rescue Service department of the Bholi village.

‘Listen, Officer. The girl is seventeen years old. I’ve been trying to contact her since this morning. All in vain. Yesterday afternoon she was seen with a group in the camp at the level of three and a half thousand kilometers. We contacted the local services. They said they went higher to the next stage. Do you understand what this means?!’

‘First of all, sir, may I ask you to calm down. Secondly. The main word I hear is went with the group. So she’s not alone. Which is good. Okay?’

‘Well, quite possible,’ Igor agreed.

‘Here. Good. Further on. At both sites, at three and a half and at five kilometers, there are security services and medical personnel who monitor everyone. So, if any situation arises, everything will be under control. What are you so worried about, sir?’

‘Officer Roshan,’ Igor looked at the nameplate on his desk,’ please listen to me. I’m telling you, there is a guy, I think an American, kind of a mountaineer. Do you understand? Robin, my daughter, could have decided to climb with him to the very top. Do you understand? That’s what I’m afraid of! She has no such experience. She is not ready for such difficult ascents. All I am asking is that you make an announcement that they are detained.’

‘Listen… What’s your name? Igor, on which basis can I make such a decision? Some guy, and even an American, and kind of like an American, kind of like a mountaineer… Well, you listen to yourself.’

‘And I do listen! And I definitely understand that the situation implies the expediency of the actions to which I urge you. What do you reckon, Officer, what would be the best thing to do, and what sort of consequences would arise? Option one. You’re not doing anything. The situation becomes negative—the girl has disappeared. What will be the consequence of this? Option two. You fix the problem. The group is found. Robin is delivered home. Everything ends well. In the worst case for you it’s only about the fact that you’ve reacted in a timely manner to the legitimate request of the father to find a teenager. What do you choose, Officer Roshan?’

A rescue worker was rocking on a creaking chair. His eyes darting around the table, as if he was trying to find the answer to a question in the papers.

‘All right, Mr. Igor Schweiko. I’ll contact the base at five kilometers. Wait for me in the corridor, please,’ he pointed to the door for the trio.