Cynowe więzienie

The moonlight tonight was exceptionally bright. It cast a clear, bluish glow on the nearly empty streets, seeming to overshadow even the streetlights. As long as the sky remained clear and cloudless, the faint firelight added to the atmosphere. Artificial light, however, might come in handy later, as storm clouds were already visible in the distance.

The "Tin Prison," although empty during the day, flourished at night. Its interior was bustling, much brighter now with lamps lit at every table. The space was filled with creatures from every corner of the galaxy, in every conceivable skin color, scale, or fur. Guests sat at tables or on them, while some hovered in the air. They looked threatening and unpleasant, their faces easily falling into the "forbidden" category.

The bartender, previously focused on wiping the same glass repeatedly, lazily prepared beers and drinks for the customers. Despite their menacing appearances, everyone waited patiently for their orders.

Lucas settled comfortably at an empty table, slowly sipping his beer while watching the creatures coming in. A large lizard glanced in his direction, to which the pilot responded with a broad smile and a wink. That was enough for the creature to snort and lose interest in the human.

In the unusual crowd, no one noticed a figure in a long, dark hooded coat. With his head lowered, he bypassed the line at the bar and tossed a gold coin onto the counter. The girl glanced at the newcomer, pocketed the payment into her vest pocket, and wordlessly handed him a mug of golden draft beer.

A lanky gentleman, waiting for his order, mumbled something under his breath. However, it was hard to understand him amidst the noise, so he fell silent soon after receiving his order.

The hooded man took his drink and slowly looked around the room.

His face was hidden, but there was a detectable hint of weariness in his gesture. Noticing a bit of free space in the corner, he headed there. He sat facing the wall, his back almost touching that of the neighboring human. They drank in silence, amid the clinking of mugs and conversations. Someone had a very loud, gurgling voice.

"Anything new?" Lucas whispered, glass to his lips.

"It's heating up. They're getting careless, so more information is coming my way, but it's not good news. They're angry and increasingly desperate," the hooded figure replied. "May I ask who 'they' are?" "You can, but if I were you, I wouldn't waste energy on that. Do you guys know anything?" "We're in the process. Though it doesn't seem to be resolving itself. You know, normally the beings that come to us already know who they are. And for now, she can't even tell." A heavy sigh could be heard from beneath the hood. "That's bad. Have you heard they're calling her a 'god'?" "It’s come up. But honestly, it's hard to take seriously." "In this case, you must take everything seriously." Lucas was silent, frowning, and took slow sips of his drink. "Do you think she's really a god?" "Not in the literal sense, of course.

That would be an absurd suspicion." "...but?" First, fat drops of rain began to tap gently on the windows. "If what they're saying is true... it's possible that her mind is developed to an almost divine level." Lucas recalled an image of Ester—adorably clumsy, lost in the simplest tasks—and smiled to himself at such an absurd thought. "Are we sure we're talking about the same person? Maybe we kidnapped the wrong being." "Take it seriously. We have no idea what we're dealing with. Do you know what you'll do with her yet?" "Nick wants to send her back to her planet. He thinks they won't look for her there..." A rumble of thunder echoed in the distance, and the rain grew stronger, locking the "Tin Prison" in a watery box. A tall girl in a simple knee-length dress and blue scales stepped outside, lifting her face to the falling drops. "I can't tell you if she'll be safe there. But I also can't say for sure that she'll be safe anywhere. Time isn't on your side. Apparently, they're already checking the borders." Lucas froze, slowly lowering his eyebrows. He put his mug on the table, taking deep breaths. He slowly wiped his mouth with his sleeve and dropped his head onto the table. "...who the hell is looking for her? How much power do they have to control the borders?" "I told you to take it seriously. This time it's not some stray whose disappearance no one cares about." "...but why does anyone want her? She's just a lost girl." "For now, maybe. But we don't know what she'll be capable of in the future. If she falls into the wrong hands... the power dormant within her could lead to a catastrophe." Lucas recalled her examination by a doctor. The girl was clumsy in every possible way. She seemed barely able to think and walk. Whatever universe she came from, she didn't appear dangerous. "She wouldn't do anything bad... she wouldn't be capable of it." "How would she know what's bad and what's good? If our suspicions are correct, she probably doesn't understand our reality. A blank slate, as they say. Everything depends on whose hands she falls into." "And since she's with us..." Lucas began, thoughtfully.

"You can instill her with the basics of behavior, while it's not too late. And keep an eye on her. Better yet, get rid of her as soon as possible. Just be careful at the borders and during checks. Whatever she is, she officially doesn't exist. If they don't find her in any registry, it will raise suspicions." "I understand..." The pilot nodded almost mechanically and downed the rest of his beer. He wiped his mouth again. "Anything else?" "Hurry up. The sooner the girl is far away from you, the better for everyone." "You know, it's easy to say 'get rid of her.' The key question is 'where.'" "As far as I'm concerned, you could even lock her in a basement. She MUST NOT fall into the wrong hands," the hooded figure said icily, causing the flame of the oil lamps to flicker. Though that might have also been caused by a draft as another watery being left the bar. "I understand.

Thanks for everything." Lucas looked out the window at the storm that had broken out. He finished his beer and took the empty glass to the bar. He straightened his clothes as if it mattered, and stepped out onto the street. It took only a few seconds for him to be soaked to the skin.

The dark streets were nearly empty, although some watery beings could be seen here and there, exposing their scales and fins to the life-giving rain. Dressed modestly, sometimes even provocatively, they exposed their skin. Lucas nodded politely to a slender, black being, somewhat resembling a shadow, standing on the street with its head turned upward. Then he passed a group of teenagers, chatting happily in the street, intentionally jumping into every possible puddle. He intended to catch a carriage or take the train, but decided to walk. He needed to cool down and think about a few things. The evening was refreshing after the last few particularly warm days. Finally, Lucas stopped paying attention to the drops running down his face.