16

Ryan didn't need much, Darek brought everything in almost half an hour: a bag of things, a motorcycle (it's strange how he didn't get hurt!), several books.

— And what do you do, Cornelius?—Ryan asked, settling into the room.

— Maybe I can help you? You still have sore feet...—Cornelius took the bag from Ryan.— I have a degree in nuclear physics, and I am also a dancer...—

Walking down the corridor, I heard from afar how my beloved hesitated in confusion. He was thinking whether to speak or not...

— Cornelius, do not hesitate, tell him.— I stood in the doorway.

The guys flinched, Ryan dropped the stick, I immediately ran up and tried to pick up such an important object for him now.

— Why, these dances...—Ryan froze.— What's wrong with them?—

Cornelius laughed...

it seems that he doesn't really like the fact that I made the revelations come out.

— I'm a stripper.—Cornelius said aloud anyway.

— And I don't understand what's wrong with that? You were scared as if you were selling yourself. For example, I was selling myself. If you like something, it can't be

shameful. You'd turn the color of ripe tomatoes if you ever saw what we do at our parties...—Ryan sat down on the bed.— How my legs hurt... Apparently exhausted

resources for today...—

— If you want, I can bring you food here.—Cornelius said.

— No, I don't want to be a burden to you. I have to try to walk by myself. And, if necessary, I can help with cooking, cleaning and grocery shopping.—Ryan turned on his laptop.

— No, you don't need to. Dariush and I have enough money for a lot of things.Cornelius stepped over the threshold.— If you need anything, tell me.—

***

Darek cooked something similar to an Italian dish for a late lunch.

— The smell is super as always! But that's what I don't understand...—Cornelius tried to pull a piece off the pan, but Darek generously whipped him with a spoon, in fact barely by touching.

— It's a kind of tomato stew with cheese, chili pepper, basil and duck meat. I was unlucky in terms of the duck, it's a store-bought one. And there they handed over a check for repairs, which you need to fill it out and send it to them.—Dariusz pointed to the table.

— Aah, I see. Damn it! And you have a hot spoon...—Cornelius shook his right hand.— It's going to hurt now... Is Vasilevsky really so ancient that he sends checks?—

— I don't know... He looks like a hundred and ten or a hundred and twenty...—Darek deftly took out the plates in one stack.— After lunch, you will need to go to the club, because I will be busy a few hours, and... Lukasz? Yes, it seems to be Lukasz... He said you need to come there.—

Ryan went out into the kitchen, leaning heavily on the stick.

— Ryan, don't strain your legs!—I said.— It might get worse!—

— You make it sound like I'm a little kid now...—Ryan sat down at the table, bracing himself against the countertop.—I have the power, then I don't... My body wants to walk...—

Darek arranged the plates as if he were shuffling cards.

— You're very clever, Darek. Have you tried to work as a magician?—Ryan asked Dariusz.

— And what is it - a magician?—Darek asked in surprise.

— Do you know what a magician is? Hmm, what planet are you from, man?—Ryan inhaled the smell of the dish on the plate.— It smells great! If it tastes the same...

Dariusz, where did you learn to cook like that?—

— I don't know about the planet... We are all aliens in this world! As for my culinary skills, it's all my mom. I used to help her a lot when I was a kid...— Darek deeply sighed.— I want to become a child again...—

He clutched a wooden spoon in his hand. His knuckles turned white.

— Darek...—Cornelius whispered, coming up and putting his hand on his younger brother's shoulder.

Darek exhaled convulsively.

His eyes darkened. Usually they were the same blue as my mother's, but now they have become a dark dark gray, the color of soot.

— I was there, Corey. And it will gnaw at me until I find something that will fill it...— He said.

He was sitting at dinner so pale and sad.

Cornelius asked me to stay with Kirby and Ryan before he left for work.

— It is necessary that the protection be uniform, and Ryan and Kirby should not be left alone...— he said in my ear in a whisper.

— I see... All right, Cornelius, I'll take care of my own.—I said.—But be on your guard, too... I'm always afraid that something might happen... Nothing is ever easy with us...—I said.

— I know...— Cornelius waved at me, running away to the car.

— How much I love you...—I said after the car was leaving.

Cornelius and I never kiss before parting, because any kiss on the doorstep of the house can be the last...

And I don't want these miracles entwining us to suddenly end...

— I've never seen you like this.— when I went home, I didn't even see Ryan standing in the hallway.—You just look deeply in love. How old is your love?—

He asked.

— We've been in love since my university days. Maybe it's stupid to say this, but we fell in love from the first moment we looked into each other's eyes... His brother, Dariusz, was lost for many years, but was found not so long ago. Darek is weird, but he's a good guy. Darek is weird, but he's a good guy. Darek... Well, Cornelius too, life has been pretty battered. There was a lot in their way...—I took Ryan's arm.— Come on, old man, let's watch TV together. I have three days off in a row...—

***

Ryan had a lot of comedy CDs in his stuff.

Of course, it's clear that in his situation, the pastime is monotonous, but ...

As it seems to me personally, we can't review so much in a lifetime!

— Are you having fun?—Kirby came out into the living room.

— Come to us, my dear.— I hugged my younger brother with one arm.— You seem to have cheered up a little.—

— Yes, it makes me feel a little more cheerful in your stupid company... What a... Ha ha, cartoon. I wanted to ask, what kind of cartoon are you watching?—Kirby said.

He smiled for the first time in that time.

— Sit down with us. It's an Addams family cartoon, and then maybe we'll watch Minions.—Ryan said.

— It would be nice...—Kirby smiled, and I ruffled his hair.

Kirby's hair no longer curls into those lovely curls, and lack of sleep mixed with depression ruined my brother's pretty face.

— Kirby, you need to fix your face... Shall we go to the beauty salon tomorrow?—I asked.—We've been better when everything was good...—

Suddenly I got a text message from Cornelius. No one can fake his text messages, so I trust his messages.

"Very strong problems. If I come too early (or better, do it without it), ask for the password to the diary. The answer should be "Sapphire es nine".

A lot of replicants began to appear on the streets..."

I shuddered and rather closed the SMS so that Ryan wouldn't accidentally see it.

Replicants... What kind of replicants are these?

— You were worried... Is your beloved busy at work?—Ryan asked.

— No, it's okay...—I sighed.— I hope so...—

***

Two more cartoons and when it was about half of the second cartoon, there was a knock on the door, completely ignoring the bell.

— Ed, Eddie! I have a little problem...— someone said through the crack of the window on the door.

— Dariusz?—I barely recognized the voice.

— Yes, I think I've lost my house keys...—

An unpleasant thought crept into my soul.

Even by the sound of his voice alone, I felt that it wasn't Darek at all!

"Dariusz, code red! Return to the base point!"—I texted quickly.

How much I hoped that now the phone would ring outside the door!

But it didn't happen...

I opened the door.

— Come in, Darek. Where have you been? And where's your red jacket?— I deliberately mistakenly called Dariusz's brown jacket red...

— I lost it...—non-Darek sighed, sitting down on the shoe rack.— I'm so tired! What are you doing now?—

— We watch cartoons and comedies. Well, you don't like watching TV...—I said.— Do you want to eat?—

— Yes, I'm a little hungry... Is Cornelius at home?— the fake Darek went to the kitchen with me.

— You left together, didn't he tell you?—I ask.— Well, it's okay... Go wash up, you're obviously chilled out in this cold. You could use a hot shower...—

When the non-real Dariusz left, I saw the real Dariusz outside the window.

— Bathroom.—I mouthed it.

— Make sure no one sees it.—He answered me with gestures.

I went back to the living room.

— Has someone come there?—Kirby asked.

— Just like that, an acquaintance, an acquaintance, I was looking for Darek...— I heard the sound of falling in the bathroom, but no one but me can hear the whole house from a distance.

I followed the sound of a scuffle, which grew louder with each step.

Dariusz was banging on the toilet door of his double. When the resistance from the second disappeared, Darek cut his double's throat with a knife similar to a sickle.

— Oh, my God...—I jumped back so that the salad—colored spray wouldn't hit me.

— Let me introduce you to the replicant!—Darek said.— Help me now, I need to go to the toilet to flush this stuff. But before that, I'll teach you how to kill these bastards...—

Dariusz parted the edges of the incision in his doppelganger's throat.

— Do you see the wire? It was in order to effectively get rid of replicants that I forged such a sickle. It gets just to the electrode that each replicant has somewhere... Well, several where the hearts are. The electrode contains a DNA particle of the one whose appearance the replicant must assume.—Darek chuckled.— And my DNA, namely blood, is from Mariusz more than enough. So, the transparent wire... Did you remember? —

— Darek, of course, I will easily remember this...—I said.—Will you make a sickle for me later?—

— Maybe.—Darek smiled.— Anything is possible...—

He tore the edges of the incision and a viscous liquid, somewhat resembling a slimer, poured out.

— Ugh!—I grimaced, and Darek waved his hands:

— Don't grimace-help!—

We poured all the contents into the toilet. I thought that this would clog the toilet...

however, I'm glad that he bravely withstood it!

— Adrianna! Hey, Eddie, where are you?— I heard Ryan calling me.

— Damn it! Take away the remains, and I'll see what Ryan needs.—I said.

— Eddie, I lost you in such a huge house!—Ryan said when he found me in the hallway.

We were scared of each other in the semi-darkness.

— I often get lost here too.—I smiled.—So what did you want, Ryan?—

— Do you know if Cornelius has popcorn? If anything, I'll buy a few packs later, it's just impossible to watch TV without popcorn.—Ryan told me.

— Cornelius does not eat popcorn and therefore does not buy, but he has many different types of chips and several dozen types of soda. I remember he used to glue the translation sheets

on the shelves of the refrigerator...—I said.

— And how many languages does Cornelius know?—Ryan asked.

I opened the cupboard where Cornelius keeps chips.

—Not much, just nine or ten.—I said.— And maybe more. I've heard ten languages. Oh! Garlic chips, pepper chips, very spicy, and now... Now we need to find something for Kirby, he doesn't eat spicy food...—

— And these ones?—Ryan pointed to a large pack.

— No, it's mozzarella and tomatoes, Darek always eats these chips. Oh! I found a good option! Cream cheese...—I turned around.— Dariusz, have you finished with the blockage in the toilet yet? Are you coming to watch a movie with us?—

— Yes, I don't mind, —Darek took a bucket of ice cream, his favorite chips and a bag of marshmallows.— Only it sounds like cartoons...—

— Yes, but Ryan has so many comedies that our eyes will pop out...—I said.

— Great! I hope you'll bring me a soda. My hands are already full.— Darek went into the living room with his burden.

I can hear him talking to Kirby about something there.

— Come on.—I took Ryan's hand.— Will you put your hand on my shoulder so that it won't be so hard to walk?—

— Or should I help?—I heard a voice behind me.

— Cornelius!—I turned around, smiling.