6

When his head stopped hurting, Eden asked the nurse to bring his bag.

There were vials of infected blood and a transmitter.

The number of the senior in their department was found only from the second rewinding of contacts.

— Lieutenant Malody.— from weakness, Eden's voice was not as firm as usual.— I ask you to extend my stay on Europa. And

I'll send you a report on this case soon. I haven't bought a ticket back yet... Will you send me assignments here?—

— I wouldn't approve of someone like you and me staying on oasis, Detective Eden Mills.—Curtis Malody replied with a soldier 's

refinement. He is the oldest in the corps both in rank and age - thirty years is a lot for a Titan.— Stay as long as you want. I will try to pick up tasks for you nearby.—

Eden turned off the transmitter and Roxanne looked out from behind the door.

— Mr. Brain, hi... Felix was blown up... and the lists of his accomplices were made public. Hurray! One can say that life has not been lived

in vain... And when you go back?—she asked.

Eden saw the sadness in her eyes.

— I'm not going. I want to see this whole life without plastic!—

For the first time in his entire life, Eden Mills smiled sincerely and not from some small joy.

Now his heart was warm...

***

"... A strange mutating virus was found in the blood of Felix Schneider, who faked his death.

Those who are infected with this virus devour living people. I would define this as a "zombie virus".

The dangerous sector is cordoned off and destroyed by point explosives.

And it is confirmed by the attached testimony of witnesses that in the death of three workers, several tourists and a detective with

The titan is to blame Felix Schneider.

The case is closed.

Eden Mills."

The big-eyed detective saved a text file, uploaded it to the message and turned off the transmitter after sending it.

Evening is falling on the Oasis. How beautiful he is...

***

2072.

The nights on Europa are full of sounds. Not like they were on Titan.

Two years is not enough to get used to this atmosphere.

Eden Mills didn't want to fall asleep so as not to miss all the beauties of the night and nature.

He stayed on Risen Boulevard, he just don't want to leave here. There is only one thing he would like now and very much- disable the M-1000...

In the house opposite, Roxanne Nelson opens onto the balcony. Every evening, Eden sees Roxy watching something through a telescope.

Or someone...

The girl suddenly looks right at him.

Eden is already used to being surprised by everything here, but such sensitivity is super-expressive.

Roxy waves to him, the answer of the guy from Titan turns out to be a little awkward-he sent a glass of whiskey to an empty stomach,

pretty full.

For a while, the girl just looks at him, as if studying his facial features, then suddenly a message rattles on the old the transmitter.

Eden's eyes widen in surprise.

— Approach?— he asks himself and, taking a raincoat, goes down and goes outside.

The wind whirled the leaves and petals in a merry dance, towards evening the desired coolness began to descend on the city.

This is too good, something is sure to happen, the first case outside of Titan has already made it clear to him that one cannot expect from

life is not good.

— Hi, Detective.—Roxanne had a sly grin on her lips.— How are you, Eden? —

— Well... Like on drugs, I got hooked on the green beauty of this oasis! Titan is no longer my home now...— Eden felt like he was pushed into the house quite gently.

For the first time ever, the conversation was so voluminous.

He and Roxanne sat down together at the giant TV screen.

— I was hoping so much that I would see you today, but the moment might not have happened... So much work...—Roxy runs her fingers through his hair with a healthy hand.— With long hair, you generally seem very small...—

— Need a haircut...—Eden whispered. His cheeks were flushed from too close contact. He feels the blood rushing to his face

from the way Roxanne digs into his hair with the fingers of a real hand.

— No, it's not worth it... No need, Eden... All my ninety-eight, no, it's been ninety-nine years since I felt like I was with anyone. so good... It's like you gave me my life back, my little detective...—Roxy kissed him on the cheek.— Exactly at one o'clock in the morning 29 October 1972, I was born...—

— This... That's probably cool... Well, I'm knocked out by this news! I just don't know what to say, and it's always when you

you're talking about age!—

— Yes, and you're a small, small kid Eden! Is it age that scares you?— Roxanne went for a drink, turning on the movie.

Eden received one message after another. These were mostly mundane questions from friends.

They are waiting for him, they have missed him ... But one more message from such that cannot be ignored. The "BASE" account.

"Mr. Detective Eden Mills, your location hasn't changed in a very long time. Accept Reisen Boulevard, 2 as the main

the place of residence before the calibration of your M-1000?"

In response to the consent, the task came.

"As you know, now on all planets there is a dysbacterization of the air and an increase in its amount for a more suitable

lives on them. The key figure is one of the employees of Futuretech, Jack Merchant. He lives in Europe, just in that

in the same oasis, and it is he who is the developer of cleaning the air, plants and sunlight without losing beneficial bacteria. Creatures from the infected red sector, they have an influence on someone from healthy people.

Purpose: to provide security for Jack Merchant..."

— Work again?—Roxy placed a hefty glass of whiskey next to him.

It could only be called a glass politely. The decanter will be smaller...

— Yes... Work, work...—Eden took a sip from his glass. Consciousness suddenly became somehow soft.—What's that? Shuttle fuel?—

— What, strong? Sorry, there's no water nearby. Although... there is a cola.—Roxy sat up and reached for the bottle. —If you want.—

— Come on, I don't want to switch off too soon.—Eden poured half of it into Roxy's glass and topped it up with Coke.— How do you drink this? —

— I was in the army, they don't drink that there. It can be much stronger there. I'm going to a restaurant in an hour. There will only be

dear people to me: my father, Arthur Hollis and Jane, my dad's girlfriend... He seems to have recovered from the loss of his mother...

Let's go there together! —

***

The car slowly pulls up to the building shining with lights, the old-fashioned parking sensor beeped.

—Eden, I'm really glad you're with me...— Roxy kissed Eden on the cheeks so that the Englishman blushed.— I've been looking for such a long time like you.—

— And... yes... what?—Roxy...their eyes met.

Roxanne hugged him to her. There was sadness in her eyes.

— Stay as nice as you are...—

***

It was one of those rare occasions when Roxanne wore a dress-it is noticeable by her shyness.

The doors swung open and music blared loudly.

Roxy stared in shock at the decoration of the hall, shining with glitter and lights. She expected a lot, but to be so bright...

— Marcel!—she hugged her best friend tightly.— I thought that you would never be able to come! —

— Well, how am I going to leave you...— the Frenchman's warm whisper burns the ear when they hugged.

A cake in the form of a solar system crowned the table like a crown.

— How beautiful...—Roxy says softly.

— Think of anything, except extreme vulgarity!—Marcel says.

The candles go out late, as if in slow motion.

This day was not like the others. Fun, music, dancing...

Roxanne's heart was filled with joy when Eden came up and asked her to dance.

— But... Eden, I haven't danced in about fifty years... and maybe more-I've already lost count. And it wasn't for dancing that I was

educated...—Roxanne sighs softly.

— Do you think I was raised for this?— the detective whispers softly in response.

On the dance floor, Roxy clings tightly to Eden, puts her hands on his narrow shoulders and together with him begins to step into

the rhythm of the music.

She was tempted to say something to him, Eden could see it in her eyes.

And he wanted to say something himself, but how can a half-machine love?

Roxy presses him closer to her. The smell is so strong that you want to break down, his blood smells very sweet, the girl felt it through her skin.

— Edeeen...— she whispers softly, burying her nose in the young detective's short hair.

—I want to see everything, Roxy. I want to know what you are and what's bothering you...Eden says softly.— Now I'm not afraid of the sight of this infections...—

Roxanne runs her lips over his neck. Just about - and there will be no chance to resist.

— What does it look like?—Eden asks as they step out into the hallway.

— Horror. The whole body seems to melt... Believe me, I won't let you get infected through stupidity... You're too dear to me...—

— From the very first minute I dreamed of being alone with you, but constantly someone interrupts a great situation...—

***

The morning hits the eyes, cuts and torments with sunlight after a stormy party and no less stormy night.

After checking the charging of the prosthesis, Roxy got up and opened the curtains.

It seems that the wind is getting stronger outside the window...

The smell made her shiver. Roxy immediately felt that there was something wrong here...

the girl sits down on the bed next to Eden. So beautiful and innocent to look at when sleeping...

Still, she lies down next to me and inhales this mind-blowing smell. Strange things are just stupid visions of the disease...

— Eden... Eden! An evil hundred-year-old monster wants to eat you!— with a grin imitating monsters from old cartoons, she

bit the detective's ear.— Especially since you're so pretty... Like a little angel on a Christmas tree...—

— I now feel that I am where I should be. And when will I see what you are like in your other life?—Eden rubs his forehead.— How

my head hurts! Apparently, I've had too much to drink after all...—

— Now, Mr. Brain, I'll put you on your feet. I've been friends with booze for much longer than you've been alive!—Roxy kissed a guy on the lips.— You're just blowing my mind!—

A couple of buttons of the air conditioner clicked, the air became even cooler, even the headache stopped now.

Of course, Eden had a lot of painkillers at home, but now he just doesn't want to take them as a leftover

the place that he no longer considered his native.

— Does the computer hurt a lot in the head?— Roxanne put two cups of fragrant coffee on the table.

— I'm thinking about the assignment. Titan is not far behind me. I received a task here, on the deployment. It's here in the oasis. You're Jack

Do you know the merchant? I'm assigned to guard him.— the rain began to patter loudly on the roof.

The sound turned out to be so loud and so lively that, again, it could not be compared with this cardboard-plastic an inanimate Titan.

— Oh... This is a downright oops situation, Eden. Just like the rain that appeared on its own... Jack Merchant...—Roxy sighed.— Jack

Merchant was my ex. Brightened up my loneliness. But he's such a bad guy, on his own mind.— Roxanne takes slow sips, almost

he buries himself in a cup of coffee.— Why are you looking at me like that? If necessary, I'll take you to him! —

***

The bus is noisy off-road, rocks and potholes are knocking on the bottom.

Sometimes Eden hears the road banging against the bottom.

— I still can't get used to this world, but I like it here more... Oh! Roxy, the bag! Give me the bag from above!— not anymore the first time Mills was sick in transport, so he carried two and sometimes three bottles of citrus juice with him.

A sip of sour, inhale, exhale...

it seemed to be a win-win option as usual.

— How long do we have to go?— the detective asks and even mentally evaluates what a hoarse and feeble voice he has.

— Not so much. The road will be smooth now.—Roxanne strokes his hair.

Eden pressed his cheek against her shoulder, Roxy stroked his soft, disheveled hair, a little prickly and beginning to sparkle.

— He is an impulsive person, it will be hard to withstand him... You'll want to kill him yourself, my dear...— slightly shifted sideways,

Roxanne sat down so that she could look out the window.

The giant Jupiter, all its multicolored, sand-colored rings-stripes were very clearly visible, sometimes it was possible to see flying asteroids from this piece of life on a dead piece of ice in space ...

***

Roxanne knocked on some time-worn gatehouse.

— Where's Jack Merchant?—she asked, but Eden didn't understand what they said.

— Come on.—Roxy turned and took the detective's hand.— I'll stay with you, because people can't be alone with him at all leave...—

They are walking on a hot road. The air floats, you can see how it melts under artificial lighting and a heater.

Eden removed the stuck bangs from his forehead. In moments of overwork, he missed the flash taxi, a capsule with a chair, in the slot

on the contrary, you throw money and enter a place on the touch screen.

But convenience without beauty is not needed ...

— He built a house in the old likeness.—Roxanne said softly.— There, I see a house, it's probably Jack's creation.—

— Is he also an architect?—Eden asks, dodging a teenager running down the street.— Hey, be careful with yours... with his own...—

— It's a skate, Eden! Jack Merchant was everything on earth... But his main role is a bastard. Terrible bastard! He 's a bastard

just a reference scale.— Roxy threw her cigarette butt somewhere to the side.

— I'm from Titan, my patience is enough even for reptiles. Unless only I can fall into this... how so... enraged?— Mills for a second felt some kind of awkwardness.

Roxy took his hand. The metal fingers were very much felt even through a thick glove.

Roxanne comes to the door. Whispering something to herself, she knocks on the door. She really didn't want to see him...

— Hey you, I can already hear you bar... Roxanne... Roxy, is that really you?— the man who opened the door was a little swollen from

severe insomnia.

— Believe me, Jack, I would like to say that it's not me ... —

Jack Merchant poured herbal tea into large mugs.

— I know about all the attempts. And what, they only sent one skinny guy? Hmm, there was no need to provide security at all.—

he arranged the cups.

Eden pushed one away from him.

— Jack, Eden is from Titan. He's worth a platoon! Believe me, you narcissistic son of a bitch!—Roxy's fingers drummed on the table.— We're leaving, but we'll be nearby. Only maybe I'll think about whether we should save you...— Roxanne slammed the door and went, Holding Eden's hand, walking briskly.

— I don't want to leave...—Eden said softly.— I want to do it...—

— Eden, keep your depression on a leash and don't let it out of the kennel!—Roxanne said more firmly.— We need to expel the anger. Let 's go to restaurant, have breakfast together, delicious food is very uplifting.—

— All right... I've been on pills for so many years, even if the food here didn't make me feel bad...—Eden muttered, startled.