THE ISLAND OF CHARON
a novel in the series
"PLAYING ANOTHER REALITY"
CHAPTER 8. FRIDAY, the 13th
8.3. THE DATE OF MY DEATH
Wet, but not feeling the cold, I burst into the tower of the Abandoned Lighthouse and climbed up the stairs to the Stargazer’s working room.
“Good evening! Excuse me,” I whispered. “I really need your help!”
The Stargazer didn’t look surprised at my appearance.
“Good evening, Alice, and good stars in your cards! Sit down. How can I help you, if everything is predetermined?”
“Even our conversation here and now?”
The Stargazer smiled and came up to the teapot that adorned the windowsill.
“Would you like some tea?” he asked.
“No, thank you. How do you manage to boil water if there’s no electricity?”
“The same way you light lanterns! But what brings you to me this time?” the Stargazer asked, pouring himself a cup of tea.
“ the one who is destined to be drown won’t be burned by the Inquisition.”
“Yes, I did, and I will repeat it as many times as the Creator requires,” the Stargazer grinned.
“This information is recorded in a personal Sky passport, isn’t it?”
“That’s right. Do you want to know about…”
“Exactly.”
“Tell me your exact time of birth!”
“Few minutes to ten. In the morning,” and I told him the date and the place.
“Oh-oh-oh…” whispered the Stargazer, examining something in his old maps. Then he opened a starry book and studied it carefully for a few minutes. “I guessed it right! A drowned woman!”
“I beg your pardon! Do you mean that…?”
“Yes, my dear! The fire is not your story! Your death is shrouded in mystery and drowned in darkness! It occurs suddenly, in some isolated place, it is related to water, to a man and, quite possible, caused by aggression or violence.”
The Stargazer looked at me inquiringly, expecting praise in return as confirmation of his prophetic words.
I took a deep breath and moved on.
“You say, the date of death is also predetermined.”
“Almost so,” the Stargazer nodded, taking another sip of tea. “In most cases there are several critical dates for life exam. On one of them the transition of the soul from Earth to the Other Reality occurs.”
“Can you look up my dates?”
“Of course, Alice. Although, sometimes the calculations take a lot of time, I think I can do it for you before sunrise.”
“And will you allow me to spend the night in your dungeon? I’m scared to go back in the hotel.”
The Stargazer looked at me with a light sadness, like a wise old man knowing something yet unknown to children.
“I don’t mind. What are you afraid of?”
“Tonight I have to watch till the end the worst dream of my life, my personal nightmare,” I admitted.
“But isn’t that your wish?” the Stargazer finished his tea, smiling…
And he was right.