later, it will be too late. I will no longer be here, – I answered sadly.
– Sorry, I can’t help you then, – He really regretted it. He took out the wire and handed it to me. – Here you have. This is a gift; haven’t you had a birthday recently?
– Um—hum. Thank you so much! I need it for a very important affair, – I accepted gratefully the gift.
– Where are you going? Far away?
– To the capital, to study – I sighed.
The old man scratched his nose.
– I heard that magicians from ten years of age are called up for military training, and the Royal Academy is not an exception. Our enemies are awake. Many of our people died. The new army will be raised. Only… – Paco hesitated. – You’re not a magician. What will they teach you there?
– I will be a diplomat.
Paco raised his eyebrow.
– It’s a pity you haven’t reveal your talent. You are a good mechanic. Well, of course, negotiating with people – it’s a necessary business. I’m also partly a diplomat, you need to be able to find a common language with buyers.
The merchant tilted his chin in a funny way, simulating to be a very important person. But when I saw his toothless mouth, I burst out laughing.
– Paco, I’m sorry! And thanks for the encouragement. You know, although I will study at the academy, I will not abandon my skills of mechanic. After all, Alice gave me a set of tools, I will take them with me and in my free time I will tinker. Everything is magical now. Nobody fixes what is broken. And here I am. What if I come in handy at the academy?
– You will come in handy. You have golden hands.
– And I have a present for you too! – I took the watch off my wrist and put it on Paco’s hand. – Do you know how to use it?
– It’s a watch! – the old man twisted it. – But a dress-watch. Does it work without magic?
– Yes. But you need to wind up the spring every day so that it doesn’t stop.
– Oh, thanks! This is a marvelous gift! – the old man blinked and closed his eyes, trying to hide the sentimentality. But I knew how he felt. He was deeply moved. – You… In the capital, in the main market, look for a small shop that says «Nedos’s Chest». You will find it in the streets. My cousin holds this shop. He also sells all sorts of junk. I will write him a letter so that he won’t offend you. Nedos – is a foxlike, he knows how to fool people. But what can he do? In the capital, the people are greedy, everyone wants goods for free. But he will not deceive you and will find everything what you need. I promise! Well, that’s all, be healthy! Study well! And don’t forget the old man Paco.
– I won’t forget! See you! – I hugged the merchant goodbye.
I went home upset. Not all phoenix ingredients were clinking in the bag.
I saw Dinah from afar. She was plucking a goose. I suppose she’ll cook it for dinner. Oh! Coming closer, I asked:
– Dinah, save me the largest feathers. I need them.
– How many?
– Ha… Many – I answered thoughtfully and walked to the door.
On the right, in the vegetable garden, grandfather Marash was weeding the beets. Apparently, no one knew about my upcoming departure. They behave as usual. Or maybe they don’t care. I was in their life, and soon I will leave. Big deal. What is special about me? Dina called me:
– And what about your mood? Who messed it up in the morning?
I came to my senses:
– Oh. I need a paint, but the merchant Paco didn’t have it.
– A paint? And for what? What colors? Dinah lifted her head and brushed back a streak of hair that had strayed from her braid.
– Red and yellow. For feathers … – I specified. – Do you know where to get it?
– Yes, I know! The red one grows in the garden bed, Marash is just weeding it. And the yellow one is in the kitchen.
I blinked in confusion.
– Blunt. To fix everything you are so smart, but you can’t figure out with dyes. Beets on a grate and you will get a red one. And to get the yellow one, you need to mix turmeric with water! The girls and I usually paint the ribbons this way, – pleased Dinah continued to pluck the bird.
– Th-thank you! – I muttered in confusion, and a stupid smile stretched across my face.
Now everything I need is here. Happy, I hurried to the room. I poured the contents of the bag onto the table and set to work. The presented tools were incredibly useful. From an oak branch, I carved the skeleton of the body of a phoenix. Carved a compartment on the breast for the ruby. But the chisel slipped off and I hurt my finger. I accidentally stained the phoenix with my blood.
«Ouch… such a sharp thing», – I cursed to myself.
I put some fern ointment on the cut and continued. I put the ruby that Marash had presented in the chest cell of the bird. I secured the wings and tail in a spring mechanism, and lubricated it. The head I also carved out of the wood. In the eyes I decided to inlay the glass pieces that Dinah had presented. But I couldn’t find the same color and size, so the eyes were different. One was blue and the other was yellow. I inserted a black pointed glass as a beak. The bird came out as if it was alive. Now there was turn of the feathers and some magic.
«I’ll ask mom to revive my phoenix», – I thought, and cast a glance at the hill, where there was a black stain of the oak ashes.
I left the bird on the table. I took off an apron and checked my hands for cleanliness before going to mom. They were not the cleanest. I’ll have to wash them. And as soon as I opened the loosely closed door, Dinah burst into the room.
– Did you spy on me? – I squinted.
She was holding an armful of feathers and two cans of dye. I even didn’t want to scold her. The girl lifted her freckled chin and stood up, dusting off her apron.
– Niko, can I help you with the phoenix? I can do it! I have revived some mechanisms before, – she looked as if she was about to cry, although she held on with all her might.
– I don’t mind. Let’s try. Now I will finish it… – I hesitated.
The friend looked so sad. Perhaps my mother told her about my departure.
– Thank you… Do you already know?
Dinah nodded and walked quickly to the table. She put feathers with paint on it and sat down in front of the unprepared bird. She ran her finger along the body.
– There
