Approaching the elder's dwelling, I saw him in the yard. He was sitting on the stones by the entrance, talking to the girl who brought me food. Spotting me, he said something else to her—apparently finishing the conversation. She nodded and immediately dashed off. So, she always ran like that. By then, I had reached him.
"I greet you..." — what a nuisance, what was their custom of not introducing themselves? I didn't even know how to address him. So, everyone I knew here, I knew only by their functions: Uga the guide, this one—the tribe elder, the girl who brings food... — "Um... Elder. I don't know the proper way to speak in such cases."
"Just speak as you are. There is no need for unnecessary human rituals here. Do you wish to tell me something?"
"Not exactly. Yes, I have a theory about these murders, but it's too early to talk about it. I wouldn't want to... firstly, scare off the real killer. Secondly, I could be mistaken and inadvertently cast suspicion on an innocent person. And, well, give false hope. I must verify everything first. And I wanted to ask about something."
"Very well, I'm listening. But before you start asking, clarify one thing for me. The spirits referred to you as a bear, but here you are always seen as a wolf. Why?"
"Ah, that's... well, I have several forms. The primary one, also the combat form, is the bear. And I use the wolf form for travel and tracking—it's more convenient."
"But the bear is also a good tracker."
"That's true. But my bear is deaf—made specifically to protect against sonic attacks. And there's an inconvenience: items on me in bear form can get damaged or lost. That doesn't happen in wolf form—I don't fight in it, so my belongings remain safe."
"I see. You can ask the stone to create a small subspace for you where you can leave your things when transforming into a bear and back."
"Seriously? It can do that?"
"Of course. These stones created an entire world for us. But you must not do it here—you are already within the space they created. Creating something else here, before you are fully attuned to the stone, could cause conflicts."
"So, I can create it now, just not here? Am I understanding correctly?"
"Yes, that is so."
"And what does 'not fully attuned' mean?"
"The stone's consciousness is much slower than that of other beings. Therefore, it attunes to the bearer gradually, but the process is constant—no need to worry. In time, you will feel that everything is attuned, and you will be capable of much. Though, you will have to learn some things. But now is not the time for that—not while the tribe is under threat."
"Yes, you're right about that. Actually, that's why I came. I wanted to clarify about the adolescents who go on missions to the outer world. How often does that happen?"
"Quite often. Especially for trials and training. Very few are suitable for it, so the guides test many."
"And how do they go to the outer world without a stone?"
"The stone was needed for you because you are not of our tribe. Our people have a symbiosis with them—even if we don't wear them, they sense us. So, in a group going out there, one guide with a stone is enough. And you can return without one at all if you remember the path. The paths change over time, but not instantly. If you return within a few days, you can pass calmly. If longer—then only with a guide or with your own stone."
"Aha, now I understand much more. I need to leave you for a couple of days. I have to go home—I don't have everything I need here for one idea."
"An idea?"
"Well, I think I know how to identify this killer and where he's hiding from us. Oh, and I wanted to ask: will there be a time when the entire tribe gathers together? Besides the funeral ritual. I wouldn't want to disturb people at such a moment."
"There will be. I mentioned that a gathering of several tribes is planned. But before that, our entire tribe must gather to decide what we keep for ourselves and what we offer for exchange. During these events, we exchange what we have in surplus. We, for example, have plenty of leather, meat, clay pottery. We need fabrics, some tools, plants that don't grow here. This is an important moment for everyone, so all gather. Also, during these events, couples living within the same tribe may unite—to avoid misunderstandings at the larger gathering. And the tribe must also decide if such a union is possible."
"Wow. You take pairing up very seriously here."
"Of course. It's the future of the tribe and the entire people as a whole. We treat it very responsibly."
"And how does the actual moment of choice happen?"
"It's very simple. A girl, if there is someone she likes, places a wreath she has woven on his head. The boy, in turn, gives beads that he has gathered himself—bone or stone, depending on his skill. This is done publicly, before the entire tribe, to show the seriousness of their intentions. I was just speaking with my granddaughter about this before you approached. She's of age, but she's such a fidget—doesn't want to think about it at all. Just runs around like a crazed porcupine, scattering her quills. How will she ever find a mate?"
"About the running—yes, I've noticed. So when is this tribe gathering? Your tribe's gathering?"
"In four days."
"Then that's all I wanted to know. I'll set off for home today and get everything I need. I'll be back here by tomorrow evening, or the day after at the latest. And I think we can finally catch this unknown killer."
"I very much hope so. Good, I have heard you. May your paths be easy."
"Thank you," I replied and, rising, went to my temporary dwelling to fetch my backpack.
It was still morning—meaning I had time to ascend and descend to the outer world. If all went well, I'd be home by evening.
Grabbing my backpack, I took the same path Uga and I had used to reach the settlement, only in reverse. By lunchtime, ascending along the Sangold River, I was approaching the Pereval Pyati (Pass of the Five). It would have been easier and shorter to go through Pereval Dvukh (Pass of the Two), but I didn't know if there were passages to the outer world there. Not wanting to risk it, I decided to take the proven route.
Even before reaching the pass, I noticed a thin blue trail leading straight towards it. I followed it. The further I went, the clearer and brighter it became. Once I crossed the pass, it began to dim and shrink again until it disappeared completely. I hoped everything had gone correctly. Otherwise, I'd be wandering around here and then have to go back for Uga to guide me.
Skirting the rocky outcrop coming from the Sangi-Navishta ridge, I turned towards Pereval Okno (Window Pass). I crossed that too. Now I could descend to the Daraikunal River. But I decided to take a shortcut: I crossed a small ridge parallel to Sangi-Navishta via a glacier and ended up in the valley of the Daraichala River.
There wasn't much of a descent here. But I'd once gotten lost here and, searching for a way out, had explored the area—and found a path down. Not the most convenient, to be honest, but I wanted to get home faster. This valley would bring me to the road quicker. After struggling down the descent, I quickly made my way along the river to the road, which, to my delight, was right where it should be. I had saved two or three hours compared to the route via Daraikunal.
Well, hello there, civilization. I dropped my backpack and started hitchhiking to Dushanbe.
A ride wasn't easy to come by. I began to think I'd been too hasty choosing this spot. From Gushary, I'd have gotten a ride immediately—there's even a taxi stand there.
A white SUV sped past. I didn't even pay attention to the model—drivers of such vehicles usually don't pick up hitchhikers. Automatically, I glanced back and was surprised: the SUV had stopped and was now reversing towards me. Good.
I picked up my backpack and walked towards it. It was a Toyota Prado. I tossed my backpack onto the back seat and sat next to the driver. We chatted about everything and nothing on the way. The car's owner took me for a visiting tourist—which I didn't correct. He turned out to be from the administration managing the coal mines in Ziddy. What exactly his position was—he glossed over it. I pretended not to notice. What did I care? I told him my group was still in the mountains, and I had urgent business in the city. Such are the rules of the road—everyone says what they like, and the listener pretends to believe.
But we had a cheerful ride, talking the whole way. We even talked about the yeti. He asked, "You walk in the mountains—ever seen one?" I replied that I'd heard many stories but hadn't encountered one yet. We had a good laugh about the silly tales afterward.
In the city, he dropped me off almost at my door—just a couple of stops short, as he was going another way. I thanked him, got out, grabbed my backpack, and we said goodbye. I didn't have far to go. I didn't bother looking for another ride and walked. "Seven miles is no detour for a mad dog," as the saying goes.
Soon, I was approaching my house. A few neighbors were sitting on the bench near the entrance. I dropped my backpack and greeted everyone.
"Where are you coming from, tourist?" one of them asked with a laugh.
"Oh, don't even ask. Covered half the mountains. Even been to the Mazari Khojayakub."
"Oh, where's that?"
"It's in the upper reaches of the Khazormech River. There's a warm spring with underground sources there. They say if you bathe in it, it takes twenty years off you."
"Wow! How do you get there?"
"From the city, you need to get to the Maykhura Gorge, ascend to the Gaznok Pass via it. Once you descend from the pass—that's where the spring is. There's a small pond there for bathing. Spent the whole day there."
"You need to get younger? You already run around like a young kid, back and forth, and with a backpack." The speaker tried to lift my backpack from the ground by the strap and grunted with the effort. "How much does this weigh?!"
"I don't know, never weighed it. Seems light enough. There's nothing left in it anyway—ate everything on the hike."
"Light?! You can't even lift it! And he wants to get younger."
"It's from the hikes. I go often, always outdoors."
"Stop telling tales. I have a friend—he goes hiking too, works as a guide part-time. Well, he's all stooped, even if he's still strong, he doesn't look young at all. But look at you—like an eagle, chest out, shoulders back. You definitely have some secret."
"Never before had Stierlitz been so close to failure," I thought to myself.
"Your friend probably doesn't bathe in such places, that's why he looks like that. And I also do yoga."
"He does yoga! Feeding us your usual line."
"Alright, 'feeding you a line.' Where's all this distrust coming from? Anyway, I'm leaving you, you're a hostile bunch," I said with a laugh, picking up the backpack.
"Come on, sit down, tell us more about where you've been."
"No, seriously, I'm going. Need to unpack, and I have other things to do. I'll tell you another time," I said, waving to everyone, and headed towards the entrance.
I was so eager to get home for several reasons. But the main one was to be alone in a closed space and experiment with transforming into the bear, where the stone would create a subspace for my belongings.
As soon as I got home, I attended to this first. I didn't unpack the backpack—I needed it for the experiments. So... The elder said: I needed to ask the stone, and it would do everything. Okay, let's try.
I clenched the stone in my hand and mentally asked it to do what I needed. Understanding came almost immediately—as if I'd always known it. This space wouldn't be one single space, but around each item. During the shape change, each item would remain in its own subspace until needed. And I got the feeling that this procedure was already known to the stones. I just needed to follow a certain algorithm, which I also seemed to 'realize.'
Wow. These stones are something else. Okay, let's try.
I went to the center of the room so the bear would fit comfortably. First without the backpack, then with it, I began changing form, following the algorithm. There was a slight hesitation during the change at first, but after doing it about ten times, I felt the skill was cemented. Excellent. Let's try now as usual. A couple of instant transformations—and miracle! Everything worked perfectly.
Now that's a gift! A real gift! A true Gift of Power. I mentally thanked the stone—and again, understanding came from the stone that it was, as it were, happy to help.
This was practically direct communication. And the algorithm was interesting—the information was already in the stone. Apparently, there's some kind of database where all this is stored. And there's probably a lot of interesting stuff there. I tried asking the stone about this, but no understanding came. Probably because the stone isn't fully attuned to me yet. Or, so to speak, my access level isn't high enough.
But what I received was more than enough for me. I thanked the stone again and got on with current tasks. Unpacked the backpack, showered, changed clothes, threw everything in the washer. Now it was time to prepare for catching the killer.
Basically, I suspected possession—like with the Englishman and the jondor. I should have guessed from Luka's hints right away. One can identify the possessed even without tools, but there were certain signs that made me not want to take risks. Given how many families had already died, this spirit had gathered considerable strength. Plus, it could be anything—they're all different. Or even some unknown sorcerer. So I needed to be fully armed.
From Luka, I knew several good recipes that would, with one hundred percent certainty, force the spirit out of the possessed and weaken it. I could have gathered the herbs there, near the settlement, but Luka's recipes consist of plants that mostly grow in his region. Most, of course, are here too, but not all. So, I order some herbs by mail—Luka sometimes sends them. I gather others myself when I'm with him. I'd long meant to compile my own recipes from local herbs, but never got around to it.
Here, I just needed to take them with me. I'd have to prepare the mixtures in the settlement—they needed to be placed in something. The elder said—in wreaths or beads. A decent option. You can simply weave the herbs into a wreath, and soak the beads in an infusion—just need a thicker cord to absorb more.
I gathered everything necessary from my storeroom, found the right cord. Well, it seemed I had done everything needed. I'd spend the night at home—and check on my dream enclave while I was at it. I hadn't been there in a long time. I hadn't even tried to go there from the snow people's world—who knew what the consequences might be. And in the morning, I'd head back to the settlement. It was time to finally deal with this mysterious killer.
