I.N.F.E.R.N.O.: HELL STARTS ON EARTH
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It was a long gaze, but a mysterious stranger turned his head and rushed to imperceptible snow ball. It was a girl, just a kid. She seemed to be about six years old, looked pale and small. Scott lifted a young creature from the ground with his immense hands. The girl suddenly came to her senses and stared at the enemy or saviour with the pure blue eyes of hers.
Barely looking at him, hardly audible, almost in a whisper she abruptly said:
– Who are you?
– Don’t be afraid, everything is well, – he said as gently as possible. – Where is your home?
The face of the child changed, disfigured with horror, as if she recalled the image of a terrible dream. Small snow-white hands grasped the hem of the cloak on his chest, and weakened, driven by the fear of a confused voice declared:
Please, save yourself! They will come again! I am the only one left. They will come back! And after a pause, she exclaimed: Brother!
After that she burst into tears, nestling up to Renter like a drowning man catches at straws.
Scott Renter felt embarrassed, weasel was alien and forgotten because he hadn’t seen it for many years. The cry of a child echoes dissipated in the bottomless void in his soul, scorched with suffering.
«Darkness how long will you thicken in the world!» he thought in a fit of temper. And looking at the old, destroyed village, he said loudly:
– Child, don't worry, I'll never leave you. From now on I'll always be with you! Nothing will dare to darken your face.
And to the surprise of the girl tears started to fall from his eyes. The child stopped crying, stretched her hands to his face, as she knew now, the face of her Savior, not of the blighter. She took off his glasses, but was not frightened with animal sight, radiating goodness and reflecting
the suffering. Though she withdrew her hand, then she held a hand to his cheek. It got warm in his torn soul. Weeping ended; Scott looked into the clear eyes of the girl and with a smile asked:
– What's your name, heavenly creature?
– Iona – she answered briefly, sounding like a bell.
– You're quite cold. Iona, where's your home?
– It’s near…
The former settlement was enclosed with the low wooden fence, mostly
fallen. Wooden huts were standing along the dusty trail.
The village was dead. Scott Renter watched utter wretchedness, felt the
stinking spirit of desecration, which only he could recognize. They stepped onto the narrow road.
Here it is! – Iona pointed to a simple log cabin standing out against a background of half-destroyed buildings.
– It’s beautiful, – said Scott unexpectedly for him.
– Yes, dad was a carpenter… – she said with a pause and wept bitterly. – Don't cry, Jonah, please. From now on everything will be fine. Logging on the porch decorated with cut-outs, with ornate shaped
railing, the wanderer crossed the threshold and bent down to enter the empty doorway. Embossed door, like everything else was lying on the floor. Frowning, Scott Renter asked with a deep sigh:
– Iona, which way?
– I live in the upper room.
And heading up the winding stairs they were on the second floor,
which was, in fact, the attic, masterfully redesigned into three small rooms: a Parent’s, located all over the left side, and two children's rooms on the right side, divided by an additional wall partition. However, everything was nice and looked comfortable.
Scott lowered the girl to the floor. She was afraid to be left alone and pleadingly declared:
– Please, stay with me! I'm afraid you will disappear and I will die! – I'm not leaving you! Show me the way!
In amazement the child gave a glance at him and said:
– You are so huge!
– Nothing to worry about. Where you can’t get in full growth, get bent. – And he knelt down and followed her.
Soon Iona changed her clothes. Nestled in a warm white blanket she fell asleep, clutching the hand of the man who saved her. Freeing his mighty hand from the feeble hands of the girl Scott silently left the room. He went down and looked around. Noticing a square piece of wood, he approached it, knelt down and gently took the subject in his hand. He turned it and was frightened: huge brown eyes strictly and sympathetically looked at him. The trembling came upon him. The tension of facial muscles made cheekbones visible. It took his breath away; his hands started trembling and pain pierced his heart. He was holding an icon in his hands.
Regal Divine Countenance was facing him. Jesus Christ was neither striking lightning, nor withering anger at him; he looked at him with mercy, waiting for repentance, folding his fingers for blessings. Christ was suffering as the true God unfathomable in love, loving and righteous, one and right God.
It was hard to keep all-embracing space and world. Coming to his senses at last, Scott Renter stood up and sedately but hardly pacing, went to the red corner, put the icon in its proper place and moved a step away. Then with a great effort he made a sign of a cross.
The sun was gradually drooping. Smoke wafted from gray brick chimney.
There was a bundle of firewood near the hearth; the fire crackled, water in the hanging pot was boiling, emitting rich flavor. The broth was ready. Ion, wearing a woolen scarf over a warm sweater, sat on the bench and enthusiastically watched Wanderer who had removed wide in the neck and tapering to the bottom pan of grayish tint from the copper hook, put it on a round stand on the table and was pouring a rich soup with a piece of meat on the bone into a wooden bowl.
Belly-pinched, Iona swallowed, burning, delicious broth. Scott Renter, stared at the child, and the two feelings simultaneously existed in him: the joy hidden in the corners of his lips and the bitterness of regret, looking out of the corners of his eyes like small tears.
Suddenly the child stopped eating and stood up, turned towards the red corner, and looked upon the face of the Savior, prayed:
– Lord, forgive us! Sir, say grace – she said, referring to Wanderer.
– I… I don't know, you say it…, I'll listen. – Scott replied in confusion. – Our Father, who art in heaven – Iona prayed fervently –