She didn't notice her mistake, and I'm really glad for it; I say quickly:
– Why?
– They sound.
Oh, that's what it is… The sound of wind and splashing of water coming from the paintings wasn't an illusion.
– The new art is being born, – I say.
– It was born long time ago and not only one new art. We just don't understand yet that this is an art. When the cave people were drawing deer on the walls it wasn't instantly recognized as an art either.
– Well, in this case all Deeptown is a work of art.
– Sure. Not all of it but some places sure are. Come here.
Vika grabs my hand without ceremonies and drags me to the window.
– Look.
Now I see, Vika was painting from nature… but do such mountains really exist? The central peak – hardly. It is at least ten kilometers high, it breaks out of the mountains chain as a proud rebel. The clouds circle its crest, unable to cover it. The mountain looks like cut into layers – the dark green of the forests, the light green of alpine meadows, the snowy ring and the gray lifeless granite of the peak itself.
The lake is spread out between the mountain and our hut which stands on considerable height too. The lake is not too big but is perfectly round, I'd say – looking drawn if it wasn't so alive. The water is dark blue, heavy, on the point of freezing.
I stay silent.
– Don't you fear it's just an entourage for whimsical customers? – asks Vika.
– Yeah right… They'll manage without it.
We look at the mountains.
– Did it take you long to draw that? – I ask quietly.
– Two years, – says Vika carelessly.
I nod. One could spend even more time on this. These are not standard beauties outside the window being sold on every corner. It seems to me that even if I take a very strong binoculars I'll not have to imagine anything, the picture is done completely, full volume.
– I want to descend there, – says Vika looking at the lake.
I silently nod in agreement.
– It's scary though, the path is too hard, – Vika sighs, – If you tie the rope to the window it's easy to get out there. But the landslide happened on the North slope half a year ago and it's most likely that the path is blocked.
I turn and look into her eyes. No, she doesn't joke or laugh.
– You want to say that all this is alive? – I ask, – You can enter there, climb the mountain, swim in the lake?
– The water is freezing, you'll catch cold.
– And this all lives? The snow is falling, avalanches and storms happen?
Vika nods.
– A separate server is needed to support such space!
– Two servers. One is completely full, the other one also supports the whole 'institution'.
I swallow the cold air and ask:
– So… why do you work here then? Any company would hire you as a spatial designer, just let them look into this window!
– I have my own reasons, – says Vika in a slightly raised tone and I understand that the question was inappropriate.
The freedom for everybody and in everything.
Who knows, maybe she likes to be a virtual prostitute?
– Thanks, – I say.
Vika frowns in puzzlement.
– Thanks for letting me to see it, – I explain, – You don't bring just anyone here, right?
– No. But will you show me your paintings? – she asks with a smile and I start. – You said you can't think out the names. It means, you had to do it before.
Uh-oh… My fault too and like Vika I haven't noticed that.
– I'm not drawing for a long time, – I confess, – It so happened… Maybe for good, I can't do anything like this anyway.
She doesn't even try to argue politely, she knows what she is worth.
– You know, I wanted to invite you to the restaurant, – I say, – If you want…
– No.
I feel myself spat all over. For some reason I was sure that Vika will accept, that she'll like "Three Piglets", that we'll stand above the mountain stream; even if it wasn't me who created the landscape I love it anyway…
– I understand, – I say.
– No, you don't. It's not because of the customers, it's a quiet hour now anyway and the girls can work for me. I want to invite you myself, to our restaurant.
I can't understand but accept. Vika examines me critically and straightens the collar of my shirt.
– Good enough, – she decides, – Let's go.
– Is it far?
Vika just smiles and grabs the small leather purse from the table. We enter the corridor and I notice that the doors don't squeak in curiosity anymore. We walk hand in hand, with decorum, like well-behaving kids on a walk. The corridor ends with winding stairs, I count 7 turns until the heavy velvet curtains block our way. For a second I think that the space is 'turned inside out' here and now we'll exit into the lobby on the first floor.
– Don't be surprised by anything, – says Vika and steps forward.
I follow her being absolutely sure that I'll be able to do it.
We exit to the sea shore.
The sunshine colors the sky in orange and gold. The sea breathes tiredly, caressing the shore. The sand under our feet is black, the entire beach is coal black. I know that such beaches exist, I never thought it's so beautiful.
White tables under umbrellas are standing on the shore, some people sitting by them. All are alive, not program fakes, I feel it instantly. Most of them are girls except two muscular guys by the table closest to the water and also a lean guy in blinders by the bar.
– This is our recreation area, – whispers Vika, – Let's go.
We sit by the empty table, Vika turns to me:
– It's self service here. Go to the bar, bring me some champaign.
I walk over sticking in the sand. Three men and twenty women watch me. Everything looks extremely strange, as if a terrible typhoon had swept along the shoreline blowing away hotels and houses but leaving only this part of an open restaurant. The impression is enhanced by the door through which we have entered – it stands in the sand lonesomely.
– Hi there, – says the guy by the bar quickly and shoves me his hand.
I shake it automatically.
– Vika prefers dry champaign, – says the guy, – But don't take the French one, take Abrau-Durso, it should be somewhere to the left under the bar… Are you here for the first time? I never saw you before. A quiet day today, all girls are here. Now they'll have a topic to discuss…
He chatters with the energy of Robinson who have met Friday for the first time. He has a very vivid face, a couple of teeth are missing.
– Gee, I like you, – says the guy, scratching his stomach, sunburned skin peeling off, – Hell, I really like you! Hee-hee… scary, huh? No, I'm not working here… well, I do but not like this… be careful not to be suddenly liked by those two by the water!
I start feeling dizzy already, I squeeze out a pathetic smile, take a bottle of brut from the ice filled bucket and a couple of high wine-glasses.
– Here, look… I was tanning too much yesterday! – says the guy in the meantime, tearing off a long piece of peeling skin. – I had a bet with the girls that I'll be sunburned, they didn't want to believe me. They come this morning – and I'm really burned!
He pushes the pitiful remains of his hide under my nose.
– Cool, huh? Worked like hell all night making tan simulation. I should try to offer it to somebody, they'll really grab it from me together with my hands… but I won't give my hands to them!
I nod hastily and run away with my trophies. Vika waits for me choking the laughter.
– Who is that? – I ask lowering myself on the chair. The soft whisper of waves by the shore seems to be the greatest bless.