College of Sodom and Gomorrah English translation

                1. Tails and trunks

    A huge new running advertisement on a tall building facing the main street caught the eye:

   -- The company "Tails and trunks". We opened up. Now especially for you on your island. We implant tails and trunks. Any size. Suitable for all genders. Variations with controlled chips and adjustable lengths are possible. Tattoos and implants can be added. Affordable prices. Grants and discounts are available. Free of charge for people under the age of 16. Hurry up to us.
This was followed by a bright moving picture of people dancing in a circle, as if they had come out of a Matisse painting. Only each had a soft fluffy tail and a curving proboscis growing from the nose with small reddish suckers. They held each other not only by hands. The tail of the one in front intertwined with the trunk of the one preceding.

   Among the passers-by gawking at the advertisment, let us pay attention to three cyclists (three young heroes of our story), who stopped to read it. They were Dawn King, a girl of about 16 years old, a boy Lot Schmitz, and Assol Gren, a girl one year younger than her friends were. Dawn translates as Zarya in Russian, and Lot, whose mother was Russian, and who spoke a little Russian, often called the girl Zarya, or Zarinka. Recently, Lot had clearly begun to feel that the relationship of childhood friendship, which had long linked this trio, was beginning to show signs of more adult, new and exciting sensations. The characters of Assol and Dawn were very different, embodying different types of femininity, both mysterious in their own way, and so fascinating and attractive to Lot. Assol was a dreamy, usually laconic girl, filled with some deep, very individual, inner world, which was vaguely felt behind her usually restrained statements. Zarya was a self-confident beauty of athletic build, who was sharp-tongued and who knew the value of both her appearance and her many talents.
The three friends were heading to the college, where everyone studied, and with which both their own lives and the lives of their families were closely connected. Assol's father, Lon Gren, was the director of the College, and as of the last year, the Mayor of the city. Lot's mother, Helen Schmitz, taught at the Department of Linguistics and Literature. His German father died a long time ago. Dawn's parents, namely Parent 1 Bee King, Parent 2 Cee King and Parent 3 Dee King, were active participants in the Parent Council. In addition, Cee and Dee King were psychologists. They taught a variety of classes for children and young adults of all ages. Supported by grants for modern educational models, they, in particular, successfully implemented a game with human figures in children's lessons, in which it was easy to rearrange parts of male and female organs, as well as to add elements of flora and fauna (cute horns on the head or rose petals near the chest) or robotic control elements. "Education - through games and freedom of creativity" – was a popular slogan that Cee and Dee liked to repeat. It turned out to be an exciting game where children trained in creating a new perfect human.

    Our whole story took place on a small island in the Mediterranean Sea. The island was divided into two parts by a rather narrow isthmus. The eastern side, gently sloping and wooded, was covered with groves and clearings, in which the houses of the main inhabitants of the island, larger and smaller, separate and built in rows, were located in different poses and combinations. On the other, business part of the island, which was bumpy and rocky, there was the Downtown, that is, the main offices, shops, entertainment centres, a port, a college and,  a relatively recently rebuilt biological laboratory of the North Atlantic Alliance. The laboratory staff conducted classes at the College and attracted students to practice in the laboratory. On the edge of the Lower Town was an extinct volcano, its sharp edge jutting far out into the sea.
Meanwhile, the advertising pictures on the building of "Tails and Trunks" were replaced by a news feed: Cardinal Pavel Maria received a delegation of genders B14--B20 and K2--K4 in the Vatican yesterday. At the official reception, he performed a symbolic washing of the tails of his guests and unequivocally spoke about the need to legalize families with several parents of any gender and permit them to adopt children. "After all, all the children of God have the right to a family," Pavel Maria stressed. Yesterday, at a meeting of the European Parliament, the Chairman of the Commission on Human Rights, recalling the words of one of an American president that the danger of terrorism comes primarily from white men, noted that by now this formula is outdated. He stressed that the danger of terrorism comes now primarily from biological men and women of any race, who at all levels, from kindergartens and educational institutions to parliamentary assemblies of many countries, persistently hinder the development of the legal basis for free sexual self-determination of people, as their most fundamental human right. Biologically allocated sex at birth is a dangerous concept!

   These adverts and news did not make a big impression on the three friends. There was nothing particularly new for them there. They moved forward at a leisurely pace, for it was not far to the college, now walking their bicycles whilst talking with each other.
  -- Today is a significant day for my parents, and for your daddy, Assol, -- remarked Dawn. -– In the morning, the College board and the Parent Council meet representatives of the commission of the International Board of Trustees of the college, who arrived yesterday. Mine even prepared a little surprise for the delegation.
  -- Yes, -- Assol confirmed, --I felt last night that Dad was even a bit nervous.
  -– There is no reason for this, -- Dawn responded. -- He has always been an active director and a firm conductor of all democratic values. Everyone knows that his personal leadership and management of the college is the reason for it becoming a champion for the development of ideas regarding equality, diversity and tolerance. My parents are sure that he will receive a special award today. However, as far as I understand, he does not actively preach transgender operations to his daughter.
  -- Yes, between us, -- Assol said, -- it seems to me that his approach towards transgender operations is similar to that of Winnie the Pooh’s when it comes to honey. Let the pot without honey be given to anyone, but not to me. In the sense that let everyone who wants to experiment with their sexes do so. However, he adores me like a daughter, and is secretly afraid that your parents Cee and Dee will persuade me to change my gender to L34. By the way, I've been thinking to ask already for a long time, what do you think about these operations?
   -- I don’t want to be offensive as my parents are a wonderful positive example, but they are somewhat weird. You know what a great relationship I have with them. They do not interfere with my life at all and do not bother me with stupid lectures on what I should and shouldn’t do, unlike many traditional families. At night, the three of them lock themselves in a room on the second floor, and I hear laughter and the sounds of their scuffling. Lately it's becoming even more fun. They got themselves a male chimpanzee, and, as it seems to me, now the four of them are having fun. However, regarding me, ... Well, you know: I'm the favourite student of the director of the biological laboratory, Professor Silver. He promises to make me a star of biology, the successor of his great work. Silver is the first world leader in genetic and viral engineering. He has repeatedly told us, his students, that he intends, no more and no less, to rid humanity of diseases completely, at the genetic level. He is, of course, a genius, and from the height of his genius looks a little contemptuously at people. He once advised me not to be distracted by transgender exercises. "I myself once led a program for implanting tails and trunks, or horns and hooves, so one can say almost all the leaders of this surgery are my students," he once told me. "But this is entertainment for people without ambitions and talents, and not for those who, like you, are able to take the place of the helmsmen of humanity rushing forward." He also recalled the words of President Donald Trump that it is better to have slot machines than to play them, and said that this remark was quite suitable for playing with possible sexual transformations. These toys are a great business. It is better to build different versions of genders, than to be an object of such constructions.
  -— Well, in fact, the same approach as my father's, -- Assol responded.
They were already approaching the college.
   -— Yes, your parents have much to worry about today, -- Lot put in. -- But apparently nothing special is expected for us, the students. Today is like yesterday. However, what is that?
The eyes of many passers-by around them turned somewhere up, to the far western edge of the island. Shouts of "Look, look" were heard from all sides! Over the volcano crater, so familiar to them, covered with dense grass and small bushes, a slender stream of smoke began to rise slowly upwards.
  --That's so great, -- Lot said. — How many years have I lived here, but I have never seen such a thing. Yes, we climbed it so many times and wandered around the top. Everyone knew that our volcano had long since died out. Now look at it! What a majestic sight! I just dared to say that today was going to be a very ordinary day.
  -- Do you think the start of the volcano’s awakening is dangerous? -- Assol asked.

  --If something serious was expected, it would certainly have been known in advance, -- said Dawn. -- I remember they said that the last activity was seen about 60 years ago. Back then, it puffed for a week before calming down again. This is just a salute in honour of the reception of the delegation of trustees.   -- Well, we have arrived. See you at recess, friends.

   Dawn quickly sped away, and Assol and Lot still stood together. The wisp of smoke in the distance became thicker. The wind carried a slight noise of bubbling gas.
  -- What is he up to, our dear smoker? -- Assol said. – I don't like it. It makes me nervous. In general, you know, Lo, some incomprehensible premonitions have been tormenting me lately.

  -- Those must be premonitions of future joys. You'll be 16 soon. What “scarlet sails” are waiting for you?

  -- Yes, how strange that my father caught the eye of the story Scarlet Sails, when he and my mother were waiting patiently for my birth. He liked so much the image of a motherless girl living in a tiny village by the sea, with her poor disabled sailor father. She would wait for her sixteenth birthday when, according to a passer-by storyteller she had met during her childhood, a prince would come for her on a ship with scarlet sails. Therefore, my father named me after this girl.

  -- My mother used to read me this good fairy tale as a child. However, everything is different here. A prosperous life, a warm sea, and good friends. I don't know, which scarlet sails fate may prepare for you? What new and wonderful event might occur? Everything in the future is bright, serene and joyful.

  -- That's what it is, that everything is too calm and joyful. What have we done to deserve this? But come on, lessons are about to start.   

                2. College of Sodom and Gomorrah

At the solemn morning meeting in the spacious assembly hall of the college, the mood was festive. College activists in rainbow outfits greeted distinguished guests. As the guests took their seats, some light music began to sound. Bee and Cee King were smiling happily. About a dozen proboscis tentacles hung from under their noses and from their chins, giving their faces a resemblance to Davy Jones from Pirates of the Caribbean. The proboscis automatically swayed to the beat of the music. They were dressed in miniskirts and wide multi-coloured jackets with rainbow ties. One had his hair gathered into short pigtails, and the other had it sticking up in a punk style. Dee King's face was covered with intricate multi-coloured tattoos, in his ears, around his nose, above his eyebrows and on his chin. He was wearing a long multi-coloured raincoat, reminiscent of Joseph's costume, usually shown in a Lloyd Weber musical.  Dee was sitting in an embrace with a young chimpanzee, dressed in shorts, on whose face there were already several metal studs. The chimpanzee was twisting his head and smacking his slobbery mouth. The whole society really embodied true diversity. Their appearance clearly spoke without words: - Everything is included and accepted so that no one is left offended.  Against the general background, the director, Lon Gren, neatly trimmed and combed, was dressed in an immaculate black tailcoat, resembling a black crow that was strangely entangled in a flock of parrots.   

    After the usual greetings, the head of the delegation and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Di Long said:

   -- We have come to celebrate together the outstanding achievements of your entire collective. In particular, under the active leadership of the director, you have achieved convincing success in promoting the ideas of equality, tolerance and diversity. With a sense of deep satisfaction, I distinguish among those present a significant percentage of representatives of the genders B, K, L, and other mixed variants, which, unfortunately still underrepresented in many educational institutions. The significant opening of the company "Tails and Trunks" in your city was timed to coincide with today, and I am sure they will have enough work here.  Taking into account your achievements, the Board of Trustees has decided to adopt a new honorary name for the college. The impressive improvement in the quality of education and the level of work with students under the leadership of Lon Gren has already been noted by the fact that the faceless name of the Engineering College has recently been replaced by the more impressive name of the Academy of Knowledge and Arts. However, the Board of Trustees felt it was timely to reflect the current trends in the development of your college towards increased attention to the principles of equality, diversity and inclusiveness.   From now on, it will be called the "College of Sodom and Gomorrah", in honour of the first cities in history that openly professed the principles of equality and diversity of the sexes and their relationships. The fact that these cities were slandered and punished, according to legend, by an authoritarian God, the defender of conservative monotony, makes these cities even more  worthy of being the banner of complete freedom of modern progressive democracy, of liberation  from all prejudices associated with traditional biological sexes.  We also have an honourable and extremely pleasant duty to present certificates for excellent work to your director and other activists.

    The presentation of diplomas was held to loud applause. Afterwards the new beautiful plaque "College of Sodom and Gomorrah" was solemnly handed over to the director. After a brief thank-you speech by Lon Gren, Dee King took the floor. Stepping forward, and holding the chimpanzee's paw with his right hand, and pressing the newly received award certificate to his chest with his right, Dee said:

    -- Dear guests and trustees of the college. On behalf of the Parents' Council, let me thank you once again for the honour you have given us by visiting and appreciating our efforts in supporting tolerance, diversity and inclusiveness. Today we want to propose a new step in this direction. We have a new family member," and he hugged the chimpanzee. We have already given him the name E King and offer to register him as the fourth parent for our beloved daughter Dawn King. Our decision was strengthened by Cardinal Paul Maria's heartfelt words yesterday that all children of God have the right to have a family. We are sure that you will enthusiastically support our initiative.

     Embarrassment was expressed on the faces of the members of the delegation. They looked at each other in silence for a minute. Apparently, such an innovation was a surprise even for them. Finally, Di Long regained control of himself and said in an indecisive tone:

   -- Well, this is really a downright revolutionary initiative. Well, of course, here it is necessary to take into account the opinion of your daughter. If she doesn't mind, then yes, why not.

   -- We are sure that our Dawn will not mind anything. She has a great relationship with E. They often play and walk together. She had almost taught him how to ride a bike.         

   --Then of course, of course, -- Di Long concluded, although there was no conviction in his voice, and he looked with obvious concern at the questioning and puzzled faces of his colleagues. --However, let us move on to the next item on our agenda.
               
                3. Alpha-Omega Gender

   -- As you may have heard, -- Di Long continued, clearing his throat slightly, -- one of the world's central companies for medical engineering, artificial intelligence and neural pulse decoding, in collaboration with cognitive science specialists working on new digital models of education, has been conducting for many years a research on early recognition of students' talents.  They recorded brain neuron emissions aiming at the successful selection of individual training programs already at early stages. Now this company, with which we have always worked closely, has prepared amazing equipment that is able to guess the tendencies of adolescents to change, well, or correct, gender directly from special encephalograms of the brain. Currently, despite the active work of psychologists at the college, a conscious choice of gender by the students remains a rare event. We have therefore decided to help you in your activities and brought you a group of specialists and all the necessary equipment. The equipment is very expensive, and the employees have a busy schedule. We hardly managed to agree with the company to send a group for one day. Therefore, we propose to cancel one of the lessons at the college to enable us to test a number of students. I was just looking at the schedule.  In 20 minutes, there is a lesson on sexual culture in Class 4A. Here it will be just on the topic. Of course, the equipment only suggests trends, and the decision to perform the operation cannot be made without the student's personal consent.   

 "Assol," Lon Gren's heart skipped a beat, but Long's last words extinguished the excitement that had arisen.

Arriving at Class 4A, Di Long kindly greeted the youth. Then he said:
 
-- I am glad to inform you, my young friends, that you are extremely lucky. We managed to bring to you specialists with a unique new technology aimed at early detection of development trends. In simple terms, this technology allows you to see from the radiation of brain neurons – even before you yourself could clearly realise it -- what your soul is striving for, what kind of happiness it is looking for, what ambitions it lives with. That is, we can help you comprehend your still unconscious dreams.  Once we have comprehended them, we can do a lot to implement them sooner. Unfortunately, we do not have much time, so we will only be able to work with a few students.
   Di Long looked at the young faces around him, searching for the most suitable candidates for his purposes, and finally turned to Assol:
 
 -- Here you are, a beautiful young lady, -- you have such a strong faith in life, in your bright future, and even the expectation of some miracle. Let us start with you, if you don't mind.

  Assol smiled shyly in response.

   --Well, it's fine that you don't mind, -- Di Long said quickly, --please, go with the doctor. We installed the devices in the college medical centre at the end of the corridor.  Pulse reading should take no more than 15 minutes.

    As soon as they got out, Di Long's cell phone rang. After listening to a rather long message and finally taking the receiver away from his ear, Di Long spoke:

   -- I have been given some rather unpleasant news here, which I have to tell you. You know how much attention is paid by many world scientists to the latest fundamental developments of transgender engineering on the new universal gender Alpha-Omega. Scientists have managed to combine almost all the capabilities of both basic sexes in one body. A new person will be able to become both a father and a mother at the same time. Complete self-sufficiency! This means complete freedom and independence! Tempting prospects for the development of a new human and a new type of family are opening up. This is a stunning breakthrough in the science of man. So, on the Greek island next to you, the construction of a new biological laboratory was recently started, one of the priorities of which was the development of the Alpha-Omega project. Today there, on the main square in front of the laboratory building, the opening of a 2-meter stone sculpture of a human Alpha-Omega, as a symbol of the seven-mile steps of world transgender engineering, was planned. Now I have received a message about an outrageous incident that took place there. It was a real and well-planned vandalism!  Organized by a network of phone calls, and maybe by other means, an angry crowd of residents literally attacked the organizers of the rally in honour of the monument's opening. The magnificent two-meter Alpha Omega was thrown off the pedestal and smashed to pieces. The vandals did not limit themselves to this, but attacked the buildings of the future biological laboratory and smashed everything to smithereens. The guards who tried to control the crowd were pelted with stones, and several were seriously wounded. Now, however, reinforced police units have arrived, dispersed the crowd, and an investigation has begun. Very tough measures are supposed to be taken. It is finally necessary to say a firm "no" to terrorist acts organized by arrogant adherents of the biological sex. Soon Interpol will arrive here to take firm measures to ensure protection from possible criminal guests.  Mr. Mayor, unfortunately, I have to ask you to go to the police headquarters immediately. Although we don't have much time left, I'm still certain that we will be able to wait for your return before leaving. 

   -- But how do I find out about my daughter's test results?  Lon Gren asked with some concern.
 
   -- Well, we will inform you, of course, of Assol's results.   

     Shortly after Lon left, the doctor and Assol returned. Both were smiling at some joke that the doctor was cheerfully telling as they walked down the corridor.

    --Well, I see, my dear, -- Di Long said, -- that you were satisfied with your new experience. How could it be otherwise? Think about your cherished desires and having a firm conviction that there is someone to help not only to comprehend them, but also to implement them. Won't it cheer you up?
 
   Then he offered to conduct testing on two other students, and then discuss all the results in their entirety, but his mobile rang again. After a short conversation, he apologized to those present that an extremely important issue required his immediate attention, but it would take no more than five minutes. He asked everyone to wait and together with the chief doctor went to the window, where no one could hear him. 
 
  -- Well, what a day it is today! – He spoke softly. -- I am informed that seismic stations, which have been conducting close observations over the island since morning, have recently recorded quite strong radiation levels. The volcano is being activated. Unfortunately, the situation may become critical, so we will have to organize an evacuation. While this is still not fully confirmed, my correspondent believes, the official announcement will be made in 20-30 minutes, and you know what will start right then. We don't have time for a full-fledged experiment.

   -- But you understand, -- the doctor replied, -- we can't go back without results. As you remember, for reasons beyond our control, our last trip was a complete failure. We have a huge business on our hands. The majority shareholders will not forgive us for a second fiasco.

   -- What do you suggest, Doctor?

   -- We'll have to postpone further testing. However, this girl’s case must be brought to the end by all means. The operation must begin immediately, before the evacuation starts. In the end, the turmoil that will then begin is only to our advantage. The girl is easily hypnotized. I checked. 

     Di Long nodded, and returning to those waiting for him, spoke:

   -- Dear colleagues and employees. To our great regret, urgent matters force us to shorten our visit. Therefore, we will not be able to fulfil the cherished desires of other students today, but we will try to do what we can for this charming girl, since we have already started working with her. I will ask the members of the Parents' Council to come with us to the office for the reception of delegations, which the directorate has kindly placed at our disposal, for a brief discussion of our plans. I hope to meet the rest of my colleagues in half an hour at a restaurant for lunch.      

    When Dee Long, the doctor, Assol, Bee and Cee King and several other members of the delegation and the Parent Council were in the office behind closed doors, Dee Long invited Assol to sit in an easy chair in the centre, and when everyone else sat down, he said:

  -- Assol, I congratulate you. Our equipment has convincingly revealed your indispensable desire to change your biological sex. Although we are in a hurry, we are happy to fulfil your cherished dream immediately. We are confident in the development of our artificial intelligence technologies, so there can be no doubt about it. Yes, and C. and D. Kings confirmed that you discussed this possibility with them with interest in psychology classes, so such a test result would not be a surprise at all for them.  However, before realizing your dream, we, of course, need you yourself, in the presence of witnesses, to confirm this desire.

  Assol looked at Di Long with the deepest surprise and fear, and then looked around, looking for her father. He was not there. She almost opened her mouth to dismiss abruptly all the testing judgments as utter stupidity. Suddenly she caught the attentive gaze of the doctor, who happened to be sitting on a chair next to her. With an alien will, his gaze penetrated deep into the sub cortex of her brain and paralyzed her thoughts and feelings. She sighed, yawned slightly, and then, almost unconsciously, but clearly, she confessed:

  -- Yes, that's right, I dream of having a universal Alpha-Omega gender.

   Di Long applauded, and everyone joined in.

  --Well, I told you, -- he exclaimed, -- our technology is absolutely reliable.  Bravo to our outstanding scientists! Let us wish success to Assol in her new exciting life!  Doctor, you can get to work right away.

     About 15 minutes later, Assol was already lying on the operating table, half-asleep from the anaesthesia. The last injection completely turned off her consciousness, and when the long metal needles pierced her elastic young body from several sides, she no longer felt anything.               

                4. Abraham's Messengers

Lon stayed at the police station for more than an hour. In the presence of key members of the public and the island's police, the INTERPOL captain briefly outlined the situation, indicating that according to some reports, the attackers could seek refuge here, and called for universal vigilance.

  -- In your town, almost everyone knows everyone, -- he noted. -- If you note anything suspicious, or any dubious personalities, then please call my personal number right away.

  However, it was evident from the faces of those gathered that everyone was already thinking about a possible evacuation (even before its official announcement, menacing rumours began to spread quickly among residents), and additional problems with finding some rioters from another island did not seriously affect anyone. Finally, after dismissing everyone and being left alone with Lon, the captain said to him:

  -- Mr. Mayor, I have additional considerations that, for various reasons, I decided not to make public. According to our data, the criminals we are looking for may be Orthodox monks. They stayed two days before the riot with the abbot of the monastery, opposite which the Alpha-Omega monument and laboratory were being built, and, according to many obtained testimonies, it was they who held in their hands all the threads of preparation and organization of the riots. It is natural to assume that, once they are here, they will seek shelter in Christian houses, and, first of all, Orthodox ones. Could you possibly remember if there are any committed adherents of the Orthodox faith in your city?

  Lon thought about it. He immediately thought of Helen Schmitz from the Department of Linguistics. He treated her with great respect and sympathy. Their rare conversations and small arguments testified to a deep mind. There was genuine kindness in her looks. It seemed to him that her sometimes witty arguments came from some deep inner source, hidden from prying eyes. He knew that she was Orthodox. Could she really be harbouring terrorists?  However, is the word terrorists appropriate? Some worm of doubt about the fidelity of his life path and those principles that he so persistently defended, has sometimes begun to suck his soul of late. How he suddenly felt internally scared for Assol today when they spoke about new transgender engineering technologies brought to the island. These people there did not want a monument to this new monster (he caught himself thinking that for the first time this epithet suddenly popped up in his head in such a context). Is it so difficult to understand the feelings of those people?

   The police captain who was watching him could not know what he was thinking about, but the very concentrated thoughtfulness suggested that there was intense work going on in Lon's head, and this work was connected with the processing of important information. He said:

  -- You understand, Mr. Mayor, how serious the fight against terrorists is. Imagine what criminals can do, especially now, in the general turmoil of evacuation. You have a family here, too.

  -- Yes, -- Lon answered him mentally–- Now is not the time to delve into the subtleties. -– I have a family. It is necessary to think about evacuation, and not about the rights of terrorists. -- Then he said:

  -- It just came to my mind that a certain Helen Schmitz teaches at our college. She is Russian Orthodox. I wouldn't have thought for anything, though, that she was harbouring terrorists. Nevertheless, you can go to her just in case.  She has a day off today.      

     Shortly after this conversation, a police car pulled up to the Schmitz house, which stood slightly off the road, behind a small lawn and a couple of oak trees, which covered most of the house with their dense foliage. Three uniformed police officers rang the doorbell. The door did not open right away; they even had to ring twice. When it opened, a woman of about forty was standing on the threshold. It was Helen Schmitz. Her face was agitated; there was clearly fright in it.

  --Excuse me, police, -- the sergeant said impressively, entering the house. There was a spacious kitchen behind a small corridor and a jug of wine and a plate of sliced bread on the table. --You have guests? -- the sergeant inquired.

  --What guests, Sergeant? -- Helen chattered. -- All residents are in a panic. You came specifically to warn about the impending evacuation, didn't you? Yes, we already know everything. That's when I started packing my things, --and she waved her hand vaguely inside the house. – Yes, my son hasn't returned from college yet. I do not know what to do, at least run and look for him! What is going on, Sergeant? Is it true that the whole island will be flooded with lava?
 
  -- Is it you who drinks wine alone out of fear? --The sergeant asked in an uncertain, either sympathetic or sarcastic tone.
 
  -- Yes, of course. You know, it's very soothing during a difficult moment. It is smoking, smoking! As soon as I heard about all these horrors, I didn't know where to start. Maybe you'll have a drink, too. The wine is excellent, and I imagine you have so much work now!
 
  --We are looking for three suspects in connection with some serious crimes. The criminals are presumably dressed in monastic attire, and, according to our data, could have hidden in your house.
 
 --What are you saying, what a horror -– the Helen spoken again, -- I just did not have enough of that yet. Soon everything will burn down, and then there are murderers hiding on the island. How did you allow such a thing, Sergeant?
 
 -- Allow me, Mrs. Schmitz, to look at all the rooms.
 
 -- Well, of course, go! Search, please, catch these monsters! Protect my son and me.
 
    She was very convincing. Quickly running through the rooms and looking into the wall cabinets, the police apologized and began to say goodbye.
 
  -- What, are you leaving now? You scared me to death and then leave me alone!
 
  -- If someone else shows up, call immediately, -- said the sergeant, -- Here is my direct phone number. We'll be right back.

   With that, they left. When the car drove away, she pushed aside the floorboard that opened the entrance to the basement and whispered. - That's it, they left, Thank God. Get out. Wait, though.

    A slight new noise of wheels on the street made her alert. However, when she looked out the window, she saw Lot.

  -- Ah, it's you at last. Come in, son.

  --Were the police here? -- Are they looking for terrorists here?!

  --And it's right that they searched, but they didn't find them, -- she said laughing. At this time, two men in black robes slowly crawled out from under the floor and greeted Lot. The mother told him:

  -- These are Father Michael and Father Gabriel, messengers of Uncle Abraham, the abbot of the monastery on the neighbouring island. You probably remember him. We once stayed there. He provided them with an excellent fast boat with sails and a motor so that we could get away from here as quickly as possible.  Of course, they are not terrorists at all. They only showed indignation against the installation of the Alpha-Omega statue in front of the Orthodox monastery.

  --If you could only see that monster! -- said Father Michael. -- Almost the Baphomet of the Templars! After all, this idea of the union of the sexes, and it would be better to say the whole bouquet of human sins in a single universal non-human with a half-animal muzzle, passed through many generations of occult mystics. Now this wild idea has been given real life! They deliberately put this abomination in front of the gates of the monastery, as if to say: “Hide with your faith behind your walls. And outside the walls, the world will be ruled by nonhumans!”   

   --And your mother is a born actor-- he then turned to Lot with a joking smile, and added again seriously, -- Thank you, Sister Elena, for the hospitable shelter and for the courage.    

   --Well, that is in the past now, -- she replied. -- We need to get ready, Lo. The College of Sodom and Gomorrah will probably be burned to the ground. Seemingly, our whole island will be destroyed together with it. At least the western part. When the city burns down, there will be nothing left for us to do here. So get ready.

   -- No, Mom. I just stopped by to see how you were. My friends stayed there. I can't just leave them.

   --Friends, -- the mother smiled. - You mean Dawn and Assol. But they have their own families, Lo.

  -- Mom, I have to find out what's wrong with them.

  --Sister Elena, don't hold him, -- the monk's calm voice rang out. – He has to go. Go, Lot. We'll be waiting. But hurry up. The island doesn't have long to live. A thunderstorm will begin by nightfall, but the underground fire will glow stronger than lightning.

    As if to confirm his words, the earth was sinking under their feet, which has happened more than once on this ill-fated day. Lot waved his hand at them and ran out the door.

                5. The one-legged pirate and the living Death

Dawn had a day of practice in the lab, and after two general lessons, she rushed to it. She found Professor Silver in the main hall. He had recently broken his leg and was now hobbling around in a cast, leaning on a crutch. This, however, did not in any way moderate his exuberant energy. The atmosphere in the laboratory was unusual. Employees were scurrying around with some boxes, and Silver cheerfully gave orders.

    His students and staff adored Silver. With his unique memory and erudition, he not only enchanted them with lectures and experiments in biology. Sometimes he carried them away with tempting stories about world history, literature, and politics. His speeches breathed brightness and originality. He liked to call himself the new Prometheus and encouraged employees to address him with that name, or briefly Prom, rather than "the boring faceless name given to me at birth."

   --Prometheus brought fire to people, that is, a means of protection from visible enemies: animals, cold and hunger, -- he once said. -- And I bring people a means of protection from invisible enemies: viruses and microbes.  Genetic viral engineering will allow people to get rid of diseases and other infirmities of the body. Freed from bodily sores, humanity will unite; there will be no national borders, but only a universal unstoppable desire to achieve infinitely expandable boundaries of knowledge. We will reach a degree of social development close to that predicted in the magnificent novel by the Russian science fiction writer Ivan Efremov "The Andromeda Nebula". 

    Seeing Dawn, Prometheus immediately approached her:

   -- It's good that you came. Don't be surprised by the fuss around. You see, we're in big trouble. As you see, our old man puffs a lot. There is a danger of a serious eruption. This is still unverified data. However, if it is going to be confirmed, there will be no time for a full-fledged evacuation of the laboratory. I ordered that only the most valuable items be prepared for transport.  Frightening rumours are crawling through mobile phones; people are no longer up to work. Therefore, there will be no general classes today. I'm asking you and Hans to stay. I hope you can help me complete an important experiment.

     Hans was one of Prometheus Silver's regular assistants. When the three of them were alone, Prometheus said:

  -- Dawn, you know, I've always considered you my most promising student. I even let you in on some secrets that, strictly speaking, I shouldn't have told you until you had the official clearance required for full-fledged work in the laboratory. To whom much is given, a lot will be asked from that. I'm going to make you a biology star, but now I want to ask you to take, so to speak, a live part in the experiment. You've heard about the recent talk about the unknown red death, whose epidemics suddenly broke out in different parts of the globe.  Well, I think not everyone was completely surprised by its appearance, but that is not the point. Based on samples I collected, I have prepared a serum with some inanimate stumps of the virus. It is important for me to see how human blood will react to them, whether it will be able to recognize them. I injected myself with the serum, and the results were very encouraging. However, for control, I need at least one more test subject. I guarantee your safety. Will you agree to help me? If you have to move, then the study will be postponed for a long time, and in order to fight the epidemic more effectively, I would really like to get the results earlier.          

  --Prometheus, -- Dawn said without hesitation. --I believe you and your genius. You have repeatedly told us that a real scientist should conduct experiments on himself before offering them to people. I am ready.
 
 -- Thanks, Dawn. –- I was not wrong about you. Sit in this chair. I'll get everything ready quickly. Hans will assist.

   After a rather long injection that inserted serum into the blood, Dawn felt a deep fatigue pressing down on her.

  --Yes, yes, -- said Prometheus, -- rest now for half an hour. You can even take a little nap.   

   Dawn did indeed doze off, but apparently not for long. Gradually, she began to distinguish the words of the conversation that Prometheus and Hans were having.

   --Hush, Prom, she'll wake up soon, -- Hans was saying.

   -- It doesn't matter anymore. It's done. How was it said by Agatha Christie?  Neither gods nor devils can interfere with the investigation conducted by Hercule Poirot. In the same way, neither gods nor devils can interfere with the research conducted by Professor Prometheus. Even the volcano that has fallen on us for no reason (also to me, a messenger of inevitable fate!), which is going to turn out the contents of its inflamed stomach on us, cannot prevent me.  Everything is foreseen, even natural disasters.

  -- What did you hide from us? What did you really inject into her?

  -- My great invention is the fruit of many sleepless nights of genius. The virus introduced into her has a genetic structure that recognizes ethnic groups. It is very contagious, and almost fatal. However, it is transmitted and perceived only by certain ethnic groups. For the first experience, at least two different peoples were needed. To begin with, I chose Russians and Iranians. The Chinese are still in line.  When they meet with Dawn, they will become infected and further transmit the disease to their fellow compatriots. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to perfect the case. Therefore, some representatives of other ethnic groups will also be able to get infected and die. However, these are small numbers. From the point of view of global statistics, they do not play a role.      

  -- Prom, are you serious? It's too much even for a joke.

  -- No kidding, Hans. I discovered a way to destroy everything superfluous on Earth, without bombs and wars, cleanly and efficiently. Everything that defies democratic Western civilization objectively hinders the purposeful development of humankind, and therefore has no right to life. 

  -- You're crazy, Prom, -- Hans said, his voice cold with horror. – And I am sure that the American population, of which you are a part, will not support you in their majority.

  -- The American people, for the most part, are just as stupid and miserable as all other nations. The stupid majority has always been and will be led by a minority of leaders and true thinkers.

  -- Prom, but you yourself have always admired Russian literature, and Persian poetry. How did it occur to you to destroy these peoples, the bearers of a great culture?

  -- Hans, it's funny for me to talk to you.  When Cortez and a bunch of his thugs first saw from the pass a wonderful view of the sprawling capital of Tenochtitlan, surrounded by the most picturesque gardens, lakes and canals, with temples and pyramids, he was indescribably delighted, you can be sure of that. What did he think next? It will be mine, or I will destroy it. Haha, he wasn't a naive idiot like you. He destroyed almost everything. What was left, he made his own. And when the great Macedonian conquistador destroyed ancient Tyre and Persepolis, did he not appreciate their beauty and greatness? However, we will be more frugal. Don't worry, we will keep all the great achievements of the extinct peoples in the piggy bank of the united humanity. 

  -- But I am sure that no political leaders could give you an order to do such a thing!

  --Of course they couldn't. By giving official sanctions for mass extermination, you can seriously ruin your reputation. The talent of a political leader is to be able to give an indication, a hint, if you want, to what has to be done. This should be understandable to those who have ears to hear. And if a citizen has such ears, as well as a talent and will to fulfil, then it is his obligation to fulfil this task. However, now all the "hints" are extremely transparent. All Western politicians are vying to shout that Russia is a critical threat, it is our old enemy, it is a sponsor of terrorism, etc. Isn't this a clear call that it would be desirable to remove this threat from the horizon somehow? The same concerns Iran or China.
 
  Prometheus spoke with increasing enthusiasm. The thoughts that had been formed inside him for a long time, but not expressed aloud, were now rushing out. There was nothing to hide anymore:
 
 -- A long time ago, I heard a lecture by a Nobel laureate in economics. He said that there is a mathematical result, you see, Hans, a mathematical result called the dictator theorem, that self-consistent management of any system is possible only by a single will. As a successful ruler, he cited the famous Persian king Cyrus. As a result, he concluded that the United States should rule the modern world. He was a thousand times right! Those who irresponsibly rant about a multipolar world are objectively accomplices of chaos. Those national leaders who want to govern their country in the interests of the United States should be supported by all means, and those who dare to govern their people in the interests of their own people should be declared dictators, keepers of deadly weapons dangerous to humanity, etc. Their countries should be plunged into poverty and chaos. Then their peoples will begin to fight for a warm place under our wing. Ancient Rome required slaves and gladiators from subordinate territories. Everything is humane with us. We only use natural resources, attract national talents to the metropolis, and demand unconditional support of our policy on all international platforms.
 
   Hans stared at him, as if fascinated, with his mouth open. Prometheus lit a cigarette, and calmly continued:
 
  -- The science fiction writer Ivan Efremov, who created a remarkably bright utopia of the future in his "Andromeda Nebula", perfectly understood the need to control humanity from a single centre. However, although it turned out very beautifully, it was unrealistic. People cannot be equally noble just like that, on their own internal initiative. That is why the greatest Russian thinker Dostoevsky expressed through the mouth of Ivan Karamazov that if there is no God, then everything is allowed, and therefore society cannot consist of only noble people who dream only of the good of all humankind, like by Efremov. If everything is allowed, then only Alpha-Omegas will remain on Earth instead of people. The grand Inquisitor of the great Dostoevsky is the image of a real great ruler. Everything must be subordinated to a single will. This is how we will build the future. Of course, such construction cannot be the work of flimsy philosophizing intellectuals, like Raskolnikov, a character of this same Dostoevsky, who, as a test of his potential Napoleonic firmness, hacked down two women, and after that was no longer capable of anything but whining and sour. We're not like that. Recall Jack London’s story “The Wolf's Son”. In our blood is the will to power, the determination to win or die.
 
  --Furthermore, -- he continued. – The problem of overpopulation of the planet is obvious to everyone. If people do not learn how to cut it themselves, then wars and natural epidemics will do it anyway. On the other hand, we will do it systematically, pointwise and democratically. Angels of death, like Dawn, will go unrecognized by anyone to the global clearing of the Earth. A kind of new ninja, without swords and daggers.
 
 -- Democratic? -- Hans asked.
 
  -- Everything that is done in the name of our democracy is democratic by definition. The goal justifies the means, Hans. This is the Machiavellian axiom that all outstanding politicians have learned from. And we have a great goal.
   
 At this time, Dawn got up from her chair and said in a voice trembling with excitement:
 
  -- Prom, -- what did you say here? What have you done to me after all?
 
   -- Dawn, you always wanted to be my student and continue my work. That's how it will be.  Listen, my children, he has already addressed both of them.

  –-There's no one in the lab. The eruption will begin soon, and everything will be covered with lava. The evacuation of the island is already underway. I dismissed all employees. However, there is a secret dungeon here. There everything is ready for 3 or 4 people to remain and live for a few months, and there we will be able to continue research. I invite you to join and share my labours. I'm talking mainly to you, Hans. Dawn doesn't have much choice anymore. Stepping out into the world now without me, she will cause the death of many of her friends. Because my serum still needs to be refined, I am not sure yet how many you will bring death to, Dawn. I can't guarantee yet that it will be just your buddy Lot and his Russian mother, and a few of your Iranian friends from the college. The circle of infected can become much wider. Here we will calmly bring the development to perfection.  There are people in power who know about my research and support us. Eventually we will be released from our seclusion. 

  --No, -- Hans shouted, --you are just a maniac, you are a mass murderer, and I'll be damned if I'll take part in your crimes. I'm going right now, you hear, right now, I'm going to tell the police and the journalists about what you're doing here.

   -- Don't do anything stupid, Hans. You have always been an understanding and calm employee. Under my guidance, under the guidance of Prometheus, who brings new fire to the world, a brilliant career awaits you ahead.

  -- You're not Prometheus! You're Silver, John Silver -- a one-legged pirate. Damn you.

  He turned to leave.   

  --Well, you said it, -- Silver muttered. -- To everyone - according to his faith, a pirate is a pirate.

    Grabbing his crutch with his right hand, he threw it at Hans's back, accurately plunging it between the shoulder blades. Hans fell and struggled in painful convulsions.

  --Okay, don't suffer, -- Silver said, and pulling out his pistol, he shot Hans twice in the head. --You're a strange man. You've read Treasure Island. You knew how quarrels with a one-legged pirate end. Or did you think I wouldn't dare? Fool!

  --Are you going to shoot me, too, you bastard? -- Dawn shouted, rushing at Silver with her fists.

  --Come on, come on, my girl, -- he said, fighting back with his hands outstretched. -- Yes, calm down, please. You can leave if you want. However, if you try to tell someone something, no one will believe you. The police will have no time to come here. Go for a walk and get some air before a long life underground. Think about it and accept that you have no other choice but to continue working with me. I will wait for you at the lower entrance for no more than half an hour. If you don't come back, well, your choice, you will spread death with a generous hand, right and left, and people will not soon guess that you are the cause of it. My serum is made according to the codes of your genes. The blood will keep the concentration of viruses at a certain level for a long time, so it will not be harmful to your health. Only I will be able to help you somehow sort out the extermination that you will bring to people. Go. I know you'll be back.   
               
                6. Saying goodbye to friends

      Returning from home to College, Lot saw a new colourful sign above the entrance "College of Sodom and Gomorrah". However, the people around were busy with other things. The college was preparing for evacuation. It took some time until Lot finally managed to get an advise from someone that Assol had a transgender operation that had recently ended, and that she was lying in the ward of the medical department, waiting to be loaded onto the ship. However, he was stopped at the ward.

  -- She needs rest after surgery. The doctor didn't tell anyone to let in," said a well-known guard standing at the door of the ward.

  --I beg you, -- Lot exclaimed, --you know that we were close friends. At least let me in to say goodbye. We're all leaving now.

  -- Okay, but quickly. I'll give you 5 minutes so the doctor won't find you here.

   Lot entered the ward and barely restrained himself from screaming in horror. Assol was lying on the bed, covered with a blanket.  Her face was disfigured. The eyes were still the same, familiar and friendly, but from the place where the nose should have been, a pink tube about 10 cm long, tapering at the end, grew up, more closely resembling the tentacle of an octopus than an elephant trunk, bringing Pinocchio's nose to mind. Small horns protruded from her forehead above her eyes.

    He approached her cautiously, and their eyes met. A hopeless, inescapable longing was evident in her gaze, and Lot lowered his eyes.

  --Why have you come, Lo? -- She asked in a weak voice. – Out of curiosity to see what I've turned into, a sort of Gorgon Medusa?

    The words stuck in his throat, and he again stared at her with horror.

  -- Okay, I'm sorry, I know it's not out of idle curiosity. It's even better that you came right away. Let's say goodbye now forever, and try to forget me as soon as possible.

  -- How can I forget you, Assol. Why do I have to say goodbye? How was all this allowed, without your and your parents' consent?! Whatever is done to you, nothing should destroy our unbreakable intimacy. After all, all this can be fixed, well, at least almost fixed. I'll sue the villains, I'll find the best doctors.

   A fluffy soft tail poked out from under the blanket and gently touched his hand. At this touch, he felt a deep tenderness, combined with the repulsive unnaturalness of something terrible and deeply alien.  Lot involuntarily withdrew his hand.   

  --So much for unbreakable intimacy, -- she said with a bitter smile. – But it's not about these tricks, which, maybe, really could still be removed. It's much more serious, Lo. I now have an Alpha-Omega gender, improved, with externally controlled chips. When necessary, for any judge and official, I will always confirm that everything was done voluntarily and at my request. And not only for the judge. The doctor has already informed me that I am intended to be a live advertisement for their business, that is, for large firms that construct and improve genders. I will attract people's attention to this business, which means money, a lot of money, Lo. I will become an advertising standard for the new beauty of simulated human bodies. The doctor promised me a carefree life, provided, of course, that I would play the role intended for me. He also gently hinted that with my implanted chips, they would, if necessary, punish me for disobedience, or deepen the robotization of my brain and body. I think that the control system will be fine-tuned soon, so perhaps you are hearing the last sincere speech of the being who was once your friend Assol. Go now, Lo. Don't think about me anymore.

    The consciousness of the real hopelessness of the situation weighed heavily upon Lot's heart. Yet, trying to grasp at straws that were flashing in his head, he said:

  -- Assol, but something can be done. I'll find a way to get you out of the hands of these bandits. And before that, I will be by your side, I will support you as much as I can.

  -- No, Lo. I can't be fixed anymore, you must understand this and accept this. I am not me anymore. This is something completely different. And this completely different being will steadily displace from my body and soul everything that is still left of Assol. Understand, too, that your presence will only torment me more bitterly with the memory of our childhood so soon passed, of my unfulfilled impossible love for you, of the unfulfilled scarlet sails. Go, Lo, leave me forever. I'm begging you. Go your own way. Go to a country where divine morality and the right of the sons of men are still alive. I beg you, and no more words are needed.

   Lot went out into the street, staggering like a drunk. As he passed, he noticed Lon Gren sitting on a chair in the reception area, covering his face with his hands. Hearing Lot's footsteps, he lowered his hands and looked at him:

   -- You saw it, Lot! You saw it! However, in the end I deserved it. I kept thinking... it could happen to everyone else, just not me! I was wrong. I am a fool, a fool, a fool!

   He covered his face with his hands again. Preparations for evacuation were already in full swing. Instruments and packages of medicines were being loaded onto trucks plying between the downtown and the port. Lot went to the biological laboratory.  "Now if only I could find Zarinka," he thought. He knew that today was the day of her practice, which she never missed.  Soon he actually saw her, wandering away from the laboratory in indecision, and joyfully rushed to meet her.

  -- Zarinka, my dear, where have you been? We have to leave the rocky part immediately. They say that soon everything will be blown up by the volcano, -- he said loudly, quickly approaching her.

  -- Stop! -- She shouted, holding out her hands, and Lot involuntarily stopped. Here he stood before her, such a beloved and so far away boy for her now.

  --Don't come near me. Go on your own. I'll be back soon myself, -- she muttered.

  -- Zarinka, I'm not leaving without you. Let's be together in this evil hour. Whatever you want, I won't leave you for anything.  You're the closest thing to me now. Maybe you don't know what happened to Assol yet! I have a lot to discuss with you. Terrible crimes are happening here. Let's leave this damn island together. If you still have some things to do, I'll help. Yes, I'll climb into the fire for you! Zarya, you know that!

   He took another step towards her. The pure sacrificial love sparkling in his gaze brought her out of her stupor and gave her the strength to make a decision, the only decision she apparently had to make. She cast a parting glance at him, trying to capture the light of his love in her memory, so that she could draw strength from him there, beyond the terrible line, in her impenetrable dark future. In a changed, broken voice, she screamed:   

  -- Get out, Lot. So that I never, do you hear, never see you again! I hate you!  -- She paused, choosing her words. Looking at his confused, lost, incredulous face, she realized that she needed to hit harder. Suitable expressions do not add up well in the mind, especially since it was necessary to say something quickly and strike on the spot. Then in a broken voice she screamed again, confused in her thoughts and with difficulty choosing words:

  --I hate you with all my heart. I curse you and your Russian mother. I hate your vile Russian culture. I damn all our childhood meetings and games. Let you all die, burn with flames. I demand that you forget about me from now on. If you catch my eyes again, I will curse you and your entire family definitively in the name of your God and my Devil.

    Turning abruptly, she slowly moved back. Then her legs carried her faster, as she was already running towards the dungeon doors. The doors were open, and Prometheus Silver was standing on the threshold, smoking a pipe. When he saw her, he smiled affably and gloatingly:

  -- I knew that you would come, my girl. We will always be together now. After all, you are my best creation, and I am your only hope. I still have a lot to teach you, and it will take a long time. When you be ready, I will tell you all my secrets, and you will continue my work.

  --I hate you so much. Oh wait, I'll still find the strength to kill you.

  --No, you won't kill me until you understand my art. After many years of study, you will be imbued with deep respect for me, your great teacher. Finally, you will love me with all your passionate soul, you will love me, and my ideals, and my business. After all, from hate to love it is only one-step.  When we complete our work, grateful people will erect a grandiose monument to you, a monument to a living, blissful death with a scythe that cuts down harmful human genes and cleanses humanity of everything superfluous and unworthy, and even before its appearance in the world. 

  -- Well, then I'll have to end both of us at once.

  -- No, Dawn, suicide is not for you. I already know you well enough to be quite sure of that. You love life too much; you are too proud and ambitious. You've always dreamed of being the centre of attention, of being an object of worship. Believe me that all this will come true.  You're not like everyone else. As there was said by a Russian demon: "you are awarded to another kind of suffering, to other depth of delights." We will manage life and death with you, clearing humanity of weeds and cultivating vines. We will replace natural selection with scientific selection. Give me your hand.

     He quickly put a wide gold ring with engraved black hieroglyphs on her finger. -- I am binding you to me with this ring of omnipotence. Now forward, forward to our future!
   
 Dawn silently entered the black gate. "Whoever enters here, leave hope here forever" - as if the lines of Dante's Divine Comedy rang in her ears. "However," she thought, "You're right, Prom, I'm proud and I love life. However, you are overconfident. Let's see who will take it at the end of the day”.

   Prometheus closed the doors and locked them from the inside. From an unexpected tremor, the stones under their feet moved as if alive.  From somewhere above came a heavy rumble as if walls of stone were crumbling.
 
 --Let us hurry, -- Prometheus said. –- We need to get to the inner dungeon before the lava covers us.

   Dawn began to descend slowly down the stone stairs of the dungeon.
               
                7. Farewell to home

After Dawn's last words, Lot suddenly realized clearly, either from the words or from the expression on her face, that this was the end, that he really would never be able to approach her again. Something terrible had happened to her, too, irreparable, but that he was unlikely to find out.

    He wandered aimlessly around the city for about an hour, still trying to comprehend the unthinkable that somehow suddenly happened today, having been announced to him in the morning by a light haze over the volcano, at the exact moment, when he presumptuously thought that he could foresee today, which should be the same as yesterday.

   The downtown was emptying before his eyes. The residents of the Eastern part had already dispersed, and fewer and fewer people could be seen busy reloading the ships anchoring at the port. The sound of police car sirens finally brought him to his senses. The loudspeakers were insistently demanding everyone to leave the Western part of the island immediately. Smoke was pouring down from the top of the mountain more insistently and thicker, and sparks of flame were now clearly breaking through. It was getting dark fast, and under the rays of the already low-setting sun, the sight was formidable, but beautiful. Lot remembered his mother and ran home. A rumble behind him announced the increased intensity in volcano activity. His mother and the monks were waiting for him.

   --I don't care where I go now, -- he said grimly. No one questioned him, but it became clear to everyone that there was nothing left to him there.

   -- Pack your things and let us go. We have already put almost everything we could into the boat. She's not far away, tied to the shore in our bay.         

    When they got into the boat and slowly rowed away from the shore, it was already dark. The sight around was fascinating. Boats and yachts of residents could be seen from all sides, with lanterns and torches, just in case they sailed away from the shore, although everyone was assured that the lava would not reach the eastern part of the island. Larger vessels were scattered farther away. Narrow scarlet stripes slowly flowed down from the volcano. When they got into the water, they hissed. The water bubbled and glowed with a bright dark red light. There was something cosmic about the whole picture. Clouds were darkening in the west and rain was apparently lashing, while the Milky Way shone brightly above them. Suddenly there was a deafening crash. The top of the volcano seemed to jump slightly, toppled over, and a giant incandescent mass gushed down. Before the eyes of the stunned spectators, this mass spread slowly and flooded everything that had recently been their downtown, a place of meetings, entertainment and work.       

   --Take one last look at the island, Lot, say goodbye to your childhood and adolescence, and we'll set sail, -- Father Mikhail said.

   --The ancient Lot was not allowed to look back at Sodom and Gomorrah, -- Lot remarked with a sad smile.

   --Nothing repeats exactly, Lot. As one of our great philosophers said, no one can enter the same river twice. We are not angels of God either. Look to the left, at the residential areas, at your parks and groves. Everything is still preserved there, only a few are sprinkled with ashes. However, the whole right side is flooded with smoking lava. My heart feels that there is a mighty living evil buried there, waiting for its rebirth.  Let us pray, and off we go!

  -- Where to, Father Michael?

  -- To the East, of course, towards the sun!