Chapter 33. Epilogue

    And so, my dear reader, Leolik’s adventures have come to the end. I don’t know where this fantasy story came from or how it took shape in my mind. I know only one thing: that I've written it. While writing, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had read this story before, and that I was simply recalling a book I had read before, some time ago. Maybe it’s just my mind, playing tricks on me. Maybe my subconscious has played a joke on me, and all the books I’ve ever read merged into one? Anything is possible. Perhaps, somewhere in a parallel world, another Valeriy is finishing up his book right now, surprised. Where has it come from? Where has all this talent come from in my old age? We’re both surprised.
    But I've taken your mind off. After all, readers are dying to know how things turned out between Leolik and Milena. I can practically hear the indignant voices of readers demanding clarity on this serious matter.
    Leolik spent a few more days in Chronos’s hospital. The girls and Milena visited him every day. Yes, they really had brought a harpsichord from the City of Women. They played it every day for four whole months to bring him out of his coma. And they succeeded! To tell the truth, less than a day passed on the Earth, but on Geia nearly four months passed. Chronos explained this phenomenon by the expansion of the Universe and by the fact that time flows differently in various parts of the Universe. Definitely because of its expansion.
    Chronos took Leolik’s education very seriously, determined to crown him emperor, just as he had promised. Using his sophisticated devices, he uploaded knowledge directly into Leolik’s brain: mathematics, physics, chemistry, electrical engineering, economics, ecology, biology, astronomy, law, and computer science. The studies took place every day. Leolik used to come to the lab, sit down into the arm-chair, have a helmet placed on his head, and get all the knowledge under hypnosis. It seemed effortless, but he returned home barely alive. His head ached terribly. He simply fell down on the bed, completely drained. Milena and Nyusha took care of him, doing their best.
    While Leolik was in a coma, Nyusha did her best to support and comfort Milena. She took care of her. They became friends. Scars, marks from the fire, still remained on half of Nyusha’s face. Nyusha quite naturally became part of Leolik’s family as his second wife. And she, as well, became pregnant. Milena didn’t object. But it was hard for Leolik. He couldn’t figure out who he loved more. Both of them were very close for him. He loved them both. It seemed impossible to him, but nevertheless, it was true. He enjoyed having sex with both of them. They decided not to get married for the nearest future. The fact that Nyusha was pregnant was enough for Geia to consider Leolik her husband as well. Tusya and Kisa also lived not far from Leolik’s little house. And every day they came to visit him at his place. True, they were still just his lovers.
    Busy with all his studies, Leolik simply couldn’t spare his time physically in order to pay them any attention. Tusya and Kisa dreamed of Leolik marrying them. They were looking forward to get pregnant by him. The laws of Geia allowed for such liberties. They played musical instruments after his lab sessions, and the music helped ease his headache.
    There was also secret knowledge, such as operating the main computer and the flying saucer’s equipment, as well as repairing and programming robots. Chronos entrusted this knowledge to Milena as well. She attended classes with Leolik for a week. She shared her levitation formula with the main computer and Chronos. The main computer was almost as intelligent as humans. But even it was stumped when it was told about the possibility of levitation. Leolik’s phenomenal abilities didn’t fit into any scientific discipline either. Whenever Leolik found himself in a stressful situation, his perception of time would shift dramatically. He would literally step out of reality and begin thinking and moving at an incredible speed. The main computer mused that Leolik had acquired these abilities from the myargs. Chronos incorporated his genes while creating Leolik. And myargs’ reaction speed was much higher than that of humans. Leolik was almost a superman, but he lacked enough life experience. In his twenty-one, he was still a very naive kidult.
    During the four months when Leolik was in a coma, the myargs organized a rescue expedition. With the help of people, they managed to get the sunken flying saucer-like spaceship.
    The myargs were also studying the sciences. Leolik used to meet with Barf and Miya in the lab. As well as Leolik, they used to come to the lab every morning and undergo hypno-training. They studied astronomy, space navigation, and the flying saucer’s equipment. The main computer was really pleased to have the opportunity of communicating with a computer of its own kind from the other spacecraft. The myargs were working hard to repair the equipment on that saucer spaceship.
    Leolik mastered his operating the replicator to perfection. The replicator was a device that created objects. All one had to do was picturing an object in one's mind, and the device would create it. The first thing Leolik created was a real badminton set. Rackets with string stretched across them. A real shuttlecock. He made several sets. Then he asked Barf to pass it all on to Barsik and Muria.
    Finally, Leolik's studies were over.
    Chronos invited the mayors of the other cities to Leolik’s coronation ceremony. In their time, these people had also gone through their own education. Each had considerable knowledge in his own field. But Leolik had the toughest task of all. In order to lead the others, he had to become an expert in every field: metallurgy, mechanical engineering, and weaving. Well, at least he didn’t have to study medicine in its entirety. Queen Ksenia and her university trained enough quantity of doctors.
    Leolik was introduced to all these people. He had to present a plan for the future development of the people on Geia. The main computer was a great help to him in this. Leolik had comprehensive information about Geia. With the computer’s help, he could find out everything about any resident at any time. About the cities’ economies, revenues and expenditures, taxes, and technical capabilities. A strange peculiarity came to light. For some reason, more women were born on Geia than men. Men were literally worth their weight in gold. To tell the truth, this wasn’t made public. This was precisely what explained the emergence of the City of Women, the loose morals, and polygamy. It wasn’t considered a crime. Leolik tried to learn from the main computer why this had happened, but it merely smiled enigmatically, like the Cheshire Cat. And it was no surprise. The main computer was created by the myargs. Essentially, they were intelligent beings descended from beasts very similar to cats. And in their families, whenever possible, there were four females. Perhaps that is why the main computer brought its own perspective to the problem and intervened at the genetic level when Chronos was trying to create a human civilization on Geia.
    Leolik's plan was very simple. Expansion, natural human reproduction, and the exploration and development of Geia's resources. Leolik proposed to the High Council that they establish a unified bank and a transportation company. The company would be based on airships. The supercomputer's memory bank contained genetic samples of the Earth's flora and fauna. The variety of species on Geia was quite limited. Leolik suggested enriching Geia’s flora and fauna with new species. His proposal was supported. Chronos gave Leolik a huge amount of silver. He also provided aerial photographs taken from space. The maps marked the locations of mineral deposits: iron, coal, gold, and silver.
    Leolik proposed forming a commission to draft laws. Prior to that, there were no specific laws. Each city governor resolved legal disputes according to his own understanding and sense of justice.
    Everyone agreed that Leolik would be the emperor. But everyone understood that this title essentially meant he was the coordinator. He was the first among the equals.
    Ksenia and Arseniy considered him their son. They wholeheartedly supported Leolik in his endeavors.
    Milena and Nyusha’s parents arrived. They really liked Leolik. And no wonder — he was a handsome young man. It turned out Leolik had a whole bunch of relatives: the girls’ numerous brothers and sisters, nephews and nieces, as well as their parents.
    Leolik decided to start by laying the foundation for his new capital in a new location. And all these new relatives came in very handy. Leolik invested a huge amount of money in the construction of two new zeppelins. He planned to find a new location to build the capital on. He intended to use those dirigibles to survey and select the site.
    Leolik tasked Milena and Nyusha with working on the plans of the new capital. Kisa and Tusya were also brought in to help with this project.
    Leolik explained to the girls that the main issue right then was the shortage of population. Therefore, the one who set aside any ethical doubts would be the one in charge. It was desirable to have a loyal population. Relatives and children would have more opportunities. Kisa and Tusya finally found their happiness. Leolik officially became their husband. He spent several days alternating between his own home and Kisa and Tusya’s house. Leolik had to have sex with his wives, every day. He was surprised himself that he had enough energy for all of them.
    He finally set aside a few days in his schedule to hold a grand wedding ceremony. Queen Ksenia presented truly royal gifts to all four ladies: silver and finery. A multitude of guests and relatives attended the wedding. The myargs were also present. Chronos lent legitimacy to the whole event. To both humans and myargs, he was practically a God. Four brand marks — two on one forearm and two on the other — and four wives were the result of that wedding. Just as Milena had said, with red-hot iron. Leolik had to bear that.
    Leolik had twins five months later — a boy and a girl. Queen Ksenia delivered the babies. She considered herself a grandmother. Nyusha was also on her way; she was expecting a baby, too. And Kisa and Tusa weren’t far behind either. The only difference was their due dates. Leolik’s family was set to expand dramatically soon.

    Valeriy woke up on the Earth in Lyudmila’s arms. I don’t know how things turned out for them. They didn’t show me that part.
    Chronos and the myargs flew off to Mars (an analogue of Mars). One saucer-like spaceship was left on the Geia for Leolik to use.
    Well, that’s it, basically. Many will probably ask, “What happened next?” So what happened next?
    After that, I planned to write a second book, but I decided to follow Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol’s example and throw the second book into the fire. I seriously doubt that anyone is interested in the story I’ve told. I’m still a novice writer, and I’m well aware of all my shortcomings. Only my friends and close online acquaintances send me feedback via private messages. Sometimes I reread everything I’ve written. Sometimes I even like it myself, but other times it seems like it’s just an entertaining story and nothing more. I've found a few logical errors in the narrative and a bunch of grammatical mistakes. But I decided not to correct them. Perhaps attentive readers will notice. And the second book, if it was written, would be a space opera rather than an erotic fairy tale. Although Leolik’s relationships with his four wives are probably very interesting from a psychological standpoint. Readers would probably find that interesting. But I’m neither an Arab sheikh nor an oligarch, and I don’t have four mistresses, so I can’t confidently describe these feelings. They would be entertaining fantasies, nothing more.
    I translated the first chapter into English, for money. After that, the translator flatly refused to continue. Probably for moral and ethical reasons. I completely understand her — not everyone would take on translating this nonsense, even for money. I invite readers to appreciate her translation. Maybe someone here is fluent in both Russian and English. Even though I studied English in my college years, I only understand about half of the text. I won’t even discuss English grammar. I don’t know. I’ll probably work on the illustrations. I’ll have to draw the pictures myself. An artist friend of mine gave me a mysterious silence in response to my suggestion. Well, illustrations take a long time. Maybe they’ll appear, and maybe they won’t.
    Well, my dear readers, I’ll treat you to a few stories. But I’m afraid it won’t be anytime soon.