buzTa batoni

– sul fiuzelaJis bralia.qeram CamoCexil xes ausva xeli. wuTiT interesi Seet yo.– ra daemarTa? – ikiTxa man, – axla sad aris?– qariSxalma zRvisken gaaTria. ise, saSiSi ki iyo, xeebisul dalewilia. bavSvebic iqnebodnen.wuTiT Seyoymanda da mere isev alaparakda:– ra gqvia?– ralfi.msuqani biWi eloda, rom TviTonac hkiTxavdnen saxels,magram qeram mxolod CaiRima, adga da kidev erTxel daadgalagunisken mimaval gzas. msuqani fexdafex mihyva.– me mgoni, Cvengan bevri iqneba dafantuli. sxvebi xom arginaxavs?ralfma Tavi gaaqnia da nabijs umata. mere tots wamohkrafexi da daeca.msuqani biWi gverdiT edga da qoSinebda.– deidaCemi sirbils miSlis, – auxsna ralfs, – asTmamaqvs.– asTma-Cafsma?– ho. sunTqva mekvris. Cvens skolaSi marto me mqondaasTma. – cota ar iyos, amayad warmoTqva biWma. – da sami wlidansaTvale mikeTia.saTvale moixsna, Tvalebis xamxamiT da RimiliT miawodaralfs, mere WuWyiani qurTukiT wmenda dauw yo. uceb saxetki vil ma mouWmuxna da Sewuxebuli ga mometyvelebiT gairinda.loyebidan ofli Camoiw min da, saTvale swrafad moirgocxvirze.– am xilma...tyispirs Seavlo Tvali.– am xilma... – gaimeora, – me mgoni...saTvale gaiswora, ralfs gaSorda da aburdul foTleb-Si Cacucqda.– axlave gamoval...ralfma frTxilad gamoiTavisufla Tavi da tote-7

idan gamoZvra. ramdenime wamSi msuqani biWis qsutuni ukanmoitova, aCqarebiT gaeSura safarisken, lagunas rom aSorebda,waqceul xes gadaabija da junglebidan gavida.napirze maRali palmebi daxvda. zogi idga, zogi mzissxive bisken gadawoliliyo. mwvane foTlebi asi futis simaRlezeaRmarTuliyo haerSi. palmebis qveS uxeSi balaxiizrdeboda, waqceuli xeebis amotrialebul fesvebs balaxialag-alag daeglija, miwaze dampali qoqosi eyara dapalmis ylortebi Canda, ukan – Cabne lebuli tye da kldisnaTeli silueti. ralfi idga, cali xeliT nacrisfer xesmihyrdnoboda, mocimcime wyali Tvals sWrida. daaxloebiTerTi milis moSo rebiT, marjnis rifTan, talRa iqoCreboda,ufro iqiT ki Tvaluwvdeneli zRvis muqi silurjeiSleboda. marjnis uswormasworo TaRSi livlivebda laguna– mTis tbasaviT wynari, lurjis aTasnairi elferiT,dabin duli mwvane da mewamuli. palmis terasebsa da wyalsSoris napiri Txel zolad irkaleboda, da sadRac, usasrulobaSi,ralfis marcxniv, palmebi, napiri da wyali erTmaneTserwymoda; yvelgan sicxe idga – lamis TvaliT dasanaxi.terasidan Camoxta. Savi fexsacmelebiT qviSaSi Caefloda sicxe SemoefeTa. tansacmeli daumZimda, gabrazebulmadaabakuna fexebi, elastiuri getrebi Tavis aWimebianaderTi moZraobiT gaiZro. mere ukan, terasaze gadaxta daperangi gaixada. idga Tavis qalis msgavs qoqosebs Soris,palmebidan mwvane Crdili rom ecemodaT, idga da TviTonactyis Crdili das Ta maSebda tanze. qamarze gvelis TavebiviTgadaWdobili balTa gaixsna, Sorti da trusi gaiZro, idgagaSiSvlebuli, laplapa napirsa da wyals gahyurebda.mecamete weliwadSi gadadga da bavSvuri Ripi aRar etyoboda,magram jer arc im asakisTvis mieRwia, rom mozardismouqneloba da uxerxuloba egrZno. misi danaxvisas vinmesSeiZleboda efiqra, mxrebi rom gauganierdeba da daumsxvildeba,kargi mokrive dadgebao, magram rbili tuCebi da xaverdovaniTvalebi uboroto xasiaTze metyvelebda. nazad8

– giTxari, ar mindoda...– Ruta! Ruta!ralfi cekva-cekviT gavarda gavarvarebul sana piroze,mere sabrZolo TviTmfrinaviviT motrialda, frTebi ukanwaiRo da Rutas avtomatis jeri dauSina.– JJJJ! ba-bax-bax-bax!qviSaSi gaiSxlarTa, Rutas ferxTiT, iwva da siciliTkvdeboda.– Ruta!Rutam uxalisod gaiRima. Tavisda uneblieT, amgvarmaaRiarebam Sveba mohgvara.– oRond aravis ar uTxra...ralfma qviSaSi CaixiTxiTa. Rutas saxe isev tkivilmamouWmuxna da Sewuxebuli gamometyveleba daubrunda.– erTi wuTiT!isev tyisken gaiqca. ralfi adga da swrafi nabijiT gae-Sura marjvniv.aq napiri mkveTrad icvleboda – peizaJs oTxkuTxaformebi ereoda. tyeSi, terasaze, qviSasa da lagunaSijiqur SeWrili vardisferi granitis veeba baqani oTxifutis simaRleze aRmarTul ficarnags hgavda. miwis TxelifeniT dafarul baqanze uxeSi balaxi da norCi palmebiamosuliyo. miwa ar kma roda palmebis simaRleSi gasazrdelad,ociode futs miRwe uli xeebi ecemoda, xmeboda.gardigardmo dayrili morebi Zalian moxerxebuli iyodasajdomad. is palmebi, jer fexze rom idga, foTlebiTmwvane saxuravs afarebdnen iqaurobas; saxuravs wylidanareklili mTrTolavi aTinaTi dasTamaSebda. ralfi baqanzeaZvra, Crdili da sigrile esiamovna, cali Tvali moWutada gadawyvita, rom mis sxeulze mosriale Crdilebi namdviladmwvane iyo. frTxilad miuaxlovda zRvaze gada kidebulibaqnis kides, gaCerda da Caixeda. wyali ise Ti sufTaiyo, fskeramde Caawvdendi Tvals. siRrmeSi wyal mcenareebiiSleboda da marjnis kristalebi Canda. pawawina, elvare10

Tevzebi xan aq moiqnevdnen kuds, xan – iq. ralfma sakuTarTavs mimarTa aRtacebisgan daboxebuli xmiT:– maggarrr!baqnis iqiT kidev erTi saswauli iyo. RvTis Zalam – Sei-Zleba, taifunma, an iqneb im qariSxalma, ralfi Tvi Ton romSeeswro– lagunaSi ise moagrova qviSis zoli, rom napirzegrZeli, Rrma tbori gaCnda, romelsac Sors, meore bolo-Si, vardisferi granitis maRali jebi ri evleboda. ralfierT xel ukve gaacura wylis moCve ne biTma siRrmem da axla,tbors rom uaxlovdeboda, bevrs arafers eloda. magramkunZulma ar gaawbila da daujerebeli, yovlad warmoudgenelitbori – yure, romelSic zRva aSkarad mxolod didimoqcevisas iWre boda, cal mxares iseTi Rrma aRmoCnda,rom muqi mwvane feri hqonda. ralfma erTi ocdaaTi iardigulmodgined daaT va liera da CayvinTa. wyali mis sisxlzeufro Tbili gamodga da veeba abazanaSi curva gamouvida.Ruta isev gamoCnda. kldis qimze Camojda. SuriT aTvalierebdaralfis mwvane da TeTr sxeuls.– magra curav.– Ruta.Rutam fexsacmelebi da windebi gaixada, frTxilad daawyoqimze da wyalSi fexis wveri Cahyo.– cxelia!– aba, ras elodi?– arafersac ar velodi. deidaCemi...– arsad dagekargos deidaSeni!ralfma CayvinTa da Tvalgaxelilma gacura wyalqveS;tboris qviSiani napiri gorakis ferdobs hgavda. gulaRmadawva, cxvirze xelmoWerili, oqrosferi Suqi cekviTada livliviT daefina saxeze. Rutas Seetyo, rom mtkicegadawyvetileba miiRo – Sortis gaxda daiwyo. axla, gaSiSvlebuli,ufro TeTri da msuqani Canda. TiTis wverebze SemdgaridaeSva tboris qviSian mxares, wyalSi yelamde Sevidada amayad gauRima ralfs.11

– curvas ar apireb?Rutam Tavi gaaqnia.– curva ar vici. ar manebebdnen, asTma...– arsad dagekargos Seni asTma-Cafsma.Ruta beds Seguebuli kacis gamometyvelebiT Rirseuladitanda yvelafers.– Zaan magra curav.ralfma ukan gamocurvisas mxaruli mousva, piri wyalSiCahyo da Wavli amouSva. mere nikapi amoswia da uTxra:– xuTi wlisam viswavle curva. mamaCemma maswavla. flot-Si msaxurobs, meTauria. rogorc ki gamouSveben, Camova dagadagvarCens. mamaSeni ras akeTebs?Ruta ailewa.– mamaCemi mokvda, – upasuxa swrafad, – deda ki...saTvale moixsna da miixed-moixeda, rame gasawmendi romenaxa. veraferi naxa.– deidaCemTan vcxovrob. tkbileulis maRazia aqvs daqveynis tkbileuls vWamdi. ramdensac mindoda. mamaSeni rodisgadagvarCens?– rogorc ki moaxerxebs.Ruta wylidan amovida. idga SiSveli da windiT wmenddasaTvales. axla, dilis papanaqebaSi, mxolod rifze Semomsxdarifrinvelebis gawelili, gulis gamawvrilebeli xmaesmodaT.– saidan gaigebs, rom aqa varT?ralfi wyalSi nebivrobda. Zili moeria, miraJiviT Semoexviada gaabrua, im miraJiviT, alaplapebuli lagunasTavze rom Canda.– saidan gaigebs, rom aqa varT?`iqidan, – fiqrobda ralfi, – iqidan, iqidan...~ rifze Semomsxdarifrinvelebis guguni axla Soridan esmoda.– aeroportSi etyvian.Rutam Tavi gaaqnia, mocimcime saTvale gaikeTa da ralfsgaxeda.12

– ara, mand ara. ver gaigone, ra Tqva mfrinavma? atomurbombze. cocxali aRaravin darCa.ralfi wylidan amovida. idga, Rutas Sehyurebda da amuCveulo problemebze fiqrobda.Ruta ar eSveboda.– es xom kunZulia?– weRan kldeze avZveri, – nela warmoTqva ralfma, – memgoni, kunZulia.– cocxali aRaravin darCa, – uTxra Rutam, – es ki kunZuliada aravin icis, aq rom varT. mamaSenmac ar icis. aravinar icis...tuCebi aucaxcaxda da saTvale daenama.– SeiZleba, mTeli sicocxle aq davrCeT.am sityvebze sicxem TiTqos imata, saxifaTod dam Zim dada lagunam TvalismomWreli sikaSkaSiT SemoutiaT.– tansacmels aviReb, – Caiburtyuna ralfma, – ager, iqawyvia.qviSaSi gaiqca, mzis siaves gauZlo, baqani gadaWra da Tavisigafantuli tansacmeli ipova. ucnaurad esia movna nacrisferi perangis xelaxla Cacma. mere baqnis kideze acoc dada mwvane CrdilSi, morze moikalaTa. Rutam weli aiTria,Tavisi tansacmeli iRliaSi amoC rili mihqonda. frTxi laddajda waqceul xeze, patara Sverilis axlos, pirdapir romgahyurebda lagunas; aburduli fiqrebi moeZala.male alaparakda:– danarCenebi unda vipovoT. rame unda viRonoT.ralfs araferi uTqvams. marjnis kunZulze iyo... mzes Sefarebuli,Rutas avismomaswavebel sityvebs erTi yuridanmeoreSi uSvebda da saamurad Tvlemda.Ruta ar eSveboda.– ramdeni varT?ralfi adga da Rutas miuaxlovda.– ar vici.drodadro sio gadaurbenda sicxis almuris qveS molap-13

lape wyals; roca baqnamde aRwevda, palmis foTlebi Cur-Culs iwyebdnen da mTrTolavi aTinaTi sxeulebze dasrialebdaan CrdilSi farfatebda mbrwyinav, frTosan arsebasaviT.– rame unda viRonoT.ralfma Sors gaixeda, Rutas TiTqos verc xedavda. ai,ro gorc iqna, moulodnelad SemoiWra realur cxov re baSiwarmosaxuli adgili, romelic srulad verasdros isxamdaxorcs. ralfs tuCebi netarma Rimilma gaupo; Ru tam esRimili sakuTari aRiarebis niSnad miiCnia da gaxarebulmagaicina.– es Tu marTla kunZulia...– maSin?ralfi aRar iRimeboda da lagunisken iSverda TiTs.gvimrebSi raRac kremisferi ido.– qvaa.– ara, niJara.uecrad Rutas Sekavebuli mRelvarebisgan gaaJr Jola.– egrea, niJaraa! aseTi adrec minaxavs. erTi biWis Robeze,oRond is sayvirs eZaxda. Caberavda xolme da dedamisimodioda. didi Zvirfasi ramea...ralfis idayvTan palmis amonayari gadawoliliyo. ma lesabralo Reroc gadahyveboda. biWma Rero amog li ja da wyalSiqneva dauwyo, Reros garSemo mbrwyinavi Tev zi xan aqgaielvebda, xan iq. Ruta SeSfoTebuli dai xara.– frTxilad! gatexav...– mokete.ralfi gulsgareT laparakobda. niJara sainte re so,lamazi da Rirebuli saTamaSo iyo; magram saoc ne bo fantomebiisev ise Camdgariyvnen masa da Rutas Soris, romelicaqaurobas ver ergeboda. palmis daxrili ReroiqiT, gvimrebSi niJaras miswvda. ralfi cal xels daey r d-no, meoriT Reros daawva da wylidan amoiRo galumpu li ni-Jara. Rutam xeli staca.14

axla niJara Soridan danaxuli ki ara, xelSesaxebi saganigaxda. aRtaceba ralfsac gadaedo. Ruta aWylopinda:– ...niJara! Zvirfasi ramea. dagenaZlevebi, aseTis yidvarom gindodes, qveynis fuli dagijdeba – imas baRis Robezehqonda da deidaCemma...ralfma Rutas niJara gamoarTva da mklavze wyali Camouwanwkarda.niJara kremisferi iyo, aqa-iq mkrTali vardisferidahkravda. patar-patara Rrmulebad dax vre til adgilebsada vardisfer tuCebs Soris Tvramet duimiani, daxvewiladmoxazuli apki hqonda. ralfma Rrma milidan qviSagadmobertya.– ZroxasaviT bRavis, – Tqva Rutam, – imas TeTri qvebichqon da, galiac, Sig TuTiyuSi hyavda. TeTr qvebs, rasakvirvelia,ar uberavda; ase Tqva...Rutam suli moiTqva da xeli gadausva elvare nivTs,ralfs rom eWira.– ralf!ralfma axeda.– amiT SegviZlia, danarCenebs davuZaxoT. Sevik ri boT.rom gaigoneben, movlen...Tvalebgabrwyinebulma Sexeda ralfs.– egre apirebdi, ara? imitom ar amoiRe wylidan?ralfma qera Tma gadaiwia.– rogor uberavda Seni megobari niJaraSi?– TiTqos afurTxebdao, – uTxra Rutam, – deidaCemi armanebebda Cabervas. asTma rom maqvs. im biWma Tqva, aqedanunda Cahberoo, – Rutam Ripze daido xeli, – scade, ralf.danarCenebs dauZaxeb.ralfma eWviT miido pirze niJaris viwro bolo da Seubera.mxolod piridan amosuli xma gaisma. meti araferi.ralfma mlaSe wyali moiwminda tuCebidan da kidev scada,magram niJara dumda.– TiTqos afurTxebdao.ralfma tuCebi mowkura da viwro nakadad CauSva haeri15

niJaraSi, romelmac dabali, daguduli xma gamosca. amanbiWebi ise gaakvirva, rom ralfma kidev ramdenime wuTsgaagrZela berva. Tan icinoda, Tan uberavda.– aqedan, aqedan.ralfi mixvda da axla diafragmidan amosuli haeriT SeutianiJaras. isic myisve axmianda. Rrma, mWaxe xmam gaigugunapalmebs qveS, gaburdul tyes moedo da mTis vardisferigranitidan eqomac upasuxa. xeebis kenweroebidan CitebisRrubeli aiSala. raRacam wiokiT gaiSligina WalaSi.ralfma niJara tuCebidan moiSora.– uyure amas!niJaris mWaxe xmis Semdeg misi xma CurCuls hgavda. niJaratuCebze miido, Rrmad CaisunTqa da kidev erTxel Seubera.isev iseTi guguni gaisma. mere biWma Zala moikriba, erTioqtaviT maRla amxtari bgera ufro mkafiod, mkveTrad gaismada yuri gaWra. saxeanTebuli Ruta raRacas yviroda,saTvale ucimcimebda. Citebi aWyivldnen, patara cxovelebiSliginiT gaifantnen. ralfs sunTqva gauwyda. bgeraoqtavidan Camovarda, dabal xmaze agugunda, stvenad iqcada gaqra.dadumebuli niJara mocimcime eSvs daemsgavsa; ralfsdidxans Sekruli sunTqvisgan saxe gaulurjda; kunZuliCitebis Jivil-xivilma da eqos wkrialma gaavso.– dagenaZlevebi, amas Zalian Sorsac gaigoneb.ralfi gons movida, ramdenjerme Rrmad CaisunTqa.– ager, erTi! – wamoiZaxa Rutam.bavSvi palmebSi gamoCnda, napiris gaswvriv, daaxloebiT,asi iardis moSorebiT. ase, eqvsi wlis biWi iqne boda,Ronieri da lamazi, tansacmeli SemofleToda, saxe xiliswebovani narCenebiT hqonda moTxupnili. Sarvali garkveulimizniT Caexada da mere wesierad veRar amoewia. palmisterasidan qviSaSi gadmoxta, Sarvali muxlebamde CasZvra.amoabija da baqnisken gamoenTo. Ruta amoZromaSi moexmara.amasobaSi ralfi bervas ganagrZobda. male tyeSi xmebi gais-16

ma. patara biWi ralfs win Caucucqda da saxegabrwyinebulmaaxeda. roca darwmunda, rom raRac seriozuli xdeboda,kmayo fili darCa, erTaderTi, rac sufTa hqonda – vardisfericeri – pirSi gaiqana.Ruta daixara.– ra gqvia?– joni.Rutam saxeli Caibutbuta da mere ralfs gasZaxa, magramimas yuric ar Seubertyavs – isev uberavda. saxe gaulurjda.TviTonve tkbeboda mZlavri xmiT, dide buli bgerebiT.Semotmasnili perangi gulisce misgan utokavda. tyidanxmauri uaxlovdebodaT.napiri Tvalsa da xels Sua gamococxlda. almurs miRmamTrTolavi qviSis iqiT figurebi bundovnad Canda. biWebigavarvarebul qviSaze moabijebdnen, baqnisken moemarTebodnen. sami patara, jonis kbila bavSvi uecrad sul axlosaRmoCnda, xelis gawvdenaze – xarbad axramunebdnentyeSi mokrefil xils. patara, Savgvremanma, Rutaze cotaTiumcrosma biWma Walidan bardebs gamoaRwia, baqanzemoa bi jebda da yvelas mxiarulad uRimoda. biWebi TandaTanmatu lob dnen. miamiti jonis mibaZviT, isinic waqceulpalmebze Camosxdnen da icdidnen. ralfi isev uberavda,mokle, yuriswamRebi xma Sors gaismoda. Ruta jgufSimidi-modioda, biWebs saxelebs ekiTxeboda da SublSe Wmuxnilicdilobda damaxsovrebas. bavSvebi iseve ubralodemorCilebodnen, rogorc manamde megafonian kacs. zogsgaexada da tansacmeli xelSi eWira, danarCenebi naxevradSiSvlebi iyvnen an skolis formebi ecvaT: ruxi, lurji, kakaosferiqurTu kebi, svit rebi, zoliani getrebi, zogs emblemahqonda dakerebuli. mwvane Crdi l Si, gadamtvreulxeebs Soris biWebis Tavebi Canda: wablisferi, qera, Savi,wiTuri, Calis feri, ferflis feri; burtyunebdnen, CurCulebdnen,gafar To ebuli Tva le biT Sescqerodnen ralfs.fiqrobdnen, netav ra unda viRonoTo.17

sanapiroze cal-calke Tu wyvil-wyvilad, uceb gamo-Cndebodnen xolme bavSvebi da almuridan ufro axlos,qviSaze gadmodiodnen. aq pirvelad moxvdaT TvalSi qviSazemocekvave Savi, Ramuris msgavsi, arseba, mxolod mogvianebiTgaarCies, rom Ramura bavSvis Crdili iyo, romelic mzisvertikalurma sxivebma laqad aqcia. ralfma bervis drosacki SeamCnia mTrTolavi Savi laqis zemoT morbenali wyvili.baqanze eseni yvelaze bolos movidnen – ori, gruzaTmianibiWi Zirs daeca, iwvnen, ralfs Sescinodnen da ZaRlebiviTqoSinebdnen. tyupebi iyvnen. Tvals saxtad tovebda amgvaridaujerebeli, sasacilo gaoreba. erTdroulad sunTqavdnen,erTd roulad icinodnen, Cafskvnilebi iyvnen, sicocxliTsavseni, svel tuCebze TiTqos kani askdebodaT, profilebsmkafio xazebi aklda da pirebi daRebuli hqondaT.Ruta biWebisken daixara da niJaris xmis SualedebSi gaar-Cia, rogor imeorebdnen:– sem, erik, sem, erik.saxelebi aeria; tyupebi Tavs iqnevdnen da erTma neTzemiuTiTebdnen; bavSvebi gulianad icinodnen.bolos da bolos, ralfma Sewyvita berva da danar Cenebsmiujda; cali xeliT niJara CaebRuja, Tavi muxlebiskendaexara. roca eqoc miCumda da sicilic Sewyda, siCumeCamowva.mocimcime burusSi napirze raRac muqi ferisa moik vlevdagzas. ralfma pirvelma dainaxa da manam uyura, sanam mismadaJinebulma mzeram yvela iqiT ar miaxeda. mere arsebammiraJidan sufTa qviSaze gadmo abija da dainaxes, rom esmuqi laqa Crdili ki ara, raRac xorcSesxmuli iyo. biWebisjgufi gamodga, samagaliTo fexawyobiT moabi jeb dnen ormwkrivad da eqscentrul tansacmelSi iyvnen gamowyobilni.Sorti, perangebi da sxva samosi xelSi eWiraT, magramTiToeul biWs oTxkuTxa, Savi qudi exura, romelzec vercxlisniSani daemagrebinaT. tani, yelidan muxlamde, SavimantiiT hqondaT dafaruli, romelsac mkerdis marcxena18

mxares vercxlis grZeli jvari ekeTa; sayelos magivradmantias Jabo hqonda. tropikulma sicxem, miwaze daSvebam,saWmlis Zebnam, mocimcime napirze marSiT siarulma da oflisRvram axlad garecxil qliavebs daamsgavsaT. biWi, romelicmeTaurobas uwev daT, aseve iyo gamowyobili, oRondimas oqros niSani ekeTa qudze. roca jgufi aTiod iardzemouaxlovda baqans, meTaurma yviriliT gasca brZaneba dajgufi gaCerda, gulamovardnili, gaoflili biWebi idgnenda Takara mzis gulze barbacebdnen. meTauri win wamovida,mantiis frialiT gadmoxta baqanze da im adgils miaqcerda,sadac misTvis TiTqmis wyvdiadi idga.– sad aris sayviriani kaci?ralfi mixvda, rom biWi mziT iyo dabrmavebuli da upasuxa:– sayviriani kaci ar aris. me var.biWi miuaxlovda, ralfs daacqerda, Subli Seikra. rogorcCans, didad ver daakmayofila qeraTmiani biWis danaxvam,muxlebze kremisferi niJara rom edo. swrafad motrialda,mantiac masTan erTad dat rialda.– arc gemia?mantia rom aufrialda, Seetyo, rom maRali iyo, gamxdari,ZvlebamoCrili; Savi qudidan wiTuri Tma uCanda. daWmuWnilida Worfliani, uSno saxe hqonda, oRond uWkuoao,ver ityodi. ori cisferi Tvali axla gawbilebuli iyurebodada nel-nela brazi ereoda.– kaci aq ar aris? – ikiTxa da maSinve zurgi Seaqcia.– ara. Cven Sekreba gvaqvs. modi da SemogvierTdi, – upasuxaralfma.mantiaSi gamowyobili biWebis jgufSi wina rigebma daSladaiwyo. maRalma biWma dauyvira:– gundo! wynarad ideq!gundi uxalisod damorCilda, erT rigze daewyo, id ga damzeze barbacebda. zogma erTi-ori waibuz Runa.– ki magram, meridiu, gTxovT, meridiu... ar SeiZleba?19

uceb erTi biWi cxvir-piriT daenarcxa qviSaze da rigidaiSala. dacemuli biWi aswies da baqanze daawvines. meridiumerTi ki gaxeda, magram ar aforiaqebula.– keTili. dasxediT. magas Tavi daanebeT.– ki magram, meridiu...– sul guli misdis, – Tqva meridium, – gibral tarSicegre daemarTa, adis-abebaSic, dilis wirvaze pirdapir regentsdaeca.bolo frazaze gundSi aqa-iq gaicines. gundis biWebi SaviCitebiviT Camoskupebuliyvnen gardigardmo gade buli,wa qceuli xis totebze da interesiT akvirde bodnenralfs. Ru tas aravisTvis ukiTxavs saxeli. cota ar iyos,daafrTxo for miT mopovebulma upiratesobam da meridiusmbrZaneb lurma tonma: ralfis gverdiT moibuza da saTvalesdauwyo wmenda.meridiu ralfs miubrunda.– ufrosi aravinaa?– ara.meridiu morze Camojda da wres Tvali moavlo.– maSin Cven Tavs TviTon unda mivxedoT.Ruta ralfis gverdiT Tavs usafrTxod grZnobda dagaubedavad wamoiwyo.– amitomac moawyo ralfma Sekreba. ase rom, SegviZlia,gadavwyvitoT, ra viRonoT... saxelebi viciT. es jonia. isori – tyupebi arian – semi da eriki. romelia eriki? Sen?ara – Sen semi xar...– me var semi.– me kidev eriki.– jobia, yvelam vTqvaT Cven-Cveni saxelebi, – ganacxadaralfma, – me ralfi var.– saxelebi ukve viciT, – uTxra Rutam, – weRan ar gamovikiTxeT?– bavSvuri saxelebia, – Tqva meridium, – jeki ratom undaviyo? me meridiu var.20

alfi swrafad mitrialda. am xmis patronma icoda, raundoda.– mere... – ganagrZo Rutam, – im biWs... damaviwyda...– ramdens laparakob, – uTxra jek meridium, – mokete,sqelo.sicili atyda.– eg sqelo ar aris, – wamoiZaxa ralfma, – magas Rutahqvia!– Ruta?– Ruta!– auh, Ruta!Seukavebeli xarxari atyda. yvelaze patarac ki icinoda.wuTiT biWebi raRacam gaaerTiana; mxolod Ruta darCa ganze.ailewa, moiRuSa da saTvalis wmenda daiwyo.bolos sicili miwynarda da saxelebis CamoTvla ga nagrZes.gundSi simaRlis mixedviT jeks morisi moh yve bo da;farTo saxiani da mocinari. iqve iyo erTi gamxda ri, gul-CaTxrobili biWi, romelsac aravin icnobda da xazgasmiTSors eWira Tavi. Caibutbuta, rojeri mqviao da isev dadumda.bili, roberti, haroldi, henri; is biWi gundidan, weRanguli rom wauvida, palmis gadanaWerze ijda; uRonodgauRima ralfs da uTxra, saimoni mqviao.– unda gadavwyvitoT, rogor gadavrCeT, – wamoiwyo jekma.biWebi agniasdnen. erTma patara biWma, henrim, Tqva, saxl-Si mindao.– mokete, – dabneuli saxiT uTxra ralfma. niJara aswia, –me mgoni, beladi gvWirdeba gadawyvetilebebis misaRebad.– beladi! beladi!– beladi me unda viyo, – Tqva jekma qedmaRlurad, – imitom,rom me var saeklesio gundis xelmZRvaneli da solisti;do diezis aReba SemiZlia.kidev erTxel atyda zuzuni.– kargi, – Tqva jekma, – me...21

Seyoymanda. Savgvremani biWi, rojeri, bolos gamoerkvada xma amoiRo.– modi, kenWi vyaroT.– ho!– beladi avirCioT!– modi, avirCioT...arCevnebi TiTqmis iseTive saamuri TamaSi iyo, ro gorcniJara. jekma Sepasuxeba scada, magram garSemo aur zauriatyda. beladis yolis survili ral fis arCevis surviliTSeicvala. amis mizezs veravin ityoda; Tu gonierebazemidgeboda, yvelas Ruta sjobda; jeki aSkarad lideri Canda,magram ralfma simSvidiT moigo biWebis guli; Tan maRaliiyo, mimzidveli garegnobisa. yvelaze mniSvnelovaniki – Tumca amas verc acno bierebdnen, – is gaxldaT, rom ni-Jara ralfs hqonda. is, vinc niJaraSi uberavda, axla baqanzeijda, natifi nivTi muxlebze edo da namdvilad veravinSeedreboda.– es – niJariani...– ralfi! ralfi!ralfma xelis aweviT iTxova, gaCumdiTo.– keTili. vis unda, jeki iyos beladi?gundma gulnakluli morCilebiT aswia xelebi.– me vis vundivar?gundis wevrebis garda yvelam dauyovnebliv aswia xeli.Ruta erTxans Seyoymanda da mere isic SeuerTda danarCenebs.ralfma daTvala.– maSin me viqnebi beladi.biWebma taSi dascxes. gundic ahyvaT; jeki wyenisganwamowiTlda, Worflebi gauxunda. wamoiwia, mere gadaifiqrada isev dajda. taSi ar wydeboda. ralfma jeksSexeda. undoda, rame SeeTavazebina.– gundi, rasakvirvelia, Sen gekuTvnis.– SeiZleboda, jari yofiliyo...22

– an monadireebi...– SeiZleba...siwiTlem gauara. ralfma kidev erTxel moiTxova siCumexelis aweviT.– gundze jeki agebs pasuxs. eseni iqnebian... Sen ra ginda?– monadireebi.jekma da ralfma erTmaneTs morcxvad gauRimes Tanad -gomis niSnad. danarCenebi aRelvebulebi alapa rak dnen.TiTqos gakveTili damTavrdao, gundis biWebi wamoiSalnen,laparak-laparakiT daagroves Savi mantiebi balaxze.jekma Tavisi mantia gadanaWerze dado, ralfis gverdiT.nacrisferi Sorti oflisgan zed hqonda mikruli. ralfmaSorts almacerad gaxeda. jekma misi mzera daiWira da auxsna:– im mTaze vcade aZroma, wylis sapovnelad. magram SeniniJaris xma momesma.ralfma gaiRima, niJara aswia da siCume moiTxova.– yvelam mismineT. dro mWirdeba raRaceebis mosa fiqreblad. ver gadamiwyvetia, am wuTSi ra gavakeTo. Tu eskun Zuli ar aris, SeiZleba, dauyovnebliv mogve S velon,ase rom, unda gavarkvio, kunZulia Tu ara. yvela aq undadarCes, moicados da arsad wavides. samni wavalT – meti romwavi yvanoT, avireviT da erTmaneTs dav kargavT – samni wavalTeqspediciaSi amis dasad genad. me, jeki da... da...anTebuli saxeebis wres moavlo Tvali. msurvelebis naklebobaar igrZnoboda.– da saimoni.saimonis garSemo biWebi axiTxiTdnen, isic wamodga dagaicina. gulis wasvlis Semdeg mosulierda da feri mouvida.gamxdari, mkvircxli, patara biWi iyo, swori, Savi dauxeSi Tma qudiviT exura Tavze.ralfs Tavi dauqnia.– wamoval.– mec wamoval...23

jekma uknidan mozrdili sanadiro dana amoiRo da xezedaaso. zuzuni atyda da miwynarda.Ruta SekrTa:– mec wamoval.– aseT saqmeSi Sen ver gamodgebi, – miubrunda ral fi.– mere ra.– Sen ar gvindixar, – civad uTxra jekma, – sami kaci sakmarisia.Rutas saTvale aucimcimda.– me viyavi amasTan, niJara rom ipova. yvelaze adre me viyaviamasTan.jeki da danarCenebi yuradRebas ar aqcevdnen. biWebidai Salnen. ralfi, jeki da saimoni baqnidan Camoxtnen daqviSiani napiris gaswvriv, tboris iqiT gaemarTnen. RutaborZikiT aedevnaT ukan.– saimoni Tu SuaSi ivlis, amis Tavs zemoT vilaparakebT,– Tqva ralfma.samive fexawyobili midioda. es imas niSnavda, romsaimons drodadro fexi unda ecvala, raTa danarCenebsdasweoda. male ralfi gaCerda da Rutas moutrialda.– momxede.jekma da saimonma, TiTqos veraferi SeniSnes, siaruliganagrZes.– Sen ver wamoxval.Rutas saTvale isev daenama – amjerad Seuracxyofisgan.– mainc uTxari. me xom gTxove.ailewa. tuCebi auTrTolda.– me xom giTxari, ar minda, rom...– ras mied-moedebi?– Rutas rom meZaxdnen. giTxari, rac gindaT, damiZaxeT,oRond Ruta ara-meTqi; giTxari, nuravis etyvi-meTqi, Senkidev adeqi da maSinve uTxari...siCume Camovarda. ralfi axla TanagrZnobiT Sehyu rebdaRutas, xedavda, rom gulnatkeni iyo, gulmok luli. erTx-24

ans yoymanebda, ver gadaewyvita, bodiSi moexada Tu isevdaemcirebina.– sqelos Ruta sjobia, – Tqva bolos namdvili liderisuSualobiT, – magram mainc vwuxvar, Tu gawyenine. axla ukanmi brundi, Ruta, saxelebi Caiwere. jerjerobiT eg aris Senisaqme.mitrialda da im ors gahyva. Ruta isev iq idga. aRS fo-Tebis almuri nel-nela Camoerecxa loyebidan. mib run da dabaqnisken gaemarTa.sami biWi swrafad miabijebda qviSaze. zRva ukuqce uliiyo da lamis gzasaviT mtkice napirs zolad mis dev da Zirsganr T xmuli wyalmcenareebi. iqaurobas dide buli ierihqonda, biWe bsac raRac sidiadis Seg rZneba daeuflaT dabedniereba moh gvaraT. erTmaneTs gaxe davdnen xolme,aRtacebiT icinodnen, lapara kobdnen, erT maneTs ar usmendnen.haeri brwyinavda. ralfma ase ubralod siarulsver gauZlo, xelebze dad ga da yira mala gadavida. siciliTguli rom ijeres, saimonma mor cxvad dausva xeli ralfsmklavze; isev sicili autydaT.– wavideT, – Tqva uceb jekma, – Cven xom mkvlevarebivarT.– kunZulis bolomde gavalT, – miugo ralfma, – da imkuTxes SemovuvliT.– Tu marTla kunZulia...axla, naSuadRevs, miraJebi TandaTanobiT waiSala. kun -Zulis meore napiric ipoves, sruliad gansxvave bu li,buneb ri vi, jadoqrobiT Seucvleli. erTmaneTze dax vavebuli,Cve u leb rivi oTxkuTxedebidan erTi didi lo diamomjdariyo la gunaSi. zed zRvis frinvelebi budobdnen.– vardisfrad mominanqrebul namcxvars hgavs, – Tqvaralfma.– kuTxes ver SemovuvliT, – uTxra jekma, – imitom, romar arsebobs. mxolod patara mosaxvevia – Tan, xom xedav,kldeebi aq uaresia...25

alfma Tvalebi moiCrdila da kldis dakbilul siluetsaxeda. napirze nanaxi adgilebidan aqauroba yvelaze axlosiyo mTasTan.– aqedan vcadoT mTaze asvla, – Tqva biWma, – me mgoni, esyvelaze ioli gzaa. naklebia junglebis balax-bulaxi; vardisferikldec metia. wavediT.samma biWma acoceba daiwyo. raRac ucnob Zalas iseamoe t ri alebina da daemsxvria lodebi, rom erTmaneTSiare ul-dareuli eyara. kldeebs metwilad vardisferi,wawvete buli forma hqondaT; Tavis mxriv, am lo deb sacwamaxuli wve rebi edgaT, mere kidev, mere kidev da es vardisferiqvebi sabo lood lianebis jadosnur maryu JebSiCadgmul, mowes ri gebul kldes qmnida. iq, sadac vardisferiwvetebi iyo amoC rili miwidan, zemoT viwro bilikebimiiklakneboda. cicabod Ca moW rili Sverilis piras gverduladmiuyve bodnen am bili kebs, kldis ken mibrunebulebimiikvlevdnen gzas.– ram gaiyvana es biliki?jeki SeCerda da saxidan ofli moiwminda. ralficsunTqva Sekruli gaCerda mis gverdiT.– adamianebma?jekma Tavi gaiqnia.– cxovelebma.ralfi xeebqveS sibneles miaCerda. tye wuTiT Seirxa.– wavediT.cicabo kldis garSemo Semovlebuli aRmarTebis avla kiar uWirdaT, aramed drodadro tyispirebSi gaZ roma sxvabili kze gadasasvlelad. aq lianebis fes vebi da Reroebiise iyo aburduli, rom biWebs drekadi isrebiviT uwevdaTZromiali gasaRwevad. yavisferi miwisa da foT lebSi drodadrogael vebuli Suqis gar da, mimarTulebas mxolodTavqve mimavali gza aZlev daT, an lianebiT daqse lili bilikebi.rogorRac mainc miiwevdnen zemoT.26

oba kldis lurji yvavilebiT iyo mofenili; yvelgan modebulimcenareebi siRrmeSi Cakiduliyo da uxvad iRvrebodatyis TaRSi. haerSi uamravi pepela dafarfatebda, xanafrindebodnen, xan eSvebodnen.Sverils zemoT mTis oTxkuTxa wveri gadmom dga riyo damale biWebi ukve iq idgnen.manamdec varaudobdnen, kunZulze aRmovCndiTo: vardisferkldeebSi rom miikvlevdnen gzas, aqeT-iqiT zRvarom Canda da mTis gamWvirvale haeri rom elamune bodaT,alRoTi grZnobdnen, yoveli mxridan zRva ertymodaT. magramaxla danamdvilebiT SeeZloT amis Tqma – mTis wverzeidgnen da wylis wriul hori zonts gadahyurebdnen.ralfi danarCenebs miubrunda:– aqauroba Cvenia.kunZuli gems hgavda: am mxares maRla aRmarTuliyo dadaSvebisas mkveTrad iWreboda napirSi. yovel mxares –kldeebi, qimebi, xis kenweroebi da cicabo daRmarTebi;win ki, gemis gaswvriv, livliviT daSvebul tyeebs vardisferidahkravda: mere muqi mwvane junglebi vardisferikudiT mTavrdeboda. iq, sadac kunZuli wyalSi uCinardeboda,kidev erTi kunZuli iyo – TiTqmis gamoyofili kldefortiviT idga da simwvanidan, SiSveli bastioniviT SemohyurebdaT.biWebma aremare moaTvalieres da mere zRvas gaxedes.did simaRleze idgnen. SuadRe gadasuli iyo; xedi mkafiogaxda – miraJi aRar efareboda.– is rifia. marjnis rifi. suraTebze maqvs nanaxi.rifi cal mxares ekvroda kunZuls da daax loebiT erTimilis manZilze paralelurad mohyveboda im na pirs, axlaTavianT sakuTrebad rom miaCndaT. marjani batife xu rinaweriviT Canda zRvaSi, TiTqos goliaTi daixara, rom car -cis erTi mosmiT moexaza kunZulis silueti, magram daiRalada saqme bolomde ver miiyvanao. napirisken wyali lurjadliv li vebda da elfers icvlida, kldeebi da wyalmce-29

i. tye Seirxa, aSrialda, amoZravda. ufro axlos yvavilebiaCurCuldnen da niavma gaugrilaT saxeebi.ralfma mklavebi gaSala:– yvelaferi Cvenia!gaicines, aborgdnen da kidev erTi SesZaxes mTas.– mSia.saimonma SimSili rom axsena, danarCenebmac igrZnes, rommoSiebodaT.– wavediT, – Tqva ralfma, – rac gvindoda, gavigeT.kldian daRmarTze daiwyes Casvla, yvavilebSi CaeSvnenda xeebqveS ganagrZes gza. SeCerdnen da garSemo buCqebsdauwyes Tvaliereba.pirveli saimoni alaparakda.– sanTlebiviTaa. sanTlebiani buCqebi. sanTel-kvirtebi.muqi feris, maradmwvane buCqebi mZafr surnels afrqvevdnen,priala, mwvane feris kvirtebi zemoT, sinaTlisken miiwevdnen.jekma daniT Camosxipa erTi kvirti da iqaurobasurneliT aivso.– sanTlebiviT kvirtebia.– anTebiT ki ver aanTeb, – Tqva ralfma, – ubralod, san-Tlebs hgavs.– mwvane sanTlebi, – aimriza jeki, – saWmeladac ar varga.wavediT.is-is iyo, xSir tyeSi Sevidnen da daRlilebi wafratundnenbilikze, rom xmebi SemoesmaT – Wyivili da Cliqebis bakuni.win gacvivdnen, Wyivili sul ufro da ufro matulobda,sanam gaS ma ge bul wiokad ar iqca. biWebma fardasaviTCamoSvebul lianebSi gaxlarTuli goWi dainaxes, SiSisgangagiJebuli cdilobda drekadi borkilebidan Tavis daRwevas.wvrili, yurismomWreli, daJinebuli xmiT Wyioda. samivebiWi mivarda da jekma isev Tavisi elvare dana amoaZro.xeli haerSi aswia. pau za. goWi isev wiokob da da lianebsazanzarebda, Zvleb amoy rili mklavis bolos dana isev laplapebda.pauza imden xans ki gagrZelda, rom mimxvdariy-31

vnen, rogori war moudgeneli iqne boda xelis daqneva. meregoWi erT xelac gafarTxalda, lianebidan Tavi gamoixsna daWala Si mococxa. biWebi idgnen da xan erTmaneTs Sehyu rebdnen, xan im SiSismomgvrel adgils. jeks Worfleb qveS sa xegauTeTrda. SeniSna, rom dana isev aweuli eWira, xe li dauSvada dana budeSi Cado. mere samivem Secbu nebu l ma gaicinada isev gzas gaudgnen.– adgils varCevdi, – Tqva jekma, – moments vucdidi, romgadamewyvita, sad damertya.– unda dagekla, – Seutia ralfma, – goWis dakvlas raunda?– goWs yeli unda gamoWra da sisxli gamouSva, – uTxrajekma, – ise xorci ar iWmeva.– mere, ratom ar...mSvenivrad icodnen, ratomac: imitom, rom warmoidgina,rogor daeSveboda da CaerWoboda dana cocxal arsebas; imitom,rom sisxls ver itanda.– vapirebdi, – Tqva jekma. win midioda da saxe ar uCanda,– adgils vurCevdi. sxva dros...dana budidan amoaZro da xes daaso. sxva dros ar daindobs.gaavebulma miixed-moixeda, aba, vin gami bedavs Semopasuxebaso.amasobaSi mzeze gamoaRwies; cota xnis SemdegsaWmels eZebdnen da xarbad nTqav dnen, Tan dabla eSvebodnen,baqnisken, sadac isev yvela erTad moiyrida Tavs.32