“I remember,” Lis smiled, “you saved my life then.”
They drank and smoked everything that was at hand. Tol happily and actively shared news from the Black City, while not forgetting to lean on snacks from the Fort’s storerooms: meat ham, smoked fish and all kinds of sausages and cheeses. For dear guests, Lis ordered to bake fresh pies and rolls. Tol was on fire, today was his finest hour, because his usually haughty friend listened to him with interest and didn’t interrupt him. Karina was bored, Tol, as always, constantly bragged and attributed all the achievements to himself.
“And I ordered to plant trees in Lower and on the Market Square, in the very center, to plant an oak! So that it grows huge! And we'll make a nest there, and put an eagle there! It will be so beautiful! Yes, Al?!”
And Lis laughed and nodded.
“How lonely my Lis was in the Black City, if this one became his best friend…” Karina thought bitterly: “They are like heaven and earth. To what despair and loneliness you need to go to make friends with Tol! My poor Lis.”
Tol enthusiastically said about how they had restored the Lower City destroyed by the confrontation with Bey, and Lila intervened in the conversation and inserted remarks, echoing Tol with her, as it seemed to Karina, disgusting squeaky and cutesy voice. Lila got drunk and interrupted Tol more and more often, adding even more meaningless and unnecessary details to his already stupid story. But Tol didn’t get angry with her, even if she cut him off in mid-sentence, pressed him to him with tenderness and didn’t shut her mouth. Moreover, from time to time she tugged at him and intervened simply so that he poured wine or served her a pie. And Tol was interrupted, distracted and did what she asked, while losing the thread of his already chaotic narrative.
They moved to the large bed of Lis and Karina, and Karina, leaning against the pillows at the head, drank wine and, looking at the capricious Lila, upset she thought that she would never dare to behave like that with her husband. Lis was now sitting next to her very cheerful, he listened to Tol’s ramblings without any irritation and even with some pleasure and smoked cigarette after cigarette, shaking off the ashes into an empty bowl, where before that there was bread.
Tol and Lila sat opposite them. Tol hugged Lila with one hand, and in the other he held a cup, sipping from it, and didn’t shut up for a minute, describing what a fine fellow he was. Tol was very tall and big, and Lila was so small and fragile that this difference was immediately apparent and they looked funny together.
Lila seemed very happy, oppressing Karina with this, who involuntarily continued to compare the relationship in their couples and saw that Lila didn’t follow what she said and did. And Tol never even pulled her back or raised his voice at her. Karina understood that she could never be like this with Lis, and how relaxed Lila was! And Karina was tense and watched her actions and words, while still, at any moment, expecting an outbreak of discontent from her beloved. The only thing that made her happy was that Lis didn’t turn to Lila at all. During all this time, he didn’t say a word to her and didn’t comment on any of her phrases. Lila was absolutely uninteresting to him, and Karina was reassured. But at the same time, she was very offended that Tol was so delighted with his fool, and she was so fondled by him.
