The Fugitive

A steady clatter echoed off the walls of the spacious corridor. Very soon, its source appeared from around the corner - a group of small creatures that looked like horses. Actually, they were horses, but miniature - ponies, of all races and colors, with neat, somewhat implacably feline-like muzzles.

And, in spite of the fact that in this place it was ordered to observe silence, the walking noise with the hubbub of a dozen voices.

''Uncle Stawn, when will I see my sister?'' asked the filly, barely reaching the knees of the stallion striding in front in a beautiful protective suit of turquoise shade.

''Very soon. She's a hard worker - all day deep in business'' the Colt replied with a good-natured laugh.

''Oh, I would rather...we meet so rarely! Sister, probably already forgot me...''

''Don't say that, Flamy. She's trying for you. And besides, you think Hilney doesn't miss you? Believe me, very much even.''

''Well...probably yes'' a slight thoughtfulness instantly gave way to a sincere foal's delight ''I will tell her so many interesting things! I'll also give her an elephant.''

''Did you make it yourself?'' the stallion grunted in surprise, looking at the plush toy that appeared in the teeth of the filly.

''Ugumph!''

''How lovel...maybe your special mark is related to embroidery?''

The girl giggled and hid the present in her purse hanging from her belt.

A heavy sigh was heard from behind.

''Is it possible that at least sometimes they should not be given days off?..''

''Mia, there are different jobs. Do you remember how long we got here? Now imagine that they will have to plow the same path every seven days. Don't be so sad! Rejoice that you will see your hubby for once.''

''It's easy for you to say, my divorced friend...''

''And I do not regret anything! But is it possible to leave a friend alone in such an unusual place?''

“No need to say” the third voice turned on. “The place is truly original. It could not even have occurred to me that something like this could exist and, moreover, that it would even be useful...''

''Mr. Drake, you are an adult stallion...''

''No, I will ask - I, of course, understand. But in such quantity that it took to build a whole complex?..''

''You just haven't seen them at all, so you are surprised.''

''And this means that the institution works as it should.''

The skewbald pegasus, walking side by side with the well-equipped stallion, coughed, unobtrusively attracting the attention of him.

''Are you sure the administration approved the visit?'' she whispered to the guard.

''Otherwise they would not have got here. Stay calm'' Stawn nodded in the affirmative.

''Try to calm down here'' she sighed, stepping aside.

The corridor had many branches. But the procession continued its path in a straight line, not stopping for a second and not satisfying the sometimes arising curiosity of the ''excursionists''. The same did not get tired of looking around, studying incomprehensible the inscriptions on the door plates and throwing surprised glances at the spacious underground halls, which in all their glory appeared before them through the glass of the passageways connecting the sectors. Life was in full swing below: whole rows of strange machines sparkled with myriads of echoing lights, doors that rose with a touch of a hoof opened and closed, letting in and out figures in white coats and black bulletproof vests walking at different levels. In fact, the complex was so similar that very soon everything around them mixed into a single mess of snow-white corridors, turns and doors that merged with the walls.

The only thing that dispelled the melancholy was the bright light of lamps built right into the ceiling, which looked like glowing square slabs. Despite the continuity of the light chain, occasionally its individual fragments began to flicker ghostly, soon returning to normal. The baby didn't like these moments - there was something eerie in them, creeping through to yeast in her legs. However, when the atmosphere began to press, she thought about the long-awaited meeting and her heart immediately lightened.

Finally, at the next bend, one of the doors blocked the way for the group. The broken partition froze tightly in a half-raised state, emitting a disgusting creaking ringing. A lone technician was busy at the console attached to the mechanism (or rather, right in it), an indistinct muttering overlapping with flashes of a obscene language.

''Nightmare tear you, dog daughter! Run, kick!'' the device remained indifferent to the kick.

''Sweet Celestia...'' the middle-aged mare in round glasses turned pale, while her lean, well-built and obviously accustomed to such vocabulary friend quietly giggled at each next tirade.

Stawn grimaced and tapped on the shoulder of an enthusiastic colleague. He turned around. Then he looked at the crowd.

''Is this a new party?'' he chuckled sarcastically.

''Rather, a caring public. How long are you going to mess around?''

''Enough to die'' the engineer answered, returning to work. ''This hayloft mare demanded alimony. If you know what I mean.''

''What's happening?'' the pegasus came up.

''Problems'' her colleague sighed ''We'll have to lead them around the office...''

''Well, I do not!'' in the blink of an eye the filly was furious ''Not only is this visit itself extremely doubtful - so you still want to let strangers into the closed sectors?!''

''But Laina...''

''Just try to stick in there - I will report to the authorities in an instant. I, unlike some, still value my work'' snorted the guard with a menacing look.

''Always you with your statutes...okay, take them to the nearest rest room. I'll see what i can do.''

''And try to cope within an hour. I don't want to sit here all night'' a woman in a blue uniform stood in front of the crowd, attracting the bewildered glances of the latter ''We have technical problems - we will have to wait them out. Do not worry, very soon you will see your loved ones...now - follow me.''

''Well?..'' Stown followed the group with a glance and returned to the console.

''Bull shit'' the technician chuckled ''But the bull shit fixable. Do you know anything about electronics?''

''There is some.''

''Well. Pass the wrench here, and then check the second pair section for complete wiring. Got it? Well then, get to work...''

Stown yawned and plunged into the wondrous mechanism spawned by the creative genius of his superiors. The guard's eyes slid over the chaotic interior of the console as he saw something. And they could not take their eyes off.

The baby walked in the tail, clutching the elephant to her chest. This place was cool from the start. But now it got really cold. Casting a mild glance at the couple at the console, they hurried after the others.

''A drop can give birth to an ocean. So spill it.''

The stallion's mind grew dim. The expression on his face was devoid of all emotion. The hoof, with cold-blooded indifference, drew the blade from the scabbard hanging from his belt. The technician needed another tool.

''Stawn, I need...what are you...STAAWN?!

White shroud. Infrequent glare of bright light. And two voices that cannot subside.

''...not a tenant, definitely. Doc was not used to making erroneous predictions.''

''I disagree with him. We've had worse patients...cut aortas and veins, gouged eyes, cut off wings and sawed off horns - I've already seen everything. Discord take it, one even pretended to be an alicorn. At the same time being a unicorn. Don't ask where the wings came from. And then - even such people were cured. Well, or at least it became much easier for them to live. This, in comparison, is a real dandelion.''

''The same to me, compared. If Doc had eaten his bread in vain, he would clearly not have been assigned to manage our booth. And it controls somehow! Either he will give practical advice, then it will help to sew on crippled limbs...''

''Did he sew your brains too?''

''Hey, I would not get personal.''

''I'll go over. You have to think with your own head. How are you different from patients?''

''I can't have a similar opinion with the authorities?''

''Maybe. But now it's more like a public suck.''

''How are you...''

''Shut up already, idiots.''

A tired voice escaped of its own accord from the man on the hard couch.

''Look. Our hero woke up.''

The veil began to dissipate little by little. And the clearer the soulful face of the stallion looking at him became, the more he wanted to return to oblivion.

''Mhmm...'' The easy movement of the front leg immediately ran into the constraining weight. The patient tried another. The same effect. He could not even tear off an unpleasant surface by a millimeter ''Belts. Clever. Obviously not your idea.''

''It hurts he is mobile. Look, no matter how you break free'' the one on the right added sarcastically. His snout was nicer. But not much.

''Lie down. Rest. You obviously deserve...'' acquired an earthly pony of dirty brown color ''You should have put a muzzle on it. In vain, the doc stands on ceremony with them'' yes, the color of his coat definitely suited him.

''Put on yourself, moron...'' the gaze of the lying person rested on the ceiling that was slowly riding above him ''Where are we going?''

''Where you will get some help''

''I didn't ask for help''

''No one asked you''

''So where are we going?''

''Where to go''

''To your mother, or what?''

''Listen, inject him with that bloody shit! Celestia is my judge, if this bastard doesn't shut up - I will allow myself to forget the oath!'' the couch shook palpably. The one who was lying down sighed wearily. And then he shuddered from a prick of a sharp pain in his side. Unbearable weakness began to cloud his mind again.

''Bi-i-i-itche-e-es...'' only managed to stretch out the one who returned into the darkness.