"Maybe," the fish nodded their heads. - To live and not need anything, we have everything: clean water, food that never ends, we have light and there is no danger. But we don't have what it's worth living for - freedom! We can't swim away from here. For this, our reservoir needs Diamond Water."

      "Diamond Water?" - Diana asked again.

      "Exactly," answered the fish with red scales, which became fiery yellow closer to the head. - It is so named because it consists of water, but it can be taken in hand. And "Diamond", because it is very expensive and can be purchased in only two ways: buy or win as a prize. Although, we forgot, there is another way - it can be given! But we are here, in a closed waterfall, and it is clear that none of the options are possible for us. We can't get it in any way."

      "Ah! I know, I know, - Berta intervened, - wet, but you can take it in your hands - it's ice! I'm saying that everything is simple here! Easier than simple!"

      "No," said the fish, "it is whole, wet and soft. A hand passes through it like through water."

      Berta frowned her little eyebrows: "This is what you guys came up with, didn't you just come up with it? Ma, let's just say thank you to everyone and, sorry, we have a lot to do. Happy to stay!" ...Ha-ha-ha. Diana even sat down from laughter.

      "Bertyunya, well, you're okay with modesty," she replied, still laughing, then turned to the fish "First of all, thank you for the hint on how to get to the turn faster, but if it didn't work the first time, then now we'll go very slowly in the direction we came from to return home. So sorry, we're glad to help, but we really need to go the other way."

      "Ma," the girl did not calm down, "well, look, we already know the way back and how to get out of here. Let's still see what's behind that turn, where we didn't get the first time. Well, please! Please! Please!" - and Berta folded her paws in front of her and shook them funny.

      Berta knew that her mother liked it when she sat on her butt with her paws stretched out in front of her. She quickly flopped on her butt, tail to the side, nose forward and made such an unhappy look, as if she had come here only for the sake of this turn. The look was terribly funny!

      Diana stroked Berta: "Cunning. Well, okay, but only until that turn. Do you hear?"

      The little one quickly nodded her head in agreement.

      Saying goodbye to the fish again, they went forward. They walked very, very slowly, barely moving their legs and paws. And, surprisingly, the turn began to approach! When they practically approached it, unexpectedly, the ground became slippery like wet ice. Diana and Berta flopped on it and in an instant flew down with great speed. They rode like a water slide in a water park and it was impossible to stop.

      It was scary, but the colorfulness of the sensations did not decrease from this! Trees and bushes flew by, which turned after Diana and Berta, who were rapidly flying past, and waved their branches to them in greeting. But they did not notice this - they were not up to it ... The mountains and forests that could be seen in the distance seemed fabulous and mysterious, like in a picture that you wanted to stop and walk through. Below, the lights of some city flickered. And, as they say: sooner or later, whether you believe it or not, any road leads to the right place, to new experiences. It only remains to understand how much this will actually be the "right place" and how good the impressions will be?

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      The speed began to decrease and, to their surprise, they flew out onto the shore of a huge lake, or maybe even a small sea. Diana got up and dusted herself off. Berta did the same. And they went to the water. A light breeze was blowing, raising small waves, which, like lambs, rolled over the blue surface. The sun was reflected in bright glare, and they looked like precious stones, swaying on the water and shimmering with every breath of the breeze. Shining rays were reflected from the water surface with a golden-fiery path, which you always want to run away into a fairy-tale world. The path and into the sky…

      Diana thought that it seemed like, it was not clear how, but they still ended up in such a fairy tale. She once read the assumptions of scientists that in the depths of our planet there is the same life as on the surface of the Earth, and that the Sun also shines there.

      "That's it! - she thought, - are we in the underworld?! And do they know about us? About the people and the animal world, which it turns out is high above them?"

      Questions flew through her head even faster than she and Berta fell. Her thoughts were interrupted by the splash of water.

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      "This is life! My favorite water treatments! How I missed this, especially in the last five minutes," Berta shouted joyfully and loudly, squinting her eyes with pleasure and splashing water in all directions.

      "And ten minutes ago you were comfortable with dirty paws? - Diana asked laughing. - That's it, enough playing. If we ended up here, then let's go see how they live here and who lives here?"

      They went out onto a wide road and headed towards the city. They decided that it was a city, because tall buildings could be seen far away on the horizon.

      They had not gone far when suddenly, out of nowhere, a mechanism of absolutely fantastic origin appeared next to them, somewhat similar to a car. The whole so-called car was made, at first glance, of snow-white rubber, which, as its owner later claimed: "If there is an impact, collision or some other trouble associated with possible deformation, then thanks to such a coating, there is no doubt about saving lives. The body can become of any density and shape, adapting to the given situation." Half of the car was completely transparent, which provided an ideal view. Familiar to us, the so-called doors opened and Diana and Berta saw that a big dog in a pilot's suit was looking at them, driving this technical device.

      This creature looked closely at Diana and Berta, then switched something on the keychain that hung around her neck and they heard a language quite understandable to them: "Hello! I'm Smart. Maybe we're on the way? Get in my defense - it's the safest device. It's transparent, but no one will see you from the outside."

      "You know what I'm going to tell you? - said little Bertyunya, wrinkling her little nose, who barely reached the car window because of her height. - You look so much like a "road do-gooder" who is not a do-gooder at all. And it's still unknown where you'll take us."

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      "Wait, little one," Diana intervened. - You know, don't be offended, but we really don't know each other. Thank you for the offer, but we'll walk to the city ourselves."

      "Come on. First of all, we know each other," Smart said, smiling with what seemed like a hundred perfectly white teeth. You already know my name. Second, they don't let you walk into the city. Thirdly, which is very likely, you will be caught and sent to "Control". And this will not bring you anything good and pleasant. And since you are strangers, it is unlikely that you will be released at all after checking and examining."

      "Then there is no point in going to the city at all," Diana remarked. And taking Bertyunya in her arms, she was about to go in the opposite direction.

      But Smart stopped her with a gesture: "Do you know that when the White Light ends, the Black Light comes out from under the ground and takes everything that is on the surface even deeper underground. The chances of survival are zero. You will have nowhere to hide," Smart said, tilting his head to the side and narrowing his eyes.

      "White light is probably day, and Black light is night," Diana thought, "only the nights here are too dangerous for life. It seems like we don't have much choice."

      And she said out loud: "Okay, Smart, we trust you and will take advantage of your offer. I hope we didn't make a mistake."

      They climbed into the chairs, the doors closed and they set off. The movement itself was not felt at all, as if the car was standing still, but completely unusual landscapes and even some creatures that looked like animals began to flash outside the window.

      The mountains and forest they had seen earlier were replaced by open terrain.

      Smart pointed to a tall plant and said, "This is a tree that split in half and is now empty inside. It can accumulate and store White light in itself. If you look there, there will be light. And next to it is a carpet of white flowers that can crawl if they are hot, and be in the shade of any tree. Like now."

      "Wow, they settled down," Berta said with a smile. - They parked well: the shade and the flies don't bite."

      "I'll show you many interesting birds and animals of my World", he added, "There are many of them, but not all of them are real."

      Bertyona did not calm down: "No, we do not need artificial ones. It's like toys, and I'm already big."

      "And recently, I remember, someone wanted to order a lot of treats and toys?" - winking at the baby, said Diana.

      "Well, yes, this, well, it was a long time ago," Berta began to stutter a little, "time has passed and I have grown up. Now I'm an adult."

      "Ahhhh...", Diana replied slowly, "well... if you're already big and grown up, then everything is clear - what kind of toys can there be?" - hugged Berta and laughed.

      Then she turned to Smart: "While we're on the road, can you tell us about yourself and why you decided to stop on the road and offer your help?"

      "Okay," Smart said, "but then you tell me about yourself. Deal? It seems to me that you have something to tell. We'll be there soon, so briefly. I am the son of the chief keeper of all knowledge, information and facts that have happened or are happening in our city. My father's name is Seunch. This is how they used to call those who brought good news, especially about victory. In terms of its importance, it is the first high noble nobleman after our ruler, whose name is Mayin the First, and he rules the City of Desires, where we are actually going. Well, that's short. And you? Who are you? - Smart looked at Berta, who was dozing on Diana's lap. - Who let such babies go alone?" he added in surprise.

      Berta mumbled sleepily, "You're the little one, and we're already big."

      Diana quickly tried to explain, "She meant that we look small, but we understand everything like adults."

      And she quietly said to Bertyunya's ear: "Let's not say who we really are for now. Who knows, maybe it will be better for us now. Let him think that we are still small."

      At this time, Smart's defense slowed down, passing unusual animals that were crossing the road. They were very tall, the fur on their heads was matted into flat pieces that looked like wide, shaggy long leaves, and covered the entire body to the ground, and at the end of each leaf was a blue eye, which in the middle with black depth attracted the one who looked. When the animal moved, its eyes, swaying, could look in all directions at once. It seemed not to walk, but to float above the ground, and all its eyes stared at the defense that had stopped.

      "Here, I can tell you for sure that he's not looking kindly," Berta said warily. - I even get goosebumps from all his eyes. Suspicious, I wouldn't trust him too much."

      "Yes," Smart said, "every time I see a Leafeye, I am surprised and amazed by its appearance. There are many of them around the city. They guard it. Perhaps that's why they have a wary and suspicious look. But, this is their so-called work. No one can see so much and everything around at once - only the Leafeye."

      Berta had already woken up and, opening her beautiful button eyes wide, stared at the animal crossing the road.

      "The whole body, like a blanket, covers the leaves and eyes," the little one was surprised, "does he have legs?"

      "The Leafeye has long legs," Smart replied, "which are covered with spurs, and in case of danger, needles fly out of them right on target. An ideal guard: strong and reliable - will not let you down!"

      When all the animals crossed the road, the defense continued on its way.

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      The road turned sharply to the side and right in front of them, as if from under the ground, a high wall with a wide arch appeared, on which there was a drawing made up of words and some hieroglyphs.

      The huge doors were the size of the entire arch, blocking the entrance to the city. Below, under the very wall that surrounded the entire city, there was a strip of fiery orange color, and near the entrance to the city there were creatures that looked like people, but not people. When Smart's defense approached them and stopped, they came up and squatted down.

      "What are they doing? Diana asked. - What are they looking at?"

      "There is a strip in the middle of the wheel," Smart replied, "on which the desired color will now appear. The guards are waiting for this to be recorded. They change it every day, and even the guards do not know what color it will be today when approaching the city gates. The type of strip is fed to the Center and, if everything matches, the gate will open. We don't see it, but they have a special device on their helmet and it shows whether a resident of the City of Desires or a stranger has arrived."

      Berta was surprised: "Well, if you left with one color, then came back, and the color that allows entry has already changed, then how? And what is this strip under the wall?"

      "If the defense is from this city, then wherever it is, the strip on the wheel will automatically change color for entry," Smart patiently replied, "and the fiery orange part of the wall is the base of the second wall, which is located in front of the first - the main city wall, and it is transparent. Whoever touches it will disappear on the spot immediately! Just evaporate! As you can see, a stranger cannot pass, let alone pass. Everything, as I told you."

      Suddenly, waves of light went through the drawing on the city gates. And separately, selectively, blinked on the drawing of the gate. In front of the defense, the light gradually began to become brighter and brighter and, finally, flashed silently. Diana and Berta closed their eyes in surprise, and when they opened their eyes, the city gates were simply gone. They disappeared.

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      "Everything is fine," Smart said, "a little more and we'll be there."

      As soon as the defense was under the arch, the solid surface disappeared under it. It fell into the void and flew.

      Diana and Berta didn't have time to get scared when they heard: "We've arrived!"

      "Wow, speed! - exclaimed Bertyunya, - what kind of instant movements? And where did the city fly past the window with restaurants and shop windows?"