"Well, I do fight, after all," Squint-Eye said. "Orel will get used with time, I'll help him."

"What? What are you talking about?" Lis was ready to pull out his hair in anger.

"Nik will heal him," Tol said taking off the chain. "He did heal Asa."

"Orel, my poor Orel, forgive me! I'll bring the doctor!"

"No!" Orel tried to get up to stop Lis.

Lis ran to the door and at this moment it opened and Nikto entered the room. He and Lis nearly bumped into each other. Everyone froze.

"Curse you!" Lis shouted. "Curse you, you freak!"

He slapped Nikto's cheek, then the other, the first again, then once more, it happened very fast. Nikto pressed to the door, he was without his mask. Lis yanked off his glasses. Nikto screwed his eyes shut, tried to cover them, he didn't even try to counter Lis. Lis grabbed his hair, yanked it with all his force, pulled Nikto closer at first and then pushed slamming Nikto's head against the door.

Orel got up but grabbed his face moaning and fell back onto the bed.

"Pull Lis away!" he yelled with his last bit of strength.

Tol rushed to Lis, wrapped his arms around him from behind. Lis turned to him.

"Don't touch me, I'm all right. It's over."

He walked away from Nikto.

"If I'd wanted to kill or maim him, I'd have done that, you wouldn't have time to stop me. But I didn't harm this animal because I hope he might really help Orel."

Nikto slowly slipped down and sat on the floor; his cheeks were aflame, Lis's fingers left imprints on them. He pressed his head to the door and didn't open his eyes.

"I challenge you," Lis said.

"No," Nikto shook his head, "I don't accept your challenge."

"You cannot refuse to accept it, I insulted your dignity slapping you like a cheap whore."

"I don't care. You just love Orel, and so do I."

"Shit," Lis turned away and lit a cigarette standing at the window.

Orel clenched his teeth with pain and walked up to Nikto, sat down next to him. He picked up Nikto's glasses and put them into Nikto's hand.

"Nik, put on your glasses, it's too light for you," he said and his voice shook. Nikto turned to the sound of his voice.

"Arel, you shouldn't get up."

Orel hugged him.

"Nik, Nik, forgive Lis."

"I've already forgotten," Nikto smiled.

"Will you heal Orel?" Enriki asked.

"Yes." Nikto put on his glasses. "My vision will restore now and I'll take care of him."

He passed his palm over Orel's face.

"You're in pain! I was away for too long," he pressed Orel's head to his chest. "It'll get better now, my poor Arel."

Orel clung to him. Nikto leaned to him and kissed his damaged eye.

"Let's go," Lis stubbed his cigarette.

Tol looked at Nikto and Orel grinning like a madman.

"Yes, I think we should leave," Enriki said.

"Really? What a pity," Tol said laughing. "I wouldn't mind staying and holding a candle for them."

They left.

Chapter 3

A New Set-up

Orel woke up and yawned with enjoyment. Still half-dreaming, he stretched lazily and covered his face with his palms, trying to rub his sleepy eyes.

"Oh gods!" he flinched feeling thick cloth of the bandage over his right eye and recalling everything. He shivered, his sleepiness gone without a trace. He sat up in bed abruptly trying to suppress trembling.

Nikto who slept next to him opened his eyes and reached his hand squeezing Orel's palm.

"Easy, easy, don't be afraid. Lie back," he said.

Orel lay down obediently.

Nikto didn't let his hand go, kept squeezing it. "Don't tremble, calm down," he smiled at Orel. "C-a-l-m d-o-w-n."

With his free hand Orel stroked Nikto's fingers, black with tattoos, and gently touched the short stump of his ring finger.

"Nik, you're here, with me," he said, moved.

"Yes," Nikto stopped clenching Orel's palm but didn't let it go. "Though it is you with me. It is my room." He laughed softly.

"What happened yesterday? I don't remember anything," Orel tensed again.

"I healed your eye and soon you will be able to see as before."

Orel touched the bandage on his face.

"You healed me."

"Yes, yes," Nikto took his hand off the bandage, "just don't touch it."

Orel turned to him.

"I won't be single-eyed, will I?"

Nikto smiled shaking his head.

"You won't. You'll have two eyes, like before."

Orel lay back in the pillows, relaxed.

"It's so good. But is it for sure, Nik?"

"For sure, don't worry. But you can't get up yet, do you hear me?"

"Yes, I hear. I won't make a step without your permission!"

Nikto laughed again but didn't say anything.

"What time is it?"

"I don't know," Nikto shrugged. "But your friends are gone."

"Why are they just *my* friends?"

Nikto rose slightly smoothening his hair.

"Well, they are mine, too," he grinned.

"I asked you not to quarrel again."

Nikto turned to Orel. "We didn't quarrel."

"And with Lis?"

"And with Lis."

"Do you resent him badly?"

"Arel, I don't want to talk about it now. I need a shot. Later, okay?"

Nikto got out of the bed, came up to the table, took his bag and started preparing a dose. He stood near to Orel, turned with his side to him; Nikto's bare feet were buried in the thick fur on the floor. Setting the syringe against his neck under the angle only he knew he injected the needle into his vein.

Orel turned away.

"You're doing it standing," he said. "You really are a finished man."

"Orel, it's ridiculous," Nikto said.

Orel passed his hand over Nikto's thigh.

"Nik, will you stay with me for a while longer?"

"As long as you want," Nikto returned to him. "I'm all yours."

Orel moved making some place for him. "Then sit down."

"Okay," Nikto took out a few pills from his casket and swallowed them washing them down with wine from a bottle. Orel swallowed hard.

"Nik, can I drink now?"

Nikto gave him the bottle. Orel grabbed it gratefully and gulped quickly. Having emptied it, he stretched happily.

"Gods! Can anything be better? I'll have my eye, I have my wine, and my Nik is with me!"

Nikto sat next to him, turned Orel's face to himself.

"I need to check if everything's all right."

Orel got pale.

"I'm scared."

"Don't be foolish. Besides, you take pain well, I noticed."

Nikto untied the knot and took the bandage off carefully. Orel froze submissively.

"Nik, you can't see well, how can you check my eye?" he said suddenly. Nikto covered Orel's mouth with his hand.

"Keep quiet. Don't worry, I'll always see what I need."

He passed his fingers over Orel's eye, just like he'd done many times before, then smiled.

"It looks fine!" he said at last, smiling. He covered Orel's good eye with his palm. "Look. Can you see?"

Orel blinked his damaged eye.

"Yes! A little…" he squinted, his eye was tearing with light. "Nik, thank you!"