The next two weeks went like clockwork. I went to university, did my homework, cleaned the house, cooked tasteless food, ate mom's delicious food, in the evenings: either I walked with Lisa, or I hacked until morning with Roman on the computer, on weekends... Were you resting? Do you think I'm going to do something on the weekend? Of course not – I'm still lazy.
In general, time passed quickly, but there was no festive mood, and it appeared very quickly. But everything changed one morning... Morning on Christmas Eve...
***
Morning.
Vic was basking in bed. The alarm clock wasn't ringing, so he didn't have to go anywhere today, and the kid could doze off as much as he wanted.
The phone's ringtone rang. Vic's impassive expression changed to one of displeasure. He tried to turn off the alarm with his hand, but after pressing the button many times, he realized that the sound was not coming from him. Then Vic listlessly got out of bed and wearily walked to the table where the phone was lying. Vic picked up the phone, the caller turned out to be Roman, the boy answered sluggishly.
— Yes? ..
— Happy Christmas, Buddy!
— Christmas is tomorrow, you idiot crooked...
— Actually, in 12 hours, to be exact.
— To be precise, we went to bed at 4 a.m. because someone couldn't defeat the orc for 3 hours!
— It's not my fault – he climbed himself! Anyway, what time do you go out today?
— That's what we wanted an hour after the chimes.
— Okay, then we'll pull up too. And more... Vi-ic...
— What else?
— Did you buy me a present?
— Yes...
— Really? Damn, then I'll have to?
— * Sigh*
— Joke! I bought everything, okay, let me go – I brought it to my mom...
Vic turned off the call. Then I saw a message from Liz.
***
[L] - Happy New Year's Eve! :)
[V] - Happy New Year.
[L] - Wow, you're up so early.
[V] - I had to...
[L] - Okay, but you'll breathe more.
[V] - Yeah, of course.
[L] - Okay, I have to go, I'll call you.
[V] - Godspeed.
***
Vic put the phone away and, stretching, spoke.
— Yes, I do...
Vic made up the bed, straightened the curtains. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, followed by a quiet voice.
— Vic, are you asleep?
—Nope... — Vic whispered back.
Mom came into the room with a packed box and spoke.
— Happy Christmas!
— Thank you. And you.
— I know you don't like Christmas themes that much, but this should be fine.
Vic unwrapped the package and opened the box. It contained a warm beige sweater with a New
Year's pattern. Vic grinned and said.
— It's beautiful... Oh, I forgot about the gift.
— Yes, you don't need to, the main thing is that you should be happy...
— No, no, that won't do.
Vic carefully put the sweater on the table and began rummaging through the drawers.
— Where is he? Ah! I found it... Happy New Year to you.
— What is it?
— Wireless charging – you put your phone on it and it charges.
— Wow, does it work on the TV remote?
— I don't know, I haven't checked.
— Then let's go have breakfast, at the same time you will show how to use the puck.
Vic grabbed a sweater and left the room with his mother.
The next few hours passed smoothly with almost no incidents.
In the evening, they set a festive table on which they stood: chicken, salads, sandwiches, pudding, all kinds of snacks, but mom noticed that she did not have enough green peas for salad and sent
Vic to the store to buy it.
Evening.
It was snowing lightly. Outside, Vic exhaled hot air that turned into steam. Putting on headphones and turning on the first New Year's song he saw, Vic went to the store.
Walking along the same road almost every day, Vic noticed garlands and other decorations on the houses, which complemented the festive atmosphere.
Oddly enough, Vic looked at each decorated house with interest and sometimes smiled.
When he reached the store, he took the headphones out of his ears and went inside. Picking up a jar of green peas, he went to the cash register and put it on the conveyor belt. The elderly cashier said with a smile.
— It's been a while since you've visited us, Vic.
— Yes, I've been doing it a lot.
The cashier punched the jar, and Vic reached into his pocket to pay. Suddenly, Vic took out a coupon for cold drinks. The kid looks towards the refrigerator.
A few minutes later, Vic came out of the store with a can of peas and a Coke.
The kid put the peas in his pocket and, taking the coke with both hands, opened the jar with a puff.
After trying it, Vic spoke.
— It's nothing special.
Vic went home, drinking a coke.
He stopped at a pedestrian crossing and waited for the traffic light.
The traffic light turned green and Vic walked on. Almost reaching the sidewalk, Vic felt someone approaching. Before he could look back, someone jumped out at him with blinding headlights.
Vic didn't even have time to think, as someone abruptly drove around him and, driving along the sidewalk, flew into a snowdrift.
Vic quickly ran up to the scene of the accident. It turned out to be a snowmobile driven by a short man in a red and green suit and big ears. Vic, looking at the man, asked.
— Are you all right?
The little man spoke with a catch in his breath.
— As you see? Everything, everything, everything is very bad! Did you have to get under the wheels!?
— Actually, you were running a red light!
— What's the difference! I won't make it in time anyway...
— There's still 4 hours before twelve, you'll have time to get home.
— I won't have time, the portal is only open until 8, and I don't have a manual...
— Mgm... What does it mean? Manual? Clear... Good luck then.
— Hey! Where are you going? Come on, help me now, because of you I ran into a snowdrift!
— First of all, you swooped down! Secondly, how can I help you?
— Give it here!
The little man took a can of coke from Vic and poured it into the fuel compartment. Vic suggested it.
— I don't think it's worth pouring it in there...
The little man started the snowmobile and drove out of the snowdrift. It turned out that the caterpillar had come off the device.
Vic squatted down and spoke.
— Uh-oh, it's time to change the caterpillar, and it's certainly not today.
— What should I do? How to get to Rovaniemi railway station?
— You can take a taxi, they still seem to go.
— And where can I get a taxi now?
Vic sighed.
— I'll call you now...
A taxi arrived a few minutes later, the little man hurriedly took out the packed boxes from the trunk and, getting into the taxi, said.
— Consider us even, man... Driver, take me to Rovaniemi railway station!
The taxi drove away, and Vic followed him with the most uncomprehending look. Suddenly, the kid noticed another wrapped gift.
Vic sat down next to him and noticed the tag "Bruder, North Pole".
Lifting her up, he shook her.
— And what to do with it? If you leave it here, they'll kill you, if you take it home, there might be a bomb, and even if there's a name written here, it means it's meant for someone... What should I do?
At that time, at Lisa's house, her phone rang. The girl picked up the phone.
— Hello, is something wrong?
— Well, how to say it... I was walking down the walkway from the store and suddenly a snowmobile almost flew into me, as a result it crashed into a snowdrift, which is why some overdressed dwarf started accusing me. So I called him a taxi, and he dropped one of his boxes in a hurry. And so I'm thinking, leave it here or take it home...
— Mgm... I'll be right there...
— I'm waiting.
After 30 minutes, Liz listened to this story again.
— .. I think it's better to take it to myself.
— Can we open it here and find out?
— And if the bomb explodes and we explode?
— Then only we will suffer, and if we take home half the street...
— An argument...
— And it's better not to open it at all and go home...
Vic, looking straight into Liz's eyes, pulled the ribbon and opened the box. There was a snow globe inside it.
— You see, you were afraid.
Liz rolled her eyes. Vic was examining the ball.
— But what does the North Pole have to do with it?
Suddenly, a small holiday house was formed inside the ball.
Suddenly, a car drove close by, honked, and Vic, startled, dropped the ball, which crashed into the snow, creating a snow wormhole, which caused Vic and Liz to fall through.
The funnel disappeared, taking the boys with it.
The north pole
A portal opened in a snowy field. Vic and Liz flew out of it.
Standing up and shaking off the snow, Vic approached Liz.
— Okay?
— I think so ...
Vic helped Liz to stand up. The girl spoke.
— Brrr... It's cold in here.
— And there is no connection.
— Look over there, there's a light, maybe they have a connection?
— Let's go take a look.
The boys walked through the thick snow, trying to keep warm in every possible way.
As they got closer to the light, they realized that it was a large wooden building decorated with garlands and a nearby brick chimney.
There were more lights behind the building, which came from a small village.
Vic and Liz approached the building and knocked on the door, shivering from the cold.
A moment later, a short girl opened the door, and she said in surprise.
— Wow, we haven't had people for a long time.
Liz asked.
— Sorry, we got lost here, could you help us?
— Of course! Come on in, kids, you're probably freezing.
— Thank you very much.
Vic and Liz entered the building and found themselves at the reception desk.
The girl sat down at the counter and called the guys over.
— So, are you with us?..
Still having time to warm up, Vic spoke.
— Victor Monday.
— Elizabeth Koval.
— Mgm... Good... Here you are on the white list.
Liz asked.
— I'm sorry to be curious, but which list is it on?
— Like what?" On the list of good kids.
The girl showed the parchment to the boys, where their names were next to each other. Lisa looked at the list.
— And really, look, Vic, Roman and Mary are right behind us...
Vic also looked at the list and spoke in a whisper.
— We need to get out of here...
Liz asked.
— And if there is a white list, then there is a blacklist?
— Of course, Santa Claus writes down naughty children who have behaved badly and will not receive gifts...
Vic is also quiet.
— And quickly...
Liz asked.
— Excuse me, but can you tell me how to get home?
— Oh, I don't know, I just keep a list of who goes in and out.
— Who knows? We just really need to be home before midnight.
— Hmm... Follow me, I'll take you to the deputy – he knows for sure.
Vic and Liz followed her. The girl opened the double doors and walked down the corridor decorated with honor boards. On one of them hung a portrait of a low-growing man and the inscription "Satis - Employee of the Year"
Vic asked.
— Do you have any kind of production here?
— Of course.
The girl opened the doors and a large room appeared in front of the guys, similar to a workshop.
There were conveyors everywhere, tables where the same little people worked. Vic said it.
— Yeah... I'd rather stay at home. Without the peas, but at home...
Liz whispered.
— Be quiet, we might attract them and force us to plow. And by the way, about "them.".. Are they...
— Elves
— How long have you known about this?
— Yes, as soon as I saw that Bruder.
— Why didn't you tell me?
— So I thought you knew, when we were DnD playing, she chose the elf herself.
— But I didn't think they were like that... Such...
— Small things?
— Yes.
— Maybe there are more higher ones, especially since it's cold here – it's a sin to complain.
Passing by the tables, it was noticeable how the elves were making toys with their own hands. After that, they are placed on a container and they are wrapped in a wrapper.
Vic asked.
— Well, how long have you been doing this?
The girl thoughtfully.
— Oh, personally, I only came here 5 years ago, I haven't fully got used to it yet, but I think we've been working for 7 hundred years, but I doubt that we'll be in this field right away...
— I see, I see...
Vic whispered.
— Remind me, if we survive and go home, never drink Coke again.
The guys walked to the end of the conveyor belt, where there was a large Christmas tree. They went around her and up the stairs.
The second floor consisted only of the deputy's office. Going to the door, the girl said.
— Mr. Barnsworth doesn't like to be disturbed, but if you ask for help, he will definitely help.
The girl knocked on the door. A voice rang out.
— Come in!
The guys and the girl entered the office.
A wooden room with a sofa and a table with a chair appeared in front of them.
The guys stood almost in the center of the office. The girl asked.
— Mr. Barnsworth, could you help us with a problem?"
A voice came from behind.
— Yes. Is the packaging over again?
— No, you'd better see for yourself.
— Well, what's up?
A boy of about fifteen stood up from the table.
When he saw the guys, he spoke.
— Wow, how did you end up here?
He came over to greet them. Vasya shook his hand.
— Hello to you, too.
— What's your name?
— Vic, and this is Liz.
— Nicholas, you can just call him Nick. So, can you tell me how you're doing here?
— It's a long story, but in short...
suddenly a familiar elf burst into the room and spoke with a catch in his breath.
— I'm sorry, Mr. Barnsworth, I'm a little late, but I brought everything.
Vic looked at the elf and said.
— That's because of him.
The elf looked at the guys and spoke.
— You again? How did you get here in the first place?
— Your box fell out,"Bruder. The North Pole", well, it opened on its own, and there's a balloon and "bang" we're here...
— You can't come here, do you even understand where you are?
— In Alaska?
Barnsworth, holding his head, spoke.
— Okay, Bruder, we'll talk about your lateness later, did you bring everything?
— Yes.
The elf laid out the parts of some kind of mechanism, after which he immediately assembled it.—
— Voila!
The deputy looked at the mechanism, which resembled a large clock.
— Where's the crystal?
— How where? Here!
Bruder looked at his watch.
— Oh...
— How do you understand "oh"?!
— I think I left it in the taxi...
***
In the middle of the argument, I clearly understood: "We're in deep sh..."