???: I once traveled to a small town called Rayashki.
???: It was located high up within the Arctic Circle, and it was frigid cold all year long.
???: After my visit there, I traveled to many more places, from Zealand to the Balkan Peninsula. My journey went on and on.
???: But above all other places, I kept finding my thoughts returning to that little town. To its incandescent lights glowing in the long dark of the polar night, to the shared dream of the people there.
???: I got this picture book from Rayashki.
It is a children's book—a thin one at that. But, story inside has the power to warm a frigid heart.
Once opened, whirls of bright primary colors run into one another and flow up onto my palm.
I found myself returning to it during stormy days when I was stuck at home.
This is a story about honest and ordinary people.
???: The swans are dancing in a circle. Their arms go back and forth!
???: Vila and the swans have done this dance almost twenty times last week. She taught the swans all their beautiful moves.
???: "Swan Lake is the best ballet ever," I remembered Mr. Evgeni once said so. He also said the tortoises would come to watch the show. But why would tortoises want to watch Swan Lake?
???: Vila says she doesn't like the tortoises. She likes "knowledge." I don't know much about knowledge, but I think Ms. Vila is always right.
???: Only between you and me—Vila smells like seaweed and coral. But those are "happy" smells to me. I think she must be the princess of the ocean.
???: But she tells us she is not special and that everyone here is equal, no matter if they are a princess or a swan!
???: That we all have two feet and ten fingers, and if we all work together, we can "build a beacon to the future." I hope in the future we still get to sing and dance, when we are not building beacons.
???: Nina's favorite food is called Alenka; it's a chocolate bar. She used to cry a lot whenever she made a mistake with her dancing, but then Vila talked to her, and now she doesn't cry so much.
???: One time, she danced very, very perfectly, so Vila gave her a piece of an Alenka bar.
???: I believe she will be a great dancer—if she doesn't get too nervous on stage, then she could have even more chocolate!
???: I wish I was like her. I want chocolate too!
???: But I'm not a swan like her. And now there's never any Alenka in the canteen's cupboard.
???: Now, Nina is the swan princess—the most prettiest of all swans.
???: Pasono is the swan prince. He is a nice swan, and he has many many swan friends.
???: And Pyotr is the evil sorcerer, a black swan. Nobody wanted to be the bad guy, but Pyotr doesn't mind.
???: He is very serious and always bossy to everyone, so he doesn't have many swan friends.
???: Pyotr just wants to do his job as perfectly as he can, because he loves our town.
Avgust: Now Avgust is not a swan, but he also loves his town.
Avgust: sniffs
Avgust: Then there is the little mouse, who moves as quickly as the blowing wind.
Avgust: Will it be our new visitor?!
Avgust: What was it that Vila said about new visitors? I don't remember now.
Avgust puts down his paper, returning to the world of noise and people.
He looks around for a familiar face.
Avgust: Vila!
The boy slips through the crowd. Until at last he finds that face, looking out over a snowy field.
Vila: Mm?
Avgust: Reporting to you, Comrade Vila! I have a very important question!
Vila: Well, then go ahead, little Comrade Avgust.
Avgust: How should we receive the new visitors coming to town?
Avgust: Maybe we can welcome them with Alenka, or friendship, or maybe something else?
Vila: chuckles
Vila: We will welcome them with white snow, with smiles on our faces, and with the welcoming arms we use to achieve our dreams. As we do for everyone who comes here, little comrade.
Vila wipes away the paint from the child's face and stands.
Vila: It's always good to ask questions. But don't forget your task today, alright?
She points to the unfinished painting in his hand.
Avgust nods eagerly.
Avgust: I won't!
Avgust: My drawings are important, but Vila says entertaining our new friends is also important. Which one comes first?
He holds up his cluttered drawing board.
Avgust: After the swans have flown away, Evgeni will go up to the stage.
Avgust: Evgeni is not an evil sorcerer, but he knows a secret magic that makes everyone's tongues hide in their mouths.
Avgust: He is not so much a bad person, I think. Evgeni's shadow is very long, but no one, not even my sunflower, can explain why.
Avgust: Evgeni walks heavily onto the stage; his appearance comes without any applause.
The tall figure reaches the podium.
Evgeni: clears throat
Evgeni: We have received a telegraph. Zeno's investigators will arrive here in Rayashki tomorrow afternoon.
Evgeni: And we will be hosting a welcome ceremony.
The crowd is silent in reply.
Evgeni: I understand your concerns. I know you don't want Zeno to interfere with your lives, nor do you want their troops stationed here.
Evgeni: And I would remind you that they have honored their side of the deal for decades now.
A callused hand rises up to break the silence.
Knut: We give them runium ore, and they supply us in return. It should be as simple as that.
Knut: Always it has been this way, since my grandfather's time.
Evgeni: Times have changed, Comrade Knut.
Evgeni: In the old days, Zeno used to pay us generously for mining this runium, because our ore was necessary for their arcane combat vehicles.
Evgeni: But now, we have nearly exhausted all our mines. You know this better than I do.
Knut: ...
Knut: But isn't there some other work we can do? Already, we built our own houses, and now we even grow our own crops.
Resident I: He's right. Why must we work with Zeno if we could feed ourselves?
Resident II: Comrades, calm yourselves! Evgeni is doing this for everybody's sake—have you forgotten about those little monsters?
Resident II: Is there anyone left on our defense team that hasn't been injured fighting them?
The audience falls quiet. Evgeni seizes on their momentary pause.
Evgeni: It is as Comrade Nikita said.
Evgeni: The critters are running rampant these days. Not only have they occupied most of our mines, some have even found their way into the town.
Evgeni: Do you really think we can protect our people with our small defense team? Don't you care about your neighbors' safety? Do you want to keep Rayashki an isolated town just to let it die?
Vila: Rayashki is more than an isolated town, Evgeni.
Vila: And we all know that.
Evgeni: But this is the reality we all must face now.
The scales on Vila's face rise involuntarily. She holds her stare.
Workers, cooks, security personnel ... Soon, all of Rayashki has joined in.
Knut: Comrade Evgeni. It was your idea to turn to these Zeno big guys for help. But you never even asked what we think, did you?
Knut: So you can't blame us for disagreeing now.
Evgeni: I'm doing this for your good.
His assurances did not seem to have much impact on the crowd.
A cold wind passes across the square.
Vila: We can take care of ourself- ...
She has more to say, but as she moves to speak, her scales stand on edge and shiver audibly.
She holds her hand up, signaling to the crowd. There is a scent on the wind—danger is near.
???: roars
A horde of hairy critters burst into the square.
Vila: Everyone, watch out!
She picks up a wooden chair to fend them off.
Evgeni: Defense team!
Guard I: On it!
COMBAT
???: wails
The critters flee in a panic.
If nothing else, the attack served to bring the town together again.
Evgeni: I salute your sense of smell, Comrade Vila. We could have suffered much more severe consequences without your forewarning.
Handshakes and salutes are shared, their dispute now absent from anyone's mind.
Vila: Think nothing of it. It's just a reflex reaction when there is danger nearby.
She touches her scales, pressing them down until they settle.
Evgeni: But this incursion has proved my point. We need Zeno's help.
Evgeni: The other townspeople are not gifted with your set of talents. We are all vulnerable to the growing dangers, wouldn't you agree?
Evgeni: I only ask you to put yourself in their shoes.
He speaks softly, evenly, but even so, the words land like a heavy blow.
Vila: Your criticism is valid and well-accepted, Comrade Evgeni.
Vila: Perhaps I could agree with your plan. Provided Zeno's presence is a temporary one. We just don't want them to change things for us here.
The atmosphere in the square moves from joyful to serious, as the meaning of their words takes hold.
Evgeni: I'm glad that you have finally come to realize what is best for us.
Evgeni: Zeno is known for their rigorous methods and rational decision-making, and they are committed to maintaining peace around the world. I'm sure they will make the right decision.
Evgeni: They trusted us to supply their ore, and we have faithfully played our part in supporting them. Thanks to our help, Zeno has successfully tackled many international issues.
Evgeni: It has always been them and us together, fighting for a better world.
Knut: Hahaha! When he puts it that way, he's right. We should be proud of our cooperation!
Even without a punchline, Knut's deep belly laugh breaks the tension.
Evgeni: Therefore, we will show our appreciation to Zeno for the contributions they've made to the world with our help. Now, let's continue our rehearsals.
As the adults return to their duties, a sharp-eyed child notices that someone is missing.
Pasono: Have you seen Avgust? I can't find him!
Vila: Hmm?!
Nina: Strange, where did he go?
Pyotr: Hmph, looking for any Alenka left in the cupboards, I'd bet! He's always breaking the rules doing whatever he wants.
Nina: We shouldn't talk badly about our classmate, Pyotr! He's one of us.
Pyotr lowers his head, his face crumpling, until at last, he lets out a grumble fit for a bear.
Pyotr: sighs Yes, you're right. I just want everyone to do their best, even him.
Vila: Don't worry, kids. We will find him.
Vila pats Nina's shoulder softly.
Vila: A child is missing, Comrade Evgeni. I suggest a temporary suspension of our rehearsals.
Evgeni murmurs a half-response, until he catches the weight of her words.
Evgeni: Urgh, it must be that strange kid again! He is always sneaking away like this.
Avgust has been no small trouble in the past. Evgeni frowns, but Vila's determined glare tells him "No" is not an acceptable answer.
Vila: He is only trying to understand the world in his own way.
Evgeni: ...