Решение. Было 100 кг грибов, 99 кг воды (99%) и 1 кг сухого вещества (1%).

Стало. 1 кг сухого вещества никуда не делся, а воды стало 98%.
100%-98%=2%
Т.е. 1 кг грибов теперь соответсвует 2% веса.
1 кг - 2%
х кг — 100%

х=1кг*100%/ 2%=50 кг.

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Этот кусок из главы, которую я написала очень давно на русском. Это черновик, и чтобы он был в книге, его надо переписать на английском. Но прочитав его, становится понятно, почему мне нужно, чтобы кого-то, кто «не совсем человек», прострелили именно в сердце.

Остались только слёзы, и я плакала и не видела, как день сменился ночью, а ночь днём. Потом и слёз не стало. Осталась только пустота и боль. Мне казалось, что я в тот момент умерла. Вернее, умерла моя душа, а я осталась жить, корчась от боли, в мире, где смерть уже не казалась таким страшным злом, но избавлением.

Обычно, когда очень плохо, стоит подумать, что могло быть и хуже, и постепенно это мысль успокаивает. Мне тогда казалось, что хуже быть уже не может. Это было хуже всего. Жить с ним на одной планете, возможно, на одном континенте, быть может, даже в одном городе, и никогда больше не быть с ним вместе, не быть рядом. Я и представить себе не могла, как я тогда ошибалась. Я и не знала, что бывает ещё хуже.

Самое страшное — это не когда человек, которого любишь больше жизни, уходит под звуки твоего разбитого сердца, а ты стоишь на коленях и не можешь ничего сделать, чтобы его остановить. Жизнь меня научила, что нельзя быть такой глупой и опрометчивой. Хуже быть может.

Хуже — это когда сердце человека, которого любишь больше жизни, на твоих глазах пронзает пуля, а ты стоишь на коленях, он падает тебе на руки, ты его держишь и видишь, как он истекает кровью, и он от тебя уходит, его жизнь ускользает под мерный стук его пробитого сердца, а ты стоишь на коленях и ненавидишь себя и проклинаешь собственное бессилие, потому что уже ничего не можешь сделать, чтобы его остановить.

Это и есть самое страшное. Ты его обнимаешь, целуешь, а он никак не реагирует, и не потому, что он тебя не любит, а потому что ему уже всё равно.

Ты дышишь часто и прерывисто, твоё сердце бьётся аритмично через такт, и ты уже начинаешь захлёбываться переполняющими слезами. И тут приходит понимание, что человек, стрелявший в него, совершил невозможное по всем законам физики, логики и т.д. — одним выстрелом он пробил два сердца. Из них одно — человека, у которого нет сердца, и второе твоё, уже разбитое.

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All of a sudden a new ingenious idea captivated Madeline. Eyes full of mischief scintillated with excitement, and a stunning smile kindled her face with warmth. The challenge inspired her. Madeline was laughing:

“Oh, I know the rules very well, thank you so much. This doesn’t stop me, however, from breaking some of them or even all of them at once. Still there is one rule that I never violate, the rule of perfect hair. No matter what you do your hair should not just look good, it should be flawless (as your always is) even if you jump from a plane on a snow-board during a terrible snow-storm. No excuses. This is the only rule Dany won’t let me break.”

“Who’s Dany?” Mary inquired cautiously.

“Dany is my hairdresser.” 

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Why do we cause pain to the people we love? Why do we do things that we do not want that torture us more than anybody else?

This part of the story is very strange. I am not even sure if I want it to be in the book. It is part of a various little episodes entitled together "Strange Passages From The Second Part of The Book". I called this one "Love". This is how Richard preferred to call Madeline. In fact, he didn't like her name a lot. It irritated him at first as the pure essence of her character. Though with time it became very dear to him as the girl who wore it.

This episode takes place after Richard’s mother explained them the nature of their connection.

Madeline was ironing Richard’s shirts. She was musing:

“I wonder if I can have you and still love another man.”

The expression of utmost pain crossed Richard’s features. As usually he rearranged them into a calm  as fast as possible but not fast enough.

Madeline hang away one of his shirts and started ironing another one. He spoke in a broken voice:

“You know you don’t have to do it.”

Madeline looked up at him curiously. Yet she didn’t ask the question he expected to hear. She knew he was talking about the shirts this time. He didn’t allow himself any remarks about their relationship.

“I wonder why you do not call me ‘love’ any more? Have you changed your mind?” 

“You wish,” Richard responded gloomily. Her words were still torturing him more than the pain from the wounds ever did.

“Why then?”

“I’m afraid.”

She turned off the iron, put away the last shirt and came up to him. He was still wretched. If that man could cry he would be crying now. Instead Madeline’s eyes were full of tears. Her reaction surprised Richard as always. He looked at her alarmed.

“What did I do?”

She stroke his face gently trying to comfort him.

“Do you not see how bad it is? I make you feel miserable, unwanted, worthless. It tortures me I bring you so much pain. I don’t want it. I’m sorry I said that. I don’t even know why. It’s very stupid of me. I cannot do anything with myself. I love you even if I don’t want to. Would you please forgive me?”

“I have nothing to forgive you. I deserve it all.”

“Nobody deserves what I’ve made you go through. I will never do it again! Do you believe me?”

“Of course, I do.”

She looked like a child lost in the darkness. Ironically she turned to him searching for the light. If this is what she wants she can surely have it. He will give it to her.

“What are you thinking?”

So surprising to hear his favourite question from her.

He didn’t knew how to answer. She was staring in his dark blue eyes looking for the clues and risking to get lost in their depth. She broke off the silence.

“You can call me ‘love’ you know”.

“Why do you never call me any of the affectionate words?”

“Which ones?”

“Something like ‘honey’, ‘sweetheart’, ‘baby’.”

“I know that you hate them all. You call me ‘love’ yourself so I cannot use it. Your name is the most affectionate sound to my ears.”

She sighed.

“It cannot go on like this.”

“It doesn’t have to be always so. Don’t worry, dear, we’ll be fine.”

“Do you think so? You re still upset with me.”

“I am not upset with you. I am upset with myself. You are just showing me small glimpses of the pain I’ve made you go through and it resonates in my heart. I will never forgive myself.”

“It makes me unhappy to see you sad. Will you forgive yourself if I forgive you?”

He smiled.

“You are asking me tricky questions tonight.”

“Why tricky?”

“I should never forgive myself for causing you so much damage. However, you say you will  be unhappy if I don’t forgive myself.”

“Can we at least forget this matter for today? I’m so tired of it. I want to see you happy.”

“You see, love, body and soul do come in one package. Your soul is tired of pain, your body needs rest too. Go to bed, my dear!”

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Пишу для сравнения небольшой абзац на английском той сцены, которую у меня никак не получалось описать, и первую попытку хоть как-то передать то, что я вижу, на русском. Скажите, как вам больше нравится. Из-за того, что мне никак не давалась эта сцена, я даже писать перестала. Небольшой фрагмент, описанный по-английски, находится посредине русского текста.

Pointework

Madeline closed her eyes. A beautiful piano melody was flowing around her. She knew this music so well. It was an adagio prelude to a much faster piece. The composition started very slowly with a captivating piano fingering that gradually went faster and became a trill. The fingers of a player were flying over the keyboard, weightless and quick as fairies. They touched the keys so lightly, almost impossible to notice. The sound was gentle, warm, and trembling, like the most delicate pointework. Than she saw a ballerina. Elegant and slender, she was dressed in a leotard, tights and a fluid tutu. Everything she wore was the palest shade of pink except for the tights that were milk white.

Мэдлин затормозила очень резко, вывернув руль влево, так что машина сделала полукруг и остановилась по диагонали в нескольких метрах от вертолёта. Девушка выскочила из машины и побежала к Ричарду. Он не мог поверить, что она так легко сдалась. Ричард и не надеялся, что она выполнит своё обещание остановиться, если он приедет за ней лично. Он думал, она продолжить гонку, или, как минимум, откажется выходить из машины. Но вот она, несётся, что есть силы, к нему, подбегает, обнимает, и полушепотом на последнем дыхании говорит одно лишь слово:

— Живой!

Ричард не знает, как это получилось. Вдруг вся злость испарилось. А ведь он был в ярости! Он был просто готов её убить на месте. Вместо этого, теперь Ричард пытается понять, что с ней происходит. Должно быть, она боится посмотреть ему в глаза. Но нет. Что же это? Она плачет, а Ричард обнимает её в ответ.

Внезапно окружающий мир поблек, выцвел, отошёл на второй план, чтобы пропустить вперёд более яркие картины. Ричард отчётливо увидел, как всё было. Обычно он мог видеть мысли всех людей, кроме неё. То, что происходит в её голове, он видел всего лишь однажды до этого и то только потому, что она этого захотела. Как и тогда, её воспоминания были непохожи на то, что он обычно видел в головах других людей. Более яркие, живые, интенсивные, похожие скорее на фильм, чем на лёгкую тень уже прошедших событий, хоть и тоже облечённые в лёгкую пастельную дымку. То, что Ричард увидел сейчас, напугало его. Как она сюда доехала и не разбилась?

Вначале по смутным очертаниями происходящего Ричард мог лишь догадываться, как идея поразила её. Она что-то вспомнила и, виновато глядя на миссис Симс и Мэри, будто прося у них прощение за то, что собиралась сделать, метнулась в гараж, нашла ключи от его Астон Мартина, открыла дверь, необычайно легко опустилась на сидение. Дверь захлопнулась. Ключи оказались в зажигании. Мэдлин устало опустила говову на руль. «Только не подведи, мой хороший! Мне очень нужна твоя помощь. Нам надо уехать, но я верну тебя на место, обещаю. Только не подведи»! Она разговаривала с машиной, как с живым существом. Снова её дурацкая привычка одушевлять неживые предметы!

Мэдлин закрыла глаза. Казалось, всё пространство утонуло в прекрасной мелодии. Она знала эту музыку очень хорошо. Композиция начиналась медленной прелюдией ададжо, выполняемой на фортепиано, которая всё ускорялась и постепенно превращалась в трель. Пальцы пианиста летали над клавиатурой, невесомые и быстрые, как феи. Они едва касались клавиш. Звук был нежный, тёплый и трепещущий, как самый изысканный танец на пуантах. Затем она увидела балерину. Стройная и элегантная, она была одета в трико, колготки и летящую парку. Вся её одежда была нежнейшего оттенка розового цвета, кроме колгот, которые были молочно-белыми.

Мэдлин не видела лица балерины. Казалось, этот фильм снимал кто-то, кто не умеет держать камеру, кто был очарован её грациозным теллом. Как только в кадр могло попасть лицо красавицы, фокус смещался. Балерина непринуждённо подымалась вверх на самых кончиках пальцев в позицию en pointe и опускалась вниз в plié. Plié, relevé, plié, relevé, en pointe, demi-plié. Вверх, вниз, вверх, вниз. Тонкие ноги балерины в атласных пуантах трепетали, словно бабочки.

Видение длилось лишь какие-то доли секунды. Мэдлин была не в силах это видеть более. Слёзы теклы из глаз. Мэдлин знала, что у неё в запасе максимум тридцать секунд, а затем вся охрана особняка будет гнаться за ней, и она не собиралась тратить эти тридцать секунд зря. Когда охрана была в гараже, она уже неслась к воротам, и если бы они не открылись, то наверняка бы их протаранила. Но сегодня был её день, и ворота послушно отпустили беглянку.

Дальше чудо-фильм из воспоминаний Мэдлин становился только интереснее. Ричард понял, что имел в виду её отец, когда говорил, что профессиональные каскадёры бояться того, что она вытворяет. Как она осталась невредима в бесконечном водовороте машин Нью-Йорка, убегая от погони, если перед глазами были только слёзы, обрывки страшных снов и видений из прошлого? При этом она неслась на бешеной скорости, будто наперегонки со смертью. С его смертью. Ей было жизненно необходимо выиграть в этом неравном заезде, чтобы его спасти. Смерть за ней не успевала.

Наверное, это у неё в крови, либо кто-то научил её экстремальному вождению. Она  не ехала — танцевала между машинами и обгоняла их легко. Охрана ничего не могла с ней поделать. Им под страхом смерти нельзя было стрелять ни в девушку, ни в машину. Да даже чтобы выстрелить, к ней надо было сначала подобраться на достаточно близкое расстояние, а Мэдлин этого не давала. Она легко уходила от преследователей.

Всё же в погоне был один момент, когда её загнали в тупик. Огромные чёрные лэндроверы охраны остановились по обе стороны дороги. Казалось, ей было некуда бежать. Они кричали, чтобы она вышла из машины. На мгновение дорога, залитая ярким светом, исчезла из вида Мэдлин. Она снова оказалась в танцклассе.    Фактурный деревянный пол, зеркала и невесомая балерина. Музыка всё ускорялась, а вместе с ней всё быстрее двигалась красавица. Она делала подряд несколько grand jeté en avant и тридцатидвухкратный foutetté rond de jambe en tournant из партии чёрного лебедя в «Лебедном озере». Мэдлин открыла глаза. Охранники вышли из машин и что-то ей кричали. В западне, в ловушке, тебе некуда идти.  На какие-то доли секунды лучезарная победная улыбка озарила лицо Мэдлин, и стало понятно, что она не предвещает ничего хорошего. Мэдлин надавила на газ, развернула машину практически полностью вертикально и проехала между двумя лэндроверами охраны на двух колёсах. Охранники потеряли дар речи.

Девушка понеслась прочь из города. Слёзы тихонько катились по щекам, руки сами рулили и переключали передачи. Только бы успеть, только бы успеть! Убежать, чтобы вернуться. Потерять, чтобы найти.

Картинка снова неуловимо сдвинулась из настоящего в прошлое. Ричард узнал себя.

— А что ты сделаешь, если я убегу? — как-то его спросила Мэдлин.

— Очень разозлюсь, оставлю все дела и верну тебя домой. Даже и не думай!

Вот почему она хотела уехать. Это был единственный способ заставить Ричарда вернуться домой, даже если он уже сидел в самолёте.

Видение закончилось. Мэдлин била лёгкая дрожь, которая стала передаваться Ричарду. Он тихонько приобнял её за плечо и развернул в сторону машины.

— Пойдём, я отвезу тебя домой. Видишь, ты добилась своего, я никуда не еду. Успокойся, пожалуйста.

Он усадил её в кресло, как ребёнка. Она была не в состоянии двигаться.

За всё время дороги домой Мэдлин не проронила не слова. В конце пути она лишь бессильно уронила голову ему на плечо, но не уснула. Казалось, её терзают новые, ещё более страшные видения. Кошмар наяву, но уже не сон.

— Что же тебя так мучает, Мэдлин? — Нет ответа.

Ричард повторил свой вопрос снова, когда вышел из машины. Мэдлин долго не отвечала. Она была в состоянии глубокого шока. Затем она сделала большое усилие, чтобы вернуться к реальности, но её ответ не дал Ричарду никакого смысла.

— Они все погибли, — сказала она едва слышно и побежала к дому. 

Ричард не хотел переходить на бег, но своим быстрым шагом он едва успевал за ней. Казалось, весь дом собрался у входа. Расстроенная миссис Симс, растерянная Мэри, другие слуги. Мэдлин никого не заметила, пронеслась мимо них. Они же не решились её остановить.

— Мэдлин, что случилось?

Девушка обернулась. Она уже была на ступеньках, хотела убежать наверх в свою комнату, но медленно обернулась и посмотрела на Ричарда. Казалось, её внутрення дамба, сдерживавшая эмоции всё это время, не выдержала и они яростно и неистово полились вниз на окружающих. Мэдлин почти кричала:

— Они все погибли!

В её словах было столько боли, столько чего-то надломленного и трагического, что всем стало страшно. От её слов в окнах задрожали стёкла.

— Кто погиб?

Дальше Мэдлин подробно описала то, что он видел в аэропорту. Какая ирония! Ричард мог видеть мысли всех людей, кроме неё. Его мысли не мог видеть никто, кроме Мэдлин.

— Женщина с ребёнком, который бегал за полосатым мячом, пожилой джентельмен в твидовом костюме, влюблённая пара, девушка, которая ехала поступать в Королевскую балетную академию, несмотря на то, что в неё никто не верил... Если бы ты не сел на этот самолёт, если бы ты не зарегистрировался на рейс, она бы поступила. Они бы все остались живы!

Ричард чётко представил этих людей такими, как он их видел в аэропорту. Тем не менее, он отказывался понимать, о чём речь.

Мэдлин уже прошла в гостиную и подняла с кофейного столика пульт от телевизора. Ричард инстинктивно проследовал за ней. Больше никто пройти не решался.

— Почему ты не остался дома? Почему меня никто не слушает? — Мэдлин включила телевизор. Показывали экстренный выпуск новостей.

«Airbus A380, следующий в Лондон, рейсом из Нью-Йорка, только что разбился на подлёте к Брентвуду. Самолёт загорелся ещё в полёте, упал и от удара об землю разбился на две части. По предварительным данным никто не выжил».

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“I’ve promised to my father to be a good girl and to behave. This is my present for him tonight.”

“Why are you standing here alone in the cold?”

“There are some people in the party who I wish to punch, and I need to keep my promise. So I came here hoping that I would freeze to death, and then they would feel remorse till the end of their lives for torturing me so. Though I don’t know if they are capable of feeling anything at all.”

“Who is causing you so much pain? Let me deal with them.”

“My father invited Elene, so she came with the stupid boyfriend of hers whom I don’t want to see. How could he do that to me? I said I would not allow any one of them into my house. Apparently this is not my house anymore.”

The girl was almost crying.

“Do you want to get away from here?”

“Of course, I do. I just have nowhere to go.”

“I will take you away from this horrible place. However, you’ve promised me a dance. Can you keep this promise too?”

She spoke slowly weighing carefully every word.

“A dance? With all those people in the room... Watching, staring, wanting me to trip and fall. I don’t think that I can handle it tonight.”

“Don’t worry, dear. It is my job to make sure that nothing bad happens. I will catch you if you would start falling.”

He took her hand and leaded her away from the snowy garden to the warmth of brightly lit ballroom.

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Strange, reckless girl with no instinct of self-preservation at all. She is not afraid to die, she is not afraid to drive at 190 mph, she is not afraid of a highly skilled and professional killer but she is afraid if Richard doesn’t eat, or get enough sleep, or work too much and have no rest.

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Here he was. From the moment he walked into my life, even before I saw him, I could not help falling in love with him. He could not help breaking my heart. Again and again.

He was larger than life, dashingly handsome and oh-so unattainable. No matter how hard I tried it simply didn’t work. He couldn’t stand the idea of being captured by a woman. Any woman, but HER. What was so special about her? Why did he want to marry her? I would never know, and he’d never tell me.

Dark hair, the most beautiful blue eyes, the deepest and the darkest soul. He was the man who saved my life and broke my heart. Oh, God, where is now that merciful killer? Please, send me death for I can not bear this pain any longer!

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“You will rule the world and control all the Universe if this is what you wish for. A mighty, powerful, unstoppable master, gaining all your goals, always getting what you want.

“Many women you will know. Yet you will be alone for so many millions of years. Then a girl will come who will turn your world upside down. She will see you inside out. She will look at you and know exactly what you are.

“She will appear in your life when you least expect it, fall into your arms like a heavenly gift. You will plunge into her soul, beautiful, light, and pure, and you will emerge a different man, the man you were in the beginning of this world. She will bring out the best in you, and you will turn away from evil.

“You will look into her eyes — hopelessly deep and impossibly green — and you will forget how to kill.”

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Can you love your enemy? How can you possibly have feelings for somebody who was meant to kill you? Can you break a heart that has already been broken? Where are the limits to your pain?

Madeline was sitting by Richard’s bed in reanimation department hugging him gently, trying to conceal her tears. They were streaming in torrents down her cheeks not willing to hide at all.

He asked for an explanation.

“Why are you still here?”

Not any easy question to answer. It was very hard for Madeline to accept the things she was about to say. They tortured her greatly causing so much damage. It was not an easy revelation indeed. Richard was a person responsible for the death of her parents, and he nearly died trying to save her. Immortal creatures do not die. They stop to exist. As impossible as it seemed, he was still immortal though more human now than ever before, susceptible to pain, damage and destruction. The sound of her voice broke the silence. More fragile than ever, she was a pain to watch.

“I can not live in a world where you don’t exist.”

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“For some magical reason I cannot say ‘no’ tonight when you call me ‘love’ with this charming British accent of yours.”

“I wish I had this intelligence in Paris. Then I would have escaped the heartbreaking ‘no’. Would the answer be any different if I asked you tonight?”

She laughed so sincerely.

“Don’t push you luck that far. There is not enough magic in the world to make me change my mind.”

He looked overwhelmingly sad again.

“Will you at least keep the car?”

“Of course, I will. But don’t be too excited. I have my own evil reasoning behind it.”

He looked happier now.

“Would you mind sharing your evil mastermind thoughts?”

“What kind of love of your life would I be if I don’t take the car? Your parents wouldn’t beleive it. And then they would not bother you till the end of eternity for losing such a wonderful girl.”

“I have enough time till the end of eternity to make you somehow change your mind.”

He sounded very serious about it. She laughed and kissed him good-bye softly.

“You are such an optimiste at times that you overestimate your persvasive powers.”

“Let’s go, love, you need some more rest before a new busy day begins.”

She followed him quietly.

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Madeline came up to his large oak table cautiously. Her eyes caught a sight of a big crystal ash-tray there.

“Do you smoke?” she inquired.

A devilish look spread in Richard’s eyes and a dazzling wry smile lit up his face.

“No, but I have many other deadly addictions.” He said this phrase smugly as if it was some kind of virtue.

If only Madeline could hear his thoughts she would certainly comprehend what was so funny in her question but she could not. That explained a puzzled look in her eyes which entertained Richard so much he even bothered to clarify his words this time. Mainly he wanted to see how she would react to this bold statement of his.

“And you are most certainly one of them.”

Richard utterly enjoyed observing as different emotions crossed her face. He witnessed how amazement changed confusion. Her eyes were blinking fleetingly as if she was trying to process his information. Her long thick eyelashes were trembling like the wings of a butterfly. The next moment her eyebrows shoot up high and her velvet green eyes became unbelievably large. Always so expressive! Undoubtedly his words had startled her. Now all her figure conveyed an unspoken question ‘why?’

Richard chuckled.

The girl didn’t dare to ask about his previous phrase so she decided to address him with another question.

“Why are you laughing?”

Richard smiled even wider.

“I find you very amusing at times.”

Madeline shrugged her shoulders. At least he was in a good mood today. This observation encouraged her to express a daring request she had initially come here to ask for.

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Trying to describe at least some action. I don’t know why it comes out so hard. The words are running away from me. Frank explains to Richard what he had missed.

“You should have seen her drive. I’ve never met anybody more graceful and fearless. It comes natural to her. It must be in her blood. She can never fail it. She feels the car and the road so well it makes her unstoppable.

“She was running away. Already in your car, she stopped for a mere moment that seemed like eternity. Like a diver stops before the jump she came to a halt and carefully looked around. She moved so slowly we though she had changed her mind that she would not go anywhere. Then she fired the ignition. She was calm, confident, smiling. She was gone in four seconds.”

“Never afraid,” Richard murmured. “No sense of self-defense. No protective instincts at all. Embracing danger as if it’s her best friend.”

“We got into the cars and drove after her. It was difficult to chase her. She was sliding, gliding, waltzing around us. There was a moment when we though we got her. We had blocked the road. She could go no further. She had to stop. Do you know what she did? She started to spin your car around. We though she would hit our cars but she stopped short for a second, less than half an inch away from our LandRovers. She smiled and I realized we should expect no good. She drove back on the full speed, placed the car in almost vertical position and slid on the two left wheels through a small gap between our cars on the other end of the road. And then she was gone. Why did she do it at all?”

“She didn’t want me to leave.”

“Probably you should’ve just stayed then. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to watch Formula 1 again. Who taught her to drive? We though she would break your DBS to pieces. Not a scratch.”

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New part of the story. This is some kind of a trailer. I would not tell you completely who said what but it’s going to be interesting. And I would love to film it. The picture I see in my head is very beautiful and visually dynamic.

Richard was talking on the phone. His Chief of Security was telling him:

“She ran away!”

“She did what?” Richard couldn’t believe it was possible.

“She took your Aston Martin and left.”

“Why haven’t you stopped her?”

“Have you seen her drive? She is dancing around our cars that chase her. She said she would not stop until you come to get her yourself. And I’m starting to believe she will do exactly what she says. We are nowhere near her. She is a devil of racer.”

“I’m going to kill that girl!”

When you need to save the man you love how far will you go? She will go all the way at full speed his Aston Martin will allow her.

“I will not retreat. I will not stop until I see you standing on the road in front of me. Come and get me.”

“She feels the pain of every on of them. Normal people would not endure even a mere fraction of that pain. It’s a miracle she is still alive. Haven’t her father told you she is suicidal? The best psychiatrists could do nothing with her. Perhaps if you ever felt her pain you wouldn’t want to live too. Evacuate all the people out of the house! Do something before she erases half of the planet!”

“What should I do?”

“Give her a reason to live!”

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This is obviously a second part of the story. Together with the other members of the cast and crew Madeline gives an extensive interview at the movie premier. I’m going to write more parts of this chapter soon as I find it very interesting.

“Why in your opinion this fantasy story is so popular?”

“This is very easy. Besides the fact that this is a fairy-tale, basically this is also a love story, a romance, something very simple and understandable for the people of all genders and ages.

“Aside from all the magical and mystery things that happen in the books, this is a story of a girl who fell in love. If only her story was that simple probably there would have been no adventure at all. Yet the narration unfolds conflicts of all kinds which make the whole storyline so much more dramatic, dynamic and moving.

“Our girl gave her heart to no ordinary person. She fell in love with a man who was all wrong for her from the point of view of anybody and everybody in her world. Their love has to endure the most extreme and severe conditions, undertake every possible challenge to live through the end or perish. If there is anything that can go wrong it goes wrong in this story. If you can think of an argument against their love it will be spoken aloud and very clearly in the tale. Her family and friends, her own people, the history of their world, even the very own nature of the man she loves — for he struggles fiercely, he doesn’t want that love, his heart rejects this emotion — everything goes against their feelings. And yet they are there and they are very strong and passionate.

“The person she loves so dearly is very special and he has a lot to say from his point of view. Perhaps his record of events that happened is even more compelling as in the course of the story this is his character who undertakes the most dramatic and impressive changes. Thus in the end he is a completely different person possessing the qualities necessary to be together with an extraordinary girl he loves.

“You should not forget that this is a story of true love, of devotion and friendship, of betrayal, numerous prejudices and hatred, and of a devastating war that provides the most dark, dangerous and tragic background for the narrative.

“And this is a great story about hope. It was written in a very dark time for me and I was desperate for it to be hopeful. I was craving for it to show that even in the darkest hour there is always a ray of light, there is something you can hold on to until the darkness passes so you can stay sane and stay alive. In times when everything is against us, when there is no hope and it doesn’t seem that anything good is going to happen, when the world we knew and loved is literally falling apart in front of our eyes, the story teaches us to be strong, to fight for what is good and true, to protect the light and all the important things within and around us. It encourages us to believe even when no one else does.”

“Is there a man behind the male protagonist of the story?”

The question made her smile.

“I’m sorry I cannot tell you. Otherwise I will violate my own rule: no personal questions.”

However, the journalist was not going to give up so easily.

“I guess we’ll have to take your charming smile as ‘yes’.”

A radiant smile lit up her features even more brightly.

“I’m afraid I will chose not to answer this question of yours either.”

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This episode shows a true nature of Madeline. She has a unique vision of the world. She sees it as an artist who can easily distinguish the slightest hues of different colours and name them. It’s always surprising how some things which are so easy and natural to her may not be as obvious to the others.

Madeline promised to make Mary a dress so she can impress the man she loves.

“What is your favourite colour?”

“Red.”

“Which one exactly?”

Mary was confused so Madeline explained to her as much as she could.

“There is no simple red in my world. There are so many choices. Warm red or cold red? Closer to orange or to violet and pink? Bloody red, burgundy red or cherry red? Raspberry, rose or magenta? May be even coral red, rosso corsa or crimson? Scarlett, terra cotta or venetian red? These all are very diferent colours, and there are a lot more. I need to know precisely which one is your favourite. Then I can chose the fabrics for your dress.”

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In order to explain you a little bit what is going on. Mary is a maid in the house of Richard Spencer and she is a friend of Madeline. Once Richard returns home and cannot find some of his things. Being in a very bad temper he questions Mary where he can find them. However, the poor girl cannot provide him with an adequate reply. Richard loses his temper and shouts at her. That’s when Madeline comes in and says she was the one who took Richard’s belongings, leads him to his room and shows that they are neatly folded and stored in his luggage ready for his trip. Richard says Madeline never fails to surprise him, and she leaves to comfort her friend who is crying in her room in the other part of the house.

“It’s so strange. How come of all the people around him you are the only one completely not afraid of him?”

“This is simple, Mary, everybody sees him in a different way. Frank thinks he is a soldier and Richard is his commander. He would obey any of Richard’s orders without doubt or hesitation. For Mrs. Hudson he is like a son, a little boy she knew and nourished who grew up in a powerful man. She still loves him like her own child and he respects her. He will never behave in any way to offend her, he will never hurt her feelings.

“For you he is an all-mighty master who rules his own universe, so strong and dangerous you believe his only glance can kill. You are nothing to him, just another employee, one of thousands. It’s a miracle he even remembers your name.”

Mary burst in tears again. Madeline hurried to embrace her and continued very mildly.

“I’m sorry, I did not want to upset you. I don’t say he is right. I would like to point out that he treats this way everybody whom he doesn’t consider his family. So please don’t take it on your account. You are a very kind, diligent, supportive girl, you do your work well and you deserve all the respect. Yet he is very hard on you from time to time. And you are so scared of him, scared to do something he wouldn’t like.”

“Is it any different for you? You both seem to argue a lot.”

“Yes, it is different for me for I just see a man with very beautiful blue eyes, the most beautiful I have ever seen, who with all his good looks, wealth and power, knowledge and generous gifts is very unhappy with what he is. What do you think he can do to me? He has already saved me therefore he is not going to kill me. I owe him my life, probably, more than once. All I want is to make him smile again. Everybody deserves to be happy. It’s unfair that he is not. And you are so much luckier than he is — you are in love!”

“I think he is already in love with you,” Mary said warily still without any doubt.

Sound of numerous silver bells filled the room — Madeline was laughing.

“Oh, dear, don’t be silly! Haven’t you seen him? He can have any woman in this world. For all I know he thinks I am the most annoying creature doing everything in my power to irritate him to death. Why on Earth would he fight his own nature and chose me?”

Mary was staring at her in surprise.

“I cannot find words to express how wrong you are. Why wouldn’t he? You are so wonderful!”

“You are too kind to me. You are my friend and you are biased,” Madeline was still laughing.

“Do you love him?” Mary asked unexpectedly.

“I don’t think I am worth him…” Madeline sounded sad. “And,” she added more merrily, “it would be very inconsiderate of me to fall in love with such a man. I know a thousand of women who would suite him better.”

Mary pouted her lips.

“If you say so.” She had no intention to agree with her friend.

“Don’t be sad, my dear! Go to bed, it’s already so late and you have to get up early tomorrow. I’ll try to tell him he was wrong. Just don’t take it to heart too much. I think he had a very difficult day. I don’t justify his actions. I only ask you to be wiser and forgive him generously, will you?”

Before Mary could reply, the most unexpected visitor entered the room.

“I am so sorry to disturb you in such a late hour but I’m leaving soon and I came to apologize. Mary, I’m very sorry for being so rude. There is no excuse for such behaviour,” Richard told her in his most apologetic voice.

To say that both girls were utterly surprised would be an understatement. Mary was so shocked she could barely speak.

“Mr. Spenser, I’m so sorry I made you worry. It’s nothing, really nothing. You should not have bothered,” she stumbled through her words awkwardly.

Madeline left the room quietly. It was not long before Richard caught her by the stairs.

“There is something I need to tell you before I leave.”

Madeline turned around to face him and gave him a curious look.

“I am listening,” she assured.

Richard looked uneasy. It was hard for him to say the words that followed.

“You may be right about me, right that I’m unhappy but you are so wrong about yourself.”

“You listened to our conversation!” Madeline was truly astonished but for some reason couldn’t feel angry enough with him.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t help it,” he told her smilingly.

“I guess we haven’t closed the door well enough. I would not forget to do it better next time,” Madeline blushed and looked down to the floor.

Richard chuckled and then said something Madeline couldn’t understand.

“I’m afraid there is no door that could’ve kept me from hearing what you were talking about.”

He continued more seriously.

“You have no idea how invaluable, how precious you are. And you are definitely worth it, worth the fight with my own nature.”

Madeline was so startled she took her eyes out of the floor and stared at Richard. She couldn’t say a word.

“I have to leave now,” he said kindly. Strangely his voice sounded as if he didn’t want to leave at all.

“Good luck on your trip and take care!” was all Madeline could say.

“Be safe!” he said in return. And then he kissed her swiftly in her forehead and left without saying another word.

Madeline stood by the stairs for a while staring at the door Richard had just went through. She couldn’t believe it was real.

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Here is something that was written in the distant 2002. I found this poem today, and it’s going to be in a book my main character is going to write in the second part of the story. It’s interesting, isn’t it?

A Song in the sky
Was flowing
Of a new-born Light
In the darkness glowing.

A Song of the stars
And of tears unnumbered,
Of elves and of men
Who in the darkness wondered
And looked for the light
But could see it not.
A Song of great deeds
That they forgot.

A Song of doom
That covered the Earth,
Of hatred uncontrolled
And of broken oath.

A Song of the malice
And great enemy’s power.
A Song of the Light
Protecting White Flower.

A Song of friendship
And of devotion to death,
Of desperate Love
Held to last breath.

Of the heart
That was broken
Revealing the light
Of ancient stones
Discovered at night.

A Song of last battle
With the Dark Lord,
Of hidden strength and courage
That saved the world.

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“You are so in love with him!” The director was so excited, almost thrilled with this fact.

“No, I am not.”

“Doesn’t he love you?”

“He seems so unconditionally, irrevocably in love with you, it’s hard not to notice,” added the director of photography.

“He proposed me two weeks ago in Paris. I said ‘no’.”

“What did he do to you to deserve it?”

“He is my very own special kind of drug specifically designed to keep me most addicted. Last time when he decided to break this addiction, the detoxication nearly killed me. Now he is back feeding me drugs in portions small enough that I almost do not notice them but big enough to start the addiction again. I don’t think I can survive another detoxication though.”

“Does it always have to be so sad?” the make-up artist asked quietly.

“I don’t know but the drug-addictions are said to be bad to your health.”

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“Why today? Why now? Why all three of them? I am not going to live through another love confession. Actually, a third one in a row.”

She was furious and fuming with anger, shouting at him in English. She automatically switched to this language as she always did every time being overwhelmed with emotions, not noticing the transition.

“I don’t want to ever see again! You made me count the ways to die! I actually wanted to kill myself, to finish this stupid life for everyone’s convenience… but in the end I was too weak to do it, to bring so much pain to my father, to the people who love me.”

“Thanks God,” he gasped.

“And now you are telling me that you love me, that you’ve loved me all along. I just don’t believe it!”

“Yet it’s true.”

“Do you have any idea how much pain you made me go through? I’m not doing it again.”

He looked really miserable, devastated, apologetic.

“Till now I cannot sleep well at night, I forgot how to eat, nightmares hunt me night and day, and I do not know which one is worse, the dreams or the reality!

“If you decide you don’t need me again, I’m not going to survive it! So please go away now.” Her words made him suffer.

“I’m sorry. I cannot do it,” his voice was sad, yet determined.

“Sure, you can. You’ve already done it once.”

“I cannot live without you.”

“I don’t care!”

“I know that I have caused you so much damage. I know that I don’t deserve your trust but I’m not going to give up so easily.”

“Neither am I. You will give up sometimes. Just remember you are not interested in foolish human girls.”

“You are not foolish and, I daresay, not human anymore.”

“Go to hell!”

“I’ve already been there, and I’m not going to return. My personal hell without you.”

“I don’t want to hear another word!”

She left.

He didn’t give up as he promised. He sent her flowers, she sent them back. When the flower company eventually refused to take them back, she forwarded all the bouquets to St. James hospital.

He called, she didn’t respond. He sent presents, she sent them back unopened. He came to talk to her in person, she pretended he didn’t exist.

The other two contenders also pursued her and didn’t show any signs of giving up but all their efforts were way behind his. To avoid him was a task all too complicated, “mission impossible”, as Madeline called it. He was literally everywhere she went.

On the day of his confession she came back home. At the end of the day after exhausting whirlpool of too emotional events she felt tired like never before. She started changing her clothes slowly intending to go to bed right away. He was already sitting in her room.

“Don’t you have any shame? I’m trying to change my clothes here!”

“You can show me nothing I haven’t seen before,” he chucked.

She threw a cushion in his direction. Of course, he caught it effortlessly.

“OK, dear, I’ve closed my eyes. I am not watching,” he said trying to reconcile.

“You know you are impossible.”

“I’ve been told so before.”

She lay in bed covering herself with a blanket and turned away from him. He was already on her bed, hugging her gently.

“I still don’t want to see you.”

“It will pass. At least I dearly hope so.”

“Oh, well, at least this night I’m not going to have any nightmares,” she murmured quietly and fell asleep in his hands at once.

Then everything changed so abruptly. That day he almost died, and she almost died trying to save him.

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