Chapter 8
Sister Lisa was a little surprised by my question, but began to tell me with enthusiasm:
“Hellsing is an elite, the finest military unit in the entire British Empire! They rescue hostages and eliminate terrorists, assist the army in suppressing uprisings in the colonies, and carry out secret missions for the Crown. During the Great War, it was Hellsing, together with the Soviet Vityaz unit, that destroyed a German nuclear weapons facility in Norway. In short, they are the finest warriors in the entire Empire and answer only to Her Majesty. All our boys and most of our girls dream of serving under Lady Integra!”
“Do girls serve in the army?” I asked, puzzled.
“Of course! True, for girls it’s voluntary, but every woman has the right to sign a contract and serve equally with men. Besides, it’s easier to go to university after the army. And to gain the right to vote, of course. Queen Elizabeth herself served in a military hospital and treated wounded soldiers. And Father Benedict met Lady Priscilla during the fighting in Europe.
– The right to vote?
They’ll tell you this in school, but in short: only those who have served in the army have the right to vote in elections, engage in politics, or engage in business. This law was passed during the First Great War at the beginning of the century.
– Why do we need such a large army? – This question really interested me, because Britain, as far as I remember, is a small island state.
“Why? The empire is huge! Colonies in Africa, India, and Canada—I’ll show you on the map later. Territories need to be protected and the safety of British citizens ensured. So a strong army and navy are the key to our country’s prosperity!” Sister Lisa finished proudly, looked at her watch, and asked, “Are you finished? Great, now you’ll change into your uniform and I’ll show you the canteen and introduce you to the kids.”
I followed Lisa silently, wondering if something had gone terribly wrong in this world. The British Empire? Vast territories? Well, judging by the hero’s star on the brave Sir Arthur’s chest, the USSR is, or was, here. The orphanage has a library, and I can read English almost fluently, so the first thing we do is comb through recent history. And I need to look at a modern map of the world. How interesting! It’s decided: today I’ll settle in, meet the other children, and tomorrow, off to the library.
The orphanage building was built in a U-shape, with the central section three stories high, and the right and left wings single-story but with very high ceilings. I liked the dining room itself: bright, very clean, and filled with delicious aromas. Opposite the entrance, at the far end of the dining room, was a wide food serving area, and perpendicular to it were three tables: two long ones for the children and a smaller one for the staff. The children sat separately, the boys at one table, the girls at the next. Sister Lisa led me to the food serving area, handed me a tray, and showed me where to get cutlery. Two plump, smiling cooks served the food. What I liked was that the staff ate the same food as the children, only in larger portions. In my past life, the administration and staff of “my” orphanage cooked separately. These creatures devoured meat and watched us choke on rotten vegetables and wormy fish. This place is like a sanatorium: onion soup, beans with meat, cabbage salad, and two ham and cucumber sandwiches, washed down with apple juice. I’ll easily gain some weight; I’m skinny as a stool right now.
Sister Lisa led me to a table where a dozen girls aged between seven and ten were sitting:
“Sisters, meet our newest addition! Her name is Rigel Evans, and she’ll be living and studying with us from now on. Maggie, as the most responsible one, show Ria around our house after lunch and tell her about the daily routine. Lindsey, it’s your turn to say the prayer today.” Sister Lisa gave instructions and sat at the head of the table.
The girls smiled and looked at me with friendly interest. After lunch, two girls and two boys went to the kitchen to help the cooks wash the dishes.
As soon as I left the cafeteria, about twenty children of both sexes surrounded me and began introducing themselves. When I asked, “Is that all?” I was told that the older children and two caregivers were spending the summer at a camp by the sea on the grounds of a “real military base.” I honestly admitted to the children that I wouldn’t remember all their names the first time, to which Dick—a smiling, red-haired, freckled boy of about nine, I think—said it wasn’t a problem; they often addressed each other as “brother” or “sister.” After all, Father Ben says we’re all one big family and should help and take care of each other.
I was led around the shelter with a cheerful crowd. First, they showed me the playroom: a spacious, bright room with a huge, soft carpet on the floor, seven large tables, and a ton of cabinets with shelves along the walls, filled with various toys and board games. Maggie explained that toys were not allowed to leave the room, and that they had to be returned to their original place after playing. Most importantly, all toys were shared; you couldn’t take them from others, but you could ask, and they would definitely share. Anyone who broke the rules would have to clean and tidy the room during their own time.
When I asked about punishments, the kids smiled and explained that the orphanage was large and there was plenty of work for everyone. Violators got extra shifts in the cafeteria and laundry. There were also greenhouses and a vegetable garden, but everyone worked there. Dick also told me that at the beginning of summer, the older kids had smuggled in some whiskey and decided to celebrate the end of the school year. Of course, they got caught, so Fathers Ben and Joshua forced them to drink all the “contraband” they’d brought and sent them to their rooms. The next day, they woke them up an hour early and made them run around the stadium for two hours. Meanwhile, the fathers themselves sat on a bench drinking cold lemonade. And then the boys spent three days digging a big hole!
“Command post!” the short, fair-haired girl said, syllable by syllable, smiling. “Then Father Ben threatened that no one would go to camp until they dug it out.”
– Aha! – said Dick and laughed. – They buried him on the fourth day! Jack told me then that he would never drink again! By the way, I got a letter from him yesterday! He writes that they fired real machine guns, and in August they will be sailing on combat boats!
Next, I was shown the workshops, a carpentry and metalworking shop for the boys and a small sewing workshop for the girls. Twenty tables in each room, sewing machines and other amenities for the women’s section, and all sorts of tools and equipment for the boys. Maggie began explaining again: everyone has their own desk, which must always be kept tidy; nothing can be taken from other people’s desks without permission. All the necessary tools and materials are in labeled drawers and shelves, which must also be kept tidy. The punishment for messiness is standard: grab a bucket, a rag, and go clean up.
The kids also explained that many people from Crawley come to church every Sunday, so a small fair is held on the orphanage grounds where the children sell their handicrafts to the parishioners for a small amount. The children keep the money, as they’re taught how to earn an honest living. The older children have an even more interesting time: under the guidance of Father Richard, they restore vintage cars in a large garage behind the greenhouses. When a car is “like new,” they sell it. The orphanage takes the money for expenses and materials, and the rest is divided equally among all the boys. The older girls sew accessories for a fashion store in town, and the proceeds from the materials go to the orphanage, with the rest going to the girls. It’s a very interesting and well-organized system: the children work honestly and earn pocket money.
Then there was the library: a spacious room with tall shelves, all the books arranged by category and in alphabetical order. A dozen reading tables with lamps allowed for comfortable seating. The rules were the same: you took a book out, and you returned it there. If you wanted to take it with you, you wrote down the title and inventory number of the book, your name, and the date you took it out in a large notebook at the exit. When you returned it, you wrote another date in the log. Damaging books was strictly prohibited; punishment could include being banned from the abode of knowledge. It was simple. The library also had a desk with stationery, a couple of stacks of clean notebooks, and pens and pencils you could borrow as needed.
Finally, I was taken to a bright, spacious gymnasium that looked more like a training facility. A ring was in the center, a dozen punching bags hung along the walls, several exercise machines, a large stack of mats, a wall bar, and a row of pull-up bars. Maggie explained that Sister Lisa taught self-defense basics to girls here once a week on Saturdays; attendance was mandatory. Father Joshua and Father Ben taught hand-to-hand combat to the boys; their classes were held twice a week. The rules were: the gym was open anytime, equipment was to be returned to its proper place, and, most importantly, all fights were to take place in the ring, wearing protective gear, and under the supervision of teachers. The last fight had been last year; two boys from the older group were fighting over a girl.
The tour ended just in time for dinner, and we headed to the dining room. The food was simple but delicious and filling: stewed potatoes with meat, sweet buns, and tea.
After lunch, we said goodbye to the boys and went up to our floor. All the girls gathered in a spacious living room with a TV on a stand, several sofas, armchairs, and a thick, soft carpet on the floor. Everyone spread out in their own comfortable positions. I, along with several other girls, sat right on the floor, and Sister Lisa pulled out a thick book of “Bible Tales” and read us a rather interesting and instructive story for about an hour. Then she sent us to our rooms, and I was shown the location of the teacher’s room, with the assurance that if I needed anything, I could always ask her. Now it’s time for bed; tomorrow we’re up at six o’clock, and I need to put on my gym clothes; the morning begins with physical exercise.
***
Today is August 31, 1986. I’ve spent almost two months at the orphanage, and I really like it here. I haven’t had any conflicts with the other kids, I haven’t made any best friends, but I maintain friendly relationships with everyone.
The first month was tough. Every morning at six in the morning, we were woken by pleasant music coming from the hallway. We’d put on our tracksuits, go down to the stadium, and Sister Lisa would chase us around for an hour. For the first month, I practically crawled to my room, but then I got the hang of it. After practice, we’d have breakfast and then go work in the greenhouses with the girls. Nothing too complicated: tying up the tomatoes, weeding the beds. At noon, there was second breakfast and sewing class, where I made beaded bracelets and learned to embroider. Then came lunch and personal time: the boys played soccer or sat in the playroom if it was raining. I usually grabbed a book and stayed in my room; after all, with my adult mind, it’s hard to constantly be around little kids. The other kids didn’t mind, and there were others who liked to read alone. After dinner, we’d gather in the living room on our floor, where Sister Lisa would read a Bible-themed story or we’d just chat. The girls would share their accomplishments or challenges, and the teacher would listen attentively and offer advice. Then we’d go to our rooms and go to bed.
It is possible to sum up some results and achievements.
First, I started to look like a human being, not a tough guy from Buchenwald! Thanks to a healthy diet and exercise, I’d noticeably gained strength and length, my cheeks had rounded out, and my hair had turned the color of a raven’s wing. I’d also learned to smile sweetly; it was difficult, but I managed it. Now, looking back at me from the mirror was a sweet girl with long, curly black hair and magical green eyes. Speaking of magic.
Second: I’m a witch! That’s for sure! Two weeks later, when I’d gotten the hang of it, I took a few large beads into my room and started practicing, wanting to make them float above the table. A week later, the result exceeded all my expectations—no fucking shit happened! These glass faggots couldn’t care less about my efforts! I spent three weeks, out of sheer stubbornness, spending an hour a day—and nothing! In mid-August, when this nonsense had completely pissed me off, I thought, “To hell with it!”, and the beads burst into flames and crumbled into black ash. That’s when I freaked out, overjoyed! You just have to be careful what you wish for. Then things started moving, I remembered the feeling of warmth in my chest and continued practicing. Now I can hold two balls with my gaze for two or three minutes, and then I collapse as if after a morning workout and a real hunger strikes me, so all my workouts are only before dinner.
Third: I met my Precious at embroidery class! They were beautiful: twenty centimeters of steel, sharp tips, well-sharpened, a comfortable grip for my fingers. Nearly new sewing scissors were lying on my desk; I picked them up and realized we were made for each other. This Precious can be used for stabbing and cutting off small excess limbs. Over the next week, I sewed a beautiful leather sheath for them to wear on my hip, fortunately, the skirt of my dress is long and wide. The perfect concealed carry weapon! If they ever find me, I’m a sweet girl and I’m in sewing class, and this is my tool. Now my Precious and I are always together. I hope I don’t end up like Gollum.
Fourth: the fact that I carry scissors everywhere turned out to be normal at the orphanage. Almost all the children carry something sharp or cutting. For example, Dick carries a long, sharpened nail in his sock, and Mary hides a blade in a bracelet on her wrist. And after talking with my sister Lisa, I learned that my story is not unique. Mary’s mother was a prostitute in the slums, and she also trafficked her young daughter. This continued until her mother died of an overdose, and eight-year-old Mary was sent here. Dick and his older brother, Jack, along with their mother, were regularly beaten by their stepfather, until the degenerate finally overdid it and beat their mother in front of the boys. Then Jack stabbed him to death, and both boys were sent to the orphanage. And as for the modest Dora, her father, high on drugs, slashed her body and face with a razor, exorcising the demons from her. So all the children in this orphanage had experienced terrible events. So Sister Lisa only made me promise that I would only use scissors for self-defense against bad people.
Fifth: after looking at the world map and reading the modern history textbook, I was seriously shocked!
Let’s start with the United States. In this world, the United States seized not only California from Mexico, but all of Mexico! And during World War II, known here as the Great War, they dropped not two, but eight atomic bombs on Japan. Japan is now a complete US protectorate, ruled by an American governor-general. After the war, the United States seized all of France’s colonies, arguing that since the Frogs couldn’t defend their own country, they had no need for colonies anywhere else. The Americans are currently pursuing a rather aggressive policy and are demanding part of Canada from Britain, so relations between our countries are quite tense.
Next comes Russia, or the Soviet Union. Things are even more interesting here: the revolution occurred ten years earlier, and the entire royal family was executed in the first days, triggering a civil war. Just as the Whites retreated to the Belarusian and Ukrainian provinces, China, led by Japan, attacked the USSR, and the Far East began to be rapidly seized with almost no resistance. Realizing they were about to lose the country, the Whites and Reds signed a truce and, with joint efforts, drove the Chinese back. This is where World War I began, lasting until 1920. Germany and its allies lost, but all of Europe suffered, as chemical weapons were actively used by all sides in the conflict, poisoning entire cities. In 1925, Stalin finally came to power and launched an industrial revolution. The Great War also began in 1939, in Poland. Then the Germans conquered all of Europe and began actively bombing England, and in 1941, the USSR was simultaneously attacked by Germany and China. The Union was immediately forced to fight on two fronts and began actively cooperating with Britain. The Americans did not intervene, as they were engaged in a large-scale uprising in Mexico. Then the Japanese destroyed the US base in Hawaii, and the States also entered the war. The Soviets took Berlin only in 1946, and the Great War ended in 1948, when the USSR nuclearized China, dropping around twenty warheads and signing a draconian peace treaty. Stalin died in 1949, and was succeeded by Georgy Zhukov, who withdrew all troops from other countries and began post-war reconstruction. Incidentally, judging by the map, the USSR also includes Finland, Mongolia, and part of China. And Alaska, as it turns out, was not sold to the Americans. Now, under the leadership of Alexander Georgievich Zhukov, the Union is on the path to becoming an industrial and scientific giant; Soviet automobiles and electronics are considered the highest quality worldwide, and their technology is cutting-edge. For example, we have a Soviet Quartz in our living room.
After World War I, the British Empire actively expanded its military, which is why the country managed to retain control of part of France, beat the Germans in Africa, and completely control the Atlantic. Incidentally, it was the British who liberated all of Western Europe. After defeating Germany, the Crown refused to grant its colonies independence, and the Indian rebellion was brutally and demonstratively suppressed. So today, Britain is a vast empire on which the sun never sets, and the British navy is the most powerful in the world.
That’s it, in short. It’s not a history textbook, but some kind of science fiction novel.
Sixth: I went through all my Harry Potter knowledge and remembered! Harry Potter’s best friend, Hermione Granger, lived in Crawley, and apparently we’ll be going to the same school, and if we’re lucky, even in the same class. I’ll have to keep an eye on the girl; I liked her in the film because she was the only one who didn’t turn on Harry and betray him in his fourth year. She’s loyal and could be useful.
The rest of what I remembered, I wrote down in a notebook in chronological order; I hope it will be useful.
Seventh: five days ago, the older kids from summer camp arrived. They were all perfectly matched—tanned, happy, and wearing camouflage, even the girls. I was greeted warmly, everyone got to know me on the very first evening, and the guys told me that if anyone at school bullied me, they’d get a beating. Bullying their own wouldn’t be tolerated. Then we were given school uniforms, and the older girls tailored them to our sizes, clearly having fun dressing us up like dolls. But I’m happy with the result; the uniform fits perfectly, as if it were custom-made.Well, that’s it. Thoughts aside, time for bed. Tomorrow is my first day at first grade, so I’m nervous, already giving myself an accountability report. I hope there won’t be any problems at school and I can study peacefully.
