advance,
from birth to death
on the destined day.
That is why astrology was so popular.
All soothsayers and fortune-tellers
predicted with uncanny accuracy...
Dear Eric,
Today I woke up, got dressed,
and solved the Dan-Cooper equation
in one hour.
Of course that doesn't mean anything
to you, but my research institute
struggled with this problem for 30 years,
or maybe more.
Something happens with my brain.
If I had 11 tables, I could calculate the
probability of survival of the
living matter.
But I was only able to find 3.
Military reference books are now
priceless on the black market,
because of thick hard covers
and natural paper pages.
They produce a good heat output
in autonomous heating systems.
Now we have a different scheme
for grading literature.
Lately
I've been having a recurring dream:
An unfinished bottle of soda.
Why?
They didn't accept the children.
I've decided to bring them to you.
A sound decision.
You wouldn't believe what's happening
in the central bunker.
So many people...
My pass is valid for one day.
I have to go back.
I understand.
Is it dangerous?
He no longer exists.
We must leave at once.
Pack your things.
You know that I'm staying here.
That's a pity. Farewell.
I'll be back right away.
I'll bring the firewood.
I'll be right back.
Don't you believe me?
Don't be afraid, I'll be back.
It's late. Time for bed.
Dear Eric,
I long wanted to write to you about
that gruesome September night
You came in when mom was crying
and you slapped me across my face.
Juveniles do not know mercy and
understanding
but have a tendency to analysis.
Let it help you to understand that
I have always loved your mom.
And she loved me too.
All the rest is dust.
Today, according to my own calendar,
is the 7th twilight of the first snow month,
which means today is Christmas.
On Christmas evenings
people always tried to bring some
happiness to each other
make presents,
treat each other to something tasty,
or just sit in the warmth
and talk.
And then
everybody would go outside
to watch for the first star.
Do you remember that?
Those who saw the first star
were going to be happy
and all their wishes were
supposed to come true.
Today we will also go out
to watch for the first star.
The snow has started to fall.
It should always snow on Christmas.
Well, is it time to light the tree?
That's it.
Now we have a real Christmas tree.
Dear Eric,
thanks to my willpower
and because I finally found some
purpose in life
I was able to take my own
now-useless organism under control.
One more important thing:
Eric, my boy,
don't leave me alone in this world!
And on the sixth day
from the beginning of the world's end
Teresa led them to another place
like the pastor prophesied.
And she left them there and went away.
And a man adopted them,
a man with no name,
like the pastor prophesied.
And the eldest child
wrote a note about it in his notebook,
like the pastor taught.
He wrote about everything
that happened each and every day
until the day of the great exodus.
And it was so:
On the Christmas day he gathered
everyone around the tree
and lit the candles.
And he admonished them by saying:
"Remember: The world has not died."
That was his exhortation.
And he led them to watch
for the first star.
And he said, "Look,
o you shall see a star."
But there were no stars in the sky,
for the darkness took over the world.
And when the night came,
he lied down near the furnace
and did not get up anymore.
And he said, "I will die soon."
That's what he said.
And then the eldest child
came up to him and asked,
"Can I ask you a question? "
"Go ahead", he said.
"No", said the eldest child,
"We know that people always tell lies
and tell the truth only when
they are dying.
We will wait until you are dying. "
"Ask away", he said.
"It is time. "
And they all came up to him
and looked into his eyes.
And the eldest one asked,
"Have you