Who sings come and get it
Why 'Come and Get Your Love' now? After 46 years 'the time has come'
'We wanted to showcase the culture, not just the band, so the story became a spiritual traveler who leaves home to explore a new world'
Redbone members, from left to right: Pat Vegas, Pete DePoe, Lolly Vegas and Tony Bellamy (Photo: Sony Music Entertainment)
'We wanted to showcase the culture, not just the band, so the story became a spiritual traveler who leaves home to explore a new world'
Sandra Hale Schulman
Special to Indian Country Today
As an enduring pop hit, Redbone’s “Come and Get Your Love” has had millions of plays on air and on YouTube with the pioneering rock band's visually powerful performance on TV’s "The Midnight Special" in 1974, when the song was released.
That clip begins with a powwow dancer performing in front of the band, introducing millions to a Native traditional dance they had most likely never seen before.
In 2014, the mega-budget sci-fi film "Guardians of the Galaxy" used the song in a key opening scene and on the official soundtrack, garnering a whole new generation of fans.
But the infectious, bouncy song with a message of earthy and universal love never had an official video from the band. Until now.
Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, has released a new music video for "Come and Get Your Love," pulling in an Emmy-nominated director, Juan Bedolla, and an award-winning Native artist, Brent Learned, to create the visuals.
Juan Bedolla (Photo: Diego Humberto Marquez)
Redbone, from left to right: Tony Bellamy, Pete DePoe, Pat Vegas and Lolly Vegas (Photo: Sandy Speiser)
"Come and Get Your Love" was released as a single on Epic Records in January 1974. The band took its name from a Cajun term for multiracial individuals as its members have Yaqui, Shoshone and Mexican heritage. The group's core musicians, brothers Patrick and Candido "Lolly" Vasquez-Vegas, were born in Coalinga, California, moved to Los Angeles in 1959 and performed for a decade on the club scene as Pat and Lolly Vegas before founding Redbone.
Redbone was the first Native American band to achieve a Top 5 single on the Billboard Hot 100. The genre-defying group mixes a unique blend of deep funk, Tex-Mex R&B, some soul and authentic Native American tribal beats. The single was certified gold, sold a million copies and is a pop radio classic.
So why an official video now?
“The time has come!” 79 year-old Pat Vegas says from his studio in California, where he is keeping busy with new recordings.
“Back then, we did what we had to do onstage to show our heritage. We were always fighting for recognition through our music," he said. "Bringing our sound and our culture was the way to fight the good fight. The song has a deeper meaning of a spiritual, religious and universal love. When we say in the song ‘Come and get your love, get it from the main vine,' that connects to Mother Earth. We are all longing for love.”
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Approaching the storyline of the film, Mexican producer and director Bedolla — who's garnered two Emmy nominations and multiple Telly and Addy awards — found Oklahoma Native American artist Brent Learned through Instagram and asked him to help.
“We wanted to tell a bigger story here,” Bedolla says from Los Angeles. “We wanted to showcase the culture, not just the band, so the story became a spiritual traveler who leaves home to explore a new world."
They planned to shoot footage, but the pandemic hit, and they had to shift gears and go with animation.
The resulting video was inspired by "graffiti, traditional images, the future and reexamining pop-culture imagery in the context of contemporary events," Bedolla said.
"The film's mythic traveler moves from his reservation eventually to outer space," he said. "There’s a lot going on in each frame, with multiple scenarios. Pat had some input, and the band appears in several places throughout the film.”
Learned, an enrolled member of the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, has artwork in museums including the Smithsonian Institute-National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., and the Cheyenne/Arapaho Museum in Clinton, Oklahoma.
Brent Learned (Photo: David McNess)
He says the time-traveling central figure in the film is an "expression of universality.
"
"This is a commentary on an overarching idea repeated throughout the video, that of seeking our love/interests in all the wrong places, when oftentimes they are right in front of us; if only we're willing to look," Learned said. "It was important to us to include contemporary images such as protest signs, the #MMIW hashtag on the horses' haunches, and ledger books that come to life. When the traveler becomes an astronaut, there are tribal patterns painted on his rocket ship."
In more Redbone news, in September 2020, IDW Publishing will release an illustrated biography of the group, "Redbone: The True Story of a Native American Rock Band," by Christian Staebler and Sonia Paoloni, in cooperation with the Vegas family and illustrated by Thibault Balahy.
The book is an intriguing telling of the high-flying career of Pat and Lolly Vegas, illuminating key pieces of American history and the powerful story of the Native American civil rights movement.
Pat Vegas says: "We wanted to show that our people were about love.
This film visual really takes you on a journey and reminds us that the sky's not the limit; it's only the view. It's something to help the young understand the old, one is silver the other gold, both are valuable. To everyone, I'd like to say, 'Chioke Uttesia,' which is 'Thank you' in Yaqui language. The creators of the video asked for my blessing on this film. They have my blessing.”
Sandra Hale Schulman, Cherokee, has been writing about Native issues since 1994. She is an author of four books, has contributed to shows at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian and has produced three films on Native musicians.
Who sings Come and Get Your Love from Guardians of the Galaxy?
Who sings Come and Get Your Love from Guardians of the Galaxy?
Redbone Come and Get Your Love/Artistes Come and Get Your Love is a song by the 1970s Native American band Redbones. It is played as the opening song to Guardians of the Galaxy, while Star-Lord is dancing around Morag.
What is the September song in Guardians of the Galaxy?
Having said that, I wouldn't be disappointed in Earth, Wind & Fire's tune "September" ended up in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Sure, it's one of the most popular songs in that band's discography, and it's also very popular today, but it just has the right energy, in my opinion.
What is the song that plays at the end of Guardians of the Galaxy?
The final song on the Guardians Of The Galaxy 2 soundtrack is "Guardians Inferno," an original song featuring vocals from David Hasselhoff. Hasselhoff is a noted hero of Peter Quill and the song was intended as a retro disco throwback.
Who is singing in Redbone?
Donald Glover Redbone/Artistes
What's the opening song in Guardians of the Galaxy 2?
Mr.
Blue Sky "Mr. Blue Sky" by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) is included in the beginning of the film, which Gunn felt was "the perfect song to start the movie because it's really joyous, but there's a really dark underpinning to it," and felt it would go well with "the most hugely insane shot I've ever done".
What songs play on Guardians of the Galaxy ride?
The six songs are as follows:
- I Want You Back - The Jackson 5 (1969)
- Hit Me With Your Best Shot - Pat Benatar (1980)
- Give Up The Funk - Parliament (1975)
- Free Ride - The Edgar Winter Group (1973)
- Burning Love - Elvis Presley (1972)
- Born to Be Wild - Steppenwolf (1968)
What song does Groot dance to in Guardians of the Galaxy 2?
Mr.
Blue Sky Baby Groot dances through the opening scene of Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, grooving to "Mr. Blue Sky" as the credits play and the other Guardians fight.
Is Childish Gambino retired?
In June 2017, Glover first revealed his plans to retire the stage name Childish Gambino, telling fans at the Governors Ball Music Festival, “I'll see you for the last Gambino album.” Just two days after his announcement on stage, Glover continued to reiterate his plans at a promotional event in Atlanta.
Krasnoyarsk citizens sing Chanson. Come and listen! – Kaleda.ru
On March 16, radio “Chanson” holds the action “Chanson is sung by Krasnoyarsk residents” for the third time. And this is a concert at the House of Combine Builders (beginning at 19-00) and the release of a CD with the songs of the participants.
Participants, by the way, are gaining more and more every year. Three years ago, there were fewer participants, we then, to be honest, got bumps on ourselves, but we got some experience, - Denis Babiy, one of the curators of the action, shared. - Last time there was already a small advertising campaign on TVK, and more local songs were on the air. This time they approached more thoroughly. The songs of the participants began to be broadcast on the air from January 17, they launched a video on TVK and gave advertising layouts in newspapers. All resources of the holding are involved. We invite some performers to "New Utro" on TVK and to the program on the radio "Morning with Chanson". 14 songs of our participants are on the air.
The purpose of the action is to introduce Krasnoyarsk residents to local performers. All participants will receive a branded CD-collection, and we will raffle it among the audience of the concert.
What do Krasnoyarsk residents sing about? Of course, about love, about your city, about Siberia, about the unique Siberian character.
These songs are close, understandable and loved by Krasnoyarsk listeners. That is why the musical project "Chanson is sung by Krasnoyarsk citizens" has become traditional and enjoys constant success.
For authors, this is a unique opportunity to perform their songs on the radio Shanson. And for the people of Krasnoyarsk - to experience pride in the Siberian land, which is so rich in talents.
Singer Natalya Breyder took part in the recording of the first albums of our fellow countryman Vyacheslav Medyanik, when there was no definition of the genre as "chanson".
— I participated in the first action of radio "Chanson," says Natalia, "and enthusiastically accepted the invitation to sing again for fellow countrymen with colleagues in the genre. Moreover, not so long ago a solo disc “Don’t Leave Me” was released, where I sing songs by local authors: music by Vitaly Smirnov, lyrics by Yegor Kharitonov.
Lately I have got a second wind. Last year she participated in the festival in memory of M.
Krug in Tver. She recorded a duet song with Leonid Teleshev, a close friend of the Circle. He composed several songs for me. Now I'm preparing a new album, where there will be songs written by me.
In Tver, she presented her CD to Willy Tokarev. He took me everywhere with him by the arm. They remembered how they met in 1994. Willy Ivanovich then performed at the KTZ on the Bridgehead. We drove up to the entrance on the Volga, the red carpet was laid out for him. I wanted to step aside, but he did not let go, he said: - Take me by the arm, go and smile.
At rehearsal, Willy gave me a kind of audition. His musicians stopped, and I sang as I sang. He knew my voice only from Medyanik's albums. He listened, thought and said: - Let's go with me to America. You will work in the Odessa restaurant. Quickly collect your belongings and let's go. So it was!..
Gennady Kaleda
P. S. Participants of the concert
Participants of the concert "Chanson sing by Krasnoyarsk residents"
Popov Sergey - author and performer, style - "urban romance".
He writes songs mostly for himself, and therefore the broadcast on the radio Chanson became a pleasant recognition of the forces invested in creativity.
Group A.T.A.C. - these are talented guys from Krasnoyarsk, whose songs can be found in the best serial collections of the Russian Chanson Company. The group is preparing to release the second album.
Natalia Breyder - Performer of songs in the style of chanson and urban romance. The owner of a sensual, beautiful timbre, causing the constant delight of the public. It is no coincidence that she is called the Queen of Siberian chanson. In the mid-80s, she participated in the recording of albums by Vladislav Medyanik. The singer's work was highly appreciated by M. Shufutinsky, T. Tishinskaya, A. Zvintsov, G. Zharov, S. Piterskaya, A. Martsinkevich (group "Cabriolet"), group. Butyrka and many other colleagues.
The Weekend group is one of the most professional and sought-after groups in the city. The group has existed for more than 5 years and is currently working on recording their album.
Artyom Tolstobrov is an author and performer for whom music has turned from a hobby into the meaning of life. Participates and becomes a laureate in performing competitions of the city and regional scale, performs with solo concerts.
Arzaev Alik - Krasnoyarsk poet, composer and performer, began writing songs from the age of eight. In 1992 he became a laureate of the festival of young vocalists "Yalta-92". The winner of the audience's sympathy of many regional festivals of bard songs.
Sergey Bayakin - In the past and now - climber, stolbist, captain of the Russian team and leader of unique ascents (including Everest). Candidate of Technical Sciences. Favorite bard of Krasnoyarsk.
Serdyukov Sergey — Since childhood, he devoted a lot of time to music, was the vocalist of the school VIA. At the military school of communications, he organized the PLUS group. In the spring of 2010, Sergey's first solo album "Being next to you" was released.
Shatrov Vladimir - Vladimir has been playing the guitar since childhood, but began to compose songs only since 2008.
His first album, co-authored with the poet Sergei Korkin, is called Star Gold.
Mikhail Kirillov — Musical career began with tours as a balalaika soloist and singer. Participated and won in many professional competitions. In 2007, he began performing on the same stage with chanson stars. 2007 - release of the second disc, shooting a video and performing the Anthem of the Krasnoyarsk Territory.
Group "Money forward!" - The Krasnoyarsk collective is unique in its composition and repertoire, performing author's songs. In addition to classical instruments: drums, bass, guitar, keys, button accordion and banjo are involved in the music. The musical directions of the group's work are diverse - from incendiary SKA and pop-rock to romantic blues.
Vladimir Dubrovsky - In 2010 he was the winner of the XI Regional Festival of Author's Song in the "Author" nomination. In 2011, the winner of the festival of amateur art performances of the Leninsky district "Creative Spring" in the nomination "Golden Voice".
Member of the Krasnoyarsk regional public organization "Krasnoyarsk Bards". A regular participant in the bard rallies "Vysotsky and Siberia", "Krasnoyarsk sings Vysotsky". The texts of his poems and songs were published in the literary almanac Mutual Responsibility, edited by Nikolai Eremin.
Group "Gamma" - Since 1970, the guys played at dance parties in the Palace of Culture "Kras TETs", where they earned themselves popularity as a group performing songs by unknown authors, as well as their own songs. The group takes part in the city day and not only in Krasnoyarsk, performs in city clubs, at corporate parties, participates in city music festivals as guests, but prefers concert activities.
Evgeny Polyakov is a Krasnoyarsk singer-songwriter who writes sincere and trusting songs-stories about the Motherland, about love, about life. Now the recording of his debut author's album "Grape Dream" is underway.
Sergey Ivlev - Rising "star" of the Krasnoyarsk stage. His concerts are already planned in other cities of Siberia.
Working in the genre of light and melodic chanson. Sergey Ivlev - the owner of a beautiful timbre voice - is noticeably different from most Russian chansonniers. He sings without a hint of vulgarity and pretense in his voice.
Vladimir Vladimirov — Well-known restaurateur and businessman in Krasnoyarsk. Each new project of the V. V. Vladimirov & Co" invariably becomes an event in city life. Vladimirov is also known to Krasnoyarsk as the author of poems and songs. Vladimir says: “Songwriting is a hobby for the soul.”
Pavel Chekh-Bazhov - winner and diploma winner of regional and all-Russian competitions. His songs sound in the format of an urban romance. These are songs about people, about what surrounds them, what they feel, about life.
General information
What do Krasnoyarsk residents sing about? Of course, about love, about your city, about Siberia, about the unique Siberian character. These songs are close, understandable and loved by Krasnoyarsk listeners.
That is why the musical project “Chanson is sung by Krasnoyarsk residents” has become traditional and enjoys constant success. For the authors, this is a unique opportunity to perform their songs on the radio Shanson.
And for the people of Krasnoyarsk - to experience pride in the Siberian land, which is so rich in talents.
Now the second audio collection is being prepared for release. Wherever you are - at home, on the road, in the circle of friends, may you always have a sincere and close Krasnoyarsk song with you!
Disc tracklist
01 Sergey Serdyukov - Heavenly Love (3:08)
02 Mikhail Kirillov - Hello, my Motherland (2:49)
03 Money ahead - I'm flying away (3:59)
04 Artem Tolstobrov - Song of the railways (3:03)
05 Natalya Breyder - Cherry branch (3:32) Music by V. Smirnov / Lyrics by E. Kharitonov
06 Vladimir Shatrov - To his native Krasnoyarsk (3:47)
07 Alik Arzaev - Yenisei (5:35)
08 Weekend - Golden autumn (4:22)
09 Pavel Chekh-Bazhov - Trucker (2:57)
10 Popov Sergey - Native (3:52)
11 Andrey Doroshenko - City of Childhood (5:00) Music S.
Shershov / Lyrics V. Vladimirov
12 Coffee break - Wings (3:40)
13 Atas - Cities (3:30)
14 Sergey Ivlev - Mom, I'm sorry (4:49) Music and lyrics: Boris Prokhorov
15 Sergey Bayakin - Wheel (4:10)
16 Vladimir Dubrovsky - Gray hair (3:06)
17 Evgeny Polyakov - To my city (3:15)
18 Gamma - I'm coming to you (5:10) Music E. Gusakov / Poems Z. Asmanova
19 Sergey Serdyukov - Sun (2:55)
20 Mikhail Kirillov - Bathhouse (2:50)
Stories of the finalists of the second season of the competition
Dudko Maria. Keys
So... Tick... So...
The voice of the old grandfather clock from the hallway already met me, but I could not open the door. Well, where are these keys?... Really lost? Only this was not enough, and so the day didn't work out!.. Ah, no, here it is...
The clock struck eight when I stepped on the creaky parquet of the hallway.
How I missed the quietness of my apartment! I just wanted to fall apart on a shabby sofa, and lie there until the morning ... But instead, I trudged to the computer. While the old unit, inherited from the dinosaurs, turned on, I made myself coffee. Today you will need more than one mug. Article for the night, and inspiration from gulkin's nose. They also threaten to make layoffs at work. You can not delay, otherwise the dismissal cannot be avoided. And it would not be bad to update the blog, otherwise the last subscribers will soon scatter. Eh…
I worked in the editorial office of a magazine that was in demand in our district, and in the city in general. The editor - Fedot Stepanovich - always put only the best into print.
The best. Yes. It means not me. For some reason, lately my writing has not been impressive at all. Even myself. Honestly, not surprised. It looks like I've lost the spark, like there was nothing to write about. It's funny somehow: I live in a metropolis, where something happens every day, but I look as if into a void.
Other people's problems ceased to excite, everyone here is a drop in the ocean. So my news is gray, alien, distant and unnecessary, in general, to no one.
What did I write about? As I then still thought, about the important. About eternal, to some extent. I noticed that the people around were so closed that they seemed to stop seeing each other, let alone feel and understand. Everyone at some point withdraws into himself and loses the key to the door he entered. Locks up the heart. Puts on a mask. Indifferent. And silently walks along the gray stones of the pavement...
I just wanted to be heard... I thought I would become the key to the world on this side of the mask. I will help those in need with my word, I will teach people to listen and hear, I will save the world... But it seems that something went wrong. And now... Now I don't even know how to save myself. So in response I get the cry of tearing paper and the famous last warning from the lips of Fedot Stepanych.
Last chance. Tomorrow I will not come with a sensation - that's it. Well... It looks like it's time to forget about your reasoning for a while and plunge into the world of human intrigues. Write what will be read. What is expected of me. No not like this. What do you expect from an article in our magazine.
What are the stone jungles talking about these days? What is the wind of change carrying along their paved paths? The most discussed topic was a series of strange deaths, however, as is usually the case. For a long time now, criminals taken into custody have been dying one after another. The most different: from simple pickpockets to almost murderers, adults and still teenagers of fourteen years. Most of them haven't even been sentenced yet. And they all have the same diagnosis - poisoning. What is still a mystery. This happened with some frequency in different parts of the city, but most often in our police department. And, by pure chance, none other than my older brother, officer Yuri Diskarin, worked there.
How I could use his help now... But no. My brother and I don't get along. And they never got along. It just so happened ... Probably, we are just too different. Yurik is secretive, distrustful. He never told me anything, he preferred to do everything himself, and I felt that he did not need me at all. I must have been a little jealous of my brother. He is successful, just the pride of the family, and I grab the last chance to stay at work.
...Grasping for the last chance to stay at work. Although ... You can try to find out about the high-profile case first hand, so to speak. This, for sure, would interest Fedot Stepanych, but he would have to turn to his brother for help. Yeah ... And once again become a loser in the eyes of a whole family. Hell no! Even for the sake of work, I will not ask for the help of this person!
Well, nothing. I prepared, collected materials, now I will write and saved! I manage myself. If only I could make it in the morning…
GO!!!
The sound took me by surprise.
It was a signal that the factory was over, from the old watch in the corridor. The matter is fixable. I got up, went to the clock, opened the lid and reached for the key with a familiar gesture. Only the key was missing. What's the strange thing? In my house, I valued order, but such incidents simply unsettled ... What should I do now, look for this lost key? Looks like I'll have to...
Casting a sad glance at the computer, I began to remember where I could put this old piece of iron. So I have already climbed several shelves, looked into the boxes and ...
What is this? There was an envelope in the dresser. And, if I was ready to see the key to the winding mechanism among the socks, with my absent-mindedness, then there’s no strange message at all. Although, maybe I'm too naive? Oh, I don't like it all...
Naturally, I opened the envelope and immediately recognized Yurik's handwriting.
"I'm not sure I wasn't followed. Check your mail. I never forgot your birthday!
Yu.
»
What jokes? I knew that it was necessary to take away the keys from him when he moved in! Wait, there's something on the back...
"KeyHole4u..."
I ran my eyes over the hastily written lines again. The text seemed devoid of meaning and meant nothing to me.
What is he? For henbane, it seems, it’s not the season ... Just in case, I checked the calendar and made sure that my birthday is not today and not even in the coming days. The only thing that made sense was to check your email.
What am I doing with my time? Before my hand could close the text editor, a window popped up asking if I really wanted to do it. Here, even it mocks...
One letter actually arrived in my mail. So, why is Yurik doing this: invading my house with a strange note and tweeting on the Internet at the same time? After all, isn't it easier to call? Of course, I would not jump with delight when something would make our little star descend to mere mortals, but why reinvent the wheel?
So I thought as I sipped my cold coffee while waiting for the text to load.
Finally, the following lines loomed before my eyes:
“Hello, Egor.
I know you'll be surprised by my letter, but I wouldn't bother you if it wasn't really serious. I wanted to call, but my new phone didn't have your number. My number hasn't changed, if you're interested...
Let's get down to business. We need to talk. But the conversation must be face to face. Come today at nine at the intersection of Pskovskaya and Myasnaya, there, in the courtyard of house 26, I will be waiting for you.
It's about a series of prisoner deaths. Correction, about a series of murders... I thought it might interest you, I'll explain everything when we meet, if, of course, you show up... your guilt. But I ask you to believe me one single time. You are my last key to hope. I expect you to read this letter and come.
Your brother Yuri Diskarin
Hmm...
Everything is more and more wonderful, as the heroine of a famous fairy tale used to say.
..
I re-read the message several times to make sure that I had really ceased to understand anything. Except, perhaps, for the fact that some kind of mystery lies in this whole affair, and Yurka for me now is the key to all answers. Besides, since he himself calls me to talk, I will not fail to interview the lead investigator ... Unless, of course, this is a stupid attempt at a joke ... But it is unlikely that he would write to me for fun.
And what, now it's raining again, right?.. But he came home! Okay, I’ll figure it out quickly, and I’ll have another six hours for the article ... I glanced at the clock, belatedly remembering that this was pointless. Another advertising message comes to the phone, helpfully suggesting that I need to go out if I want to be in time for a meeting. Having extinguished the monitor that had just woken up and abruptly grabbed my raincoat, which had not yet dried out after a day's walk, I jumped out into the entrance.
Only at the car I hesitated a little.
Isn't it too easy for me to fit in? Just a couple of minutes ago, I was sure that for the sake of my brother I would not lift an eyebrow, and for my own sake I would not mess with him. What did this message do to me?
It filled me with a sense of self-importance. Finally, something depended on me, on me alone! Probably, I was driven by the desire to prove that I was worth something ... But I didn’t want to admit such motives. From this, an incomprehensible annoyance settled in my head, but I stubbornly explained it only by the spent time taken away from writing the article.
Stopping at the appointed place, I looked at my watch. Another full five minutes ... It was possible to leave later, although ... as if it would give me something. Around no one like Yuri.
An unpleasant, vile fog reigned in the street. I hid from him in the car.
The sun has long since set behind the clouds, and the city has lit its fires. Lanterns, not stars. I sometimes thought about how this noisy world lacked stars.
Each of them is unique, even though there are billions of them in the darkness of the sky. It's the same with people, isn't it? But we almost purposely forget about that, therefore we hide from condemning burning looks from the depths of the immense.
And just now the thought flashed through my head: how often do I myself think about others? It would seem that constantly ...
I digressed from philosophical reflections to look at the time. Five minutes. There was no one even humanoid in sight, the yard was empty.
Ten... I'm checking my phone, mail. Not a line about being late.
Twenty! No, it's not serious anymore! I shouldn't have come... Nervously dialing a number, preparing a scathing speech. In response, only long beeps are heard. Okay... Let's wait... You never know. He's got a job too... Trying to calm down seems to be working until I remember that damned article never started! Where the hell are these fools?!
"I'm waiting another fifteen minutes and I'm leaving" - I angrily type a message and press "Send" furiously.
Time is running out and the message hasn't even been read! Twenty-five minutes... thirty... Still silence. There is no point in waiting any longer.
To clear my conscience, I call again. A melodious female voice is heard from the handset:
- The device of the called subscriber is turned off or is out of coverage area ... - the lady says, slowly repeating the phrase in English.
- Damn you!.. - irritably hissing, I throw the phone on the next seat. - So... Okay... I warned you, I waited... waited longer than promised. Now you can go home with a clear conscience.
As I looked down the road, I was surprised to find that I was not so much angry as nervous. It pissed me off even more…
***
There was less and less time left for work, and I continued to pace the apartment. Usually such a calm creak of the floorboards now mocked my poor hearing with all its might. It was by no means the article that occupied my thoughts, despite the fact that they would not forgive me if I screwed up such material.
..
Minutes passed slowly. I felt them even without the usual ticking of the clock. OK. I will be frank with myself, because my strength is no more, and then to work! All this is strange! What exactly? That I couldn't get through. Yura does not turn off the phone and diligently monitors its charge, he should always be in touch, should I, as a brother, know about this. Also this line from that note, it is no coincidence that it is the very first ...
So... don't panic. What the hell is this blockhead in general so businesslike settled in my head?! Anything happens. Everything! Article. Only an article.
By an effort of will, I managed to sit down in front of the monitor and even write a couple of lines before I again plunged into thought. And yet... what could have happened?..
***
The days raced by like clockwork, but not mine. I never found the key, and I haven’t tried, to be honest, since that evening. They froze, showing half past nine, as if that day had not yet passed.
I didn't show up for work the next morning. I don’t believe it myself... how could I put everything on the altar for the sake of a person whom I was mortally envious of, whose disappearance I dreamed of... the one whom I had known all my life and with whom I was still connected invisibly?!..
And the apartment! Oh... if the old me had seen what my temple of comfort had turned into... however, he would have shot himself right away, leaving behind only the gloomy aesthetics of a broken creator... All the tables were cluttered with dirty mugs and fast food packages. The entire floor is full of shoe marks. Here and there were meticulously compiled lists of those with whom my brother could communicate, where he could go, who could wish him harm...
But none of that mattered anymore...
“- Yegor Diskarin? - I heard a calm male voice from my phone this morning.
- Yes. I answered nervously.
- The police are bothering you - my heart threatened to break my chest.
It must be from stress and lack of sleep ... And in the meantime, in my head: "If only they could find ...".
- Your brother was found today at noon, - a slight pause, as if to realize what was said, - He is dead. The circumstances of death are being investigated. - just as calmly, as if nothing had happened, the man on the other end of the wire continues. - We offer our condolences. Today you should come to the department ... "
Followed by instructions and occasional questions to which I answered things like “yes”, “no” and “understood”. Be afraid of your desires. Found...
I spent the next half day in the same department. Some papers, some formalities, a funeral... And a conversation.
From that conversation I learned something that struck me. Yura was suspect. They said that he killed the prisoners by slipping poison into their food or something like that. There was not much evidence, so they only planned to arrest him, but now the main version of my brother's death is suicide during an attempt to escape from justice.
What heresy… But at that moment I could not object anything. Exactly like believing even a single word.
And now I'm back in my home again. Devastated, with only one thought in his head: “he is no more”…
What are words? A set of letters, a set of sounds, nothing more... But some become keys. This key with three heavy teeth will open one of the most terrible doors: the door of despair and pain. Maybe I should have phrased it a little more bluntly? But as? What would it change? There is only one key, no matter how you decorate it, and there is only one door, and you are standing on the threshold. You can't go back. And the castle succumbed. Started...
I look around the apartment with a detached look, slowly falling into a rage.
- Damn! - comes out of the chest. How long have I not uttered this word, - Damn! - I repeat louder, clasping my hands sharply. My whole army of mugs is flying down to the sound of glass. A blanket of scribbled sheets covers them from above.
- Dunce! Brat! Freak! I scream, not remembering myself.
- Look... Look what you've done, you bastard! I lost everything because of you! Inspiration! Work! Dreams! How can I pay my bills now? I've wasted so much time on you, damn it, even the key to the clock... - the silence hurt my ears, so I continued to throw empty phrases, trying to throw out everything that had accumulated inside me. My voice broke, growled and wheezed, turned into hysterical laughter, and I didn’t even understand why I was so angry ... At myself?
Yes... I was jealous of my brother in black! The pride of the family, a great future, office authority, lofty goals, a dream job - everything I wanted to hear about myself, I heard about Yurashi! I remained his little brother, always second, always underestimated. It was an axiom that everything was easy for him. But for some reason it did not occur to me that we were actually brothers. Our conditions were the same. And I seemed to be blind, I did not see what he had to go through.
And what did I do when I got tired of being a shadow? Exactly. He erected that very wall, the wall of indifference. I didn't care. And there is one more drop in the ocean. It was not Yura who closed himself off from me, but I from him. And what did it lead to? “He is no more,” and I can’t even say with certainty that I’m not the brother of the killer! And all because I don't know! I don’t know how he lived all these years, I don’t know what was going on in his soul, I don’t know if he called me to stop the rumors in the bud, or to repent of what he had done even a little to his own creature, albeit such a vile one, how I ... And I will probably never know, my key to this secret is forever lost ... What a blockhead I am ... What are all my arguments about feelings, words, stars, but all about the same keys worth now! How could I have changed the world when I myself could not find those vices for which I reproached mankind?! That's why my articles weren't being read. When changing the world, start with yourself, otherwise everything is empty words.
Gray, alien, distant and unnecessary, in general, no one ... Such words will not become keys ... Keys ... I return to them over and over again. Oh, this world is really crazy about them! We have the keys to everything, they are even where we don’t think to find them, because they have entered our lives so deeply that everything now rests on them alone, and we don’t even notice. Yes, and life itself is like a constant picking of locks! But even that is not important. The important thing is that there is no key leading from There. This is what gives meaning to all other keys. No matter how hard I try, I won't start Yurik's time again like the old clock. But who knows from what doors, I would have taken him away, if only I was there ... It's a pity, I realized it too late ...
- I'll never sit down to write again... - I said to myself, almost delirious, barely recognizing my own hoarse voice. After that, I fell asleep and didn’t think about anything anymore.
***
I spent the next day almost without getting up.
Only in the evening I somehow tried to eliminate the consequences of my yesterday's insanity ... But the attempt was nipped in the bud, as soon as the very note that I found among the socks caught my eye ... Surprisingly, all the time while I was busy looking for my brother, I almost did not remember her, as a thing that does not carry any meaning in itself. But there were so many questions connected with it! I re-read it. As expected, nothing new appeared ... And yet ... Why was she needed?
I immersed myself in the memory of the day when I lost the key to the clock, which was so silent for the last week… It seems that since that time I have not turned on the computer… How is it, my old man?
The heritage of the ancestors, as expected, grumbled and buzzed at my long absence, but in the end they had mercy and opened my e-mail page for me. Yurik's letter has not disappeared anywhere. I didn't reread it. One thing is a note with unclear text, and another is an invitation to a meeting that was not destined to take place .
..
"Check your mail..." echoed in my ears. The sudden realization made me jump. What if... This strange text on the back is nothing but a login? But my hands are unstoppable...
Hastily logging out of my account, I entered the characters into the appropriate box. But you need a password... Password... Another stupid thought... "I never forgot your birthday!" I enter.
Only one digit changed on the monitor, but I didn't believe it. This eternity could not last for one miserable minute.
- It worked... - I said, looking into this luminous box in a frenzy. Another account. And only one letter.
The entire apartment fell into absolute silence as I read what was written here.
“Egor, I knew that you would solve my message! Help out, brother! I need you, we all need you!
For several months now I have been busy with the death of several criminals in custody. These are not just deaths, Yegor, these are murders. I'm sure I got very close to the solution.
I have two prime suspects. But there's a problem. Both of them are my work colleagues. And I don't know if any of them acted alone or in concert. In other words, I don't know who in the police force I can trust with regards to this case.
Also, I notice that I am being watched. Apparently, the attacker feels that I got too close, and will soon try to eliminate me. Well, that's what I use to pinpoint the culprit. How? I told one of us about our upcoming meeting. If I guessed right, and he's not a criminal, then you don't have to read this, I'll tell you everything myself. But, if I made a mistake, and you are still reading this, then most likely I am already dead ...
Brother, now only you can solve this case. And only you can I trust him. To this letter I will attach documents in which my evidence is collected, there you will find the details of the plan, all the names, all the evidence. Publish them in your journal, let everyone know, and then the villains will have nowhere to go! I hope for you.
I know you won't let me down..."0155
For some reason, my heart skipped a beat. Brother... I won't let you down!
***
Never say never. For the next few days, I did not let go of the keyboard. I know, I promised myself, for writing, no, no, but the last, last time! For Yurik! This will be my best article...
And it really became the best. Where did I get it from? Just my blog would not be enough for such an important mission. So I had to visit Fedot Stepanovich. I almost begged him on my knees to read my work. But he still read it. Read it and put it on the first page!
A few days later I had to go to our police station again. There, of course, there are again formalities, thanks, apologies ... But they did not interest me. He was arrested. I wanted to talk to him. With a killer. I wanted to look into his eyes. For help in solving the case, I was even allowed to do so.
I was taken to a special room. He sat opposite me and froze with his cold gaze.
But there was nothing in the eyes... He was... Empty. However, the first one spoke.
- Because I saw how souls died, - he answered my question before I could ask it, - Every criminal who was brought here did not set foot on this path from a good life. The world has treated them cruelly. It's wild, but for some, crime is still a way to survive. Not for everyone... But I didn't talk to everyone. Do you know why? Because they don't listen, you know? And when I talked to them in this very room, they just wanted to be heard ... And I listened to them, watching how the eyes on the contrary go out, and how hopelessness penetrates into the very heart. They had not yet been sentenced, but they no longer believed that something could be changed. Outcasts of humanity. They could only hide in themselves and wait for the end. Then I gave them the key to freedom. An ampoule with poison, as the end of all torment. You won't understand, must be...
- And now, being in their place, would you like the same? I asked quietly.
My interlocutor was silent. And I continued, - Do you know why? Because there is no key from there. As long as you're alive, you can still fix it...
We talked with him for a while, and then I went out into the street. It was already getting dark and the lights were on. The downpour threw fragments of stars right under my feet, and they flared for a moment with earthly human light, breaking on the wet asphalt. I silently walked along the gray stones of the pavement, finally throwing off my indifferent mask. Raindrops on my cheeks from something became salty. His image stood before my eyes. Indifference. The way I saw him once on Bolotnaya Square - not seeing, not hearing, impregnable. The source of human vices. I wanted to run away from him, and I even ran, as if it could help. God! Who would have known that it hurts so much to open your heart to the world! The dialogue with the murderer still sounded in his thoughts, and his brother's voice echoed in his soul. But, if you were already hiding from all this behind a wall of indifference, then only after going through this pain you can go back, again know the truth.
