After Steve and Veronica visited their aunt, he decided to go to the estate where his parents lived for a few days. He had a business matter to settle there. In a month, the first group of young people from the city was supposed to arrive at the estate to rest and have fun. For this, Steve needed to prepare the large lakeside hotel house that he had inherited from his grandfather. There, young people could go boating and rest among the trees and flowers. There were many interesting places at his estate that could interest not only youths but also adults. It was not for nothing that people called this place the "Paradise Nest." Every visitor found something of their own here or took unforgettable impressions away with them.
But back to Steve. Getting up early in the morning, he had breakfast with his sister and began to pack his things. He did not go into the shop, deciding instead to set off immediately. After a while, Paul's truck arrived. He first dropped Steve off at the final stop and then took Veronica to the shop.
Sitting at the bus stop, Steve thought about the mannequin. Yesterday, he had approached her and looked into her face. She stood in a beautiful dress that Veronica had put on her. Her face was sad again. To Steve's questions: "What's wrong with you?", tears glistened in her eyes once more.
— I am leaving you for a while, — Steve said to her sadly. — I know that you are alive. But do not be sad, I will return in two days. If you get hungry in my absence, open the refrigerator in the hallway—it is full of food. When I come back from the estate, I will help you. Until then, please, do not disappear.
"Who is this girl? Who is she? Wait!" — Steve stood up abruptly. — "Of course! Exactly the same thing happened to grandfather. A girl from another dimension came to him! Back then, there was a great commotion in the city and at the estate. This is the continuation of the legend of 'Paradise Corner'! After those events, our grandfather disappeared. How did I not realize this before? How could we, the descendants of Dex, forget about this! This girl is one of the dolls!"
Steve thought feverishly: first the stories about Dex, then the strange mannequin-girl appearing in the shop... Perhaps the "living" dolls, just like in grandfather's time, had burst into our world again in hopes of finding refuge. What happened before? After the dolls came to the humans, a war began. A real war between the "lifeless" dolls and humanity!
"I must find Olkis and ask him about everything. And then gather even more information about Hall the Postman, the culprit of all our troubles," he decided.
Even when the bus arrived, Steve remained in deep thought. Taking the very back seat, he mentally considered a plan of action. Now his intentions had changed: he had to return from the estate not in two days, but already tomorrow.
When he arrived at the estate, everything was peaceful there. It was nearing lunchtime. "But all this is temporary! Another war between dolls and humans cannot be prevented," thought Dex's grandson. After having lunch with his parents, he retired to his room on the second floor. "I must not lose a minute. To prepare for the battle, I will have to talk to my friend who lives in the clearing. First of all, I must remember: how did people defeat the dolls last time? There was Dex, and he had powerful friends who made secret weapons for him. I, too, must ask for help from the 'long-eared friend' of my grandfather and myself."
Without losing time, Steve took a boat far to the west. Half an hour later, a wide valley appeared. Many concrete structures stood there. Steve walked among these ruins, and in a moment, a long-eared man came out to him. He greeted Steve and pointed to one of the buildings they should go to. Inside, the room was circular. In the middle stood a table with chairs. The room was well-lit by light falling from the upper windows.
— Take a seat, Steve! — the creature with long ears named Olkis invited his friend.
He was not from the forest people like Volien, but from the people of the valley. In the past, humans knew these creatures as the spirits of the valley.
— Thanks, Olk! How are you doing?
— Good, I can't complain so far, — he replied. — And you? Why have you come? Has something happened? Tell me, we are childhood friends. To help you, I will surely come, friend.
— Something has happened, Olk. A doll from Marionis has appeared in our shop under the guise of a mannequin. She doesn't say anything yet, but I can see in her eyes that she is in trouble. Do you remember our legend of the war between humans and dolls?
— Yes, I remember. That was the first war.
— Now a second one might begin. Lately, everything around has become somehow strange. Even here, at the estate, it is so unnaturally quiet.
— Isn't it always cozy and quiet at your estate, Steve?
— Yes, but this time it's not right, my heart feels it. Even if our legend is a lie...
— What are you saying, Steve! Your legend is true. It is a legend not only yours but ours as well. Dex is a hero and a victor. We sacredly keep in memory this real story, which in your world has become a fairy tale.
— Then I need your help, Olk! Without your warriors, the dolls cannot be defeated.
— You are right. But after the first war, our race ceased to be "creatures of the valley." We moved to another dimension and forgot how to fight. Now we do not even come into contact with your world.
— But the war is common to us both!
— No, your war does not concern us, — Olkis replied convincingly.
— Olk, as a friend of your people, I have come for help. If you cannot help with an army, help at least with weapons.
— I cannot promise that either. I have superior commanders. Whether they will help or not—I do not know. But we can try.
— Then I will wait for you here.
— No, you must see them yourself.
— How?
— You have to cross into our world. But it's damn dangerous — you might not survive.
— I must obtain weapons even at the cost of my own life.
— Then let's go, my brave friend! But blame only yourself: I won't be able to help you there.
— I agree, — Steve answered desperately. He had already mentally said goodbye to his world. There were almost no chances of victory in a foreign environment. He feared he would never see Eloise again.
— Olk, buddy! If anything happens to me, let my family know. Promise me this!
— I promise, — Olk answered calmly.
— But know one thing: if you ever need help, you can count on my relatives and on Eloise.
— Uh-huh, — Olk replied, walking ahead. — You look like Dex. For the sake of our friendship with him, I will try to help you however I can. The elders there also respected Dex. I think they will help. To them, Dex is like a god.
They walked through a labyrinth inside the building. The passage was cold and dark, the walls black or gray.
— Where are we going, Olk? — Steve asked.
— This is the road to our world. Be careful: this path touches the world of souls and the world of dreams.
— Are there many ghosts here? — Steve broke into a sweat.
— It is the world of ghosts, you fool!
— Then I've certainly died...
— Of course, you haven't died. You are simply crossing into another dimension. From there, there is no exit for the unchosen.
— Can anyone help me there?
— Of course.
— We must go faster! — Steve rushed forward.
After a while, Olk caught up with him:
— Don't worry, Steve, you are not in danger. I promise by my life that you will return.
— Thanks, Olk! Are we in the right direction?
— Yes.
— This is the creepiest journey I have ever embarked upon.
— This is our new sanctuary. Even your grandfather never visited here, not to mention other mortals.
After walking many kilometers, the friends finally found themselves in Olkis's world. This country was like a dream: incomprehensible structures and strange, sparkling trees. They headed toward a large wooden house. Steve began to feel unwell: the back of his head throbbed, nausea set in, and he felt a strong hunger.
— What's wrong with you? — Olk asked.
— I feel sick.
— I told you that you might not survive, — Olk stopped. — But you won't die, for you are Dex's grandson.
— Why does that matter?
— In Dex's blood was a substance that made him invulnerable to the viruses of other worlds. In your veins flows his blood, which means you have the antidote. But you still need to drink this.
Olk handed him a round jar with a liquid medicine. Steve quickly drank it and almost immediately felt relief.
— This is wonderful! — he rejoiced. — Olk, I knew you wouldn't abandon me.
— Glad to help the grandson of our hero. Our people are always ready to support the descendants of Dex, but soon we will leave your world for good.
— I am glad you are on my side.
— Too early to celebrate, Steve. You still have a meeting with the elder. Without his consent, my word means nothing. Are you ready?
— Ready, — Steve smiled.
They entered the large house. In a dark room, an old man met them. A woman brought food and tea. There were two others there; they behaved very strangely. Starving, Steve ate his fill, but he could satisfy neither thirst nor hunger with this food. The hosts spoke in an incomprehensible language, laughed, quarreled, and looked at him suspiciously. After the meal, everyone started watching a strange television: images flickered there that were impossible to remember. Everything seemed like a dream. The longer Steve stayed there, the heavier his heart became.
— Steve, why have you gone limp? — Olk smiled. — Now they will serve you real food, wait a little.
Olkis signaled to the hosts. The hostess smiled and brought roasted meat with potatoes and tea. Only then could Steve truly be satisfied. He pointed a finger at the object that looked like a television:
— Olk, what is this?
— With the help of this device, we travel to other spaces without leaving our spot. This thing is not for humans.
— I understand, — Steve nodded. — And when will we talk business?
— So, I am listening to you, grandson of Dex, — the host suddenly spoke in human language.
— I have come for help. A war between dolls and humans is looming. We are helpless; we have neither weapons nor knowledge.
— We will give you weapons, grandson of our respected friend! But the knowledge to defeat the enemy, we have already given to your grandfather. Did he not pass it on to you?
— He did... it's the knowledge in the "Lovers' Diary." But we haven't found it yet.
— Then find it. We cannot give you the same knowledge twice. Olkis, supply the guest with the necessary weapons and escort him whole and unharmed back to his world.
— It will be done, sir, — Olk replied. — Let's go, my friend!
After saying goodbye to the hosts, Steve returned to that same circular building.
— Olk, is this your home?
— No, this is my temporary place of work. I must be here until our people finally leave your valley.
— I see, — Steve replied sadly. — And the weapons?
— I will leave them right here, — Olk pointed to a secret door in the wall. — If you press on the wall, it will open. There you will find everything necessary for the war.
Then he handed Steve a small object brought from another room.
— Here, take this. Always keep it with you!
— Thank you for everything, Olk.
— Buddy, even if I am not here, come here whenever you need.
After saying goodbye to Olkis, Steve set off for home. It was eerie walking among the ruins. He kept Olkis's strange weapon ready. Several times, huge dogs appeared before him. With shots, he took several down. These were no longer dogs, but wild wolves that had begun to attack travelers. Steve loved dogs, but not these beasts.
"Soon the residents of Paradise Valley will destroy all the dangerous creatures," Steve thought. This thought gladdened him, for people would come here to rest in the summer. But before that, he had to repel Torsken's attack in the city.