Another quiet Christmas in the house with Annoushka, as we had every year. And then perhaps a stroll around the city of London.

You're all welcome to the house. We'll have dinner ready.

Annoushka, she--

She didn't cry. She never cried.

She didn't know what to be afraid of. She'd only seen darkness all her life.

But she saw it.

Oh God. I don't know why I am so upset about this.

[ London Seals ]

...I guess I'll be joining you.

Oh God.

Oh God, this is not happening. I don't... Why...

Why must we be here? God damn you. I can't... I can't put Annoushka in this. I won't.

I...

It's certainly amusing to know that when things are boisterous, you wish they'd quiet down.

But when they do, you wish you know what was wrong.

...It's like living in a limbo.

[ filter: Russian ]

I asked myself again and again why I won't leave this community. I don't want to get Annoushka involved.

But how do you walk away if you feel wrong... walking away?

London will rain tonight.


[ filter: Russian ]

Annoushka said she saw 'pointy triangles' in her dreams. If I were to guess, that would be Cairo, Egypt. She said the dream hurts her eyes.

I wonder if she was talking about the sun.

The child has never seen the sun all her life.

...

My name is Anna Marianka, I currently reside in London.

...I am neither Seal nor an Angel. I don't see the future through my dreams, and I will not give birth to sacred weapons.

I just control the weather some days. And the circulation of most nonfiction books in London, I reckon.

Pleased to make acquaintance.

[ filter: Locked to Sir Inglesworth ]

...I received two invitations.

Can we leave Annoushka out of this?


[filter: Private. Russian. ]

...Annoushka walked up to me this morning, without stumbling. Despite the nonexistence of her vision. Usually that could only mean one thing.

She tugged at my skirt and spoke in her broken, 4-years-old tongue.

"Mama, I dreamed."

"I dreamed for Rome."