Kitabı oku: «Classics of a fantasy», sayfa 3
road toilet bag, two dresses, linen, the camera with a stock of films —
the word, everything that it took, going to ordinary “travel” —
to the resort.
***
The bishop Iov Weller got ready for a trip too. It should fly on
unknown planet. With this thought he, could reconcile in any way yet
to accustom.
Once on Saturday he peacefully sat, having gone deep into drawing up
the Sunday sermon, in the cozy apartment where lived two tens
years when the housekeeper reported that some person wants to see it.
Thinking that he is invited for execution of an occasional office, he told that
the visitor was let in.
The little restless person entered:
– I have honor to be presented. I am Henry Pinch. Representative of joint-stock
societies “Noah’s Ark” and personal secretary of the chairman of the board of Mr.
Samuel Stormer.
– This charitable society? – the bishop asked. He already forgot about
conversation in salon of lady Hinton.
– Not absolutely, – Pinch answered, taking seat in a chair and fidgeting in it. —
Though in some way it is possible to call it and charitable. Rescue
people from terrible death – whether this not good cause? You need to fly, the sir
bishop, as soon as possible.
– Where to fly? – Weller asked.
– On the sky.
The bishop was involuntarily removed to a chair back. That it, ridiculous joke
or ravings of a madman?
– I not absolutely understand you.
– I believed that you are rather prepared for this offer, —
Pinch answered, continuing to fidget in a chair. – Lady Hinton spoke…
The bishop remembered everything. But really it is serious?.
– I do not intend to fly on the sky! Perfect it intends! – the bishop told
such tone as if to it suggested to die. – To me to fly? Agree,
that it does not even match my dignity.
Пинч shrugged shoulders:
– I believe that it will not drop the advantage of your dignity. As
there were precedents… The prophet Ilya, for example, made flight to the sky.
Righteous person, prophet. On that time the prophet’s rank, I believe, meant not
it is less, than now the bishop.
– Yes, but., there was a God’s pleasure…
– And this pleasure of lady Hinton.
– I very much respect lady Hinton. This is the best sheep in my herd. But
it at me not one. I cannot leave the flock on eating up predatory
to wolves.
– And if the flock leaves you?.
The bishop sighed:
– I agree with you. Temples are visited less. But, as it is told in
the writing, “where one or two are brought together in my name, there and I in the middle of them”.
– In “ark” there will be twenty people. And when we will land on
some planet, to Mars or Venus, you will undertake a role
the apostle, announcing Christ’s doctrine to Martians or educating light
Gospel of inhabitants of Venus. Think only, you the first which will be with
the sermon of Christianity on other planets of solar system! And to be
can, god elects you for this mission.
– The almighty Lord, if finds necessary, can make it and other
in the way. But we will not concern so important theological questions, —
the bishop answered.
– Well, – continued Pinch, – it is admissible, you will refuse to fly,
despite insistent desire of lady Hinton who does not think of flight
without you. “The doctor is spiritual, – she says, – it is so necessary, as well as the doctor
corporal. Who will give to me advice, to direct “and a virtue path?
Who will make a ceremony of a wedding of lady Ellen with lord Henry Blotton?
Who will christen the been born children who will bury me if I die?”
Let’s say you will not obey these arguments and will remain. What waits for you
here? Perhaps, martyr death…
– I am ready to accept a martyr’s crown, – the bishop told, raising eyes to
to the sky. – But “yes this bowl will pass me”, – he whispered about himself.
– To remain on Earth, especially in your dignity, – Pinch was not appeased, —
extremely dangerously. In the country a tense situation. It is already the day before
revolutions, there is nothing to close eyes to it. – Пинч, having slid off on edge
chairs, continued by confidential tone:
– Lady Hinton received the most reliable news from the highest spheres that
falling of the power is expected any day. We not in forces to fight. It is impossible
to hesitate.
The bishop felt that sweat covers his forehead and cold runs on
to wide back.
– I am ready to everything, – he told.
Пинч took the leave and left.
The thought of missionary activity occupied the bishop. He did not trust in
existence of Martians, but on the new planet it would be among terrestrial
settlers the real father – Christ’s deputy. And unless without
Christianities, in general without religion it is possible to support a social order,
which provided also to it and his “sheep”, similar ladies Hinton, them
privileged position? But not only this “a high mission of the apostle”
forced it to decide to participate in flight. The bishop was frightened quickly
the developing events there is not less Shnirer and others. If revolution
will win, at its dignity it is necessary to it. Especially. perhaps, these
it was not necessary to tell sermons… And the prayer made by it about
the fastest death of communism? It even, speak, was with corresponding
with comments it is printed in their newspapers… No, to run, run… And it with
diligence began to select books of spiritual contents from the enough
big library. He put on a table already several big books when
phone cracked.
– Forgive for concern. Hallo! Yes! It again I, Pinch. I forgot
to warn you that if you decide to fly, hurry up to select things,
what you will find necessary to take with yourself, but it is no more than hundred kilograms.
Such is the order of our chief engineer. In “ark” everything is weighed
to the last gram.
The bishop with disappointment hung up.
It is no more than a centner. What complication! Except books, it is necessary to take
it is a lot of other things. He thought of the habits. Iov Weller loved
it is good to eat. What will feed in “ark” with? It will be necessary on everyone
to take a case with itself something for emergency. Even more the bishop loved and appreciated
thin wines and expensive liqueurs. They need absolutely to be taken. With the
stomach he did not get on as well as his best “sheep” – lady Hinton. To it
it was necessary to resort to laxatives, mainly to mineral
to waters. It is necessary to take at least a box of Zaltsbrunnen.
The bishop with despondency looked at the books which are spread out on a table and standing
on shelves. They one, probably, weigh more than a centner. It is necessary to select
the most necessary. The bishop called the housekeeper, ordered it to bring from the storeroom
bottles, banks of canned food, cookies boxes, banks with the oil condensed
milk also forced all this to weigh at itself. The housekeeper began to cry:
really the bishop considers her the thief? But at heart she was delighted:
the person who as she overheard, decided to depart, having thrown everything on
a destiny arbitrariness, would not begin to be engaged in economic trifles.
The hill with books on an episcopal table gradually thawed. At first it
put aside commentators and interpreters of the writing, then decided that
it is possible to do without history of ecumenical councils. Several tasty things and
warm jerseys forced to remove back on the book shelf of also some
Holy Fathers. Was already long after midnight when the bishop at last finished
selection. The voluminous chest was full. On the top pocket lay
Bible of the edition of the British bible society, and small breviary.
Apostles – those did also without it…
***
Dexterous agents of “Society of rescue from danger” hired all
new and new investors clients, gold flowed a wide stream in pockets
businessmen who had no objection to earn additionally and on rescue.
Collecting went to the road in the different ends of the world.
***
…There is such hour at dawn when the city polusmezhat tired for
put eyes. Show-windows and wide windows of cafe, a window which reflect die away
only gloss of streetlights. The movement of cars calms down.
In this hour on the city with speed limit long rushed
narrow brilliant limousine. It went to the building of the Central bank where
treasures of the largest capitalists were stored.
In a limousine sat, having leaned back on a seatback, Marshal de Terlonzh,
squeezing a small suitcase of yellow skin in hands.
The king of the exchange, obviously, waited in this inopportune for bank
operations hour. The car did not manage to approach to the bank building as silently
its side door opened. Marshal quickly went out of the car, almost
ran space to a door and sliped in a lobby. Bald,
the representative, stout man from the rest of curls on the head and humpbacked
respectfully met by a nose the banker and said in low tones:
– I ask you.
And they went along a long corridor accompanied by armed
watchmen.
They went down under the earth. The way went through the hugest fortress,
which was constructed ever by the person. Any Pharaoh would not think up
such unapproachable crypt in the depth of pyramids what these arches were
bank, lit throughout strong opaque electric
lamps.
By the hoist engine they went down on two floors and appeared before
massive steel door. Such door banks считав usually sufficient
protection of the hidden treasure. Here it was only the beginning of fortress.
Behind a door the small tunnel began. The tunnel came to an end steel
tower. The tower closed the tunnel, and the third floor of the cellar had an appearance of huge
the arch which is held down by reinforced concrete walls four and a half thick
meter.
– This tower weighs fourteen tons, – the guide explained, – and
it is set in motion by the special electric mechanism.
The elevator lowered night visitors to the most first floor. Here began
the whole labyrinth of halls, the courses, confidential boxes in the walls disguised
storerooms.
Steps of travelers were given in empty halls by a repeated echo. In one of
halls gold, gemstones, important documents – all was stored
stolen for years it was accumulated in these safes.
There was an underground lake above. If it was only required, water
lakes could be flooded all basement floor.
This most unapproachable fortress in the world is not built, and dug in
whole granite on which there is a city. Five years that were required
to finish rocky works.
Armies of burglars could use all the life on penetration
in fortress without any hope for success. And certainly, not against
burglars all these exclusive measures were undertaken: if enemy
will occupy the city, it, naturally, will direct to gold. Applying most
modern means for blasting fortresses, it should work
it is a lot of months <the description of this bank not fiction of the author. Similar bank,
for example, is in Paris (The French national bank).>.
According to instructions of the associate director of bank the watchman opened a steel door,
the leader to the small reinforced concrete room which walls were filled
fireproof boxes. Marshal opened one of them own key,
having picked up the figures which are previously located in a corresponding way on
the rotating ring.
Guides showed such bashfulness as if the banker was a girl,
going to bathe: as soon as it undertook the suitcase, they departed
for a door also staid all the time there while the banker took out the treasures and
moved them to a fireproof case. It were diamonds and ingots such
sizes what were not seen even by lady Hinton. In each of them was
fortune.
Having finished this operation, the banker closed a case, thanked the
satellites also left bank.
But on it its efforts did not end. Being going to leave Earth, it
cared more that will remain on Earth, than about unusual
baggage.
The banker did not trust even the superfortress. It ideally protects from
thieves? Well. From enemy attack? Perfectly. But whether it can
to protect from revolution?. Attack of enemies on the city not so disturbed
the banker, as revolution and fear to lose the riches frightened.
No walls and underground hiding places will save then treasure of bankers. And
he decided to hide the most valuable that it had, in two places.
He had to make one more trip with the authorized representative,
the friend Ribot on whom he relied, as on itself (himself), to Andorra,
small republic close to Spain. This republic
has only four hundred twenty five square kilometers of the area and
six villages of the population. Surrounded from all directions with unapproachable
mountains, having only one good road through the Spanish border, this
the remote corner of Europe was chosen long ago by Marshal.
Several years ago he bought the abandoned site in Andorra
lands in the deserted area, near the Pyrenean mountains. Here, in the gorge,
the large share of richness of the March la was secretly buried. Iron chests
were deeply dug in different places and are filled up with stones.
If at least one such treasure remains, the banker will be able upon return on
The earth to begin business again. By then, according to the baron,
revolution will be suppressed.
A lot of money for bribery of bank was necessary to spend Marshalya
workers, that large withdrawal did not appear in books and at all not
it would be revealed before flying away of the banker.
Marshal de Terlinzh could fly quietly.
***
Collecting to the road brought the greatest trouble upon Semuel Stormer. But to us
it is necessary to tell before several words about that way which brought in
“Noah’s Ark” of the new participant who quickly seized all threads
managements of “Joint-stock company” and the chairman who moved forward on a post
boards. It possessed also an initiative of creation of the whole squadron
“arks” for rescue of capitalists of the other countries.
Semuel Stormer was once one of the richest people, the member
eighty five joint-stock companies, chairman of sixty others
and away, and so forth. Said about it that it “keeps half of Europe in waistcoat
pocket’. Stormer’s power was present ‘the state in
state”. More than fifteen million people in the different countries
were supplied with Stormer’s companies gas, electricity, coal.
Welfare of millions of small shares holders was in his hands.
– The most difficult was to extract the first million, – ordinary spoke
Stormer to reporters, telling a story of the wealth, – to get
the rest was already easy.
Production of actions was system of this easy getting.
But crisis broke also this colossus.
Operation of the typographical machine making all new and new actions
and military orders did not save either Stormer, or his fellows, and only on
some time removed their final death.
And Stormer decided, what is the best of all, having hidden solid cash,
to disappear, depart “on heaven”.
It unexpectedly like interest to., to a classical antiquity also went
through Paris to Athens to study ancient art of Greece. “Incidentally”
Greece was not connected by the extradition treaty of criminals.
Flight of Stormer and his brother caused noise in the country. Government
demanded Stormer’s delivery from Greece. It was arrested and forwarded in
prison – in the camera arranged better than any salon aristocratic
hotels.
However for other morning when Stormer still stretched in a bed, to
to it the chief of prison and the Athenian lawyer, in most entered the camera
refined expressions apologized for the happened misunderstanding and
declared that it is free. He was obliged by it to the Greek millionaire,
invested the capital in Stormer’s enterprises.
But Stormer did not forget a lesson. It grasped the idea of “Noah’s Ark”. It
the scent said to him that on this business it is possible to profit. Unless one
Stormer is in a stalemate? And it with energy inherent in it
undertook affairs of “Noah’s Ark”, at once having put them in a big way and in that
time actively preparing for final elimination come in
the deadlock put. Induced to leave Earth it not only danger
the coming revolution. Revolution bore to it crash. Any day could
to emerge on a surface dark affairs, briberies, forgeries and even something
it is worse what at best threatened Stormer with full bankruptcy. But
that bankruptcy if direct threatened his life
danger? To leave Earth was for it the best outcome.
Stormer decided to set fire to the palace before flying away and to dramatize
own death in a flame. Thus many will be destroyed
the documents compromising him, and the case of it is dismissed for it
“death”. Everything was prepared for it.
Stormer should have held on by all means before
time, having kept visibility of prosperity. Therefore he could not withdraw from
addresses as Marshal, considerable part of the gold reserves.
And still he prepared a weighty suitcase. But he did not want to leave
to its Earth. He considered the earth insufficiently safe place since
danger of revolution became a reality.
And he asked Zander whether it is impossible to make at least part of the rocket of him
gold. Zander explained that it is impossible. Gold is even softer than silver.
It melts at one thousand sixty two degrees Celsius whereas
iron – at one thousand five hundred. The surface of the rocket at flight through
the atmosphere is exposed to strong heating.
– We risk to burn down in our gold rocket or to be flattened out at
to landing. The strongest refractory grades are necessary for a cover of the rocket
special steel.
Stormer was disappointed and is even offended. For the first time it was necessary to it
to hear that gold is put below steel.
– Well, and on internal hand-made articles?
– It is possible, though is unprofitable: gold too massivno, increases
dead freight. On gazo-and water pipes, perhaps, it is possible to use
this metal if you insist.
– On the sewerage, can be? – being indignant with such profanation
“golden calf”, Stormer asked.
– And at least and for bathrooms, – Zander quietly answered. – In the sky other
quotation of values.
Also settled upon that: in “Noah’s Ark” of a pipe and some details
the equipment will be made of gold.
Chapter 5
THE CITY WHICH IS NOT MARKED ON ONE MAP AND NOT SIMILAR TO OTHER CITIES OF THE WORLD
Stratoplan tilted. For a moment Finger saw the mountain platform and
on it Stormer-city.
This city had an extraordinary appearance. On the central square was
the huge horseshoe attached to the earth by the rounded-off part. Any
the cathedral in the world, any skyscraper could not be made even to it on height.
Around a horseshoe not less strange constructions settled down.
The spherical buildings, huge cylinders which are lying on one side or standing on
the basis. One sphere was glass and as it seemed to Finger,
rotated. Another – absolutely black. The lying cylinder, or “tank”,
had a surface half black, opaque, half brilliant,
as if silver. The strange roundabouts, planked footway hanging in flashed
air, railway lines.
At the next moment стратоплан it was leveled, the platform failed.
Finger extended a neck to look down.
– You admire an amusement park? – Vinkler with a smile asked.
The second small list, and Hans saw one-storey pine houses, for
them – two-storeyed long standard barracks, further away – tents.
Crossing all city, there was an embankment, hollow rising in the direction
break. On the very brink of the city factory cases and pipes were seen, from
who were brought down by Narrow-gage railway smoke diversely cut the city.
Trucks scurried about. The embankment blackened the people who were pottering about as if ants.
Along an embankment long trunks of excavators turned.
“Really here the amusement park is arranged?” – Finger, but not wanted to ask
was in time. Stratoplan sharply came in the land, sat down on the earth, jumped up,
swept and unexpectedly abruptly stopped.
– Arrived, – Hans told.
Travelers quickly put on in fur coats and caps.
The hermetic door of a stratoplan opened. Pakhnulo frosty air K
the stratoplan suited the bystry tripping gait the tolstenky person in
to fur-coat. It was the commercial director Collins.
– You arrived for ten minutes earlier, – he told, greeting. – I
heard an infernal crash of your stratoplan and hurried here. You are wounded, the sir?
You have on a forehead blood.
– Trifles, – Blotton answered. – Medical assistance is not required Idle time
bruise about a door. And here if you feed me with a good beefsteak, I will be
to you he is very grateful. It is hungry so as if did not eat days, and meanwhile
before flying away I have densely breakfast.
– Not without reason the theory of relativity claims that it than quicker moves
the body, the more slowly for it proceeds time, – with a smile told
Collins.
– I think, now sir Henry Blotton will prefer a hot grog and
beefsteak of the theory of relativity, – Vinkler noticed.
– How is Mr. Zander? – Blotton asked.
– It was caused on a meeting has to return to lady Hinton On soon, —
Collins Blotton and Collins answered send forward. Vinkler and Finger – on
some distance from them.
– I will show you our dwelling, – Vinkler told. – I think, you
it will be most convenient to be located in the room near me.
– Certainly, – Finger answered.
They went down the street Stormer-city, supporting each other. In the city still
did not manage to take care of improvement. Sidewalks were not, packed
snow became covered by an ice crust, and people quite often fell.
It was the city which all life was adapted for
implementation of one grandiose idea.
Cold mountain air was filled with a rumble, noise, shouts, beeps.
Deafly excavators roared, small electric locomotives had sharply something in common,
busy scurrying about on a narrow-gage railway, squealed on trolley curves
On the ground shadows from cars of the suspended road crept. From time to time
booming blows shook air – tore rocks. Monophonically sang sawmills.
Smelled of sulfur, the petrol reek of alcohol. Somewhere pneumatic cracked
punchers the guttural multilingual speech of workers was heard Everywhere. They
scurried about on streets in all directions, transferring on weight shoulders,
filled the city with din and the movement. On this mountain platform as if
centuries and the people met. The electric and steam shovels made on
to state-of-the-art technology, and the biped “pack animals” moving
weights, as at the time of the Egyptian Pharaohs.
“Muscular force here, obviously, is cheaper and more favorable, than cars”, —
Finger thought, looking narrowly at workers.
Who was not only here! Both yellow-faced Chinese, and Blacks, and
chocolate Malayans, and bronze Hindus.
Also white faces met, most often it were foremen.
Despite the snow covering city streets, and cold, sharp mountain
wind, workers were dressed easily. At many through shirts appeared through
body.
– Real International! – Finger told.
– Yes, poverty International, – Vinkler answered. – All of them are bought for
pennies are also contracted by agents of society for several years. People
agreed to any conditions, if only to avoid starvation,
unemployment, and still met the worst of slavery here. From there are ways
retreats are cut off. Unapproachable snow mountains, snow snow-storms,
abysses, deserted, naked deserts protect this hungry люд better
any watchmen. The few from them are solved on escape and almost all pay for
it the life. Strikes here ruthlessly are suppressed, though
flash again.
Finger vaguely lowed something. Vinkler has a look at him,
patted shoulder and continued:
– I see, you are covered already by an itch of the propagandist. Yes, here grateful
the soil, it is also necessary to put not enough work that all this powder
the cellar blew up. But, – it continued significantly, – endurance, Hans,
and patience are so necessary for the revolutionary, as well as bravery. In total in
the time. Here and our housing.
They entered the small house put from crude logs of mountain
pines.
Walls of the room of Vinkler were covered with plywood sheets. In a corner stood
iron furnace. Two tables – lunch and working with phone and a lamp on
it is mute, couple of chairs, a bed, a washstand and a small locker made
all situation. A color carpet on a wall at a bed and a skin of a bear on a floor
brightened up this just arranged room a little.
– So you were not tired?
– No, he is not tired, – Finger answered, undressing. – I would like somewhat quicker
to get acquainted with the city and…
– To learn the latest news?
Vinkler took out an electric tile, cans from a locker,
bread, plates also began to manage.
– And so, listen. Now in Stormer-city it is constructed
the first big rocket calculated on twenty people. Behind it have to
to follow others. And finally to convince men of little faith,
the hesitating, indecisive rich men, the small rocket is already constructed
Pikkolo in which one person can be located. Trial flight in
presence of “shareholders” Blotton will make – he wants to concede to nobody
this honor. For this purpose it also arrived here. The lord cannot refuse in
rash bravery, characteristic of the bourgeois champion. Rocket
will make small take-off, will rise over a stratosphere – new laurels in
rekordsmensky wreath of the lord – will also go down on the surface of the Great ocean,
where we will also catch it. A lot of things depend on success of this first flight.
Intensity of a gold stream can increase considerably if Blotton
will appear after flight live and safe before kings of the exchange.
– And you, Vinkler, trust in a possibility of rescue of capitalist
tops in such unusual way?
– Let will do some flying.
– And., you promote it?
– Not only that itself I promote, but also attracted you to “partnership
in a crime against revolution”. Yes, yes. You will not only work
on building, but also you will depart together with me and lords whom you are so
fairly you hate, – certainly if only flight takes place.
Hans, do not get excited. Listen to me quietly. I well know that you want
to tell. We could upset all this music, certainly, very easily.
We could cause a revolt, could blow up the rocket before most
take-off. But what would be benefited by us from it? The idea we would not kill. Flight all
could take place, but already in other place, without us. And it would be
much worse. A starprobe vehicle – a dangerous toy. It can be used not
only for shameful flight, but also for approach. Eventually we
we are not down on to all plans of leaders of this business. And that they
mean to use a starprobe vehicle and for a throwing of bombs in critical
the moment of the last decisive battles, it is not subject to doubt. It already
becomes in colonies – during war and at suppression of revolts. No,
much more safely is also more practical if we with you on the rocket are. In
the necessary moment we will always manage to appropriate whom follows.
– If everything is and can be coming us more interesting and
considerable work, than service of the capitalists trying to get away,
that…
– Isn’t that so, fascinating task? – Vinkler killed it. – But
you should work, work hard terribly. All these
starprobe vehicles., let they build them… After the world revolution all
will get to us, isn’t that so? So why to us to exterminate rockets now?
No, we will build them, to build for ourselves. Superfast means of communication
will gain the huge and daily value. Will be necessary to us
stratoplana first of all, and over time and starprobe vehicles. There now and
it is ready. To pork I will make still fried eggs. You eat, be sated, gain strength.
Hans with appetite of the young, healthy and got hungry man
began to absorb both pork, and fried eggs, and beans in a tomato. Vinkler, tenderly
smiling, watched it.
– Whether Zander knows about the true purposes to which he serves now? – asked
Finger, having satisfied the first hunger.
– How to tell! Time “Noah’s Ark” does not pursue the military aims, for
the naive pacifist engineer Zander of it is enough. And in everything
the rest he is interested in affairs of shareholders a little. Society gave it
an opportunity and huge appliances to develop work in such
scales of which he could not dream. It for it the main thing. And
he can really make a lot of things. Zander – talented
theorist, magnificent designer and extremely modest person.”I
only pupil of the great teacher Tsiolkovsky. It lit a flame, I
only I support him until the dream of mankind is fulfilled” – so
he speaks about himself. I would tell that Zander though he now and “out of
politicians”, perhaps, belongs to that best part technical
the intellectuals which can work well together not bad with us as it worked well together
once it in the east. Here therefore we with you also helped Zander
to run. Well, it is full? We go, I will show you an amusement park.
– Here did not think in any way what in Stormer-city exists even
amusement park! Perhaps, there is also a cinema, cabaret, taverns and these… “red
lamps”?
– How the businessman will do without these institutions? Device
pumpings out of a salary from pockets of workers works here excellently. But
only amusement park here special… And, unlike other entertainments,
even free. It has great success in the local population. And,
it is necessary to tell, deserves that. It is very amusing and very instructive. Not
I will mystify you more. Amusement park not entertaining
attractions, and real city laboratory. In this laboratory
those conditions in which there will be participants are artificially created
flight on rockets – from start to the finish. Here influence of these is studied
conditions: accelerations and delays of flight, increase in gravity,
zero gravity and so on. Unfortunately, I am too busy that
to accompany you. But you also will understand everything. Here to you “entrance
the ticket” in an amusement park. According to this admission all will show you and all will explain.
