ALEXANDER CHERENOV - NEONOO, or PARADISE IN THE NOOSPHERE

«You are right: it is possible that I was, so to speak, „encouraged in advance“.»

«???»

«Sorry, buddy: all the time I forget about your fifteenth century! By the way, this is not a humiliation, but on the contrary: praise. That’s strange thing, but I feel you my contemporaries!»

Alchemist, for the umpteenth time, «shyly lowers the eyes».

«Thank you, senor… that is, my friend… So, what, there – about the „advance“?»

«Well, if in a simplified way, then in our twenty-first century, the advance is a part of the earnings that are paid in advance, even before the end of the work.»

The «face» of the alchemist «blurs» in one of the endless smiles.

«I comprehend it! That is, you want to say that this is… well, where we are turned out to be with you, encouraged you for the right thoughts, for being on your way to solve?»

Conditionally «shake» conditional «hand» of the alchemist.

«Exactly! And I think that I am hardly one, so clever. Surely, there are people here, who have „reached“ this before me, maybe, even during their life, on Earth.»

The «eyes» of the alchemist «light up»: nothing new is clearly not alien to this guy.

«I’m sure you already have a clue!»

«That’s assumption on the verge of discovery!» I «tear off a leaf from a laurel wreath» modestly. And then: you need to take care of yourself for subsequent assignments.

«Though hint!»

How many pleas «in the voice» vis-a-vis: a real scientist! Not that the rest of the «herd»: roam here for centuries without a brain… ruminants!

«So, in fact – already!»

«???»

The alchemist honestly «weights the jaw» and «pulls out his eyes». Although with regard to him the adverb has long been inappropriate: in the «weighing» and «buckling» the guy is honest a priori.

«Not heaven or hell!» I am imposing him on target.

The «look» of the alchemist «brightens», but no more: the guy is honest… Again, I: «honest»! Better let it be so: the guy corresponds to the level of the fifteenth century.

«Quite later, OK?» I postpone the lesson of educational program – and the vis-à-vis agrees. Yes, and what remains for him? «And now I need to meet with one person! Well, not with a person, of course… But you understand!»

«Understand.»

«Then – the question: how did you come across me? Just do not say that you wandered, wandered – and came across! Now it’s no time for a joke! So, here – about the «things: it is, obviously, not space. Yes, and space is not a mess: everything is ordered, everything is laid out on shelves…»

My «face» acquires all the signs of «classic insight»: looking up and to the side, the light from the wide-open eyes, guess, pushing from all the cracks. I no longer speak of a slightly weighted jaw.

«On the shelves!» Brother, admit: every century is something like a floor?»

«I confess,» the alchemist is not too surprised at my hunch. «All of us live in their strata.»

«And how did you get here? Getting up the stairs? Six steps up?»

Here the vis-a-vis finally gives the proper response. Not, no surprise: admiration.

«Well, brother, you have a bright head!! It took us centuries to figure out what you thought of in half an hour! We are the discoverers: not everyone rushes to search. Most of us are pretty with their status.»

«Of the status of the conditional „sheep“?»

«Conditional only in form,» the alchemist grins. «And, if not enough, still does not try to change it. No one before you… from among my acquaintances, did not even try to comprehend the local existence.»

The alchemist pauses, embarrassed and continues «with eyes to the side».

«Me too. That is, I tried several times – and give it up. Not enough „cash“.»

He expressively «knocks himself with a finger on the forehead» – and then «blurs» in my address:

«And you – oh!»

I «bow to all four sides,» without stopping with receiving compliments: the thought drives further.

«But getting into the right age is half the battle. The main thing: how to find the right person.»

Once again I «leave with my eyes» and come back, once again come back illumined with guessing.

«What letter begins with your last name?»

«With the letter „A“…»

The alchemist does not turn on yet, but he already guesses. Although, what, there, to guess: it’s time for a man to understand, that I haven’t asked any questions.

«And mine too!» I vigorously «bloom by face». «What if?..»

The alchemist «moves the whole body forward.» The guy understands, that the solution is approaching, and does not want to miss a moment. I do not delay the moment of celebration, otherwise you can even miss the thought due to this business. This is the same thing: «here it was – and there isn’t», as one comrade said… or a group of comrades.

«And what if „this“ represents not only „floors“, but „blocks“ also?! And no, „anyhow“: alphabetically?!»

The alchemist immediately connects with the «light of his face» to «my light».

«That is, the people on each „floor“ are distributed by last name?!»

Well done guy! He and his brains would not have disappeared in our twenty-first century! And knowledge is a new thing: it would be than to make it!

«That’s right, buddy! So, rising from your „floor“, you got into the block corresponding to the letter „A“, because you yourself are from block „A“, but only six „floors“ below!»

«Exactly!» «the alchemist «shines» additionally. «Only now it dawned on me that everyone I met was with the letter «A»! Well, their last names, that is.»

«What about people with other names?»

The alchemist «sighs» and guilty «pats himself with his hand on the forehead».

«I repent: I did not reach them… because this thought did not reach me…»

«Well, it’s not scary!» I let go generously – beyond the time limit. «The main thing is that we „pinned“ the structure. So this thing is something like a hive or the construction of the type of chessboard…»

And here again «strikes me with guessing».

«I am convinced: people are packaged here not just alphabetically, but alphabetically encyclopedic volumes!»

«It suits, but as a draft,» the alchemist «decreases with a glow».

«???» I am culturally indignant.

«Different encyclopedias have a different alphabet. It depends on the number of volumes.»

What a good boy! What a pleasure to work with such an opponent! After all, we too are «not sewn with a bum» and even «not done with a finger!»

«Everything is taken into account by a mighty hurricane,» buddy! Priority is always given to the inventor! The surname is known to me – it means that the alphabetical order is also known: the corresponding volume in the lifetime Great Soviet Encyclopedia!»

I am encouragingly «clap on the shoulder» of the alchemist, who has already had time to be puzzled by the adjective «Soviet». But I have no time to go into historical details.

«Now we find! Now it’s a sin not to find…»

«Can I connect?» the alchemist «shudders with a voice»: is he really afraid of refusal?!

Well, how can you not become generous with the new «clap»?

«Do you have a choice?..»

I estimate the geography of a place and I make a reference: the step below is and to the right, to the northeast. Of course, there are no «pointers» of type «A – Al» or «V – Ver» here. But to navigate the place is quite possible. Therefore, we are going to the «point» with a deviation of «a degree», not more. And not to «see» such a colorful figure as an object of my interest – this should be very hard to try.