A. Belyaev - Classics of a fantasy

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

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