A. Belyaev - Classics of a fantasy

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.

Members of Spaseniye joint-stock company, future participants of flight on

to the first rocket, gathered in a country mansion of lady Hinton that

to discuss important questions of the forthcoming travel.

At a preliminary meeting scientists did not come to the full agreement.

The general meeting was organized in the hall of ancestors. If severely looking

from dark canvases proud knights could listen, they, likely, jumped out

from the gilded frames also escaped, – about such wild, improbable for

them things it was told here.

Guests sat at the long oval table laid by a white cloth

Elizabeth’s times. An ancient tea service with gold stains on blue

background, color candles in bronze high candlesticks, roses in vases,

gilded biscuit barrels decorated a table. As statues, stood at an entrance severe

footmen in gray liveries.

– It is given the floor to professor sir Abraham Kinbruk! – loudly

Stormer who undertook duties of the chairman unusual announced

meetings.

The English astronomer, yet not the old, stout man similar in the

tail-coat suit on the diplomat, slowly rose, softly smiled and

threw a meeting an inquisitive look. For any audience, since

the international astronomical congresses and finishing aristocratic

salons, at it prepared different styles and methods of a statement

material. “It is necessary to be at loss for words on ears, – laughing, he said in a circle

friends. – Not any word will get into the ear aggravated by diamond

earrings”.

– Lady and gentlemen! – there began Kinbruk and made a pause, once again

checking mood of audience. – Responsibility of the task assigned on

us, forces to be especially careful. I frankly have to tell,

that our scientific knowledge about whether there can be a person on others

planets, are very incomplete, limited. My scientific colleagues assume,

that in solar system there are two planets available for

human existence, is Mars and Venus. Alas, I cannot

to divide with them this confidence. In comparison with our Earth the planet

Mars receives twice less light and heat. If you landed on

Mars, that Sun would seem to you rather small disk.

The Martian day would seem you twilight of Earth. You would suffer from

cold weather. Perhaps, you would pine from thirst because on Mars it is not enough

waters. In eternal cold you would wander about fruitless sandy deserts

continents and to hollows of the dried-up seas. However, I doubt that wandered

.You just would choke with a lack of oxygen. It there very much

it is not enough.

If you want to present even more clearly living conditions on Mars, I will bring

to you such example. The highest of the mountain tops, known on Earth, Everest

rises by eight thousand eight hundred eighty two meters. Ours

the English climbers, the best in the world, could reach only height

eight thousand six hundred four meters. Any expedition did not reach to

tops. Ice-covered steep slopes of mountains, furious mountain wind, a frost – everything was

it is overcome. But people receded before a lack of oxygen. They

choked. With the lowered atmosphere pressure blood went from ears. Everyone

the movement was torture.

As the person at height of two Everestov – has to feel on

to height of sixteen kilometers above sea level? Such mountains do not exist

on Earth. But tried to rise by similar height in open gondolas