A. Belyaev - Classics of a fantasy

thunderclap. – I speak not about a silly pose a rack. The baron is right. It is necessary to fight

and at the same time to prepare ways of retreat, so far we did not tie hands and

there are capitals.

To construct the huge motor ship. Such “Noah’s Ark” of three hundred

meters and with the displacement of eighty five – hundred thousand tons. So

mechanized that it was possible to manage the minimum quantity

crew – from young people of exclusive classes. Any

the proletarian, because all of them are obvious or our secret enemies. Yes. How many

wars, revolutions will last? Four-five years? We will be able to take

food on six, for eight years. Not to mention an opportunity

replenishments of stocks fishing and hunting on lonely islands. And we

let’s sit out. We will be able to keep thus the life if not the

capitals. I offer, without postponing, to organize the company for

constructions of “Noah’s Ark”. Needless to say that members of this

the companies will be only chosen and all case will be processed in the most strict

to secret. My project does not exclude yours, the sir, – turned Stormer to

To Blotton, having filled on him the red face with goggle rachy

eyes. – He agrees: to open our floating island our enemies nevertheless

will be able. In a zvezdoplavaniye I, unfortunately, understand nothing. But if it

it is feasible why don’t we prepare as a last resort and to

to the last jump – from Earth to abysses of the sky? You will not refuse courtesy,

the sir to acquaint me with your inventor?

If he convinces me that a zvezdoplavaniye not a chimera, I am the first

I will bring a share.

– Ffva you fverit Nneuzheli in a zvezdoplavaniye and hkhgotova to fvlozhit фв it

business to., to., capital? – Marshal Stormera when they asked

came back from lady Hinton.

– I trust! Yes! – Stormer bellowed. – Both of us are businessmen, the baron, and with you

I can frankly speak, – it continued more quietly. – I trust in

the zvezdoplavaniye is as firm, as in a placer on the Thames. Yes.

Listen. If the Thames proceeded for thousands of kilometers from London, in

to the exotic country, thousands would believe in a placer on the Thames.

You remember mine “silver mines” in New Zealand or I wash “the Australian

oil”? I acquired on them millions, and they existed only in imagination

shareholders. Now you understand, as on the Thames can be gold

scatterings which will enrich us?

The car began to shake as if flew on the timbered bridge. Driver

looked back.

It Mr. Stormer laughed.

– Situation really extremely serious, – was continued by it more quietly and

more quietly. – What we endure, you know. In three countries already

communists dominate. Every day brings news of new

suicides. Whether long ago Smith, Milton., behind them Skarfas, now

Сиддонс, Abbington… Real epidemic. The most terrible crises happened and

earlier, but committed a suicide the few. Why? People trusted: behind crisis

again there will come the prosperity era. There is no this belief now. Who was ruined —

it was ruined forever. Unless I am not right?

– Fff…

– Such is situation and such is mood. Revolutions and ruin,

inevitable as death, guard all of us. Inevitable death. Stormer

made a pause to recover the breath.

– The person despaired. Was overstrung. It was exhausted. The person already stretches

hand to the revolver. And this minute to it our agent comes and speaks:

“We can save you. We will provide you a silent shelter where will not reach

your enemies and where you will be able in a circle of people close to you, surrounded

habitual comfort to live your life. Yes, it will cost to you

millions. But what these millions will cost tomorrow? Tomorrow you can

to wake up the poor, and you will intercept the retreat all,

to flight, rescue…”

Whether will be much such which will refuse our offer? To

to example, lady Hinton. Quite ripened fruit. Two-three more already close

political crash, and from this rich person fall down in our hands

pounds sterling without account. We will build “Noah’s Ark”. We will be

to build a starprobe vehicle, tens of starprobe vehicles, without caring for that at all,

they will depart or not. We will be at the head of business and to move huge

means. Conspiracy simplifies the reporting. It is necessary at all not

to have commercial intuition not to estimate all advantage of it

enterprises. I hope, now you quite understood what means to open

placer on the Thames?

Marshal de Terlonzh for nervousness long puffed, sniffed and, at last

squeezed out from itself:

– E-e-e., ffva are absolutely right!

So new was born in foggy London evening in darkness of a limousine

the joint-stock company fastened with short strong handshake.

Hans Finger was by the cabin window. His curling fair hair and face

burned in the sun. He whistled a cheerful march, beating time and a leg and

hand. Finger experienced delight of the first flight on the stratoplena.

“Life – devilishly interesting movie when time and events fly as

this стратоплан…” Hans all accelerated a march. If it was possible

to start up the movie of life even quicker! To strike time in a nape so that all

hour hands were started turning quicker second, detachable leaves

calendars fell down as autumn leaves during a storm, and the sun a comet

would rush on a sky…

Hans suddenly reeled, hit the head against a wall and screamed. Or it

also, like a certain utopian hero, received a gift to work wonders?.

The sun as soccerball, described an arch in the sky and was behind a frame

windows.

Hans rubbed a nape, took seat in an easy chair and laughed.

“Well of course, it стратоплан the abrupt bend made. Yes, changing time

on the third speed, it is necessary to keep more strong”.

Hans thought.

Elections, strikes, street demonstrations. Hans kept up everywhere:

scattered illegal leaves from a roof, filled with them abonent books in

boxes of payphones, managed “Mohicans” near by to do, as well as

hundreds of his companions, antigovernmental inscriptions on walls of houses and on

the passing vans, collected the chronicle for underground newspapers, let

children’s spheres with leaflets, set up at night red banners on spikes

churches, sold theatrical programs, putting in them leaflets,

invented tens of ways of propaganda, ran away from prosecution, disappeared,

changed clothes; even it zagrimirovyvatsya and again threw out such pieces, from

which enemies turned green, workers laughed and political raged

caliphs…

Vinkler’s call. Organization of escape of Zander. A smart suit “under

Englishman”. Soft compartment. To the Swiss border – on a car. Boundary

strip. Night, storm… Searches of companions to which at Vinkler was

letter. Wandering… A crossing through the river. Alarm. Firefight…

Switzerland. Mountains in the neighborhood of the Alps. The small house – a chalet – among

unction, larches, Alpine cedars. Snow. Tasty mountain frosty

the air which is given to drink by a needles smell. Work in a workshop. Production of model

starprobe vehicle according to drawings. Study. War with integrals and differentials. In

leisure hours – skis, excursions on the mountains… Blotton’s arrival with big