Read the book: «Classics of a fantasy», page 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.