Classics of a fantasy

Chapter 1

THE BIG KNOWLEDGE CAN BE THE CAUSE OF THE BIG TROUBLES

Zander sharply removed the drawing, got up because of a table, walked on

to office. Took out a violin from a case and played. Long, slender fingers

easily and vozdushno danced on a signature stamp. But a melody which took

the violinist from the tool, was not cheerful at all.

“The chief is excited with something! – Vinkler thought, listening from next

rooms to improvisation. – From! How many bitterness! As the violin complains!.”

The complaint turned into indignation, in a violent protest. Sounds accrued,

got stronger and suddenly broke not resolved chord.

“Resolutely, to Zander there was something unusual!” – again thought

Vinkler, drawing a drawing pen a curve.

From an office the fast paces of Zander muffled by a carpet were heard.

– Vinkler, fall here!

Zander sat already at a desk when Vinkler entered.

– You sit down.

Vinkler took seat against Zander. Minute they silently looked the friend on

the friend, as if tried to read something new in the familiar for a long time person.

On the left cheek of Zander the slight scar – an old trace was designated

student’s rapier; a face of the engineer Zander, a face of the artist with big,

pensive eyes, it was more pale than usual.

– Vinkler, how many years we work together?

– Twelve years, mister Zander.

– Yes, twelve. Term is considerable… You were the good assistant,

Vinkler, my right hand, my friend…

– I did not die yet, mister Zander…

Zander frowned:

– We have to leave.

Vinkler hasty lowered a hand in a pocket, took out a tube, filled it

tobacco, lit.

– It why., so unexpectedly?

– I leave. For a long time I leave the homeland, perhaps forever.

– “Mohicans”? – shortly Vinkler asked.

– Yes, they… You believe that I am threatened by an imprisonment, Vinkler? Worse.

Much worse. They came not with a sword, and with gifts.

– “Be afraid of Greeks, the gifts bringing”, – Vinkler nodded. – And

what gifts are?

– They are ready to forget graciously about my dirty blood, – with bitterness

Zander told. – To return me department, it is good to pay my work.

– From means., military department?

– You guessed, Vinkler. They offered me – you understand what means,

when they offer? – to work in military department… Stratospheric

the bombing rockets operated on radio. You heard about them? In

many regions of the country constructions for firing are already built by such

rockets. From these points several minutes it is possible to destroy Paris,

Brussels, Prague, Warsaw hail of explosive and gas rockets. But to them it

it is not enough. They need the “shells without guns” flying for thousands of kilometers. Not

only London, Rome, Naples, Madrid, Moscow, Leningrad, but even

New York, Washington – targets for their new tools of destruction. Capitals,

the industrial cities, ports, airfields of neighboring states are destroyed in

several minutes together with all people. To smother children, to tear to parts

bodies of fathers and mothers – for the sake of what? – here what they offer me,

Vinkler. Whether my teacher Tsiolkovsky thought of it whether I dreamed of it,

having devoted the life to jet engines, rockets, a zvezdoplavaniye?.

For nervousness on a high forehead of Zander small drops of sweat acted.

– And what you answered them? Zander shrugged shoulders:

– If I told them “no”, it is easy to present consequences. If

I would tell “I will think”, at best I would appear now under

arrest…

– And you told “yes”?

– To have an opportunity to run immediately. Today I depart in

Switzerland. I ask you, Vinkler to collect my papers, drawings. Folder number

two – “Pikkolo Rocket”, number seven, number nine…

– And with it as? – Vinkler asked, having nodded on drawings of the rocket.

– Apparently, in any way, – Zander answered. – You know lord Blotton?

For it weeds in a stratosphere on the rocket – only the next hobby

athlete. And it already begins to cool down to this business. Several days to that

back he cabled that he will arrive today, and, as you can see, him

no. And monetary affairs of sir Henry are, apparently, not in brilliant

state. By the way, they to me already put by sight mine “strange communication” with

foreigner.

Vinkler puffed a tube.

– And what you will do in Switzerland?

– To play a violin and to fall in a reverie, – gloomily smiled

Zander. – I have abroad small savings.

– And when you will live them? To play a violin, collecting alms on

to the yards? “Give to professor Zander, the engineer with a world name, one

centime, kind citizens…” Picture, worthy our time.

Zander crackled slender fingers. His head was hung below and below under

weight of these words.

– Well to do, Vinkler? – quietly he asked.

– Something should be thought up, mister Zander. Whole world the day before

revolution, he prepares for war. Now everywhere look at rockets only

from the military point of view. – Vinkler released several puffs and

continued:

– In Switzerland there are many tourists. Tourists go by cars.

Cars demand repair. We will open repair shop.

– We?. Who?

– Yes we: you and I. A surname of Zander – not for a sign repair

workshop. I will open it on the name. “Vinkler and Co”. At me is on

you will accept one sensible fellow – Hans. You will continue the scientific

works, I – to help you and Hans. And we will perfectly live. “Repair

cars, bicycles and kerosene kitchens” is, of course, not so

poetically, as your star sonatas, but is more practical.

– Vinkler, – Zander with emotion told, rising and stretching

hand, – friends are learned in misfortune. Your loving kindness…

Vinkler strong shook hands Zander and, smiling, interrupted his outpourings:

– Heart and other internals is perfect at anything here,

mister Zander. Me only calculation, though not personal directs

character. I believe, this explanation is enough that you in any

degrees did not consider themselves obliged?

In a lobby the call was distributed.

Vinkler left, and in a minute on a threshold of an office high appeared

the slender person of years of thirty in a gray road suit.

– It is possible to enter?

– Sir Henry! – Zander exclaimed. – I am glad to see you.

– Hello, dear Zander. Forgive for a late visit. Affairs

detained. And all affairs eventually come down to money. – It

laughed:

– Money! Fuel of all engines of the world, without excluding also warm. Without

money and to stars not to rise, isn’t that so, dear Zander?

Gestures and Blotton’s movements were easy and free. He conveniently took seat in

chair, crossed the legs, took out tortoise from a side pocket

cigarette case with the platinum monogram and a crown, with dexterity of the conjurer

threw it from a hand in a hand, took out a thin Egyptian cigarette and

lit. Spicy tobacco smoke mixed up with aroma of the strong French

spirits. Blotton brought with himself the atmosphere of carelessness of the spoiled child.

– Exult, Zander. I brought to you a good portion of fuel. I and not

knew that the way to stars lies through an altar.

– What altar? Blotton laughed again, but did not answer a question.

– I think, we will have now means to finish the first stratospheric

rocket.

Zander’s face turned pink.

– I am very glad. But we will build it not here. Today at dawn I

I depart to Switzerland.

– Did not get on with “Mohicans”? – Zander nodded. – Switzerland?.

It, perhaps, better. There to you will work more quietly. I will give you the check

on the Lyons credit. Report the address. At five in the morning I depart to London.

And how your work moved?

Zander developed the drawing and began to explain. Blotton absent-mindedly listened

several minutes, pretending what understands, thanked Zander, left

the check, told several latest sports news and left. Zander

called Vinkler and showed him the check.

– Obviously, lord Blotton managed to receive money under the bride, —

told, smiling, Vinkler.

– How it “under the bride”?

– Recently in Taymsa it was printed about lord Blotton’s engagement with

Ellen Hinton. Ms. Ellen is the niece and the only heir

millionaire lady Hinton. Probably, to Blotton allotted the wide credit.

– And so why he said that the way to stars lies through

altar! – Zander remembered.

– Well, so far we can do without repair shop. It

will replace to us sports vanity of Blotton. It is better for those. Leave, mister

Zander. Now at us work will begin to boil. If only…

– What?

– If only you managed to get out safely. At you the plan is ready

departure? Is not present? It is necessary to help you.

And they were inclined over the map of the country which was once their homeland.

THE READER GETS ACQUAINTED WITH VENERABLE SOCIETY OF THE LADY HINTON, AND ALSO IS CONVINCED THAT THE CLEVER PERSON AND ON COAST OF THE THAMES CAN FIND THE PLACER

– Whether everything is given? A benedictine for the bishop? Sherribrendi for sir Henry?

White wine? Cheese? Cake? And honey? His Eminence loves honey – food

hermits. There is no honey? – Lady Hinton called.

The girl, the red-cheeked Scotswoman in a gray dress, with white entered

starched apron and in a white lacy headdress, from under which

locks of a thick nutbrown hair were beaten out. In Mary’s hand was crystal

vase with honey.

– You forgot to put honey again, Mary? Mary silently put a vase

and silently came to a table. Hinton carried out it by eyes and translated a look

on a pale face of the niece.

– Why you cut hair, Ellen?

The girl touched slender white fingers with long bright pink

nails the ashy hair falling to cheeks equal waves

waves, and silently told:

– Sir Henry…

– Certainly! – with displeasure the old lady said. – Give me

“air” also take the book.

Lady Hinton embroidered five months with silk and gold flowers and

cherubs on “air” for an altar of church in which prior was

the bishop Iov Weller is a confessor the lady, her old friend and the adviser.

– What time is it now?

– Five minutes to five.

– Read, Ellen.

The niece opened at random Dickens’s volume:

– “Then they only feel in a happy state

the friendly association and mutual goodwill which is

source of the most true, pure pleasure…”

– In the Hyde park again, apparently, a meeting, – interrupted reading lady Hinton,

listening. Shook the head and heaved so a deep sigh that it

the breast which is stirred up under a lilac silk dress touched double

chin.

After this lady Hinton fiercely thrust a needle in an eye of the cherub and

deeply thought.

How many years it wages war, hopeless war over time!

At first against each new pound of weight of a fat body, against everyone

new wrinkle on a face – not without reason she endured three husbands and collected in

the strong hands three states, – and then against that new that

interfered in political, public and private life, up to these

“modern short-haired hair and indecent suits” Ellen.

Lady Hinton considered the Golden Age kind old England of times

the Queen Victoria to whom the lady was a little similar and which

tried to imitate.

The old mansion in West End, against the Hyde park, lady Hinton

turned into fortress – “my house – my fortress”, – in which wanted

to sit out from time pressure. The twentieth century had to come to an end on

threshold. Here everything, beginning from heavy furniture and finishing vital

way and etiquette, was antiquated and pradedovsky times.

Lady Hinton even did not open tightly the closed double glazing in the summer and

forced to lower heavy curtains on windows not to see crowd

the excited people passing in the Hyde park – the favourite place for

meetings. But voices and songs, rumble, and sometimes and dry crash of shots

got through thick walls. At its canneries – inheritance

the second husband – workers striked, and it had to conduct unpleasant

talk with the managing director. To its Fife-au-shreds a political talk was

are expelled as a sign of bad form. And nevertheless it is frequent behind these ceremonious

tea drinking political debates erupted.

Time has come, time conducted the correct siege of the mansion which took cover for

lattice, under old chestnuts and elms.

Time rushed a street rumble, the concerning talk, terrible

news. Neither old servants, nor thick walls, nor double glazing, nor curtains

did not save from time impact.

At lady Hinton the real mania of prosecution began. And

time was a persecutor, the enemy, the murderer…

– Read, Ellen.

But it was not necessary to continue reading. Hours slowly, deafly, as if blows

them reached from a far tower, punched five.

In the doorway silently the old footman in a gray livery with braids appeared.

Deaf aged voice respectfully reported:

– Doctor Mr. Teker.

Lady Hinton frowned. On Thursdays – put Fife-au-shred – house

the doctor had to be at four hours forty five minutes to end

evening visit before arrival of guests. Today the doctor was late for whole

fifteen minutes.

– Ask.

Because of a door the close-cut head with turning gray seemed

temples, then also all figure of the doctor – in black carefully promoted,

tightly the clasped frock coat. A frock coat instead of traditional evening

tuxedo! Lady Hinton forgave such violation of etiquette Tekera only

because he was “the person of other circle”, besides the foreigner, fine

doctor, “victim and refugee of time”. In the homeland he did not get on with “spirit

modern times” which was given for there “true spirit ancient”.

Teker’s face was confused and joyful and uneasy. About ostentatious

confidence it passed space from a door to a tronopodobny chair,

welcomed lady Hinton respectful bow and it is careful as fragile

jewelry, took a thick hand of the patient to probe pulse.

– Said to me that doctors differ in punctuality, and German in

features! – viscously lady Hinton told.

– . Sixty six., sixty seven… – the Ticker counted blows

pulse, looking at a second hand of the pocket watch – Pulse normal.

Forgive, the lady. House circumstances detained me. My wife.,

it was resolved from a burden. Boy. – And Teker’s eyes flashed joy.

– I congratulate, – lady Hinton silently told. – The doctor accepted? At

your wife, so there were two doctors. And at me the attack was nearly played

liver… Medical ethics, however, always for me were unclear.

The ticker shifted from one foot to the other. Internally he was enraged, but

constrained itself, having remembered the newborn: new duties of the father, new

responsibility…

Having set the patient several questions, Teker wanted to leave. But at the lady

Hinton already was on call women’s revenge.

– I hope, the doctor, you will not refuse to remain to Fife-au-shred?

My old friends will gather, – she told with a smile hospitable

hostesses.

The ticker shortly sighed, bowed and took seat on a chair with such look,

as if it was the hot brazier. There came silence.

To interrupt a burdensome pause, the captive of artful hospitality

started talking:

– I read in the newspaper: somehow at the London economic school acted

famous writer. He addressed listeners with such speech:

“Many of the young people sitting here will be killed, others are suffocated

gases, the third will die of hunger. World accident approaches.

The civilization perishes, and there is no exit. It is necessary unless to construct an ark

like Noyev…”

Lady Hinton omitted embroidery on knees. She turned pale, eyes

sparkled anger.

– Spare nerves of your patient, Mr. Teker! The servant entered:

– His Excellency baron Marshal de Terlonzh and his excellency

commerce adviser Mr. Stormer.

Displeasure was replaced on a face of lady Hinton by a habitual mask

courtesies.

Marshal de Terlonzh, the French banker with shadowy past entered,

the title of the baron which profited in the war and bought. To it was under fifty, but

it looked a perfect wreck. Together with it appeared broad-shouldered,

the strong old man with a red face of the butcher. The baron проковылял to a chair,

kissed a hand of the hostess and, strongly stammering, told:

– Allow, e-e-e., to present my kkompanion and Mr. friend

St… St… St…

– Stormer! – the fat man banged, stretching to the shuddered hostess

the spread wide thick fingers.

– His Eminence bishop! – the footman announced.

The bishop Iov Weller, the stout, healthy man with thoroughbred entered

ruddy face. His radiant eyes and juicy lips smiled.

After the bishop professor of philosophy Shnirer seemed. It

puzzly looked round around as if got at the wrong door, smiled as

the child who learned familiar faces and, having given both hands, went to the lady

Hinton.

After mutual greetings all took seat at a tea table. At this moment

at an entrance the beep of the car cried. Lady Hinton discontentedly frowned

– “after all is!.” – and Ellen slightly reddened. She learned beep

blottonovsky car.

In two minutes lord Henry Blotton already entered a drawing room, in black

tuxedo, fashionable vest and tie, sparkling a monocle. It was scented,

it is perfectly shaved.

– I was not late? Hello, aunt! – so he called lady Hinton,

which had the remote relative.

As soon as all took seat at a table, the lady started talking on a favourite subject about

degradation of morals, dissoluteness of youth, modern books, “which

it is impossible to give in hands to the well-educated girl”, about lack of due

respect for authorities and seniors.

– Tell, dear baron, – she addressed the banker, – I heard, you

came to us to extort the English gold? You want to shoal our gold

pool?

The face of the banker warped.

– Хь., хь., хь… I am for this purpose too low-power pump, the lady.

TT., the same success I could shoal the Atlantic Ocean.

Lady Hinton reluctantly received “it the upstart”, but was with it

it is kind at insistance of the legal adviser and managing affairs

Smiggers who ran large business with the banker.

Did not forget lady Hinton as the hospitable hostess, and the old philosopher.

– And where your charming daughter, Mr. Shnirer?

– And? What? – professor as if wakening from a dream asked. – Amelie?

Yes. At a football match! What? Soccer! And? – It plunged into the again

usual contemplate state.

– It is a pity, – lady Hinton stretched though she in soul was glad: it

preferred men’s society, besides in Amelie’s behavior a lot of things

shocked her.

– Doctor Teker told me terrible things, – it continued,

addressing already all and darting a sidelong glance at Teker, – how ours

the famous writer predicted death of a civilization. Really it

perhaps?

The ticker was on thorns. He thought of the wife, of the newborn and

every minute tried to rise, take the leave and leave, but did not decide to make

it.

Shnirer, having heard about the favourite subject, unexpectedly turned from

contemplate Buddha in the ardent speaker.

– Death of a civilization! – he exclaimed, having sparkled eyes, and continued,

increasing tone:

– Yes, the civilization perishes! She is doomed, and she is ruined by the car, it

iron monster. The owner of land becomes the slave to the car. It forces

us, one and all whether we know and whether we want it or not to go

till its ways. Without restraint the rushing chariot drags for itself prostrate

the winner, until he dies… Human beings, so

carefully raised these wild and dangerous animals, woke up and found

in an environment of the new race of iron monsters dominating over them…

Shnirer did not speak any more, and cried out, shaking by the wrinkled fist:

– It is necessary to bridle even stronger science, to detain rationalization,

to clamp the equipment, to suffocate invention, differently death of a civilization and

our death are inevitable… Still a cup of tea, more strong if you allow, —

unexpectedly it finished.

Ellen silently spilled tea, imperceptibly glancing at the groom. But that

was interested in liqueurs more, strenuously adding the bishop whose face

shone light of terrestrial pleasures.

– WW., ffva., are right, professor, – objected the banker, – it is necessary to the technician

to keep in a strong bridle. But civilizations threaten not only машшш.,

cars. There are animals more dangerous, artful and ruthless…

– Communists! – lady Hinton exclaimed.

Precisely December cold blew softly in August. The society which gathered for

table, it was stirred up.

All started talking at once, having forgotten about ethics. Faces were poured by hatred,

rage and fear. The word was pronounced. General disease, which

undermined all, saddened, joy of life poisoned, sang dreadful

dreams, it was called…

Everyone hurried to facilitate the soul, to pour out what overflowed long ago

heart. Spoke differently, but about same: about damned

communists, destroyers of culture and civilization, fanatics. Here was

in total: and revolutions in three states, and “nationalization of women”, and

Komintern, both dumping, and destruction of temples, and hunger…

Never before society of lady Hinton was so unanimously, so sincerely

in expression of feelings and thoughts. Never at a table sounded so harmoniously

the symphony of hatred and bodily fear before close revolution.

“Red animals” – unless not they threaten to take away everything from lady Hinton:

title, power, situation, wealth?

Their propagandists decompose Christ’s herd and threaten with God’s desolation

to temples, starvation to the bishop Iov Weller.

And the philosopher Shnirer – that other, except boundless hatred, he could

to feed “for patrons of the equipment and enthusiasts of industrialization,

forced to serve themselves cars which the teeths tear

human beings also threaten to crush the gear wheels modern

culture”! . When nervousness settled a little, lady Hinton seized

conversation.

– I offered two hundred thousand pounds on fight against them recently, but

it, of course, is not enough. Each of us has to understand that it is better now,

while the getting is good, voluntarily to refuse a part of the property, than

to lose everything.

– I read about “Noah’s Ark” and I believe that the writer quite

in due time raises a question of great importance, – Henry told, reeling up

on a finger a ribbon with a monocle. – When in a number of the countries revolution wins,

won, the truth resisting, quit the stage and as extreme

means, rescue in flight look for. But where to run? Whether is quite

the safe countries on the globe? It is time to think of it.

– Do not accept my words, – the baron told, – for premature

defeatism, panic, disbelief in a victory. With risen we will be

to fight all measures to the death. But success seems to me