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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 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. Chapter 6 ABOUT HEAVENLY SCIENTISTS WHO SERVE TERRESTRIAL CASES, AND OF THAT LI NA NEEDS TO VENUS UMBRELLAS AND GALOSHES 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