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© Eugene Alexandrovich Rakhmanov, 2025
ISBN 978-5-0068-2385-3
Created with Ridero smart publishing system
All characters, names, patronymics, surnames, locations, street names, firms, organizations, enterprises, companies, and events described in this book are fictional. Any resemblance to historical events or real people – living or deceased – is purely coincidental.
“Welcome to Krasnosibirsk. The Way Home”
Following the “big truck” with his gaze, Andrey quickly descended the hillock to the gravel road and, excited, ran up to Prokhor Fomich, who was muttering something fearfully under his breath.
– Prokhor Fomich, Prokhor Fomich, – shouted Andrey.
He flinched…
– What? Who? Who are you? What do you want?
– I’m Andrey…
– What damn Andrey? I didn’t see anything and don’t know anything… Leave me alone! I must go!
– Wait, where are you going? Stop…
– I’m telling you, leave me alone, I don’t know you!
– How can you not know me? I’m Andrey Maltsev. Lyuba’s husband. Your boss.
– I don’t care who you are. I have no bosses. I’m on my own! I collect berries… Leave me alone! Go where you were going!
– Please, stop…
– Leave me alone, I say… Pestering me.
– One question, and I’ll leave. Please.
Prokhor Fomich stopped and said nervously:
– What do you want? Hurry up, I have no time!
Andrey caught his breath and asked:
– What year is it now?
– What? – Prokhor Fomich was taken aback. – Are you drunk or something, or are you some kind of fool?
– Just tell me, what year is it now… Please!
– Ugh, you devilish nature. Definitely a fool! Your eyes are darting around, crazy! Leave me alone, or I’ll hit you between the eyes with my stick.
And, turning sharply, he headed towards the concrete fence with barbed wire.
– Hey, wait… Just tell me, and I’ll leave.
– Leave me alone!
– Are you going to the crawlway?
Prokhor Fomich stopped and, his eyes bulging, began to chatter quickly:
– To what crawlway? What are you talking about? I don’t know anything! Who are you? What do you want? Leave me alone! Why are you pestering me?
– Calm down, I’ll explain everything.
– What will you explain? What do you want?
– I know about the crawlway…
– What crawlway?
– Prokhor Fomich, don’t be afraid!
– And I’m not afraid… Who told you I’m afraid? Here’s another, you made it up. Look at you… Why should I be afraid? What for? I’m an honest man. I just collect berries, that’s all!
– Calm down, everything is fine!
– I am calm… I was… until I met you! What do you want from me?
– What year is it now? The date and month? – said Andrey quietly, looking Prokhor Fomich in the eyes.
– Are you serious? – he frowned. – I thought you were joking!
– Please, tell me.
– And you’ll leave? You’ll leave me alone?
– Yes!
– July sixth, 1980. That’s it? Satisfied?
– Very satisfied! – Andrey smiled. – Three more years ahead! So, I understood everything correctly. I’m happy, thank you very much! – he shouted joyfully.
– Quiet, quiet, why are you shouting, you madman? Do you want the border guards to hear us? You want to go to prison? You can’t be here, it’s a restricted area!
– Oh, oh, sorry… – Andrey whispered guiltily. – I completely forgot about that!
– You can’t forget such things! It’s a criminal matter!
– I’m sorry!
– Well, that’s it? I said what you wanted. Now go where you were going!
– Yes. Thank you very much! I’ll go…
– Where are you going? You need to leave through the crawlway.
– Yes, that’s what I meant. It’s not far from here. Running, thirty minutes, and I’m home.
– Running in this heat? Definitely a madman!
– Don’t worry, everything will be fine!
– Yeah, yeah… – Prokhor Fomich smiled. – And who told you about the crawlway? Probably, limping Pashka, who trades at the market? His tongue has no bones. He always talks nonsense about anything!
– You told me.
– You’re lying! – Prokhor Fomich shouted nervously. – I didn’t tell you anything! You’re lying about everything! I don’t know you!
– That’s right, – said Andrey, – you didn’t tell me… but in three years you will.
– What?
– It’s a long story. – Andrey smiled. – Thank you for everything! You are a good person. Take care of yourself!
– Aha… And you take care of yourself too!
– And remember, Prokhor Fomich, no matter what happens in the future… Be sure, you are not crazy!
– I know! – he smiled. – But I’m not so sure about you!
– All the best, – Andrey shouted on the run and ran along the gravel road. Towards the five-story buildings.
Prokhor Fomich watched him go for a while, and then said warily:
– What a weirdo! – and, groaning, crawled into the crawlway under the fence.
Orlov opened his eyes. Without hurrying, he carefully looked around. A smile from ear to ear appeared on his face. He remembered… Understood that he was at home! On his favorite sofa! Without moving and practically not breathing, he just lay silently. And his eyes carefully and greedily scrutinized every detail of the interior of his one-room apartment. He thought, remembered… What was that? A dream? Or… what? He clearly remembered pressing the detonator button. Remembered the pain he experienced during the explosion. But how? Why is he alive then? Lying calmly on the sofa and reasoning about all this. There were many thoughts, many questions. And, as always, exactly zero answers!
The silent stillness was broken by the ringing of the telephone in the hallway.
Orlov flinched.
Breathless and wet with sweat, Andrey burst into his apartment. And with quick steps, he went to the kitchen.
Lyuba was cooking lunch.
Andrey approached her and abruptly kissed her on the cheek.
– What’s with you? – she snorted. – You’re all wet! Did you buy milk?
– No, dear… Sorry.
– Why? – she frowned. – What’s with you? What’s wrong?
– I was running!
– From where?
– From far away…
– Andrey, are you joking, huh? I sent you for milk, and you’re running around who knows where?
– Sorry. I’ll catch my breath and go… Again!
– Okay… buy it tomorrow. You’d better go for a walk with the children while I cook the cabbage soup.
– With the children? – he smiled. – With pleasure!
Andrey carefully entered the children’s room.
His son Seryozha and daughter Masha were sitting on the floor. They were playing. Building a city out of blocks.
Andrey smiled modestly, his eyes moistened.
He kissed Seryozha on the top of the head and picked up Masha.
– You are so small, – he said, almost crying. – You’re only five years old.
He held her tightly to himself and kissed her on the cheek.
– Daddy, you’re all wet. What’s wrong with you? – said Masha, smiling.
– Everything’s fine, my sunshine. Now everything is fine! – Andrey answered in a trembling voice.
– Let’s go for a walk! – he said, smiling.
– And, grabbing Seryozha with his other hand, playing and having fun, he carried them into the hallway. The children squealed joyfully and laughed. They put on their shoes and quickly rushed out the door.
The phone was ringing, not stopping! Orlov clicked his tongue angrily and jumped sharply off the sofa. With large, heavy steps, he entered the hallway and picked up the telephone receiver:
– Orlov! Listening! – he said loudly and irritably.
– Comrade Captain, permission to report, duty officer Petrov! – a clear, brisk young voice came from the other end of the line.
– Permission granted. Report!
– Observation towers: first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth – no remarks or incidents. The traffic police post in the city center reported: no remarks or incidents. Report finished!
– What do you mean, finished? Why didn’t you say anything about the Institute of Nuclear Physics?
– What institute? – the duty officer asked perplexedly.
– The Vladimir Ilyich Lenin Institute of Nuclear Physics! – Orlov shouted, nervously pronouncing every word.
– There are no institutes in our city! Only a school and a technical college.
– Are you serious right now? – Orlov asked irritably.
– Yes, exactly, serious!
Orlov turned his head towards the kitchen and looked at the window…
Hot summer air was blowing slightly through the open vent.
He peered.
– What’s the date today?
– July sixth. – answered the duty officer.
– Wow… – Orlov was stunned. – Well, I’ll be…
– Comrade Captain, is something wrong?
– Hmm…
– What?
– Ah… yes… I… Tell me… what’s your name?
– Petrov.
– Yes… Petrov… Tell me, why are you reporting to me at home?
– You yourself ordered to report to you at home during your vacation!
– During my vacation? – Orlov asked in surprise.
– Yes, exactly!
– And how long have I been on vacation?
– Since Friday.
– Aha… – he thought. – And what day is it today?
– Sunday. – the duty officer answered cautiously.
– Correct… Everything is correct… – Orlov said slowly, thinking. – You know everything… Ready for service. Well done. You, this… what’s your name?
Petrov.
– Yes… right… Petrov… Tell Smirnov to come pick me up urgently! I need to go on business!
– Which Smirnov?
– My driver!
– Your driver is Zaitsev! And who is Smirnov, I, unfortunately, don’t know. Sorry!
– Zaitsev? – Orlov was surprised.
– Yes, exactly! Zaitsev!
He looked at the kitchen window again and thought.
– Comrade Captain, should I tell Zaitsev to pick you up?
Orlov looked at the window and was silent.
– Hello, comrade Captain, can you hear me, hello…
The bright summer sun blinded his eyes. Birds chirped on the tree branches.
– Comrade Captain, can you hear me? Hello!
– I hear, I hear, don’t shout so loud, – Orlov said calmly. – No need to pick me up. I changed my mind!
– Okay! – said the duty officer. – Do you need anything else?
– Yes… Tell me, Petrov… – he looked at the kitchen window again. – What year is it now?
– The year? – the duty officer asked again.
– Yes. What year is it now?
– Eightieth.
– 1980?
– Yes, exactly! Why?
– Nothing… Everything is fine… – Orlov swallowed fearfully. – Everything is correct! You know everything. I dare not detain you further. I’ll call if I need you!
– I serve the Soviet Union!
– At ease! – said Orlov and hung up the phone.
For a couple of minutes, he stood motionless, with a thoughtful look. Then he slowly went into the kitchen and approached the window.
– July sixth… eightieth year… I’m on vacation… – he said, pondering.
Outside the window, children were playing soccer in the yard. Two old women on a bench near the entrance were talking animatedly about something.
– July sixth… eightieth year… I’m on vacation… – he repeated again.
Then he stepped away from the window and opened the refrigerator. Automatically, he took out three chicken eggs and a liter jar of rendered pork fat, with a wooden spoon inside. He was about to close the refrigerator when he suddenly froze in place. His gaze stopped on the bottom shelf, where three zucchini lay, neatly stacked in a row.
He took one of them in his hand and said:
– Zucchini? Where did they come from? I don’t like zucchini! Strange!
He closed the refrigerator and approached the window again:
– Where did you come from in my refrigerator? – he said, addressing the zucchini. – Huh? I didn’t buy you, that’s for sure!
He looked out the window:
– If mom were here… she would decide what to do with you! – he said, lost in thought, and looked into the hallway at the phone.
Andrey sat on a bench and watched his children playing in the sandbox.
His smile suddenly disappeared from his face.
He remembered Captain Orlov.
– I need to see him! Talk to him about what happened. – thought Andrey.
And he got up from the bench:
– Children, it’s time for us to go!
– Daddy, we just came out. Why do we have to go home? – Masha was indignant.
– It’s hot outside. You could get sunstroke!
– But we’re in the shade. – said Seryozha.
– You can get a stroke in the shade too… just a heatstroke! – Andrey said businesslike and, taking the children by the hands, led them home with quick steps.
– You’re back already? – Lyuba was surprised, seeing her family on the threshold. – Only thirty minutes of walking?!
– It’s very hot there! – Andrey instantly replied.
– Mom, we were in the shade. – Seryozha complained.
– You can get a stroke in the shade too. Just a heatstroke. – said Lyuba.
– You see, and you didn’t believe me! – Andrey added, addressing Seryozha. – We’ll go for another walk in the evening, don’t worry.
Seryozha smiled and ran to the kitchen.
Lyuba was pouring hot cabbage soup into bowls.
– Wash your hands, we’ll eat. – she said to Andrey.
– I’m not hungry, I need to go!
– Where to? – Lyuba narrowed her eyes.
– On business!
– What kind of business?
– Lyuba… – Andrey twitched, raising his tone.
– What? – Lyuba asked calmly. But in this calmness hid the flame of a scandal, which Andrey did not dare to fuel. And, smiling modestly, he answered:
– I promised to buy you milk and didn’t. This is unacceptable! Understand? I will go and buy it right now. As I promised you!
– What? – Lyuba was taken aback. – Come on… What are you… You’ll buy it tomorrow, don’t worry! – she blushed coquettishly. – You are so good after all!
– Hmm… I’ll go… – Andrey lowered his gaze. – I’ll just call first.
– Who?
– Lyuba, what’s with the interrogation? I’ll call work.
– But you’re on vacation?!
– Sanych asked me to. I need to, in general.
Andrey approached the phone and began fussily dialing numbers, silently pronouncing them with his lips.
Some time later
Orlov was busy near the stove in the kitchen. Humming some melody to himself.
The doorbell rang.
– Wow, – he was surprised, – who could that be?
Opening the door, he saw Andrey on the threshold, who was looking at him with a crazy look and breathing heavily.
– Hello, – Orlov said calmly, – come in, take off your shoes, come to the kitchen.
Andrey obediently did everything.
– Sit down, – said Orlov, – are you hungry?
– What? – Andrey asked quietly.
– I said, will you eat? Fried zucchini with eggs.
– I…
– Can you imagine… – Orlov interrupted him, – I open my eyes… And I’m home! Lying… looking at everything… It’s good to be home, right?
– Well…
– And then the phone starts ringing, – he interrupted him again, – I even flinched. They called from work. Said I’m on vacation!
– I’m on vacation too! – Andrey blurted out quickly.
– Congratulations! – Orlov said approvingly and shook his hand.
Andrey smiled.
– And they also said that today is July 6, 1980. Can you imagine? Did you know?
– I knew. I know!
– Yeah… and I know now too, – Orlov said thoughtfully, – so, will you eat zucchini or not? I fried a lot, enough for two!
– I will! – Andrey answered cheerfully.
Orlov took the frying pan and carefully divided the zucchini equally into two plates:
– So, I open the refrigerator, – he continued, – and I see them on the bottom shelf… – he lowered his eyes to the plate. – But I don’t really like zucchini and I definitely remember I didn’t buy them! Strange! Agree?
– Yes… strange… So where did they come from then?
– I have no idea! Lying there in a neat row. Three of them.
They both thought.
– Eat, eat, – Orlov said suddenly, – how is it, by the way?
– Didn’t expect it, but it’s delicious! – Andrey said, smiling. – I don’t really like zucchini either. But the combination of flavors pleased me!
– I’m in shock myself! I just sliced the zucchini into rings, fried them on both sides in a pan, and poured three chicken eggs over it all. Salted, peppered, and there you go… Delicious!
– Indeed. – Andrey chewed enthusiastically. – Who would have thought it would be so tasty?
– But I definitely wouldn’t have thought of it!
They both laughed.
– I talked to my mom on the phone today, a whole 20 minutes! I would have talked longer, but we were disconnected. A secret object after all, you understand!
– I understand. – Andrey nodded.
– And they tell me, like, Comrade Captain, you’ve been talking with your mother for too long. Stop immediately! And they disconnected. Can you imagine? I ordered a pass for her. She’ll come to visit in a week!
– Great! – Andrey rejoiced. – Congratulations!
– Yeah… – Orlov said thoughtfully. – Thank you. I haven’t seen her for three years. She died in ’82!
A minute of silence fell in the kitchen.
– And today… now… – he continued, looking into nowhere. – I talked to her! And in a week, I’ll see her! Strange! What do you think?
Andrey was about to answer, but Orlov interrupted him again:
– And you, by the way, who are you?
Andrey coughed, choking:
– What?
– I said, who are you? Where do you know me from?
– Are you serious?
– What, does it look like I’m joking?
Andrey looked at Orlov and didn’t know what to say:
– Well…
– What well? Do you know me?
– Yes.
– For a long time?
– Not really.
– Where did we meet?
– At your work.
– Under what circumstances?
– You arrested me!
– Wow. For what? Are you a criminal?
– No! I’m an honest, decent person! – Andrey blurted out irritably.
– Then why did I arrest you? They don’t arrest honest people!
– But you did arrest me! – he said through his teeth. – And also…
– Okay, okay, I get it! – Orlov interrupted him, shouting. – You’re an honest man! Decent. Don’t freak out! Tell me, what did you do that I arrested you for? – he said, looking intently into Andrey’s eyes.
– You don’t remember anything?
– Speak!
Andrey swallowed:
– I… was watching people… with binoculars…
– Sooo… – Orlov said drawlingly. – Why?
– Strange things were happening in the city. Do you really not remember anything? I think I should go?!
Andrey got up from the chair.
– Sit down! – Orlov commanded sharply.
Andrey sat down on the chair.
Orlov slowly leaned towards him and said quietly:
– Speak! What was happening in the city? What strange things?
Andrey sighed and continued in a trembling voice:
– I… will try to explain to you… but… if you don’t remember…
– Don’t mumble! Speak!
– At the Institute of Nuclear Physics…
– The one being built on the outskirts of the city? – Orlov interjected.
– Yes.
– Continue!
– Well… There, scientists were testing an electromagnetic accelerator…
– Stop! What? How do you know what it’s called?
– I read the name when they were transporting it past me.
– What? Come on, come on, in more detail. Who was transporting what where?
– I woke up today… I mean… I was… Well, I was on the outskirts… I was there. Ended up there by accident! Absolutely by accident! Long story short, this contraption was being transported on a huge trailer, surrounded by armed soldiers. And when this trailer passed by me, I read the name. The tarpaulin fluttered in the wind, and I read it. “Electromagnetic accelerator of charged particles ‘Taiga-6’.”
Orlov froze. His heart began to beat faster.
– What happened next? – he said in a half-whisper.
– Next? I went home. You can’t be there! Restricted area. You understand.
– I’m not talking about that! – Orlov flared up. – You were talking about scientists!
– Scientists? Ah, yes! Well, they were testing it for some reason, this accelerator… And…
– What “and”? – Orlov tensed.
– A green smoke appeared. – Andrey slowly pronounced every word. – It covered the whole city, with an electric dome. It killed people. Drove them crazy, sending all sorts of hallucinations to their brains.
Orlov closed his eyes and lowered his head.
– Comrade Captain, do you really not remember this?
– Maltsev! – Orlov sharply slammed his fist on the table. – Well, of course, I remember this! – he shouted irritably. – I wish I didn’t remember! What the hell is happening? What? What is happening? How did we end up here?
– Comrade Captain, – Andrey exhaled joyfully and howled, – I’m so glad you remember everything! I almost went crazy when you said to me: “Who are you?” I thought you were a different Captain Orlov!
– What? What do you mean?
– Well, Captain Orlov from 1980. You really didn’t know me back then!
– I didn’t understand anything… well, never mind! Can you explain to me what’s happening? Why are we here? Why are we alive? I blew up the institute!
– You did it after all? – Andrey was surprised.
– Yes, exactly! I did! I even remember the pain… during the explosion… Unpleasant sensations, to put it mildly!
– And I died! – said Andrey, smiling. – Burned alive, just like you said! It was painful, terribly!
Orlov frowned:
– Maltsev, are you even normal? You’re telling so joyfully about your death, as if it’s something fun!
– Why grieve, we are alive after all!
– Not sure!
– What do you mean?
– I pressed the detonator button and there was an explosion! After that, no one and nothing survives, that’s for sure! But… I’m alive! Sitting in my kitchen and eating fried zucchini with eggs. By the way, did you finish yours?
– Yes. Thank you, very tasty!
– Give me the plate, need to wash it.
– Here, take it, thank you!
– So, – Orlov continued, washing the dishes in the sink, – how? Why am I alive? And, am I alive?
– What do you want to say?
– I want to say, Maltsev, that we both died! And we remember it well! Moreover, we ended up in the past for some reason. There’s only one conclusion.
– Which one? – Andrey tensed.
– We are in heaven! Well, or in hell! Haven’t figured it out exactly yet. Although I don’t believe in these things! But, nevertheless.
– An interesting thought, – Andrey thought, – but I think we are still alive. Yes. Alive! We just ended up in the past. That’s all!
– Seriously? – Orlov’s eyes bulged. – Just ended up in the past? Just?
– Yes! Why not? I was already in the future. So why can’t I end up in the past? I can!
– Maltsev, stop, I beg you! – Orlov smiled. – Are you starting your story again about that future, with big stores with food shelves reaching the ceiling?!
– What? – Andrey twitched nervously. – You decided to laugh again? I was there! You ate crackers with the taste of aspic and horseradish. You ate them! Almost the whole pack, all by yourself!
– Ate them all? – Orlov burst into loud laughter. – What slang you have, Maltsev. And you said you were a decent person. Where are your good manners?
– You’re doing it on purpose, right? Intentionally mocking me? You know I’m right! Why don’t you just admit it?
– Because, Maltsev, I don’t believe it! That’s why!
– What does that mean? What exactly don’t you believe in? In the green alien killer smoke? In the crackers… that you ate? Or that we are in the past? What don’t you believe in?
Orlov lowered his head:
– I don’t believe in anything, – he said in a quiet, doomed voice, – I used to believe my own eyes. But now… I don’t know what to believe!
– Comrade Captain, in this world there are many things that are difficult and even impossible to believe in. But that doesn’t mean they don’t exist! Understand?
After a minute of reflection, Orlov said:
– Let’s assume. Just assume, we are in the past. How? Why?
– I think that when you blew it up… this smoke… It somehow transported us here.
– I repeat, how? Why?
– I don’t know! Maybe by accident, maybe on purpose.
– Unlikely on purpose, – Orlov said, smiling, – because then we can make sure it doesn’t appear here at all!
– What do you mean? Interfere with the construction? Blow it up?