Book-7. Edem, novella

Chapter 2

Dima was still asleep when Anna jumped up from the bed, as if stung. It was six in the morning. She dreamed a nightmare that she did not remember, and apparently inspired by the past a nervous day. She tried to remember the dream yet, but I could not. It was still early, and she decided to no longer go to bed. Crept back into the bathroom. Washed her face and brushed her teeth. Suddenly saw myself in the mirror, which is alienated and tired. Light faint wrinkles at the edge of the eye lids fan identified at the temples. Her green eyes are still kept alive luster of youth and beauty, which did not affect the hardships of everyday problems. But the shine has become tougher. Taking a deep breath, she broke away from the mirror and went into the kitchen. There, she found Anna. Sobinova by prudently took to make coffee. Women were silent, trying not to talk to each other and do not look at each other. Anna was ashamed of the past. Ana was embarrassing for the men’s morals girlfriend. In the end, they sat silently drinking coffee, eating cookies “croquet.” Anna first to break the silence:

– You know, I was thinking, maybe I’ll take Dimochka in kindergarten, and you Congresses in the mail?

– I also thought about it. You know, come on! But I’ll wear it, and the three of us get out of the apartment.

– Go. – Agreed Sobinova. It has again become self- confident and gained a calm expression, which was used to seeing in front of Anne.

At eight o’clock all were assembled. Dima cheerful and sociable was dressed in overalls and a warm winter jacket with a hood. A little old woman in his coat and feather scarves. Anna could not stand it, and said:

As rural- grandmother.

On the other hand, warm and cozy. – Responded to a replica of Anne. All three of them have fun out in the March changeable weather.

Anya had to get on the subway. In front of the main post office, lined up a taxi rank. Taxi drivers were at their cars, calling passengers hoping to ride one on the Kiev railway station, one in Sheremetyevo, to lust, waiting for her.

– The girl and the girl went. I’ll take not expensive!

– No, thank you. – Anya answered them.

– We’ll wait for you! – Spoke drivers.

Meanwhile, Anna entered the spacious foyer. Opposite the input of massive doors at the end of a long hall, sat at her window manager main post office. Anya went straight to it:

– I came to see if you can get a letter of demand three years ago?

Administrator, full blond woman in years, severely eyeing Anya look cold gray eyes on top of his glasses, said sternly:

– What are you, my love, laugh? – Making a waiting pause, she asked, – Or, How?

– I seriously?

– Well, you know, my dear, unclaimed letters three to four months, are sent back to the recipient.

– Well, if they do not return address, then what?

Well, these being shelved.

– From there, you can get them?

That’s not possible.

Yeah, why the hell? – Anya she was scared of her voice, but it was too late.

– You do not be rude to me here, honey! – With metal tone of voice, the receptionist said. Anya’s eyes welled up in tears:

– Sorry. – Deaf voice, she said. – I did not want this letter to me is very important.

The administrator took pity on the poor woman, and has a warmer voice replied:

– They are packed in bags and stored for about five years, and then burned.

A glimmer of hope flickered in the eyes of Ani:

– So, then, it is still possible to find a letter there?

– And who will you look for it there, among hundreds of thousands of letters in these bags?

Well, I cannot.

– No. You do not have access. Only the employee can search mail, he is entitled.

– Tell me, how did it do?

– It is necessary to pay for the work of the employee, as a rule, this is his one working day. A day or two, he will find it. Again, you pay only for one day. How much will it cost, say, after the letter will be found.

– And that this is necessary?

– Here, take the application form. Please fill in his position, ie from whom and to whom. Or if there is no return address, to whom it was intended. And remember, we issued a letter of demand to the destination only to whom it is intended. Ie everything exactly on your passport.

Anya trembling hands took the form. Began to fill. Filling, returned form.

– Wait a minute, I’ll knock on a computer database. – The administrator has to click the mouse a computer, rummaging in the database. Then replied:

– You know, this letter does not appear. It seems that we did not receive, nor three years ago, no four.

– It cannot be?

– Computer center is not lying, it is a guarantee! We have this iron discipline.

Anya at a loss out of the building and the central post office in a dream, almost automatically down dale, on the subway reached to the house. She met Anna. The apartment smelled delicious fried potatoes and fried eggs with ham.

Well, that’s where the letter? – With undisguised curiosity, looking Ana’s eyes, asked her Anna.

Not that, letters, and there was never even a trace.

– These are the times, strange it all. – Deaf Anna said. Then, recollecting himself, added:

Let’s quickly take off your clothes, and at the table. Eat, as it should.

Anya minute later was sitting at the table and was eating with gusto fried potatoes with ham and eggs, washed down with a hot strong coffee. Anna kept up with the girlfriend. Having finished breakfast, the women stayed in the kitchen. Were working there, trying to take myself, washing dishes, cleaning the kitchen then. In this tinkering around the house, the day passed. For Dima Anya went alone. Anna began to prepare dinner at all.

Snow middling’s drumming on the face, cheeks tingling. Kindergarten, which drove the baby Anya was a few blocks walk along the embankment of the Moscow river. It was not comfortable in rainy days and very nice in good weather. Now, shrinking from evil wind gusts hewer, Anne dejectedly trudged toward the kindergarten. From the head did not come out painful thoughts, inspired by the letter of Elsa Eduardovna. Anya knew how Aunt Elsa; she could not write the truth. There, somewhere in the subconscious mind flickered saving idea that all that is written in the letter, though. But behind this hides a mystery. Maybe Aunt Elsa could not write here so openly about big money. And all of a sudden got a letter in the hands of either her Anya, what then? Anna began to think by putting yourself in the place of Elsa Eduardovna, wondering how she would do, being in her place? Of course, Anya would have resorted to allegorical, hidden form of presentation, pointing to some common Anya recognizable form. For example, in the house where she was Anne. On objects in the room. Reflecting thus, Anya came to the conclusion that it is necessary to read the letter again. Analyze each word, sentence. Find the hidden essence of a presentation. And to find the answer. Of course, it is necessary to approach it. And it will do so today. Once again, read the letter, weighing every word. Anya had not noticed, for his thoughts, as he found himself at the threshold of kindergarten. Went inside. Dima met her already dressed. The teacher hurried home and children dressed in advance before the arrival of the parents. The room was hot, and the kids were waiting for their parents sweaty.

– You know, Tamara, crazy? – The threshold pounced on a poor governess Anne.

– Oh, it’s you instead of hello? – The teacher retorted swoop.

– Half of the children tomorrow kept with pneumonia! I guarantee it! – Stalking her Anya.

– Mom, I’m hot! – Added fuel to the fire Dima.

– And to me!

– And to me! – Children’s voices were heard everywhere. At the door, as if by magic fairy Tinker Bell, the director appeared kindergarten Claudia Petrovna:

– Tamara, go key to me! – A stern voice, so that it is audible to other parents, said the director.

Well, here’s another. You want the best, and it turns the other way around. – Grumbling, went for Tamara director. Anya, took off the robe son:

– Dima, you should cool down a bit. Then again we get dressed and go home.

All right, Mom. Is it true that Aunt Anna will we live?

– What do you want?

– I do not know. – Dima replied evasively.

– Well, after all?

Of course, I want it to stay. She told me stories on the way to kindergarten told.

Well, you son of lucky, I want it to stay.

– Ur mom!

A father to me, “Lexis” will take home. There’s a lounge and a computer is and warm! – Boastfully broadcast squeaky voice tiny baby in anticipation of its parent. Anya looked at him:

– Go here, Igor. I’ll undress, chill out a little while my father would come.

Kid awkwardly walked to Ana’s fashionable dark blue jacket with warm child to grow into a fashionable cut, as for skiers. Anna took off her jacket with a wholesome glow baby.

– Well, now lying in wait for his dad. He probably somewhere stuck in a traffic jam on his “Lexis”.

Dima jealously watched over the actions of mothers and frowning. His father was no longer a close and it seemed that all over him because of ridicule and make fun of. But in fact it was not. Meanwhile, Anya again put at Dima jacket, knit cap pulled on the hood. And quickly brought his son to the rash blizzard.

Anna was not in vain wheeling in the kitchen. Hot and flavorful chicken, just taken out of the oven, published the magnificent smells rich spicy oriental spices. Molding golden crust, delicious rose chicken carcass on a platter lined with a baked potato in no way inferior color peel chicken. And fried onion rings to an amber color, odor competed with cilantro, fragrant celery and bay leaf smell. This still life is graced bank pickles and a bottle of red wine. Anya went into the apartment, drawn, these exquisite scents, went to the kitchen without removing clothing.

– Wow! – Overlooking the course, which was put Anna on the kitchen table, utter delight.

– I did not lose time in vain, as you can see. – Proudly she said.

Well, we’re quick.

Anna returned to her son. Dima at that time already had time to remove his outer clothing, and tinkered with the boots.

– Hold on, son, I’ll help.

Anna took off her coat, scarf and began take sub. Shoes off baby. Soon they were all gathered around the table. When the chicken was done, and Dima went to his room, the women were left alone in the kitchen.

– This is what I think – began to speak first Anya. – This letter does not mean anything without a second letter, which I have not got on demand. What do you think, Anna, can it intercepted at the worst time for us, eh?

– I have, in general, thought so too at first, but after analyzing the situation, I realized that this letter, on demand, and was not.

– Where did you get that?

Anna thought. Then she said, to withstand momentary pause:

– When our men disappeared in an unknown direction, and we took turns to pull in for questioning, then, having received a letter of demand, we would be so framed to the general, we would not be sitting here in silence and warm.

– So, it was not. – Was once again convinced Anya in their guesses. So, Elsa Eduardovna wrote metaphorically about something that needs to be laid out there. And she was determined not hesitate for a second, decided to analyze each line of text written by Aunt Elsa. Anna suddenly said:

– You know, let’s drink this red wine. – She pointed out a bottle uncorked.

No, Anna. I specifically put it in the kitchen cupboard, in a prominent place so that you could see it and become stronger in their decision not to drink more than ever.

Well, you and Annie Inquisitor!

– What can you do, Anna, you’re everything to me something with which I now live after the death of his mother and the loss of Lenny.

– Well, then, let’s go through the rooms.

– Yeah, it’s too early. Although I do tomorrow night to get up early. Honor that be.

– And I porous in your room on the bookshelf.

– Yes, I advise you to read Jack London, there’s a lot of interesting things there.

Women went from room to room, even though it was still too early six o’clock thirty minutes in the evening. The windows are grizzled. Early spring was not like a spring, rather, it was still winter in his swing. Though the days have become longer.

Anya came to his son. Dima was sitting on a shaggy carpet and heat was building a house out of blocks. Toy cars were scattered nearby. Trying not to disturb him, Anya took a letter from the bookcase and sat in a chair in the corner of the room and began to carefully re- read line by line, trying to comprehend the meaning inherent Aunt Elsa there. Her attention was drawn to the lines: “… Here it is, and has forwarded this letter, which I hope will get to you. I have a surprise for you, Anya. After three- plus years, you still will be able to request an main post office in Moscow to demand Sent me with a light hand on Alexei your name. If all else fails, take your passport and go down again to the administration. you will have to give it. There you will find an indication of the fact that you have a substantial amount of money in U.S. dollars and this amount tucked away in a safe place, where you will learn from the letter …”

After reading these lines a few times, Anna thought. She was drawn words: “… for you, Anya surprise. – And another thing – there you will find a reference to the fact that you have a significant amount of money … – And that – this amount is hidden in a safe place, where you will learn from a letter …”

Well, of course, it has to learn from this letter, which is holding in his hands. Anya was feverishly over phrases lines, comparing the read information from a variety of items that they knew Elsa Eduardovna together. In memory of her suddenly emerged antique jewelry box with secret wedding gift Elsa Eduardovna. On its existence, Anya long forgotten. At first, she folded back her ornaments, which gave her husband, then when moved to a pawn shop jewelry, began to develop various unnecessary gizmos, which did not want to leave. But where does this casket? Anya, intuitively rather than for a specific purpose, opened the top door of the bookcase and pulled out a beautiful box. On the cover were depicted in the national costumes of German girl and a young man in dance. The box was made of mahogany and looked like new. Anya opened the lid, trying to look for there, among the various gizmos those that they, along with Elsa Eduardovna going over the long evenings when Anya was output in practice. This should help her to understand the allusions letter or give the impression of a surprise, said in the same letter. At the very bottom Anya came across a credit card Import Bank, which lists her scholarship. As students of the University, where she studied Anne, were more than seventeen countries of the world, and the bank was independent from Russian banks. Anna sighed, put down the card aside. Then took out a beautiful and big buttons on a mink coat, which once gave her Lenya, and she has put in pawn. Tears welled in her eyes. It is with sadness and emotional weight, shut the box. Sat in a chair in deep thought, fiddling with a credit card. That would have to go now and take a scholarship and a month does not think about nothing than to feed herself and her son. What if there are not selected yet the money? We must go and check. Your feet will carry her into the hallway, she did not even hear the voice of Dima:

– Mom, where are you going?

It was only when she put on her coat and a gray scarf remembered about her son:

Aunt Anna, you will pack today and tomorrow will take to kindergarten. I work early tomorrow! Go, my son, come play, I come quickly.

Anna ran into the street. The snow blinded. The nearest ATM quarter was an afterthought, not noticing the weather. Student card warmed hand in his pocket. With trepidation Anya stuck the card in the ATM receiver, dial the code. Looking waited withdrawal amount on the ATM screen. Finally, the screen gave something commensurate. Too many zeros and ahead of number five. Anya afraid, demanded five dollars. ATM cold counted the amount of hundred- dollar bills and passed through the window. Anna could not believe it. After going through the code and it took another five dollars, cash counted out five hundred- dollar bills. Anya has done way back in a daze. Not noticing the hewer of the wind and snow any distance to the house. So that meant Elsa Eduardovna. So what a surprise it was cooked. Piled up a fortune stunning. She did not go home, and swam in what is a fog of nothingness. Thoughts were confused in my head and realize their wealth Anya could not yet the end. It seemed to her that a simple scholarship extra received not, at the time, and nothing more could be in her bank account. And the thing is, some thousands of rubles, not thousands of dollars. We’re not accustomed to it yet, these huge amounts of money. On my floor she got a lift and only when the elevator door opened, only then she realized that he was at the door of his apartment. From the doorstep, without undressing, Anya called Anna:

– Sobinova, come here!

Anna surprise came from Dima’s room. Behind her, a boy and curiously watched the mother.

– What happened? – She asked worriedly.

Thus, especially nothing happened. – Sly smile, telling her Anya. – But, you know, get dressed.

– You look like a crazy right now! – Not budging, she said. In my mind this myself Anna could not imagine for a second. As it is, looking at the night out of the warm nest in a crossing snow blizzard. – You’re kicking me, or what? – Not laughing, half in earnest, she said.

– You, Anna, crazy, or what? Do not expel, and the call to the supermarket. Come on, buying more food, but more tasty.

Anna could not believe it, where does a poor Ani Krazimovoy bred money? And grasping the last opportunity to stay at home, she blurted out:

A Dimka?

– He does not get used. Will stay here one.

– Mama, buy me that be of the toys.

– Buy and son. Just you be a good girl. Sit alone. We Aunt Anna did not last long. You see, I do not even undress.

– I know you’re not a long time! – Grumbling at all, as an adult, going to his room.

– Annie, have you won the lottery?

No, I got my scholarship does not get it.

Soon, shivering with gusts snowstorm, the women went to the nearest supermarket. Sped past the car. And on the opposite side of the road grizzled wide ribbon snow- covered Moscow river. It was nineteen twenties, when they entered the store. Cashier currency exchanger was still working. And Anya exchanged two American dollars for Russian rubles. This money was enough to purchase different culinary delicacies and drinks with juices.

They returned with full corporate packages in hands…

Anya Krazimovoy, and along with Anna Sobinova ended poverty.

What she proudly said Anne in the kitchen:

You know, I’m not going work.

I.e., how? I’ve been pondering where I go, so that we no longer live in misery, and you, such you say nonsense! And you thought that your scholarship has long run out?

Anna said nothing, only smiled slyly and said yes, insisting on the:

– And that’s it. I will not go all! And my scholarship in the years ahead will suffice.

– Something you’re not telling me, Annie? Yeah, you got the same letter, and I lied, what is not?

– We read together the letter and it says, about a hiding place in the house of Elsa Eduardovna, but not here with Dima.

– You’re weird, or what? A safe, in which neither be in a Moscow bank, where you had time to visit and took some of the money.

No, it is not so! However, the money you will have. I’ll give you each month by thousands of dollars.

– Well, thank you for this!

Anna did not take offense. The money we need. We need to find our guys. And I think that where there appeared to be yours and my Lenya.

– What do you mean?

– And what of the letter, Elsa Eduardovna mentioned Antarctica.

– Are you sure she’s telling the truth?

– Have you forgotten already, Anna, as an investigator Smirnov, remember to mention it to our inquiries, Antarctica?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yes, I remember. So they were there. A threat out there who have heard Garin and Elsa Eduardovna it that simple?

Anna, you know, something tells me that your Peter and my Lenya needed there as experts in space travel, and they’re on the job.

– Yes, it seems to be true. At the same time there.

– What do you mean?

– And the fact that the extra ballast they do not hold.

– Oh, do not hold? And how Garin and his wife?

A Garin surely secured the support of our guys.

– How? – Asked Anya.

A so that if the General and his family something to happen, Peter and Leonid will not work for them.

– Now your story is similar to the truth and I am afraid that we cannot find space there.

– Even as there! – Anna’s eyes shone strongly. It seems to be that it is prepared to immediately move on foot and even in the forty- degree cold of Antarctica for their Petya.

Anna, we will not need them. – Make an attempt to cool the hot passion of Sobinova Anya – as long as we do not know about our husbands.

So, we must find a way to contact our husbands, otherwise this trip to Antarctica will come out to bite us.

– That makes no sense. How do we let them know that we have enough money to rent an American Sixth Fleet and throw it on the former German base in Antarctica. – Complete the dialogue Anya.

Yeah, you know how to pull at the wound patients. – Anna sighed. Break off a chicken leg from a fragrant fried carcass, was chewing, biting into slices of white meat. Women are no longer talking. Silently, finishing dinner, they went from room to room. Anya, going into the bedroom to her son, she saw him sleeping in street clothes. Careful not to wake him up, stripped and put him under a blanket, then lay down by herself. Sleep did not come to her. In different thoughts crept into my head. Built extravagant plans, and broke like crystal stemware on a cement floor, unable to bear the smallest argument. In the end, she began to fall asleep, plunging into the troubled dreams. She had a beautiful garden. The trees were in bloom and bear fruit, and at the same time. On a branch of the same tree hung ripening fruits of unprecedented, and which is not the usual form. Fruits are published enjoyable and delicious flavor, but such that excited by a passionate desire to rip ripe and then eat it. Hand she reached for the nearest branch. Suddenly emerged from the thick leaves of the snake’s head. With a terrible hissing snake wrapped around his arm and dug her teeth, sharp needles. Anya shivered. I woke up in a cold sweat. Instantly, finding himself in bed, drew a breath of relief. Near the peaceful sniff son in a dream finally calmed the woman.

– I dream about the same! – In the hearts she said, almost inaudibly. Then rolled over on its right side, and fell asleep again.

– Mom, Mom! – Anya’s son was pushing, trying hard to wake up the sleeping mother. – You, why do not you go to work?

– Son, I’m not going to go to work.

– And what will we live? – As already quite mature, well- worn veteran, said Dima.

– Do not worry, we have enough.

– You have to lead the kindergarten?

Yes, my son, let’s get going.

After charges are laid on the floor an hour, they are fun to run out of the house. Dima did not cease to be amazed change in the mother’s mood, and he suddenly became too easily and freely at heart.

From kindergarten on the way home in a familiar ATM Anya took off another thousand dollars and come with a money back home. Anna sat in the kitchen and drank strong coffee.

Well, Annie, you’re something promised.

– I do not remember. – When removing the coat in the hall, she replied Anne. – Remind Me!

Ah, do not you remember? – Appearing in the doorway of the kitchen with a steaming cup of coffee in hand, with iron tone of voice Anna continued, – A monthly fee of one thousand dollars?