Classics of a fantasy. A. Belyaev
to Martians or inhabitants of Venus?
– If they exist and are rather developed for this purpose, then why to them
and not to get acquainted with philosophers of Earth? – Shnirer answered. – And to fly to me
it is necessary. And it for my part not desertion and not cowardice. On me
the holy duty lies – to keep wisdom of Earth. True philosophy,
thousand-year heritage of human culture. To all this, – he specified on
books, – terrible danger threatens. Who knows what treasures of a thought
were killed in fire at the fire of the Alexandria library? And now approaches
world fire. If communism wins, I think, these barbarians will burn everything
philosophical books, except books of the philosophers, – Shnirer was lop-sided on
fireplace. – The mankind will run wild and eventually will die: the car will exterminate
it. Around the world – understand, in all solar system, in all space! —
treasures of the human genius will remain only in our “ark”. If
we are not fated to return to Earth, we will land on some planet.
We will put the basis to new mankind, true culture – without cars,
without infection of materialistic philosophy, without policy and without workers
questions. – Shnirer became straight and became similar to the bible prophet. —
There, on new Earth, – it continued, having raised a finger up, – will be necessary
these books. They will become our tables of the covenant. And I will teach people to the truth.
Shnirer, this room scientist not capable to direct actions, all
served the class till last days. However, at this philosopher were
the scores with capitalism – cars. But also consisted in that
originality of its philosophy that he tried to resolve a circle quadrature about
capitalism without the equipment and machines. Generated by hopeless
contradictions, its philosophy was quite confused, but it used
success because carried out the social order of “Mohicans” and promised
some “exit” from the deadlock. Shnirer looked at himself nearly as
on the Messiah, designed to save capitalism from a loop and to remove it in
promised country of cloudless eternal prosperity. He seriously considered
itself the keeper of wisdom of Earth, that is that philosophy which is necessary
was for an ideological justification and the statement of its class. And this
to the idea it served selflessly. Only for the sake of it he decided to go in
this extraordinary risky travel. Only for the sake of it it – passionate
the opponent of cars – decided to resort to the help of the car, to send himself to it
the order to entrust it the “precious for mankind” life.
To escape from the car by car. He deeply and painfully felt it
contradiction, but did not see other exit.
– And if we return to Earth?
– Ives this case needs to keep books in the reliable place. And that
can be more reliable than “ark”? “They” can destroy books before
your Otto and his colleagues will destroy “them”. And I will return to Earth of its treasure.
I will bring these tables of wisdom from the sky and I will hand them to people as Moisey. I
I will educate the saddened human consciousness this! – It solemnly lifted
up a small volume of own philosophical treatise about malignancy
materialism. – I have to keep myself for mankind! – solemnly
he finished and already usual tone asked:
– You kept within?
– Still not. I go to gather, – Amelie told. She kissed the father in
cheek, passed to the room, opened a trunk and one minute threw there
volleyball, several tennis balls and rackets, two guns,
cartridges, bathing and sports suits, Hawaiian guitar, small
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