Classics of a fantasy. A. Belyaev
Stormer-city. Soon because of the ridge the ocean seemed. On
the North, the East and the South the Andes were piled up.
The elevator stopped. Hans left a cabin on the open area. Faugh!
Here is even colder. And what furious wind! But eagle outlook. On
to the wide platform which from below seemed the thread connecting “legs”
huge tuning fork, anemometers, barometers were installed a weather vane,
thermometers… Wind burns down the person. It is rather to the box! The fat man meets. Nods
head, as to the old acquaintance. Vinkler already warned by phone.
Of course, it is possible to examine and go down.
In the middle of the room there is a trolley above the hatch, ready to falling. Door
it is open. Hans looks inside, enters: the door behind it slams.
Here is warmer. On a ceiling – an electric bulb. There are no windows. A floor is covered
linoleum. The wall at a door is forced by boxes in which are located
experimental animals, birds, insects. The same boxes stand at a wall
at the left. At a wall opposite to a door – scales. To the fourth wall it is attached
hammock. Near a hammock stand three the deep convenient screwed on a floor
chairs with belts, as by planes, in a corner – spring scales the person
designs, on an iron core – the dial with the arrow noting
change of weight.
“Scales are spring, – Hans notes. – It is clear: cups of ordinary scales
will not change the situation, whatever freight lay on one and another
to cup as both bodies equally lose the weight. Only
spring scales can note loss of weight when falling”.
In a deep chair the fat, hardly holding in it person sat with
the shining bald head. It was faced by the high well-fad shaven doctor.
The bald fat man panted and looked at the doctor the scared eyes as
the patient waiting for operation.
Finger greeted the doctor and showed the blue ticket.
– You allow me to take part in experience? – Finger asked.
– Please! – the doctor answered and continued to convince the fat man of full
safety and harmlessness of flight. – You will lay down on a hammock, so to you will be
more conveniently. I will sit down near you in a chair and I will watch your pulse and
blood pressure. About is not present, at all not to warn
any danger. Just we will make various scientific observations,
that then to draw from them the conclusions. We generalize scientific observations and
we transfer them to the chief engineer who considers everything for the
technical calculations and designs: what acceleration is admissible at
flying away, what most expedient ways of protection from pushes
and so forth.
– Means, pushes are possible? Perhaps, and very strong? – scaredly
the fat man asked.
– It is no more, than in the tram, – his doctor hurried to calm. At
Finger’s help the doctor laid the fat man in a hammock and strongly tied him
heavy body belts.
Hans took seat in a chair, having fastened belts and askance looking at the
neighbor. The fat man puffed, was nervous, muttered something. Doctor also
fastened itself belts to a chair and undertook the lever.
– Prepare! We fly.
– No! Stop! I do not want! – the fat man began to yell.
But was already late. Hans felt how at him heart fades.
Unprecedented ease spread on all body. Hans raised a hand.
the slightest effort as if it did not lift, and lowered a hand. Even it is even easier.
Because, lowering a hand, nevertheless it is necessary to strain muscles. As in water. No,
as in weightless air if also the body became air. Second
flew after a second… The doctor felt the fat man’s pulse. Hans listened to
to beating of the heart. It is a little as though slowed down, and generally all in
order. It is a pity that there is no window… The arrow of a big stop watch approached to
to fifteen.
– Now there will be a curve. Keep more strong! – the doctor warned.
And suddenly the body began as if with lead to be poured. From legs to a back,
to the head. Became heavy so that it was difficult to breathe. Hands, legs are held down.
It is impossible to raise the heads. The fat man cries out… But here lead pours out from
bodies. Moment of the normal state. And again seconds of zero gravity.
The trolley goes down from the second strip, and again invisible weight presses
body and breast. Unpleasant feeling! It is good that with each scope
“pendulum” these feelings last less and weaken. Here and end. Stop.
Stopped. The fat man hoarsely swears. On his forehead cold sweat acted.
The door of a cabin opens. The doctor hurries to untie the fat man. That is enraged
so what cannot speak, only stares and does such terrible
grimaces as if wants to eat the doctor alive. A bomb takes off from a door.
Near a cabin Blacks and Indians crowded. The fat man amused them. Fresh
air returned it a speech power, and he shouted, swore, comically swung
hands. The color audience laughed loudly as children in a buffoonery, and these have more and more
angered the fat man. He damned also “Noah’s Ark”, and the Nov, and all who
invented this chertova piece. He prefers that it was fried alive,
but will not cross a threshold of “ark”.
– Money back! – he shouted.
– You know the charter of society: money does not come back at all.
You can only sell the shares if you find the buyer, – told
goodness knows where from the appeared in time commercial director Collins.
– I do not want to look for buyers! Let then vanish. Would be gone and
all of you here together with “ark”! Where my airplane? – and he walked to
to airfield. Collins considered excessive to hold him.
– What there is with it it? – Collins asked the doctor.
– Anything special, – the doctor answered. – These billionaires, no offense
be told them, there were nervna as hysterical young ladies. There is its table.
Work of heart: before experience – seventy four, after experience –