Classics of a fantasy. A. Belyaev
I do not know what to select.
– You do not know?
– I do not know! – with extraordinary sharpness Ellen answered. – Any thing
does not interest me, does not stop my attention.
– Choose as I choose. To Earth we still will return when passes
general madness, I firmly trust in it. But what we leave here
it is necessary to consider lost. However, I disposed to hide some
jewelry. In cellars of the lock there are hiding places about which nobody not
suspects. There are storerooms in which it is possible to immure something. Something
it will be dug in a garden, something will be lowered in a well. But unless on servants
it is possible to rely? Means, it is necessary to count only that we can
to take with itself. The centner is after all much if to choose efficiently.
It is necessary to take the smallest by the size and weight of a thing and the most expensive.
Watch how I arrive. – And lady Hinton showed a chubby hand on a heap
the values lying before it on a table.
– I have no your abilities, – noticed Ellen.
– Study. From dresses, linen at least selected something?
– Henry says that it is only excess freight. In Stormer-city
special suits for the rocket are produced. There it will be so warm,
that to put on an excess dress it would be just unhygienic.
– Hygienists! Tell Henry that I will refuse flight if they are
to walk there in indecent suits. Take several dresses, it is more
linen, hat, galoshes, umbrella.
– And galoshes, umbrella, what for?
– They are going to land us on some comet…
– To the planet, aunt.
– Do not interrupt. And if there the rain is or slush?
– Henry advises winter suits to take. It is possible that it is necessary to us
to land on the planet with a frigid climate.
– Let do not land on such. Can choose become warmer. I do not take out
cold weather.
– Today this question will be discussed still.
– You reminded me. Whether rooms for guests are prepared? How many
the person is expected?
– Person twenty. I already disposed.
– And lunch?
– Everything is ready, the aunt.
Now there was not such time to receive guests. But it was also not
standard practice. In the country lock of lady Hinton had to gather
some participants of the forthcoming flight, to discuss very important
questions. So far it was not still precisely solved on what
the planet the crew of “ark” will land. On this congress expected arrival
several most visible astronomers. Well paid them for consultation and
for silence. Except the closest participants of flight, nobody has to know about
“ark”.
It would seem what can be urgency in astronomy where time
it is estimated in billions of years where everything from the terrestrial point of view is firm?
Steadily planets move on the orbits, steadily follow the
in the ways periodically appearing comets… Or astronomers waited for one of
such rare guests, like Galley’s comet, or were trapped full
solar eclipse?. No, not comets and solar eclipses absorbed them
time. They were really extremely busy. Astronomy – science about
the far sky – it was very close to some terrestrial affairs.
Great mathematicians, experts on heavenly mechanics, they were mobilized
for work on superartillery and superaircraft. “The last Mohicans”
capitalism feverishly prepared for war, preparing for the opponent “surprises”
in the form of rocket shells, military stratoplan, superlong-range guns
and other. And scientists jealously carried out charged to them especially scientific
business…
But, working for those who were executed by animal rage and thirst of fight
and destructions, scientists could not refuse the last service and that who
wanted to run from fight. And, having bargained, they accepted favorable
offer.
That minute when lady Hinton was engaged in weighing of the
family values, the philosopher Shnirer also sat in the office for
scales, but its scales were big, and it weighed not on carats, and on
tens of kilograms. On a table before it heaps of philosophical books lay. It
the library weighed not one centner. These books are so heavy! He decided to take
the best of them. From ancient philosophers Platon – it is unconditional, Aristotle —
under doubt. From new – certainly Kant, Schopenhauer, Spengler,
Bergson. But as this old man Kant weighs much! Perhaps, not to take them?
No, they will be necessary “there”.
Shnirer worked methodically, as always. At first made a marking
“the specific philosophical weight” of each philosopher, then noted
the “physical” weight of the book also accurately wrote down on the sheet of paper.
The door of an office was slightly opened, someone glanced through a crack.
– You do not work, the father? – asked Amelie, entering the room. Amelie
never entered to the father when that was busy. It were hours
religious rites. The daughter of the philosopher was excited, her cheeks burned
flush. Shnirer looked at the daughter over points and asked briefly:
– Sport?
– This time not. I saw Otto. The lieutenant Otto Ernst was
Amelie’s groom.
– Well and that? – Shnirer asked, weighing Descartes.
– We with it had a conversation…
– As I see, very hot.
– Yes. I suggested it to take part in flight. He answered that with
its parties it would be desertion. He told: “I have to remain
here, to win or die!” Otto convinced me to remain with him.
Descartes’s small volume trembled in Shnirer’s hand.
– Well, and that you answered? – he asked, trying to hide alarm.
– I answered it that I will follow you, the father. Shnirer frowned,
to hide joy:
– So.