Classics of a fantasy. A. Belyaev
much respect lady Hinton. This is the best sheep in my herd. But
it at me not one. I cannot leave the flock on eating up predatory
to wolves.
– And if the flock leaves you?.
The bishop sighed:
– I agree with you. Temples are visited less. But, as it is told in
the writing, “where one or two are brought together in my name, there and I in the middle of them”.
– In “ark” there will be twenty people. And when we will land on
some planet, to Mars or Venus, you will undertake a role
the apostle, announcing Christ’s doctrine to Martians or educating light
Gospel of inhabitants of Venus. Think only, you the first which will be with
the sermon of Christianity on other planets of solar system! And to be
can, god elects you for this mission.
– The almighty Lord, if finds necessary, can make it and other
in the way. But we will not concern so important theological questions, —
the bishop answered.
– Well, – continued Pinch, – it is admissible, you will refuse to fly,
despite insistent desire of lady Hinton who does not think of flight
without you. “The doctor is spiritual, – she says, – it is so necessary, as well as the doctor
corporal. Who will give to me advice, to direct “and a virtue path?
Who will make a ceremony of a wedding of lady Ellen with lord Henry Blotton?
Who will christen the been born children who will bury me if I die?”
Let’s say you will not obey these arguments and will remain. What waits for you
here? Perhaps, martyr death…
– I am ready to accept a martyr’s crown, – the bishop told, raising eyes to
to the sky. – But “yes this bowl will pass me”, – he whispered about himself.
– To remain on Earth, especially in your dignity, – Pinch was not appeased, —
extremely dangerously. In the country a tense situation. It is already the day before
revolutions, there is nothing to close eyes to it. – Пинч, having slid off on edge
chairs, continued by confidential tone:
– Lady Hinton received the most reliable news from the highest spheres that
falling of the power is expected any day. We not in forces to fight. It is impossible
to hesitate.
The bishop felt that sweat covers his forehead and cold runs on
to wide back.
– I am ready to everything, – he told.
Пинч took the leave and left.
The thought of missionary activity occupied the bishop. He did not trust in
existence of Martians, but on the new planet it would be among terrestrial
settlers the real father – Christ’s deputy. And unless without
Christianities, in general without religion it is possible to support a social order,
which provided also to it and his “sheep”, similar ladies Hinton, them
privileged position? But not only this “a high mission of the apostle”
forced it to decide to participate in flight. The bishop was frightened quickly
the developing events there is not less Shnirer and others. If revolution
will win, at its dignity it is necessary to it. Especially. perhaps, these
it was not necessary to tell sermons… And the prayer made by it about
the fastest death of communism? It even, speak, was with corresponding
with comments it is printed in their newspapers… No, to run, run… And it with
diligence began to select books of spiritual contents from the enough
big library. He put on a table already several big books when
phone cracked.
– Forgive for concern. Hallo! Yes! It again I, Pinch. I forgot
to warn you that if you decide to fly, hurry up to select things,
what you will find necessary to take with yourself, but it is no more than hundred kilograms.
Such is the order of our chief engineer. In “ark” everything is weighed
to the last gram.
The bishop with disappointment hung up.
It is no more than a centner. What complication! Except books, it is necessary to take
it is a lot of other things. He thought of the habits. Iov Weller loved
it is good to eat. What will feed in “ark” with? It will be necessary on everyone
to take a case with itself something for emergency. Even more the bishop loved and appreciated
thin wines and expensive liqueurs. They need absolutely to be taken. With the
stomach he did not get on as well as his best “sheep” – lady Hinton. To it
it was necessary to resort to laxatives, mainly to mineral
to waters. It is necessary to take at least a box of Zaltsbrunnen.
The bishop with despondency looked at the books which are spread out on a table and standing
on shelves. They one, probably, weigh more than a centner. It is necessary to select
the most necessary. The bishop called the housekeeper, ordered it to bring from the storeroom
bottles, banks of canned food, cookies boxes, banks with the oil condensed
milk also forced all this to weigh at itself. The housekeeper began to cry:
really the bishop considers her the thief? But at heart she was delighted:
the person who as she overheard, decided to depart, having thrown everything on
a destiny arbitrariness, would not begin to be engaged in economic trifles.
The hill with books on an episcopal table gradually thawed. At first it
put aside commentators and interpreters of the writing, then decided that
it is possible to do without history of ecumenical councils. Several tasty things and
warm jerseys forced to remove back on the book shelf of also some
Holy Fathers. Was already long after midnight when the bishop at last finished
selection. The voluminous chest was full. On the top pocket lay
Bible of the edition of the British bible society, and small breviary.
Apostles – those did also without it…
***
Dexterous agents of “Society of rescue from danger” hired all
new and new investors clients, gold flowed a wide stream in pockets
businessmen who had no objection to earn additionally and on rescue.
Collecting went to the