Classics fantasy – 10. A. Belyaev

      Chapter 3

      IN ONE DESERT

      – Tell, Mr. Gatling why the ship did not sink? – Ms. Kingman asked, sitting with Gatling on the deck, all lit with the morning sun. Around, as far as covered an eye, the water smooth surface of the ocean as the emerald desert was spread.

      – Modern ocean steamships – Gatling answered – are supplied with internal partitions, or walls. At holes water fills only a part of the steamship, without getting further. And if destructions are not too big, the steamship can float even with big holes.

      – But why then passengers left the steamship?

      – Nobody could tell whether he will sustain the steamship to be capable to float. Look: Kiel went to water. The stern rose so that blades of screws are visible. The deck is inclined at an angle almost in thirty degrees to the surface of the ocean. It is not really convenient to go on this slope, but all this is better, than to flounder in water. We still got off lightly. By steamship there are enormous stocks of provisions and water. And if not too carried us from ocean ways, we can meet soon some vessel which will pick up us.

      However there were days behind days, and the blue desert remained still is dead. Симпкинс missed eyes, peering at a sea distance.

      Monotonous days began to flow.

      Ms. Kingman got into the role of the hostess soon. She strove in kitchen, washed clothes, kept order in the dining room and “salon” – a small cozy cabin where they liked to spend evenings before going to bed.

      The difficult question how to hold and put itself in society, new, alien for it, was resolved somehow by itself. It concerned Simpkins good-natured ironically, with Gatling the simple, friendly relations were established. It is more than that, Gatling interested her mysteriousness of the destiny and nature. Out of a step she not only never asked Gatlinga about its past, but did not assume that also Simpkins spoke about it though Simpkins tried to tell for lack of Gatlinga about its terrible “crime” more than once.

      They willingly talked with each other in the evenings, at a sunset, having finished the small economy. Симпкинс stuck out on the watchtower, looking for a steamship smoke as the messenger of rescue, professional triumph and the promised award.

      From this talk Ms. Kingman could be convinced that her interlocutor is educated, tactful and brought up. Conversations with witty Ms. Kingman, apparently, gave also to Gatlingu great pleasure. She remembered the travel across Europe and made laugh it with unexpected characteristics of seen.

      – Switzerland? This mountain pasture of tourists. I visited the whole world, but I hate these ruminant biped with Bedeker instead of a tail. They chewed up eyes all beauty of the nature.

      Vesuvius? Some коротыш which puffs a worthless cigar and puts on importance. You did not see a mountain chain of Colorado? Hes-Pik, Lon Peak, Arankho-Pik – this mountains. I do not tell Everest having 8800 meters of height about such giants as Mont any more. Vesuvius in comparison with them a puppy.

      Venice? There can live one frogs. The gondolier carried me on the main channels, wishing to show it to good effect, all these palaces, statues and other beauty which became green from dampness, and big-eyed Englishwomen. But I ordered that it brought me to one of small channels – I do not know whether truly I told, but the gondolier understood me and after a repeated order reluctantly sent a gondola to the narrow canal. I wanted to see how there live Venetians. It is horror. Channels are so narrow that the neighbor can offer a hand opposite. Water in channels smells of a mold, on a surface orange-peels and any litter which is thrown out from windows float. The sun never looks to these stone gorges. And children, unfortunate children! They have no place to gambol. Pale, rachitic, they sit on window sills, risking to fall to the dirty canal, and with serious melancholy look at the passing gondola. I am not sure even whether they are able to go.

      – But what it was pleasant to you in Italy?.

      Here their conversation was interrupted in the most unexpected way:

      – Hands up!

      They looked back and uvidat before themselves Simpkins with the revolver sent to a breast of Gatlinga.

      The detective listened to their conversation for a long time, expecting whether Gatling will blab out the crime. Having convinced of innocence of a conversation, Simpkins decided to act in a new role – “the prepredictor and a presekatel of crimes”.

      – Ms. Kingman – it began pompously – my office debt and a debt of the honest person to warn you about danger. I cannot allow more this talk alone. I have to warn you, Ms. Kingman that Gatling – the dangerous criminal. And dangerous first of all for you, women. It killed the young lady, having entangled her at first network of the eloquence. Killed and ran, but it was caught by me, Jim Simpkins – he finished and with pride looked at the had effect.

      It is impossible to tell that the effect was gained that which it expected.

      Ms. Kingman was really confused, excited and offended, but rather its unexpected and rough invasion, than the speech.

      And Redzhinald Gatling did not resemble the criminal killed with exposure at all. With usual tranquility it approached Simpkins. Without paying attention to the induced barrel, pulled out after short fight and rejected the revolver aside, having said in low tones:

      – You, obviously, still have not enough ten thousand dollars promised you to see me for pleasure of some persons put on an electric chair. Only presence of Ms. holds me to be quit with you on merits!

      The quarrel was stopped by Ms. Kingman.

      – Pledge me the word – she told, approaching them and addressing more Simpkins – that similar scenes did not repeat. Do not worry about me, Mr. Simpkins, I do not need guardianship. Leave yours scores till that time until we descend on the earth. Here us three are only three among the boundless ocean. Who knows that he waits for us still ahead? Perhaps, each of us will be necessary for another a minute of danger.

      Becomes damp, the sun set. It is time to disperse. Good night!

      And they dispersed on the cabins.