Classics fantasy – 10. A. Belyaev
After this a push some more together with some deaf hoot followed.
Simpkins was captured by ice horror of far animal ancestors of the person: horror before the unknown. A grief to the one who will not manage to overcome this horror at once: blind instincts extinguish then a thought, will paralyze will, self-control.
Симпкинс felt how cold pakhnut in a nape and head hair rose. It seemed to it that he feels tension of each hair. With a wild roar it rushed, stumbling and falling, up, on the deck.
He was met requirements by Gatling. Симпкинс, having forgotten about everything, except fear of the unknown, nearly fell arms from what just escaped as a mouse in a hole.
– What is it? – he asked some hissing whistle (nervous spasms squeezed his throat) and grabbed with Gatlinga by a hand.
– I know no more than yours… The steamship softly shook on one side, a nasal part fell then and again rose. I hastily put on and left to look.
The moon brightly lit a part of the deck. The kilevy part of the steamship which was injured after accident was shipped in water, and the deck lay almost on water level here.
Симпкинс remained higher, watching Gatling who examined all kilevy part of the deck.
– Strange, strange… Go down here, Simpkins, are not a coward.
– I thank you, but and from here it is well visible to me.
– Симпкинс, it you? What there happened?
– Ms. Kingman, I ask you to descend here – told Gatling, увидав Viviana who was going down the deck.
It approached Gatlingu, and after it also Simpkins dared to go down. Presence of the girl calmed him.
– Admire, Ms.!
In bright beams of the moon the deck brightly grew white. And on this white background dark stains and traces were seen. As if some enormous animal всползло on the deck, made a semicircle and fell down from the right board, having broken as a straw, iron rods of a handrail.
– Pay attention: it is similar to a trace from a heavy belly which was dragged on the deck. And on each side – traces of paws or it is rather fins. We were visited by some unknown monster.
Simpkinsu it became terrible again, and he imperceptibly began to move back on the sloping deck back.
– And it that for litter? Some plants which are obviously left by the unknown visitor? – And Ms. Kingman lifted an alga from a floor.
The Gatling attentively examined an alga and disapprovingly shook the head.
– Sargassum, groups of brown seaweed… Yes, there is no doubt! These are alga sargassova. Here where brought us. Devil take it! Business gets a bad turn. We should discuss situation.
And all three rose by the main deck. Danger pulled together them. Симпкинс waved a hand on “rights”, he understood that only knowledge, experience and energy of Gatlinga could save them.
Most of all detective disturbed an unknown monster. It did not attach to any sargassovy alga significance.
– What do you think, Gatling, about our uninvited guest? – asked Simpkins when all took seat on wattled chairs.
The Gatling shrugged shoulders, continuing to twist an alga in a hand.
– This is not an octopus, not a shark and not some other of the famous inhabitants of the sea… It is possible what is here, in this mysterious corner of the Atlantic Ocean, there live unknown to us monsters, some plesiosauri who remained from primitive times.
– And suddenly they will get out of water and will begin to pursue us?
– We have to be ready to everything. But, I admit, I am disturbed not so much by unknown monsters, how many this leaf – and it showed an alga leaf. – The steamship after all is too big and strong even for these unknown giants of the underwater world. To them not to get also into our close cabins. At last, we have a weapon. But what weapon can win against this? – and it showed on an alga again.
– What terrible is in this insignificant leaf? – asked Simpkins.
– The fact that we got to the area of the Sargasso Sea, the mysterious sea which is located to the west of Korvo – one of the Azores. This sea six times more Germany occupies the space. It everything is entirely covered with a dense carpet of seaweed. “Alga” in Spanish – “sargassa”, from here and the name of the sea.
– As it so: the sea among the ocean? – Ms. Kingman asked.
– This issue was not resolved also by scientists.
– As you have to know, the warm Gulf Stream Current goes from the passages of Florida to the North to Spitsbergen. But this current is divided into ways, and one sleeve comes back to the South, reaches the Azores, goes to west banks of Africa and, at last, having described a semicircle, comes back to the Antilles. The warm ring in which there is cold, quiet water – the Sargasso Sea turns out. Look at the ocean!
All looked back and were struck: the surface of the ocean lay before them motionless as a standing pond. Slightest wave, movement, splash. The first beams of a rising sun lit this strange, stiffened sea which resembled a continuous carpet of greenish and pale seaweed.
– I do not want to frighten you, Simpkins, but a grief to the ship which got to this to “bank with seaweed” as Columbus called the Sargasso Sea. The screw if we also have it in serviceability, could not work: it would reel up seaweed and stopped. Seaweed detain the course of the sailing vessel, do not give the chance and to row. In a word, they it is tenacious hold the victim.
– What will be with us? – asked Simpkins.
– Perhaps, the same, as with others. The Sargasso Sea is called the cemetery of the ships. Seldom who manages to get out from here. If people do not die of hunger, thirst or yellow fever, they live, their ship from weight of the accrued polyps or a leak will not drown yet. And the sea slowly accepts the new victim.
Ms. Kingman listened carefully.
– Awfully! – she whispered, peering into the stiffened green surface.
– We, in any case, are in the best conditions, than many of our predecessors. The steamship keeps well. Perhaps, we will manage to repair a leak and to extort water. There will be enough stocks of products for us three for several years.
– Years! – Simpkins exclaimed, having jumped up on a chair.
– Yes, the road Simpkins, it is possible that several years you should expect the promised award. Take heart, Simpkins.
– I wanted to spit on an award, if only to me to get out of this damned kissel!
…Monotonous, painful, hot days stretched. Clouds of some unknown insects were above this standing swamp. At night mosquitoes did not allow to sleep. Sometimes fog laid down over the sea a funeral veil.
Fortunately, by steamship there was a good library. Ms. Kingman read much. In the evenings all gathered in big magnificent salon. Viviana sang and played grand piano. And even more often Simpkins began to be on these evening meetings with a wine bottle: from a grief he washed down.
Gatlingu was necessary to lock wine cellars. Симпкинс tried to object, but Gatling was relentless.
– There is no that we had to potter with the patient with delirium tremens still. Understand, ridiculous you the person that you will die soon if not to stop you.
Simpkinsu was necessary to obey.
Chapter 5
IN THE KINGDOM OF THE DEAD
It seemed that the steamship