Classics fantasy – 11

– And you still were afraid, Jim that you will stiffen from cold in the north. Perhaps, here is warmer, than in your Florida.

Jim smiled, sparkling teeth.

On the deck the heap of needles, another, the third flashed… Dudin ran, filling in a flame with the fire extinguisher.

The fire cracked, hooted, howled, whistled. Birds and animals outstripped “Taiga” for a long time. Only one people conducted the last fight against a flame. They were exhausted. Dudin used deck hoses, but in a tank there was not a lot of water that it there was enough up to the end forest way. At the same time water was necessary also for cooling of motors and petrol tanks which could blow up from heating. Coils every minute reported the observations. They saw border of the wood for a long time and channelized. The border was close, but the continuous sea of fire – is even closer. Fortunately, wind was changed. Carried smoke and hot air aside. Otherwise all would choke before would devour their flame.

– I see a gleam – Ignat the thunderous voice cried.

All started, looked forward, but behind smoke nothing was visible. However Ignat was not mistaken. Only several rows of trees separated a taiga from wood border.

Filled up by sparks, choking, captives of fire continued to fight for the life, dumping the lighting-up boughs from the deck. Грицай from the water remains in a bucket ran all over people and poured over them. From clothes steam rose.

Suddenly Dudin’s shout sounded from a stern:

– Cable. “Dragon” was hooked for a tree bough. Stop. Stop the car.

These words were immediately transferred to the captain. Everyone endured heavy second of internal fight. Situation for all was clear: the delay of “Taiga” at least for several minutes can cost life everything. It is possible to escape, having only offered “Dragon” and coils. Behind on many kilometers the fiery sea stormed. And “Dragon” will inevitably fall in fire. But to allow death of companions… never. All to escape – or to die all.

– Stop.

“Taiga” stopped as the bridled horse. Dudin, having poured over itself the water remains from a bucket, pulled a cable, trying to release it.

“Be not late because of us. Save the all-terrain vehicle and crew” – wired coils.

The captain only annoyancely waved a hand. Dudin continued to wind on the winch, to release a cable. But the cable was strongly hooked for a bough. The tree already flared below. Flame fires, getting over from a branch on a branch, approached a cable. The cable will be warmed, metal will become more softly and will tear…

Everything, having forgotten about personal security, with nervousness monitored Dudin’s work. Foma, having taped heavy boots on the iron deck, disappeared in the hatch.

– Ignat, you have a revolver? – Jim asked.

Ignat trembled from this question and viewed with great concern Jim. Really at it did not sustain nerves and he wants to commit suicide? But Jim, overcoming nervousness, smiled. Ignat after short fluctuation gave the revolver to Jim. The same minute from the hatch Foma with a rifle in hands rose. The same thought came to Em and Jim to mind. They began to send to a bough a bullet behind a bullet. The bough cracked – the cable was released. All breathed a sigh of relief.

And a circle of “Taiga” the flame stormed. Heat became intolerable. It was impossible to remain further on the deck. Simakov gave the order to all to go down to the internal room of the ship. But he decided to remain on the captain’s bridge.

– Alive you will burn down – Ignat objected.

Simakov persisted.

– I have to … – Simakov choked with smoke, has a fit of coughing and reeled.

Ignat seized him with the huge ruchishcha as he of the child, and incurred to the hatch.

In a saloon Simakov regained consciousness and again tried to come to the deck. Ignat squeezed a hand of the captain and strictly told:

– Sidi, “Taiga” moves forward and itself will get out of the fire. There was a half a kilometer.

Anna Fokina dropped the head on a table. Faint… Jim rushed to it to the aid. But what he could make? Raised the zolotovolosy head of the girl, perplexed blew in a face. Dubrovina with white as at the dead person, the person being unsteady and clinging to hot walls, ran to the first-aid kit behind alcohol. But near a door itself fell.

– However business – tobacco – Foma spoke anybody without addressing.

– Hallo. You are living? – coils cabled. – “Taiga” is at edge of the wood. Remained no more…

– What is? Why he did not finish speaking? – Simakov was excited and cried in the receiver: – Testov! Testov! Hallo! Grinev! Do not answer. Really “Dragon” came off? I go on the deck – Simakov resolutely told.

Ignat saw that this time to dissuade is useless.

– Wait a moment. Before the father do not climb in a scorching heat – Foma hooted, placing hands before Simakov – I say, wait a moment, but I will knock not that. Sidi. I now…

Foma, rolling over as the bear, left and returned with a leather coat, a helmet and dark glasses soon.

– Here, put on. Yes water have a shower bath. I still preserved half-buckets. Simakov quickly put on. Foma poured over it from legs to the head.

– Now we go.

Ignat also followed them.

Hardly climbed up a hot iron ladder to the hatch. Foma, having put on leather mittens, opened the hatch. Drenched them with hot crimson smoke. Foma quickly slammed the hatch.

– Cover. Kayuk – he told. – It is impossible to leave. All the same you will burn down. – And it violently brought together Simakov from a ladder.

Being unsteady, reached a saloon. People sat and lay on tables, there was not so hot, as on the heated floor. Silence, rumble of motors, fire noise…

– However as though freshened up a little – Foma told.

And at the same moment the coil voice bearing a message about rescue was distributed.

– “Taiga” left the fire. Whether you are living? We are living. Cold wind quickly ostuzhivat walls of “Taiga”. Are saved.

8. “Dragon” in the swamp

“Taiga” stopped. All come to the deck covered with ashes and coals. Somewhere else the semi-burned boughs smoke. Lowering sky. Sows a rain, as through a sieve. Looks rise up. Where it is proud “Dragon”, emptiness flew. Around night. Silence…

– The navigator, mechanics, in places! Full speed! – Simakov orders.

– The full speed is impossible. Accumulators were exhausted – Dudin reports.

Simakov frowns and gives new team:

– To lift Dyubo’s pipe and vindrotor.

– Is to lift Dyubo and vindrotor – Grishin and Dudin answer.

In a few minutes “Taiga” slowly turns and goes to a big fire. Fire laid in the wood a huge gap. At the edges still flare as torches, lonely trees. “Taiga” moves wearily as if the covered with wounds monster. Wind slowly pours in forces in the exhausted accumulators. And people as tireless ants, already strive, clean the deck from garbage, ashes, coals. Here the first searchlight flashed and filled in with blue light the road ahead.

– Simakov! I fly to investigation – Anna Fokina says.

The captain tenderly smiles. He wanted to offer it it, but regretted it.

– And forces will not hand over in flight? – he asks carefully.

– After such bath it is just necessary to be aired.

– Companion Fokina – Jim says – it is possible also for me with you to fly?

– You fly – Simakov answers. – I for you, Anna, will be quieter. Its help can be necessary.

Anna takes the wheel, and, obedient to her movements, graceful “Dragonfly” soars up up and rushes over a big fire. Drenches them with warm air. The smell of burning reaches. Jim askance glances at Anna Fokina. From under a helmet the golden lock of hair is beaten out from it and trembles on the blushed cheek.

“Dragonfly” does a sharp bend, is turned on the place. Jim looks down and sees two flashing points of blue light. “Dragonfly” sits down on the earth. Run up to the car with pocket electric lamps of Tests and Grinev. Fokina runs out from a cabin and embraces young people.

– Testov! Grinev! Are live? – joyfully she exclaims.

– Intact.

– And “Dragon”?

– And it as it should be. Fell behind a big fire, on the swamp. Decided to reach “Taiga” on foot.

– “Taiga” meets halfway. And you what, Tests, you limp?

– Hurt a little.

– It not business. It is difficult for you to go. Companion Jim! Give way to it. I will bring him to “Taiga”.

“Dragonfly” flew away.

Stumbling, shivering from a rain and wind, Jim goes after Grinev. Light of a pocket lamp lights ahead burned trunks of trees, hummocks, pools…

In the distance the searchlight of “Taiga” flashed. Jim breathes a sigh of relief.

9. Forest examination

All were going to have dinner in a saloon.

When satisfied the first hunger, Simakov told:

– Well, and now, companions, let’s sum up the results.

– Leave, Simakov – interrupted him Ignat. – Found time a production meeting to arrange! You will be in time still. After such scrape it is necessary to have a rest, to have fun. Here Jim of Jolie to us will play the Hawaiian guitar. He from Florida drags it and even in a bed does not leave it. Will wake up, will play and again will fall asleep.

Jim brought a guitar and played, having brought together around himself all inhabitants of the all-terrain vehicle.

– Well, and we are with you, the old man, we will sit down here in a corner and we will talk if you so cannot wait – Ignat told. – The fire showed much…

– Shortcomings of a design of “Taiga” – “old man” inserted.

– Let’s tell, subquality work – Ignat softened. – The first – an electrofile of trees. To cut off a tree the metal strip made white-hot, of course, it is rather, than a saw. But fire danger is big. Ourselves caused the fire around “Taiga”…

– We did not have fire extinguishing foam.

– It – not an objection. Or rather, it proves the same what also I speak about. How many materials for production of this foam we have to carry with ourselves to file and extinguish trees throughout hundreds of kilometers of a forest way!

I think that it is necessary to pass to cutting with saws, only to improve them, to bring cutting speed to a maximum. The second. What most of all delivered efforts during the fire? The fact that trees, boughs, needles fell on the deck. Ourselves made a fire by all-terrain vehicle. If there was no deck, then, I think, the all-terrain vehicle could be made such really all-terrain vehicle that it could make the way also through a flame.

– Well, you intercepted it – Dudin told, listening to a conversation. – We would fry in “Taiga”.

– You so think? – Ignat addressed it. – You had to read about creation of the interplanetary ship? At a departure from the terrestrial atmosphere there has to be such huge friction that the cover of the rocket can melt. And nevertheless people are going to fly on the rocket, without frying at the same time. How they assume to reach it? The external cover will be made of the most refractory metal, say, from chromic or manganic steel. Under this cover – insulating layers, asbestos laying, then an internal metal wall and coolers from liquid oxygen or ammonia. The rocket is hermetically closed. Inside – cylinders with the compressed or liquid oxygen, the devices absorbing carbonic acid. If “Taiga” represented such interplanetary rocket but moving on wheels, it could go absolutely quietly through a wildfire flame.

– But the interplanetary rocket flies by the terrestrial atmosphere of everything in several seconds and gets to temperature of world cold which quickly cools it – Grishin told.

– If the rocket was badly covered from external heat, then and there would be enough several seconds to incinerate also it, and people. Unless meteorites do not burn down in the atmosphere? Fire of wildfire will not give such high temperature. It is all about metal.

– Most of all trouble upon us was brought by the deck. Though it and level with the wood, and strong air draft on it threw not only boughs, but also trees. The deck is necessary because on it all vetrosilovy engines are installed. This pipe and rotors are very bulky. They get wind power, but on the run probably create big resistance and this most slow down the movement.

– All this quite right – Simakov answered. – “Taiga”, of course, did not pass forest examination. It is obvious. We will consider experience and we will think what to make changes. But on snow, and to us to wait for it not for long, I think, our all-terrain vehicle so will not cut a poor figure. And here propellers are good. On their easy snow road it is quite enough…

– It is still too a question, my friend! – Ignat objected. – A snowmobile – not an example. Sledge are light, and “Taiga” with all the freight weighs, likely, not less good engine.

The conversation was interrupted by Jim. He started singing the Black song in which fun, the suppressed natural cheerfulness and passion of its race make the way through melancholy of sad historical destiny of the people.

This singing was so unexpected that even Simakov forgot a thought which he wanted to state. All sat silently as captivated.

Happy with the had effect, muffling an applause, Jim started singing the new song at such incendiary and prompt speed that at listeners hands and legs came. Fokina the first did not keep, darted off and began to dance, behind her – Kamneva, Dudin, Grishin, Ignat, even Dubrovina. Foma, pritopyvy the nozhishchy, clapped hands on hips and muttered a bass:

– To N and Jim! Here so Jim! It directly… Jim!.

Late at night, passing across the deck, Ignat noticed Anna Fokina and Jim near the captain’s cabin.

– Not dates grow there, and figs, cotton, almonds, grapes, lemons, oranges, grenades, peaches … – Jim, obviously said, telling about the homeland.

10. “Arrived!”

“Taiga” left extreme northern border of growth of the wood and went on the desert naked area. Somewhere else were seen pathetic as if the trees plucked by wind, the clumsy, bent-down to the earth birches, knotty, curve. They stlatsya almost on the ground. The soil went marshy. In air smelled of sour. Marsh gases escaped from the earth, puffed, gave smacking kiss, grunted, puzyrit oozy water. Geologists sat in the studies and processed material: sorted samples of minerals, numbered, displayed on boxes, noted the location, the area of a bedding in the magazine.

Kamneva summed up the results and made the report. Research of minerals among continuous massifs of the wood was new business. The geologist rushed into narkomlesovsky possession. Under protection hitherto of the inaccessible woods huge richness of the most various minerals was kept.

Jim went near laboratory and could not wait when Anna Fokina ends the work. He sighed, sang a song. Eventually Fokina left in a corridor, took it by hand and entered into laboratory.

– I see that it is boring for you and you hang about. Desire to sit down for work. You will help me to sort samples. But if only you are absent-minded – I will banish.

Jim tried so that on his dark forehead sweat droplets acted.

Ignat got acquainted with the navigator Foma Gruzdev closer and learned his biography. Gruzdev spent thirty years in a taiga. He – the hunter pathfinder – traveled all over Siberia from the Urals to Kamchatka and saw much on the century. Was also on the mines, but there it was not pleasant to it.

– “Gold, gold! How many because of you it is evil!” – he liked to repeat, telling about Aldan of imperial times. – The people were nasty there. On gold the mad. Here, by the way, быль, but not an invention. The priiskatel sails on Kuta’s mouth. And it has a wife yes two children. The wife with children came to the coast: “Take me – says – with himself. What with children of one to do to me?” And at a priiskatel only gold on mind. Sent the wife far away. An oar pushed away the boat. Started singing the song. The wife of one child threw into the river and another swung. Another was managed to be taken away, and the first and sank. And a priiskatel – though that. Even did not stop singing the song – left…

– How you got on “Taiga”? – Ignat asked.

– I know a taiga, here and got on “Taiga”. A taiga – it such, as cards will not help. How many these expeditions I saw! People both with cards, and with compasses go, and will stop by in the swamp – and horses and will ruin themselves. The taiga should be known. Or here to go by such ship…

– It is pleasant to you on “Taiga”? You do not miss hunting?

– Happens. I got used to wander. And got used to “Taiga”. People are good. As a stop – I ружьишко for shoulders also went to wander. I deliver provisions. Both it is pleasant to me, and all are happy.

He looked at the horizon and, having shaken the head, muttered to himself in moustaches:

– Mean place. Go, soaring, to the captain yes tell him that he went round this bog.

Ignat went to Simakov and gave him Foma’s council.

– We have to test “Taiga” in any conditions – Simakov answered.

– Your business – Foma grumbled.

“Taiga” entered the boggy lowland which overgrew at the edges a sedge. The great number of wild geese was removed and with loud cackling flew by over “Taiga”.

“Taiga” moved more and more slowly. Day was gloomy, autumn, similar to deep twilight. Low clouds mixed up with the fog rising above the ground. Bright colors of fall grew dull. Gray and black color prevailed.

In “Taiga” fires were lit already. From round windows on pools and the dried-up grass rays of light fell, crept on the ground and suddenly, having stopped, lit hummocks, moss-grown, with cloudberries, blueberry…

– Arrived! – Foma grinned.

Wide, heavy wheels of “Taiga” got stuck in fenny ooze. Simakov ordered to pass to a caterpillar drive. Mechanisms worked well, replacement happened quickly.

– Full speed!

“Taiga” moved, crept several meters and again stopped.

– Backing! – Simakov to the engine room shouted.

The case of “Taiga” began to tremble from tension, but “Taiga” still stood still.

– Strongly mudflows – Ignat told. – It is necessary to avralit again.

– Yes – Simakov shortly answered.

The bell rang out. All crew rose by the deck. Simakov explained situation. It is necessary to purify the dirt which jammed into tapes of a caterpillar drive and under the vessel case. All armed with shovels and turned to work.

– When the ice breaker rubs clean ice, nobody says that ice breakers – an unusable thing and that therefore it is necessary to recognize himself won by elements and to refuse swimming in the polar seas – Simakov told, working with Ignat.

Already absolutely darkened, and it was necessary to light searchlights. From work as everything was hot. By the night wind blew from the North, dispersed clouds. With the wind cold came. Pools dragged on thin ice. Marsh ooze hardened as mixed concrete.

– And what if to spread out fires and to warm the earth? – offered Kamnev.

Simakov looked back. Around bush. It is necessary to spend a lot of time to find in this desert of firewood for fires. Wood already far. And fires will not help…

At midnight the exhausted people threw shovels. Decided to have a rest and for the next day to turn to work again.

In the morning the southern wind blew, became warmer, and ice thawed. But “Taiga” was still motionless.

Jim threw a shovel and ran, jumping from a hummock on a hummock, from “Taiga”, on a small height aside. It stayed some time there and then excited returned, smiling.

– Oll-rayt! I thought up! – he shouted still from a distance. – There, on a hillock, a lake. It is a lot of water. It is necessary to take hoses and to pump over water here. Ooze will become liquid…

– And we will stick even more deeply – Ignat added. – Eh you, inventor!

Jim’s face was extended. But Simakov thought.

– Silent backing! – Simakov ordered to Zhukov, having climbed up the captain’s bridge.

Travelers stood on the deck and expected, what will be farther. “Taiga” shook, slowly moved back, stopped, once again moved, again stopped… In a quarter of hour the all-terrain vehicle passed only ten of meters. But it obviously got out of the viscous lowland, approaching more dense soil. Blades of wheels began to take sticky dirt.

– To replace blades with a caterpillar!

– Take your time to laugh at it – he told Ignat. – You are not familiar with a design of “Taiga” yet. Jim gives quite good advice. If there is enough water, it will raise the case of “Taiga”. We will use ridge wheels. They will play a role and steamship and overland wheels…

– We will gain the whole tons to silt – Ignat objected.

– Let’s look – Simakov answered.

Collected and connected fire hoses, but all of them were not enough to a lake. It was necessary to dig the small channel. At last water was started up and began to fill the lowland quickly. The caterpillar drive was replaced with wheel and bladed.

“Taiga” went even quicker and at last left the fenny place. A backing it moved still some time, then turned and began to bypass the rotten lowland.

On the same day coils declared that they terminated products.

– We go to lower “Snake” – Dudin offered Ignat. They passed on a stern. Dudin switched off the current going on a cable from “Dragon” and began to reel up this thin steel cable on the electric winch. “Dragon” went down below and below and grew in the eyes. Ignat distinctly saw platforms of Testov and Grinev standing at a handrail. They waved to it a hand and something shouted. The tail of “Dragon” touched the earth. Still in a few minutes the huge construction smoothly fell and became on sliding props. Ignat quickly ran away on a ladder and went to “Dragon”. Coils met halfway already to it.

– Well, show your celestial dwelling – he told.

– And show me – Jim responded behind his back.

“Dragon” stood on the earth and easily rocked. It was necessary to Vzlezat on a rope ladder.

– Here below still warmly – told Tests. It was in a fur coat, valenoks, a cap, as well as his companion.

– And at you at height? – Ignat asked.

– Furious, cold wind.

In the middle of the fenced platform there was a small lodge, otoplyaemy and lit by electricity. Cold wind turned the generator to the public and into heat. A case for products, a little table, two chairs and one trailing bed in which coils in turn fell down. Electric heaters, tiles, radio receiver, small radio station, TV. On a table a box with books and another is, less – pharmaceutical. On the open area meteorological tools, the anemometer, a barograph, the thermometer.

– The side planes, spaces under a floor and over a ceiling are filled with hydrogen – Grinev explained. – Gas considerably facilitates, almost counterbalances the weight of “Dragon”. Rise rather to start “Snake”, requires wind measuring five-six points. Rise is facilitated by so-called effect of Magnus: at a side pressure of wind on the rotating rotor the difference of air pressure turns out – below more, at the top of a rotor it is less – and “Dragon” goes up.

– And I can rise on “Snake”? – Ignat asked.

– And me too – Jim did not lag behind. Coils exchanged glances.

– Perhaps, it is possible for one of you. But only it for about three days, will not come to an end a stock of products yet. Which of you is more familiar with electrical equipment?

– I am electrical engineer as you know – Ignat told.

He put on more warmly and with impatience expected rise. To drag the prepared box with products it was short. But five-point wind had to be expected several hours. At last it blew. “Taiga” moved, the cable stretched, “Dragon” stood several seconds as if in thought, and began to separate from the earth. Above, above. Ice wind burned Ignat’s cheeks. Bugaev pulled a cap with ear-flaps over a forehead more densely.

11. Night on “Snake”

– Not so here it is pleasant how you expected? – asked with a smile of Tests. – And it is just flowers.

– Trifles – Ignat answered. – What I, did not see wind?

The above they rose, the wind became stronger and colder.

Having put on fur mittens, Ignat armed with the sea field-glass, but left it soon: fog laid down, drew distances a veil. Low rushing clouds shrouded in times “Snake”, and then even the side planes on “Dragon” were seen only dark, indistinct stains. On “Taiga” fires flashed. A bright sheaf of light, punching fog, lit a way of the all-terrain vehicle. It lit a searchlight on a nose, over the captain’s cabin.