Classics fantasy – 9

Day and night there is a work. Brightly fires of lamps and searchlights disperse a gloom.

It is not slept to old men residents of Kamyshin. Will leave the house and long look at fires reflected in waters of the wide river and it seems to them that they got to other, terrible and unclear world where huge iron monsters creep, move necks more long than a cable column, champ mouths in which the bull and with horns will pass. And people – small, fussy – look after these unknown monsters.

Mikheyev almost does not sleep and eats on a clothes line. It is happy. The dream of his life was fulfilled. To the desert war is declared, he is a commander-in-chief at the front, the fire captain on “the fire of the earth”. He runs day and night bare-headed. Its bald head is red from the sun, wind and nervousness. The pointed nose was even more pointed, eyes flare. It all is heated by inspiration fire.

Runs on the coast, swings hands. After it, hardly keeping up, the lanky young engineer walks.

– Liquid air – here my secret! – Mikheyev shouts, without turning around to the engineer. – The device to Linda which is a little altered by me. Pressure – two hundred twenty atmospheres… We carry out liquid air on pipes and we release directly in water. It freezes water.

And before caissons we will receive a strong ice wall in the hot summer. Under its protection it will be easy for us to work.

It is better, than the temporary crossing points applied on Dneprostroy… What do you lag behind? Rather, rather!.

Work is humming in three changes. One change sends another calls to a competition. Day and night cuckoos have something in common. Cars roar, people rush about.

– As on the fire! – residents of Kamyshin speak.

– The fire also is; the earth burns, it is necessary to extinguish!

Dashingly Gleb Kalgan works with the artel. Sons of young people were outdone by the old man. And will graduate from artel work, at night-midnight take the networks occupied with themselves – and in boats. The river pulls, fish pulls.

And here among the old man bitterness pours out, facilitates heart, to the brim crowded with rage.

– Wait a moment! Will prop up a water dam autumn, here we also will gasp the artel to them on to help. One is bad – work at night, fires burn. Well and we will contrive somehow. To notice for the main thing where is thinner.

– Not there! Not there, devils, devils! Not there, rebyatushka! – Mikheyev’s voice reaches from the island Shishkin.

– See, vostronosy devil! – Gleb grumbles. – To Ugomon on him is not present! Well, take a walk, shout a bit. Let’s calm also you.

– The uncle Gleb – the young fisherman says suddenly. – And I met Kuzma yesterday. About cement works gadded. There, likely, it was attached.

Gleb frowned.

– Prickly it is necessary to be on guard this ruff. Will inform. All business will fail if slightly that will notice. Yes, can, for this purpose and came to building, maybe, overheard then… at night?.

– The uncle Gleb, and why pipes lay?

– Among summer water gas is wanted to be frozen. Frozen there was a wish for pike perches. Well, only unrealizable this business: before people did not reach yet that summer for the winter to overturn.

The message that “Volga will be frozen” quickly flew about building. The Kamyshin old residents were shocked.

– It is visible, not all nonsense that old women stir. In the summer ice to hold down the river – unless not the same miracle how the sea to dry up it and fire to kindle?

– Pomorozit water-melons! Though throw баштан yes leave up hill and down dale…

After all hoped: not to create a miracle to the person!

But these hopes did not come true: froze vostronosy Volga. However, not all, but all it was also not necessary to it. And before caissons water froze, became an ice wall. Not that residents of Kamyshin, and and seasonal workers did not trust the eyes, a hand felt ice. Real, without fake. Cold and strong!

Day after day people win meter from the river behind meter. Lower wooden boxes caissons on a bottom, build concrete cubes bull-calves. Water directs in flights, boiling and worrying. Level of the semi-dammed Volga increases, and the autumn high water from above approaches. Concrete bulls, links of a chain which has to hold down Volga are ready almost everything. It is necessary to finish the last, to block iron boards, and Volga, having met an obstacle, will turn the plentiful waters, will move to the Zavolzhye steppes to extinguish “the fire of the earth”.

But it is necessary to wait an autumn high water, and it this year unknown: the whole summer and fall went pouring rains.

Water arrives every day, muddy, dark, gloomy. Storms, fights about concrete bulls. Dry leaves, herbs, bushes, branches, the whole trees – everything that was taken by the river on the way – stuck around ledges of bulls, litter coast.

But thousands of builders day and night forge chains for the river.

Kuzma Sysoyev works at building together with the wife. It became as though still prickly. Lost weight, acquired a beard. Day works, and does not sleep at night, turns as if he is pricked by dry bones.

– What you do not sleep? – the wife grumbles.

Kuzma in the dark sighs.

– Gleb damned does not give to rest with the artel…

Yesterday there were I to a barrage at night, and it goes about a pipe with air, sniffs up. And change not it. What there it is necessary to it? Uvidal me – was washed away.

– And you what business? – the wife grumbles. – Watch yourself. Here winter is at hand, and you still a fur coat yes did not receive valenoks. Others received long ago.

– Tomorrow it is necessary vostronosy to tell – Kuzma continues, thinking of the.

– And long ago it is time – the wife calms.

Suddenly the beep, faltering, alarm, tears night calm to parts. Alarm…

Kuzma ran out on the street.

That for weather damned! Wind knocks down, the rain whips, the river hoots. Workers run.

Shout, noise not to understand in what business.

– Why alarm? – Kuzma asks.

– Accident. The pipe with liquid air does not work, melted ice, the caisson fills in – someone answers on the run.

Kuzma quickens the pace. The river ate an ice wall and presses a caisson. Here flashed as though the gray-haired head of Gleb and disappeared.

“It… Precisely his hands business” – Kuzma thinks.

The person in an old thick cloth coat without cap runs on the edge of a caisson. Vostronosy. Shouts, swings hands. To a pipe got, potters.

– You leave – shout to it. – Water will fill in.

Where there! Mikheyev sees nothing, does not hear. “If only liquid air went”.

And water is higher and higher, just about will fill in a caisson. Water knocks Mikheyev down, but he creeps again, clings to a pipe…

And suddenly crash, noise; a white cloud, hissing and whistling, fills a caisson. The pipe broke, and liquid air went directly to Mikheyev.

Mikheyev raised hands and… and stiffened, turned into an ice statue.

Storm, roar, noise also howl…

5

Dry Dol’s village as if the ruined ant hill. To look – and you will not understand what happened. At peasants bewilderment is more senior on faces, the youth is cheerful, and women howl, as on the dead man. Nobody stays at home, all run from a hut in a hut.

And at the Village Council the people already crowd, collect a descent.

Two persons came by the car, they also stirred a rural ant hill. Announced: Volga in the steppe turns, and on the Dry Dale water will begin to flow. It is necessary to move to the mountain. On transportation and building money will be given. Who has an old hut, the new wood will be received.

The people rustle. It is good to receive money, to get a new hut. It is bad to throw familiar spot.

Ipat calling himself “the strong middling person” strokes a long beard which for some reason turned gray from one side.

– So it is so. And it is not necessary to agree durolomy too. Perhaps on a hill there is no water. Perhaps there to dig wells – you will not get to the bottom of water.

– Yes at water, a skewbald beard, we will live. Though from a window sup water.

– It grieves it to throw a new hut on the stone base. All base will be crumbled. The reluctance to start.

– To whom hunting? – Ipat answers. – Today on the mountain, tomorrow downhill… Directly put huts on wheels.

– Truly. Let’s not go to the mountain.

Broke into parties. And again came from the city, it is necessary to convince a descent. Fought, postponed until evening.

– Children, and Panas Chepurenko will not go to the mountain at all. Uporisty old man.

– Who is Chepurenko? – visitors ask and learn that Panas – a thick oak of ninety two years, but still strong, the native from Ukraine. It is stubborn as a chock, believes in God. Tobacco smells, itself pounds.

Marishkin and Kurilko who came by the car decide to visit Panas after a descent.

It with a rake in hands digs in a kitchen garden. Answered a greeting with low bow and calls in a hut.

– Yes we here on an open air will talk to you.

But the old man is unshakable.

– Yakshcho on a rozmova, I ask to a hut. – And the first leaves.

There is nothing to do, followed for it.

– Here that, the grandfather – Marishkin says – it is necessary to move to the mountain. If itself you will not be able, people will help.

– And navishche to exchange on the mountain dertitsya. Meni and here much.

– It is impossible, old times. Here water will fill in everything soon.

Panas listens carefully, irons long moustaches, slowly takes out a tavlinka, smells tobacco and at last negatively swings the head.

– Not the mozha tsyy quarrystone – is surely answered by him. – God обицяв, що zliv бильш without awaking.

Visitors exchange glances. They did not expect such objection. Marishkin, at once not to embitter the old man, decided to act diplomatically.

– Yes that about a Flood is told, and here Volga only, will fill in several villages, here and yours too. For irrigation of fields, you understand? From a drought. Fills in villages and villages a spring flood. So same not a flood.

– Повинь – an insha on the right. To Rozilletsya a richka й in protect a znova having come. And ви you show, шо all the hall on vichno. And ви дурницю you show, шо the hall. Not to a mozha tsyy quarrystone. God казав, шо zliv without awaking, thaw without awaking. Nikudi not pita.

Well you will do with it? Marishkin took out a scarf from a pocket and wiped the sweated forehead.

– You think: we will give lifting on new building. You will live in a new hut.

– Not an occasional office to exchange of your crossing. Not pita, thaw a kineets.

– I see, you do not trust us. Well and so that, grandfather. Go with us on the car. Building you will look at itself, you will be convinced with own eyes. You will see what there with Volga becomes, and you will believe.

– And on an encore to exchange your car? Not pita. An axis of a tutochka it is live, i in a domovina to a lyazh here.

And left city with anything.

But after their departure Panas strong thought. And the next day unexpectedly for all harnessed the fad, took a loaf of bread and left the yard it is unknown where.

It arrived to Volga, came to building. To the people multitudes. Through Volga the bridge, cars, a roar, vanity. Between bulls workers fit iron boards. Will lower boards – and the dam is ready. Will dam Volga, you will begin to flow steppes – more water has no place to disappear.

Panas went to catering establishment from where all building is visible. Stayed at a window the whole day is silent and drank infinite quantity to tea. And when evening fires filled in building and noise of works was not lowered, the old man spoke deafly in gray-haired moustaches:

– So a stench, roll out dit, to sink us. – Also it was difficult to understand what it is more in his words – censures or praises.

Panas arrived home and three days did not leave a hut. Thought whether got sick after the journey.

And then left and began to tell it that sukhodolna even pootkryvat mouths on a descent. Did not happen at “the Piping of Volga” of such propagandist.

And amicably also the neighboring villages reached on a sukhodolna hill, and for them.

6

– Hit into my head! – Kondrat Semenych knocked a huge fist on a table so that the inkwell jumped up. The chairman of the board of “the Piping of Volga”, companion Markov, shuddered and corrected points.

– Well, however, you that… not too – he, щуря told weak-sighted eyes.

– What that? It you that – Kondrat Semenych was not appeased, and he suddenly rose in all growth as if preparing for fight. His red hair were disheveled, eyes threw sparks. The huge person was crimson as if it descended from a bathing regiment. – I will not allow to touch state farm. And you would visit “Red dawns” yes looked that there is heaped up. One silage tower of what costs! – Kondrat Semenych bent a thick finger. – From cement. Beauty! You will not transfer it. So, so and to throw? Will stand among the lake as a beacon. And эмтеэс – bent the second finger. – In all the district you will not find such machine and tractor station. Stone, capital construction. Elevator, repair shop, power plant, stables, sheds, cheese dairies, creameries… To list everything – there will not be enough fingers. All this under water.

Before “Piping” corrected points again and softly told:

– But you know that Volga will begin to flow spontaneously. Leveling shows that “Red dawns” lie on the way of a flood and will be filled in almost on meter.

– Means, it is not necessary to start up Volga spontaneously. You build dams, build bypass canals.

– If to dig channels yes to build dams, then all plan of works will change – Markov objected. – It will cost huge money.

The secretary of a cell the Inhabitant of Tula, small growth, thickset, in an old leather jacket, grinned, rose and, looking directly in eyes to Kondrat Semenychu, started talking by an equal metal voice:

– Nobody doubts, the companion, that you strong love “Red dawns”. You – the beautiful business executive. But also beautiful business executives have the shortcoming. Even defect: narrow-mindedness. It is impossible to take only a narrow. We cannot break the plan of work. The question was discussed by experts and here and in the center and cannot be changed. You want it or do not want, and “Red dawns” will be transferred.

– I do not want.

– Then you should be cleaned from the road.

Kondrat Semenych did not even understand at once. Then his thick fingers trembled, and the person turned pale.

– … to move away me… Me which created this model state farm. Me…

– Yes, you. Because you are not able to submit to directives. At the front buildings there has to be the same cast-iron discipline, as well as in the war, and you were at the front and have to know what is discipline. I repeat: we very much appreciate your economic and organizing abilities. Therefore I also give to you a good advice: think again and do not go obstinate. We are able to appreciate people. But the one who will become us on the way will be removed, whatever merits behind it were.

Kondrat Semenych heavily fell by a chair.

Also the Inhabitant of Tula sat down.

There came intense silence. All attentively watched Kondrat Semenychem. Deep folds on his forehead and a bridge of the nose spoke about heavy internal fight.

– All right – at last he muttered gloomy, darted off, shouted: – So long! – Also escaped.

All breathed a sigh of relief.

– With it it was more difficult to cope, than with old Panas – smiling, Markov told Marishkin. – Nevertheless the Inhabitant of Tula understood it.

– Still. Easier, as they say, for soul to leave a body, than to Kondrat Semenychu from “Dawns”.

7

Still the young man, without being afraid of bullets, broke Valkirny ridges to Kolchak soldiers. Visited also under walls of Warsaw. Everywhere surprised with iron will and character. Finished civil, settled in the Zavolzhye steppes and was engaged in economic activity. “Red dawns” – one of the first big state farms which arose in Zavolzhye. A lot of Valkirny had to fight also for “Red dawns”, for the breeding cattle, for cars, for each tractor. Children suitable were selected and made big business. And now that all order to dig up to the basis the hands.

– Posh-shel! – angrily Valkirny shouts and beats full state-farm horses on each side.

Cold… Burning east wind burns a face, lifts from the earth small, dry snow with dust. Snowless winter. As if did not damage winter… In places wind blew off snow after the journey, and under iron runners of sledge sand cracks and hisses. Kondrat Semenych pulls down more strong a bowie knife and quilts horses…

– Posh-shel!.

Arrived at dawn, woke the groom, itself unharnessed horses, put in stalls…

– Something as though it is gloomy, Kondrat Semenych? – the groom asked, yawning and being scratched.

– The devil of a hog on an aspen hung up, because and is gloomy – Valkirny angrily answered and quickly left a stable.

By the light of the being engaged dawn Valkirny started wandering on the settlement. There is each brick, everyone бревнышко told it the story.

Stood before a silo. The tower is good. Above a fire kalancha. Hundred years will stay… Looked at power plant, at farmyards… jammed heart.

8

In four days Valkirny unexpectedly was in repair shop.

– How many at you tractors are not repaired?

The master Sharokov looked at Valkirny and answered cheerfully:

– Six, Kondrat Semenych. By then, as the earth will thaw, all will be in serviceability.

– Means, sixty six. All right.

From this day Valkirny recovered.

Became talkative, active still. As though the weight off the shoulders at it fell down or it resolved a difficult task. And when snow and cheerful streams of a zazhurchala on slopes descended, Kondrat Semenych brought together board and addressed it with such speech:

– Here that, children. I received paper from Kamyshin. Will dam Volga on the first of May, and it will begin to flow to our steppes. One of streams will go directly to “Red dawns”, but only will touch with an edge. Not to postpone “Dawns” to the new place, it is enough to make to us a small dam in two hundred fifty meters of length and more than a meter of height, and water will bypass us and will begin to flow on the South.

– And suddenly will flood?

– Will not flood. I measured all. Water at us will be only on sixty centimeters above the level of “Dawns”, and we will make a dam in meter, well, even in one and a half meters.

– And to make as? – Grachev asked.

– And it is very simple. Tractors are, we will make in our workshops ploughshares more, we will launch our “tanks” – and they in a trice otvorotit the necessary layer of the earth. Merekayete?

Someone else did not merekat, and Valkirny, as always, patiently and in details explained.

Work began to boil. Grachev was “a bit an inventor” and with great feeling undertook design of “the trench car”. Made not really accurate, but sensible drawing. Valkirny approved, smiths were accepted to production of ploughshares, tractor operators put cars in order.

– So, so, children. Fry so that hot became the sky that sparks flew – Kondrat encouraged. He felt as again at the front. It was animated, mobile, cheerful, ate for three and worked for ten.

The tractors turned into trench cars left in the field soon and, according to Valkirny’s instructions, began to turn off layer behind layer.

The sun warmed more and stronger. The spring was amicable.

The dam was stretched already more than half when there was one incident.

Valkirny ordered “tanks” on fields as suddenly confused Grachev ran up to him. He held paper in hand.

– You that? – Valkirny asked, having pricked up the ears.

– Kondrat Semenych, what is it?. How it so?. – there began Grachev. – Here paper came from “Piping” … write here…

Valkirny did not listen to the end. Snatched out paper from Grachev’s hands and, having tapped of him on the shoulder so that that donkey on one side, told strictly:

– We follow me … – And they departed from a tractor column that it was not heard their conversation””.

– Well, what is the matter? Speak.

– Yes here, “Piping” asks how we have a work on transfer of “Red dawns” on the new place. And whether we will finish work by May first. How it so, Kondrat Semenych?

Valkirny annoyancely grunted.

– And here so. Hit into my head. I will not allow. To arrange a dam rather and cheaper, than to transfer the whole settlement. You understand? When they see how all this simply was arranged, will thank. And will expel me – the hell with them. If only to defend “Dawns”.

– Well… And if someone from them, from “Piping”, arrives yes here all this will open?

– Will not arrive. Now at them there is a lot of del. All visited. And will arrive, will see that we did not begin to move “Dawns” yet, will be abused and will leave on – мо – to it. I so believe… Unless will throw out me from “Dawns”. Well. You before ohm will be… What the nose on a fifth hung up?

– I anything…

Grachev trudged for Valkirny and now looked with new eyes at the built dam. Bewilderment and fear were reflected in his face.

And Valkirny shows no sign. Orders indifferently. Strong person.

9

Rain expected to fall. Under beams of the spring sun wet rails, roofs of station buildings, the brand new engine began to shine. It puffs, gains strength – now will go to carry all over the world different people with their different destiny.

From a roof of the prisoner car drops, brilliant as mercury drip. The barred window is opened, and in a window, as from a frame – the old man’s head. Gloomy watch dark eyes from under ragged eyebrows. Greedy pull in widely opened nostrils damp spring air. Stuffy in the car, and Gleb Kalganov got used to an open air of the sea and Volga. Watches Kalgan at station vanity and as if does not see. Retired a thought into oneself.

And suddenly his look recovered, was poured by rage. Kalgan saw Kuzma Sysoyev, wanted to hide, depart from a window – late. A prickly eye of Kuzma already stuck into his dark eyes, holds, does not release…

This meeting is casual or is not casual?. Perhaps, as it is not casual. Kuzma was the main prosecution witness in court.

Came! With own eyes wants to see that the pike toothy did not escape from networks… It is torn through crowd, keeping the eyes glued from Kalgan. To a window stuck, eyes as if bloodsuckers, stuck into the face of Kalgan, hold… Kalgan is silent.

– You sit? – Kuzma asks. – At, a snake!.

The engine hooted, cars started.

Gleb hard fell by a bench and looked at hefty sons, sitting opposite. And near it fishermen from its artel gloomy frowned.

– Went! – deafly told Kalgan.

– To the devil’s grandmother on a visit – the fisherman, the neighbor of Kalgan grumbled. – All on your favor!

– In a whirlpool the head and us there! – picked up another. – “Let’s not give Volga mother!” Here also did not give. Believed an old dog.

Kalgan is silent. “Here – thought – Mikheyev to all the reason. To be the death of Vostronosy, to break through a dam – and Volga is saved. Thought so, and left differently. The dam broke, and Volga will be locked after all tomorrow. In what the reason?. Vot and Kuzma – undersized, puny, a claw you will press down. And removed the head from Gleb’s shoulders. Why? Because it with what is built?” Gleb heaves a deep sigh.

10

Orchestras died down, ceased speeches of speakers. The celebration is finished. Wide Volga waters are taken prisoner.

And infinite crowds of the people do not disperse yet. Watch that will be farther with Volga. Wait for extraordinary. But Volga as if tries human patience. Its level increases almost imperceptibly for eyes.

Go to look at the river below a dam. There it is more interesting. Water quickly falls down.

– Shallows! In the eyes dries out!. – the uneasy, cheerful voice is heard. The crowd of curious hurries there.

Yes, Volga shallows. From under water sandy islands – tops of “cans”, rifts are shown. Here and bottom. Sand, silt layers, the sunk anchors acquired a mold the dark remains of once sunk fishing vessels and barques… The nose of the fishing boat semi-brought by sand with the broken sail sticks out. River cemetery. Volga reveals the underwater secrets.