Echo #04 31 января 1997

Fantasy - A fantastic tale "Ice and Flame" (the end).

               Fantasy



   In this issue we publish the final two chapters of the 
sci-fi story "Ice and Flame" famous foreign writer Ray Bradbury.




               Ice and Flame.


                 Story


               Ray Bradbury



     (Conclusion, beginning at ECHO 2,3)


                 - 8 -

   Struck the edge of the sun.

   - My name is Nhoy. - Opponent Sim
casually picked up a handful of stones and weigh them
at their fingertips.

   Sim did the same. He wanted to eat. Already
a lot of minutes, he had not eaten anything. Hunger was the 
scourge of the inhabitants of this planet, empty stomachs 
constantly demanding more and more food. Blood sluggishly 
flowed through his veins, with hot ringing knocking at the 
temples, the chest heaved and fell, and then heaved 
convulsively. 

   - Come on! Shouted the three hundred spectators from
rocks. - Come on! - Demanded the men, women and children 
clinging ledges. - Well! start! 

   As if on cue, the sun came up. His
power of the hit men, though a flat hot rock. They even have 
swung at oblnazhennyh hip and spine were immediately sweat, 
face and ribs glistened as glass.


   Husky shifted from foot to foot and looked at the sun as it 
slowly to begin the fight. Suddenly, silently, without the 
slightest warning, a lightning-quick movement of thumb and 
index finger, he fired a stone. The projectile struck a Sim

cheek, he involuntarily drew back, and the wild pain
rocket darted up the wounded leg and
exploded in his stomach. He felt the taste of blood leaked into 
his mouth. 

   Nhoy coolly went on fire.
Three more subtle movements of his dexterous
hands, and three small, seemingly innocuous pebbles, like 
whistling birds, rassekli air. Each of them found it and hit 
its target - the ganglia. One hit in the stomach, and eaten all 
over Sim previous clock nearly popped out. The second struck 
his forehead, the third - his neck. Sim collapsed on the hot 
sand. Lap he knocked sharply on the hard ground. Face

became deathly pale, tightly screwed-up eyes pushed between the 
hot tears trembling eyelids. But in the fall Sim managed with a 
desperate strength to throw his a handful of stones.


   They purred in the air. One of the
them, only one was in Nhoya. Directly in
left eye. Nhoy groaned and closed his hands
disabled in the eyeball.

   In Sima escaped bitter sob
chuckle. Though here he was lucky. The eyes of the enemy - a 
measure of its success. This will give him ... time. "Lord, - 
he thought, struggling with spasm in the stomach, eagerly 
gasping for air - live in a world of time. I would even little, 
even little woman! " 

   Okrivevshy Nhoy, reeling from the pain brought down the hail 
of stones on the writhing body of Shem, but the accuracy failed 
him, and the stones or flew by, or fall into enemy

already a spent, having lost a formidable force.

   Sim forced himself to stand up. Corner
eyes he saw the Light stress looks
at him, quietly uttering reassuring and encouraging words. He 
bathed in his own sweat, though he has sent a shower. 

   The sun came out all over the horizon. His
you could smell. Stones were cast gloss, sand stirred, 
zaburlil. In all parts of the valley there were mirages. 
Instead of one soldier in front of Sim, preparing to throw 
another shell, stood at erect a dozen Nhoev. Dozen lit

menacing golden glow of volunteers to vibrate in harmony, like 
bronze gongs! 

   Sim feverish breathing. His nostrils widened, and stuck 
together, his mouth hungrily swallowed fire instead of oxygen. 
Lungs burning, if the flares from soft tissue, the flames 
devoured the body. Wrest the sweat pores immediately 
evaporated. He felt, as the body shrinks, shrinking, and 
mentally saw himself so what was his father - an old, stunted, 
decrepit! Sand ... Where did he go? Is there a power move? Yes. 
Land dybilas by Sim, but he still got to his feet.


   Skirmishes will be no more.

   He figured it out, barely make out the words,
who came from above, from the rocks. Sun-scorched face the 
audience shouted, showering him with jeers and encouraging 
their Warrior:


   - Stand firm, Nhoy, guard forces
Now! Stay straight potey!

   And Nhoy stood, swaying slowly
like a pendulum, pushed a red-hot
white hot breath of heaven.

   - Do not move, Nhoy, take care of the heart, guard force!

   Test! Test! - Repeating the people
above. - Testing of the sun.

   The most difficult part of the fight ... Straining Sim 
looked at deliquescent shape of rocks, and he chudilis his 
parents: father killed a person and bloodshot green eyes, his 
mother - white hair, though creeping smoke. He has to rise to 
them, live for them and with them!


   Behind him, subtly sobbed Light.
Heard a blow megkogo body on the sand ...
She fell. And you can not turn around. At this
require an effort that could plunge him into the abyss of pain 
and darkness. 

   In Sima knees buckled. "If I fall,
- He thought - would stay here and lie
turned into ashes. So and where Nhoy? Nhoy
stood a few yards away, depressed,
sweating - such a view, if the ridge
it struck a hammer shattering.

   "Fall, Nhoy! Fall! - Solid Sim about
themselves. - Down, down! Fall, so I could
take thine abode! "

   But Nhoy did not fall. One after another of his
hands on weakening incandescent sand rained stones, teeth bared 
Nhoya, saliva boil dry on the lips, eyes glazed. And he

all did not fall. Great was it the will to
life. He behaved as if suspended on a
rope.

   Sim fell to one knee.

   Triumphant "Ahh!" .. " given into the cliffs above. They 
knew it: this is death. Sim threw back his head with a wooden

embarrassed smile, as if he was caught on
ridiculous, stupid acts.

   "No, - he told himself, as in a dream -
No! .. "

   And once again stood up.

   Wild pain turned him into a solid
droning bell. All around the ringing, hissed, gurgled. High in 
the mountains rolled down Avalanche - without a sound as if the 
curtain came down, the closing scene. Silence, silence, except 
for this annoying buzz. Before the eyes of Shem stood 
immediately fifty Nhoev in chain mail of sweat: the eyes

distorted flour, bulging cheeks, lips stretched, like the 
bursting of skin over-ripe fetus. Invisible rope was still 
holding him. 

   - Well, - Sim with difficulty turned his parched tongue 
between the warm sparkling teeth. - Now I fall, and will lie, 
and dream.


   He spoke slowly, trying to
extend the fun. Submitted in advance
imagine how it would be. How exactly does it all
hold. So he will try to precisely execute the program. Sim 
lifted his head - checked to watch whether the audience behind 
him. 

   They disappeared!

   The sun drove them away. All but one or two of the most 
persistent. Sim drunkenly laughed and watched as his numbed 
kopyatsya hands sweat, frustrated, fly down and, before 
reaching the sand, evaporate. 

   Nhoy fell.

   Invisible rope snapped. Nhoy collapsed
flat on his stomach, his mouth popped
blood clot. Rolling his eyes wildly
flashed blind squirrels.

   Fell Nhoy. And with him fell all
fifty of its ghostly twins.

   Above the valley hummed and sang the winds, and his eyes 
seemed Sima blue lake with a blue river, and the white houses 
along the river, and people - who entered or left the house, who

walked among the tall green trees. Trees on the banks of the 
river is a mirage were seven times greater than human growth.


   "Now, - said to myself, Shem, and - now I can fall. ... 
Right at this ... a lake." 

   He fell forward.

   But what is it? Hands quickly caught him, lifted up and 
promptly suffered, holding high in the air, insatiable, like a 
flaming torch in the wind. 

   "This is death?" - Sim surprised and
sunk in the pitch darkness.


   They brought him a jet of cold water,
which he was thrown in their faces.

   He hesitantly opened his eyes. Light, putting his head on 
her knees, carefully fed him. Sim was wildly hungry and 
exhausted, but instantly overshadowed fear. Overcoming fatigue, 
he rose: over it vaults were some strange cave ...


   - How much time passed? - Strict
he asked.

   - Another day is not over. Lie quietly
- She said.

   - Day is over?

   She nodded happily.

   - You have not lost a single day of life.
This cave Nhoya. We protect the black rocks. We live for three 
extra days. Satisfied? Get down.


   - Nhoy died. And we almost died. Us
picked up at the last minute.

   He began to eagerly eat.

   - No time to lose. We must
gain strength. My leg ...

   He looked at his leg, felt it. She was wrapped in a long 
yellow stems, the pain completely disappeared. And now, we can

tell in his eyes, the feverish blood flow
worked with might and main, continuing the healing
action under the bandage. "Before Sunset leg
should be healthy again - he said to himself. - Should ".

   Sim got up and limped began to walk
back and forth, as if caught by a beast. He
Light felt a glance, but could not get it
himself to answer it. In the end
still turned.

   However, she spoke first.

   - You want to move on to the ship? -
Light asked softly. - Tonight?
As soon as the sun goes down?

   He scored in the lungs with air, then exhaled.

   - Yes.

   - And wait until tomorrow for what can not?

   - No.

   - Then I'm coming with you.

   - No!

   - If you start to lag, do not wait for me.
Here I do not care no life.

   Long they gazed at each
other. He shrugged his shoulders hopelessly.

   - Okay. I know you do not talk.
Let's go together.


                 - 9 -

   They expected at the mouth of his new abode. Come sunset. 
The stones are so cool down, that it could walk. That's it time 
will come popping out and run to distant, mold mettalicheskim 
luster seed on the hill. 

   Soon the rains. Sim imagined paintings, which have 
repeatedly observed: as rainfall collected in the creeks and 
streams form a river, every night, piercing the new channel. 
Today the river flows north, tomorrow in the north-east, on the 
third night on a strictly west. Mighty flows endlessly scoured

Valley of scars. The old riverbed filled
landslides and earthquakes. Next day
gave rise to new ones. Rivers, their direction - that's
what he thought many hours over and over again.
It is very possible that ... Okay time
show.

   Sim said that there is less and the pulse, and
all life processes slowed. This
special rock protected them from solar radiation. Certainly the 
current life and then remained rapid, but not enough.



   - Sim Time! - Light yelled.

   They ran. Ran in between
two deaths - sizzling and chilling.
Fled together from the cliffs to luring the ship.

   Never in my life because they did not run. Persistently, 
stubbornly their running feet pounded on broad flagstones, 
downhill uphill and farther forward, forward ... Air scratching 
their lungs, like sandpaper. Black Rocks irretrievably gone 
back. 

   They did not eat on the run. Both are still in the cave
ate enough to save time. Now just run: to throw up his leg,
max back bent at the elbow arm muscles
extremely tight, his mouth hungrily drink the air, which of the 
burning was refreshing. 

   - They look at us?

   Through the pounding of his heart his ear caught a faltering 
voice Light. 

   - Who is looking? .. And, of course: rock
tribe. When was the last place
such a race? Thousand, ten thousand days
ago? How much time has passed since the stoichiometric,
like someone decided to try his luck, raced
at full speed, watched the whole
people, through ravines and across the icy
plain? Maybe the love for a minute
forget the laughter and staring into two
tiny point, the men and women that
fled towards his destiny? Maybe
children upisyvaya ripe fruit, broke away from the
Games to watch this race with time? Maybe Daynk still alive 
and, screwing up dimming eyes beneath frowning brows

raspy, quavering voice, shouting something
encouragement and waving gnarled hand. May
have showered them with ridicule? Call
fools, boobs? And the sound is a caustic chorus at least one 
voice who wants them good luck, hoping that they will reach the 
ship? 

   Sim looked at the sky, already touched by the approaching 
night. Out of nothing a cloud, and the veil of rain crossed the 
gorge two hundred yards in front of them. Lightning struck in 
the vertex distance, in turmoil spread to the air pungent odor 
of ozone. 

   - Halfway - Sim breathed and saw the
Light, turning the face with longing looks at the
all they have left behind. - Now
decide if to return, there is still time.
A minute later ...

   In the mountains growled the thunder. Somewhere at the top
born on a small landslide, which is already a mighty avalanche 
crashed into a deep crevice. Raindrops covered the smooth 
pimples Light white skin. In a moment, her hair

became wet and shiny.

   - It's too late - to shout it biting
knock their own bare feet. - Now you only have to run forward!

   Yes, really late. Sim figured
distance and made sure that no return.

   Leg pain ... He ran slower.
Suddenly the wind blew. A cold, piercing. But as he was blowing 
from behind, the more helped than hindered escape. "A good 
sign?" - Asked himself Sim. None.


   Because each munutoy became
increasingly clear just how badly he had guessed the distance.
Time melts away and the ship had so far.
He said nothing, but impotent rage
the weakness of their own muscles resulted
Scalding tears.

   Sim knew that Light is thinking as well as
he said. But she flew forward a white bird,
like and not touching the ground. He could hear her
breath - the air into her throat, as if
sharp dagger in its sheath.

   Gloom seized half the sky. The first stars
peeped out between the long strands of black
clouds. Lightning drew a path on the ridge
in front of them. The storm fell on them
wall of the shower and electric discharges.

   They slipped and stumbled on the mossy
stones. Light fell, she broke away angry
cry, she hurried to her feet.
Her body was scraped and drip mud.
Rain lashing it.

   Weeping sky struck Sim. Jet
rain flooded her eyes, rivulets ran down
on the back, and he too was ready to cry.

   Light fell and lay. She
difficulty breathing, her trembling.

   He picked it up, put on his feet.

   - Run, Light, I pray thee, go!

   - Leave me alone, Sim. Go on, come on! -
She nearly drowned in the rain. Everywhere there was water. - 
Do not bother to waste. Run without me.


   He was standing, shackled with cold and weakness, his 
thoughts are running dry, a light of hope was ready to fade 
away. Circle only darkness cool whip falling water and despair 
... 

   - Then go - he said. We will go
and relax.

   They were about fifty yards away, slowly,
slowly, as if the children on a walk. Ravine
in front of them filled to overflowing stream, and
water from the raging sound of hurried rushed to the horizontal.

   Sim shouted something. Pulling the
Light, he once ran.

   - New course! - He showed his hand. -
Every day, rain is paving a new direction. For me, Light!

   He leaned over the water and dived, not
releasing hands Light.

   The stream carried them as chips. They sililis
keep your head above water, so as not to choke. The banks 
quickly ran back. With furious force clutching fingers Light, 
Sim felt like rapids throws and turning

it saw the sparkle of lightning in height,
and his soul was born a new, frenzied
hope. Run can not go on - well,
then the water do the work for them!

   Stormy grip of a new short-lived rivers
beating Sima and Light on the rocks, rip
shoulders, skinned feet.

   - Over here! - Voice Sim blocked thunder
thunder.

   Frantically raking his hand, he swam to
the opposite side of the ravine. Mountain,
which is a ship in front of them.
We can not allow them passed by.
They fought hard with the furious moisture, and
them to come to the right bank. Sim jumped, caught her hands 
hanging stone feet Light squeezed and slowly pulled himself up.


   The storm stopped as quickly as
begun. Lightning faded. The rain had stopped.
The clouds melted away and vanished into the sky. Wind
more whispered and fell silent.

   - Ship! - Light lay on the ground. -
Ship, Sim. This is the same mountain.

   And to them already creeping frost.
Death Freeze.

   Struggling with exhaustion, they wandered
up the hill. Cold licked their bodies, poison
penetrated into the arteries, restricting your limbs.

   Ahead, in a halo of light, lay svezheomyty ship. It was like 
a dream. Sim is not could not believe that so short ...

Two hundred yards away. Hundred and seventy yards.

   Land was to envelop the ice. They slipped and fell without 
end. The river behind them turned into a solid, white-blue cold 
snake. Solid balls from somewhere flew a few lingered drops

rain.

   Sim whole body leaned against the casing of the vessel. He 
felt, touched, touched him! The rumor caught the convulsive 
sobs Light. Metal craft - here it is, here he is! How many

another person referred to him for many long
days? He and Light reached the goal!

   Suddenly, as if they leaked overnight
air through his veins poured cold.

   And where is the entrance?

   You run, you swim, you just do not drown. Swear on 
everything, Flies then strain the last of his strength, and now 
you finally reached the mountain, climb it,

banging his fist on the metal, screams
joy and ... And you can not find the entrance.

   Thus, we must take himself in hand. "Slowly,
but not too slowly - he said
yourself - go around circle the ship. "His
inquiring fingers slipped on the metal -
so cold, clammy skin that threatened to freeze to the skin. Now 
along the opposite side ... Light was next

with him. The cold hand of the cold compress all
stronger.

   Login ..

   Metal. Cold, unyielding. Narrow
slit along the edge of the hatch. Throwing caution aside, Sim 
began pounding on it. The cold penetrated to the bone. Numb 
fingers, eyeballs began to stiffen. He bashed here and there 
and cried a metal door: 

   - View! Open up!

   At the moment Sim lost his balance. Something gave way under 
his hand ... Click! 

   Sighed loudly airlock. Rustling
metal to a rubber gasket, the door
gently opened and left in darkness.

   Sim saw Light darted forward,
abruptly raised his hands to his throat and plunged into
intimate, full of light cabin. Beside himself, he stepped 
behind her. 

   Airlock hatch was closed, cutting off
way back.

   He gasped. Heart beat more slowly, as if he wanted to stay.

   They were imprisoned inside the ship, and
something happened. Convulsively gasping
air, Sim fell to his knees.

   That same ship, to which he came
for salvation, and now the brakes beat him
heart, darkened consciousness, something poisoned
him. With some vague and fading sense of anxious fear Sim 
realized that dies.


   Black ...

   Were in a fog Sim felt like going
While consciousness tries to coerce
heart beat faster, faster ... And make your eyes see. But the 
juice of life slowly flows through the vessels tamed, and he 
hear the rhythm of the pulse thready: fat ... pause fat ... 
pause, knock ... 

   He could not move my arm or leg, even a finger. Required an 
incredible effort to raise the stone weight age.

And it is impossible to turn your head,
look at the lying next to Light.

   Seemed far away to hear her uneven
breathing. So a wounded bird rustles dry
crumpled feathers. While Light was very
close, and he guessed her warm seemed
separates them exorbitant distance.

   "I'm cool!" - He thought. - I do not die
Does it? Sluggish blood flow, quiet heartbeat
heart, cold all over, stringy stroke
thought ... "

   Looking at the upper wall of the vessel, he tried to unravel 
this complex web of pipes and fixtures. Gradually in the brain 
gave rise to an idea of ​​how to arrange ship, how it works. In 
a slow epiphany he learned the meaning of objects, which 
crossed his mind. Not immediately. Not immediately.


   Here is the instrument with a gleaming white
scale.

   His assignment?

   Sim solved the problem with an effort, like people under 
water. 

   People use this device. Touched it. Repaired. Installed. 
Imagined, and only then did it, and found established, touched, 
enjoyed them. The instrument was like put a certain memory, the 
image of him, though the image it seems the image of the dream, 
he said Sim, how to make this scale and for what

it serves. Looking at any object, he
directly from it extracted the necessary knowledge.
Like some crazy particle enveloped
object, dissect, and enters his
essence.

   Here is the device designed to measure the time!

   Millions of hours of time!

   but how? .. Sim's eyes widened, lit hot brilliance. Is there
people who need such a device?

   Blood pounded in his temples, his eyes grew dim. He closed 
his eyes. 

   He was afraid. The day was on the wane.
"How is it - he thought - life goes, but
I'm lying. I lie and I can not move. Youth will be over soon. 
How much time is it will be before I can move? "


   Through the porthole window, he saw
pass the night, comes a new day and
again reigns night. In the chilly sky of twinkling stars.

   "Another four or five days, and I will be very
old and frail, - I think Sim. - Ship
will not let me move. I wish I'd stayed in his native cavern, 
and there assigned to fully enjoy my short life. What I have 
achieved that has made the way here? How many sunrises and 
sunsets are in vain. Light next to me, and I do not even I can 
touch her. " 

   Delirium. Consciousness somewhere ascended. Thoughts rushed 
in metal compartments of the ship. He heard the sharp smell of 
the weld metal. Felt like the night covering straining day 
again relaxes. 

   Dawn. Already the new dawn!

   "Today, I would have already reached full maturity."

   He gritted his teeth. "I have to get up. I have to move. 
Extract the joy which can give me this time of my life. "


   But he lay motionless. Felt
heart is pumping blood from the chamber to continue through all 
of his real body, as it is cleaned in approximately heaving and 
sinking of the lungs. 

   The ship is hot. Clicked invisible
device, and the air is automatically cooled. Managed draft 
cooled the cabin. 

   Night again. And one more day.

   Four days of life had passed, and he still is.

   Sim did not try to fight it. To anything. His
life has expired.

   It is no longer attracted to turn his head.
He did not want to see the Light - the same disfigured face, 
which was his mother: ever, like the gray flakes of ash, eyes,

as a rough granular metal, cheeks, though
cracked stones. Did not want to see
neck, like a withered yellow grass whip,
hands, like the smoke over the dying fire,
withered breasts, tight tousled hair color yesterday weeds!

   But he himself is he? How does he look like? Dropped
jaw, sunken eyes, excised
aging forehead? ..

   He felt the strength return to him. My heart was incredibly 
slow. One hundred beats per minute. Can not be! And this 
calmness, composure, tranquility ... 

   The head itself is bent sideways. Sim opened his eyes. 
Looking at the Light, he was surprised screamed.


   She was young and beautiful.

   Light looked at him, and she had no
strength to speak. Her eyes were like little circles of silver, 
swan-neck - as if the hand of a child. Light hair was like a 
gentle blue flame, fueled by its delicate flesh. 

   It took four days, but she is still young ... no younger 
than she was when they penetrated into the ship. She is very 
young. 

   He could not believe my eyes.

   Finally she spoke:

   - How long does it last?

   - I do not know - he said gently.

   - We are still young.

   - Ship. We protected his skin.
Metal does not let the sun and the rays that us old.

   She looked away, thinking.

   - So, if we are here ...

   - That'll stay young.

   - Another six days? Fourteen? Twenty?

   - Maybe even more.

   She was silent. Then, after a long pause, she said!

   - Sim?

   - Yes.

   - Let's stay here. Will not return. If we turn now, you're
know what will happen to us?

   - I'm not sure.

   - We again begin to grow old, unless
No?

   He turned away. Looked at the top
wall, to watch the creeping arrow.

   - Yes, we grow old.

   - What if we grow old ... immediately. May
be when I get out of the ship, the transition
is too harsh?

   - Maybe.

   Again, silence. Sim made a few
movements, stretching his arms and legs. Him terribly hungry.

   - Others are waiting for - said OHM

   Light response words made him gasp.

   - Others have died - she said. -
Or die within a few hours. Everyone
we knew already old.

   Sim tried to imagine their elders. His sister, Duck - 
decrepit, bent time ... He shook his head, banishing vision.


   - Let's say they died - he said. -
But others were born.

   - The people we do not even know.

   - And yet the people of our tribe - he replied. - People who 
live only eight days, or eleven days, if we do not help them.


   - But we are young, Sim! And we can stay
young!

   Better not listen to it. Too tempting
what she says. Stay here.
Live.

   - We have already spent more than any other -
he said. - I need workers. People
which could establish a ship. Now
we'll both get up, find some food, go and check, in which he
state. One I am afraid of him to build. So
He is very big. Need help.

   - But then you have to run all the way
back!

   - I know. - He slowly sat up in
elbows. - But I'll do it.

   - And how you bring people here?

   - We use a river.

   - If the channel is unchanged. It could be displaced.

   - Wait until the appropriate
for us. I shall return, Light. Son
Daynka waiting for me, my sister, your brother -
they grow old, ready to die and waiting
news from us ...

   After a long pause, he heard the Light
tired of getting on to him. She put
head on his chest and eyes closed
she stroked his arm.

   I'm sorry .. Excuse me. You shall return. I am stupid 
selfish. 

   He awkwardly touched her cheek.

   - You're a man. I understand you. Do not need
apologize.

   They found the food. Then they went on the ship. It was 
empty. Only in the cockpit lay the remains of a man who 
probably was the commander of the ship. Others, apparently, 
into space in rescue capsules. Commander, sitting alone at the 
controls, put the ship on the mountain, near the other fallen 
and smashed vehicles. The fact that the ship was on a hill, 
keep it away from the turbulent flow. The commander died 
shortly after landing - Perhaps, the heart did not endure. And 
stayed ship lie there, almost within reach of those who 
survived, unhurt, but lost the ability to move - how many 
thousands of days? If the commander does not died, the life of 
ancestors Sima and Light could emerge quite differently. 
Reflecting on this, Sim caught an ominous echo of the distant 
war. What ended the war of the worlds? What Planet won? Or both 
lose, and there was no one to look for survivors? Whose side 
was right? Who was their enemy? Belonged to a people of Shem to 
the right or wrong? Perhaps it will remain unknown. 

   Hurry, hurry to explore the ship! He does not know his unit, 
but comprehended, walking on the transitions and stroking 
mechanisms. Yes, the only crew. One person can not cope with 
this edifice. He touched the round snout some gizmos. AND 
withdrew his hand as if burned. 

   - Light!

   - What is it?

   He again touched the car, patted her
With trembling hands, and his eyes filled with tears, his mouth 
opened first, then closed again ... With deep affection Sim

looked at the car finally turned to
Light.

   - With that thing ... - Softly, as if not trusting yourself, 
quoth he, - with that thing, I ... I I can ...


   - What, Sim?

   He put his hand in some sort of cup with a lever inside. 
Through the window in front was clear the distant cliffs.


   - I think we were afraid that will have
a very long wait before the hill again fits the river? - He 
asked triumphantly in voice.


   - Yes, Shem, but ...

   - River will be. And I'll be back tonight! And I will bring 
with them people. Five hundred people. Because with this machine

I punch channel up to the cliffs, and
This channel will gush flow, which reliably
and quickly bring me here, and others. - He
rubbed bochkovidnoe machine body. - As soon as I touched it, it 
dawned on me at once that is this thing and how it works! Look!


   He pressed a lever.

   With the eerie howl from the ship stretches
forward ray hot flame.

   Carefully and methodically, Sim began carving beam track for 
a morning shower flow. Beam eagerly bite into the stone, 
turning night into day. 


   Sim decided to a run to the rocks. Light
remain in the vehicle in case of any
failure. At first glance, the way to the rocks
seemed insurmountable. There will be no swift river that will 
carry him to the quick purpose, allowing time to win. Have to

all the way to escape, but then the sun will intercept it, 
zastignet before he reaches the shelter! 

   - Only one thing: to go before sunrise.

   - But you just freeze, Sim.

   - Look.

   He changed the tip-off machines, which
just finished the run in the furrow
stone bed of the valley. Slightly raised smooth muzzle, pulled 
the lever and secure it. Language flame stretching toward the 
rocks. Sim twirled vernier distance and focus

flame so that it broke off about three miles
from the machine. Done. He turned to the Light.

   - I do not understand - "she said.

   Sim opened the hatch of the airlock.

   - Frost fierce, and before dawn for another half hour. But I 
will run along the flame, rather close. Hot will not, but to 
maintain Life is enough heat.


   - This seems unreliable - Light replied.

   - And that is reliable in this world? - He leaned forward. - 
But I will have extra Half an hour left. And I'd have to get to

rocks.

   - And if a machine fails, while you
run next to the beam?

   - This better not to think - said
Sim.

   Moment, and he was outside - and staggered back as if he was 
hit in the stomach. It seemed that the heart is now going to 
explode. Wednesday home planet again pushed up its rhythm of 
life. Sim felt quickens pulse and blood bubbles in blood 
vessels. 

   The night was cold as death. Humming
Heat-Ray, tested, heated,
from the ship through the valley. Sim ran along
him, very close. One false step
and ...

   - I'll be back! - He shouted Light.

   Side by side with a beam of light he vanished away.


   Early in the morning saw the longest cave folk
finger orange glow and floating along
his mysterious whitish vision. Crowd
murmured, horrified, blagoveyno Ahal.

   When the Sim has finally reached rock
his childhood, he saw a gathering of very strange people. No 
one familiar face. Then he realized how ridiculous it was 
expect more. One old man suspiciously saw it.


   - Who are you? - He shouted. - You have come to
strange rocks? What is your name?

   - I am Sim, son of Shem!

   - Sim! - A piercing scream old
a woman who stood on the cliff top.
She hobbled down the stone path. -
Sim Sim, is it really you?

   He looked at her in complete disarray.

   - But I do not know - he muttered.

   - Sim, do you not know me? About Sim, a
I am! Duck!

   - Duck!

   It all sank in my chest. Woman
fell into his arms. This trembling, half-blind old woman - his 
sister. 

   Above shows another face. Face
old, fierce, grim. Viciously growling,
He looked at the Sima.

   - Throw him out! - Shouted the old man.
- He is from the enemy camp. He lived in a foreign
rocks! He is still young! Who went
there, that no place among us! Traitor!

   Downslope hopped a heavy stone.

   Sim shrank away, dragging her sister
behind him.

   The crowd roared. Shaking their fists, all
rushed to the Sim.

   - Death to him, death! - Raged unfamiliar Sima old.

   - Stop! - Sim thrown forward with both hands. - I came up 
with Corbly! 

   - On the ship?

   The crowd slowed down. Pressed to Sima,
Duck looked at his young face and was amazed how smooth it is.

   - Kill him, kill, kill! - Croaked the old man picked up a 
new stone. 

   I will extend your life by ten, twenty, thirty days!

   They stopped. Open mouths neveryaschie eyes ...

   - Thirty days? - Echoed in the
crowd. - How?

   - Come with me to the ship. Inside it
people can live almost forever!

   The old man raised his head above the stone, but
Crushed by apoplexy, wheezing,
slid down the slope. The most feet Sim.

   Sim bent, gazing at
wrinkled face, cold, dead eyes,
sluggish grinning mouth, dry ground real
body.

   - Kayon!

   - Yes, - said behind him, a strange, scratchy voice Duck. - 
Your enemy. Kayon. 

   That night, two hundred people went on a journey to
ship. Water rushed in a new direction.
One-hundred people were drowned, lost in the icy
night. The rest, along with Sim reached
ship.

   Light waiting for them and opened the metal door.

   Weeks went by. Generation generations pass in the rocks, 
while scientists and mechanics worked on the ship, learning the 
different mechanisms and their effects. 

   And finally, twenty-five people
have their places inside the ship. Now in
long way to go!

   Sim took over the controls.

   Light came sleepily rubbing his eyes, sat on the floor 
beside him and laid his head on the knee.


   - I had a catfish, - she said,
staring into the distance. - I dreamed
I lived in a cave in the mountains of cold and
hot planet, where people grew old and died eight days.

   - Ironic Dream - said Sim. - People do not
could live in a nightmare. Forget
it. Thy dream was over.

   He gently pulled the levers. It lifted
and went into space.

   Sim was right.

   The nightmare finally ended.


                     Translation from English

                          A. Zhdanov


                       PRINTED BY PAWEL / RS