ZX Pilot #23 10 мая 1998

Самиздат

Fantasy - A Tale Strugatsky "Way to Amalthea (continued).

   FICTION


Continued. Start see # 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22.



      3. Flight Engineer reminisce,

  A Shturman Council does not remember


   Zhilin repaired processor control of the reflector. In the 
control room was very hot and stuffy, apparently, 
air-conditioning system to ship was quite upset, but doing it 
was not time, nor, more importantly, desire. First Zhilin threw 
a jacket followed suit and stayed in shorts and shirt. Varechka 
immediately settled in the folds of the suit and dumped soon 
disappeared - there was only her shadow yes sometimes appeared 
and immediately disappeared large protruding eyes.


   Jilin, one after another pulled out of warped hull
Combine plastmetallovye plates printed circuits, prozvanival
survivors, is swept aside and replaced them chopped
spare. He worked methodically, slowly, as the record-
assembly, because the rush was nowhere to go, and because 
everything is was, apparently, to anything. He tried not to 
think about nothing and just glad to be remembered very well 
the general scheme, that he almost do not have to look into the 
leadership that he hurt himself not much, and abrasions on his 
head are drying and does not hurt. For housing photoreactor 
humming computer. Michael Antonovich rustling paper and humming 
to himself something non-musical. Michael Antonovich is always 
humming to himself, when he worked. 

   "I wonder what he was working now? - Thought Zhilin. -
Maybe, just trying to distract myself. This is very good - to 
be able distracted at such moments. Planetary probably also 
work, reset bombozondy. So I failed to see how

explodes all bombozondov. And many more I could not
see. For example, say that is very good with Jupiter Amalthea. 
AND I really wanted to participate in the interstellar 
expedition or any expedition Rangers - scientists who seek to

traces of other planets aliens from other worlds ... Then
say that "Jay-stations" is a nice girl, and well
would meet them and then tell it Pere
Hunt, who received a distribution on the lunar road and was
glad, weirdo. Funny, Michael Antonovich false, though
purpose. He has a wife and two children ... No, three, eldest 
daughter For sixteen years, - he has promised to introduce us, 
and each A couple of times dashingly wink, but no longer meet

necessary. Much now will not have to. Father would be very
upset - oh, how wrong! How it all tumble out -
in the first independent flight! Well, what I then
quarreled with her - he thought suddenly Zhilin. - Now 
everything is easier, and would be very difficult. Here's 
Michael Antonovich is much worse than me. And the captain is 
worse than me. The captain's wife - a very beautiful woman, 
funny and seems to be clever. She accompanied him and nothing 
so did not think, maybe, and I thought, but it was unnoticed, 
but probably not thinking, because it is already used. Man can 
get used to everything. For example, I used to overload, 
although at first it was very bad, and I even thought that I 
was transferred to the Department of the remote control. School 
it was called "to go to girls": the faculty was a lot of girls, 
common good girls, with them has always been fun and 
interesting, but still "go to girls" it was considered 
shameful. It is absolutely unclear why. Girls were work on 
different SPU and at stations and bases on other planets and 
worked better than the boys. Sometimes even better. Anyway - 
thought Zhilin - very good that we then had a falling out. What 
would it Now it was! "He suddenly stared senselessly at the 
cracked plate printed circuits, which in his hands.


   "... We kissed in a large park and then to the embankment 
under white statues, and I followed her home, and we are a long 
time kissing in the parade, and on the stairs all the time for 
some reason went people, although it was too late. And she was 
very afraid that a sudden pass by her mother and asks: "What 
are you doing here, Val, and Who is this young man? "It was 
summer, the white nights. And then I arrived at the winter 
break, and we met again, and all was, as before, except in a 
park covered with snow and bare branches moving at a low gray 
sky. The wind picks up, we swerved powders, we are completely 
numb and ran to bask in the cafe Mezhplanetnikov street. We are 
very glad that there is absolutely no people sat at the window 
and watched as the street sweeping cars. I bet I know all the 
brands of cars, and lose a bet: went great squat machine, and I 
do not know what it is. I came to know and they told me that 
it's "Golden Dragon ", a new Japanese atomokar. We argued for 
three wishes. Then it seemed that this is the most important 
thing is that it will always - winter and summer, and on the 
promenade under white statues in the Great Park and the 
theater, where she was very beautiful in a black dress with 
white collar and all the time pushed me to the side so I do not 
laughing too loudly. But once she did not come, as we agreed 
and I arranged for videophone again, and she again it came and 
stopped writing me letters when I went back to school. I still 
do not believe, and wrote long letters, very stupid, but then I 
did not know that they are stupid. A year later I saw her in 
our club. She was with some girl and she did not recognize me. I

It seemed then that all was lost, but it was the end of five
course, and it is unclear even to me why this is now remembered 
everything. Probably, because now all the same. I could not 
think of this, but once all the same ... "


   Loudly slammed the door. Voice Bykov said:

   - Well, Michael?

   - Ended the first round, Alexis. Fell to five hundred
kilometers.

   - So ... - Could be heard on the floor kicked plastic
fragments. - So, I mean. Connection with Amalthea, of course 
not. 

   - The receiver is silent - a sigh, "said Mikhail Antonovich. 
- The transmitter works, but because there are radioburi ...


   - What are your calculations?

   - I'm almost finished, Alexis. It turns out that we failed 
in six or seven megametrov and hang out there. We will swim, 
says Volodya. Pressure is great, but we did not crush it clear. 
Just be very difficult - there is gravity two - two and a half 
"of the same." 

   - Yeah, - said Bykov. He was silent for a while, then said: 
- You have any idea there? 

   - What?

   - I say, you have some idea there? How to get out of here?

   - What are you, Alexis! - The Navigator said softly, almost 
ingratiating. - What are the ideas already here! The same 
Jupiter. Somehow I do not even heard that from here ... chosen.


   There was a long silence. Zhilin resumed work
quickly and quietly. Then Michael Antonovich said suddenly:

   - You do not remember it, Alexis. There's better not to 
remember, and that so disgusting is the right ... 

   - And I do not recall - said Bykov unpleasant voice. - And
you, mate, do not advise it. Ivan! - He shouted.

   - Yes? - Responded Zhilin, hurriedly.

   - You're vozishsya?

   - Now stop.

   I could hear the captain goes to him, kicking the plastic
fragments.

   - Garbage - "he muttered. - Wine bar. Bedlam.

   He stepped out from behind cover and dropped beside Zhilin 
squat 

   - Now finish - repeated Zhilin.

   - And you do not hurry, flight engineer - said Bulls angrily.

   He snorted and began to pull out of the box spare blocks.
Zhilin moved slightly to make room for him. They both
were broad and huge, and they were a little close in front of 
the combine. They worked silently and quickly, and I could hear 
Michael Antonovich again ran the calculator and purred. 

   When the assembly ended, the Bulls called:

   - Michael, come here.

   He straightened up and wiped the sweat from his forehead. 
Then he pushed his foot pile broken plates and including a 
common control. On the screen flashed combine three-dimensional 
diagram of the reflector. The image is slowly rotated. 

   - Oh-she-it, - said Mikhail Antonovich.

   Tick-tick-tick - crawling from the output of blue ribbon 
entry. 

   - A little mikroproboin - quietly said Zhilin.

   - What mikroproboiny - Bykov said, and stooped to the most 
screen. - Here's where home a bastard. 

   Scheme of the reflector has been painted in blue. Were white 
on a blue torn spots. These were places where a perforated 
layers mezoveschestva, or destroy the system of control 
yacheek.Belyh spots were much but on the edge of the reflector, 
they merged into a rough white blot, takes at least eight of 
the surface of the paraboloid. 

   Michael Antonovich waved and went back to the calculator.

   - Firecrackers to let such a reflector - muttered Zhilin.

   He reached for his jumpsuit, shook out of him and Varechka
began to get dressed: in the cabin was cold again. Bulls are 
still stood there, staring at the screen and biting nails. Then 
he picked up the tape records and glanced at her.


   - Jilin - said he suddenly. - Take two sigma-tester, check
food and go into the caisson. I'll wait for you there. Michael 
Throw and take all the mounting holes. All throw, I said.


   - Where are you going, Leshenka? - Michael Antonovich asked 
to surprise.


   - Out - Bulls replied curtly, and left.

   - Why? - Michael Antonovich asked, turning to Zhilin.

   Zhilin shrugged. He did not know why. Fix mirror
Space, in flight, with no specialist mezohimikov, without a 
huge mold, without the reactor furnace is simply unthinkable. 
So as unthinkable as, for example, to draw the moon to the 
earth with their bare hands. And in this form, in such a state, 
as now, with a broken edge of the reflector could give a 
"Tahmasib" only the rotational movement. Is the same as at the 
time of the disaster. 

   - Nonsense, some - Zhilin said hesitantly.

   He looked at Michael Antonovich, and Michael Antonovich, 
looked at him. They were silent, and suddenly both terrible 
hurry. Michael Antonovich hurriedly gathered up his sheets and 
said hurriedly: 

   - Well, go. Go on, Vanya, go soon.

   In caisson Bulls and Zhilin got into pustolaznye suits and
some difficulty, squeezed into the elevator. Box lift rapidly
raced down the giant tube photoreactor, which
strung all the nodes of the ship - from living up to the 
gondola of a parabolic reflector. 

   - Well, - said Bykov.

   - What's good? - Said Zhilin.

   The elevator stopped.

   - Well, the elevator works - said the Bulls.

   - A - disappointed sigh Zhilin.

   - Could not work - strictly said Bykov. - Les would you
then two hundred yards back and forth.

   They came out of the elevator shaft and stopped on the 
landing paraboloid. Down aslant went black ribbed dome

reflector. The reflector was huge - seven hundred and fifty 
feet in long and half a kilometer in the solution. Edge was not 
visible from here. Above his head hung a huge silver disk cargo 
compartment. On either side of him, far made on the brackets, 
blaze quiet blue flame vent hydrogen rockets. And around

strange flickering extraordinary and menacing world.

   On the left stretched the wall of red mist. Far below,
unimaginably deep beneath their feet, the fog is stratified 
into fatty tight rows of clouds with dark glades between them. 
Even further and deeper, these clouds merged into a dense 
expanse of brownish. On the right stood a solid pink haze, and 
suddenly saw Zhilin Sun - a dazzling hot pink little disc.


   - Began - said the Bulls. He stuck Zhilin skein of thin 
rope. - Secure in the mine - he said. 

   At the other end of the rope he made a noose and tightened 
it around his waist. Then he hung around your neck, both tester 
and slung leg over the railing.


   - Corroding slowly - he said. - I went.

   Zhilin was standing near the most railing, gripping the rope 
with both hands, and looked like a fat, clumsy figure in the 
brilliant shell is slowly slipping over the convexity of the 
dome. Shell shone pink and black ribbed dome, too, were

still pink highlights.

   - Hurry corroding - said in an angry voice headset Bykov.

   The figure in the shell disappeared, and the ribbed surface 
of the left only a string of brilliant tight rope. Zhilin 
looked at the Sun. Sometimes the pink mist delayed the disc, 
then it becomes even more dramatic and very red. Zhilin looked 
at his feet and I saw on the court his vague pinkish shade.


   - Look, Ivan, - a voice said Bykov. - Look down, down!

   Zhilin looked. Deep down in brown coats strange
ghost floated giant whitish mound-like
terrible toadstool. He slowly rang out in breadth, and it was 
possible discerned on its surface stirring, like snakes,

struychaty pattern.

   - Ekzosferny prominence - Bykov said .- great rarity,
I think. Damn, it would be necessary to show the boys.

   He was referring to planetologists. Hillock suddenly lit up 
from within tremulous light purple.


   - Wow .. - Involuntarily said Zhilin.

   - Corrode, - said Bykov.

   Zhilin etched a little more rope, never taking his eyes off
prominence. At first it seemed to him that "Tahmasib" flies 
directly to prominence, but a moment later he realized that the 
ship will be far left. Prominence is detached from the brown 
coats and swam in a pink haze, dragging a tail of yellow sticky

transparent threads. In the threads again flared violet glow and
quickly extinguished. Prominence is melted in a pink light.

   Bulls worked for a long time. Several times he was raised on 
a platform, a little rest and then went down, each time 
choosing a new direction. When he rose for the third time, he 
had only a tester.


   - Damage, - he said curtly.

   Zhilin patiently corroding cables, pushing his foot into the 
railing. In a position he felt very stable and could

look around on the sides. But on both sides nothing was 
changed. Only when the captain stood up for the sixth time, and 
growled: "Enough is enough. Come on, "Zhilin suddenly thought 
that red mist wall to the left - cloudy surface of Jupiter - 
was much closer. 

   In the control room was clean. Michael Antonovich swept 
debris and now sitting in his usual place, ruffled, in a fur 
coat over the suit. From his mouth steamed - in the wheelhouse 
was cold. Bulls sat in a chair, resting his hands on his knees 
and stared looked first at the navigator, then at Zilina. 
Navigator and Zhilin waited.


   - You fixed the holes? - Asked the Bulls navigator.

   Michael Antonovich repeatedly nodded.

   - There is a chance - said Bykov.

   Michael Antonovich straightened and noisy breath. Zhilin 
gulped with excitement. 

   - There is a chance - repeated the Bulls. - But it's very 
small. AND absolutely fantastic.


   - Speak, Alyosha - quietly asked the navigator.

   - Now I say - Bykov said and coughed. - Sixteen
percent reflector out of order. The question is: can we
forced to work the rest eighty-four? Even less
than eighty-four, because the ten percent is not
controlled - destroyed the system of control cells.

   Navigator and Zhilin silent, craning their necks.

   - Can - said Bulls .- In any case, we can try.
It is necessary to shift the point of combustion plasma so as 
to compensate asymmetry of the damaged reflector.


   - Clearly, - Zhilin said shakily.

   Bulls looked at him.

   - It's our only chance. We are with Ivan Let us
reorientation of magnetic traps. Ivan may well work.
You, Mike, we calculate the new position of the point of 
combustion in accordance with the scheme of damage. Scheme you 
currently receive. It's a crazy job, but it's our only chance.


   He looked at the navigator, and Michael Antonovich raised 
his head and met him in the eyes. They are excellent, and 
immediately understood each other. What you can not catch. 
What's down there in appalling conditions pressure, corrosion 
will eat away the hull - the ship may melt as refined in 
boiling water, before they finish work. That can not even think 
to compensate for the asymmetry completely. What no one has 
ever tried to drive ships with a compensation to the engine, 
weakened, at least in half ...


   - It's our only chance - loudly said Bykov.

   - I will make Leshenka, - said Mikhail Antonovich. - It's 
easy - to calculate a new point. I will do. 

   - Scheme of the dead sites I tell you now, ladies - repeated 
the Bulls. - And we have terrible hurry. Will soon be 
overloaded and will very difficult to work. And if we fail 
deeply to become risks include the engine, because it is 
possible chain reaction in compressed hydrogen .- He thought a 
moment and added: - And we will turn into gas. 

   - Clearly, - said Zhilin. He wanted to start this very 
minute, immediately.


   Michael Antonovich held out his hand with short fingers and 
said a shrill voice: 

   - Schema Leshenka, scheme.

   Panel emergency panel blinked three red lights.

   - Well, - said Mikhail Antonovich. - In emergency rockets
running out of gas.

   - Never mind - said the Bulls and stood up.


To be continued ...