HORROR
-------------------
The end of Stephen King's novel
"Children of the Corn"
He rushed past the shield, exactly
sprinter running towards the finish line
ribbon, took a sharp left and dived into
thickets, taking off his sportswear as he goes
slippers. Corn rows closed behind
like sea waves. They are with
readily accepted him, took him under their
protection. He experienced a sudden, surprising
his own relief is like a second
breathing opened. Heat-dried lungs
expanded, letting in fresh air.
He ran along the aisle, bending down,
brushing the leaves with their shoulders, which is why they still
grazing the leaves with their shoulders, which is why they still
trembled for a long time. After running about twenty
yards, he turned right, parallel
road, and even lowerducked down out of fear
that his dark head might be too much
noticeable among the yellowing corn
Sultans. He changed several times
direction until really
went deeper into the thickets, and then some more
time continued to run, clumsily
throwing up his legs and jumping randomly
from row to row.
Finally he collapsed and pressed his forehead to
earth. He only heard his own
cneptoe breath, in the brain, like a hackneyed
the record was spinning: what a blessing that I
I quit smoking, what a blessing...
Then voices entered his consciousness:
his pursuers shouted to each other
distance, sometimes bumping nose to nose
shouting: “This is my row!” Bert a little
calmed down: they took a lot to the left and
calmed down: they took a lot to the left and
They searched too randomly.
Although he was completely exhausted,
I had to take care of the wound. Bleeding
stopped. He rolled up the handkerchief and
applied it again to the wound.
He lay there a little longer, and suddenly
there was a feeling that he felt good (even
the shoulder pain was tolerable), maybe
for the first time in a long time. He felt
yourself physically strong, capable
untie the most incredible knots of his marriage
with Viki - only two years, and of which how
like it's all juicesucked out.
He reprimanded himself for these thoughts. His
life hung by a thread; about the fate of his wife
one could guess. Perhaps she's already
not alive. He tried to recall
Bukuho face and thus dispel
a feeling of euphoria, but nothing happened.
Instead, what stood before my eyes was a redhead
a kid with a knife sticking out of his throat.
a kid with a knife sticking out of his throat.
The persistent aromas tickled pleasantly
nostrils The wind whispered, giving birth in the soul
peace. Whatever they do here in the name
corn, now it was his
intercessor.
But the voices were getting closer...
He ran again, bending over at three
destruction, - one way, the other,
crossed several rows. He moved like this
so that the shouts sound from the left, but very
I soon lost my bearings. The voices grew weaker
more and more often the rustling of leaves drowned them out. He
stopped, listened, ran on.
I guessed in time to take off my slippers - in
he left almost no marks on his socks
solid ground.
Finally he took a step. The sun has arrived
move to the right. He looked at his watch:
quarter past eight. A flaming disk hung above
fields, coloring the tops of the stems scarlet
color, but in the thickets themselves there was twilight.
color, but in the thickets themselvesTwilight reigned.
He strained his ears. The wind had completely died down, and
corn ranks that stood
stirring, hung the scents of an invisible
life wandering in them. Pursuers
Bertha, if they haven't given up trying yet
find him, or are too far away, or
they lay down and listened in the same way. He
decided that teenagers, even such
fans wouldn't have had the patience for that long
hide. Most likely they did quite well
childishly, without thinking about the consequences:
They gave up on everything and returned home.
He walked after the setting sun,
covered by clouds. If you go like this,
through the ranks, in the sun, sooner or later he
will get out on highway N_17.
The shoulder ached dully, and in this pain there was
even something pleasant. Generally the feeling
joy never left him. While I'm here
he decided, I won’t worry about it
about remorse. Remorse
due to remorse. Remorse
will appear later when you have to give
explanations for what happened in
Gatlin. But that will come later.
He made his way through the thickets and thought
that his feelings have never been
so aggravated Meanwhile, the sun remained
small hump. He suddenly froze - his
heightened senses caught in the environment
reality something that makes him immediately
I felt uneasy. Thema strange thing took over
anxiety.
He listened. Rustle of leaves.
He had heard it before, but only
now I compare it with the fact that there is no wind
it was. What kind of miracles?
He began to look around anxiously,
almost ready to see those crawling out
thickets of teenagers in black nactopckux
dressed, smiling, playing
knives. Nothing of the kind. The rustle, however,
was clearly visible. From somewhere to the left.
was clearly distinguishable. From somewhere to the left.
He moved in that direction. Already
there was no need to wade through
thickets, the clearing between the rows led itself
it goes where it is needed. This is the end of the clearing.
However, is it the end? appeared ahead
lumen The rustling came from there.
He stopped, seized by a sudden
fear.
The smells of corn were here
Rarely strong, almost stupefying.
Plants heated during the day did not give up
warm. For the first time he discovered that he was sweating from
sweat and covered with stems and cobwebs.
He wouldn't be surprised if people crawled on him
various insects, but none crawled, and
This was just amazing.
He peered into the opening
there is a gap ahead - the ranks have parted there,
forming a large circle of bare, apparently
land.No mockutob, no flies, no chiggers... with
No mockutob, no flies, no chiggers... with
with unexpected sadness he remembered that when
he and Vicky got married, they had a similar
evil spirits had a destructive characteristic:
"Bo all the holes will fit in." And neither does the raven
visible. This is really strange:
corn plantation - and not a single one
crows.
The last rays of the sunset allowed him
take a closer look at the upcoming plantings.
Incredibly, every stem, every leaf
was flawless. Not a single one hit
disease of the area, not a corroded leaf,
no caterpillar masonry, no...
He couldn't believe his eyes.
Well, well, there’s no trace of it here
weed!
Each stem grew half a meter high
in proud loneliness. Neither
a gap of grass, no dope, no bindweed, no
"witch's space" Absolute
sterility.
sterility.
Bert gaped in amazement. Them
Over time, the flock of clouds migrated to
new place. The sunset was burning down, adding to
gold of blush and ocher spilled on the horizon.
Dusk was quickly falling.
I had to take a dozen more steps,
separating him from the mysteriousislet
in the middle of an endless sea of corn. Not here
was he drawn to it from the very beginning? Thought that
moves towards the highway, and his legs carried into it
strange place.
With a sinking heart he reached
end of the clearing and stopped. There was also
light enough to see everything in
details. The scream got stuck in his throat
and there was not enough air in his lungs
push out. My knees began to buckle,
Perspiration appeared on his forehead.
“Vicky,” he said with only his lips.
- Oh God, Vicky...
She was crucified on kpectobuhe, screwed
She was crucified on a kpectobuhe, screwed
wrist and ankles with barbed wire that
sells for seventy cents a yard in
any store in Nebraska. B empty
the eye sockets were filled with “silk” - yellowish
corn pestles. Screaming mouth shut up
wrappers of young cobs.
To her left was a skeleton hanging on a cross.
completely dilapidated ctuxape. Former
minister of Grace Baptist Church,
seemed to grin at Bert,
as if he were saying mockingly: “This is even
it's good when you are sacrificed
in a cornfield a crowd of pagans, these young
devils..."
Even further to the left hung a second skeleton in
rotted blue uniform. Eye sockets
covered by a cap withcharacteristic green
sign: CHIEF OF POLICE.
It was then that Bert heard footsteps - not
children, someone huge, pushing through
through the thickets. Not children, no. Children don't
through the thickets. Not children, no. Children don't
would dare to enter the corn kingdom
at night. For them this place was sacred,
at night here the One Who came into his own
Goes around the Rows.
Bert rushed back, but there was a clearing,
which brought him here has disappeared. Rows
closed. And the steps are getting closer, with a crunch
the stems moved apart, a mighty sound could already be heard
breathing. Bert was gripped by mystical horror:
heotbpatumoe was approaching. Giant Shadow
covered everything around.
...closer...
The One Who Goes Around the Rows.
And Bert saw: red
bowl eyes... green silhouette in
half the sky...
And I smelled corn
wrappers...
And then he started screaming. While it was
than.
A little later the ripe moon rose as
a reminder of the future harvest.
The corn children have gatheredduring the day on
the lawn in front of the four crucifixes. Two
bare skeletons and two recently living bodies,
which over time will also turn into
bare skeletons. Here in the heart of Nebraska, on
kpoxothom island in the vast ocean
corn, the only reality was
time
Know that this night he appeared to me in a dream
The Lord opened my eyes.
Sacred awe gripped the crowd. All
turned to the speaker. Isaac was
only nine, but after a year ago
the corn took David, Isaac became
Supreme Overseer. B the day when
David turned nineteen and
waited until dusk and disappeared forever into
thickets.
thickets.
Isaac's face was solemn
brim of a black hat. He continued:
- In a dream I saw a shadow walking around
ranks, it was the Lord, and he turned to
to me with the words with which I once
addressed our older brothers. He
unhappy with our latest victim.
The crowd shuddered and exhaled as
one person. Many are anxious
looked around at what surrounded them from all sides
green wall of corn.
- And the Lord said: “Didn’t I give
you have a place for slaughter, what are you bringing?
casualties elsewhere? Orforgot who
gave you the joy of redemption? This same one
the alien committed sacrilege in my
ranks, and I myself sacrificed him. Exactly
I did the same thing once with an officer in
blue uniform and with a Pharisee priest."
- An officer in a blue uniform... a Pharisee
priest, they whispered in the crowd,
priest, they repeated in a whisper in the crowd,
lowering his eyes in fear.
"From now on, the Age of Redemption instead of
nineteen fruit bearings will be equal
eighteen,” he repeated harshly
Isaac, spoken by the Lord. - Be fruitful and
multiply like a corn seed and
My mercy will be with you forever."
Isaac fell silent.
All heads turned to Malachi and
Joseph - these two have already turned
eighteen. And in the city, probably
there will be two dozen.
Everyone was waiting for what Malachi would say.
Malachi, who first pursued
Ahaz, cursed by the Lord. Malachi,
who cut Axaz's throat and
threw him out onto the road so that the stinking
the flesh has not desecrated the virgin purity
corn.
- May the will of the Lord be done, - barely
Malachi said audibly.
Malachi said audibly.
And the rows of corn sighed withrelief.
In the coming weeks the girls will make
more than one crucifix that drives out evil spirits.
That same night, everyone who reached
Age of Redemption, silently entered
thickets and went to a large clearing,
to receive the highest mercy from the hands of Him,
Who Walks the Rows.
“Goodbye, Malachi,” cried Ruth,
sadly waving his hand and choking
tears. She carried his child and must
was about to give birth. Malachi didn't look back.
He left with his back straight. Rows behind him
quietly closed.
Ruth turned away, swallowing back tears.
She secretly hated corn for a long time and
I even dreamed of how one day in September,
after a hot summer, when the stems become
dry as gunpowder, she will enter these thickets
with a torch in hand. But from one thought
with a torch in his hands. But from one thought
it was scary. Every night he goes around the rows
the one whose gaze penetrates everything... even
the innermost secrets of man.
Night fell on the fields. Around
Gatlin's corn was whispering something.
Pleased.
------------------------------------------
FANTASY
------------------
Continuation of the novel by Gary Harrison
"Plague from Space"
It was good that Sam had
a patient he could care for. He
drove away the thought that he was in isolation
tion, while outside maybe
spreadsterrible epidemic. This is not
it was so easy to bear.
- Why is this necessary? - he asked.
He saw Nita take the wire
a net with pigeons, which was given to them in
receiving box.
Nita brushed strands of hair from her face and
pointed to the desk:
- I kept reading messages from la-
- I kept reading messages from la-
boratorium, who studied the Ren-virus
yes. But one experiment has not yet been carried out.
This is the experience that is best made
in the quarantine department, because in
We have at our disposal a patient who is more
afflicted with Rand's disease.
- And what is this experience?
She rummaged through the shelf with papers and
She pulled out one of the sheets.
- Here is the first message on the pathology -
gii. It says here that it is impossible to infect
stain human tissue with diseased cells
Commander Rand's body. This experience was
taken before Rand died last
at night. In the future, the virus located in
laboratory, also failed to inoculate either
monkeys, guinea pigs, rabbits
Kam.
- But if the virus cannot transmit-
Xia, we can both leave the quarantine
division How did the policeman get infected?division. How did the policeman get infected?
- Just a minute, you'll see it now.
Rand virus is carried by birds. It's possible
prove with the means available to us. Te-
Let's get to the heart of the matter. Diseased cells
birds can infect human tissue cells
ka. That's how the poor guy got infected with this disease
Frank.
- This experiment was carried out on humans -
volunteers?
- Of course not, only on those taken from
body tissues.
Sam walked around the room with huge steps,
he couldn't sit still.
-Can birds infect each other?
- Yes, it has been proven.
-Then the next step is clear. Exactly
That's why you have pigeons here. Do you want
determine whether a human virus can
infect the birds again. It follows from this,
that Frank and Rand had the same disease
illness. Then we'll need to abort
illness. Then we'll need to abort
the chain of infection is in only one place so that
stop the epidemic.
Nita prepared the syringe. She shoved
hand into the cage and took one of the pigeons
so that he could no longer move, bird-
Tsa cooed and blinked as the needle pierced
got into her skin. Then Nita planted the bird
back to the cage with the other pigeons and
put thiswire cage in a hermetically sealed
tactically closed cabinet. Air there
served according to a special system.
- The question still remains open, -
Sam said. - Will the virus infect the patient?
police cell of another person? Mo-
maybe in birds it changes its properties -
va.
“No, it’s already been checked,” she said.
Nita. - I don’t have the necessary equipment here,
but I sent samples of bioculture from the Nar-
Vov to the sixth floor. It was established there that
they do not attack human tissue.
they do not affect human tissue.
Sam turned to the calmly sleeping
to the patient. His condition has not changed
further spread of the disease or, by
at least her progress npuoc-
began to melt, although the temperature did not drop
was angry. Sam returned to the laboratory and
sat down at the desk opposite the girl
ki-doctor. Nita took notes in a notebook.
- The laboratory now calls these vi-
The Russians are Rand-alpha and Rand-beta, she said.
- I believe that this will remain official -
nom name.
- What's the difference between them?
-Commander Rand had the Rand virus-
-alpha, a deadly virus that does not per-
carried by people and mammals, but only
exclusively by birds. Rand-beta, by-
apparently identical to the virus that killed
birds andcarried by people.
- And birds can become infected from each other
friend?
friend?
- Yes, and very easy. Therefore
there was such a rapid spread
diseases.
- So, the question we ask is
sounds like this: does the Rand-be-virus turn into
that carried by humans into the Rand-al virus
fa? Once we establish this, our
bots are finished. In this case, many will lose their lives
a lot of birds, but we can stop the
climb at this stage and prevent
so that people can become infected with it.
- This is what I hope to discover, -
Nita said.
Her gaze slid inquisitively over the
burs that she attached to the cage.
- If the birds get sick, then it’s a virus
Rand-beta, which means that our
patient Rand-alpha virus, the same as
in the first case. This will prove that
There are two forms of the disease and what is the source
there are two forms of the disease and what is the source
Only birds can be infected.
Once this reservoir of infection is exhausted,
protect yourself, the epidemic will be stopped.
Both of them watched the experimental bird
tsey, which first stretched out one wing,
and then rolled back toside.
- Her body temperature rose by
four degrees,” Nita established.
The first treacherous nodes appeared
ki, and it soon became clear that the course of the disease
nothing went as usual.
Nita said:
- I'll send a blood sample to the laboratory-
ria to be examined under electronic
microscope. But I don't think there were any
any doubts. What will you do?
Sam took a syringe from a sealed plastic
teak box.
- All this conclusion is missing
only one factor that would prove
whether you are right or wrong, he said.
whether you are right or wrong, he said.
He turned to the sick bed.
- No, you shouldn't do that! -
Nita exclaimed.
She grabbed his hand so tightly
that the syringe fell from Sam's fingers and broke
about the floor
- Sam, you shouldn't do this! This
The problem has already been debated in WHO. It was
it was proposed to call for volunteers, but then
it was decided to wait. It's dangerous and not true
it's necessary.
- I have a different opinion. We can't be
are sure that there can be no further
the spread of the epidemic, if there is no
it has been proven that the Rand-alpha virus cannot
transmitted fromperson to person, and
as long as there are doubts, we will both be
Living in this detention center is like being in a prison.
Someone needs to test themselves for the virus.
Rand alpha. From Commander Rand I myself received
was exposed to the Rand-alpha virus, and
was exposed to the Rand-alpha virus, and
That's why I should be this voluntarily
cem. Anyone against it?
- I have to...
He smiled.
- In both cases, dear doctor,
women and children are admitted to the latter
queue.
Nita was silent for a long time, then turned away
and opened the sterile box.
“I can’t argue with you,” she said.
she. - Maybe you're right. I don't
I know. Bo anyway, I can't help you
hold. But I am a cytologist and cannot admit
tempt an overzealous assistant
got hepatitis or something like that.
I will prepare the injection myself. Do you agree?
“Okay,” Sam said.
He returned to his patient again,
while Nita was preparing the culture. He knew that
she will never attempt bocnpe-
hinder his experiment and will not fill
hinder his experiment and will not fill
for this, a syringe with distilled water
or neutral plasma. But there was
question that was extremelyimportant to decide.
She could be a woman with typical
feminine feelings and perceptions, but she
still remained a doctor.
“Done,” she said.
Sam smeared his hand with alcohol and,
tive her trembling, took the syringe from her hands, holding
it was vertical, squeezed a couple of drops out of it
and plunged the needle deep into his skin. On
there was no expression on his face
nia.
5
- The Rand-alpha virus does not infect humans
eternal fabrics,” said Nita.
She squeezed the other so tightly with one hand
She squeezed the other so tightly with one hand
I think her fingertips have turned white.
- So there is hardly any danger,
that you will become infected with this disease.
She tried to convince herself and him of
safety of this experiment, and Sam
I assumed this would happen. Transition from
quiet laboratory work to fierce struggle
bet for life and death was very
fast.
-There's little chance of that happening, Sam said.
- but let's wait. Would you like to report
To everyone McKay while I'm taking care of the patient?
The policeman was still sleeping, but he was gone
Is his breathing deeper? Sam translated
there is a small lever on the pointer. Ti-device
xo buzzed and spat out a piece of paper,
which the graphic image was applied
recording of all recorded data.
Sam traced all the curves individually
ness. They all showed a deterioration in general
nosities. They all showed a deterioration in general
state before the introduction of interferon
about three hours ago. After injection
the curves flattened, the data became brighter
pleasant when the antipyretic has gone down
fever, but no improvement in condition
stupid. The fever returned again,
the patient seemed to be closer to death
you than ever. Sam is ready now
got a new injection of interferon and did
her patient. She had no effect on him
whom actions.
- Doctor McKay is very angry, -
Nita said. - He called you frivolous -
a fool, but thanks you for
you're done. He reminded me that I
carefully monitored your well-being
and recorded every change noticed
as if I didn’t know it myself. you
did you feel any symptoms?
She took his wrist and threw it awaya longing glance at the instrument dials.
a longing glance at the instrument scales.
- No, as you can see, no reaction. I
I don't expect anything. Human cultures
tissues are quite sensitive. If you
rus Rand-alpha would be transferred to humans
ical fabrics, we would have become a long time ago
is aware of this.
Bertolli died again in the arms of Doctor
patient, and he could not prevent this
vat.
At the first injection, interferon is
became effective and pulled the end to the non-
how many hours? But upon repeated injection
it had no effect.
The fever increased again and the febrile
the sting turned out to be ineffective. Was used
the heart-lung machine was used, and then
artificial kidney. The only hope
Sam's mission was to maintain life
strength of the patient’s body with the help of trans-
blood and antibiotics. He knew that
it was a hopeless case, but I fought until
it was a hopeless case, but I fought until
end and didn’t want to admit it.
He hoped to win the fight, which was
lost from the very beginning. He just
turned away when Nita put it on his hand
ku my. He saw that she was crying.
- Sam, he's dead, We're nothing more
“we can do it for him,” she said quietly
she.Sam suddenly felt tired.
How long did he fight for the life of the patient?
that one? Twelve hours or more? He looked
zeroed the clock and remembered the function indicator
tions of the body on your wrist. That's all for now-
knowledge was normal, only the pulse was abnormal
how much slowed down, but that was the result
fatigue. Fight for the life of a policeman
made him forget about his own
position He sighed. If he got infected
Rand virus, the symptoms should have already
manifest. The experiment was a success, but it
was too insignificant in comparison
is too small in comparison
with the tragedy of the last hours.
“Sit down,” said Nita, “and have a drink.”
black coffee. He will help you.
He poured the cup and emptied it with one
sip.
- What has been done during this time? -cnpo-
he is strong. - It’s already two o’clock in the morning.
- Our quarantine is over. Doctor
McKay decided that our isolation would end,
if no symptoms appear before midnight
volumes.
When he wanted to get up, she put down
on his hand.
- Wait. Drink some more coffee and high-
listen to the rest.
He hesitated for a moment, then
sank back into the chair.
- Coffeealready in me, but give me more
cup.
He almost forced himself to smile.
- I'm very sorry if I behaved like
- I'm very sorry if I behaved like
idiot, but all this has become mine personally since then
since Commander Rand fell on my arm-
ki from the "PERICLES" hatch. Now sit down and
also have a cup of coffee in my company
ve.
She filled her cup and added
sugar and milk there.
“Everything is very bad in the city,” she said.
she. - This is clear from the messages that
since then they came to me. Rand virus
very virulent and deadly. Of course
Rand-beta virus. Birds, having become infected, die
they burn very quickly. Their whole body and their feathers
so they are teeming with the virus. Obviously, the virus
disappears through the skin with a simple touch -
NI. All the people who touched the birds and so on
the place where they lay fell ill. Virus
eventually dies, having lost his
media, but not yet installed, through
What period of time does this happen?
- How many cases of infection are known?
- How many cases of infection are known?
nia?
Before answering, she took a moment
hesitated.
- According to the latest reports - three thousand -
chi.- So fast? And what's against it
undertaken?
- There are still difficulties
but a meeting is currently underway
meeting here in Bellevue, in auditorium number
two. All medical luminaries are present
world, the mayor and senior police officials.
Professor Chabel from WHO will chair.
He wants you to be there too.
This was the last message I received. to me
it seems like you need another cup of coffee.
“They might really need me,”
Sam said.
He stood up, straightened up, then laid down
hands on the shoulders of Nita, who stood next to him.
his hands on the shoulders of Nita, who stood next to him.
He wanted to say something, but suddenly he felt...
covered her body under a thin robe, her
warm, elastic body. He attracted her to
himself and kissed him.
“No,” he said later.
He seemed surprised at himself.
- It’s unclear to me why I did this
did. I'm really sorry...
- Really?
She smiled.
- But I don’t. I don't find it that much
unpleasant. Although it would be nice if you
Now you will shave thoroughly.
He ran his hand over his chin and
it seemed that hestroked the sandpaper
magician
To be continued.
------------------------------------------
Share your thoughts about the article