At leisure - At the behest of the pike.

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  ║Section:At your leisure;                     ║
  ║Article: At the behest of the pike;            ║
  ║Music:Dreamer;                       ║
  ║Text: Andrey Odintsov, Alex Vorozhkin. ║
  ╚═══════════════════ ═══════════════════╝

 Preface:

 IT HAPPENED TO ME TO PURCHASE A VERY
  THE FASCINATING BOOK "COLLECTION OF FANTASTIC
  SKIKH TALES OF STORIES AND ESSAYS."
  HAVING READED IT FROM BEGINNING TO END, I SIGNIFICANTLY
  TOTALLY INVOLVED IN HER T.K. I READ IN IT
  MUCH INTERESTING AND EXCITING...
  AND SO I DECIDED TO TELL YOU DEAR CHITA-
  TELL US ONE VERY INTERESTING STORY.
        
 * * *

 I was returning in a late suburban
  krichka. In an almost empty and very uncomfortable
  from that carriage the light was burning dimly, and I...
  took a place under the lampshade just as we were walking
  trains. I opened the book on the bookmark,
  acquired through the donated waste paper -
  ry. It is this waste paper, as evidenced
  there was an appeal addressed to me, pos-
  wanted me to save a third of the trees from being cut down
  va, who grew up over 50 years on favorable
  soil or over 80 - on poor soil. By the way, boom-
  ha, on which fairy tales were printed,
  completely corresponded to the one that in its
  I handed over the time to the reception point. But in
  at the endafter all, what difference does it make?
  paper reproduced such close and
  memorable words from childhood:
  - Why, you fool. The brothers told you to
  read and for this they wanted you a gift
  bring it, and you’re lying on the stove, nothing
  If you're working, at least go get some water...
  The pike says to him in a human voice:
  - Don’t eat me, you fool, let me go back into the water,
  you will be happy!
  - Happy! How can you not be happy? -sarcastically-
  A voice interrupted my reading.
  - Well, okay, she put him in the bucket herself -
  yelped. And you, you’re your own, that’s-
  They pulled her out of the water with their hands.
  - Whom? - I looked at him in bewilderment -
  the expected interlocutor.
  - What?
  - Yes, from the water, who do you think I am?
  pulled it out?
  - What do you have to do with it? You just have no idea
  than. I pulled this out. And I’m talking about myself. Really-
  Isn’t it clear that these hands pulled out
  I pinched the talking pike.
  I looked dumbfounded at the man sitting
  on the contrary. Tall, quite young,
  a pretty face was not spoiled by a gloomy butt-
  impetuosity.
  - So, in front of me is my own pe-
  rsonnoy fabulous Emelya, excuse me, fool, -
  I finally decided to pick up the joke.
  - What a fool! A thousand times stupider.
  Your Emelya is probably not such a simpleton. What
  don't believe me? And I’m not one step away from the truth
  I stumbled. Listen. I'm not a good fisherman.
  I won’t boast that I’m one of the great experts
  Although I can do something. And I didn’t complain about luck -
  Xia.ThisThat's right. Once on the lake on vacation
  ske caught a bream. At nine and a half
  pulled kilograms. Gram to gram. Immediately
  and weighed it.
  “What are you talking about,” I grinned, “there’s a steelyard with
  do you carry?
  - For what? I'm like a fisherman. I took a stick, and...
  I hung a bream on the fishing line at the other end,
  go - a bucket. And poured water with a liter jar,
  until it balances. The bucket is one and a half kilos
  weighs a gram. So it came out to nine
  catch. Would you believe this one? - He's wide
  spread his hands. There was a sparkle in his eyes.
  awakening, as if the event had just taken place
  it's gone.
  - The whole village came running then. The people all
  more elderly. They have always had such fish
  they didn’t catch the bean. And even more so now, when
  all the chemicals come from the fields. Trash fish is still
  It turns out that the frogs are not gone yet.
  Eh, it was the case, - he waved his hands in despair -
  oh strange companion. Now I have these
  bream as much as you want from any puddle you-
  dragging. Just wish!
  Seeing that the fellow traveler had clearly had too much,
  as often happens with real
  fishermen, I tried to direct the conversation
  back on track.
  - What does pike have to do with it?
  - What does this have to do with it? She changed it
  all my life. If you want to listen
  I can tell you.
  I went to the reservoir. I knew, of course,
  that I will not return empty-handed.
  With empty ones, what kind of interest. Only to the empty ones.
  she approached the cutting - that’s when I saw her.
  What happened to her there - so farnot yet
  I know. It was as if I was dozing. I, you know, uv-
  a healing man. My mind is like
  I lost what I was wearing and went into the water. In any case
  fool: she looks about two meters. What a
  weight! It costs her nothing to drag her under water.
  Only this is me then, in addition to attention:
  I rashly grabbed it and threw it onto the shore. Already
  Then it dawned on me that she was as light as a feather.
  What it consists of - who knows. Well, that's it
  As I say, then it happened.
  She fights on the shore like a real one, and I
  I'm looking for a stone to calm me down.
  I’m already afraid to grab Kami. I found a stone,
  I just ran up, and she told me like a human
  in a voice: let him go, they say, into the water, and I’ll give you
  I will help you whenever you ask.
  I was scared, understandably. As I said before:
  here whoever wants to get scared when the fish is be-
  she will speak verbally. But still, in the heat of the moment
  I must be answering her:
  
  .
  I bent down and really saw - scales on
  the side seems to have fallen behind. That means there is no contact.
  I moved it into place, and the pike was already in the water.
  Instant business. Gone to the depths, and
  I clearly hear a voice, as if nearby:
  <>.
  <>-right
  I sew with her to keep up to date with the matter.
  “What is impossible,” he answers, “do it”
  I can’t. Only to the impossible for you,
  perhaps you wouldn’t even think of it: for me it’s a lot
  It's possible>>.
  I immediately wanted something to check.
  And believe me, as she promised, all of you -
  gained weight. And then immediately disappeared somewhere.
  But I have a constant connection with her. How
  So she guards my every desire.
  And then, as luck would have it, thoughts began to overcome:
  Well, I think I’ll want something, and then
  I'll regret it. What if she turns everything back?
  can't he? No. It’s better not to want to-
  shnego. And then this hit my head:
  what if something like this comes to mind?
  something you don’t want at all - and she you -
  It makes me look fat, now that I thought about it. It’s better than nothing
  not to wish.
  You see, I was tormented with these thoughts.
  Now I just take care of myself so that
  don't want anything at all.
  I was amazed at the confusion that turned out to be
  popped into my travel companion’s head.
  As you can see, with large swirls of human-
  ek. Be that as it may, but I involuntarily
  began to look around, calculating at the first
  opportunity to move to another location.
  It seemed impossible to just get up and leave.
  convenient.
  And he, as if guessing about my mood -
  and he spoke excitedly:- Don’t believe me, right? Do you want me now
  I'll prove it right here?
  - Take me to one of Shahr's fairy tales -
  driving? - I involuntarily smiled in response.
  - But this is the idea: Journey to the East,
  - he slapped himself on the knee.
  ...I don’t remember how I fell asleep, but sleep came
  it was instantaneous, as if incredibly burning
  the sun was burning all around, right up to the horizon
  the sands were spreading. In some places it was as if there was snow
  and glittered in the sun. But it was clear that it was
  salt appeared on the surface of huge
  the size of a brazier. I - what a miracle - I was sitting
  between the humps of a camel. Sitting with an unfamiliar
  glasses were extremely uncomfortable.
  I turned my head to the right and I felt
  funny in a dream. Without holding back, I laughed
  so that I could clearly hear myself laughing.
  And there was something to laugh about: right next to
  the same camel, my traveling companion was moving
  by train. How far did he end up?
  affectionate: in a dream - and then he managed to become
  acting person. Okay, let's go
  together, it makes me neither cold nor
  hot. Oh, how hot! It bakes this dream-
  the sun seems to be real, as if
  Java.Drink! More water!
  The romantic hero de Saint-Exupéry was
  much more self-possessed. How many hours did it last?
  laughed in the desert before he was picked up
  random caravan? However, why is this
  in a dream remember the incident described
  Exupery? Strange, very strange dream.
  And how truly incredibleI want
  drink! I feel the push and see how
  a hand with a flask reaches out to the right. I grab it,
  I convulsively squeeze the neck with my fingers and
  Well, to my dry lips. I drink in anticipation of
  the bottomlessness of the vessel. And when I get drunk, I throw it away
  flask directly into the sand, because... I understand: sweat
  Losing in a dream is not a loss at all.
  - What are you doing ? - I hear at the same moment
  the familiar voice of my travel companion.
  - It’s reckless to pour it out in the desert
  water!
  - Recklessly? - I answer him with carelessness -
  with a loud laugh.
  - Is there such a concept in a dream?
  Here you go, look.
   It’s like I’m jumping from a tower into a river from willows.
  people in the sand. But for some reason there is no lightness
  floating. On the contrary, I feel the pain of a bruise. Sa-
  my real pain. I touch with my fingers
  to an ash-gray plant, no one knows how
  rooted in an unstable, mobile environment.
  I drag him towards me and scream in surprise.
  given pain: dozens of needles dig into
  into my palm. Mechanically I clench my fist and
  I hide it in my pocket along with the plant
  trousers. What is this: never before
  there was no such sharpness in my dream and continue
  real feeling of pain! Suddenly I hear
  a completely new sound. Something flashes in the air
  How many steps away - ahead is a narrow, nondescript
  rope.
  - Back ! - A scream explodes into my ears
  obsessive travel companion.
  - It's a snake. Quickly to the camel!
   And again in response I laugh carelessly and without
  delay, I take a step forward completely
  notdangerous danger to me. I clearly see
  I hear something flashing in the air, unexpectedly
  I’m really scared and just as suddenly I wake up -
  I'm soldering.
   The car rocked and rocked and rocked, like
  you can see me. And all because it barely lasts,
  - fall asleep on a fast-moving train
  It’s difficult. And this is the first time I’ve seen such a dream. And, most importantly,
  No, I remember everything as if in reality, down to the smallest detail.
  But where is my traveling companion? No, I didn't go
  still sitting where he was sitting and for some reason it’s hard
  breathes. I look up at him: <>
  - What's wrong with me? - When spoken loudly
  There are angry notes in the words. - With me
  nothing. But you are deaf. And almost
  paid for it. Why didn't you listen,
  when did I scream to you about the snake?
   Here's your time! Does the dream continue?
  Xia? I know from my own experience,
  what happens is a dream within a dream. It’s like you’re waking up -
  xya, but in fact you are seeing a new dream.
  - Well, why are you silent? - Even more
  the fellow traveler is annoyed. He jerked nervously
  foot and accidentally touched me with his toe
  teen. I winced, and then finally
  It dawned on me that this was no longer a dream. But then
  how does he know that I just
  did you see? He couldn't have dreamed the same thing
  most if he was also sleeping.
  - How do you know that you want me?
  shouted?
  - Hello ! I was the one who warned you
  and didn’t know what! And you are good too, you must-
  wives to tell you directly! In an unfamiliarterrain without any danger from a camel
  straight into the sand...
   I couldn't stand the camel anymore.
  - So it turns out you are a hypnotist! -those-
  I was already indignant. - They forced it on me
  a ridiculous journey without my consent.
  You take on too much.
  “Well,” the fellow traveler grinned. “You
  themselves, not believing in my capabilities, wanted
  test me. According to your own-
  We visited the East last year.
  - You still hope to force me
  believe... - I didn’t finish the sentence because...
  felt a nagging pain in my hand, which, apparently,
  in a dream he put it in his pocket and still continued
  pressed to sit in an uncomfortable position. I released
  hand and brought it to his eyes. In the palm there was
  Some kind of plant is harvested. Through the fingers of the son-
  the sand fell.
  “Yeah,” the fellow traveler exclaimed triumphantly,
  -So you took a souvenir with you.
  Here is the most convincing evidence
  in what you and I just exchanged
  rode camels through the desert.
  And if not for your reckless behavior
  nie, they would still be there now.
  - You want to say, according to my desire,
  - the fellow traveler answered quite calmly,
  - and also because you provoked me,
  not believing my story.
   Even now, pulling out thorns from the
  wounded palm, I couldn’t believe it. After all, I
  I realized that this simply could not happen
  be. It is quite possible to deceive the ear, deceive
  vision. That is, sense organscould deceive
  to bother, but it’s impossible to fool the brain.
  you can’t move from an unshakable foundation
  knowledge. Yes, the knowledge that he had before
  rests on everything.
   The palm freed from thorns is strongly
  it stung, and I began to wave it in the air, like
  this is done for a burn. My fellow traveler is a certain
  I've been watching these for a while now
  with ridiculous waves and, as if remembering something...
  then said:
  - Yes, but it doesn’t cost you anything to-
  can. Let's treat it with iodine.
   At the same moment my palm turned red
  brown and I waved it some more
  more energetic - it stung so much.
  “Again I’ve complicated everything,” he said sadly.
  the fellow traveler shook his head. - Well, be patient.
  second. - And in fact, there’s a palm right there
  mine has returned to its original color and scratches
  It was as if it had never happened to her.
  - Now, I hope, you are convinced? - answer
  My fellow traveler asked a question to my surprise.
   I shook my head vigorously. Let him
  demonstrates any tricks, but force
  It’s incredible for me to believe in reality...
  - You know... - as if hesitantly -
  you said to your fellow traveler, “let’s go here,”
  what else... By the way, are you sure that now
  Are you awake or under hypnosis?
  If you are not sure, then in order to
  Believe me, you can pinch yourself. He thinks-
  being the most effective means of control.
   If he was joking, then I was not in the mood for jokes.
  current. I wanted to get out of it as soon as possible
  from thisstrange story. Hoarse voice
  damaged loudspeaker returned to reality
  news, announcing a stop.
  - Let’s ask him to repeat it clearly,
  - the fellow traveler said with triumph in his voice.
  And, as if obeying his will, the reproduction
  Thor loudly and clearly announced the stop.
   I looked out the window and saw an empty board
  the shape of a familiar station, illuminated by electric
  ric light. Of course, I didn’t sleep. That’s it
  everything around was ordinary, familiar, natural
  important down to the smallest detail. And in order to realize
  there was no need to resort to any
  the most effective means of control.
  “So,” he said with an incomprehensible grin.
  said the fellow traveler, “now you and I can-
  let's go into space, if, of course, you
  don't mind. I hope you didn't have to there
  happen?
  - Right in the train car on the rails
  shall we go there? - I found myself. - After all
  There is no other option in sight.
  - No, why on rails, not on rails?
  will work out. There are other ways. If you want, as usual,
  in a rocket.
  - And you guarantee that we will withstand the pe-
  overload? After all, even those trained in space
  nauts risk their health every time
  I eat.
  “Oh, I almost caused trouble again,” with
  with unfeigned desperation he grabbed
  head. - You are absolutely right. A hundred times
  you need to think about the consequences before
  make a decision. And if right away, without cancer -
  you'll end up on a space station, like,
  won't you be scared?
  - Let's, -exclaimed with the passion of a debater
  I mean, if, as you say, you are like that
  Almighty, let's try.
   ...It felt like suddenly
  the high-speed elevator stopped. Everything floated
  and spun around. Something gray, painful-
  What swam before my eyes. Yes, it’s mine
  a fellow traveler soars right in the air. What
  I’m lucky that I saw him, otherwise I
  It’s not hard to lose your zoom. He moves his lip -
  mi, but I can’t hear anything: complete deafness.
  - How do you feel, how are you feeling?
  - A voice finally breaks through.
  - I feel disgusting. Head
  is just falling apart. Is it really possible for the cos-
  for monauts this condition is normal and just
  they talk about him with a smile to the TV viewers
  lyam: <>?
   I stretch out my hand to the wall, floor and ceiling -
  ku - I’m not at all interested in what-
  mu, just to navigate the simple
  early. I'm trying to grab onto some
  handle. At the same moment, the fellow traveler became stronger
  Ko squeezes my wrist.
  - Stop it! - he stops my
  torture to escape. - Don’t touch anything here -
  go! Listen, nothing, otherwise I won’t answer
  tea for your safety.
   I am no longer surprised by anything and, nodding at
  handle, just asking:
  - What is this, what will happen if I
  Will I grab hold of her?
  - Yes, I know no more about this than you.
  The main thing is not to touch anything here. Otherwise
  wish for nothingyou'll have time. Here's the illu-
  nator, it seems. Would you like to look at our
  planet? Sail here, just be careful
  her, don’t even try to hurt anything.
   But I had no desire to look at
  porthole. I just wanted to go back to
  a cozy train carriage, where everything is on its own
  familiar place: walls, floor, and ceiling
  local. And outside the window they wink in a friendly manner,
  lighting the way, light bulbs. Me
  I wanted to go to Earth so much that I shouted:
  - Hear, tell your pike or whatever it is
  called so that I immediately found myself
  where I was. I’ve had enough: I don’t want
  no more evidence.
   Apparently it was also enough for him
  but because in the next moment
  before my eyes glowed like steel
  reflection of the rails parallel to the same track
  railway road. And as if nothing happened
  it was, on the contrary, leaning back on the soft
  the back of the bench, my traveling companion was sitting. He said-
  started, and I couldn’t bring myself to start
  conversation. Thoughts were confused, confused. And that’s all
  I found the strength to concentrate.
  - Is she, this fish, from another planet,
  alien, it turns out?
  - I don’t know if it’s an alien or something else
  the planet is designed, but directed towards us
  Lena for some purpose, about which rather
  no one will ever know everything. What is important is
  the fact that it exists seems to mean nothing personally
  does not interfere, but can, as you saw,
  a lot. Eh, I’m unlucky! - Withdesperate-
  he complained.
  - How is it unlucky? - warmly requested
  I tested it. - You have had the greatest luck -
  cha, the kind that rarely appear in fairy tales.
  Tom Emele, - I grabbed the one lying on the rock
  make a book and shake it in the air - he
  it was enough for the buckets to go home
  walked so that the stove would drive down the street at a fast pace
  height, of course, of the oven. Well, the limit of desires
  - to become a king and reign, lying on his head -
  ku.And so that the feast is for the whole world.Sparse
  life program. And in front of you is the whole
  Universe. If you manage it wisely
  the opportunity provided to you is possible -
  you, then...
  “That’s it,” interrupted my monologue along the way.
  chick, - you were with me. Everyone saw, in
  We convinced ourselves of everything. And about the possibilities
  you have a complete idea. If you want, I’ll
  I wish that not mine, but yours are fulfilled
  wishes? I will be very obliged to you for this.
  zan.
  - So how? I don't have anything to do with this at all
  no relation, - sharply demanded -
  I was talking.
  - The final stop, - quite clearly -
  The loudspeaker wheezed at that moment.
   With relief, I picked up the book and,
  I looked at my watch as if I was very late,
  rushed to the exit. I had no
  desire to engage in discussion about this
  desperate offer.