Bulkinist's Basement - Reservation.

            Р Е З Е Р В А Ц И Я           
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 (С) Вл. Андреев                          
 (W) KVAZAR/RUSH                          
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       Что день грядущий нам готовит ?... 
                            (мысли вслух) 
                                          
                                          
     Третья планета Солнечной системы пе- 
 режила ядерные войны,  климатические ка- 
 тастрофы  и колониальные захваты армиями 
 чужих цивилизаций.  Земля превратилась в 
 пустыню,  на которой не осталось ничего. 
 В  этой пустыне  очень редкоmet 
 water and sparse vegetation.  Unity 
 Australia was the great surviving oasis, 
 as well as nearby islands, half 
which were swallowed up by the ocean, even during 
 nuclear wars.                            
     Colonies of alien civilizations on Earth, 
 waged constant wars among themselves.  Few 
 who survived in this hell.  But it's over 
 when the planet was taken over by a group 
 scientists of the galactic confederation of man- 
 eyelid.  They achieved restoration 
 atmosphere of the planet, in order to carry out 
 biological experiments and experiments 
 Comrade The confederation businessmen are completely stingy 
 whether the planet, so that upon completion of work 
 make a big galactic cube out of it 
 mouth  The galactic authorities approved this 
 project.                                  
     The remaining handful of the Earth's society 
 terrible mutants were caught and relocated 
 to the most intact place on the continent of Europe 
 razia, which in ancient times was a city 
 and was called Moscow.  Temperature 
 the planet continued to rise.  Experimental 
 The scientists' time was coming to an end. Mutants 
 and the freaks began to behave extremely undesirably 
 Indeed, their place of settlement was fenced off 
 protective energy field. To the reserve 
 vation, to establish order, enforce 
 vili army sergeant, duty 
 which included: preventing disgraceZy, escapes, crimes, gambling 
 games, drug use 
 and the like.                         
     The sergeant turned out to be a patient guy, 
 especially since the time was not that long 
 his services in this terrible world.           
     Occasionally, according to statistics, about once a 
 five to six years, in the region of the planet, tolerate- 
 some flying vehicle crashed 
 yours.                                     
                                          
                                          
                                          
    - 1 -                 
                                         
                                         
 New, small and bright star 
 lit up right next to the one standing at the zenith 
 Sun. She burst into flames as she fell into 
 hot sandy desert, crushing the mountains 
 the umbrella with the crash of its fall.            
     Crashed space fighter 
 both side ailerons and the nose went into 
 sand  Drowning out the curses, he heard 
 the crack of a broken, sealed cap 
 cabins Following him, onto the sand, he dumped - 
 and the pilot himself.                         
     Having spoken, but more quietly, a few more 
 coswear words, in different galactic languages 
 tics, the man stood up and looked around 
 to the parties. He looked to the right, but saw 
 only the sandy horizon, looked away 
 in, but it was the same there, and ahead 
 there was sand, sand and sky, in which 
 nothing came to his aid.  Pilot 
 gathered his courage and began to swear 
 again, but realizing that he was still nobody 
 doesn’t hear, I abandoned this idea.  He walked around 
 around someone lying on his side, smoking from 
 warmed up the fighter, hit it with 
 kicked with all his might and climbed back into the cabin. 
 well.  Or rather, his head and 
 arms, but legs and everything else remained 
 outside.                                 
     After a long search, he 
 managed to find a transmitter, portable 
 power generator and vision device. 
 He dumped it all on the sand.  None of them 
 systems of the crashed car did not want to work 
 work and the pilot, out of anger, it’s time again 
 hall with his foot on the iron board. In the cockpit 
 there was something else to be found. And 
 the pilot found it.                             
     But here, right under his feet, 
 someone pressed, grabbed the transmitter and received - 
 to run away. The pilot jumped back in amazement. 
 to the side, snatching both blasts at once 
 ra, suspended from the belt.  But this one 
 then, who stole the transmitter, dived into the sand 
 and disappeared. - Damn! Ah, infection! - the pilot cried, 
 lowering his weapon and starting to swear again. 
 Still, the last operating transmitter 
 it was stolen from him.                           
     The thief appeared far from the fighter, 
 jumping out of the sand. He was clearly already running towards 
 easier. Seeing this, the pilot began a squall, 
 random shooting into the horizon and only 
 when I was convinced that it was useless, 
 stopped.                             
     "He buried it, or what? Well, that's how it should be 
 dig it out, or I'll be stuck here, 
 until a piece of the sun falls off"?  - thought 
 pilot, forcing his legs to run what happened 
 urine to the place where he dived into the sand to kidnap 
 tel. And he found this place. Found it right away 
 because there were scattered everywhere around 
 nibbled, half-eaten pieces of re- 
 sensor                                 
     The pilot looked back at his 
 the fighter remembered, not without fear, 
 that he left a visor and energy generator near him 
 nerator, and in the cabin there is a plastic box with 
 food and pulse signal system. 
 There is no longer any need to regret losing the transmitter. 
 there was time. Everything had to be saved 
 left. And he ran.  I rushed back 
 at a speed that would envy yes- 
 same ray of light.                            
     A terrible cry echoed across the desert, 
 when he got there. Space pilot 
 consumer -specially trained for 
 wars and extreme situations, owning 
 several martial arts schools, opening 
 helmet, screamed with terrible rage, not finding 
 there is nothing in place except the most broken 
 fighter jet and a lot of sand 
 around, trampled by strange, confused- 
 new traces.  Footsteps to follow 
 there was no possibility.   
                                          
                                          
                                          
                                          
 - 2 -                   
                                         
                                         
     At the door of the old one, which miraculously survived, 
 basement, collapsed five-story building, cultural 
 they knocked loudly.                         
     Three hairy tentacles raked and 
 They hid old playing cards somewhere. 
     - He covered our raspberries again! - 
 Soft Head growled, jumping onto 
 sewer pipe.                   
     - Come in, come in, sergeant!         
     With his weapon ready, the pilot sharply 
 kicked the dilapidated door and flew into 
 basement They stared at him from the darkness 
 three eyes on top, four on the right and oneleft. Seeing the barrel of the blaster all eyes 
 went out immediately. And then the pilot realized that 
 I made a mistake by bursting in so rudely. 
 He put away his weapon and showed empty hands. 
 The eyes looked at him again.          
     “This is not a sergeant at all,” said 
 the same voice that suggested entering.       
     -Who is this?   - asked 
 someone from the ceiling.                        
     - How do I know, maybe we’ll ask, 
 what does he want?                           
     “We must, we must,” he took a step forward. 
 pilot, - water, water is needed, is there water?     
     - Let's tell him that there is no, - pre- 
 someone lay down from the darkness.                 
     The pilot reached for his weapon.  He 
 I could take the water myself, or I could force it 
 bring it. But, after thinking, I decided not to rush 
 sew. In this basement, God knows where they are 
 they hid it, maybe even buried it in the sand, 
 unlikely to find it yourself.  Scare them?  A 
 They walk into the sand and in different directions.    
     -Why are you looking at this guy? 
 yes, - three eyes shouted from the concrete slab 
 drainage pipe.                     
     - Wait, Soft Head, maybe 
 what is there?                           
     - Beat him until he pulls out his weapon - 
shield!                                     
     The leg from the turn went straight across 
 all four eyes, and they simultaneously 
 blinked.- Get back, you bastards!  - the pilot yelled, 
 about to hit again.                      
     “Okay, okay,” he said, scared. 
 eyes blinked, - Shaven, remove the horns and 
 legs, he's not kidding.                       
     - I'm not kidding!  - the pilot shouted, already with 
 suppressing rage with difficulty - there is water or 
 no?                                     
     -Are you going to change?                 
     The pilot's hand lay on the handle of the blast 
 ra.                                      
     “Then there’s no water,” one muttered. 
 eye.                                    
     The pilot does not want to commit a crime. 
 body, although he could have easily done it 
 now, in this state.  But he was 
 a disciplined guy.               
     - Okay, to hell with you, let's me- 
 go away, he agreed.                 
     Four eyes crawled out of the darkness, behind 
 The owner of one eye followed him.  Three 
 jumped off the pipe.                       
     Dim light creeping through 
 cracks, illuminated the field of negotiations.           
     - Who whistled my false eye?! - 
 one of the freaks screamed into the light.         
     - Who whistled, who whistled, nothing 
 it was necessary to scatter it anywhere, it was necessary 
 was to tie it with an elastic band, - answered 
 him another.                              
     - On an elastic band! - the freak was indignant.     
     - Hey,“hey,” the pilot reassured them, “well 
 we will come to some agreement or 
 no?                                     
     All eyes looked at him again, 
 then glances moved to his left 
 holster, from which protruded a delicious 
 weapon handle.                          
     “This is it,” the crooked hairy one poked 
 finger in the holster, - here it is, on the canister 
 water.                                    
     - This?  - the pilot slapped the left 
 blaster - is it just for water?  Few! 
     The word he uttered is “little”, for- 
 made the basement walls shake.      
     - We have a couple more packages here, with 
 your human food.             
     The pilot nodded in agreement.        
     - Cyclops, bring it.                      
     One of the freaks disappeared into the darkness, but 
 quickly returned.  Ten thin hands with 
 with suction cups they handed the man a sealed 
 plastic canister and two similar pas- 
 chum salmon The pilot checked the tightness of the canoe 
 stras and packages, took the blaster out of the holster 
 rubbed it, twirled it on his finger and, exhaling, 
 gave it to the mutant, who saw the weapon, 
 dropped his saliva on the floor.  At the place where 
 a drop fell, the hissing of the connector was heard 
 given gender. The pilot, mechanically, moved away 
 kicked off his boot.                          
     Eyes stared at the second holster.   
 - And the secondblaster? - inquired - 
 there were freaks.                              
     “No,” the man snapped, “the second one.” 
 I'm not changing it.                                
     - What are you waiting for!  What are you waiting for! - 
 shouted the mutant named Soft Head.   
     “There, eat concrete,” he threw a pi- 
 lot, guessing what they would do with the weapons 
 zhim, - concrete, in my opinion, tastes better than pistol- 
 summer, and there is more of it here than iron. 
     - Perhaps he’s right.                   
     Flat, multi-toothed jaw train- 
 la, like a file, on a concrete wall, 
 leaving a sawn strip on it.       
     - Well, how?                            
     - No, it doesn’t taste good without glass, - from- 
 said the dissatisfied freak.                  
     - Why don’t you eat this?  - pilot sweat- 
 cassock with products.                          
     - Are you two-legged, completely asleep? 
 til, do you want us to poison ourselves with this? 
     - Your business.                         
 - Of course ours, - answered two mouths 
 on one head - we still have a brake 
 there is liquid, from the armored vehicle, we can tor- 
 sell cerebrospinal fluid.                 
     The pilot rummaged in his pockets.  Change 
 any of the equipment was a pity, and 
 brake fluid could always be used 
 fit.  He pulled out a folded 
 a piece of copper wire and a few 
 small spare parts, showed it all to the freak. 
     -“Okay,” the mutant nodded.           
     Now Soft Head has disappeared into the darkness. 
 He returned with another canister, extracted 
 He got away from her and handed it to the man.        
     - Well, I took a sip.           
     There were teeth on his ugly head 
 guys, three eyes on appendages, separated 
 in different directions. The head became flat and 
 crimson, then the back of the head wrinkled, and 
 everything returned to its original place.  Soft 
 The head, loudly and satedly, burped creakingly. 
 A satisfied smile froze on his face. 
 mii.                                     
     “What a beast,” thought the pilot, “those- 
 Now you will have to disinfect the canister. 
 Okay, but it will be possible from the brakes 
 light signal lights." He grabbed 
 canister with armored brake fluid 
 stu and headed towards the exit.              
     - Hey, how do you walk on two legs? - 
 came a question from behind.                   
     The man turned around.                   
     - Well, I’m not asking how you drink. 
 two mouths at once, or like this, biting 
 It's the back of my head.                             
     With these words the pilot left.         
                                          
     - Shall we have lunch?  - licked his lips - 
 zyy.                                     
     The answer was a satisfied one. 
 squelching trunks.                       
     Cyclops got a better grip on the blasterfingers, brought it to his mouth or bread- 
 balu (from a human point of view it was 
 can't figure it out).                         
     - Just not all of it!  - jumped from 
 impatience Shaved.                       
     The cyclops blinked one eye at him. 
 and bit off the stem.  After a short hiss- 
 niya, molten iron glass in acorns 
 doc.                                     
     - Wow, what a good blaster, 
 You can’t even get stuck with sand, - rubbed 
 one-eyed belly.                        
     - Come here, you've had enough! - pro- 
 Soft Head grunted. Cyclops, scared, 
 handed him the weapon. Soft Head took out 
 battery from the blaster and threw it to Shaved. 
 Shaved loved batteries and everything like them 
 energy crap.  Himself Soft 
 The head threw the remains of the weapon into his mouth and 
 took a sip.  The remains in the stomach fell on the 
 some other pieces of iron and, clinking, 
 rolled off the heap. Shaved, too, immediately 
 swallowed the battery without even biting it.  And 
 when his whole belly was covered with pimples, he 
 exclaimed:                              
     - Yeah, this is a delicacy, I’ve been around for a long time 
 I have never eaten such a shortage!                   
     Immediately after the exclamation, on his 
 bubbles began to rise in his belly, and some 
 where electrical discharges occur.  
     - ABOUT! - jumped at the first discharge 
 Shaved.- How many volts were there?  - ask 
 forces Cyclops.                              
     - Well, if it whips like that, it means 
 delicious.                                 
     Shaved's pleasure is unexpected 
 interrupted the furious cry of the Soft Head:     
     - Who ate my tape?!             
     The shaved man stopped discharging and surprised 
 he lazily exchanged glances with the Cyclops.           
     - What is he talking about?  I'm nothing 
 I misheard.                               
     - Pull the third ear to the back of your head, - 
 Cyclops advised him.                    
     The shaved man stretched out his ear and asked inquiringly. 
 all four eyes were fixed on the Soft 
 Head.                                  
     - Why are you yelling during lunch?      
     “Yes, indeed,” he supported him. 
 Cyclops.                                  
     - Well, you, I know, you ate it, I 
 I bought it for thirty rubles!  - not uni- 
 Soft Head was heartbroken.        
     - Iron rubles? - asked one - 
 leg-eyed.                                
     - No, paper ones.                     
     “Oh, then it’s bullshit,” he waved his tentacle. 
 Shaved.                                  
     - Yeah, bullshit! - ran into Shaved 
 Soft Head - my bullshit, mine!         
     - Don’t scream all over the desert, yeah- 
 Hey, we'll throw some cards at you if you win back, 
 I'm yours“I’ll burp the tape,” he suggested 
 Shaved.                                  
     Everyone agreed. So an hour passed.   
     - What are we playing for now? - Tsik stood up - 
 lop.                                     
 - To the last lamp.                
     - So unfair!  - Myag yelled again - 
 Kaya Head, whose cassette is Shaved in 
 It's game time, I've already managed to digest it, - I 
 saw it under the right upper leg of the ace 
 hid!                                  
     - Take your trunk away, otherwise I’ll hit you softly - 
 “Who needs the skull,” Shaved snapped.        
     - Oh so! - Soft Head jumped up.   
     - Hit him! - Cyclops also shouted now. 
     An accurate strike of three hooves to the left 
 Shaved's lower eye was knocked off six feet. 
 The appendage where the eye was was bent 
 like an accordion, and then crawled out again. 
 The shaved man stood up, blinked his black eye, 
 and, having picked out a black eye from it with a claw, stuck it 
 him in the mouth.                               
     “Give it up,” shouted Shaved, “ 
 otherwise I'll give you change.                        
     But suddenly Cyclops stopped beating Bri- 
 moreover, he stood up, stretched his piglet forward 
 covered with long stubble and mucus in the eyes, 
 blinked black skin folds into the darkness 
 kami and opened his mouth.  Sticky hairy 
 hit the wall and dived back into the mouth. 
 The Cyclops smacked his lips and explained:             
     - Fly.- What about me? - Soft Head was indignant. 
     - Whoever caught it ate it!  - proudly 
 quoted one of the local laws 
 leg-eyed.                                
     Indeed, the disturbances were un- 
 local, everything was legal, and the law was 
 strength:                                     
     1.Whoever caught it ate it.            
     2.What I caught, I ate.             
     3.Take the shape of the vessel in which 
 which they pour you.                     
     As for the third law, it 
 was already purely physical.                
     So... Cyclops really cares 
 I was lucky, flies were very common now 
 rarely and most of them were tasteless 
 nym.                                    
 R E Z E R V A T I O N           
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 (C) Vl. Andreev                         
 (W) KVAZAR/RUSH                         
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 - 3 -                   
                                         
                                         
     At this time, peacefully running at everyone 
 six paws, on the remains of an ancient vegetable 
 of the Zhuzha store, licked the soaked 
 stones filled with the smell of bran and waste. But 
 Now, the smell is over.  Zhuzha tried on 
 the tooth is a stone, but having broken a couple of teeth, I sleep 
 zero. He did not eat stones, except sand. And 
 He, with his trunk, sucked three liters of dogs into his mouth. 
 ka.  Having licked his lips, Zhuzha looked around at 
 hoping to find something else edible, but 
 it turned out that there was nothing else, that 
 everyone ate before him. He scratched his tail 
 back crooked paw.  From a mangy tail 
 Several scales fell off.             
     “I’ll go into the basement and crawl into it. And if no- 
 I'm not at home, I'll eat something there 
 something,” thought Zhuzha and went to the basement 
 Lu, proud of what was born in his head 
 That was such a smart idea.                  
     Zhuzha had a habitopen the door 
 head, which is what he did this time. 
 Only with the first blow did the basement door 
 I didn’t open up to something.                    
     Everyone in the basement became wary.         
     - Shaved, go look who's hurting there - 
 Xia.                                      
     - Why me?                          
     - Go, go, you lost the most. 
     The shaved man crawled lazily on all ends 
 ties to the door. Carefully opening it and 
 seeing Zhuzha, he waved his tentacles and 
 shouted:                                  
 - Go, get out of here! We have nothing 
 get lost!                              
     “Give me a light bulb, otherwise I won’t leave,” he said. 
 fork Zhuzha.                                
     The shaved man ran away from the door and grabbed 
 lamp and threw it to Zhuzha, pushing him out 
 doorway.  Zhuzha, smacking, swallowed 
 tapped her and slapped her on the stomach with his paw.   Lam- 
 the kidney burst inside his stomach.        
     - Delicious lamp, banged well, - 
 Zhuzha knocked on the door again.             
     - Get out, otherwise I'll hit you in the eye- 
 you shine! We don’t have anything else, - once - 
 Shaved's now angry voice came from the basement. 
     Zhuzha didn’t ask anymore, he 
 the villager burped and ran to bask in the sun - 
 ke.                                      
     “What a bastard,” the one-eyed man was indignant, “ 
 this was the last lamp.                
     - What if we didn’tgiven, - said 
 Soft Head - he would have given a drop to the sergeant. 
     - About what? He didn't see anything.    
 - Yes, just about anything, out of spite.   
                                          
     Don't let Zhuzha swallow anything 
 was impossible for two reasons.        
 Firstly, he would still not fall behind and 
 begged until the third coming.  A 
 secondly, then the sergeant could also 
 complain. Complain about anything 
 Well, the main thing is to complain. As for- 
 sergeant, he would have prescribed everyone 
 first number.                            
     There was a lot of sun and sand too.  Zhuzha 
 ran not so far from the basement and plop- 
 plunged into the hot sand with his paws up.  And 
 so he felt good.  Very close to 
 there was a metallic sound and rustling sound 
 sand, as if concrete had been placed on it 
 new plate.  Zhuzha lazily opened the door, alone 
 from your mosaic eyes, into it brightly 
 The sun was shining, he closed his eye.        
     But the sound turned into noise.  The noise you- 
 grew, moved forward from somewhere above, bringing 
 over Zhuzha its armored muscles and 
 a huge slab of armored steel. 
 Seeing the stove, the freak immediately understood what it was 
 Lo, but didn’t have time to get away from the road.  Made it 
 just swear obscenely and... stove 
 ironed it like a handkerchief, 
 viv in the sand.Zhuzha dug up his triangular head 
 and turned it over in surprise. Huge, four- 
 four-legged, steel beast, with a hiss- 
 stood a little further away.                  
     “Damn,” Zhuzha cursed again, “ 
 The whole belly is flat again!  When Sgt. 
 will stop driving over me in an armored vehicle! 
 From the iron beast-armored vehicle began a high- 
 the ladder comes out.  Man in a helmet and black 
 form, jumped from the ladder to the ground.         
     “Great, sergeant,” Zhuzha purred. 
 Seeing Juju and his situation, the man 
 burst into loud laughter, slapping himself 
 hands on knees.                       
     - Why are you laughing?  - Zhuzha was offended, 
 I spent all my breakfast because of you - 
 ki got out.                                
     - There’s no point in sunbathing on the highway, - from- 
 the sergeant told him.                       
     - Okay, okay, since you're having so much fun, 
 I won't tell you something very important.     
     - You won’t tell?  - the sergeant was surprised, - 
 Well, if you don’t tell me, then I won’t tell you either... 
 I guess I have unnecessary hardware.     
     At the word "iron", Zhuzha jumped 
 over the sand.                              
     - No, no, sergeant, you're wrong - 
 I understood correctly, I wanted to say - do you want 
 Shall I say something?                            
     - Speak.                            
     - Will you let me eat?                    
     - I'll give you, I'll give you.- What will you give me?  - asked Zhu- 
 Ms.                                      
     “An old generator,” the ser- promised 
 Gent.                                    
     - It'll do.                            
 - Is the contract concluded?                  
     Zhuzha swallowed affirmatively.          
     “Well, speak up,” the sermon advised him. 
 Gent.                                    
     - You know, in the basement of these three, - I feel... 
 Zhuzha's finger, which grew right above the eyes - 
 mi, pointed towards the basement.          
     “Well, I know,” the sergeant nodded.        
     - Well, here they are, there, again in 
 gambling on light bulbs is played.  Even 
 they didn’t want a lamp for me, a friend of the sergeant, 
 vat.                                    
     - How do you know what they’re playing? 
     - I know, and then, they are weapons again 
 eat and play.                          
     - How did you eat it?  - the sergeant was surprised 
 which lately nothing from 
 no weapons were lost, only once out of 
 The armored vehicle had its brake fluid drained.      
     - They ate, they ate, one of them had 
 his mouth smelled like a fresh blaster, he confirmed 
 Zhuzha.                                    
 “So,” thought the sergeant, “again 
 smugglers from Tatooine are something here 
 changed!"                                
     The sergeant turned around and walked towardsarmored vehicle.                               
     - Hey, sergeant!  - a shout caught up with him 
 Zhuzhi, what about something to eat?                        
     - The sergeant motioned for him to 
 waited, and climbed into the armored vehicle.  Through mi- 
 a large hatch opened in the armored vehicle, 
 from which the old gene collapsed onto the sand 
 rator. Then the sergeant himself got out with a long 
 no-barreled assault beam gun. He ordered 
 dug the helmet, checked both holsters with blast 
 rami and went to the basement.                  
     - Did they leave there? - quickly ask 
 Zhuzha has strength.                           
     “Not yet,” he answered, taking a bite. 
 from the generator fuse panel. 
     This time there's no one at the basement door 
 knocked, she just flew out with a piece 
 walls.                                   
 - Patrol round!   Run around 
 dark corners! - Shaved yelled, the bolts - 
 holding the cards by the cheek.                       
     The bright beam of the lantern struck the darkness beneath 
 rampart, over which a terrible thunder thundered 
 los sergeant:                            
     - Yes!  Get out, Soft Head, con- 
 tea hide, here is your flat back of the head 
 visible from behind the pipe.  And in general, it's better 
 Go out yourself, otherwise it will be worse!          
     - Hey, two-legged freak, don't shoot, we 
 “We’re getting out,” was heard from the darkness.      
     - Let's get out quickly, slobs! 
 - the sergeant urged them on.- Yes, we didn’t do anything like that, 
 “Sergeant,” Soft Go said guiltily. 
 fishing                                    
     - And in gambling, that means I gam- 
 yelled at the light bulbs, besides with himself, 
 - the sergeant was surprised.                      
     “Yes, we’re a little bit,” he tried. 
 rejoice Cyclops.                        
 - Maps here! - ordered the sergeant, - 
 and quickly admit from whom you took the weapon - 
 alive, just don't tell me that you are his 
 didn't eat.                                  
     - What weapon? - Shaved was surprised.   
     - Shut up! Who did they exchange it from?    
     “How do we know,” he squealed 
 Soft Head - sat down somewhere in the desert, 
 I came to change and we changed.         
     - What did they change for?  - didn't lag behind 
 Sgt.                                 
     - We give him two bags of your grub and 
 water, and he gave us a blaster.                  
     “Okay,” the sermon said slowly. 
 Gent, and then shouted again, - cards 
 here, I said!                          
     - Uh..., sergeant, maybe there are still cards... 
 see? We'll eat them right in front of you.       
     - Of course, and then you’ll burp again 
 you will play. Nothing will work!         
     “Okay, okay,” Bri took out the cards. 
 ty and put them into the outstretched glove 
 Sgt.                                
     - UDo you even have any old hardware? 
 - asked the Cyclops, - or beaten 
 bottles?                                 
     - My bottles are plastic, they are not 
 are fighting,” the sergeant answered him, gathering 
 ready to leave.                            
     - Maybe you can throw off the box?  - perked up 
 Cyclops.                                  
     - You'll get over it, troglodyte, lose weight - 
 "Ra," the sergeant said to the Cyclops.             
     - There’s absolutely nothing to eat.               
     - Eat bricks, I won’t feed you - 
 du.                                      
     - But they don’t taste good!  - indignant 
 one-eyed and was frightened when he saw directly 
 in front of him is a black, sealed visor 
 Sergeant's helmet                          
     “We need to get used to it,” he said quietly. 
 he has a helmet.                                
     Out of fright, Cyclops plopped down on his butt. 
 prostrate                                    
 - Which side did he sit on? - turned- 
 Xia sergeant to everyone present already 
 near the exit.                     
     - To the southwest of the settling pit, - 
 cried Soft Head, I don’t know exactly, but 
 when the wind blows, it smells of iron. 
     The sergeant nodded his head and threatened 
 basement finger.                          
     - If anything happens again, for sure, 
 You're all going to take me to the zoo.             
     He knew they were afraid of the zoo 
 therethey will not be fed iron.         
     Zhuzha laid it down, there is no one else!  - 
 shouted Shaved as soon as the sergeant 
 left.                                    
     - Exactly! - Cyclops stuck out his eyes, even 
 releasing the tip of Shaved's tail from his teeth, 
 which he tried to bite off.             
     “Nothing, one-eyed,” clicked the 
 finger on the eye of Cyclops Soft Head, - 
 when we catch him, you'll bite him off 
 tail You love tails, don't you?            
 - I won’t eat his tail, it’s green 
 shaggy and shabby, Shaved's tail is much 
 “more pleasant,” admitted the one-eyed man.        
     - Cattle! - saw the end of my life 
 gnawed tail Shaved and, jumping up, 
 tore off several jumps from Cyclops with his claw 
 cabbage soup from the stomach.  Jumping to the side, he su- 
 put them in his mouth and pushed them into his wife with his trunk 
 small bowl                                   
     - We've gone completely crazy!  It's time for 
 worry! - Soft Head barked at them. 
                                          
                                          
                                          
                                          
 - 4 -                   
                                         
 It's good that the sterilizer survived 
 and a small can of disinfectant. Pilot 
 now I was very proud of my habit of not 
 leave the sterilizer in the cabin or ba- 
 in the laundry compartment, and hang it on your belt, 
 behind the right holster.  And a small ball- 
 the bottle survived too, only miraculously - it was buried 
 lying in your pocket. He just forgot about 
 him.  But now the pilot was very happy for 
 yourself.  Not just glad, but happy. 
 Of course, he did not trust the purity of food in 
 sealed bags exchanged with three 
 freaks.  He had the same doubts 
 about water.  Even if the canister is sealed, 
 on, and the bags are sealed. The sterilizer 
 gave him the opportunity to change his point of view 
 answer to the food question.               
     The pilot ate his meal, settling down in the 
 nor the aileron hanging over him, 
 with your back to the side of the fighter.   Very 
 It was nice to sip in such heat from 
 clean canister clean water.  He heard 
 the noise of a huge car approaching and yes- 
 I knew it was the local sergeant coming, 
 but he didn’t want to tear himself away from dinner. 
     The car stopped very close. 
 The pilot stopped chewing for a minute and 
 I was crazy, I was peeking over the side 
 laziness.  The armored vehicle stuck out its speakers, from which 
 of which at first a short hiss was heard 
 tion, and then the voicethe ser- 
 Zhanta:                                   
     - Hey, you... in an army fighter, 
 are you still there?                              
     “There, there,” responded the pilot, prog- 
 patching up another portion and choking it down 
 liquid from the canister.                   
     The voice from the speaker was so familiar 
 We think that the pilot almost choked on water. 
 Of course, somewhere he heard this voice.    
     - The reserve sergeant is talking to you - 
 tions, come out and surrender, the smuggler is not- 
 “happy,” echoed across the desert again. 
     “Well, of course, it’s him,” thought the pilot, “ 
 he just didn’t see my tail number 
 dit".  The pilot recognized his interlocutor.  This is without 
 doubt was his old battle buddy, 
 which a few years ago was put in 
 some distant hole, he didn’t even know in 
 which one. But now this hole was because of him 
 known Well known and very well known.        
     - Hey, can’t you hear?   What do I need, 
 get out or what? - the sergeant shouted. Pilot 
 stuck his head out over the broken side and 
 shouted back in a sly voice:       
     - Don't you see, sergeant, I'm on a break? 
 for lunch.  And then, you yourself are a smuggler. 
     Seeing the head sticking out from behind the 
 cut side, the sergeant opened the hatch 
 no way, greetings immediately poured out from there 
 natural, cheerful swearing. No less inexpensive 
 harsh curses, greetings 
 because offighter.                
                                          
     - Ha ha! - the sergeant grabbed the pilot and 
 shook him well.                
     - How many light years? How many winters! 
     The sergeant reluctantly let him go.     
     - Wait, what are you doing here?    
     The pilot smiled wryly and looked at 
 the sun, I picked up the sand with the toe of my boot, and 
 then he turned his gaze to the fighter and 
 kicked him again.                 
     Sergeant, with a sympathetic look, 
 looked at the car, finally seeing the side 
 number, stubbornly hidden from him under 
 a pile of iron and a layer of sand with smoke.     
     - I thought it was some kind of army- 
 leftist or smuggler freaks again 
 you came from Tatooine.  I always confuse them 
 with the locals.                              
     - And it’s not them at all, it’s just me 
 turned out to be,” the pilot smiled.             
     - Yes, and it turned out to be you. And you 
 you know that according to local law, I generally 
 you should be arrested.                  
     The pilot looked at his friend in surprise.   
     - Why are you looking at me like that? 
 he sold weapons here.                 
     - Oh, are you talking about those three in the basement? 
     The sergeant's gaze froze on the canister of 
 brake fluid.  The sergeant took it and 
 sniffed it carefully.                       
     - My brake.Where did you get it from?  
     - In the basement I exchanged it for some 
 nuts and a piece of copper wire, - shook 
 pilot's shoulders.                           
     - Well, I'll deal with these hunters 
 to the brake fluid!  It's good that 
 you ended up on the reservation, on mine 
 territory. This happens once in a lifetime. 
 We will drink about this for a long time.     
                                          
     “For a long time,” whispered pi dreamily 
 lot, feeling the sergeant dragging 
 him into the armored vehicle, - wait, wait, how 
 is it my car?                           
     - Will she be able to take off?  - asked 
 Sgt.                                 
     - No.                               
     -Then we’ll leave her here, no problem. 
 it won't happen to her.  Everyone here knows that 
 It is prohibited to eat military equipment.          
     - Yes, but all the equipment is already gone... 
 come on! - the pilot was indignant.                
     - Well, the equipment is not yet itself. 
 combat vehicle,” the sergeant reassured him.   
     The pilot winced.                    
     The armored vehicle removed the ladder, closed the hatch and 
 moved off with a crew of two 
 man.                                 
     - How long have you been sunbathing here?  - asked 
 Sergeant, looking out over the sandy desert. 
     - From the very morning, and before that 
 hung around in solar space for two days 
 fine system,this is not a spank here yet- 
 nulsya.                                   
     - If you want, I can have you today 
 send, I have a ship nearby 
 worth it.                                   
     -Are you crazy?  - horrified 
 pilot, - I’d rather be drunk here for a couple of days - 
 I live as long as my bosses think that I 
 not alive.  Or did you want to deprive me 
 weekend?                                
     - No, of course, in my thoughts 
 this was not the case. Indeed, what kind of 
 it doesn't matter when you get hit in the neck 
 accident, two days earlier, two days later, - 
 The sergeant pulled out from behind the command chair 
 armored vehicle bottle and handed it to the pilot.  
     - And you? - he was surprised.              
     The sergeant grinned and took out a second one, 
 opening it with his teeth.  He was not happy 
 limit, and he did not hide it.             
     Having drunk more than half of the bottle and 
 moving his eyes slightly towards his nose, the pilot 
 I noticed in surprise that they were riding in armored 
 progress.                                    
                                          
     - Why don’t you fly on a flyer? On 
 “The armored vehicle is inconvenient,” he asked 
 Sgt.                                
     - What are you talking about, it’s not on the flyer here- 
 convenient, just put it somewhere, 
 they'll eat him right away, not even a field of protection 
 rescued.  But they don’t have teeth for an armored vehicle 
 enough. - You said, they don’t eat equipment.    
     -And you thought this always worked- 
 yeah?                                      
     The sergeant slammed on the brakes, and ma- 
 the tire froze, with the pe- 
 middle leg, from behind which they look 
 made a huge surprised eye.            
     The sergeant, calmly, took the microphone and 
 said in an icy voice:                
     - Hey, be a man, take your eyes off 
 roads, our car will slip.      
     The eye blinked twice.               
     - What did you call me?   - asked 
 someone from below.                            
     - Oh... - the sergeant exhaled.          
     - If you call me names like that, I’ll 
 “I’ll all get out,” someone below continued.   
     The sergeant took up the beam triggers and, 
 without thinking twice, without aiming, fired at 
 sand.  After the first shots, the eye 
 got out.                                 
     “Hooligans,” explained the sergeant.       
 The armored vehicle continued to move away towards the north 
 right on the border of the reservation, escorted 
 hungry, greedy glances.  His over- 
 the armor that sunk in the sun made you squint 
 eyes.            Р Е З Е Р В А Ц И Я           
      ════════════════════════════════    
                                          
                                          
 (С) Вл. Андреев                          
 (W) KVAZAR/RUSH                          
 ----------------                         
                                          
                                          
                                         
 - 5 -                   
                                         
                                         
     It was getting dark.  The reddened sun, on- 
 sulking after a hot day, hanging over 
 horizon, just about ready to break beyond 
 him from fatigue.                       
     Having completed the patrol tour of the reserve - 
 tion, bypassing a small settling pit, 
 Yes, the sergeant dumped garbage and scraps, 
 the armored vehicle stood heavily on the edge of the local 
 launch sites. It seemed that in the rays 
 of the rising sun, the sergeant's ship stands 
 listing slightly to port.      
     “I’ve been sitting here for the last few days,” 
 began to turn off the systems of the armored vehicle ser- 
 Gent.                          
     - We heard, we heard about that candy, 
 which they decided to make out of this mess. 
     - As soon as it starts, I wash my face 
 hands, what day is it today?  - rose from 
 chairs sergeant.   “T-Tuesday,” hiccupped the pilot, who- 
 Roma clearly needed help getting up 
 NI.                                     
     - Builders will be here on Thursday, and 
 it will start on Sunday.              
     “I want it too,” said the drunken 
 consumer                               
     The sergeant lifted him out of his chair, 
 poured his hand with the bottle onto his neck and 
 dragged to the ladder.                         
     - I have a special invitation for you to- 
 “I will,” he promised.                    
 - Where? - the pilot was surprised.            
     - How to where?  Well, you wanted it yourself!     
     - What did I want? - still asking again 
 the drunken pilot was sewing.                     
     - What, you yourself wanted to go to safa- 
 ri.   Even non-humanoids were invited here, 
 camps will be set up here for hunters, ba- 
 ry, and in order not to torment the army, they will be given 
 a bunch of combat and sniper paralyzers. 
     - What about kebab?                          
     - What kind of kebab?  - the sergeant was surprised, 
 who also began to look askance.               
     “From what we catch,” he explained. 
 pilot                                   
     - What we catch will be put in cages 
 and sent to zoos.                   
     - Okay, to hell with the kebab, - 
 the pilot agreed, throwing it aside 
 empty bottle.                          
     A mouth immediately appeared from the darkness,caught the bottle with her tongue on the fly, and 
 I pushed her into the sand.                         
 The armored vehicle stood, rotating, identified by all 
 flashing lights and sirens.  Pilot le- 
 looked around and raised his hand from the pointing 
 with his forefinger, pointed it in the direction of Ma- 
 tires:                                    
     - When leaving, you need to turn off the light.           
     “There’s no need to extinguish anything,” he reassured 
 his sergeant, dragging him towards the ship.             
     - No matter how necessary it is, I’m always in 
 As a child I was taught to turn off the lights.               
     - And I say, let them, let them think, 
 that I do not sleep and follow the law.             
     The pilot nodded briefly to indicate 
 that the sergeant had a great idea.        
     The sergeant suddenly stood up in surprise. 
 nia.  He finally saw that the ship 
 really stands tilted. Ser- 
 the gentleman bulged his drunken eyes with rage and 
 pulled out a blaster.                        
     - Bastards!  Hey, bastards!  Who?!  Who 
 chewed the chassis? Better admit it right away! - 
 yelled the sergeant.                          
 The drunk pilot slid down on all fours and 
 spat on the launch pad cover.       
     - Well, I was gnawing, - I crawled out of the slop 
 pit filled with black water, two-dimensional 
 y, yellow-brown crocodile.          
     The sergeant's boot kicked him hard in the 
 face, so that the criminal fell about 
 back into the pit.The pilot's hand began, the ma- 
 Well, look for some kind of brick.  Ki- 
 I'm so impatient.                    
     - Why are you fighting?  - howled offendedly 
 mutant, - you will fight me and the second chance - 
 I'll eat...                               
     But then a boulder, accurately thrown by the pilot, 
 Nick shut him down. Crocodile making noise 
 plopped into a thick, oily and strongly 
 the stinking abyss of the septic tank.               
     - Wow, I got it!  - Pi was delighted - 
 lot.                                     
     “To hell with him,” he began to raise him. 
 Sgt.                                 
     - How the hell is this, let it go, for me... 
 fari has already begun!                       
     Just hitting the support hard 
 lift the ship with a helmet, the pilot persuaded 
 collapsed, and the sergeant finally managed to hide 
 push him inside.                         
     The sun has faded.  It came from the ship 
 friendly chomping, short, sung duet 
 there is a battle march and loud snoring behind it.   
                                          
     When the sergeant woke up, in black 
 sky over the desert, hung a bright, civilized 
 called Moon. Were clearly visible from Earth 
 the lights of its cities and ports.  From this view 
 The sergeant wanted to drink again. Drink in 
 alone - you can't imagine anything worse, and 
 he began to push the pilot away.         
     Snoring peacefully in one of the suspended animation 
 nykhthe pilot did not want to buy the devices for a long time 
 crumble.  But soon, cursing terribly 
 and promising to kill half the empire, he 
 opened his eyes.  Realizing that this is real 
 really sergeant and that he wants you again 
 drink, the pilot agreed, and immediately 
 silently.  What could have happened on such a night? 
 better than drinking and eating fresh 
 air?                                 
     When he got out of the ship from the plastic 
 teak snack box, Sgt. 
 lit a chemical fire right in the middle 
 launch pad, sitting on an inverted box- 
 ke. Two more boxes stood nearby, one for 
 pilot, the second regular, full of bottles. 
 The Slayer sat down sleepily next to the fire. 
 He looked at the sky, where between the stars he 
 small fires were lit and extinguished - 
 ki spaceships.  Lowering my eyes 
 back and wiping his face with his hand, he took 
 held out by the sergeant, already open 
 back and at the sight of her he perked up noticeably. 
 Of course, they’ve been in the army almost their entire lives. 
 They forbid you to take even a drop into your mouth. Rarely in 
 the fleet is given a chance to miss 
 a hundred grams, and here such weekends are 
 are back!                               
 - For a successful safari, - suggested the ser- 
 Gent.                                    
     They knocked their boobs together 
 backs and at the same time threw them back.  For 
 I'll meet them alreadytoday we drank to the army, 
 both for the fleet and for the confederation of mankind 
 different too.  So now it's time to turn 
 it was a cheerful Sunday, full 
 hunting, and such a day always needs to be washed 
 tell us in advance...                          
                                          
     In the distance, in the moonlight, lifting 
 dust, a gang of blue and bald uro- 
 Dov with bulging eyes. The pilot was watching 
 at them with drunken surprise.   First time 
 he saw a crowd so blue and so bald... 
 dry, and even running in a solid heap. 
 The sergeant spat at the sight of them and went away. 
 into the ship for a large-caliber assault weapon 
 beam thrower.                               
     Exactly ten minutes later the crowd 
 Dov ran past them again, something 
 screaming, waving his blue arms and stick- 
 mi.  Their eyes shone in the darkness, like a hundred 
 Narey. And behind them, exploding the sand, rushed 
 something healthy. Apparently they woke him up 
 dili. Who will like it if at night on those 
 would such a crowd run by?                 
     The sergeant grabbed the weapon and launched it 
 chasing after with a thick beam.               
     “Ugh,” he spat again, “here 
 dogs, every night they are here calm 
 they are causing trouble.                               
     - Didn’t you try to disperse them?      
     - How can you disperse them here!  I'm over 
 I've been killing myself with this problem for two years now. 
 Even weaponsdoesn't help.  They run and that's it 
 here.                                     
     - Eh... Then we’d better go to bed in 
 ship,” said the pilot.                 
     The night passed relatively quietly, if 
 do not count the fact that someone repeatedly 
 tried to chew a hole in the hold of the ship. 
 But the protective device shocked him and 
 he crawled back into the hole, swearing. 
 Once again a gang of blues ran fifteen times 
 and bald villains, raising their voices in the desert 
 mon and clouds of sand.                        
     It was getting light.                             
     There's a line coming out of the septic tank 
 creatures who went looking for breakfast. 
 Behind them crawled out a thick, rotten and 
 yellow fog.                            
     Getting out of the ship, the sergeant pulled - 
 Xia.  Seeing the fog over the settling tank, he 
 pulled out a blaster and fired a couple at him 
 impulses. The fog immediately flew away, damn- 
 shouting and swearing.                     
     - I will complain! - she screamed, 
 cursing, stinking cloud.                     
     “As much as you like,” he answered good-naturedly. 
 The sergeant told her, thrusting the blaster back 
 but in a holster.                             
     The pilot followed the sergeant, holding 
 hands with a visor device. Rays of the sun 
 lay down on the sand.  Red and weak they are 
 began to dispel the darkness.                  
     The pilot applied the visorto the eyes, find- 
 nodding his fighter.  He just lay there 
 on his side, with his nose buried in the sand. But here 
 a gang of blue 
 and bald ones, those who “disturbed the peace” 
 vie" this night.  In the rays of dawn 
 flat jaws flashed.              
     - Hey! Stop!  What are you doing, you bastards! - 
 the pilot shouted, but it was too late.          
     The bellies swelled and the fighter disappeared. 
     The pilot looked around in confusion at the gray 
 Zhanta.  He took the visor from him and looked 
 to the crime scene.                   
     - That's it, the end of your fighter.    
     “But...” the pilot stuttered.           
     The sergeant looked up from his visor and 
 hands:                                  
     - Ate.  And don't grab your weapon 
 There's no point in shooting anymore.                 
     - Pigs!  You bastards!  Bastards! - swore 
 pilot                                   
 The sergeant sympathetically put his hand 
 ku on the shoulder.                             
     Someone crawled past them on the sand, 
 stopped and showed them all the warts 
 kah green tongue and made a sound similar 
 on "be-be-be", while his tongue was chattering - 
 moving like a rag from side to side. But 
 After this joke he crawled away not far.  From 
 the sand's mouth stuck out, swallowed him and 
 she smacked her mouth deliciously.                      
     There came a calling squeal and a ser- 
 the gentleman ran away on thissignal.  Having reached 
 to the remote control he turned off the two flashing red 
 nal signal. He was called by the center 
 ral base of Australia.                  
     - The seventh patrol is listening to the base.      
     An image appeared on the communication video screen. 
 base destruction.                            
     - Hello, seventh, this is the center.  Well, 
 what do you have there?                          
     “Yes, everything is fine,” he shrugged. 
 Sgt.                                 
 - Oh sergeant, sergeant, you're covering 
 friend?  The one that crashed.  
     There was nothing to do, everything was already at the base 
 They knew, they had to admit it.           
     - Yes, I picked up our pilot here, 
 How did you find out about this?              
     “I’ll tell you now,” they answered him with 
 bases, - only while you cover the east 
 guys, we have to close your 
 ass, sergeant.                        
     - I owe it.                
     - OK.  Now to the point.  You have it there 
 army fighter must lie down 
 you picked the pilot. So?                 
     “Yes, but...” the sergeant was indignant.   
     - Wait, sergeant, there's a crime there. 
 getting ready.  We've just opened for a while 
 tore the protective field and managed to get to us 
 Aunt Toothless.  He says that this 
 I overheard a conversation at night. And what do you think- 
 eat, whose?                                
     - Well, whose? - You have a mutant there named 
 Soft Head, a former dangerous relapser 
 whist I ate equipment, rode on machines 
 temporal transfer. Been there more than once 
 in the punishment area.                        
     “Well, that’s all true,” confirmed the ser- 
 Gent - but he did his time.                
     - That night he provoked eating - 
 stealing military equipment, inciting one to do so 
 from local gangs.                         
     - Will you let me get the word in?  - 
 The sergeant waved his hands.                 
     “Come on,” they answered him from the base.      
     - Well, this fighter has long been 
 already eaten, and I’m trying to convince you about it 
 to dominate from the beginning of our conversation.            
     - Wow!  Well then, the crime 
 there is a lot of money, take them.                   
     - Whom should you take?! - the sergeant begged, - 
 this fighter ate the whole block, and I 
 Look for them all here! This car would still be 
 ate!                                   
 - Okay, then take it as the instigator and 
 leader Soft Head.  This time he 
 don't get away with it. This is his doing.        
     - And what will happen to him?  - smiling wryly - 
 the sergeant asked.            
     - This time, for banditry - a demon - 
 secret camera, sure enough.            
     The sergeant's face immediately brightened.     
     - Okay, let's go.take.    
     - We are waiting for you, Sergeant.             
     - Okay, wait.                       
     The communication screen went dark.  The sergeant stood still 
 near him for a minute, exhaled noisily and 
 shouted with all his might:                      
     - Alarm!   Roll out the battle flyer! 
 Pilot! Pilot, where the hell are you?         
     Double, high-speed, battle flag 
 er, turned the sirens and twisted the top 
 turning a huge gun, rushed into 
 direction of the basement.                     
     - Well, now such a ruckus will begin, - 
 The sergeant turned to the pilot.             
 - 6 -                   
                                         
                                         
     The car crashed through the basement wall with its nose and 
 went inside with the entire front part.  Mo- 
 the cockpit hood was mentally removed and from under 
 The muzzles of two blasters appeared.     
     - Not moving! - in a terrible voice for- 
 yelled the sergeant.                            
     But in the basement they only played cards 
 Shaved and Cyclops.  They didn't have time to hide 
 cards, stared in fear at the flyer and 
 weapons sticking out of his cabin.          
     - Tell me quickly, where is Soft Head?!   
     “We don’t know,” he fell on again. 
 floor with fear Cyclops.“We have nothing to do with it,” Bree squeaked. 
 ty, he rested our last piece of iron and 
 disappeared at night!                            
     The flyer, swaying, began slowly 
 crawl out of the basement in reverse.       
     - Okay, and you look at me, - 
 said the sergeant fist to Shaved and one-eyed 
 mu, - oh, yes, I see you are playing cards again 
 got stuck.                                  
     - Am! - Shaved swallowed the deck, 
 so as not to give it to the sergeant.              
     - Well, I’ll deal with you later, - 
 he promised.                              
     Coming out of the basement, the flyer unfolded 
 in one place and rushed over the desert.   
     On the sand, footprints were clearly visible 
 limbs of Soft Head.  The car, over 
 the engines whistling jerkily, picking up speed 
 grow.                                   
     Meanwhile, Soft Head, greedily 
 he was gnawing on a piece of iron he had stolen at night, sitting 
 on the sand. The piece of iron was tasty and sold 
 he didn’t want to let her go, but in the distance, above the earth, 
 a small shiny dot appeared 
 ka.  The object was very reminiscent of iron 
 to its brilliance. From greed Soft Head 
 took a sip.  The shining point is quickly approaching 
 complained.                                  
 Realizing that it was flying, Soft Head 
 choked on his piece of iron and dived 
 fishing in the sand.Shooting from all the weapons that would- 
 Lo on board, the flyer flashed past.        
     Soft Head jumped out of the sand and 
 started running in the opposite direction 
 well.  Yes, so run that all his hands and 
 legs were flashing in 
 circles in the air. Flyer made a dead pet- 
 I loved him and rushed after him.  Sirens howled and 
 engines of the flying car, the sky rose 
 juice                                     
     - Harpoon! Pull out the harpoon! - shout- 
 the sergeant said.                             
     From the right bow of the flyer protrudes 
 halo harpoon device.               
     - Shoot!                           
     The pilot aimed the device and pressed 
 release button. The harpoon squealed, carrying away 
 Behind you is a multi-meter cable.  But Soft 
 The head dove into the sand again, continuing 
 escape under it, leaving it on the surface 
 dug up sandy snowdrifts.  Harpoon 
 hit the sand.                          
     - Unhook, we didn’t hit you!               
     The cable flew off the flyer. From installation 
 a new harpoon moved out.                 
     “Get down,” the pilot shouted, “so I 
 I won't hit!                               
     Soft Head was tired of running under 
 sand and jumped out.  Flyer lowered- 
 Xia, hitting the bottom on a stone.             
     -Where should he shoot?   I'm the only one 
 I see my backside,” asked the pilot, notletting go 
 sight.                                 
     - Shoot him!  I'd rather not come- 
 waving!                                   
     Harpoon screeched again. Soft Head 
 jumped in pain, spun around in place, 
 bit off the cable with his teeth and started again 
 run away.  Among the sand every now and then flashed 
 his ass with a harpoon stuck into it.  
     - Replace the harpoon with a net! - advised- 
 shaft sergeant, - we can’t take him with a harpoon - 
 meme!                                     
     - You press, press, come on, it comes off!    
     - He's not going anywhere.              
     Soft Head is already tired of running, then 
 things are changing direction. The car was catching up 
 him. The device spat out a bunch of synthetic 
 chesk network.                             
     Soft Head twitched, trying 
 break free and become more and more entangled.  How 
 No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t do anything.   
     More and more new and 
 new curious eyes. The flyer was returned- 
 Xia, and under its side, in the net, as in 
 string bag, freshly caught dangling.        
     - Serves you right, bastard! - handing out - 
 screams came from the basement, - you won’t be hurt - 
 Stop stealing our iron, you bastard!  - grunted 
 many trunks.                       
     The flyer hung in place, near the ship. 
 The sergeant and the pilot, having unhooked the net, dragged 
 threw her into the hold, every now and then kicking her 
road.  Having dragged in the net, they left the trap 
 Ma, shaking off her gloves and clothes, satisfied 
 self-confidence. The sergeant climbed into the flyer, pulled out 
 I picked up a fresh bottle from there, which 
 they drank it right away. After which they climbed into 
 ship.  Sergeant on the lift platform 
 I remembered that I left the flyer dangling 
 outside. He jumped off and ran to chase 
 and him into the hold.                            
     Finally getting to the control panel, 
 leniya, the sergeant turned on the communication, calling 
 base.                                    
     - This is the seventh, hey, can they hear me there?   
     “They hear the seventh,” the screen answered.  
     - Well, guys, I took it.         
     - Okay, sergeant, bring him here.    
     - I'm dragging, dragging.                         
     Having closed the hatch, the ship began to grow heavily 
 rise, accelerating around the launch pad 
 blizzard of sand.  From the hold they could hear 
 the screams and squeaks of Soft Head.  But here he is 
 fell silent, obviously the ship's automation needed 
 ate his screams, she cracked him with something- 
 be heavy on the soft back of the head, and te- 
 now he collects his brains in a heap in order to 
 start yelling again.            Р Е З Е Р В А Ц И Я           
      ════════════════════════════════    
                                          
                                          
 (С) Вл. Андреев                          
 (W) KVAZAR/RUSH                          
 ----------------                         
                                          
                                          
                                         
     Immediately upon arrival, two robots 
 pulled the criminal out of the net and dragged him away 
 Soft Head to the laboratory.  Androids 
 unceremoniously folded it several times 
 and stuffed into the camera of the device, remotely 
 resembling a washing machine. One of 
 robots put the mechanism into action.      
     A sergeant entered the laboratory, with him 
 The technician also came. In the device, instead of Soft- 
 some Heads, a solid mass flashed from 
 which appeared first arms, then legs, then 
 eyes.  The sergeant could barely contain his laughter. Tech- 
 Nick was as gloomy as a cloud. His process 
 sy punishments were no longer entertaining. Appa- 
 Rat stopped, blinking briefly 
 colored lights.  The lid was opened, but 
 the porridge that was in the cell immediately appeared 
 confused:                          
     - I protest!  This is discrimination! - 
 yelled the liquid-like Soft Head.        
     “Close it back,” the technician muttered. 
 nickname                                     
     The robots immediately carried out his orders - 
 tion and started the mechanism again.  Now in 
 there was nothing interesting on the device, 
 sha and porridge, or rather, a mucus-like substance 
 society.                                  
     The device stopped again.  Its contents 
 cameras poured intoplastic canister. 
 The sergeant took it and looked at it approvingly. 
 clapping and shaking the contents thoroughly, 
 put it on the floor.  But the canister is at his feet 
 fidgeted, and stuck out of her neck 
 eye. The canister shook and fell to the floor. 
 The porridge that flowed out of her looked at 
 sergeant and technician, cursed them out 
 the light is on, gnawed a hole in the wall and 
 rushed to run away along the sand away from 
 laboratory, swearing obscenely.         
     - Shoot! He'll go away!  - Tech jumped up - 
 nickname                                     
     The sergeant pulled out a blaster and began to... 
 pour, holding it with both hands.  In the middle 
 the escaping puddle formed a hissing breath- 
 ra and the jelly-like Soft Head became ro- 
 speak even louder and more obscenely. Sergeant 
 fired again.                       
     Having put away the weapon, the sergeant took it from the table 
 a small box, a dustpan and 
 went to collect what was left of 
 escaped bandit.  Carefully raked the pe- 
 sang into the box and smoothed it out with his finger.   
     In response to this, from the ashes was heard 
 swear word, followed by one more.         
     The sergeant opened his helmet and spat in the 
 timidity with ashes.                          
 - Why are you spitting up! Why are you spitting!- 
 came from there.                        
     The sergeant was surprised and made a gloating expression. 
 grin, pulled out from his beltplasma 
 lighter and the tip of the flame began 
 cut the ashes evenly into pieces. Co- 
 timidly jumped in his arms, but quickly 
 calmed down.                             
     - Wow, shut up, - with these words - 
 you, the sergeant spat at her again.       
     - Come on! - came from the box.     
     This time the sergeant couldn't stand it.  He 
 screamed terribly, threw the box up and 
 in a jump, he hit her with all his strength 
 a kick that is lethal even for an elephant. 
 Thousands of black dust particles scattered across 
 the wind, and with them thousands of obscene 
 words                                    
                                          
     It was already late. We need to go back. 
 It was not easy for the sergeant to let the pilot go 
 after so many years of separation. But what will happen? 
bark.  Hard labor awaited him. 
 ta. The builders will arrive at dawn. Need- 
 but ensure complete safety for them, their 
 technique, look both ways without closing your eyes, 
 so that expensive equipment is not eaten 
 ore mining                               
     Saying goodbye, the sergeant quietly slipped 
 pilot a plastic bottle, and he 
 cleverly managed to hide it under his uniform.       
     Waving one last time to the departing 
 shuttle, the sergeant ran to his ship 
 liu.                                      
     "God knows what these guys managed to do. 
 freaks during my timeabsence?" - du- 
 he is small.                                  
                                          
                                          
                                          
 - 7 -                   
                                         
                                         
     It was late at night when over the reserve 
 the lights of the sergeant's ship appeared. 
 He hung over the launch pad, turning 
 rolling aft, releasing the landing gear. 
     Seeing the lights, a gang of blue and bald 
 stopped running and hid behind one 
 from the sand hills.                     
     The ship sank, but its searchlights 
 didn't go out.  The spinning sirens threw bright 
 some reflections on the distant dunes.          
     In the bright light they were visible, moving 
 iron multi-armed ones walking around the site 
 creatures that make strange noises every now and then 
 sounds and flashing small lights. 
 The figure of a sergeant often flashed between them. 
 the one giving orders.                
     The blinding light scared away a gang of blue and 
 bald, and they rushed over the hills, away 
 from the ship, sparkling in the glare of the sirens, 
 with their bald heads. Far away on the horizon there is a light 
 was the first one fallingto the illuminated 
 launch pad star, which is approaching 
 grew and grew.                            
 A restless morning began.         
                                          
     The sergeant helped the builders unload 
 equipment, commanding robots when 
 Zhuzha ran past him.                 
     - Sergeant!  Sergeant! - he shouted behind 
 panting.                               
     - Well, why are you yelling? - turned to not- 
 mu sergeant.                              
     Zhuzha stopped and began to breathe noisily. 
 bot.                                   
     - Shaved One-Eye ate!           
     - That is? - the sergeant did not understand him.   
     - That’s it, I ate it and that’s it, here it is 
 tail,” Zhuzha handed to the sergeant, chewing 
 given Cyclops tail.                    
     - Yes, Shaved!   Shaven, pig, go 
 here! - the sergeant shouted.                
     A few minutes later, puffing, with na- 
 with a beaten belly, Shaved lazily crawled over.    
     - They say they called you chief? - inquired 
 he.                                      
 - Your work? - the sergeant showed him 
 tail                                   
     - Did Zhuzha drip it? - answered the question 
 catfish to the question Shaved.                    
     And then the sergeant remembered what would happen in 
 Sunday and that the first task now is 
 This is to let the builders work in peace.And 
 that now they are at least into cards, at least into anything 
 play.                                  
     - Yes, he dripped it, - quietly from - 
 the sergeant shouted, swung and threw 
 One-Eye's tail.                       
     Zhuzha's eyes bulged out of fear.  Scales 
 it stood on end.  He didn't understand that 
 this suddenly happened to the sergeant.         
     - Yes, I’ll eat it! - Shaved growled.   
     “And you’ll do the right thing,” he muttered. 
 Sergeant, working on robots again.       
     “Yeah, sergeant,” Shaved distracted him, 
 - I’ll eat it, and you put me in the cell.        
     “I need you badly,” he grinned. 
 Sgt.                                 
 - What, really? - Shaved was surprised.    
     “I give you my word,” the sergeant reassured him. 
     The shaved man looked from the sergeant to 
 I buzzed and made a guttural burp.               
     And off they went.  First Zhuzha, from 
 fear, then Shaved, from hunger. Sergeant 
 he continued to wave his arms at the robots.      
     A gang of blue and 
 bald. They dragged them back by all means. 
 ness of Shaved, who trudged along the sand 
 on his back and touched his round belly, 
 from where Zhuzha’s squeaks were barely audible:       
     - Pig! Spit me back out or else 
 it will be worse!                              
     But Shaved didn’t even think about spitting it out - 
 vat.                                    
     The sergeant looked after them,grin- 
 got up and got down to business...                 
                                          
     Sunday morning started unexpectedly 
 and even before the alarm went off 
 sergeant, which, however, made him very angry 
 its owner.                             
     One of the mutants simply decided the day before 
 fuck. He got out of the septic tank, 
 sniffed the air with his trunk and discovered that 
 there is visible and invisible iron very close by, 
 glass, plastic and other tasty things 
 cabbage soup  But I didn’t manage to eat anything. 
     The villain was caught by a three-fingered woman 
 the helpful hand of a combat android.  This hand 
 for some reason she didn’t bite, she just brushed against her 
 her teeth were sagging, but licking her was very 
 convenient.                                  
     The sergeant woke up from the fuss that 
 walking while capturing a hungry ghoul.  He 
 looked outside and examined the place of the press- 
 dulling.                                
     - Wait! Where are you taking him?        
     - What should I do with him, sir? - in non- 
 The robot stopped in shock.              
     - Yes, throw it away.       
     Following the sergeant's advice, the robot is a little... 
 he drove off, swung and launched, then, 
 that hung in his hand with all his strength. 
     The sergeant, awake, watched for a long time as 
 the freak flies away, twitching his arms and legs, 
 until he was out of sight.   To normalthe sergeant's cheerful state led to a piercing 
 body squeak on the hand. The alarm clock announced 
 that it is time to trumpet the rise. Started- 
 This is the first day of the safari.  The sergeant looked 
 to the east, where the dawn was faintly dawning and 
 turned to the android.                   
     - Raise the camp. Let's begin.         
     In the first rays of the dawn sun 
 the sergeant, pacing back and forth, pro- 
 made a long speech before the whole legion 
 nom hunters.   Behind them was 
 formed in front and divided into detachments, you- 
 equipment brought in from hangars in advance. Between 
 robots scurried around her every now and then, 
 checking once again to see if everything is in order.     
     Far from the sergeant, a whole horde of galaxies 
 tic punks were turned on by several 
 shrouded in chains and strange skulls, brightly 
 painted air ducts.              
     - And so that no beam shooting, 
 except paralyzers. And no harpoons. 
 Damage to spoils is unacceptable.  I'll be there myself 
 flagship armored vehicle. This is all - the law - 
 The sergeant finished his speech, he spoke for the last time. 
 having formed a line of hunters, among whom were 
 Are the guys looking cooler than the local mutants? 
 Comrade                                     
     - This applies to you too!  - shouted 
 Sergeant Pancam.                          
     The horde of punks fell silent and nodded. 
 catches as a sign that they understood him. 
 After this sign the punks again,hooting, 
 They began to start their scary cars. 
     The sergeant had known punks for a long time. 
 He often resorted to their help when 
 unauthorized reservations occurred 
 rallies or any demonstrations 
 protests and riots for mutant rights, otherwise 
 and simply from gluttony.  In response to this 
 the sergeant was just calling out the galactic punks 
 and allowed them to go wild and have orgies 
 and stand on ears, on the territory of the reserve - 
 tions as much as they like.  But it usually fit 
 a lot.  After that, not a single freak would risk 
 forged to show himself into the light of God from his own 
 she's been in the hole for about a month, and back on the reservation 
 normal life began, without any 
 political passions.                   
     But the sergeant was far from kind 
 uncle even with punks.  And they respected him 
 and he, in turn, respected them.          
     - By car! - a clap of thunder prog- 
 the sergeant's voice boomed, - let's begin!        
     The sun peeked out fearfully from behind 
 horizon as battle sirens began to wail.   
     The safari has begun.                     
     Cars fanned out in the desert 
 hunters, annoyingly roaring engines and 
 raising clouds of sand and dust. They were not walking 
 high above the ground, front, how far 
 a glance was enough.                         
     Something was running far in front of them 
a screaming gang of blue and bald people who are nottwo air ducts pursued less noisily 
 with the punks.                               
     The howl of sirens and the whistling of engines mixed together 
 with hooting and shouting from the hunters, 
 they let the freaks jump out of their holes and 
 the guards were forced to run in zigzags, 
 ahead of the pursuing cars.         
     The shooters tore their throats with all their might, unable to 
 ordering to deploy the weapon behind the target.  Who- 
 then he was generally aiming, straightening up, standing on 
 moving in an open cockpit. Constantly distributing 
 there were popping noises from the pneumatic systems, 
 spitting the charge of a synthetic network.    
                                          
     As soon as the sirens started blaring, Shaved 
 he immediately realized what he needed to do.  C 
 at the first sound blue and bald again 
 huddled together and, leaving Shaved, ran away 
 or in an unknown direction.  True, to 
 By that time he had already felt better about his wife- 
 Lukom, and he himself could drive away this gang, 
 but he was too lazy.                        
     Everyone rushed in different directions, like 
 As soon as the siren started howling, Shaved immediately 
 ran to the local septic tank, dived into 
 him and hid there in the mud, under a snag, 
 await the third coming.  And only 
 in the distance the sound of hunting ceased, Shaven with relief 
 he took a breath and stuck his trunk out, 
 breathe.                                
     “It seems like everyone has left,” thought Shaved, 
 feeling like he has it againis being played out 
 appetite.                                 
     - Well, yes, of course, but here they sit and 
 waiting. As soon as you stick your head out..., he said 
 his inner voice.                    
     - Well, I already stuck out my trunk and nothing - 
 th.                                      
     And then someone with terrible grasping power 
 pulled Shaved by the trunk, sticking out on the surface 
 hnosti.                                  
     “Oh, you fool, let go, you’ll tear your nose off!” 
 shouted Shaved, floundering under a snag. 
 A hunter sitting on the bank of the sediment 
 Nika with a fishing rod, let go of his trunk.  Scream 
 clearly addressed from under the water to him, naked 
 There was a lot of surprise at him.  He is a specialist 
 lagged behind safari to sit 
 on the shore of some body of water.  He and 
 I grabbed the fishing rod on purpose.   Fishing 
 gave him more pleasure than 
 noisy hunting.  And what was his r- 
 when he found a pond, let him 
 dirty, with black water, but still 
 pond  And now it was biting.  Yes how 
 pecked! It was impossible to miss such a fish - 
 Zya.                                      
     Shaved stopped floundering when 
 next to him, right to the bottom, a device sank 
 a trinity very similar to a boiler. 
 The water around him began to boil and the temperature 
 ra began to rise.  Shaved pulled out 
 forward your long-suffering trunk and 
 sniffed. Seethingthe device was clearly the same 
 useful.                                  
 - What happens if I take a bite? 
 check?  Maybe it will stop heating?  - ask- 
 Shafted himself.                     
     “Don’t eat, you’ll become a little goat,”   
 the inner voice intervened again.         
     - Fuck you, I’ll eat the goat too! - and 
 with these words Shaved bit the boiling water 
 nickname                                     
     After the boiler, another one fell 
 then a piece of iron tied for some reason to 
 fishing line                                   
     - Well, if I ate that one and nothing, this 
 I’ll even swallow it! - Bri was delighted 
 fed to such a quantity of food.               
     And the next piece of iron was swallowed 
 easy, but the fishing line is stuck somewhere 
 between the teeth.                            
     The hunter sitting on the bank of the sediment 
 Nika jumped when the float was used 
 chasing under the slurry.  With a dream of a big ear, 
 without hesitation, the fisherman hooked 
 heavy-duty fishing line to the hook of your everywhere 
 progress, climbed into the cabin and gave gas.  He has 
 It was already time to make sure that naked hands 
 Kami local fish are not pulled out. Water 
 the settling tank reared up as if from a di- explosion 
 namita and someone jumped out of her, covered in 
 dirty, slippery slurry, with burning eyes 
 zami.  Howling terribly, this is someone after all 
 breaking the fishing line, he rushedrun into the desert- 
 nude                                      
     The hunter, jumping out of the all-terrain vehicle, exited 
 knocked out the stunner and fired several times 
 I did, but it was too late.                   
     “Damn,” he spat, “my ear is gone.” 
     Meanwhile, Shaved, out of fear, enriched 
 cashed the front line of the safari and when a little 
 he slowed down, realized that he was running together 
 with the others.   And the next moment 
 the sky above him was covered by the unfolding blue 
 thetic network.                         
                                          
     The sergeant's armored vehicle stood on a high 
 sandy hill near northeast 
 borders. Behind him, in battle formation, 
 other vehicles were being built. 
 The sergeant led the ambush squad.  Exactly 
 hunters were supposed to hunt him down 
 ki from the central desert. And when away 
 clouds of dust appeared on the horizon, gray 
 the gentleman commanded into a megaphone:              
     - Forward! Let's expand our flanks!         
     The engines whistled hysterically.  Their 
 the whistle drowned out the piercing wail of the sirens.  
     Ambush squad, unfolding its claws 
 flanks, moved towards the front of the driving force 
 kov, squeezing the ring.                      
     - Come on, drive! - in the excitement of the attack the Cree- 
 said the sergeant, for whom it also began 
 Sunday.                             
     In the midst of pleasure, before 
 the sergeant flushedcommunication signal. His you- 
 called the central base.                 
     “The seventh is in touch,” he said. 
 continuing to lead the hunters.               
     - Are you having fun? - they asked from the base.  
 - To the best of your ability.        
     - We have a small business here, if 
 If you agreed, the bosses would give you a salary 
 It's definitely doubled for you.                      
     - I’m unlikely to agree, even for double- 
 a new salary - without looking up from the hunt, 
 Sgt. spoke to the base.                 
     - Yes, we knew that you were unlikely to agree- 
 You feel good, but you understand that there is no one else. 
 You won't leave us in this position, will you? 
     The sergeant remained silent in response.           
     “The point is this,” they continued. 
 from the base - there are a lot of freaks left 
 fields, in the mountains, especially in the area 
 equator.  We will catch them and throw them 
 whose to North America.  The local reserve 
 The stay is only for a couple of weeks.           
     - I’ve known you for a couple of weeks, - smile - 
 The sergeant came in.                           
     - No more, but one more safari 
 will you arrange, well, a deal?              
     The sergeant took a deep breath.  Oh how not 
 he wanted to look behind the reserve again - 
 tion.  But abandoning your own in distress 
 position was considered the last in the army 
 business.                                   
     - To hell with you, I agree- squeezed out 
 he, realizing that by the end of the year he will definitely 
 can't get out of this hole.               
                                          
 ----------------------------------------