Harry Harrison
BILL - HERO OF THE GALAXY
translation by V. Kovalevsky
Book one
Chapter 1
Bill never understood what it was all about.
happened to him only because of lust. After all
if in the clear sky of Figuerinadona-2 there were no
that morning the sun was so hot and
if Bill hadn't accidentally spotted sugar-white
Inga's pale, round, barrel-like buttocks
Maria Kalifigia, bathing in a stream, burning
the languor of the flesh would not distract him from the aroma
you, and he would have drawn a furrow right over the edge of the hill
long before voices were heard from the road
enchanting sounds of music. Bill didn't hear
would be her, and his whole future life would be
would be completely, completely different. But, since they played
somewhere nearby, he released the handles of the connection
attached to the robotic plow, turned and away
his mouth gaped in surprise.
The spectacle was truly fabulous.
The parade was led by a robot orchestra of twelve
feet tall, stunning with his
a tall black shako, in which the
The speakers were falling. The gilded columns of the legs are
they carried him forward solemnly, and thirty su-
standing hands pulled the strings, screamed and
pressed the keys of countless musical
instruments. Incendiary sounds of march
provoked Bill, and his strong peasants
some legs, shod in rough shoes, themselves
the battle began to dance when the glossy boots
gi soldiers banged alongroads. Paratroopers
walked, bravely sticking out their chests, medals flashing -
tsali on scarlet uniforms, and in the world definitely
there was no more beautiful spectacle. The procession closed
Kal sergeant, sparkling with copper and braid,
densely hung with medals and ribbons
tami, with a broadsword and a carbine, with a belt on the life
here and with steely eyes. With a tenacious glance
he looked around the house at Bill, who was leaning on
fence, stared at all these miracles. Sergeant
nodded his gray head, conspiratorially
bent and twisted in the semblance of a friendly smile -
ki mouth, like an iron trap.
In the rearguard of the small army rolled,
bouncing and slipping on potholes,
a row of dusty utility robots. When
and they clunked past, Bill clumsily crossing
fell over the fence and trotted after him. B
their village wilderness interesting incidents
Vias occurred no more than two times in four
year, and he was by no means going to miss
an event that promised to be the third in a row.
By the time Bill came running
market square, a crowd had already gathered there,
attracted by an inspired jazz concert.
The robot dived headlong into the invigorating waves
ny march, broke through the
and almost self-destructed with frantic rhythms
. He entered
such a rage that his leg bounced off his body
thing and flew into the air. The robot deftly
grabbed it on the fly and continued to play, bala-
not pointing outone leg and beating the beat of the
bath limb. When the horns blew
one last heartbreaking scream, he pointed
a piece of debris to the other side of the square, where, how
magically, a surround screen appeared
but also a portable bar. Soldiers, without hesitation,
disappeared into the depths, and the recruiting sergeant remained
stood alone surrounded by robots, blurred
with a welcoming smile from ear to ear.
- Get over here, guys! Free drinks for
The Emperor's Account and Amazing Movies
adventures in distant lands that are not
will let you fall asleep while you whip your
swill! - he barked unusually loudly,
in a rasping voice.
Most - including Bill -
accepted the invitation; only a few wise
experienced, seasoned men avoided
call and furtively disappeared behind the houses.
A robot with a faucet instead of a navel and an inexhaustible
available stock of plastic cups in
one of the hips served refreshments on-
drinks. Bill, sipping with pleasure from
glasses, admired the breathtaking sights
adventures of the space marines. Picture
was color with sound effects and infra-
sound stimulants. There were battles and
death, and victories, although they died, of course,
only chingers: soldiers at their worst
got away with minor scratches, which
some immediately hid under gauze bandages
kami. While Bill was enjoying this spectacle, ser-
the recruiting gent Gru did not let go of him
thousands of eyes, greedily burning atform of power
the guy's scruff.
“This one is good!” he grunted about his
bya, unconsciously licking her lips yellow
tongue and almost physically feeling it in your
the weight of prize coins in your pocket. Everything else
just rabble - overstayed, fat women,
snotty boys and other trash. But this one!
A magnificent piece of cannon fodder - wide-
broad-shouldered, curly-haired, with a massive jaw.
Habitually placing his hand on the switch,
rzhant reduced the background infrasound and directed
concentrated radiation directly into the dark
lock of his victim. Bill fidgeted in his chair
taking in the panorama of the grandiose battle,
unfolding before my eyes.
When the last chords of the battle sounded and
The screen went dark, the robot bartender began to beat loudly.
across the metal chest and roared: . The audience stretched with sheepish obedience.
ran towards him, but Bill was snatched from the crowd
powerful hand.
- Look, boy, what did I bring here for
you,” said the sergeant, handing him a hundred
kan with so much will-suppressing
drug that part of it fell to the bottom in
sediment. - You are the right guy, all these are men -
whose can't hold a candle to you. Never
dreamed of a soldier's career, huh?
- What kind of a warrior am I, caricaturer! - Bill
moved his jaws and spat, trying to get rid of
to writhe from a sudden lisp and be surprised
why is my brain clouded with fog?
you should have been surprised at the strength of his race
pike perch that has retained at least some way ofdifficulty thinking, despite the horse's strength
knowledge of drugs and stimulants. - I’m not a military man -
naya bone. I would like to bring as much as I can -
no benefit; my dream is to get a profession
fertilizer technology. I’ll soon graduate
full-time course...
- Shitty job for such a great-
new guy! - exclaimed the sergeant, grabbing
Bill's hand to feel his biceps. Stone! He barely resisted the temptation to look
put it in Bill's mouth and examine his condition
molars. Okay, there’s still time! - Let
this business is handled by someone who has nothing else to do
that it is not suitable. Is it possible with such a profession?
are there any prospects? And in the soldier's service -
no limits! Lord, yes he is great
Admiral Pflunger passed, as they say, everything
copper pipes from recruit to grand admiral!
Just think!
- Well, for Mr. Pflunger this is not-
sucks, but for me, fertilizers are a big deal
even curious. Oh! Why are these eyes so
stick together? Let's go take a nap, or what?
- Go ahead, but first respect me - look-
never come here! - The sergeant stepped in his way and
pointed to the huge book he was holding
tiny robot. - The dress makes the man.
Decent people would be ashamed to stick out
nose to the street in such shabby rags,
which you put on yourself, or in such breath-
ragged galoshes. Why the hell dress like that?
when you can - like THIS!
Bill's gaze followed the fat pa-
the sergeant's face to the color picture, depicting
reaping a soldier inscarlet dress uniform, which
whom Billovo miraculously appeared
face. The sergeant turned the pages, and with
with each new illustration the form becomes
she was more magnificent, and her rank was higher. Bill was stupefied -
stared at the last picture, capturing-
I wear him in the uniform of a Grand Admiral with a plume
on the helmet; the skin around the eyes was speckled with goose bumps -
buttocks, a gray mustache flaunted above his lips, one
but the face, without a doubt, was his own
nom.
“This is what you will become,” he whispered to him.
Sergeant, - when you get to the very top
ladders of success... Try them on
form! Hey tailor!
Bill was about to object, but Sgt.
gagged him with a thick cigar; didn't have time
the unfortunate one spits it out like a rolled out
from somewhere the robot tailor waved his hand behind-
hung and immediately stripped Bill naked.
- Hey! Hey! - Bill exclaimed.
- Don't be afraid! - the sergeant cackled, the pros -
shaking his head behind the curtain and melting at the sight
Bill's muscles. He pointed his finger at
solar plexus (stone!) and disappeared again.
“Oh-oh!” Bill cried when the tailor
having pulled out the cold steel meter, he began to remove
mother measure from him. In the depths there is a cylindrical
something rang quietly from the robot's body, and
a dazzling one crawled out of the slot in front
scarlet uniform. In the blink of an eye he found himself on
Bill's shoulders, and sparkling gold buttons
fastened themselves. Behind the uniform
explored the gorgeous gray moleskin
breeches and shining varnishblack boots up
knees Bill was truly stunned when he
the weight disappeared and a huge
new mirror.
- Girls are simply amazed by such a uniform.
“They’ll go crazy,” said the sergeant. “Why,
very legal!
Vision of the convex hemispheres of Inga-Maria
Califigia clouded Bill for a second
look, and when he came to his senses he discovered that he had
waving a pen in his hand, preparing to sign a contract
rakt slipped by the recruiter.
“No,” Bill said, slightly surprised.
my own intractability. - I don’t want to. Te-
fertilizer technician...
- And not only this wonderful uniform - you
you will also receive recruiting bonuses, free
paid medical care and completely increased
catty details. - The sergeant opened the flat
a box helpfully handed over by a robot, and
demonstrated a colorful scattering
ribbons and trinkets. - Here's the Medal of Honor
recruit," he said solemnly,
barking towards Bill's broad chest inlaid with
An image of a nebula made by stones on the ground
lenoy ribbon.- But , , and . By-
The last one, however, doesn’t mean anything at all, but
looks cool and easy to store
condoms.
The sergeant took a step back and admired
Bill's chest, hung with ribbons, shining -
gold medals and colored glass.
“No, I still don’t want to,” he replied.Bill.
- Thanks for the offer, but...
The sergeant grinned, ready even for this
last flash of resistance, and pressed
button on his belt, which led to
Hypnospiral action in the heel of the new Bill-
fishing shoes. A powerful stream rushed through the nerves
obvious endings, the stubborn man's hand twitched
up, and when the veil had cleared before
eyes, he was surprised to find on the horse-
path own signature.
- But...
- Congratulations on joining the space
"Whoa landing!" thundered the sergeant, kicking him
along the back (trapezoidal - rock!) and selecting
pen. - STOP! - he shouted even louder, and
the recruits poured out of the bar.
- What did they do to my son! - squeal-
Bill's mother wailed loudly as she appeared
on the square. With one hand she beat herself in the
chest, and the other was dragging in tow a small
go Charlie. Charlie burst into tears and wet his pants.
shki.
- Your son became a soldier to greater glory
Emperor, - said the sergeant, kicking
sending stunned recruits into the column.
- No! Not this! - she sobbed unhappily -
dark, tearing out graying strands. - Have pity
poor widow and her only breadwinner
tsa... Have mercy...
“Mom!” Bill rushed to her, but the sergeant
pushed him into line.
“Take heart, madam,” he said. “For ma-
there is no higher honor.” He dropped it into her lap-
give me a big new coin. - And here
and recruit bonuses - imperial
shilling The Emperor will be happy to know
that you are himreceived. SMIRR-R-RNA!
Clumsily clicking their heels, the recruits
shoulders straightened and chins raised. Same
the very thing, to my great amazement, I did
and Bill.
- NAPRA-OH!
They turned around in one harmonious movement.
Note: the robot sent a command to the hypnospiral
in boots.
- FORWARD, SHAGO-OM ARSH!
And the column moved rhythmically forward,
controlled so tightly that Bill
With all my desire I could neither turn around nor
say goodbye to your mother. She stayed
somewhere behind, and only the last desperate
the cry broke through the roar of the marchers
boot
- Speed up your step to 130! - ordered the ser-
Gent, looking at the clock built into the but-
nail the little finger. - It's only ten miles to the base,
guys, there is a chance to get there today
to the camp.
The command robot moved the arrow
ronoma by one division, the pace of the march accelerated -
The soldiers were soaked with sweat. When they add
They rushed, already in the dark, to the helicopter base,
their scarlet paper uniforms hung in rags -
mi, the gilding has slipped off the tin buttons and
a thin film that protected plastic
boots from dust, peeling. Ragged, exhausted -
the soldier's dusty, dusty appearance is entirely consistent with
corresponded to the state of their spirit.
Chapter 2
It wasn't a signal that woke Bill up early in the morning.
bugler recorded on tape, and ultra-
sound passed through a metal frame
bed, which shook him with such force that he
teeth are loosefillings. Bill jumped up and then
he shivered from the cold. It was summer time and
therefore, the floor in the barracks was cooled artificially
for sure: in the camp named after Leon Trotsky it is not
It was customary to be altruistic. Pale frozen
the recruits jumped off one by one
bed neighbor. Soul-draining vibration
stopped. The recruits hastily stole from
headboards of beds in everyday shape, made
lined from sackcloth like sandpaper,
stuck their feet into the heavy red recruit-
some boots and trudged towards the exit.
- I'm here to break your
spirit! - someone's fierce voice thundered.
At the sight of the main demon of this hell
the recruits began to shake even more violently.
Chief Petty Officer Smertvich Drang was ma-
erase your business from the ends of the viciously tor-
thick, spiky hair to grooved soles
shiny, like a mirror, boots. Broad-shouldered
chihy, narrow-hipped, long arms dangling below
knees, like some creepy anthropoid,
the knuckles on the fists are crushed against thousands
knocked out teeth, - looking at this image, not -
it was possible to believe that he appeared on
light from the tender female womb. He couldn't
to be born - this could only have been made
that by special order of the government.
The most terrible thing was the head. And the face!.. Uzen-
a strip the width of a finger separated the hair
sy from shaggy black eyebrows, thick bushes
slums hanging over the dark chasms, in which
whose eyes were hidden - not eyes, but ominously -
red onesflashes in utter hellish
darkness. The broken, crushed nose crawled
right on the mouth, gaping like a knife wound on
ripped open the corpse's belly, and from under the top
lips stuck out two-inch white wolf-like
fangs, deep in the lower lip
furrows.
- I am Chief Petty Officer Smertvich Drang, and
you must call me and .-
Drang walked gloomily along the line of shaking
looking for new recruits. - Now I am a father for you and
mother, your entire universe and your eternal
enemy, and very soon I will make you regret
about the fact that you were even born into the world. I agree
I'm destroying your will! And if I call you a toad-
mi - you will have to croak right away! My for-
dacha - turn you into a soldier, beat you into
discipline. Unquestioning submission, no
what kind of free will, absolute obedience -
this is what I demand from you...
He stopped in front of Bill, who
trembled a little less than the others, and angrily
read:
- What a vile face... A month of outfits for
kitchen on Sundays!
- Sir...
- And another month for arguing.
Bill said nothing. He's already mastered the first one
soldier's commandment: keep your mouth shut.
Smertvich moved on.
- Who are you at the moment? Flabby
stinking civilian meat of the lowest grade. I'll do-
I'll turn him into real muscles, I'll turn him into
your will into jelly, and your brain into a machine.
Either you will become real soldiers, or I will
I'll finish you off. You will hear a lot about me
different stories like thathow I killed and
ate a recruit who refused to perform
order
He stopped and stared at them
with a turnip look. Upper lip like a lid
coffin, slowly crawled upward in an angry
parodies of a grin, on the tips of fangs
Drops of saliva hung.
- And this story is pure truth!
A groan went through the ranks of the recruits,
shook as if under icy gusts of wind.
The smile disappeared from Drang's face.
- You’ll go eat after you’ve been found.
volunteers for light work. Who knows how to
dit heliocar?
The two recruits raised their hands hopefully, and
he motioned them forward:
- Great! Rags and buckets outside the door.
You will clean the toilet while the rest are tomorrow -
they are screaming. Work up an appetite for lunch.
Bill learned the second soldier's commandment:
don't volunteer.
The training time dragged on like hell
hopeless sleep. The service was getting better
harder, and fatigue - more and more unbearable. Ka-
it’s crazy, this simply can’t happen - alone -
but everything actually happened. Undoubtedly
but, the team worked on the training program
a bunch of sophisticated sadistic minds. Go-
fishing for recruits for the purpose of uniformity
they shaved off their heads and painted their genitals orange-
the best antiseptic to protect against insects,
settled in the crotches. Food, theoretically
ski nutritious, was unimaginably vile;
if, due to an oversight, a batch of meat ended up
relatively edible, it is immediately thrown away -
go to hell; and the cooksremoved from due
sti. At night, the cadets were constantly woken up by training
gas attack alarms, and all the time idle
ha they were busy with their uniforms.
The seventh day of the week was considered a day of rest,
but everyone had their faults, just like Bill
in the kitchen, and the weekend was no different
everyday life.
On the next, third Sunday of the camp
life, the recruits sadly reached their last
an hour before lights out, waiting until finally
the lights will be turned off and it will be possible to climb onto the be-
ton bunks. Bill squeezed through the weak
combat force field, cleverly designed -
in such a way that midges are free
but penetrated into the barracks, but could not fly out
back. After a fourteen hour outfit
his legs gave way, and the skin on his hands
from the soapy water it wrinkled and acquired
corpse color. Bill threw his uniform on the floor,
who, stiffened from sweat, dirt and dust, and
remained standing upright, and pulled out from the nightstand -
ki razor. In the toilet he turned his head for a long time
howl, trying to find a clean piece of the mirror -
la. All the mirrors were thickly stained with large
in letters of inspiring slogans: ,
.Finally
Bill stuck the razor next to the inscription: - and looked at his reflection
position in the center of the letter in the word .
Circled in black, bloodshot
eyes looked at him from the mirror whilehe
moved the buzzing razor under his chin.
it took some time for the meaning to
millet reached the point of mind, clouded by
exhaustion.
“I don’t have any sister,” he muttered.
he, - and if there was, then why the hell should she
marry a lizard?
The question was purely rhetorical, but
he was unexpectedly followed by an answer with the following
his toilet seat in the second row:
- Don’t take it so literally. Task
slogan - to arouse in us an irreconcilable non-
hatred of a vile enemy.
Bill was thrown up - he thought that
There is no one in the outhouse except him. razor
she squealed maliciously and snatched it from her lip
piece of meat.
-Who's here? Why the hell are you hiding!
- he yelled and suddenly recognized the cowering
in the darkness a small figure next to countless
lazy pairs of boots. - Oh, it’s you, Workaholic! -
His anger instantly subsided, and Bill again
turned to the mirror.
The hard worker Bigger has long been an integral part of
part of the latrine, so it’s no longer
I didn’t even notice. It was a chubby, pos-
a sadly smiling boy whose pink
apple cheeks never lost their freshness, and
the smile was so inappropriate in the camp of
nor Leon Trotsky, that I wanted to kill him
on the spot - if you don’t remember in time that
the guy is slightly touched. Bigger definitely
was with a shift, because it always burned
desire to serve his comrades and constant
but he volunteered to be on duty in the toilet. Not only that
- he adoredclean boots and pestered
this to all fellow soldiers until
did not become a nightly shoe shiner for
the entire platoon. When the soldiers scattered around
barracks, Workaholic Bigger hunched over on his
throne in the last row of seats, former
his personal possession, and surrounded himself
a pile of boots, which he polished to a mirror-like
brilliance with a constant smile. He stuck out
here and after lights out, working by the light of the wick
La, who burned in a shoe polish jar,
Ma, I got up earlier than everyone else to be on time
complete your voluntary service. And
always smiled. The boy was clearly not in the mood
be, but the soldiers did not get involved with him, because
he cleaned his boots expertly, and all that remained was
just pray that Bigger doesn't die from
diligence before the end of the military course
preparation.
- Maybe it is so, but why shouldn’t they
to put it simply: ? - Bill did not let up. He
pointed his finger at a poster hanging on the wall
on the contrary. On a huge illustration with the inscription
Sue was depicted as-
life size jer - seven foot
lizard resembling a four-armed scaly
a kangaroo with a crocodile's head. - And then, ka-
which sister would want to marry this woman?
Razina? And what will this creature do?
with someone's sister? Unless he eats her?
The hard worker walked the cloth over his sock
polished boot and immediately set to work
vy. He even frownedmaking it clear how
takes the issue seriously.
- You see, uh... Nobody has a
I see a specific sister. It's just a part
psychological preparation. We must find out
to fight the war, but to win the war, you must
to be real soldiers. And real soldiers
dates hate the enemy. That's how it got-
yes. Chingers are the only ones known to us
non-humanoids who have emerged from the wild stage
ty, and, naturally, we must exterminate them.
- What the hell does that mean - ? I don't want to destroy anyone! I'm sleeping
and I see how to quickly return home and
become a fertilizer technician.
- So I’m not talking about you personally,
uh-uh...- The workaholic opened the but-
a jar of pasta and put his finger in it
tsy.- I’m talking about people in general, about their behavior-
nii. If we don’t them, then they us. True, chingers
claim that war is contrary to their religion
gii, as if they were only defending themselves and never
don’t attack first, but we shouldn’t trust them
to say, even if it is the absolute truth. What if
it will occur to them to change religion or
your beliefs? We're in a good position
then we will find ourselves! No, the only correct thing is
new solution - cut them down now and under
the very root!
Bill turned off the razor and rinsed his face
lukewarm rusty water.
- Some kind of nonsense... Okay, my sister-
tra, which I don’t have, won’t marry
chingera.Well, how about this? - He poked
finger in the inscription on the boardwalkflooring:.- Or is it-
th? - The slogan above the urinal read: "CLOSE"
FLY, OHLAMON, - A SPY IS HIDING BEHIND!>.-
Even if you forget for a moment that there are no se-
cretes for which it would be worth going at least
a mile, not like twenty-five light years,
we still don’t know how chinger is in general
maybe a spy? Is it a seven-foot box?
Will you disguise Ritsa as a recruit? To her and under
Deadman Drang cannot be faked, even though
they are like brothers...
The light went out, and as if spoken out loud
the name summoned him like a devil from the underworld
With her, Smertvich’s voice exploded in the barracks.
- Come on to your beds, quickly! What are you, assholes?
lousy, don't you know there's a war going on?
Bill stumbled towards his bunk.
in the darkness of the barracks, the only lighting
which served the red coals of the Drangovs
eye. He fell asleep instantly as soon as his head
touched a solid stone pillow, but the letter -
Just a minute later the wake-up call kicked me out
him from his bed. At breakfast, while Bill is sweating
faces cut ersatz coffee into small pieces,
so they can be swallowed, TV news
conveyed a message about heavy battles with cruisers
significant losses in the beta Lyra sector.
a groan rang out, which was by no means explained
not with an explosion of patriotism, but with the fact that they are bad
the news meant tougher
tion of the regime. Nobody knew what it would be
expressed, but the fact itself is not in doubt
shaft And so it happened.
The morning was dawninga little cooler than usual
but, therefore, the review, regularly held on
Mondays, moved to noon to
reinforced concrete slabs of the parade ground were well-
heat up slightly and ensure maximum
number of sunstroke.Bill, who stood in charge
during the day, standing at attention in a row, I noticed how above
a canopy with a co-
air conditioner. This promised the appearance of a big
authorities. Atomic rifle fuse
holed Bill's shoulder, at the tip of his nose -
a large drop of sweat was taken and a trickle of
fell down. Out of the corner of his eye he saw how
the waves ripple through the ranks of soldiers: close-
people in a crowd of thousands kept falling
fainted. They were caught by vigilant medical
army and dragged to ambulances. Here
the soldiers were laid in the shade so that as soon as
they'll come to their senses, shove them back in
build.
The orchestra boomed: “Forward, paratroopers,” and
chingers are broken!>;transferred to each ka-
blue signal shook the ranks, put them in
stand at attention - and thousands of bayonets flashed
in the sun. Rolled up to the front podium
the general's car - as evidenced
two stars painted on the side, and a round
a small figure escaped from the hot hell
in the blessed coolness of the canopy. Bill still
I've never seen the general so close,
at least in front; one day, returning
late in the evening from his outfit, he noticed how gay
neral got into the car near the camp le-
function hall. Anywaycase, Bill
it seemed that it was the general, although he saw him
just a moment, and only from behind. Therefore in
memory the general's image was imprinted in
in the form of a huge ass pressed to the blood
neck ant figurine. However, just as
Bill had a vague idea and
about other officers: privates did not encounter
with them during training. One day he'll be done
managed to get a good look at the lieutenant
nt of the second rank near the office: he assured
was at least convinced that the officer had a
tso! There was also a military doctor who read to the recruits
lecture on venereal diseases, which
found himself only thirty feet away from Bill.
Bill, however, could not say anything about him,
since he got a place behind the column, and
there he immediately began to snore.
When the orchestra fell silent, the troops propagated
anti-gravity speakers blared, and
the general made a speech. Nothing worthwhile.
We didn’t even expect to hear from Santa, but in the end,
as expected, the general announced,
that due to heavy losses in the fields
battles, the training program will be accelerated
on. Then the orchestra started playing again, recruits
went into formation to go to the barracks, changed into
their hair shirts and walked quickly
shoot from atomic rifles at the shooting range
according to plastic models of chingers, pop-up
emerged from underground cracks. They shot sluggishly
until Deathwitch poked his head out of one of the cracks
Drang. Here all the arrows switched to av-
tomatic fire, andeveryone slapped him without
missed a whole clip, which, of course, was
accuracy record. But the smoke cleared - and...
the forging cries of the soldiers gave way to screams from
aspirations when they realized that they had smashed
shreds are just a plastic copy of the original
cash which appeared from behind and, clicking the cable
bows, rolled them out for a month of outfits
queues.
- The human body is amazing
thing! - said a month later Skotina Bra-
in the canteen for the lower ranks, eating so-
tits cooked from street waste and both
wrapped in cellophane and washed down with warm water
yummy beer.
Brown once grazed on the plain of toats, for
that he was nicknamed Cattle: everyone knows
what are these shepherds doing there with their
toats. Tall, thin, with bow legs and
with stiff skin, he rarely spoke,
having become accustomed to the eternal silence of the steppes, outside
heard only by the eerie howl of the disturbed
atov, but he was a great thinker, fortunately
at least he had time to think
more than enough. He nurtured every thought for a week -
mi, and nothing in the world could interrupt this
process. He didn't even protest when he
called a brute: any other soldier for
It would immediately hit me in the face. Bill, Hard Worker
and other guys from the tenth platoon, sitting
at the table, they shouted and clapped enthusiastically
clap your hands, as always, when Skotina spoke
something out loud.
- Come on, come on, Beast!
- Look, it's still talking! I
thought it wasdied a long time ago!
- Come on, explain why this is an organism -
amazing thing?
Everyone watched as Skotina Brown struggled
bit off a piece of sausage, tried in vain
chewed it and finally swallowed it whole,
which brought tears to his eyes.
Drowning out the pain in your throat with a sip of beer, Skotina
continued:
- The human body is amazing
thing because until he dies, he is alive
vet.
The soldiers sat in silence until they realized
whether there will be no continuation. After which
they all laughed at Brown:
- Lord, this really is a brute!
- You should go to officer school, you idiot!
- What did he mean by this, guys?
Bill understood what Skotina wanted to say, but
remained silent. By this time the platoon had thinned out.
already halfway. One cadet is transferred somewhere
cried, others were kept in the hospital or in
mental hospital, and the others were completely written off - what
it was most convenient for the government - for
unsuitability for combat due to increased
chiy.Or due to death. Survivors from
of which only skin and bones remained, now
tightened their muscles and fully adjusted
to the merciless regime of the camp, although
saw him still.
Bill was amazed at the efficiency of the system.
The civilians fussed over exams, titles,
degrees, pensions and thousands of other things that
which slowed down production, distracting from
work. And the military solved this problem with one
in one fell swoop. They simply killed the weakest andput those who survived into action. Bill couldn't help but
respect this system. And at the same time test
disgust towards her.
- And I know what I want! I want a woman! -
Freak Aglisway stated.
- Just please, no obscenity, - here
but Bill, brought up in strict
rules
- Well, what kind of obscenity is this? - whined
Freak. - I’m not saying that I want to record again -
to join the army, or that Smertvich is also a
catcher, or some other nasty thing. I
I just said that I need a woman. Who wouldn’t
needed?
- I need a drink! - Skotina said
Brown, took a sip of the dehydrated and re-dissolved
beer, shuddered and released
through his teeth a long stream onto the asphalt, from
Yes, she instantly evaporated.
“Exactly! Exactly!” howled the Freak, energetically
shaking his warty head with a mat on it
top of the head. - Woman and booze - that's what I want -
choo! - his whining turned into mournful walls -
niya.- What else does a soldier need?
The cadets tossed this idea around for a long time and so
and so on, but they couldn’t think of anything they could do
I still really wanted it. Hard worker Bigger
looked out from under the table, where he was stealthily
was processing someone's boot and squeaked that he
A can of shoe polish wouldn't hurt, but
society ignored him. Even Bill, like
no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t come up with anything other than
this inextricably linked pair of desires. He
strained with all his might, vaguely remembering
that in civilian life he had all sorts of others
wishes, but nothing cameto mind.
- Hey! But before the first dismissal
There are only seven weeks left,” he said from under
table Workaholic Bigger and immediately squealed,
throwing kicks from all sides.
You can read the continuation of the story in
text. The whole Bill didn't fit into 48k.
It seemed like time was marking time, but
in fact, it moved forward tirelessly, and
weeks one after another faded into oblivion.
These were difficult weeks filled with soldiers
tsk science: bayonet fighting, shooting, studying
training in personal weapons, lectures on orientation
marching, marching along the parade ground and cramming for military
Insky Charter. Classes according to the regulations are conducted
occurred with depressing consistency twice a day
week and were especially painful due to
that they drove upon the soldiers an irresistible
dullness. At the first sounds of nasal
voices recorded on tape, the cadets on-
they began to nod off. But a special appa-
rature connected to each seat, slightly
ko recorded the biocurrents of captives. How
only the alpha wave curves indicated pe-
transition from wakefulness to drowsiness, powerful
the electric charge penetrated into the sleeping straight
mo in the ass, shaking its owner and pro-
waking up from sleep with a painful blow. Musty
the audience looked like a torture chamber in which
Roy the muffled muttering of the lecturer was interrupted
desperate screams of those subjected to electric shocks
ku, and from the sea of lowered heads every now and then you-
Unnaturally twisted figures jumped.
Nobody really listenedin long
a list of terrible executions and penalties, according to
sentenced according to the charter for the most innocent pred-
solutions. Everyone already understood that, recruited-
having lost their basic human
rights, and a detailed listing of what they
lost, the cadets did not care at all.
They were much more interested in how many
owls left until the first vacation.
The ritual that accompanied the extradition
this award was extremely humiliating, but
soldiers, with downcast eyes and barely moving
legs still moved forward in line,
ready to sacrifice their last crumbs
self-respect in exchange for the coveted piece
polyethylene.After the fight for places in mono-
rail train they finally went to
path along the overpass, electrical supports which
a swarm rose above the barbed wire,
stretched along the track at a height of thirty feet
Comrade
The train crossed vast expanses of land
rolling sands and went down to a tiny farm
mer town of Layville.
Until the nearby camp named
Leon Trotsky it was a typical rural center
agricultural district, and even now, when
soldiers were not allowed to go on leave, town
continued to follow his initial agrarian
ny inclinations. The rest of the time am-
bars and food warehouses were closed,
but the doors of brothels and bars opened.
However, usually the same premises with
successfully performed various functions. It was worth it
the first batch of vacationers fromwith a roar you
pour from the station, as immediately put into action
there was a mechanism that turned bins with
grain in bed, and sellers into pimps;
The cashiers, however, remained in their jobs.
tia, but prices soared, and counters
sagged under the weight of the glasses. In one
of these establishments - half saloon, half funeral -
new bureau - and Bill and his friends ended up.
- What should we drink, guys? - he stood up
I meet the ever-smiling bar owner
.
- Double formaldehyde, please - from -
Veiled Skotina Brown.
- Don't be a bully! - said the owner, driving away
face smiling and taking out a bottle on which
from under the bright labelpro-
the engraving glowed.
those misbehaving and the military police
It won't take long to call. - As soon as on the counter
coins rattled, the smile returned to
then.- Take your health!
They sat around a long narrow table
la with copper handles on the sides and gave away
bliss, feeling like a blessed stream
alcohol washes over their dust-choked throats.
- I was also a teetotaler until I joined the army.
got it,” Bill said dreamily, draining his
a glass of liquid that kills the liver, and
holding out his hand for a new portion.
- Why on earth did you write then?
to bother? - the Freak muttered.
“What’s true is true,” confirmed
Cattle Brown, greedily licking her lips and again
bringing the bottle to them.
“Ugh,” drawledHard worker Bigger, undecided
carefully taking the first sip. - Looks like
a mixture of cough syrup, sawdust, fusel
oils and alcohol.
- Lak, lap! - Skotina hummed through
bottleneck. - All these are useful for
body things...
“And now - for the women!” screamed the Freak, and
they rushed to the exit, trying to squeeze through
at the door en masse and resulting in
There's a little traffic jam.
- Hey! - someone shouted, and turning around,
the soldiers saw that the hard worker Bigger remained
sit at the table.
- Women! - the Freak shouted to him, as they shout,
calling the dog and showing it a delicious
bone. A human ball in the doorway
flowed, impatiently moving his feet.
“I...I guess I’ll wait for you here,” he said.
A hard worker, smiling more stupidly than usual. - You go -
those guys.
- Are you sick, Worker?
- Yes, I guess not.
- Not out of puppyhood yet, huh?
- Uh-uh...
- What business could you have here?
The workaholic dived under the table, pulled out the tarpaulin -
shopping bag and dumped a pile of red
new boots.
- I'll clean it a little...
They moved silently along the wooden path
touaru.
- I wonder what's wrong with him? - asked
Bill, but did not wait for an answer.
Everyone looked forward - to where above you -
the signboard shone on the chipped pavement, blinding
seductive bright red flashes:
PATROMAN'S SHELTER.
STRIPTISE WITHOUT INTERRUPTION!
BEST DRINKS AND LUXURY SINGLES
OFFICES FOR GUESTS AND THEIR ACQUAINTANCES.They quickened their pace. The façade of the Shelter was decorated
showcases made of bulletproof glass, incl.
of which three-dimensional pictures were seen in full
dressed (ribbon at the waist and two stars)
daughters) of girls, replaced by their image in
naked (without a ribbon and with fallen stars)
stars). However, Bill immediately cooled down
the fervor of heated friends, pointing to the mother
a small sign, lost among the iso-
beating of lush fleshy breasts: .
“Get out of here!” the military man barked at them.
policeman waving his electronic
with a baton.
They wandered on. To the next establishment
Everyone was allowed in, but they charged seven days for entry.
five credit cards, which is significantly more than
lost their combined resources. Then again
signs flashed "Officers Only", and
there the sidewalk ended and the lights remained
behind.
- What would that mean? - asked the Freak,
catching the muffled hum of voices, conveying
coming from a nearby alley.
Peering into the darkness, they saw a long
a soldier's line stretching far ahead
and disappearing around the bend.
“What is this?” asked the Freak soldier,
standing last.
- Brothel for lower ranks. And don’t you dare
jump the line, you asshole! Come on back
understand?
Bill ended up bringing up the rear, but not for long.
The line moved forward slowly,
More and more soldiers walked around, lining up
hanging in the tail. The night was cold and
Bill often had to kissto the bottle to keep warm. The soldiers sluggishly pe-
exchanged remarks, tensely falling silent
as you approach the red-lit
a lantern to the entrance. The door opened and closed -
was carried out, with uniform time intervals -
mi, and Bill's friends one after another slipped-
climbed inside. Finally his very
radish; the door opened slightly, Bill took a step
forward - but then sirens suddenly began to wail, and
huge policeman squeezed into the passage
your fat belly.
- Anxiety! Hey you, march to the base! - barked
he.
Bill rushed to the door, putting
a desperate cry of all his shattered hopes, but
light touch of an electronic baton
stunned him and threw him aside, mixing
with a randomly running crowd. Human
the current dragged him forward to the sound of sirens
and flashes of artificial northern lights
the light that spilled across the sky was blinding,
a hundred-long call to "TO ARMS!!!"
miles. Someone's hand supported Bill, almost
lo not trampled by heavy red boots
gami. It turned out to be good old Freak, on
whose face was frozen with such stupid bliss
such a smile that Bill was almost jealous with envy.
punched him in the face. However, I didn’t have time
he raised his fist as they were already squeezed into your
rut, and the train rushed back to camp.
Bill's anger instantly subsided, as
only the knobby claw of Deathwitch Drang
dragged him out of the crowd.
- Quickly pack and off to loading!
- But how can it be... Wenot finished yet
training...
- No one is asking you! Glorious battle
in space comes to a victorious end,
four million are out of commission, give or take
a couple hundred thousand. Needs replenishment and
that's you! Prepare immediately for
loading! One leg here, the other there!
- But we don’t have space uniforms-
vaniya! Warehouses...
- Maintenance personnel have already been dispatched.
- Food...
- The cooks and kitchen staff are already in space
Mose. Martial law: everyone in whom there is no special
battle of necessity, sent in the first obvious
red. It is quite possible that they are already dead!
- Smertvich playfully clicked his fangs and disgustedly
grinned. “And I’ll stay here in complete be-
safety and will train new recruits.-
A signal for a special communi- cation rang on his elbow.
nication channel. Smertvich opened the capsule-
Lu, started reading, and the smile slowly faded
from his face. - They're taking me too! - deaf
he dropped.
Chapter 3
During the existence of the camp named after
Leon Trotsky passed through him 98,672,899
recruits, so the loading process was
well worked and went off without a hitch
hitch. But now the camp had to overcome
to nudge. Bill and his comrades were the last
group, and the camp, like a snake, swallows -
losing its tail, began self-destruction.
The hairdressers, barely having time to remove the sunshine from their heads,
date the overgrown patches and destroy them using
ultrasonic lice remover,rushed
cut and shave each other, in confusion,
those with tufts of hair, tufts of mustaches tearing off the lo-
biting the skin and sprinkling drops all around
blood, and then dived into the lousebreaker, dragging
the mechanics followed. The paramedics began to work
get yourself anti-missile serum
fever and cosmic depression, clerks would-
strictly wrote out certificates for themselves, at that time
as those responsible for loading kicks for-
drove everyone remaining onto the slippery gangway
rockets.
The nozzles flared up, the pillars of scarlet flame
tongues licked the launch pads, sparking
the gangplank blazed like moving fireworks, for
mechanics responsible for the safety of food
Pov, were already on board. The rockets roared and
roared off into the black sky, leaving
below is the deserted ghost of the camp. Sheets of the
orders and registers of executions rustling around
they walked from the stands, danced in the deserted streets,
clapping and sticking to the glass of the lighted windows of the office
Tsersky club, where there was a grandiose noisy
drinking, every now and then interrupted by indignant
complaints from dissatisfied officers who were
I had to switch to self-service.
The cosmic ones rose higher and higher
shuttles heading towards the giant fleet,
eclipsed the shine of the stars, - the largest -
mu fleet in the Galaxy, which actually
still continued to be completed. Dazzling
the lights of the welding machines were burning, red-hot
the rivets described wide arcs in the sky
and fell into containers. Termination of light
outbreaksmeant that another leviathan
space is ready for flight, and in
at that moment the radio network was heard heartbreakingly
with the tearing screams of workers who were not allowed
Kali back to the shipyard, instantly enrolled in
crews of the ships they built. The war would-
la total.
Bill climbed along the winding plastic
pipe connecting the shuttle to the spacecraft
dreadnought, and threw his bag at his feet
chief petty officer, sitting at the table in
airlock chamber the size of a good
shiy hangar. Or rather, I tried to quit, because
there was no gravity and the bag hung
above the floor. When Bill tried to push-
If you hit him, he himself flew up. (Since
ku body in a free state, they say, not
weighty, and every action gives rise to a counter-
action - or something like that.) Foreman
neighed and pulled Bill onto the deck.
- Give up your infantry habits, you lump!
Name?
- Bill. It is written with two .
“Bill,” muttered the foreman, licking
pen and writing the name in round uncertain
letters in the ship's manifest.- Two
are only for officers, understand, stinker?
Know your place! Qualification?
- Recruit untrained, unqualified -
vomiting from space.
- Okay, just don't try to puke.
here, for this you have your own cockpit.
Now you are an inexperienced loader of the 6th
class. Get into cockpit 34I-89T-001. Move!
Hold that damn bag over your head!
Bill barely foundhis cockpit and threw
on the bed there is a bag that hangs five inches away
over a faux wool mattress, like
Workaholic Bigger and Cattle Brown burst in there
and a crowd of strangers with autogens in their hands and
angry faces.
-Where are Freak and the other guys from the platoon?-
Bill asked.
The brute shrugged and buckled up
straps to the bed, hoping for a little snore
no. The workaholic untied one of the six bags
and took out several pairs of boots from there, obviously
needing cleaning.
“Are you saved?” came from the distance
someone's cabin deep soulful
bass. Bill turned around in surprise, and, noticing him
interest, a huge soldier towards
pointed at him with a gigantic finger.
- O my brother, have you found eternal salvation?
nie?
“Who knows,” Bill mumbled, like-
lazy and began to rummage in the bag, hoping
that the soldier will fall behind. However, he is not only
did not fall behind, but made his way through the cockpit and
lay down on the bed next to him. Bill tried losing
to direct him, but it was not so easy -
then, given the stranger’s height - more than six
feet, his remarkable muscles and iron-
new jaws. The soldier's skin was wonderful
black with a purple tint, which caused
Bill felt a slight feeling of envy, so
how he himself was grayish-pink. Ship-
The shape differed little in color from the skin
soldier, and he seemed carved from solid
th piece of stone, on which effectively highlighted
the whites of the eyes were shining andwhite-toothed smile.
- Welcome aboard ,
- he said and almost crushed his right hand
Billa in a friendly handshake. - She is in ours
the fleet is already old, built for almost a week
ago. As for me, I am a reverend
6th class loader Tembo, and according to the label
on your duffel bag I see that you are s-
here's Bill, since you and I are in the same room-
Well, Bill, then just call me Tembo, and by the way -
ty - do you care about the salvation of the soul?
- Lately I haven't had time to talk about
think about it...
- Well, of course! You’re still from recruit training
niya, and at this time visiting church is considered
is a military crime. However now
Everything is behind us, you can think about your soul. Are you ka-
Who's religion?
- My ancestors were fundamental zo-
Roastrians, that means I too...
- Superstition, my boy, pure superstition -
faith! Fate itself brought us together on this ship.
bleh, to give your soul one last chance to
salvation from fiery Gehenna. Have you heard about
Earth?
- No, I'm used to simple food...
- This is the planet, my boy, the cradle of...
human race, where we all come from
descent. Look how beautiful it is
the world is just a pearl of space! - Tembo
pulled out a miniature projector from his pocket, and
a colorful image appeared on the bulkhead
the sight of a planet floating gracefully in the void and
shrouded in a light cover of clouds. Suddenly
the white veil was cut through by a bright red light-
Niya, the clouds foamedand boiled, and on-
gaping wounds appeared on the surface of the planet.
portable loudspeaker heard a groan
the sound of an explosion. But disagreements arose between
sons of men, and they smote each other
friend with atomic strikes until
the Earth cried out, and the cry of her hy-
leucorrhoea! And when the last explosions died down, then
there was death in the north, and death in the east,
and death in the west, death, death, death...
Do you understand what happened? - fulfilled -
Tembo's voice, filled with deep emotion, tore
as if he was really waiting for an answer
to this rhetorical question.
“I don’t know,” said Bill, rummaging around without any-
Why do you need your bag? - I myself am with
Figerinadona 2, this is a quiet place...
- There was no death in the SOUTH! Why, right?
I wonder if the South was saved? And the answer to this is: yes
What is the will of the Samedi so that false religions, false-
new prophets and false gods were erased from
face of the Earth and only true faith remained -
First Reformed Vodouist Church..
/Water is a cult common among some
Antilles, including Jamaica,
Haiti and other Samedi - one of the folklore pe-
characters of this cult. (Approx.)/
Then the alarm sounded, set
in such a way as to cause in the cranial co-
timidly resonating vibrations seemed to be
then they stuck their head inside a giant co-
bell, with each blow of which the eyes
climbed out of their orbits. Having formed a small
a huge landfill, the soldiers rushed intocorridor where
the eerie ringing was slightly less deafening and
where non-commissioned officers were already waiting for them, ready
trying to drive everyone to combat posts. Following
Hard worker Bigger Bill climbed up the
a narrow ladder and through the hatch fell into the cruise
camera. Huge racks with charges of pulling
ran along the walls, extending from the upper shelves
cables as thick as an arm and disappeared somewhere in
ceiling. In front of the racks in the deck at equal
circular distances were made
the hole is about a foot in diameter.
- I'll be brief: the slightest offense, and I
I will personally lower any of you into the charging hatch
upside down. - The greasy finger pointed to the breath -
ruk in the deck, and it became clear to everyone that in front of
they were the new bosses. It was lower, wider and
thicker than Smertvich, but there was a generic resemblance
undoubtedly. - I am a 1st class loader
Spleen. Or I will make you, that is, vile-
a lot of land shit, skilled and experienced
loaders, or I'll lower you down the nearest hatch.
Our technical specialty requires you
high qualifications and skills; usually on her
it takes at least a year to master, but now
war, and you will have to master it immediately -
but otherwise...Now I'll show you how it's done
barks. Tembo, march out of formation! Regiment 19K-9
disconnected from the network.
Tembo clicked his heels and stood up a hundred
ike near the indicated shelf, on which
a swarm of charges stood in rows - white ceramic
cylinders with metal caps on
ends. Each five-foot cylinder, diameter
rumabout a foot, weighed 90 pounds and was girded
rank with red stripe. Loader 1st class
Moody clicked his fingernail on it:
- Each charge is equipped with such a tape; it
is called a charging strip and has a red
color. When the charge burns out, the color of the tape changes -
turns to black. All at once you, of course, are not for-
remember, but you have instructions that
you have to memorize so that your teeth bounce off
nodded, otherwise... Tembo, there's a burnt charge!
GO!
- Wow! - Tembo shouted, jumped towards the
row and grabbed him with both hands. - Wow-h-h!
- he repeated, pulling the charge out of the clamps
and throwing him into the open hatch. Then with this
with a hoot he pulled a new charge from the shelf,
secured it and, with a final groan, froze
standing at attention.
- That's how it's done like a soldier! And
you will have to do the same, otherwise... - His
interrupted by a dull beep, similar to a depressed
new belching. - Signal for grub. I'll have to
dismiss you, but while you eat, repeat-
Say everything I taught you here... Disperse!
They went out into the corridor and joined the thick
a stream of soldiers descending into the depths of the ship
flax womb.
- Do you think the food here at least gets-
Is it camp or what? - asked Workaholic Bi-
ger, smacking his lips excitedly.
- She can’t be worse, that’s impossible.
- Bill answered, standing in line at the door.
with a sign .
- any change will be for the better. We are the same
anyway, they are fighting soldiers, right? A
into battleyou need to go in good shape, so you can
it is said.
The line moved painfully slowly,
but in an hour they still reached the door.
At the door, the tired orderly handed Bill a
a plastic cup. Bill moved yes-
further, and when his turn came, he found himself
in front of a bare wall, from which a lonely tor-
a faucet without a handle. A fat cook in a huge
white cap and dirty T-shirt waved to him
ladle:
- Move, move, don’t you ever
ate or something! A cup under the tap, a token in the slot,
come live!
Bill substituted the cup and noticed at the level
not the eye of a narrow slot in a steel bust-
ke. There he put the token that was hanging on him
on the neck. A buzzing sound was heard, and from the tap you-
a thin stream of yellowish liquid flowed
tee, filling the cup halfway.
- Next! - the cook yelled and, pushing away
Bill, made room for Worker.
- What is this? - Bill asked, studying
your cup of tea.
- What is it! What is it! - The cook is already worse -
roared with rage. “Your lunch, stupid bastard!”
Chemically pure water in which it is dissolved
eighteen amino acids, sixteen vitamins
mines, eleven mineral salts, esters
fatty acids and glucose! What did you want?!
“Have lunch...” he said hopefully.
Bill, and immediately words began to fall from his eyes.
sparks from being hit on the head with a ladle. - Well
Is it possible at least without these... fatty esters? -
he managed to shout before the cook pushed out
threw him into the corridor, where to himjoined
Hard worker.
“Uh-uh...” said Worker. “So, here
all the necessary elements to maintain
life almost to infinity. Great, great
really?
Bill took a sip from his cup and sighed sadly.
zero.
“Look,” said Tembo, and Bill saw
on the wall a frame from the projector: foggy sky
vault and clouds with tiny creatures riding them
little men. - Hell awaits you, my boy,
if you do not partake of grace. Reject
this is heresy! First Reformed Church
Vodouistov opens his arms to you, snuggle up
come to her breast and take your place in heaven
right hand from Samedi!
The picture has changed: the clouds have become thicker,
it poured from the loudspeaker to the sounds of tom-tom
singing of an angelic choir. Figures approx.
foxes - all as one black, in white
robes, from under which protruded large
black wings. The angels smiled, gracefully
waved their wings at each other as they flew past the top
home on the clouds, and sang and drummed with inspiration
on small tom-toms. The scene was like a miracle
good, Bill almost shed a tear.
- SMIRA-R-NA!
A barking cry echoed loudly from
walls, the soldiers straightened their shoulders, moved
heels and rolled his eyes. Divine Choir
fell silent: Tembo put the projector in his pocket.
- Be equal! - Loader 1 commanded -
th class Spleen.
The soldiers squinted their eyes and looked at the two
military police with pistols in their hands
- officer's bodyguards. Bill guessed
what is this officer: firstly, theypassed
special course , and
secondly, in the toilet there was a picture "Know
his officers> which he had the opportunity to
the ability to thoroughly study during employment
pa disinterry. Bill's jaw dropped
in amazement when the officer walked away from him
at arm's length and stopped
in front of Tembo.
- Loader 6th class Tembo, I brought
good news for you. Exactly in two weeks -
whether your seven-year term of service expires.
Considering the impeccable character of your post-
the last list, Captain Zekial ordered -
to double the amount of the usual severance pay
Biya, demobilize you with honor under the ba-
slave fight and deliver back to Earth.
Tembo looked calmly and firmly from above
down on the short lieutenant who was biting
gnawed whitish antennae.
- This is impossible, sir!
“Impossible?” the lieutenant creaked, ra-
jumping back and forth in high heels
kah. - Who are you to tell me
what is possible and what is not?!
“I don’t indicate, sir,” he answered calmly.
til Tembo.- Clause 13-9A, paragraph 45, page-
nitsa 8923, volume 23says:
- What are you, a ship's lawyer, huh, Tembo?
- No way, sir! I am a soldier, sir. I strive
do your duty, sir.
-You're getting dark, Tembo! I saw yours
service record and I remember that you joined the army
went voluntarily, without any drugs
or hypnosis. And now also from demobilization -
tion you refuse! It’s bad, Tembo, very bad!
This tarnishes your name. All this is black
Soviet-suspicious! Or maybe you're a spy
Tembo?
- I am a loyal soldier of the emperor, sir, and not
spy
- Yes, you are not a spy, Tembo, we carefully check-
They checked me. But why did you still recruit-
joined the army, Tembo?
- To become a loyal soldier of the imperial
ra, sir, and to the best of our ability to spread
word of God. Are you saved, sir?
-Hold your tongue, soldier, or I'll shackle you.
in shackles! We heard this fairy tale, Reverend
DON'T, we don't believe in her. No matter how cunning you are,
and we will bring you to clean water!
The officer trotted off, muttering something.
under your breath, and no one dared to move -
until he was out of sight. The soldiers
they were swearing at Tembo somehow strangely, clearly
acting out of place.
Bill and Worker walked slowly to their
cockpit.
- Refuse demobilization! -re-
Bill shouted in awe.
“Listen, isn’t he crazy?” said Worker.
- There probably isn’t any other explanation.
maybe.
- It’s impossible to be crazy to THAT degree -
ok. Look, I wonder what this is? - Bill
pointed to the door with the inscription .
- Damn... I don’t know... maybe food?
At that very moment they were outside the doorand
covered it tightly behind them. However, food
there was no smell there. They stood in a long room
with a steeply curved wall on which
some devices similar to
on giant cucumbers dotted with countless
with counters, dials, switches
and equipped with a television screen and starting mechanism
nism. Bill leaned towards the nearest one and pro-
people sign:
- FOURTH ATOMIC BLASTER. You only
look how big they are! Looks like this is the main one
ship battery. - He turned around and saw-
business that Worker, raising one hand and turning
tilting the dial of his watch towards the weapon
diy, with the index finger of the other hand press
waves at the factory button.
- What are you doing? - he asked.
- I...it's...I'm just checking what time it is.
- So you don’t see anything, the dial -
then he looks the other way!
Hearing someone's booming footsteps on batteries -
on the deck, they immediately remembered the prohibition
the inscriptions on the door and flew out like a bullet
corridor. Bill closed the door silently, both
rushed, but Workaholic was already gone. When
Bill returned to the cockpit, Bigger diligently polished
tore someone's boot and didn't even turn to
his head.
But still, what was he doing there with his
them for hours?
Chapter 4
This question plagued Bill all the time.
how long the grueling professional training lasted
these loaders. Exercises that required that
accuracy and known technical skills,
swallowed it all upattention, but in free time
minutes Bill was overcome with anxiety. He thought
little about it, standing in line for lunch, ter-
got lost every night before falling asleep
heavy intoxicating sleep. He suffered every time
times when I had a free minute, and
I even lost weight. He lost weight, but not only
because of painful doubts. The ship's co-
border! It served only one purpose: to
keep life with the soldiers. But what a life!
Miserable, joyless, half-starved. However,
Bill didn't think about it. In front of him
there was a much more important problem, and he well-
was waiting for help.
After Sunday classes, at the end of the second
weeks of stay on the ship, he, instead-
to rush into the dining room with the others,
detained 1st Class loader Spleen.
- I have a problem, sir.
- It’s nothing, one injection, and everything will pass. Go-
They say that without this you will never become a husband -
rank.
- I have another problem, sir. I wanted
I'd...I'd like to talk to the chaplain.
Moody turned pale and leaned against the
rke.
“I didn’t hear anything,” he wheezed. -
Go to the dining room, and if you don’t spill the beans,
I'll be dumb as a fish.
Bill blushed.
- I'm very sorry, sir, but it's necessary. I
It's not my fault that I need to talk to him,
this can happen to anyone...
Bill's voice became increasingly muffled, he
embarrassedly shuffled his soles and carefully
he was measuring the toes of his boots. Silence
dragged on; when Spleen finallyspoke
the comradely notes from his voice completely
evaporated.
- Okay, soldier, since you insist... On-
I hope the other guys don't get wind of this-
ut. Skip lunch and go now.
Here's the pass.
He scribbled something on a piece of paper,
threw it contemptuously, turned around and
walked away, leaving Bill to crawl humiliatingly
by floor.
Judging by the ship's sign, the chaplain
occupied cabin 362-B on deck 89. Bill
descended into endless hatches, zigzag along the
ridors, climbed the gangplank until, finally,
I didn't end up in front of the metal door
Ryu, studded with rivets. From fatigue
large drops of sweat appeared on his forehead,
his throat was dry. He raised his hand and quietly
knocked.
After several painfully long se-
kund was heard muffled:
- Yes, yes, come in. Not locked.
Bill walked in and immediately stretched out across the counter.
, seeing the officer who was sitting behind
desk, almost completely filling
we're making a tiny cabin. Lieutenant of the Fourth
Ranga was still young, but already completely bald.
There were black shadows under his eyes,
stubble has grown on the chin, a crumpled tie
slid to the side. The officer was rummaging through a pile of papers,
covered the entire table, laid them out in a pile
ki, made notes on some, discarded others -
dump into an overflowing trash can. When
he moved one of the piles, Bill saw
There is a sign on the table: .
“Excuse me, sir,” said Bill, “I’m right.”I made a mistake and ended up in the wrong cabin. I'm looking for drops-
Lana.
- This is the chaplain's quarters, but he de-
he's been scolding since 13.00, even a fool like you could
I would have guessed that I had to wait another 15
minutes.
- Thank you, sir. I'll come by later. -
Bill backed towards the door.
-You will stay here and work-
thief.- The officer raised his blood-filled blood at Bill.
I look into my eyes and giggled maliciously. “Since you told me
got caught - sort the receipts for the nose-
high scarves. I started somewhere around here 600 nose-
loc. I know that they couldn’t disappear, but...
Do you think it's easy to be a castellan officer?
He sniffled in self-pity and
shoved a pile of receipts at Bill. Bill began
disassemble them, but then the bell rang,
leading the end of the watch.
- I knew it! - the official screamed tearfully
cer. - This damn work, the more de-
bark, the more remains! Do you still think
you're amazed that YOU might have some
problems!
With trembling fingers he turned over the tablets.
on the table. Now it had a
inscription . The lieutenant grabbed onto
tip of his tie and threw it forcefully over
right shoulder. The tie was sewn to the collar-
chku, which is on special bearings
smoothly slid across the shirt. The collar with a quiet
whirred and turned backwards, revealing
Bill's eyes saw the snow-white smooth surface
ness; the tie was left somewhere behind my back.
The chaplain folded his hands in prayer, lowered his
rolled his eyes down and smiled sweetly:
-How can I help you, my son?
- I thought you were an officer-castella, sir?
Bill said brokenly.
- Yes, my son, and this is far from the only one -
a new burden placed on my weak shoulders.
In these difficult times, few people need
chaplains, and the demand for officers-castellas
great I try to be useful. - And he
humbly bowed his head.
- But you... who are you anyway? Officer-
castellan and part-time chaplain
or chaplain and part-time officer
castellan?
- This great mystery is, my son. Existence -
phenomena arise, the essence of which is better not to delve into
roll But I see that your soul is in confusion.
Tell me, do you believe?
- What?
“I’m asking YOU, what?” he barked.
chaplain, whose appearance for a moment simply
drank the features of an officer-castellan. - How can I
help you if I don’t know what religion you are
do you confess?
- Fundamental Zoroastrianism.
The chaplain pulled out a paper covered with paper from the table.
wrapped the list in cellophane and began to scroll through it
finger.
- For...ze... Bestiality...Zoroastrianism re-
formed fundamental. This?
To be continued...
Share your thoughts about the article