Читать книгу Space Fairy Tales - Дмитрий Алексеевич Шевяков - Страница 1

Alien Coffees

Chapter I

The sun has set over the horizon. Gradually, the firmament became darker and darker, and now the first, not quite bright stars began to light up on it, gradually a dark, quiet, southern night was coming. Rex sat alone at his booth, he sometimes looked at the roof of the barn, where his faithful friend the cat Ginger liked to sit and bask in the sun. Out of boredom, the dog began to examine the night sky, where the horn of the golden-silver moon was quietly floating by. Watching her, he felt somehow uncomfortable when her sad, whitish light touched him as well. Then Rex's attention was attracted by a falling bright star. It was rapidly approaching the ground, increasing in size, and fell, somewhere very close, behind a fishing village.

– What a little star! – thought the dog.

– It is necessary not to forget to tell Ginger about her in the morning, with this thought Rex finally dozed off. And early in the morning the cat went out for his favorite walk. He climbed onto the roof of the shed to bask in the sun, as always, and then noticed Rex lying at his booth. The cat, sitting comfortably on the roof, decided to tease his friend, he dressed up his fluffy tail and began to wave it softly and tap on the edge of the roof, while he watched Rex sideways. Meanwhile, the dog pretended to be fast asleep and didn't notice anything. He knew very well that he would not be able to jump to Ginger's tail, so Rex continued to lie quietly at his kennel. Then the cat could not stand this indifference and shouted to him from the roof:

– Hey! Rex, have you lost your nose? Are you sleeping like a dead man, not noticing anything around you, or are you only pretending to be asleep? Or maybe you're already so fat that you can't run or jump, Ginger continued to tease him. The dog endured- endured all these taunts at himself, but his patience came to an end. He could not forgive such insolence to the cat – he got up, grinning, and rushed to the barn. But then the whole disheveled Polkan ran into the yard, and distracted his attention from Ginger.

– Rex! Have you seen the alien cats that call themselves Coffs? Polkan asked, barely catching his breath.

– Wait, wait! Ginger, after hearing what he heard, jumped down to them from the roof.

– What kind of Coffs, what kind of cats are these? Why don't I know anything about it! – he bombarded Polkan with questions. He showed them his scratched nose.

– You see, look at how I got from them now. They are terrible, skinny, blue cats with big yellow eyes and very long tails. Oh, if you could see what huge claws they have! Yes, I had to experience them now on my own skin. They are much bigger and more agile, even our Ginger! The cat, hearing this, was indignant:

– And that's not true!

– There are no such big cats in the world, because I am from the largest breed, – he objected.

– And here they are, they came from another planet, – Polkan tried to convince them.

– Polkan, you decided to play us now, where could they come from here, I heard that no one lives on other planets— – said Ginger.

–Do you think I scratched my own nose?" Polkan was indignant.

– But maybe you dreamed it all, and your nose suffered yesterday from my claws, maybe I reluctantly scratched you when we jokingly fought with you? – suggested the cat. Polkan was very offended at his friends that they did not believe him, and left their yard.

– Why did you offend him, Ginger? Rex chided him.

– Here, I saw a very unusual phenomenon that night, a big star fell behind our village, maybe it was a spaceship that landed, and on which these very Coffs arrived. The cat looked at his friend with a grin.

– Well, here's another dreamer on my head, did you just get it from Polkan? Is this an epidemic among you dogs? Can I call an ambulance for you? – Ginger made fun of Rex. The dog sniffed loudly and growled:

– Ginger, have you decided to quarrel with all of us?

– You and Polkan don't understand jokes at all, said the cat. He turned away from Rex and headed towards the house.

Chapter II

And at this time, indeed, the arrived Kofa cats left their spaceship and scattered in groups around the neighborhood. They were very hostile to the local terrestrial cats and dogs.

– Local cats are small, fat, weak, colorful creatures that we can easily cope with. We will defeat them! Let's drive them off this planet and become masters here! – the leader of the Kof egged everyone on. He set them up in a militant way. In response, they shouted together: "We will win!", "We will liberate!" And in the meantime,

Ginger only pretended to go to his house, and he went to his friend Timothy the cat, who lived next door. He was tormented by doubt:

– Maybe Polkan really met with these aliens, and I needlessly laughed at him and offended a friend? – pondered on the way Ginger. Climbing over a high fence, he found himself in a neighboring yard. Ginger noticed Timofey, who was resting at home, stretched out on the soft grass:

– Timosha, have you heard about space aliens? Ginger asked him from afar.

– What, have you already heard these ridiculous rumors? He asked with interest. Ginger sat down next to his friend.

– Yes, they say that many cats have already suffered from them, and some dogs have suffered too, among them is our friend, but for some reason I can't believe it in any way.

– Come on, Timosha, let's check these rumors tonight and dispel this myth about space aliens once and for all— – suggested Ginger.

– I agree with you, but how and where will we do it?

– Timosha, come to the roof of our shed tonight, we'll set up an observation post there. From there, the whole street is clearly visible, and we will be inconspicuous. The friends, having arranged a meeting, went to their homes. And Ginger went to Rex, he decided to tell him about his plan with Timosha. The cat went to the booth and looked into it, but the friend was not there. Ginger got angry!

– Well, that's where you are, Rex, when I need you, you're never there, the cat grumbled, heading for his house. The day was already drawing to a close, and dusk had fallen. Returning to the yard, Rex, tired, climbed into his booth, and lying there, began to dream about a delicious, sugar bone for dinner. He couldn't think of anything else, when suddenly, an unusual smell reached him. And at this time, two friends Ginger and Timofey met at an agreed place on the roof of the barn.

– Ginger, look, here is the best view of our street and yard from this place, and we have a place to hide.

– I agree with you, Timosha, we can't find a better observation post. Look, Rex's booth is clearly visible from here, let's go down to him and tell him about our plan, suggested Ginger. They began to descend cautiously from the roof of the barn. Meanwhile, Rex was in his booth, trying to deal with this unfamiliar smell:

– I wonder which side he came from? Rex sucked in a lot of air, and the smell hit him sharply in the nose. Someone was very close. He stuck his muzzle out of the booth, as someone immediately grabbed him, Rex howled in pain, terrible, big claws did not let go of his nose. Then the dog snapped his teeth with all his might, and a large tuft of blue fur remained on his teeth. Quickly jumping out of the booth, he rushed after the offender with a growl. But Kof turned out to be very agile, jumping over the fence, he disappeared into the neighboring yard. Ginger and Timofey ran up to Rex.

–Who was that?" How did you miss him? Was it really an alien cat? Both cats shouted in unison.

– Very much like it, Rex spat out a piece of blue wool from his mouth, which prevented him from speaking. And here is the proof of that, he pointed to a tuft of wool.

Chapter III

Well, now we are all convinced that Polkan did not dream up anything, and now someone will have to apologize to him, Rex told the cats. Ginger lowered his head, he felt very uncomfortable, he remembered how he had offended Polkan today.

– How do we fight these aliens now? Timofey asked his friends.

– It is necessary for all cats and dogs to unite and act together, the only way we can expel these Cats from our village, and from our planet in general.

– Yes, but not all dogs are friends with us cats, – Timosha noticed.

– We will have to temporarily forget about our differences, and start making friends and helping each other, as they say: one for all and all for one! And at this time, the Coffs entered the courtyard. Rex, noticing them, became worried about how he alone could cope with five large Coffees and how to protect his two weak friends. The dog shielded Ginger and Timosha, and assumed an intimidating pose, spreading his paws wide, straining all his muscles, while raising his withers and grinning menacingly, showing his strong teeth. In an instant, strength and malice intertwined in him.

– No, I will not give you my friends in the claws, my teeth will be able to cope with you! Rex shouted and growled menacingly.

Hoping, in this way, to prevent the attack of the Kof, and to give his friends the opportunity to retreat, and bring him help. The Coffs stood in confusion for a while, but when they heard the call of their leader, they moved towards them, ready to use their formidable weapons, powerful claws. And at this dangerous moment for Rex and his friends, Polkan ran into the yard with a pack of dogs.

– Hold on friends, we are coming to your aid! one of the dogs shouted. The Coffs, hearing the numerous growling of dogs behind them, began to retreat. They ran right into a high fence, the Cops were very scared, and the dogs were determined to deal with them. But Polkan decided to prevent this interplanetary fight. He came forward, holding a small Kof in his teeth, he was squeaking and calling for help from his mother. The dog gently lowered him to the ground. The whole pack of dogs and Cows were ready for a big fight, but the helpless squeak of the baby kept them in place.

– Whose baby? Take it away! I caught him in the dark on the road, and there are cars driving there, and it wasn't safe for him at all! Polkan shouted, staying in place and thereby setting an example to the rest of his brethren. One of the Cops could not stand the crying of his baby and rushed to him.

"Thank you, you found and saved my son," Kof said. The aliens huddled together in anticipation of reprisals against themselves. But noticing that the dogs changed their minds about attacking them, they calmed down a little. The leader of the Kof stepped forward and said: "Earthlings, we have become ashamed of all our bad deeds that we have done here, and if you can, then forgive us! We wanted to conquer you and your planet and become the masters of the Earth. But I have now made a different decision, to return back to my planet Kof, but this can only happen when you can help us."

– And what happened there? Rex asked, rubbing his wounded nose with his paw, and trying to curb his anger.

– For some reason, our on-board computer has stopped working, and we can't take off without it, – said the leader. The dogs were at a loss, they did not know how to help the Dogs.

– We don't know what a computer is, and what it looks like, the dogs confessed. And suddenly there was a quiet voice of the cat:

– Let me try to help you, it was Ginger who came forward. I'm a little familiar with the work of a computer, maybe I can do something," said the cat. Everyone looked at their furry friend in surprise.

– Yes, don't look at me as if you're seeing me for the first time, he looked around with a playful look and jokingly said: hello, I'm Ginger, the savior of our planet and aliens, – he introduced himself. Everyone immediately became amused by this, and they agreed to meet the next day at the spaceship.

The next morning, the cats Ginger and Timosha with their best friends Rex and Polkan went to the spaceship that landed near the village at a high cliff that stretches to the sea. Friends quickly got to her, but the ship was not there.

–Where's the ship?" Maybe he has already left without our help? – looking around, Ginger exclaimed.

– Friends, come here to this path that leads behind the rock. I seem to have picked up the trail of aliens, called all the Polkan.

–Is there a passage between the rock and the sea?" Rex asked, I've never seen him here.

– Look, this path appeared here when the tide began to ebb, the water receded and now you can walk around this impregnable rock.

"Now we'll have to get back before the tide comes in, before the water floods this passage again," Ginger warned his friends. And they hurried along this shaky, drenched path, behind the rock to the ship.

– And here she is! What a huge rocket, like a second rock by the sea! The whole company stopped and stared in amazement at the alien spaceship.

– It looks like a big, thick drill, you see, there are hollows on the sides with a screw, – Rusty showed with his paw. While they were looking at him, the hatch suddenly opened and the leader of the Kof came out of the ship.

– Hello, I am waiting for you with great impatience, we need to leave your planet as soon as possible. We are running out of solar charge. We didn't manage to recharge the batteries here, although you have a hot sun shining here. They went inside the ship, and Kof pointed to the computer. It was very similar to our earthly one. There were, of course, differences, but the power button was in the same place. Ginger pressed on it, and the computer started downloading the ship's control program. After starting the program, the cat found a button with a map on the screen and pressed it with his paw. A star map of the ship's flight unfolded on the screen. Ginger carefully scanned their flight route, and indicated the trajectory of the ship's flight in the opposite direction to the planet Kof, setting the time of the rocket's takeoff. Then he invited his friends to leave the ship. The Coffs thanked them for their help, and began to prepare for takeoff.

– Ginger, did you do everything right? "Is this ship really going to take off," Rex asked. They moved away from the ship and after 5 minutes its engines started working. The spacecraft broke away from the earth and soared up, gaining altitude, headed for its planet.

– Hurrah! We did it! Long live Ginger, the savior of our planet! That's how friends, when one for all, and all for one, you can turn mountains! Polkan said. And our Ginger became a real hero, the hero of another fantastic story.

Space station

Attention!

Starting the countdown:

10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1… Start!

The spacecraft, controlled by a team of astronauts, launched from the Skazka cosmodrome and headed for the International Space Station, where a team of cosmonauts from other countries was waiting for them with great impatience.

The commander of the crew on this ship was a well-respected polar bear named Umka. Yes, yes, this is the same little white bear with a black button nose, but now he has grown up and even became the commander of a spaceship.

Znayka and his friend Steklyashkin also flew with them, and the two of them will also participate in this space exploration team on the International Space Station.

There was also a group of tourists on board the ship – and this is a well-known to you (and even beloved by many children) team of the Puppy Patrol, led by Commander Ryder. They just participated in our festival “Teams of rescuers" and, becoming the winners in it, were awarded a ticket to a spaceship.

– Friends! – Zeke Rider addressed the puppies of his heroic team, and six brave dogs – Sturdy, Marshal, Rocky, Zuma, Sky and Chase – answered together:

– We are all here! The puppy patrol is ready to fly!

The team of Puppies did not yet know what was ahead, upon arrival at the International Station, they were also in for a surprise – a meeting with a group of British researchers, underwater rescuers. They temporarily decided to change their underwater Octobase to a spaceship, deciding to help in the exploration of outer space. Have you guessed who it is? This is also a well-known team of Octonauts together with their commander, Barnacles the polar bear.

Suddenly, the commander of the Umka ship noticed stowaway "hares" on his spaceship:

– It is not clear how they were able to secretly get on the ship? – the commander was surprised when he saw them on the control monitor screen. Meanwhile, the Hare and the Wolf were hiding in the cabin of the ship under the seats of the chairs. The wolf was full of indignation:

– It's all because of you, why did you get on this ship? And, as always, he let me down. Now we're trapped! Well, Hare, wait! Let's go home, I'll deal with you! – the Wolf whispered to the Hare.

–Why were you chasing me?" So, I had to, as always, to escape from you, run wherever my eyes look. In a hurry, I didn't even notice how I got to the cosmodrome, and to the ship that was ready to take off into space.

– Did you hear the announcement that the ship will soon dock with the station that is in orbit? So as soon as everyone leaves this ship, we will immediately kidnap him and return on it back to Earth. This will be our secret with you, so keep your mouth shut, Hare! – The Wolf said menacingly.

– No! I won't let you do it, even though I'm afraid of you, but I'm not a coward! – whispered the Hare, trembling all over. But then all these travelers will not be able to return to Earth in time, and they may all suffer! So I'm against it!

The wolf wanted to grab the Hare by its long ears, but....

While the Hare and the Wolf were arguing, the ship meanwhile docked in orbit with the Druzhba station.

– Welcome to our base! – the owners of this station greeted them. After docking, all the astronauts and their guests gathered in a large mess hall. The Wolf and the Hare, too, as they thought, sneaked in there unnoticed. In whatever situations the Wolf and the Hare did not find themselves, we remember it well, but in order to get right into space like this, they could only dream about it in a dream or in our fairy tale.

– You need to run back, let's agree, – the Wolf whispered, right into the Hare's ear. And then…

– Aha, here are two more assistants, – a bearish bass sounded right above their heads, – So, "hares”, welcome to our team.

The Wolf and the Hare crouched down in surprise. That's how the Wolf's plan immediately failed, without even having time to begin.

"Well, now we'll have to work, too," the Wolf grumbled, walking with a lazy gait behind the commander of the ship Umka.

And on the International Space Station, work did not stop for a minute. Each astronaut was busy with his own business. There were a lot of big and small stars shining around. The astronauts were watching them. From here, from the station, the stars were much closer and it was easier to see and photograph them. And also, it was possible to describe their condition and make calculations.

The space station was flying at high speed along its orbit, set by scientists. With the help of a powerful telescope, it was possible to view all the planets of our Solar system!

– Look, Steklyashkin, here is our planet Earth, it is blue, – the Expert explained to a friend. – She's one, two, Three from the Sun! See how beautiful it is, though not the biggest. From here, its atmosphere is clearly visible, which protects our planet from meteorites, space debris, from cold and harmful cosmic radiation. That's what this Earth's atmosphere and its magnetic field are necessary for our life on Earth.

– And now, let me take a look at this little planet that flies around the Earth. – asked Steklyashkin.

–Didn't you recognize her?" It's a satellite of the Earth, the planet Moon," laughed Znayka. Steklyashkin pouted in resentment at the Expert.

– Just… I just wanted to check if you remember the name of the Earth's satellite? – the friend justified himself.

– Better let's remember the names of all the planets of the Solar system, it will be useful for our new friends. – He noticed that the Wolf and the Hare, who came with the commander, were listening to them with great curiosity.

– And so, the first planet from the Sun is the planet Mercury, the second is Venus, the third is Earth, the fourth is Mars, the fifth is Jupiter, the sixth planet is Saturn, the seventh is Uranus and the eighth is Neptune.

– Are these all the planets of the cosmos? – the Hare asked the Expert.

– No, of course, look out the window, do you see how many stars are shining? – Znaika explained— – There are countless of them! There are many planets among them, but they are located in other Galaxies, and we have now named only those that are in our Solar System, next to our planet.

– But, after all, there are also satellites of planets, they are also part of the Solar System, but we will not talk about them now. It will be difficult to remember everything at once. – added Steklyashkin.

– You see how interesting it is here, how much we have learned new and unknown for us. So I'm glad I got here! – said the Hare. And then, on the radio, they announced the launch for the ship and listed the names of everyone who would fly back to Earth. Among them, they did not forget to mention the Wolf and the Hare, so they were already flying back not hiding, but sitting proudly in chairs – after all, not everyone is given to visit space!

Stargazer and the starry sky

There was a Man who lived in a magnificent kingdom. He was one of the most educated subjects of this kingdom. From the very early morning until late at night, he was engaged in the exact science of mathematics.

Gradually, there was nothing left in this state that was not taken into account and not recalculated.

Now he knew the exact number of buildings in the kingdom, how many windows and doors in these houses, how many people lived in them, and also knew how many trees and flowers grow, how many squares, streets and animals.

And so, when everything was already counted and rewritten, he was left without his favorite thing. He even lost his appetite and sleep!

One night, when he couldn't sleep again, he went out on the balcony. His gaze was directed to the night sky … it was clear weather and the dark firmament was strewn with shining stars!

They were big and small, bright and not so bright. And then, as if an inner voice told him: "There are boundless starry expanses in front of you, you need to watch the stars and study them!"

He really liked this idea! "First, I will count them, then I will give each star its own name."

That's how he changed the profession of a mathematician to the profession of a stargazer. And as soon as a clear night came and the first stars appeared in the sky, our Astrologer climbed to the roof of the highest tower of the royal palace and from there conducted his observations of the stars.