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Chapter 1

THE BIG KNOWLEDGE CAN BE THE CAUSE OF THE BIG TROUBLES

Zander sharply removed the drawing, got up because of a table, walked on

to office. Took out a violin from a case and played. Long, slender fingers

easily and vozdushno danced on a signature stamp. But a melody which took

the violinist from the tool, was not cheerful at all.

“The chief is excited with something! – Vinkler thought, listening from next

rooms to improvisation. – From! How many bitterness! As the violin complains!.”

The complaint turned into indignation, in a violent protest. Sounds accrued,

got stronger and suddenly broke not resolved chord.

“Resolutely, to Zander there was something unusual!” – again thought

Vinkler, drawing a drawing pen a curve.

From an office the fast paces of Zander muffled by a carpet were heard.

– Vinkler, fall here!

Zander sat already at a desk when Vinkler entered.

– You sit down.

Vinkler took seat against Zander. Minute they silently looked the friend on

the friend, as if tried to read something new in the familiar for a long time person.

On the left cheek of Zander the slight scar – an old trace was designated

student’s rapier; a face of the engineer Zander, a face of the artist with big,

pensive eyes, it was more pale than usual.

– Vinkler, how many years we work together?

– Twelve years, mister Zander.

– Yes, twelve. Term is considerable… You were the good assistant,

Vinkler, my right hand, my friend…

– I did not die yet, mister Zander…

Zander frowned:

– We have to leave.

Vinkler hasty lowered a hand in a pocket, took out a tube, filled it

tobacco, lit.

– It why., so unexpectedly?

– I leave. For a long time I leave the homeland, perhaps forever.

– “Mohicans”? – shortly Vinkler asked.

– Yes, they… You believe that I am threatened by an imprisonment, Vinkler? Worse.

Much worse. They came not with a sword, and with gifts.

– “Be afraid of Greeks, the gifts bringing”, – Vinkler nodded. – And

what gifts are?

– They are ready to forget graciously about my dirty blood, – with bitterness

Zander told. – To return me department, it is good to pay my work.

– From means., military department?

– You guessed, Vinkler. They offered me – you understand what means,

when they offer? – to work in military department… Stratospheric

the bombing rockets operated on radio. You heard about them? In

many regions of the country constructions for firing are already built by such

rockets. From these points several minutes it is possible to destroy Paris,

Brussels, Prague, Warsaw hail of explosive and gas rockets. But to them it

it is not enough. They need the “shells without guns” flying for thousands of kilometers. Not

only London, Rome, Naples, Madrid, Moscow, Leningrad, but even

New York, Washington – targets for their new tools of destruction. Capitals,

the industrial cities, ports, airfields of neighboring states are destroyed in

several minutes together with all people. To smother children, to tear to parts

bodies of fathers and mothers – for the sake of what? – here what they offer me,

Vinkler. Whether my teacher Tsiolkovsky thought of it whether I dreamed of it,

having devoted the life to jet engines, rockets, a zvezdoplavaniye?.

For nervousness on a high forehead of Zander small drops of sweat acted.

– And what you answered them? Zander shrugged shoulders:

– If I told them “no”, it is easy to present consequences. If

I would tell “I will think”, at best I would appear now under

arrest…

– And you told “yes”?

– To have an opportunity to run immediately. Today I depart in

Switzerland. I ask you, Vinkler to collect my papers, drawings. Folder number

two – “Pikkolo Rocket”, number seven, number nine…

– And with it as? – Vinkler asked, having nodded on drawings of the rocket.

– Apparently, in any way, – Zander answered. – You know lord Blotton?

For it weeds in a stratosphere on the rocket – only the next hobby

athlete. And it already begins to cool down to this business. Several days to that

back he cabled that he will arrive today, and, as you can see, him

no. And monetary affairs of sir Henry are, apparently, not in brilliant

state. By the way, they to me already put by sight mine “strange communication” with

foreigner.

Vinkler puffed a tube.

– And what you will do in Switzerland?

– To play a violin and to fall in a reverie, – gloomily smiled

Zander. – I have abroad small savings.

– And when you will live them? To play a violin, collecting alms on

to the yards? “Give to professor Zander, the engineer with a world name, one

centime, kind citizens…” Picture, worthy our time.

Zander crackled slender fingers. His head was hung below and below under

weight of these words.

– Well to do, Vinkler? – quietly he asked.

– Something should be thought up, mister Zander. Whole world the day before

revolution, he prepares for war. Now everywhere look at rockets only

from the military point of view. – Vinkler released several puffs and

continued:

– In Switzerland there are many tourists. Tourists go by cars.

Cars demand repair. We will open repair shop.

– We?. Who?

– Yes we: you and I. A surname of Zander – not for a sign repair

workshop. I will open it on the name. “Vinkler and Co”. At me is on

you will accept one sensible fellow – Hans. You will continue the scientific

works, I – to help you and Hans. And we will perfectly live. “Repair

cars, bicycles and kerosene kitchens” is, of course, not so

poetically, as your star sonatas, but is more practical.

– Vinkler, – Zander with emotion told, rising and stretching

hand, – friends are learned in misfortune. Your loving kindness…

Vinkler strong shook hands Zander and, smiling, interrupted his outpourings:

– Heart and other internals is perfect at anything here,

mister Zander. Me only calculation, though not personal directs

character. I believe, this explanation is enough that you in any

degrees did not consider themselves obliged?

In a lobby the call was distributed.

Vinkler left, and in a minute on a threshold of an office high appeared

the slender person of years of thirty in a gray road suit.

– It is possible to enter?

– Sir Henry! – Zander exclaimed. – I am glad to see you.

– Hello, dear Zander. Forgive for a late visit. Affairs

detained. And all affairs eventually come down to money. – It

laughed:

– Money! Fuel of all engines of the world, without excluding also warm. Without

money and to stars not to rise, isn’t that so, dear Zander?

Gestures and Blotton’s movements were easy and free. He conveniently took seat in

chair, crossed the legs, took out tortoise from a side pocket

cigarette case with the platinum monogram and a crown, with dexterity of the conjurer

threw it from a hand in a hand, took out a thin Egyptian cigarette and

lit. Spicy tobacco smoke mixed up with aroma of the strong French

spirits. Blotton brought with himself the atmosphere of carelessness of the spoiled child.

– Exult, Zander. I brought to you a good portion of fuel. I and not

knew that the way to stars lies through an altar.

– What altar? Blotton laughed again, but did not answer a question.

– I think, we will have now means to finish the first stratospheric

rocket.

Zander’s face turned pink.

– I am very glad. But we will build it not here. Today at dawn I

I depart to Switzerland.

– Did not get on with “Mohicans”? – Zander nodded. – Switzerland?.

It, perhaps, better. There to you will work more quietly. I will give you the check

on the Lyons credit. Report the address. At five in the morning I depart to London.

And how your work moved?

Zander developed the drawing and began to explain. Blotton absent-mindedly listened

several minutes, pretending what understands, thanked Zander, left

the check, told several latest sports news and left. Zander

called Vinkler and showed him the check.

– Obviously, lord Blotton managed to receive money under the bride, —

told, smiling, Vinkler.

– How it “under the bride”?

– Recently in Taymsa it was printed about lord Blotton’s engagement with

Ellen Hinton. Ms. Ellen is the niece and the only heir

millionaire lady Hinton. Probably, to Blotton allotted the wide credit.

– And so why he said that the way to stars lies through

altar! – Zander remembered.

– Well, so far we can do without repair shop. It

will replace to us sports vanity of Blotton. It is better for those. Leave, mister

Zander. Now at us work will begin to boil. If only…

– What?

– If only you managed to get out safely. At you the plan is ready

departure? Is not present? It is necessary to help you.

And they were inclined over the map of the country which was once their homeland.