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UNDERGROUND 123
“They will all be driven out soon,” said the old man, and Pustovalov noticed blue circles under his eyes and a sickly gleam in his eyes.Indeed, he is the only one still lying. Trying to move smoothly, Pustovalov got up. Contrary to expectations, the head did not hurt at all. There were rag sneakers under the bed, but before putting them on, Pustovalov looked intently at the old man.We talked yesterday, didn't we?- Quite right.Don't get me wrong, but...“Here…” the old man deliberately interrupted him loudly and continued more quietly, “sometimes you have strange dreams. Perhaps more often than they dream of in ordinary life.- Yeah. - Pustovalov said and immediately repeated again. - Yeah. So dreams?The old man casually approached him.- Well, maybe not quite dreams, but not quite what we call reality. In any case, it is better to avoid talking about such topics.- Why?They attract the unhealthy attention of superiors.– Why is it bad?- By itself, nothing. But it puts everyone
UNDERGROUND 124
- What's going on here? Pustovalov asked.His gaze was focused on a short, mustachioed man who looked like an inflated balloon. Next to him stood an unnaturally smiling "daddy" cop.- Conflict of worldviews. - Gennady explained, finishing the rest of the tea.- Am I a servant to you, excuse me, to run for sausage to the kitchen ?! By the way, I doubt that you are supposed to! - The black-moustached fat man pouted.“You won’t get out of my toilet.” - Through his teeth hissed the former cop from Polyanka.Obviously, the current situation caused a feeling of embarrassment in the "dad" and, as if sensing this, the black-moustachio raised his voice."Why are you addressing me as you?" I am the Deputy General Director of the Design Bureau! I create aviation guided missiles! I create missiles for naval anti-aircraft systems! I have an award from the president! And who are you?! Out of the toilet! Yes, I myself will make you clean the toilet! I'm sorry! What the hell, I'm sorry, are you our "
UNDERGROUND 125
- Rarely will they be brought here. So consider it our day off today, thanks to you.- And here, it turns out, an excellent review. By the way, where are these, who will bring us?At that moment, a group of men naked to their underpants entered the lower room with a noise. Among them, Pustovalov immediately saw Kharitonov - he stood out for his size.From surprise, Pustovalov even choked on Coca-Cola.- And here they will be. The second group, - said Gennady.“Damn…why are they all naked?”- Recently, home-made knives were found on two of them - allegedly they were preparing an assassination attempt.- On whom? Pustovalov handed the old man a bottle of cola.- And the devil knows.“If it wasn’t for the so-called ‘dreams’, I would have thought I was crazy.“Maybe we've all gone crazy here. But in this case, it's their "dad". He is painfully strict with them.- Dad?- Yes, out. See? The only one dressed.Pustovalov took a closer look and saw a short figure behind the naked peasants. Ver
UNDERGROUND 126
Pustovalov smiled, remembering that the old man was not stupid.- In your opinion, is it better to put up with being in a concentration camp?- Where did you see a concentration camp with dads and a couple of klutzes instead of guards?– This is what worries me.“I thought you were an observant guy. Gennady smiled. – This bewildered humility is not only from fear. They could have disarmed the guards and slapped that young "Koch" in no time.“Perhaps everything is arranged differently here…” Pustovalov suggested.- Yes, otherwise. But not in the way you think. These unfortunates think in the old ways. In order to run, you need to know where to run. They don't realize that the place they want to go to no longer exists. That is, it does not exist where they think. You said right. Here everything is arranged differently.– Where is that place?– I don't think that the question “where” is generally appropriate now.- Which one is appropriate?The old man shrugged his shoulders and sighed s
UNDERGROUND 127
Victor found it under a pile of newspapers - a rare device with a disk set, picked up the phone ...- Hello!The answer was only a crack - apparently interference on the line.- I'm listening! Viktor spoke louder.No answer.- You can not be heard!Oh, those ancient devices. Victor pressed the receiver into his ear.There was a chirp at the other end. At first, barely audible, then nasty growing and simultaneously changing intonations, as if someone really spoke in this way.Victor hung up in disgust."To hell with calls, and in general, it's time to take the bull by the horns!" he decided. After all, it was initiative that brought him here. He will start working without waiting for anyone.First of all, he approached the table, remembering Palych's words yesterday that the plans for the shelter were "somewhere on the desktop." But among the countless rubbish on the table, he found nothing. Only under the box with nails was a folded notebook sheet with a list of eight names and surnam
UNDERGROUND 128
- Who? Victor didn't understand.- Actually, it is forbidden to approach them ... Or rather, they are forbidden to approach us. They have some sort of punishment for it. Only with the approval of their superiors. They are called dads. - Malek laughed - Well, Grigor, who came up with this, with dude humor, of course. By the way, do you know how they are obliged to contact us? Mister chief. But I mean to us. As for you... Well, you didn't pass the tests. So why do you need them, you say?Well, just curious...The fry suddenly beamed, illuminated by a “guess”.- Oh, you cunning hare! Chicks! Interested in gratuitous chicks?! Here's a beetle! Climbed without soap and already grabs! Go ahead dads! - Malek grimaced and played the fool, almost not hiding hostility. Well, don't put your finger in your mouth.– What are you talking about anyway?- How! Mr. boss, let me do something nice for you? - Malek winked, imitating the tone of the "calf".The strained image of a vulgar man did not suit h
UNDERGROUND 129
Victor lowered the curtain and left the room at once into the cramped hallway. The front door was closed with a chain. He touched the dusty leatherette, looked through the peephole. Through the twilight, the doors and a piece of the wall covered with a marker were barely visible. Victor took off the chain, turned the latch of the lock and left the apartment. Going down the stairs, which were lit by dim bulbs, across the floor, he smelled urine and sweet decay - quite expected for such an entourage, but he had a feeling of unnaturalness of what was happening. This place was clearly not what it seemed to be.Nevertheless, when he stepped out into the yard, he felt a completely natural cold, with tingling in his nose and icy jets of air, but still something prevented him from fully feeling the street. Perhaps this dense, hopeless darkness overhead.A well-visible figure on the second floor flashed before my eyes.- Hey little one! Viktor screamed. – Do you hear?!Victor ran, drowning in
UNDERGROUND 130
- Very far. Someday your question will be there. But neither he nor you will be gone. Where did you get this form?- He gave me ... he. - Victor pointed to half of Palych drifting overhead.Are you from the tech department?- Yes.“I haven't seen you before.- I was recently hired.- Recently. - The man thought. So you're from the subway?- Yes.The man chuckled vaguely.- Where are you from?- I'm the eighth line, - said the man, - Shrike.– Ah. I haven't seen you before either.- I like to work alone and do not like bosses, although Palych is a normal guy. I work in remote areas. You... you better be careful here.– Where is it?“Here,” the man sniffed, nodding somewhere to the side, “it’s easy to get lost here.”Victor touched his temple.“It seems to me that… that… I'm already lost.The shrike frowned.- Did you take the tests?- Not. It is important?“Perhaps you are not ready to work here.- What am I supposed to do?Shrike shrugged.Try to adapt otherwise...– What else?“If yo