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UNDERGROUND 168
Pustovalov woke up in the twilight and immediately felt tired, as if he had been climbing a mountain all day, and then, despite the distant hum, reminiscent of a transformer hum, an oceanic void for endless kilometers around. He was lying on his stomach, pressing his cheek against something warm, and with difficulty raising his head, he realized that this was Dasha's hand. The girl stirred as she felt his movement.Holding each other, they rose, silently staring at the concrete wall, lit by a dim red lamp that looked like an emergency light. On the wall was inscribed in huge symbols: BLOCK 10.Because of the twilight, they did not immediately notice the elevator with its doors wide open. It looked like everything around it - broken and long forgotten by everyone, a static lilac inscription multiplied in the dead mirrors: Only black card.So we found a way out? - With difficulty moving his tongue, said Pustovalov.Dasha did not answer, she slowly approached the elevator and leaned agai
UNDERGROUND 169
Pustovalov climbed deeper and deeper, ripping open the damp, viscous layer of last year's leaves with his feet. It became more difficult to move around, it darkened around, as if evening had come. Then he saw the mound and went to it, sure that it was there that he needed to. Having climbed onto it, from the side that resembled a gentle low hill, Pustovalov discovered that it was a building covered with soil, like a disguised entrance to a bomb shelter or a bunker.At the top there was a small open hatch, no larger than a window, looking into which Pustovalov felt a painful prick in his heart. Bright electric light, uneven floors filled with cement, bare brickwork spattered with blood. The space below was significantly lower than the ground, and consisted of two full levels. The level immediately below it was plunged into darkness, and the lower one was visible through an open hatch in the floor of the first floor. It was larger in size and resembled an ordinary hole in the basement.
UNDERGROUND 170
Pustovalov abruptly turned around and ran into the room, waking Dasha up.- What? - The girl was scared when she was awake.Don't be afraid, but I need to leave. I have to find Victor!- Do you want to go alone?It will be faster and safer this way. There are no people here...- No, no, that's right, I won't go back there, I'd rather die here.You won't die, I'll be back. Me or... if something happens to me, your father's people. But you won't die!Pustovalov quickly got ready, Dasha escorted him to the exit. The main gate was opened from the inside with a button, but a black card was required to open it from the outside and take the elevator. He gave the gun to Dasha and showed her how to use it.- Did you find out something?- Yes, I had a dream.Dasha nodded in satisfaction, as if that was an adequate explanation.If I don't make it, we'll stay here forever. We'll all stay, you know?Dasha silently looked at him, her face in the twilight was beautiful. He knew that splitting up was
UNDERGROUND 171
Mirzakarim Viktorovich took out a metal thing that looked like a giant dildo from the closet and handed it to Katya. Katya looked at the object, as if at a monstrous insect.- Take it.Katya shook her head.- We agreed. Or do you want to watch the execution?Katya took a metal phallus and threw it across the huge living room, it fell on a table made of natural stone and broke something there.Mirzakarim Viktorovich sighed.Do you know what Freud said about female penis envy?At that moment, one of Claude Debussy's melodies began to play, Mirzakarim Viktorovich aimed a small remote control at Katya and pressed something. The collar on Katya's neck blinked red, the girl grimaced, and Mirzakarim Viktorovich laughed and walked towards the door with his light gait.Outside the door stood an excited Malek the Quick.“I apologize for the unscheduled visit,” Malek began, carnivorously looking for Katya with his eyes, but she disappeared into the bedroom, “but it's worth it.- Come in, - Mirza
UNDERGROUND 172
Katya suddenly grimaced violently, clutched her neck with both hands, and cursed."What the hell are you doing with that thing?"- He gives a discharge from time to time.- That's hate.- Even some!“I thought you did well too.”“Looks like it, golden cage and all.” Yes, he does not have a chainsaw, but he seems to read my mind, as if he knows what I love and what I hate, and uses it on purpose!Kharitonov looked seriously at Katya.- I'm familiar with it.- Yes?“I know what it’s like to live with a sadist.- I can not stand.- You will survive.Katya shook her head.“You know, I think they knew they were doomed.- Who?“These fugitives. I think they still succeeded. I saw what happens in the capsules. This is worse than eternal punishment, and they just died. I think they did some sort of ritual...Kharitonov looked at Katya, watched her eyes fill with enthusiasm, and outlandish thoughts were born in his head.***The next morning, Kharitonov "checked out" and went to his block with
UNDERGROUND 173
Only now, when the true scale of General Afanasiev’s capabilities was revealed to Boris, he suddenly began to be overcome by the question: was the observed power really the result of the general’s love for his daughter, or was it due to demonstrating an answer to something that was not worth joking with.Together with Yakov, who again joined them, the trinity was pushed back by the vanguard in the person of Colonel Makarov and the commanders of the special forces. The wide pavement was flooded with dark blue minibuses, approaching from the side of the highway a convoy of Punisher and Viking armored cars.While a commando rang at the door, hiding behind a shield, from both sides of the checkpoint, "crocodiles" were moving along ladders - large figures in black uniforms and futuristic helmets with corrugated tubes. Soon, Boris heard familiar, nerve-wracking cries interspersed with obscenities. When the gates opened, the whole armada of "Punishers" and "Vikings" rushed at breakneck speed
UNDERGROUND 174
- Wait ... - Yakov ran away somewhere, quickly returned with a shovel and began to dig out the snow around Boris, but the shovel only ran into the asphalt.– Open the asphalt?– What is left?- You can ask for help.- Makarov?- Well, it’s not for nothing that they brought so much equipment. Let's try, it seems like the ball is on our side.They came to Makarov, who listened without enthusiasm and only nodded at Vindman.– His idea?In the presence of Yakov, Makarov always communicated with Vindman in a strange manner - exclusively through Yakov, as if Boris was a foreigner and Yakov was his translator.Jacob nodded.- How deep?- Thirty-six meters.Makarov made a grimace, as if he did not understand what he was talking about.Important men from Makarov's entourage did not like the idea either.- Is he serious? - Asked the fattest of them.“It’s like a local clown,” Makarov explained, “don’t pay attention. Yasha, make better plans.Yakov wanted to say something, but Boris pushed him o
UNDERGROUND 175
However, the old man nevertheless reluctantly took out an iPhone from his pocket, and, dialing a number, threw it to Windman, who barely caught it and immediately put it to his ear.In the tube there was a rollicking singing:- And I'll sit in a cabriolet-ee-ee-et. And I'll go somewhere-nibu-u-ud ...- Hello Hello! Vindman shouted. Through the singing came a familiar, confident voice. - I'm listening.- Be quiet, I can't hear you!“Excuse me, are you an idiot? - Broke through the singing.- I'm here! Vindman called out. "But there's nothing here, you're wrong!"- Did you go down?- Yes Yes!– Directly there?- Exactly!“Thirty-six meters?”“Thirty-six and a quarter!” There's nothing here!- Give me a sec…Boris listened to a couple of verses of Lyubov Uspenskaya's song. Finally, Grisha's voice resounded against her background. Boris was terribly annoyed that he almost did not hear Grisha, and besides, the connection, due to the great depth, was interrupted for a split second, from whi