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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
UNDERGROUND 176
In recent days and especially hours, the unhealthy tension around Katya has grown like a snowball. The main source of tension came from Mirzakarim Viktorovich, who was preparing to storm the last peak of the “new world” hierarchy and, for obvious reasons, was drawing Katya into this.He constantly spoke about the “new world” - allegorically, with the help of metaphors and allusions, as if talking about abstract topics, but, nevertheless, it became clear that the “new world” would not be limited to staying in the U-4 shelter. And even more so it will not unfold on the fragments of the former world. They are waiting for completely different conditions, a completely different social structure, and new orders, for some reason based on the old principles of slavery. Such a new "special way". But it is impossible otherwise, said Mirzakarim Viktorovich, the conditions in which we find ourselves are sensitive to human weaknesses like a virus, and we simply cannot afford to coddle with vices,
UNDERGROUND 177
Katya's heart was beating wildly. Intoxicating excitement surged through her, she threw off her clothes, began to quickly put on the disgusting doll dress, listening to what was happening in the living room.The poisonous speeches of Mirzakarim Viktorovich mixed with the bearish growl of Kharitonov. Bears can be cunning, thought Katya, hastily pulling on her dress and answering her own question - yes, yes, her father told her stories about such bears in her childhood. To get a barrel of honey, they know how to be cunning and know how to pour honey into their ears.Kharitonov had already shipped all the boxes and was clearly playing for time before Mirzakarim Viktorovich, continuing the unspoken ritual of worship. Mirzakarim Viktorovich loved such rituals and was in no hurry to expel Kharitonov, but for too long he did not return to the yellow lane, where his subordinates were waiting. All joked, humiliated, weighed out compliments, covered with sweat.Only when Katya appeared in a new
UNDERGROUND 178
Suddenly, very close by, Victor heard:- Yes, pi..dets there, a complete set! Keys, duplicates, radio!- What to report? - There was a second voice.- Yes, it's time to take a bitch. Tell Palych not to let go anywhere yet.Victor panicked, circling in the dark, clenching and unclenching his fists. I wanted to cry in despair. It seemed to him that everything was too complicated, that he was trapped and that now all that was left was to throw himself at the feet of some unknown boss and beg him for mercy, realizing in the depths of his soul that all this was useless. I remembered yesterday's meeting with Pustovalov, how confident and calm he was. How cleverly he would get out of here.But in the ears stood "It's time to take a bitch" and the squeal of a chainsaw, tearing out a heartbreaking scream along with bloodied flesh.Victor put his ear to the door and stood for such a long time, listening. He waited for absolute silence, but somewhere a quiet monotonous unfamiliar sound was heard
UNDERGROUND 179
For four days the dog had not bothered Boris, although once in a dream, he still heard a hoarse and annoyingly ringing bark, but he did not see the dog itself. He returned home and told his wife that the business trip was over, after which he went to the shower, but did not reach the bathroom - he sat down on the sofa and passed out for twenty hours. I woke up in absolute cosmic silence, which happens only early in the morning, had breakfast, watching the adventures of a plasticine man on TV in the kitchen.Then he got up, looked out the window and realized that his former life was over: he would never see the general again, nor Makarov, nor Yakov, and the saddest thing - he would not see Dasha Afanasyev either. He only hoped that the dog would not torment him about this.The next day, the old boss, Lieutenant Colonel Kolmogorov, called and said that on Wednesday he should come to work. The business trip was really over, the captain's rank was returned to him.Boris went with his fami
UNDERGROUND 180
“The main problem is that everyone underestimates her,” Uncle Yegor said, buttering a piece of baguette, “even when you directly tell them that disguise increases the likelihood of surviving in battle by sixty percent, they still don’t take it seriously. It flies past the ears.Uncle Yegor scooped up a spoonful of red caviar and bent over the table, looking at Boris.The one who understands its true meaning wins. He continued even more quietly. - In twenty-five years, I have met only two cadets who realized that it was impossible to disguise an armored personnel carrier in three minutes. Only these two got their fair fives. No, of course, I gave fives to those who did not deserve them, otherwise I would have been sent to the reserve ahead of time. But only these two. Only these two deserved it. I even remember their names.– What did they do? One of the boys asked.Uncle Yegor smiled phlegmatically.- And to this, son, you must come yourself, otherwise ... Do you want to be a good mil