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UNDERGROUND 182
In the cosmically vast corridor, the two figures seemed so tiny that I wanted to reach out, grab them and put them in my pocket. Sharp eyesight allowed them to look after them for a long time, until they were swallowed up by an alarming haze. He gave them everything he could - weapons, knowledge, his own experience and something else that they did not know about - like that couple thirty years ago. And still it was very little. But alas, their time had come, and there was nothing he could do about it. Perhaps he would have come up with something more reliable if he knew that the pendulum of fortune had begun to swing in the opposite direction, but he was only a man.At the moment when Pustovalov was saying goodbye to Dasha and Viktor, seventy-three floors above in a spacious room, the former investigator of the military prosecutor's office of the Baltic garrison, Krutilov, who was acting deputy head of the security service for operational work in U-4, got up from his chair. He went up
UNDERGROUND 183
Having launched the most important organizational mechanism, Krutilov approached Igor Nikolaevich, who, seeing the first results, was about to leave the premises.– Igor Nikolayevich, I don’t see Savitsky here.He reports directly to management.“I know, but he usually attends security meetings…”- AND?“If Maurice comes back today…Igor Nikolaevich shook his head.- Such information is not subject to dissemination."Even with what's going on?"Igor Nikolaevich was very tall and in his student years he was a member of the junior basketball team of the city of Bologna. Therefore, he had to lean towards Krutilov so that only he could hear the answer.- Listen, Krutilov, I have already said: this situation is not capable of harming the system. This means that the rules regarding key issues must be strictly observed.“But I can act on my own assumptions?”“Nothing inside is capable of harming the system. I think my answer is clear to you. To complete the task, do whatever you think is nec
UNDERGROUND 184
In the tenth block, Victor outlined the main and alternate routes to the backup operator's room, drew a map and memorized it. There were many reasons for unrest, but Victor tried not to think about it, repeating the algorithm of actions to himself, although Pustovalov said that you should not program yourself for only one course of action - it was still easier for him. In addition, there was another source of excitement nearby - Dasha.Although Dasha was in a medical uniform, disguised with the help of large glasses and a special medical helmet, she frowned all the time and looked at the floor, she was still beautiful and Viktor (also well disguised with the help of Pustovalov) noticed that she attracted too many curious male views, especially the views of the guards.In the end, Victor, seeing several people in dark uniforms ahead, suggested that Dasha turn onto the nearest stairs.It was quiet on the stairs.- Too many of them. That usually doesn't happen! Like something happened! -
UNDERGROUND 185
Dasha turned and approached the monitors.- He is there?Victor pointed to one: a top view of the door and a large elongated "two". A figure of a guard just appeared at the door, and immediately disappeared. Dasha recognized Pustovalov's movements and felt a surge of strength. She put her hand on Victor's shoulder.He is ready to wait. Do not rush.Victor couldn't shake his excitement. Figures, windows jumped before his eyes, and he thought about how they tied him to an iron chair so that he would not kick when they sawed off his leg. But as soon as he pulled himself together and began to think in his usual way, he realized that the “problem” was not worth a damn. The control program simply used the old interface.Victor quickly opened the necessary tabs and finally opened the door to the second block.- I'm just an idiot. – Guilty ascertained he.- Happened? Dasha turned around.He's already inside! Three more times left, and we can get out of here!Dasha nodded.***Pustovalov and K
UNDERGROUND 186
Victor had been staring intently at the small screen for several minutes now, distracted only by a quick glance at his watch. His palms were sweaty, his heart was beating loudly, his leg twitched under the chair. Finally, a little belatedly, two black shapes appeared on the bluish screen. One of them touched the door twice - a conventional sign. Victor pressed the button on which his finger had been lying for a long time. The door of the residential block "2s" quickly went to him. Victor's heart was relieved, closing the door behind those who had passed, he jumped up, unable to contain his excitement any longer.- There is! One more time and that's it!Dasha silently looked at him. She stood at the door, watching the corridor and hall through a small gap. Victor could not now think about safety either, and now he understood why Pustovalov had sent them together. But after all, someone here ate cheburek and read a magazine? Why has he been gone for so long? Or maybe he noticed them? Pa
UNDERGROUND 187
When the guard left, the guy went to the elevator, and Pustovalov, leaving Kharitonov and Katya on the stairs, approached him.- What happened? he asked, nodding at his hand.The boy looked at him through the lenses of his glasses.- It? Ah, nonsense. The rats were caught, I helped.- The same ones? - Pustovalov was “surprised” in a playful way.- Yeah.– And where are they?- They are being interrogated.- Where?– In the seventh block, probably. All your control is there now.- Have you been gone for a long time?- About ten minutes ago. What don't you know? There is a boy with a chick. By the way, I was the first to suspect him.- Well done. - Pustovalov patted the guy on the shoulder and returned to the stairs.“It’s bad,” he said to Kharitonov and Katya, “they were detained.- They are here? Kharitonov asked.“They took me to Block 7 ten minutes ago. I'm already there.- Hardly, - said Katya, - the seventh block is next to ours. And this place is in the middle of nowhere. It's ha
UNDERGROUND 188
The elevator went long and fast. They sank too deep, and the deeper they sank, the easier it became for the passengers.- Wow! Kharitonov laughed nervously. - This is what we gave on slippers!It seemed to Victor that he had survived a heart attack. Dasha's hands were trembling. Pustovalov took the lantern from her and shone it on the corpses, apparently in search of weapons. He was the only one who looked calm.“Don't take it into your head,” Kharitonov threatened, noticing that Pustovalov approached the panel with the buttons.- We need to hurry.- You, bl..d, only almost jumped into the next world!Victor, where are we? - Turned into the darkness of Pustovalov.Victor answered from somewhere below.– I think we have already left the seventh block. It was only four floors down...Finally the elevator stopped. The doors opened, in front of them a huge empty corridor darkened with rare equidistant lamps, which almost did not give any light - a familiar picture for these places. The ba
UNDERGROUND 189
After descending fourteen stories in complete darkness, they reached the first illuminated landing. Victor looked out the door, then carefully closed it and gestured to go down further. Starting from this floor, they checked every door until they finally found behind one of them a sign for "Chemistry Laboratory" and "Physical Laboratory", above which "Block 5" was written in small letters.We need a technology lab. Viktor whispered. But I don't know where she is.Kharitonov pushed Viktor and Pustovalov aside, squeezed his way into the corridor and unceremoniously grabbed the shoulder of the first man in a green protective suit that came across.The man didn't get off easy. He described in detail Kharitonov's path to the technological laboratory - it turned out that he had to go down another three floors.Pustovalov did not like the place - there were too many guards, but Victor was already well oriented here and, having seized the moment, the five of them moved towards the ventilation