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UNDERGROUND 21
Well, thought Pustovalov - the same fragments of the same nightmare. How quickly people approach in a closed space.“For some reason, I just feel like I should have gone back.”"So why didn't you go?" Pustovalov asked.- I'm not used to breaking away from the team. Also, I'm afraid of the dark.- And if everything is closed there, they might not let us out? Katya asked, turning her head to Pustovalov.- They can. - said Pustovalov and looked at Kharitonov. “But there are those among us who will not be deterred.When the bright square of the station appeared far ahead and the path went uphill, Pustovalov shouted to Victor to turn off the lantern.- From whom are we burning? Romik asked conspiratorially.- Did you buy this lamp in the store?Victor switched off the flashlight.What about phones too?- Yes.Kharitonov stopped, letting the others through.- Is that why you came back? he asked from the darkness when Pustovalov caught up with him.– What are you talking about?“You are not
UNDERGROUND 22
Looking back at the dark station, at the end of which a heavy bas-relief depicting Lenin was attached, he began to rise. Unlike the others, he went not along the central, but along the left escalator.Pustovalov quickly caught up with Kharitonov, who was lagging noticeably behind, and now they were climbing up the neighboring escalators. The giant looked up at Katya, but hearing a thin peep on Pustovalov's watch, he turned his head.What will they do to you when they catch you?- What are you talking about, buddy?Kharitonov spat, starting to fall behind Pustovalov.- You have an interesting watch - it goes backwards.Pustovalov chuckled.“I think I understand why no one can stand you.Kharitonov wheezed, trying to laugh and suppress his shortness of breath at the same time.The next second, a sharp whistle made them turn their heads.A fat man was descending down the third escalator, to whom the guys whistled and shouted, but the fat man ignored them. He looked unusual: a gleaming ba
UNDERGROUND 23
Pustovalov was the first to run down the escalator, but was soon overtaken by an Asian. Dasha ran after her, followed by Kharitonov, stomping deafeningly and threatening to break through the escalator. Victor ran after Dasha, and Romik and Katya ran along the nearby escalator.- Aaaaaaaaa!!! - It sounded furiously from above. Someone up there with superhuman strength scattered fences.Katya squealed in fear somewhere behind the left under the clatter of feet.The Asian was the first to jump out at the station, and disappeared under the arch. Pustovalov ran out next, noticing that the Adidas bag had disappeared, as well as the padlock on the metal door. The Asiatic has already overcome half of the hall, and sped off up the stairs of the transition to Rimskaya.Pustovalov ran on, passed the nearest pylon and hid behind the next one. Kharitonov, who overtook Dasha, followed him. Both were breathing heavily. Pustovalov wrinkled his forehead, peering around the corner. In the center of the
UNDERGROUND 24
- Terrorists?“Well, ISIS or something like that.- And what can be captured on Ilyich Square?- How do I know! I'm just saying we don't know everything.Kharitonov again caught up with Pustovalov.Are you sure we are on the right track?– Do we have a choice?- I'll go back. Katya stated.- Are you joking? Roman was surprised.“What makes you think they need us?”“This is a shock,” Victor “explained”.- It's not a shock! Do you think they're sitting there waiting for us? They have some business there. We just got caught in a hot hand.- You squealed all over the subway!“What, you want to go back to those monkeys?” Kharitonov turned to her.- The monkey is you!“So, back in the carriage, I was right about you?”- Yes, you went!Victor quickened his pace, caught up with Pustovalov, who was quickly moving away from everyone, who took out a Simon Coll chocolate umbrella from his backpack and began to unwrap the wrapper.- Listen, on the "Ploshchad Ilyich", in that room, what did you see
UNDERGROUND 25
Pustovalov crossed the tracks, climbed onto the platform from the tunnel side, peered through the grated door into the opposite portal, the only place that bothered him. However, he understood that it was foolish to set up an ambush there.Pulling up the strap of his backpack, he tucked the Walther into his belt, then climbed over the railing and climbed onto the platform. Silently stepping, he reached the first opening. Looked into the hall. On the marble column opposite, a bright blue sticker pointed with an arrow "exit to the city." It was from there that music and a mechanical rumble rushed, which, as Pustovalov now understood, was emitted by a working escalator.Leaning his back against the wide end of the wall, he began to shift to the left, gradually opening up a view. Silver-crystal, like corkscrews, lamps of the main hall and a row of pylons appeared before my eyes. A double staircase led from the center of the hall into the space above the opposite paths. The deserted hall e
UNDERGROUND 26
“There is nothing upstairs. Nothing that you so aspire to - all this simply does not exist anymore. But you exist and you are not alone. And the sooner you understand this and stop resisting, the better for you.Pustovalov bit his lips, as he always did when deep in thought.At that moment, the front escalators turned on. This time all three and all downhill. And immediately in front of them grew the rays of lanterns - judging by the power of the light fluxes - professional ones. Someone was already running up the escalators.Turn around without dropping your hands. – Quietly said Pustovalov.The fat man turned to the escalators with a fixed smile. The wind from the tunnel blew his dirty hair.Pustovalov inaudibly stepped back. Opposite the transition to the Taganskaya, he clung to the column, not taking his eyes off the fat man.He stood motionless with his hands raised under the dome of light of the only chandelier that worked in the hall.Pustovalov looked into the passage - the st
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“Did that guy at the station say that?”Don't worry, he's crazy.But Dasha could not "not pay attention." When Pustovalov came out of the toilet three minutes later, Dasha went up to him again.Did he talk about what's going on upstairs? she asked, glaring into his eyes.Pustovalov felt a faint, refined aroma of exotic flowers - far from the banal perfume heaviness emanating from Katya, and thought that this girl, like him, was a rare guest in the subway. In the semi-darkness he saw only the outline of a handsome face and sparkling eyes.I told you he's just a psycho. You should have seen his drawings.Dasha silently looked into his face for several seconds, as if she was evaluating, and finally said:- I want you to take a look.- For what?The girl looked around and took out an outlandish device from her bag, which Pustovalov immediately recognized, although he saw it for the first time in his life. Eyebrows habitually crawled up - the brick-like phone "Fairy Tale-2" looked so unnat
UNDERGROUND 28
- In case of a nuclear attack?“There are the same ones at the stations,” said Pustovalov, “but they are covered with sheets. I saw on Marksistskaya in front of the escalators.- Not the same, - Victor objected, - they are retractable or lifting, but this one is rare.Almost immediately outside the door, the tunnel doubled in size. The flashlight beam slowly illuminated the new space. They were at the fork. The tunnel went further, but from it, forming an acute angle, another branch grew.- Vityan is right, this is definitely an inter-linear, - said Romik, limping on his bruised leg, - one to the ring, the second to Taganka.- Where?The sound of a hammer was the answer.“This way,” Pustovalov headed for the neighboring tunnel.Kharitonov nodded to Roman and followed Pustovalov, pulling Katya after him.Victor avoided looking at the girl, he was ashamed of his impotence in his inability to somehow influence Kharitonov. But Pustovalov didn’t seem to care at all, although he could influ