Никанор Стариков – The Snipe’s Flight (страница 5)

I have looked at the message again. Trianon. Most likely, it was my curator. For certain sits in cozy office somewhere at the space station of Earth or the Moon and nervously taps with fingers on table. His agent is silent. Having collected the thoughts, I have begun to deliberate. What could I answer it? «Sorry, companion curator, I have just arisen from the dead in body of your agent. I have semicentennial career in your department, but in other millennium. I feel perfectly, I continue to perform task».

Bitter, almost hysterical smile has escaped at me outside. The passion which I felt from the moment of awakening has got new feeling. It was not just the adventure. It was the mission, work. Real, deadly mission of the intelligence agent. I have returned to the favourite work. Here only in books the agents did not fall into state of the immigrant, popadanets or appeared? I have raised hand, my fingers have stood over the holographic key projected by bracelet. What to answer? The truth it is excluded. Means, it is necessary to continue game. As always. I have typed the short, abrupt answer, trying to imitate avaricious style which as my memory prompted, the Snipe had:

«Trianon. Failure of the equipment after emergency situation at start. The personal communicator has been damaged. Restoration in process. I continue performance of task. Cargo, gyrostabilizers for geothermal wells. After contact with the agent I will contact. Snipe».

I have sent the message and have switched off projection. In silence of the capsule only my breath and the remote rumble of engines somewhere in the depth of the ship was heard. So. Means, all this not to dream me now. Then what is it? Favor of the Universe to the lonely and sick old man? Of course, at present it is not the most important question. But nevertheless I need the answer. Now I had purposes and tasks. And still there was accurate order. To play Sergey Mironov’s role for crew of the shuttle of «Scythian». To perform task for the empire. And, the main thing to find out in what my main objective as my contact had instructions on the planet consists. It will report the meeting place when we land.

The first two points have met in one point: Aurum-4 and cargo. Gyrostabilizers. Too just in order that because of them to start such fuss. Means, in them something else. Or they – only cover. And still this strange crew. Not all tell the truth about themselves here. I have slowly exhaled, feeling as the shiver leaves, being replaced by cold, habitual concentration. The fear has receded. There was work. The most complex, multilevel work for which I had not only fifty years of experience of service in KGB now, but also trainings of the agent of star era, and young, strong body.

Tomorrow it will be necessary to check imperceptibly data on communicator. Perhaps, in it there is still something, except communication with Trianon. And in the evening, in galley, it is worth trying to throw inadvertently Genya conversation about unusual modules in cargo containers. The engineer likes to mutter about technical absurdities. I have extinguished light in the capsule and have settled, looking in ceiling behind which steel flesh of the ship which is carrying away me to others planet hooted. Game has become complicated. Became three times more dangerous. But also it is three times more interesting. For the first time for many years I felt not just passion, and purpose. I was spy. Snova. And this time rates were higher, than ever. On game there was not career and non-state secrets. On game there was understanding of the one who I am is. «Well, – I have thought, closing eyes. – Welcome to the future, the colonel Kamentsev». And with this strange thought, in pacifying in the terrible complexity, I have failed in dream.

The dream was uneasy and faltering. In it I was in sterile chamber where instead of Lenochka Ki with capsules in hand entered and passionlessly said: «Your time has expired. Leave from system». That limped along corridors of KGB, but the door in office of the chief conducted in the dusty, filled-in with orange light galley of the shuttle of «Scythian». Everything merged in one disturbing, nervous porridge. I have woken up from bracelet signal. The dry, mechanical voice has reported that there has come morning on ship time and it is time to go on watch. Time for thoughts was not. Having got into the role, I, having washed ice water and having washed away finally the dream remains. Has pulled overalls and has gone to the bridge. «Scythian» floated to the next point of turn, and on the main screen only the abstract hologram of route blinked. The captain Lavrov dozed in the chair, the beard was disheveled, the jacket is undone. Gena dug at the open panel, something grumbling on conducting. Vlad – Kim, he sat in the place, motionless as the idol, but his eyes cold and estimating, traced everything on the bridge. He has nodded to me when I have entered. Minimum, professional gesture. Neither it is more, nor it is less. Alice was already on the place. She has darted glance at me.

– Has got enough sleep? The complexion is better.

– As newcomer, – I have vigorously lain, taking the place at the console. – What according to the schedule?

– Routine diagnostics. And … – it has lowered voice, – the captain wants you and Gena to have visually checked fastenings of cargo. After jump sometimes there are surprises.

– Has understood, – I have told, and inside something has missed a bit. Good opportunity! Gene, having heard the name, has got out from under the panel, again wiping hands fat rags.

– Again? Boss! Yes there everything keeps, I hundred times looked. – Lavrov has opened the right eye and has gloomy looked at it. – Well, – having waved hand and, having put accurately rag, has hung up it on handrail, has looked at me and has continued. – Let’s go, the beginner. Only do not disturb and do not climb under power beams.

We have together left the bridge. In five minutes we entered cargo compartment. In the flight mode it looked even more ominous. The huge, empty space lit only with emergency lamps at the edges the system of maintenance of pressure hooted. Twelve massive containers, everyone of the size of the small house, have been fixed in the center on magnetic platforms. From them plaits of cables and fat hoses – those life support systems lasted.

– Here they, handsome, – has grumbled Gena, bypassing the first container. – The price of everyone – is more, than all our rusty shuttle. Yes if to be honest, all our crew in addition.

– Look … solidly, – I have noticed, trying not to show interest in the voice. – And what inside, except stabilizers? Some additional stuffing? Systems of tracking, protection?

Gena has sniffed.

– Protection? Yes from whom? From us? Here besides standard transponders there are sensors of fluctuations, temperatures and pressure. And solenoidal locks which are picked only by the code from Herpix. Try poke also you either current will hit, or dye will pour which then month you will not wash. Or both at once.

– Cleverly, – I have told, pretending that I check fastening of the magnetic platform. – And on weight everything meets? There is no feeling that they … well, are rather heavy for the volume?

The engineer has stopped and has looked at me with the blinked eyes.

– You about what, Mironov? Again you look for anomalies? Weight is entered in the declaration with their error. Yes, weight decent. But if they carried tungsten pigs inside, it would be even heavier. – It has knocked with bones of fingers on armored board of container. The sound was deaf, equal. – No, guy. Here what is stated. Very expensive fragile biotechnics. All counter is in how to deliver it intact and in time. But not that there.

His confidence has at first sight seemed to me sincere. Gena did not see dirty trick in cargo. He saw engineering task: to bring the fragile device to point. These a lot of things spoke. Or cargo and the truth is clean, or Herpix has tried wonderfully well that even such meticulous technician has suspected nothing. We have bypassed all containers. I remembered each detail: marking, arrangement of sensors, the type of locks from memory of the Snipe defined as they can be cracked what is necessary the special tool which, of course, I do not have now. At first sight I have not seen anything obviously criminal. But the pressing feeling of lie did not release me. It is too much noise because of, apparently, ordinary industrial delivery. Returning to the bridge, I have suggested to come in galley to pour to myself on glass coffee. And to sit. Gena has not refused to keep me the company. The synthesizer has given two mugs of the muddy, giving plastic liquid. It was not real coffee, synthetic and very far reminding cup of hot strong black coffee. I have taken small sip, enjoying simple feeling.

– Lavrov spoke, you were knocked by the head, – has unexpectedly told Gena, taking seat on the creaking chair. – Memory has not floated?

The question has been asked quietly, but eyes of the engineer looked directly and is tenacious.