Татьяна Викентьева – "STOLEN IMMORTALITY" (страница 4)

-Do you want to leave?

“No,” Sasha answers.

-So why are you leaving?

- I don't know. Mom says we should go to our village.

-Is it nice in your village?

-No. Bad.

-Then don't leave! Live with us! We'll play together!

-I can't. I have to obey my mother.

The boys hug goodbye. Antonina Yegorovna and Sasha enter the carriage. The train begins to move. Faces flash by on the platform. The wheels clatter. And to the monotonous clatter of the wheels, Sasha recalls every day he lived in a Jewish family. He recalls and ponders why his father and mother, as well as himself, cannot live the way Uncle Joseph, Aunt Sonya, and their son Yasha live? Why don't they have such a huge, beautiful house with a swimming pool? Why don't they eat such delicious food? Why doesn't his mother have such elegant dresses as Aunt Sonya? Why doesn't his father have such expensive and fashionable cars as Uncle Joseph? Why doesn't he have as many expensive and beautiful toys as Yasha? Why? Why? These "whys" torment the boy, preventing him from finding peace. And he feels how a previously unknown and terrible feeling is born in his soul - envy.

A knock on the door brought me back to reality.

“Come in,” Alexander said loudly.

The door opened and the secretary, smiling sweetly, chirped:

-Alexander Ivanovich! The Arab sheikh has arrived with his translator.

"Okay. Let them come in. And you, Lenochka, bring us coffee and candy," said Alexander, adopting a businesslike air.

The secretary closed the door slightly. Her words addressed to the visitors,

Alexander heard clearly:

-Please come in. Alexander Ivanovich is waiting for you.

A few minutes later, a very fat man of Eastern appearance entered the office. Behind him, a small, frail young man in glasses, presumably a translator, scurried in.

Alexander suggested sitting down and started the conversation:

- I am pleased to welcome you, Sheikh Rashid, to Moscow. I hope you had a safe journey?

He waited for the young man in glasses to translate his words and continued again:

- May I offer you coffee and sweets? Or perhaps you would like something else? I can send my secretary to the restaurant. It's nearby.

The translator translated quickly. It was clear he was an expert in his field, a first-class specialist. The Arab sheikh nodded in gratitude and replied. From the translator's lips, it sounded like this:

"I'm also pleased to welcome you, Alexander Ivanovich! I arrived in Moscow safely. There were no obstacles along the way. Thank you for the offer of hospitality. I don't want anything. At this point, I wish to begin negotiations on our case as soon as possible."

"Okay. Let's get started," Alexander said, and the translator translated his words.

Now the sheikh spoke. Alexander listened attentively to his speech in Arabic, a language he didn't understand. He sensed that this man would agree to all his conditions, just to get what he wanted, so interested was he in it.

When the sheikh finished speaking, the translator began to translate:

Dear Alexander Ivanovich! You are aware of our situation. The President of the United Arab Emirates is very ill. He is dying. However, the Supreme Council of Emirs is interested in the current President remaining head of state. He is the guarantor of our country's stability and prosperity. If the current President dies, the opposition will rise again, and our state could be fragmented, while internecine strife within the Emirates will inevitably lead to a new war of conquest by aggressor countries interested in our country's greatest wealth—oil. We want to keep the United Arab Emirates intact and safe. Our strength and power lie in unity. That is why we have turned to you, a unique individual already renowned throughout the world. We are interested in preserving the life of our President. And we are prepared to pay handsomely for this!

After listening to the translator, Alexander said:

Dear Sheikh Rashid! During the preliminary negotiations with the Emir of Abu Dhabi, I set my terms. Are you familiar with them?

When the bespectacled young man translated what Alexander had said, the sheikh nodded vigorously and again delivered a lengthy speech. Translated into Russian, it read as follows:

"Yes, yes, Alexander Ivanovich. I know your conditions. At the moment, they have all been met. We have found a double of the President—a man of the same age, the same weight, the same height. He and the President are as alike as two peas in a pod. The double is now in Dubai. He has been examined at a top medical clinic. And, despite his advanced age, he has been declared healthy. His organs are functioning perfectly. According to doctors, he could live another twenty to twenty-five years. That suits us. If the current President survives in his double's body for at least ten years, we will be able to find him a worthy successor. Now it's up to you. You need to fly to Dubai and perform the operation.

Alexander replied:

"But we haven't discussed the financial issue yet, esteemed Sheikh Rashid! I'm asking for nine billion dollars for my work."

After translating Alexander's words, the sheikh hesitated for a moment, then quickly resumed speaking Arabic. The bespectacled young man translated:

"That's a lot, dear Alexander Ivanovich! We're forced to ask you to lower the price. Please understand our situation. Currently, the Supreme Council of Emirs only has two billion dollars at its disposal. That's the amount we're offering you."

Alexander winced and said sharply:

"No. I won't agree to that amount! If you don't pay me nine billion dollars, the deal is off. Your President will die. You must understand that I am the only person in the world who can save your President's life. I, and I alone, possess the gift of immortality! I, and I alone, can perform unique operations to transfer souls into new bodies! Therefore, bargaining with me is inappropriate! You either agree to all my terms, or our deal is off!"

The translator translated. The sheikh remained silent. A few minutes passed, and Alexander said impatiently:

"So, why are you silent, Sheikh Rashid? Decide before it's too late! I think your President's life is worth nine billion dollars."

After Alexander's words were translated, the sheikh finally spoke in his own language. His voice held a hint of frustration and discontent. Alexander felt uncomfortable. But he knew the sheikh had no other choice and would certainly agree to his proposal. So the translation of the sheikh's speech didn't surprise him:

Dear Alexander Ivanovich! You're forcing us to accept your price. We have no other choice. We'll pay you nine billion dollars. But we need time to raise this sum. As I've already said, the Supreme Council of Emirs currently only has two billion dollars. To raise another seven billion dollars, we'll need at least two months.

The translator translated. But Alexander didn't have time to answer the sheikh. The door opened.

and the secretary came in with a tray in her hands.

"Excuse me. I brought you coffee and candy." Lenochka approached the table and gracefully began placing cups of coffee on it.

The Arab sheikh and his translator stared at the secretary. They seemed to be devouring her with their eyes. Alexander didn't like this and said sharply:

-Bring it and go, without delay! We have a business conversation!

Lenochka looked embarrassed, shrugged, and walked toward the door, swaying her hips and showing off her gorgeous, shapely legs. The sheikh's eyes sparkled. And the bespectacled young man shifted suspiciously in his chair.

The men came to their senses only when the door closed behind the secretary.

Alexander said:

- Dear Sheikh Rashid! May I offer you and your companion coffee and sweets again?

"I'd love to have some coffee," said the bespectacled young man, pulling the cup toward himself. He then translated Alexander's words to the sheikh.

In gratitude, the sheikh nodded again and began to speak in his own language:

"Thank you for the treat, Alexander Ivanovich! But I'd like to continue our conversation. As I already said, we'll need two months to raise seven billion dollars. And our President's health is deteriorating every day! He may not live to see the day we raise the money! Therefore, I must ask you to perform the operation immediately! You will receive two billion dollars from us as an advance payment. We will pay you the rest in two months!"

The bespectacled young man sipped his coffee and translated the sheikh's speech. And Alexander thought, "I know you, you Eastern sly ones! You're always lying! You're trying to deceive me! But it won't work! I'm smart and cunning too! You won't be able to deceive me!"

Looking into the sheikh’s face, Alexander firmly said:

"Dear Sheikh Rashid! I'm sorry to disappoint you! I don't agree to these terms! Your argument that the President could die before you raise the money doesn't interest me. That's your problem! If you want me to carry out the operation immediately, you must pay me four and a half billion dollars as an advance payment, exactly fifty percent of the deal. For the remaining funds, you must guarantee that I will receive it within twenty-four hours of the operation. If you don't agree to the terms I've announced, our deal will not take place!"