Mystical Kiev and stories

Chapter Two

I have worked for four months. He received an advance and regularly paid on time. As the Lubchenco said that he was going to Peter, so at the «Electric appliance» called Leningrad at that memorable time when we lived and worked in the Soviet Union. His trip was supposed to last two weeks, for himself Chief of the engineering department left Isaiah Alexander Vasilyevich. Alexander unspeakably was glad, and his mood was not just upbeat, but upbeat over. He joked with everyone showered jokes and telling anecdotes. In the department, the staff prevailed general euphoria in connection with the departure of the chief of the sector on a mission to «Peter». I did not realize such an elevated happiness, even in the face Lubchenco not say that he was glad this. Each employee approaching him, he timidly sighed, he took out his pocket notebook and knew in advance what was wanted of him, carefully writing down what to bring to a particular employee.

In short, I, proceed to work the next day, I found half were not department for various reasons at work. That’s why such a joy reigned yesterday, but today I’m Tamara Petrovna, running the shops, checking the implementation of changes in the production process. In one shop we encountered.

– Well, Valentine, do you work?

– Nothing, you see, can cope. – Treacherous thought I was bored with the very moments, that I realized the joy of travel Lubchenco for the department. Courage Tamara Petrovna asked: – And what if, Tamara Petrovna…

– So, Valentine, not Tamara Petrovna, and Tamara. – In her dark eyes flashed sparks of fun and full of sensual lips moved slightly ironic smile, arousing eyes the emerging grid «solar» wrinkles. I’m in the shower was extremely surprised by the statement to call her by her name, believing that at her age it’s time to forget about the days long past. But at this delicate moment, hiding his embarrassment, he forced himself to her name without her middle name:

– Tamara, and tell me you can not, somehow leave early today. The bosses have left, no Golde nor Isaiah, and Lubchenco to boot.

– You should be somewhere? – Asked Tamara Petrovna.

– Ventilate want. Outside, the golden autumn, the end of September. You know that the new place is always difficult to fit into the work and get tired.

– You know, Valentine, at the entrance control and always will report Lubchenco, and he will take prize. – She looked at me with sparkling eyes, and then added – Well, today is on duty at the checkpoint, my old friend, when we arrive at the Division I call her. No, better to go there, I arrange. Just look, do not get caught the eye of the chief engineer or head of personnel, good. Let’s go. You come into the office, and I’ll be there soon, and tell you.

– From thank you Tamara.– Voltage conversation vanished in a moment, and I’m relieved to have escaped mental stairs flight of stairs to our department.

She appeared, failing; I close the door of the department.

– The sixth stall, you can go. Just lunch, say if you meet someone from inspectors that go out to dinner. But in this case would have to go back. I got it?

– Of course, thanks to you.

– Not for hot. – looked down, said Tamara Petrovna. Hearing rubs her heartbreaking sigh, rapidly approaching your workplace. It is necessary to bring everything in order, as it is Friday, and ahead of two days. And after a couple of minutes I was already at the entrance. With a sinking heart that no one found, I quickly went cabin number six on the way out and drove off briskly to the parking lot tram. To stop, just rolled up, creaking wheels of the tram track number three. The doors opened and the first came Isay, I went into the back, so we, by chance, have not encountered. Unpleasant feeling a wave receded from me only when the tram drove off. Through the window I could clearly see how leisurely gait Alexander began to climb the stairs to the sales pavilion, where our factory was selling different consumer goods of its own production. So, the head of the group does not intend to support products enter the factory, and especially in the department, and I went with quiet confidence further. Ending station tram «Kontraktova area» I came out, looked at his watch, the arrows showing 12—30. I did not want to go home, and I decided to walk on the St. Andrew’s descent, up to the St. Andrew’s Church and go down there by cable car to the metro station «Post area». Up cobblestone streets climb was not very easy, I soon found myself at the museum of the writer Bulgakov, tired, I did not want to go further. Staying at the monument to the writer, I began to examine the rows of traders souvenirs that are located on both sides of the bridge. Gaze slid to the stairs that led up to the top of Castle Hill. Something pushed me to the other side of the street, and I’m drawn by the strange feeling to go up there and decided to take a closer look around. And time will pass unnoticed. Inhale oxygen to healthy sleep, I thought. Slowly, I moved to the opposite side of St. Andrew’s Descent, and found himself at the ladder that got lost, hiding in the height of the branches of lush foliage. Vigorously knocking heels shoes, I flashed past the black-haired girl with long hair gathered tail. Casting a glimpse of my eyes, I stepped onto the pavement and disappeared from sight. I mechanically looked at her hair and lazy set foot on the ladder began to rise up. Bright orange and red leaves mixed with yellow leaves, sun glare shone softly and tenderly as velvet, the Rays made their way through it, illuminating its warmth all around. After rising for another fifteen meters, I stopped to catch my breath and from the height of the observation deck, opened a fabulous view of St. Andrew’s descent, a little further from the Dnepr could see pleasure boat slowly sailing against the current. As a toy boat from here to the heights he observed his white skeleton with figures of sitting on the deck at the tables of tourists. After standing for a little more, I got finally out of the maze of stairs and found him on the castle hill.

Then I decided to go in more detail at the places where most recently, in the spring, we Lilichka walked it seemed, even stride.

Trying not to look around, I was clearing an accelerated pace, stepping on the dry autumn grass, hiding the path trodden by tourists. My goal was a fragment of a wall of an ancient castle that has been preserved in non-dismantled masonry apparently due to complex approaches for transporting produced bricks. And most importantly, what attracted me to this side of the Castle Hill, the angle almost vertical cliff, abuts the Old Hem. I wanted a closer look at the junction of two sides of the mountain, so reminiscent of the truncated sides plastered with clay ancient pyramid. Certainly in this mountain there are hidden caves and tunnels that can be hidden treasures. This idea prompted me those black archeologists, we are faced here with Lily spring. Absorbed in these thoughts, I did not notice how he found himself near the ruins of the wall. Considering the close vicinity of the ground and decided to go behind the wall, in the clay-trodden path, a step to the trailing edge of the joint steep hills Mountains. With mine wondering what I was able to see, I realized that in addition to the steep hills overgrown with dry grass, I see nothing interesting, so decided to look around here where I am. Yes, and it is clear that all the moves in the different dungeons begin, of course, on the inner side locks, masked by all kinds of internal structure. And in general I have this quest order tired of that cost to rise by Andrew Descent from the Red Square here upstairs. Fatigue suddenly pulled hard, and I decided to leave, the benefit did not go down that climb mountains. With that, I began to walk away, walking on the rare remnants of ancient bridge. When he reached a small hill serving unremarkable hill, I found the cobblestone inconspicuous three concentric circles that we Lilichka found in the spring, and which I had forgotten. I, like the last time with interest began to consider this building, hardly noticeable for strolling tourists. At first glance, what catches the eye is that obviously someone has protected place for a fire, and the ashes and debris of various superficial circles almost razed to the ground and become invisible. But on the other hand, painfully stones laid out neatly and evenly. Lovers of barbecue and romantic night gatherings around the campfire with a guitar so be careful not to spread the ring. Obviously this place is for some mystical ritual action. The worship of fire, for example, when in a certain place kindle the fire, and then jump over the fire. It is believed that this burns all sins, cleansing fire jumping man through the ritual fire on the night of the pagan holiday of Ivan Kupala, once originated in ancient Russia. On the other hand, if the lock of the Kiev prince stood on top of the remnants of some megalithic structures, and on his orders ably filled viscous clay so that the steep slopes have become stronger and more criminal to the enemy. And inside, under the lock, to build auxiliary facilities and hiding places, and tunnels, and maybe there is all it was.

I’m guessing not noticed, as I stand in the center of the circle. He stopped there, looked around and stopped in surprise. In an instant, everything changed, the sky had taken refuge dense leaden clouds, and went cold pouring rain. Water poured from the sky in torrents, wind tore the pitiful remnants of autumn leaves on the trees. A gust of wet wind biting painfully lashed my cheeks and pushed out of the community. I rubbed my eyes involuntarily. The sun was shining peacefully rustling yellow and orange leaves of the maple that grew nearby. I wiped his wet face with his right hand, spread his matted hair on his head and instinctively looked at his watch. Arrows watches showed exactly 17—30. We must hurry, yet I will go to the subway, there will be about six in the evening. Of course, I had not yet been able to realize what had happened, so do not even managed to lose the sense of reality. And only managed to catch my breath as I was to reach the event happened adventure. I have mixed feelings, squelching shoes full of rain water, walked to the clearing pedestrian stairs, all accelerating and accelerating pace. And only on the steps, leaning on the railing viewing platform, began to take off shoes at a time, wringing wet socks. Trousers working suit, stick to the legs during walking, and the skin on the feet become irritated unpleasant, itchy body. I came home on time, I was met at the door his wife:

– Where have you lost an hour, eh? On Friday you work ends at five o’clock.

– Damn, I forgot. I lost and stayed there until six.

– And what is your Lubchenco, too, sat up to six?

– He was sent on a business trip and all at once fled early.

– Why are you so wet? – Lily noticed. – Rain like no. – Suspiciously examining me, he paused, waiting for an answer. Then, recollecting himself, he exclaimed:

– Run to the bathroom. Take a hot shower immediately and properly, keep warm. Then tell me where you doused himself water?

I walked into the bathroom, dropped into a bowl wet, and well washed under a warm shower.

And later on, and she could not clearly explain what happened to me, and where, and why, I’m drenched in the rain…

Chapter Three

On Monday, as usual, I went to work at 9 am. In the department at his workplace was Isai Tamara Petrovna. Their faces were tense and fun as it usually happens. After greeting, I proceeded to your workplace.

– Valentin Albertovich, come here a minute. – Ton, unlikely to lead to anything good, I called Alexander.

– What? – I asked, approaching nearer.

– You saw the chief of staff when you leave the factory for lunch and did not return, was it?

– He could not see me. – I said, looking into her eyes shy Tamara Petrovna. What Petrovna said:

– Valentin, do not look at me like that. Just Nikolai Andreyevich since his office oversees staff. You can not see, and he sees all.

I instantly realized that deceit, and took a job that made an enemy number one in the person of Chief of Staff. And in order to defuse the situation, he asked: – And when it’s leaves on vacation? – What Isaiah said: – He is a workaholic and always prefers the winter holidays, the New Year.

– Yes, I was not lucky.

– And not just you. – Isay said in a threatening tone. – For such violations deprive prize not only you, but the whole department. – He paused and frowned at one point. I looked in the direction of his gaze. On the drawing board drawing board, which looked Isai, it seemed to me that there is a wisp of smoke began to stand out as a magnifying glass focused on the sunbeams. A ubiquitous Tamara Petrovna, in a hollow voice, suddenly said, looking moist eyes at Alexander Vasilievich:

– Sasha, maybe something can be done for the first time after all?

– Yes, I’ll talk to Shchekin; Nikolai Andreyevich good guy for the first time may take place. – At the same time, we went to the workplace and in our group a tense silence reigned, nervous heard rustling paper drawing so slamming leafed through the folders with the drawings. Soon, Tamara Petrovna flew into the shop, followed by the left and Alexander. And my annoyance again cramped throat, a lump has risen to the sky foreboding disaster. Still disappointing early career overshadow the reprimand, all the troubles of the alleged collective blame one person, and that person turned out to be me. It became unbearable to sit in this room, to hear sniffling colleagues work and catch them sidelong glances. And even two students intern Polytechnic Institute assigned to our department to serve posited practice began to whisper, glancing warily at me. Well, at least Lubchenco Alexander Vladimirovich was not, well, Golde Alexander Askoldovich him.

Perfectly beaten track working, I could not stay longer in the room and breathe the smell of ammonia from the air, from fresh copies of the drawings, neatly arranged in the drawing folder. What do you do in this, absolutely idiotic situation, I did not know, and we ought to get out into the fresh air and think calmly their behavior among these people, snapped at me. Saving idea came suddenly and somehow immediately pushed for action: – «Yes, this well-wishers say that you need to see a dentist, the tooth hurts.» Ideas for saving hint, I began waiting impatiently Isaiah. And on a whim, he flew into the department, with the words:

– Folder forgot drawings.

Without giving him time to recover, I quickly ran to him: – Alexander!

– Yes, yes, I will listen carefully?

– I would be a doctor.

– Something urgent?

– Yes. I wanted to take time off in the morning, but due to our five-minute out of my head.

– Yes, I also surprise even forgotten folder.

– I suffered a two output, thought himself to be held, and there it was. Yes, I firmly decided on Friday to the doctor with this tooth, but, frankly, was afraid. So that?

– Well, that’s so good, I asked to go to and no talking. Come into frames, take a leave. Only now, that does not catch your eye Shchekin. There is Zinaida Maksimovna, it will issue a leave and sign for it, and I’ll sign it. Well, let’s go, and the tooth hurts even more. – The words of Sasha our eyes sparkling smile.

– And where to find you?

– Listen, Valentine, I’m not old, come on, «You», but then I somehow embarrassed to talk to you, this we all Lubchenco only «you» says.

– Yes OK. Well, I went. And then for you to sign.

– Yeah, let’s go. Do you know where our clinic? Today, there is just a dentist accepts.

– I have mother-in-law at the Institute of Dentistry, opposite the Bessarabia Market, physician-scientists are working stoma. He is waiting for me already.

– So go. – He put the folder with drawings under his arm and ran out the door. And I with a sigh of relief went through the cabin number six. Asked on duty there woman on duty – Where to go? – I said that going for a furlough. This procedure took me less than ten minutes. And five minutes later I triumphantly presented a leave guard in the booth number six. That long considered a piece of paper with the signatures, I could not resist, did quipped: – Signatures are all genuine, what’s wrong?

– There must be signed Chief of Staff.

– But there Maksimovna signed Zinaida, she has the right to a formal management approval of the plant and the secret part. – I do not give up. The guard stared at me with her evil little eyes, and slowly without taking his eye mouse slowly slipped on a piece of paper sticking out the pin, which has a pile hanging severance passes.

– Come on! – He muttered, pressing the pedal stop rotating cross. I like to springs charged jumped into the fresh air of the factory gate and collided with Isay.

– Alexander, but where are you?

– I was in the frames. Think of a question about your AWOL removed. Well, there is a separate entrance from the second floor. So that’s all right. – With a smile, a reassuring look at me, my team leader.

– Yes, Friday and today will not be tabulated.

– It is clear that I do not get a penny these days. – But Isaiah was no longer there. With the drawing of a mouse, he stood on the steps of the entrance porch and talked with the military in the form of Soviet Navy.

There remains, finally, with himself, I walked slowly walking along the tram tracks towards the Red Square. There near the monument to Ukrainian philosopher Gregory pan, I sat down on a wooden bench, and began to reflect on his present position in the design department of special plant «Electric appliance». Bus passing by, some stayed near the bench where I was sitting. Finally, it dawned on me that I was still in the parking lot route. I had to, got up and walked in the direction of Andrew’s descent. Following along the rows of souvenir, I noticed a familiar climbing the stairs towards the top of Castle Hill. Legs like themselves-gales motion in this direction, and, most surprisingly, I did not feel any fatigue. And all this guilt was indescribable thirst for unexplored miracle. I wanted to feel again the strange change in the weather, and I went straight to this magic circle, without knowing why. Excitement filled my senses. I would particularly like to feel like a researcher unidentified phenomena of nature, which can not be said, even the closest people, to not consider you not quite adequate mood. But today’s conversation in the department said unpleasant metamorphosis so that I would generally send everything and plunge into something predictable, once and for all put an end to the humiliation of the deed weathered minutes misconduct. No longer hesitate, I looked at his watch, not to be late home, and not to betray the fact that I did not have the whole day at the factory. The time was exactly eleven zero, zero, and the inscription of the day, «medium», of course, one thousand nine hundred and eighty one. Having determined the time, I boldly stepped into the center of the circle. Instantly everything changed. Trees and shrubs why they became half the size. Some of the trees did not exist either in place or nearby. There was a lot of space and light, and it was cool. And on the branches of bushes and trees near the foliage was not observed. Wind does not feel the warmth of the sun was shining, but not warmed. Shivering from the cold, I stepped back from the community, to the place where you just stood in amazement, nothing happened. Landscape, which has just changed in an instant, was unchanged. I froze with fear. Repeatedly jumping in the middle of the circle, and back I tried to go back into your reality, but all in vain. My manipulations to nothing lead. Desperate, I realized what had happened. I do not have my measurements, I’m in another reality. I began feverishly to think what it could mean. The idea came desperate to lose examples of people in the caves, extinction of entire crews of vessels on the high seas, and even remembered the ghost train, disappeared in the early nineteenth century, the Italian tunnel with passengers. Gradually, I began to come to life, struggling with despair of his foolish act. Then it became a logical co-deliver the facts, trying to find a memory of a constructive approach to the incident. In this new dimension, I found the cut tree stump and sat on it. The body immediately felt the cold touch, but I did not care, I have ceased to feel the cold. Reflecting on his back, I still could not believe that it happened to me. After sitting a little more, I made a last attempt. With eyes closed, he came to the center, and carefully opened his eyes, slowly raising the eyelashes. Everything was in place, nothing is changing. I had to go back on the stump. The cold and despair slowly left me, came to replace the cold and sober thinking of the fact of what happened. I began to think more coolly. Thus, if this phenomenon exists, then there is a de facto. So the one who came into this reality, that of it and went out, otherwise there would be observed this black spot, as many as three circles. But that meant three laps. In my case, it may mean only that the first time I walked in and was able to get out immediately. This is indicated by the outer circle. The second round, medium, means that for the second time a man stuck in a foreign reality for a long time. But that means an average circle appear that this phenomenon exists and that there is in this place. A person faced with this phenomenon, how to stay fork-encrypted message to his counterpart in misery, do not despair, you can come back and come back at a certain time. Yesterday! Not on Friday, pushed me back into my reality. So, on Friday I can come back and come back another year. What to do? It should be a year, somewhere to live, something to eat and drink, to do something. Well, my God, wow, that’s it got involved. To tell you will not believe, I do not consider in their mind. Well, the fact happened and the decision is made. It is necessary to survive in the new reality, not to be lost, and to control the situation. After all, I’m in Kiev range of people should be the main thing will be defined with the local reality, well, at least to know what year and what’s going on here? And stay in the shade and not to attract attention. So, I begin to adapt, to get to my cart-hour rotation, which will come on Friday, the next year in late September, the 25th day.

Reassure myself of this opportunity to return to my reality, I have decided to move quietly to explore a strange reality. Coming through the wet grass to dry the proposed tourism ladder, I was horrified to find solid bushes, through the bare branches, which, viewed a steep cliff that fell straight to the Little House on St. Andrew descent. In desperation, looked at St. Andrew’s Church, which from the height of the Castle Hill It was well visible and are still standing as a beacon in its rightful place, where she was once hoisted the famous architect Rastrelli. From this my heart was a little lain, and I self-preservation instinct, just mechanically, almost nothing is not knowing rushed as misguided ship in the ocean, in the light of this beacon of hope given to shaving.

When he reached the edge of the top, I found a trodden path that led down the hill, which lost further in the direction of the church. Along the path quickly began to descend from the mountain front it was another hill, not as big as Castle Hill. After it, I went down into the street St. Andrew’s Descent. There were no traders souvenirs or series of artists with their creations. The old dilapidated houses clung to one another. Some

The walls were flaky, which emanated from the musty basements and terrible poverty. By me were people dressed in old, battered clothes and curiously regarded Wail my working clothes consisting of a cloth jacket colors sun-bleached grass, wet shoes, a white shirt with a black collar and tie speckled, given to me for my birthday my wife. I decided not to focus on the views of passers-by and move on to the church. We saw a kiosk steps «Sojuzpechat.» He came closer, looked in the window booth. He looked at me with a face that seller big nose and sharp gray eyes, as if to ask what interests you, young man. I became curious to consider storefront with exposed logs, «Crocodile», «Young technician», «Soviet Sport» and other publications. Stallman does not pause first, he asked me:

– You must travel, young man? – Heard the voice, I was glad of human speech, and restraining the emotions and excitement, asked in turn:

– And you can find the magazine «Health» you have?

– Of course, we sell, but it gets a little kiosk better to write, just fifty rubles a year. – But I was tormented by one question, what year, day and month? And I began to ask again, at random: – Now September thirtieth, and the following month, in October, I can write? – Began to carefully observe the reaction Stallman, but he did not blink, then a month and day was all right, but, as for the year? But Stallman himself told me a year.

– You know, at the fifty-third better to write at once, that’s a month before the end of the fifty-two, you have to write, and it may be that not enough. This magazine is the most popular here in Kiev.

– Hey, you’re stuck there?! – I heard a gruff voice behind him. – You take or not take?

– What for travel rush?! – Shouted a man Stallman.

– Yeah, come on; carry on the war veteran snowstorm, your business trip nothing happens. Give’s better magazine «Soviet Sport». I check on «Dynamo» with «Spartacus» played?

But I was not listening. It was clear that the court of one thousand nine hundred and fifty second year, September 30, and in the calendar that hung in the window of a kiosk, I saw that today is Tuesday.