Classics fantasy – 4

– Very simply. I got acquainted with your fisheries in Murmansk. Floated on trawlers. And there I happened to see the underwater TV designed by one Komsomol member by means of which fishermen very easily find fish. And not only fish. We incidentally managed to find the sunk trawler at the bottom of the Barents Sea. You, obviously, already heard about it. And so. To make the big TV which could be lowered at least on depth of one thousand meters – not so a difficult technical problem. By means of the TV we will manage to find a nasal anchor chain and plates. It is necessary only to lift these soldered plates. I assume that the Soviet technicians will be able to create such mechanical hands which will be able to fall by a sea bottom, to be enough with iron fingers production there and to bring it to the surface.

– It is really the quite good idea – Kirillov said.

– A radio eye – here that will help to find Hurges’s “treasure” – Azores finished.

– How you think? – the chairman of the engineer Borin, the large inventor in the field of radio asked.

– As for the TV – Borin answered – that this idea, in my opinion, is completely real. The TV will be soon introduced in diving practice. Telling the truth, it will be not absolutely a radio eye. Researches of radio signals from the submarine which went to depth showed that radio waves are strongly absorbed by water. Therefore transfers from depths of the sea have to go not by radio waves, and on wires from the TV. But it equipment question. I know the inventor. Not so long ago I had it, showed the small TV. I willingly will take it to myself in assistants and with it I will develop a design of the deep-water TV. I can undertake it. “Mechanical hands” … I think, we will build them.

– However, companions, we as if forgot the starting moment – Toffel started talking again. – We after all do not know whether really Hurges’s “gun” is treasure even if not for power, at least for physics, chemistry and the industry.

– Perhaps, you would draw surer conclusion – Azores rose – if directly talked over with companion Kar.

– But he over the ocean – objected Toffel.

– Yes, but unless we do not talk to people who are over the ocean? – smiling, Azores asked.

– Agree, however, that the question not such is that it was possible to speak about it openly by phone or on radio – pouchayushche objected Toffel.

– Nobody will hear your conversation – Azores answered. – I told not all to you, companions. – And Azores, having taken out a small box, told about short-wave radio station of Hurges and presented this gift from a name the Penalty.

The barin ran up to the device and with interest began to consider it, muttering something. Then he raised the head and told:

– Devilishly clever solution of a task, forgive for the rough word. This Hurges really had an efficient head.

– Thus, today you talk over with Kar. I hope, companion Borin will manage to establish relation quickly.

On the same day, about six o’clock in the evening when in Buenos Aires there was a midday, two persons divided by thousands of kilometers were told with each other.

The carat told Toffel everything that knew about the Hurgesovy method of splitting of an atomic nucleus. Toffel understood more than what contained in the head and in words the Penalty. Understood the idea and it was struck with its originality. However, without formulas, without Hurges’s schemes it would be required, perhaps, several years to carry out this invention. But also what Toffel learned about, was original treasure.

Hurges offered a new method, absolutely new direction. And Toffel more did not doubt any more that Hurges carried original treasure to the USSR. This invaluable treasure, appear, sparkled even through an immemorial gloom of ocean depths.

And Toffel hotly spoke at the regular meeting of the commission already differently – without hesitation, with conviction:

– There are all bases to think that Hurges’s opening will be a valuable contribution to science. It will help to resolve a question of splitting of an atomic nucleus. We are immediately obliged to send an expedition to the place of death of “Leviathan” by all means and how many it costed!

The issue was resolved, the means are allotted. In laboratories of scientific institutes shock work was already humming.

Ginzburg, having left the trawler for some time, moved in Borin’s laboratory. They worked day and night, forgetting about a dream and food. And soon in laboratory the huge sphere reminding a stratosphere balloon gondola rose. But this sphere had to make a jump not up, and in an ocean chasm.

As depth was not precisely known yet, Borin counted on the maximum depth of the sea around accident. The cover could sustain enormous pressure. On the top part of a sphere there was a steel cylinder with compressed air. Borin expected so that in process of lowering of a sphere and increase in pressure air from a cylinder will automatically move to a big sphere – the TV. This additional internal pressure will serve as if as a pneumatic emphasis against external pressure. In process of rise air also automatically has to pass from a sphere into a cylinder.

It was necessary to make exact calculations: what section the cable on which the sphere what thickness quartz glass through which will light the underwater world with beams of searchlights has to reach will be lowered is necessary. On all cover of a sphere of the TV big and small round openings were made. Through small there will pass rays of light, through big – the images of objects accepted by a photo cell will get to a lens. Borin replaced Nipkow’s disk with a kinescope. Energy for searchlights wires ship will give a dynamo car; and light will flash automatically only with the set pressure when the set depth is reached.

…At the same time mechanics constructed “a mechanical hand”. She reminded a spider on a leash. Steel sustavchaty paws of this “spider” were made so that automatically grabbed and is tenacious held production. The current impulse on wires forced “spider” to unclench paws if they incidentally were enough not that it is necessary.

Storm of the hydrosphere prepared with that vigorous energy with what storm of a stratosphere once prepared.

THE MOST UNFORTUNATE PERSON IN THE USSR

The fair-haired blue-eyed son of the engineer Borin, the Komsomol member Mishka Borin, studied at university and this year entered the second year. Still when it graduated from high school, his companions argued on choice of profession much.

“Whom will you be?” – they asked each other. Almost all dreamed to become engineers and pilots, someone – the geologist, the doctor, the teacher. Also did not ask Mishka Borin: its destiny everything seemed clear. The son of the famous radio engineer, the inventor, of course, has to become a radio engineer. And Mishka Borin strongly surprised not only companions, but also the father, having unexpectedly declared that he will be a geographer. So he solved already a few years ago. When he studied at school, the concealed and his greatest desire was to become the Hero of the Soviet Union. The Chelyuskinsky epic made the greatest impression on it. No, Mishka was not a conceited person. It was attracted by awards not in itself, honors, an honorary title of the Hero. He wanted to be worthy this rank and to bring to the Fatherland the valid benefit. Once, soon after the chelyuskinsky epic, he went to the country with an excursion and in the car heard how the young seaman probationer told the girl that he will soon go to “ice swimming”. As Mishka envied it!

He thought much, without telling anybody about the plans. And it had very wide plans. First of all knowledge. They preserve us against mistakes. Here, for example, Vitya. He studied chemistry, and became the polar explorer, the geophysicist. How many in vain downtime! The bear will take occasion by the forelock at once. At first to re-read history of all ice campaigns and voyages. The bear подналег into German and soon read Shteller’s diary written in ancient German in the original. He knew campaigns of the Soviet ice breakers by heart. Then undertook navigation, sailing directions, oceanography, even astronomy.

As it is strange, less it radio interested all.

He kept records. In a commonplace book there was a section: “As people found a stalemate”. Here he wrote down all cases, incidents which threatened the valid and invented by novelists travelers. It is necessary to learn to be courageous, bright, resolute.

However and there is more to come: it was necessary to become strong, vigorous, hardy. To have mind of the scientist and the trained body of the old salt. The sport, physical culture made a considerable share of the Mishkiny plan of “heroic” preparation.

And here he was not lucky. But about it further.

When Mishka became a student, he treated critically many to “children’s dreams”. So, at school it was strongly occupied by reflections about what will be when he becomes a Hero. Now he more was interested in “the business”. However “the general line” of its plan remained, and it, as well as earlier, strenuously studied “necessary” sciences and trained physically: got up early, tempered the body, made big pedestrian excursions, was fond of sport, however did not do such nonsenses, as at school any more: it was not dipped into ice-holes and did not frighten mother by “total absence of appetite” – she did not know that so it accustomed itself “to transfer hunger”.

When he visited from the father that the expedition to the Atlantic Ocean on searches of the sunk ship prepares, all his desires to travel, aspirations to adventures, to feats flashed with a new force. Of course, the Atlantic Ocean – not that the polar seas. What there can be adventures here? Almost usual walk. Also not ice breakers go there. However after all in an expedition it is possible to study the device of the ship and navigation in practice… And he began to ask the father suit him in an expedition. Time is summer, suitable – vacation. By the beginning of academic year it will come back. The father did not give the resolute answer – it is necessary to get permission of the chief of an expedition. The bear pressed Ginzburg with whom he managed to make friends. Ginzburg promised to talk to Kirillov. In days of expectation Mishka even lost weight a little. And one night the father brought a joyful message: permission is got.

– We go together, Ginzburg!. – The bear seized Ginzburg and began to whirl it about the room. Then ran in the room to gather. Postponed books, the whole pile of notebooks, two automatic handles, the field-glass, the gun.

The bear took a view of the room: what else to take? The room reflected “master plan” of his life: on walls maps, mainly maps of the Arctic, hung on a desk – the globe, a barograph, seaworthy tools… How many times this room turned into a cabin, and a desk – into the captain’s cabin! What drama scenes were played here in fight against the Arctic ices! How many times Mishka had accidents here! And in a corner, peacefully getting on with books, the sports equipment for hockey, tennis, boxing, soccer lay…

Soccer! Tomorrow meeting of team of their university with team of institute of technology. Behind these efforts Mishka nearly forgot about an expedition. A bear – “бек” – the champion. Of course, he is obliged to participate… Will win against “tekhnologichka” last time this season and will go.

At night Mishka dreamed palm trees and flying fishes alternately with soccerballs. It was necessary to “pasanut” flying fish as a ball, but it did not manage it in any way. Fishes flew by by, jingling wings fins.

“Yes same the alarm clock jingles!”

What was a game! Everything went perfectly, but when a game entered the highest phase of tension, there was misfortune. As it happened, Mishka could not remember subsequently in any way. Players snatched on a ball as mentally ill people… Bunched… Suddenly Mishka felt an acute pain in a leg and fell… Judge’s whistle… A game was interrupted… The bear could not get up. Brought a stretcher and on them carried Mishka to the accident ward. The doctor of stadium examined a leg and shook the head.

– Yes, it seems, a change. It is necessary to lie down.

– How many? – Mishka asked.

– Month two-three, and it is possible, and less. Let’s look what will show X-ray.

It was the unexpected and crushing blow. Two-three months! Means, Mishka will not be able to participate in an expedition…

When Mishka was brought home and put to bed, he told Ginzburg:

– I am the most unfortunate person in the USSR.

– Already the most unfortunate? The bone will grow together, and will jump, as before – Ginzburg answered. – Strongly hurts?

– Pain is a trifle – future hero answered. – But I will not be able to go with you.

There arrived the father and began to calm Mishka also.