Classics fantasy – 9. A. Belyaev

fingers trembled, and the person turned pale.

      – … to move away me… Me which created this model state farm. Me…

      – Yes, you. Because you are not able to submit to directives. At the front buildings there has to be the same cast-iron discipline, as well as in the war, and you were at the front and have to know what is discipline. I repeat: we very much appreciate your economic and organizing abilities. Therefore I also give to you a good advice: think again and do not go obstinate. We are able to appreciate people. But the one who will become us on the way will be removed, whatever merits behind it were.

      Kondrat Semenych heavily fell by a chair.

      Also the Inhabitant of Tula sat down.

      There came intense silence. All attentively watched Kondrat Semenychem. Deep folds on his forehead and a bridge of the nose spoke about heavy internal fight.

      – All right – at last he muttered gloomy, darted off, shouted: – So long! – Also escaped.

      All breathed a sigh of relief.

      – With it it was more difficult to cope, than with old Panas – smiling, Markov told Marishkin. – Nevertheless the Inhabitant of Tula understood it.

      – Still. Easier, as they say, for soul to leave a body, than to Kondrat Semenychu from “Dawns”.

      7

      Still the young man, without being afraid of bullets, broke Valkirny ridges to Kolchak soldiers. Visited also under walls of Warsaw. Everywhere surprised with iron will and character. Finished civil, settled in the Zavolzhye steppes and was engaged in economic activity. “Red dawns” – one of the first big state farms which arose in Zavolzhye. A lot of Valkirny had to fight also for “Red dawns”, for the breeding cattle, for cars, for each tractor. Children suitable were selected and made big business. And now that all order to dig up to the basis the hands.

      – Posh-shel! – angrily Valkirny shouts and beats full state-farm horses on each side.

      Cold… Burning east wind burns a face, lifts from the earth small, dry snow with dust. Snowless winter. As if did not damage winter… In places wind blew off snow after the journey, and under iron runners of sledge sand cracks and hisses. Kondrat Semenych pulls down more strong a bowie knife and quilts horses…

      – Posh-shel!.

      Arrived at dawn, woke the groom, itself unharnessed horses, put in stalls…

      – Something as though it is gloomy, Kondrat Semenych? – the groom asked, yawning and being scratched.

      – The devil of a hog on an aspen hung up, because and is gloomy – Valkirny angrily answered and quickly left a stable.

      By the light of the being engaged dawn Valkirny started wandering on the settlement. There is each brick, everyone бревнышко told it the story.

      Stood before a silo. The tower is good. Above a fire kalancha. Hundred years will stay… Looked at power plant, at farmyards… jammed heart.

      8

      In four days Valkirny unexpectedly was in repair shop.

      – How many at you tractors are not repaired?

      The master Sharokov looked at Valkirny and answered cheerfully:

      – Six, Kondrat Semenych. By then, as the earth will thaw, all will be in serviceability.

      – Means, sixty six. All right.

      From this day Valkirny recovered.

      Became talkative, active still. As though the weight off the shoulders at it fell down or it resolved a difficult task. And when snow and cheerful streams of a zazhurchala on slopes descended, Kondrat Semenych brought together board and addressed it with such speech:

      – Here that, children. I received paper from Kamyshin. Will dam Volga on the first of May, and it will begin to flow to our steppes. One of streams will go directly to “Red dawns”, but only will touch with an edge. Not to postpone “Dawns” to the new place, it is enough to make to us a small dam in two hundred fifty meters of length and more than a meter of height, and water will bypass us and will begin to flow on the South.

      – And suddenly will flood?

      – Will not flood. I measured all. Water at us will be only on sixty centimeters above the level of “Dawns”, and we will make a dam in meter, well, even in one and a half meters.

      – And to make as? – Grachev asked.

      – And it is very simple. Tractors are, we will make in our workshops ploughshares more, we will launch our “tanks” – and they in a trice otvorotit the necessary layer of the earth. Merekayete?

      Someone else did not merekat, and Valkirny, as always, patiently and in details explained.

      Work began to boil. Grachev was “a bit an inventor” and with great feeling undertook design of “the trench car”. Made not really accurate, but sensible drawing. Valkirny approved, smiths were accepted to production of ploughshares, tractor operators put cars in order.

      – So, so, children. Fry so that hot became the sky that sparks flew – Kondrat encouraged. He felt as again at the front. It was animated, mobile, cheerful, ate for three and worked for ten.

      The tractors turned into trench cars left in the field soon and, according to Valkirny’s instructions, began to turn off layer behind layer.

      The sun warmed more and stronger. The spring was amicable.

      The dam was stretched already more than half when there was one incident.

      Valkirny ordered “tanks” on fields as suddenly confused Grachev ran up to him. He held paper in hand.

      – You that? – Valkirny asked, having pricked up the ears.

      – Kondrat Semenych, what is it?. How it so?. – there began Grachev. – Here paper came from “Piping” … write here…

      Valkirny did not listen to the end. Snatched out paper from Grachev’s hands and, having tapped of him on the shoulder so that that donkey on one side, told strictly:

      – We follow me … – And they departed from a tractor column that it was not heard their conversation””.

      – Well, what is the matter? Speak.

      – Yes here, “Piping” asks how we have a work on transfer of “Red dawns” on the new place. And whether we will finish work by May first. How it so, Kondrat Semenych?

      Valkirny annoyancely grunted.

      – And here so. Hit into my head. I will not allow. To arrange a dam rather and cheaper, than to transfer the whole settlement. You understand? When they see how all this simply was arranged, will thank. And will expel me – the hell with them. If only to defend “Dawns”.

      – Well… And if someone from them, from “Piping”, arrives yes here all this will open?

      – Will not arrive. Now at them there is a lot of del. All visited. And will arrive, will see that we did not begin to move “Dawns” yet, will be abused and will leave on – мо – to it. I so believe… Unless will throw out me from “Dawns”. Well. You before ohm will be… What the nose on a fifth hung up?

      – I anything…

      Grachev trudged for Valkirny and now looked with new eyes at the built dam. Bewilderment and fear were reflected in his face.

      And Valkirny shows no sign. Orders indifferently. Strong person.

      9

      Rain expected to fall. Under beams of the spring sun wet rails, roofs of station buildings, the brand new engine began to shine. It puffs, gains strength –