Book-12 Gravity cyclone novella. V. Speys

on the milky- white wall from which the painting had been taken out. The Pinot was the first to step into the fog, then the female pilot. Elena hesitated.

      – Be bolder, bolder, don't be afraid. – she heard the encouraging voice of MB- 20, which still stood in the niche of the wall. And she stepped into the white mist. behind the white shroud of the entrance there were steps leading down to the green dewy grass. Startled, the astronaut ran down the steps and found herself on the green grass. Before the amazed gaze, the village of Jurmala, familiar from childhood, opened. Here she lived with her parents until the age of six, until the seed moved to Riga. Somewhere the sound of the sea was heard, and in front, near a pine grove, was their house. Elena forgot everything in the world from surging feelings. She ran forward. Her legs, it seemed, carried her to childhood, at that distant time. Outside the house, in a light haze of fog, she saw the figure of a man in a black pea jacket. He pounded a board to the wooden wall of the house, working with a hammer in concentration. And something in him was painfully familiar and dear. My heart suddenly fluttered, a hunted lark fluttered in the cage: – Father! Elena screamed. She rushed forward. The man turned around at the cry, raised his shaggy wheat eyebrows in surprise and looked coldly with chilling indifference at the approaching daughter. Elena stopped rooted to the spot a meter from him.

      – Father! already quietly, almost in a whisper, she said. The man raised his eyebrows to the top again, then indifferently looked at the figure of his daughter:

      – Hello. – he finally said, – I don't understand what you want? – the cold alien tone in her father's voice cooled Elena's surging feelings. Tears of their own accord ran down the poor woman's cheeks, she mechanically reached for a handkerchief in her overalls pocket and only now discovered that she was wearing a round transparent helmet, ideally fitted to a tight- fitting silver body, an extraterrestrial spacesuit.

      – Oh, father! – burst out again through her almost sobbing. Somewhere far away, images from distant childhood began to awaken in consciousness. Everything down to the smallest detail, so familiar in this courtyard. Everything. And this flower garden, and the path to the house. It was beyond her strength. She took a deep breath, coming to her senses and suddenly, like lightning, a thought struck: «So after all … HE …", – I didn't want to think about it, but annoying thoughts drilled my brain, “dead, dead, dead …" – she was 12 years old then, when her father did not return from the sea. Mom said then that their ship sank and all the fishermen were killed. But how is it, why does not he know her? Elena insistently repeated:

      – I'm a father, Lenochka, your daughter! – she said in Latvian. But the father already looked with cold blue eyes and said:

      – I don't know who Lena is, especially her daughter! – he turned away and went to the stack of boards for a new one. I began to look for a suitable board there. The daughter blushed. helplessly threw up her hands, turned around, looking for help. The pilot of the UFO module was already hurrying to her: – Let's get to know each other better. – trying to distract the woman, he began: – My name is Eet. But my companion …

      – Eola. – stretching out her hand, according to earthly custom, the UFO pilot introduced herself.

      – Eola, almost namesake. – Recovering a little, Elena answered, shaking her hand.

      – This is the planet of the dead. The energy counterparts of every deceased live here on the ground. As if they continue to exist here.

      – Well, why doesn't he remember? – Elena exclaimed impatiently stamping her foot like a capricious girl.

      “You see,” interposed Eola, “the universe is in perfect equilibrium, based on this … – she did not finish. My father was already returning with a board on his shoulder. The UFOs rushed to take Elena to the module. Sitting there, in a comfortable chair, she was surprised to find that she was wearing her onboard spacesuit, only without a helmet.

      – Are you wondering how we do it? – Eet said, – Very simple. But this is not subject to disclosure, so we will not tell you Elena in some secrets.

      – But why? – the astronaut tried to argue, – We, what, in your opinion, are not in able to perceive information? – She curiously looked from Eet to Aeola in turn. The faces of the UFOs were impassive. But MB- 20 was very talkative.

      – Oh, you Elena have no idea what it means to be a robot. At all there are no feelings, but only emotions. Oh, this is wonderful! I would never agree to become like this a humanoid.

      – Do you know MB- twenty, what is love?

      – Yes, of course, this will be earthly attachment. – Eet and Eola exchanged meaningful glances. Elena thought that Eet winked at her. Friendships have been established. MB- 20 played his part in the crew as well as the social etiquette of the Coalition Observer Force demanded.

      Chapter 3

      It was a blindingly bright, gentle, warm day. The summer air smelled of freshly cut hay, apples, honey. The birds competed in every way in singing in the branches of the backyard gardens, scattered here and there on a vast hill occupied by the village. The houses were almost the same type. white walls and peaked roofs covered with tiles. At the junction of the roofs one could see the installed crosses, shining in the rays of the sun. Elena, closing her eyes, tried to examine their surface sparkling in the sky.

      «Like TV antennas". – a thought came to her aid.

      – No, – she heard behind her, – these are not antennas, these are power receivers. Well, in general, something like a home power plant. – Eola in a motherly way, bending over Elena, explained the purpose of the crosses, but Eet stopped her with a gesture of her hand. Noticing this, Elena tried to protest, but the thought immediately went out of her head somewhere, and already trying to remember what she wanted to ask, turned her absent- minded gaze to the road leading to the village. The church bells suddenly rang out. Melodious and pleasing to the ear, he floated over the plain, descending to the ravines and old women, lost far away in the blue groves on the horizon.

      – What is it? Elena asked.

      – Today is a fruit harvest festival. – Eet answered, – Let's go! – with a gesture he invited to follow him. Elena looked at the huge figure of the UFO and was amazed at its harmony, proportionality and restrained strength, guessed in every movement of the body. But the admiration was hampered by the too noticeable tassels on the tops of the ears, and four fingers on each hand with long, well- groomed and sharp nails, like the claws of a tiger. Neat fences enclosed each estate. Order and peace reigned everywhere, as if the village was glowing from within, emitting an invisible radiance that permeates every cell of the body with grace, giving strength and vigor. The spirit of happiness, carefree happiness, peace and tranquility penetrated into the woman and filled her all, cleansing the body of the toxins of recent experiences. Space, as it were, ceased to exist, the concept of overcoming distance and haste also faded into the background of consciousness, and I wanted to walk through the village for an infinitely long time, absorbing this blessed spirit. But soon the church appeared. A tall brick building with oblong glazed windows and a bell tower. The ringing stopped as suddenly as it had arisen. The bell ringer finished his work, people were leaving the prayer service. Elena noted with satisfaction that these were people just like her. But the smiles of happiness shone, shone with kindness, adorning the already beautiful faces. Passing in pairs and alone, everyone greeted Elena and her companions, and it was clear. that Eet and Eola are not unusual for them. The oncoming residents gave something to each other and thanked each other for gifts. A man in a white embroidered shirt and ironed brown trousers caught up with them, and, smiling, handed Elena an apple. She, embarrassed, took it, thanking it. Then she hid it in the pocket of her overalls, and only now noticed that she was standing without a helmet in her work lightweight spacesuit. The UFOs were also without helmets.

      “No, no,” Eet protested. – It needs to be eaten.

      – But why? – Elena objected.

      “You shouldn't take anything to Earth. The astronaut had to obey. But the mood was spoiled:

      "They are fiddling with me like a guinea pig," she thought. And the apple began