"Arkady and Boris Strugatsky. Probationers (engl) " - читать интересную книгу автора

- I am, - Yura answered with a sigh.
- Jump in, - said the driver.
Yura climbed in with gratitude.
- One can tell straight away, that you are a newcomer, like me, - said
the driver. He drove the vehicle very slowly. - All locals stay in the
shade. I was warned, that I must come by night time, but that's me - did not
feel like waiting. And I was wrong to hurry. It's a dreamy kingdom.
The cabin was full of cool clean air.
- I think, - said Yura, - it's a very curious town. I have never been
in international cities before. Everything is so amusingly mixed up here.
Kara-kumas desert and the international police. Did you see them - all
wearing blue helmets?
- Saw them, - said the driver gloomily. - Over there on the highway. -
He tilted his head, - about thirty men. The trucks collided.
- How do you mean - collided? - said Yura. - What trucks? Automatics?
- Not at all, not automatics, - grumbled the driver. - These...
'Varangian' visitors. Got their hands on it... Drunk scoundrels.
He stopped the vehicle in front of the hotel and said:
- Here we are. I am turning into the first street on the right.
Yura climbed out.
- Thank you so much, - he said.
- It's nothing, really, - said the driver. - See you later.
Yura walked up into the hall and went up to the hotel administrator.
The administrator was speaking on the phone and Yura, sitting down in a
chair, began staring at the paintings on the walls. Here, everything has
also been mixed up quite amusingly. Next to the traditional Shishkin's
"Three bears" a large canvas was hanging, covered with fluorescent dye and
not exhibiting anything in particular. For a while, Yura compared the
paintings with quiet joy. It was very amusing.
- How can assist you, mister, - said the administrator, folding her
hands on the desk.
Yura laughed.
- You see, I am not a 'mister', - said he. - I am a simple soviet
citizen.
The administrator laughed as well.
- Frankly speaking, I thought so too. But I did not want to risk it.
Here we get foreigners, who become upset when they are called 'comrades'.
- Such odd fellows, - said Yura.
- Oh yes, - said the administrator. - Now, how can I help you, comrade?
- You know, - said Yura, - I really need to see the cosmodrome
director. Could you suggest anything?
- What's there to suggest? - the administrator was surprised. She
lifted the receiver and dialled a number. - Valya? - she asked. - Oh, Zoya?
Listen, Zoya dear, this is Kruglova speaking. When is your boss taking
appointments today? Ah, ok... I understand... No, just this young man...
Yep... Ok, well, thank you, sorry to bother you.
The videophone screen stayed blank throughout the conversation and Yura
counted that as a bad omen. "Bad luck" - he thought.
- Well then, this is the deal, - said the administrator. - The director
is very busy and you could only see him after six o'clock. I will write down