"E.Voiskunsky, I.Lukodyanov. The Crew Of The Mekong (англ.)" - читать интересную книгу автора

Opratin did not want any trouble, the more so that a sailboat was
approaching. He moved over to the stern and said in a placative tone,
"Listen, how was I to know you were swimming here?"
"Couldn't you see my boat? Stop acting innocent, you scum!"
They wrangled for another few minutes, until Opratin realized he was
being foolish and would have to get rid of the man some other way. He
switched off the motor, gave the becalmed sailboat a fleeting glance, and
said, "I know what you're looking for, but you'll never find it with an
aqualung."
Bugrov blinked in disbelief.
"D'you take me for a fool?" he asked hoarsely. "Get out! I came here
first. Everything I find here is mine."
"Don't be silly! The sea doesn't belong to you. It belongs to
everyone."
"I'll show you who it belongs to!" Bugrov began to rock the motorboat.
Opratin had to throw out his arms to keep his balance.
"All right, I'm leaving," Opratin said, strongly tempted to hit the man
over the head with his anchor. "But you'll never see that knife. You can
take my word for it as a scientist."
This made an impression on Bugrov, who had a deep faith in the
omnipotence of science.
"Are you looking for the knife too?" he asked in what was almost a
civil tone.
"There, that's the way to talk," said Opratin. "Yes, I am. If I don't
find it I'll make one just like it."
Bugrov gave the face under the straw hat a thoughtful glance.
"I'm apt to be quick-tempered," he said. "Maybe I said some things I
shouldn't have."
Opratin gave a wry grin.


Nikolai quickly covered the hundred metres or so to the motorboat in a
noiseless breast stroke. As he approached it he heard Bugrov say, "All I
want is the knife. I'm willing to make sacrifices for science."
"I'm glad to hear it," said Opratin.
"I am what I am," Bugrov said modestly. "Will I be going to the island
often?"
"No, not very."
"There's a fishery nearby. I can get caviar cheap there." He fell
silent, his head filled with visions of future profits.
At that moment Opratin caught sight of Nikolai beside the boat. He
removed his dark glasses to take a better look.
"Is that you?" he asked with a pleasant smile. "What an unexpected
encounter!"
"Hi, there," called Bugrov, recognizing his neighbour. "Where" d you
drop from?"
"That sailboat," Nikolai caught hold of the motorboat's life line.
"We're becalmed, so I decided to take a swim."
An awkward silence followed.
"I'll be on my way," said Bugrov, pushing off from the motorboat. "Do