Contents

This story took place in 1981. On September 30, Wednesday, at exactly 11.00 on the Castle Hill in Kiev. I am a long time did not dare to publish the text because of improper understanding, in connection with the universal rejection of such incidents in the community.

«Author’s Note».

Book — 1. Andrew’s Descent

Chapter First

Street Andrew’s Descent in Kiev, famous for the works of Bulgakov. Here, in his house at Andrew’s descent, now a museum of the writer, he started writing his famous-make of «The Master and Margarita», full of wonder and adventure. It is no accident the writer inspired lo mystical location street. At the beginning of Andrew’s descent is St. Andrew’s Church, then, just below the towering Gothic building, «Castle of Richard — the Leonhard», storing a set of mysterious rumors about any devilry that roam there at night. This explains the fact that this structure is a Gothic castle did not manage to restore. That suddenly burned wiring, the collapse of the plaster, and even glass, glazed windows for no apparent reason suddenly fly apart into small pieces. On the opposite side of it, just below the visible steps stout wide wooden staircase specially built for tourists. This pedestrian staircase leads to the equally famous the Castle hill. According to the legend in this mountain castle was the residence of the Prince, ruling Ancient Russ in the time of the Mongol invasion. If you climb the stairs, then gaze from this mountain offers a magnificent view of the Dnieper, Kiev. Hence it is clearly visible from the height of St. Andrew’s Church and the Gothic House, which overlooks the St. Andrew’s descent, like the ghost of medieval architecture. Sunday was a lovely day in May. My wife and I have been married for Lilichka six months, and this spring day ran away from home for a walk through the hassle of favorite places in the city. This time, the purpose of our walk was the Castle Hill. Climbing the stairs, we came to a clearing in front of the old park. My attention was caught by a tree with an unusual crown. Equal covered with black bark trunk without branches and twigs up to two branches, reground from the trunk at the same level and on the opposite sides. The thickness of the branches is equal to the thickness of the tree trunk. From these branches are drawn up thin branches. And further from the trunk of branches stretching above one meter and it grows in spreading crown. I stepped closer to the tree, to take a closer look its bark and his family.

— Valic! What did you see?

I turned to her: — I want to look closer at this tree.

— So what?

— It turns out, alder. And growing a tree, usually in moist areas near bodies of water. It is strange that there is very Tall Mountain, clay soil, no water, and the alder beautifully caught.

— Well, so what? — He looked at me in surprise Lily — went on to see what’s next? Maybe some remains of the castle still remain?

I did not mind. Going behind his wife on a narrow path in the grass trodden by tourists, I noticed with interest on the opposite side of the clearing, in front of strange tree, dilapidated gravestone fencing. «Aha, so that’s ancient cemetery. This tree looks like a cross, overgrown branches "- I guessed, and gestured to the place, and on a per-deserted wife’s grave. She looked at me and said quietly: — I’m horrible here, something to become.

— What can leave? — I suggested.

But, seeing a couple of young men appeared as if from nowhere in the meadow, Lily said: — Well, it’s not! And we’re not seemed to be alone. I looked around and saw another couple sitting on the southern slopes of the mountain, on the green carpet of grass under the warm rays of the May sun. We went into the bushes spreading trees and found a few ruined their graves scattered here and there gravestones made of black granite. Delving further, we saw a spacious well-preserved brick vault. Inside the vault was a lot of different garbage and trash. Rusty mangled iron fences sticking out of the ground. The coolness of the shady crowns of trees, ancient tombs and silence this ominous place inspired discomfort sadness and anxiety, and to get rid of the surging emotions, I suggested: — Let’s go closer to the southern slopes of the mountain, maybe there found the remains of an ancient castle? His wife, gripping the proposal as a straw for the rescue, making it possible to get rid of fear, creeping under the light T-shirt, looked at me encouragingly. Soon we were at the ruins of the masonry, apparently a fragment of the wall that once protected the castle from the south side. It was bright and warm. Sunlight penetrates well here, as the walls were practically on top of a steep southern slope. At our feet the remains laid out in small cobblestone street. The southern slope of Mount makes a sharp turn to the right and has become almost the steep western slope, the base abutting on the Old Hem. The impression that we are on the top of a truncated pyramid closed yellow clay. Standing on top of it, inevitably creeps into the consciousness of the idea of the library is not found priceless ancient manuscripts Prince Vladimir, who baptized Russia. The library was sheltered from the destruction of ancient Russ invaders and not found until now.

Wander through the Castle Hill Lila tired, and she offered to leave as quickly as possible from this peak home. And I have only inflamed the excitement researcher of antiquity and I was not averse to still continue to study this place, but the desire of a loved one, primarily, and we moved along the southern slope in the opposite direction in the direction of the stairs. I curiously looked around and suddenly underfoot on the closely packed cobbles saw inconspicuous three concentric circles. A more attentive and curious tourist can easily track down the southern slope of the Castle Hill and see at his feet, these stacked concentric circles of stones, burrowing into the ground and become almost invisible. The stones were set up and the sharp edges of this structure, certain ritual, apparently, for some magical action. The outer circle diameter of about 1.5 meters, the inner circle diameter of about one meter. Around the place was surrounded by bushes and trees, and from the south, pure space, as there is a steep slope, goes into a deep ravine, at which there was a road that led to the Podоl and Podolsk church. There was intensive construction of the elite of the town offices and hotels.

Lily quickly walked forward, and I, not to be outdone by his wife, did not have time, as it should, consider this interesting patch of exciting the imagination of their uniqueness. We already came to a clearing with a wooden cross roster there is the smell came out of the bushes, Ms. Ranch kebabs and voice. I looked to the side and saw there under the arches of the crown of old trees freshly dug pit with a bunch of yellow sand dredged hushed and two guys staring at us. The boys looked at each other, one of them in an orange T-shirt, jumped up and headed in our direction. At this time, Lily noticed him and hastened his step. Later she told me that was very scared that she thought they were black archeologists conducting illegal excavations of ancient cemeteries in search of valuables. And that they could beat us up and buried in the pit. But, back to the guy who accelerated pace approaching us. He came up with every step nearer and nearer. But the stairs were already there and we were the first to go down on her. I looked at the pale, and his wife to reassure her, offered:

— Lilichka, let’s skip this boy forward. He obviously somewhere in a hurry. — My wife is looking at me, I took a deep breath and stood on the top of the observation deck, as if pretending that examines opened away from the height of the panorama of Kiev. The guy is not looking at us, he ran down the stairs and out of sight. And just now my wife hid pink blush, which replaced the pale of concern on his face.

— Judging by the looks of this guy, he is clearly of Western Ukraine. — Expressed it’s I guess, where this person.

— It can be seen on the brutal mine, I knew immediately that he was a stranger. Be slaughtered, without batting an eye.

— Well, so would be killed? You are that one is, perhaps, the wife?

During the conversation, we got home. And in the evening, lying in bed, Lily said:

— You do not work for a month after retired from OKTB. And my salary from the factory «Medtech» will not be enough.

— Tomorrow, get settled, I promise.

The morning is sunny and warm. Outside the windows the first leaves have already turned green trees in the yard and, hence, from the height of the seventh floor, well seen everything that grows down there. I Throw a growth on his face, filling out into a neat goatee. After a morning coffee with his wife in the kitchen, I began to gather in search of new work.

— Let’s go out together, — has offered the wife. — I was at the plant foot, spend?

— Of course, I walk with you to promise success. — I joked, to which his wife replied sternly:

— Home can come back if you do not stand. — And, having sustained a significant pause, — to understand?!

According to her strict tone of voice, of course, I realized that the joke with my employment ended once and for all. We left the house. Our way laid along the lake on a paved road builders Underground, smashed Obolonske lake in half. Near Lili work was household chemical plant «Zarya». The plant did not care about the environment and merge any garbage in the western part of the lake. And when that happens, then the part of the plant was suffocating smog. Lily often complained about the bad smell and nausea when her «little factory» wind blowing from the plant. I’m worried about her health, but could not do anything. We were silent all the way. Gorky was a lump in my throat from her parting words on the occasion of my job search, and scraped the soul cat. In the distance it seemed plant «Medtech», and said goodbye to his wife, I walked to the subway station «Petrovka». Left alone with him, and collecting ideas on finding a new job, I continued on my way. Metro «Petrovka» as calm Human River has always acted on me with his free and easy passage of time. The passengers in the car in which I entered, made an impression on me is always some kind of estrangement, each busy with their concerns and affairs and do not care about a neighbor riding and sitting next to or in front of you. Since being treated around, I saw a beggar old man with a cane, hobbling on the car with a plastic sack tied to a rope encircling his battered jacket. He threw passengers every little thing in the bag, and he thanked those words of thanks and I wish you all prosperity and health. I also decided to give him something, some little thing and began to rummage in your pocket suit. Not finding anything there, except for 2 cents, he pulled out his empty hand and decided that it will, suddenly found a beggar next to me. He emphasized, but stood staring at my gaze. I had to get these two a penny and stick it in the outstretched hand of. The old man looked at the coin, muttering something unintelligible evil threw a coin in my face. I managed to dodge, and a beggar, shaking her, like a shovel, gray beard, spewing curses, clearly in my direction, I went on to the platform in the open door. My station «Red Square», today «Kontraktova» was next, and I decided to get out here. Going underground passage, I found myself at a tram stop. Rode a tram №11, without hesitation, I walked into it. Tram drove me to the factory «electrical appliance» and follow the intuitive feeling that this is where my future job, I found myself in the personnel department. Engineering and technical staff of the plant employees to work took the head of personnel, so I find a sign on the door proper, opened the door of his office. At the window of a conventional desk what the factory equipped with the technical department, was a man of middle age and over his glasses in silence, staring at me. Armchair for another massive table was empty. Deciding that the owner is not there, I cheerfully asked:

— Where is he? — And she pointed to a chair.

— Who are you? — Rustles piece of paper in his hands, with a question, in turn, asked the sitting.

Pose as an important «person», I decided to catch the tail of luck, and without thinking, blurted:

— I’m from the design department. — Pecked man and asked:

— From Golde? — Having no idea who this Golde, I continued my dialogue — He sent me to the head of the personnel department for registration. The man anxiously rubbed his right hand his massive nose, then gently asked:

— And who wrote you a pass to the factory?

— Yes, I saw that in a booth are people without permits, but so has passed. I have never asked a pass, but if I had stopped, of course, I would have written out.

— Anyway. — The man scratched his nose again. Apparently, part of the procedure by massaging him this body has grown so impressively. We silently stared at each other. Pause delayed. After enduring a long pause, he suddenly asked:

— The documents you have with you? — I did not hesitate, rapped: — That’s right.

— Let’s here, let’s go to register you. Yes, and by the way, where you Golde take, well, what position? — I guessed that my idea with my employment success. It remains to determine the position. In my work it was written that I’m an engineer designer of the first category. I’m currently adding titles, said: — On the position of chief engineer

designer.

Man carefully scrutinized, he looked at me and said.

— Well, we do not have a job; there is a vacancy lead design engineer for maintenance of products in production.

— Head of the office had in mind; I’m just so mechanically repeated.

— Oh well. Here’s a sheet of paper and a pen.

He handed me a sheet of paper, write an application for the post. Here sit here. — He pointed to the table where she sat, and he sat behind a massive, adding on the go — There’s an application-sample was under glass.

I got out of the breast pocket of his work record, passport and handed it to him. He became flipping, studying my working career. Having looked through, and carefully looked at me, he added: — When Golde sign a statement to me at once. I’ll let you fill in the blanks and you can go to work.

Concealing his triumph, and trying to write as calmly as possible, in a statement to the letter obtained more exactly, I asked: — Here in the «goat» stated salary that I write, put a dash or amount?

— Leave the place Head of the salary he would write when will sign the statement.

— Good! — Trying to sound more confident, solid I replied. After writing the statement, I gave it to the chief of the personnel department. He put a mark on the statement that the vacancy is free, gave it to me with the words:

— Go to our archive, where Zinaida Maksimovna write you a pass, I’ll sign it, and go to the Signature Department Golde. Then to me for forms.

— There is! — In the military, I snapped and walked out.

The head of the design department was looking at me through the massive spectacles hung on the nose as hooked on a branch Kaloxylos chameleon, and his gray eyes boring into me like two sparkling lenses. He was holding my statement, and a piece of a little shudder in his arms covered with black curls of thick hair, clearly visible because of the short-sleeved T-shirt colorful.

— Well, young man, I’m just so you can not take the position. I need some sort of probation, and we’ll see. I’ll sign a statement later. Now go to the Lubchenco Alexander Vladimirovich for an interview, will work in his design and technology sector support department in the manufacture of products.

Alexander turned terse, but still not old, not young-looking chief of forty-five.

When he saw me, he was silent, and looked at me, gestured to a chair that was set to his desktop with folders drawings. I silently sat down on a specified location

— Well, tell me that you know how, who recommended you to come to us?

— Let no one. Just passing by, give, I think, I go. Well, that’s gone. Personnel Department sent to Golde.

— Alexander Askoldovich, of course, only takes on the recommendation of tolerances on the object is not lower than the first.

— So I have a number of first admissions of the secret part. It’s all right.

— Well, then everything is fine. We work for the defense industry, and there are no random people.

— So I finished university subordinated to the engineering industry, and all of these institutions are exclusively trained specialists for the military industry.

— Well, then this will be no problem. Basically you do for us.

With these words, Lubchenco scored extension phone and said:

— Alexander Askoldovich, in principle, even if issued. It suits me. — He paused, listening to what Golde replied, then added — and that with a salary? Yes OK. — And turning to me, he said, go to Alexander Askoldovich he will write you a salary for department frames, and when you plan to work?

— Today is Thursday, May by the street, I want to still breathe the spring. From Monday.

— Good. Our work at the plant begins with eight staff engineers out of nine, so please come on Monday, though I need you yesterday. — Speaking these words, he drew on my statement that the interview conducted and set release date to work.

Alexander Askoldovich silently signed the statement. I noticed that the salary is not checked.

— Sorry, Alexander Askoldovich and what my salary?

— To go to work. The wage will see their salary.

As the unexpected bee sting hurts sounded these words. In response, I said nothing, and thought to him that the defense industry is financed smoothly and stable charge card I provided. Goodbye to the new leadership, I signed the statement ran for the checkpoint to the head of the personnel department. In the office, he was already waiting for me. Silently, he took a statement, saying:

— Work-book is with us, because you are employed. Here on Monday, will go to the personnel department will give the completed forms and bring two photos, so we can issue you a permanent pass. Time will be at the entrance, call his name, and you miss out on a job. Good luck.

— Wait, that with a salary?

— I thought I would write you a personal Golde supplement to the salary, but we have an engineer-technologist designer of the first category one hundred and twenty rubles plus quarterly bonus forty-five percent. So consider, with all deductions accumulates one hundred and sixty a month.

— Well, what — Well and that’s thanks.

— And why you said that you sent Golde take shape? When you met with him?

— Because I need this job. Bye.

— All the best.

I have opened the door to the study, when the head of personnel called me.

— Wait! I forgot to say that as long as you were to me, and demanded Lubchenco called you back to the department.

I chill crept bad feeling: — «And what if he changed his mind to accept this Lubchenco,» — I thought, I said aloud: — Yeah, well, I go already.

Head thrown after: — a temporary pass is already at the entrance, the cabin number six.

Lubchenco met me a friendly smile. Next to him stood a woman and a youngish man.

— Meet Valentines Albertovich. — Began Lubchenco — you go in a group to Isai Alexander Vasilyevich.

The man held out his hand to me, — Alexander, head of the support group. And note next to me Tamara Petrovna, too, of our group.

The woman handed me a little, and a strong hand, shook my hand, saying, — I’ll suggest you and bring you into the swing of things. I will hold the workshops and departments that you, Valentin, went into the swing of things.

— Well, do not settle, so Tamara Petrovna, — intervened Lubchenco — let will get used bit. — And, turning to me, he said, — Come Valentine Albertovich, I’ll show you your job, right there next to mine, for the drawing boards.

We walked along the row of drawing boards, mounted on metal racks to my workplace. There were already a folder with drawings on my desk now, which I have summarized Alexander.

— This is where you park and you can see the drawings. We check the accuracy of the drawing and make changes according to the current standards. Hopefully, this is familiar to you.

— Of course. I in fact worked as a designer of first category in the Ministry of OKTB of Commerce and Industry of Ukraine, and all existing guests know.

— Very good. Well, look, and it is advisable that you sat eighteen zero, zero. By the end of the work. This day you will be credited as a worker. Well, even if you want to leave early for work, then you are welcome. While you’re in the department, the workshops will be able to go after receive a special pass, since our agency belongs to the Navy and the many developments that run at us with secrecy. You also have a number of first admission, that after appropriate checks, which will last a month and a half, you will be given a pass guild.

I sat down at his desk and began flipping drawings, carefully considering the details of the mechanism, and found a few mistakes. Lubchenco praised me. The work time flashed Snack-ro. Lily workday ended before she met me in tears and reproaches:

— What could the cattle call that you are already working well?

I, of course, was justified as he could. Wife soften certainly helped my employment. Then, wiping his tears with a handkerchief, he said:

— Well, how much money you were given? — To which I could not answer clearly, he said only that we learn in salary. And in the end, everything went peacefully.

I liked the work, but was very monotonous and boring. From this sleepy, and often with the staff I went out for a smoke, to somehow get rid of sag drowsiness and, of course, never smoked.

Chapter Two

I have worked for four months. He received an advance and regularly paid on time. As the Lubchenco said that he was going to Peter, so at the «Electric appliance» called Leningrad at that memorable time when we lived and worked in the Soviet Union. His trip was supposed to last two weeks, for himself Chief of the engineering department left Isaiah Alexander Vasilyevich. Alexander unspeakably was glad, and his mood was not just upbeat, but upbeat over. He joked with everyone showered jokes and telling anecdotes. In the department, the staff prevailed general euphoria in connection with the departure of the chief of the sector on a mission to «Peter». I did not realize such an elevated happiness, even in the face Lubchenco not say that he was glad this. Each employee approaching him, he timidly sighed, he took out his pocket notebook and knew in advance what was wanted of him, carefully writing down what to bring to a particular employee.

In short, I, proceed to work the next day, I found half were not department for various reasons at work. That’s why such a joy reigned yesterday, but today I’m Tamara Petrovna, running the shops, checking the implementation of changes in the production process. In one shop we encountered.

— Well, Valentine, do you work?

— Nothing, you see, can cope. — Treacherous thought I was bored with the very moments, that I realized the joy of travel Lubchenco for the department. Courage Tamara Petrovna asked: — And what if, Tamara Petrovna…

— So, Valentine, not Tamara Petrovna, and Tamara. — In her dark eyes flashed sparks of fun and full of sensual lips moved slightly ironic smile, arousing eyes the emerging grid «solar» wrinkles. I’m in the shower was extremely surprised by the statement to call her by her name, believing that at her age it’s time to forget about the days long past. But at this delicate moment, hiding his embarrassment, he forced himself to her name without her middle name:

— Tamara, and tell me you can not, somehow leave early today. The bosses have left, no Golde nor Isaiah, and Lubchenco to boot.

— You should be somewhere? — Asked Tamara Petrovna.

— Ventilate want. Outside, the golden autumn, the end of September. You know that the new place is always difficult to fit into the work and get tired.

— You know, Valentine, at the entrance control and always will report Lubchenco, and he will take prize. — She looked at me with sparkling eyes, and then added — Well, today is on duty at the checkpoint, my old friend, when we arrive at the Division I call her. No, better to go there, I arrange. Just look, do not get caught the eye of the chief engineer or head of personnel, good. Let’s go. You come into the office, and I’ll be there soon, and tell you.

— From thank you Tamara.- Voltage conversation vanished in a moment, and I’m relieved to have escaped mental stairs flight of stairs to our department.

She appeared, failing; I close the door of the department.

— The sixth stall, you can go. Just lunch, say if you meet someone from inspectors that go out to dinner. But in this case would have to go back. I got it?

— Of course, thanks to you.

— Not for hot. — looked down, said Tamara Petrovna. Hearing rubs her heartbreaking sigh, rapidly approaching your workplace. It is necessary to bring everything in order, as it is Friday, and ahead of two days. And after a couple of minutes I was already at the entrance. With a sinking heart that no one found, I quickly went cabin number six on the way out and drove off briskly to the parking lot tram. To stop, just rolled up, creaking wheels of the tram track number three. The doors opened and the first came Isay, I went into the back, so we, by chance, have not encountered. Unpleasant feeling a wave receded from me only when the tram drove off. Through the window I could clearly see how leisurely gait Alexander began to climb the stairs to the sales pavilion, where our factory was selling different consumer goods of its own production. So, the head of the group does not intend to support products enter the factory, and especially in the department, and I went with quiet confidence further. Ending station tram «Kontraktova area» I came out, looked at his watch, the arrows showing 12—30. I did not want to go home, and I decided to walk on the St. Andrew’s descent, up to the St. Andrew’s Church and go down there by cable car to the metro station «Post area». Up cobblestone streets climb was not very easy, I soon found myself at the museum of the writer Bulgakov, tired, I did not want to go further. Staying at the monument to the writer, I began to examine the rows of traders souvenirs that are located on both sides of the bridge. Gaze slid to the stairs that led up to the top of Castle Hill. Something pushed me to the other side of the street, and I’m drawn by the strange feeling to go up there and decided to take a closer look around. And time will pass unnoticed. Inhale oxygen to healthy sleep, I thought. Slowly, I moved to the opposite side of St. Andrew’s Descent, and found himself at the ladder that got lost, hiding in the height of the branches of lush foliage. Vigorously knocking heels shoes, I flashed past the black-haired girl with long hair gathered tail. Casting a glimpse of my eyes, I stepped onto the pavement and disappeared from sight. I mechanically looked at her hair and lazy set foot on the ladder began to rise up. Bright orange and red leaves mixed with yellow leaves, sun glare shone softly and tenderly as velvet, the Rays made their way through it, illuminating its warmth all around. After rising for another fifteen meters, I stopped to catch my breath and from the height of the observation deck, opened a fabulous view of St. Andrew’s descent, a little further from the Dnepr could see pleasure boat slowly sailing against the current. As a toy boat from here to the heights he observed his white skeleton with figures of sitting on the deck at the tables of tourists. After standing for a little more, I got finally out of the maze of stairs and found him on the castle hill.

Then I decided to go in more detail at the places where most recently, in the spring, we Lilichka walked it seemed, even stride.

Trying not to look around, I was clearing an accelerated pace, stepping on the dry autumn grass, hiding the path trodden by tourists. My goal was a fragment of a wall of an ancient castle that has been preserved in non-dismantled masonry apparently due to complex approaches for transporting produced bricks. And most importantly, what attracted me to this side of the Castle Hill, the angle almost vertical cliff, abuts the Old Hem. I wanted a closer look at the junction of two sides of the mountain, so reminiscent of the truncated sides plastered with clay ancient pyramid. Certainly in this mountain there are hidden caves and tunnels that can be hidden treasures. This idea prompted me those black archeologists, we are faced here with Lily spring. Absorbed in these thoughts, I did not notice how he found himself near the ruins of the wall. Considering the close vicinity of the ground and decided to go behind the wall, in the clay-trodden path, a step to the trailing edge of the joint steep hills Mountains. With mine wondering what I was able to see, I realized that in addition to the steep hills overgrown with dry grass, I see nothing interesting, so decided to look around here where I am. Yes, and it is clear that all the moves in the different dungeons begin, of course, on the inner side locks, masked by all kinds of internal structure. And in general I have this quest order tired of that cost to rise by Andrew Descent from the Red Square here upstairs. Fatigue suddenly pulled hard, and I decided to leave, the benefit did not go down that climb mountains. With that, I began to walk away, walking on the rare remnants of ancient bridge. When he reached a small hill serving unremarkable hill, I found the cobblestone inconspicuous three concentric circles that we Lilichka found in the spring, and which I had forgotten. I, like the last time with interest began to consider this building, hardly noticeable for strolling tourists. At first glance, what catches the eye is that obviously someone has protected place for a fire, and the ashes and debris of various superficial circles almost razed to the ground and become invisible. But on the other hand, painfully stones laid out neatly and evenly. Lovers of barbecue and romantic night gatherings around the campfire with a guitar so be careful not to spread the ring. Obviously this place is for some mystical ritual action. The worship of fire, for example, when in a certain place kindle the fire, and then jump over the fire. It is believed that this burns all sins, cleansing fire jumping man through the ritual fire on the night of the pagan holiday of Ivan Kupala, once originated in ancient Russia. On the other hand, if the lock of the Kiev prince stood on top of the remnants of some megalithic structures, and on his orders ably filled viscous clay so that the steep slopes have become stronger and more criminal to the enemy. And inside, under the lock, to build auxiliary facilities and hiding places, and tunnels, and maybe there is all it was.

I’m guessing not noticed, as I stand in the center of the circle. He stopped there, looked around and stopped in surprise. In an instant, everything changed, the sky had taken refuge dense leaden clouds, and went cold pouring rain. Water poured from the sky in torrents, wind tore the pitiful remnants of autumn leaves on the trees. A gust of wet wind biting painfully lashed my cheeks and pushed out of the community. I rubbed my eyes involuntarily. The sun was shining peacefully rustling yellow and orange leaves of the maple that grew nearby. I wiped his wet face with his right hand, spread his matted hair on his head and instinctively looked at his watch. Arrows watches showed exactly 17—30. We must hurry, yet I will go to the subway, there will be about six in the evening. Of course, I had not yet been able to realize what had happened, so do not even managed to lose the sense of reality. And only managed to catch my breath as I was to reach the event happened adventure. I have mixed feelings, squelching shoes full of rain water, walked to the clearing pedestrian stairs, all accelerating and accelerating pace. And only on the steps, leaning on the railing viewing platform, began to take off shoes at a time, wringing wet socks. Trousers working suit, stick to the legs during walking, and the skin on the feet become irritated unpleasant, itchy body. I came home on time, I was met at the door his wife:

— Where have you lost an hour, eh? On Friday you work ends at five o’clock.

— Damn, I forgot. I lost and stayed there until six.

— And what is your Lubchenco, too, sat up to six?

— He was sent on a business trip and all at once fled early.

— Why are you so wet? — Lily noticed. — Rain like no. — Suspiciously examining me, he paused, waiting for an answer. Then, recollecting himself, he exclaimed:

— Run to the bathroom. Take a hot shower immediately and properly, keep warm. Then tell me where you doused himself water?

I walked into the bathroom, dropped into a bowl wet, and well washed under a warm shower.

And later on, and she could not clearly explain what happened to me, and where, and why, I’m drenched in the rain…

Chapter Three

On Monday, as usual, I went to work at 9 am. In the department at his workplace was Isai Tamara Petrovna. Their faces were tense and fun as it usually happens. After greeting, I proceeded to your workplace.

— Valentin Albertovich, come here a minute. — Ton, unlikely to lead to anything good, I called Alexander.

— What? — I asked, approaching nearer.

— You saw the chief of staff when you leave the factory for lunch and did not return, was it?

— He could not see me. — I said, looking into her eyes shy Tamara Petrovna. What Petrovna said:

— Valentin, do not look at me like that. Just Nikolai Andreyevich since his office oversees staff. You can not see, and he sees all.

I instantly realized that deceit, and took a job that made an enemy number one in the person of Chief of Staff. And in order to defuse the situation, he asked: — And when it’s leaves on vacation? — What Isaiah said: — He is a workaholic and always prefers the winter holidays, the New Year.

— Yes, I was not lucky.

— And not just you. — Isay said in a threatening tone. — For such violations deprive prize not only you, but the whole department. — He paused and frowned at one point. I looked in the direction of his gaze. On the drawing board drawing board, which looked Isai, it seemed to me that there is a wisp of smoke began to stand out as a magnifying glass focused on the sunbeams. A ubiquitous Tamara Petrovna, in a hollow voice, suddenly said, looking moist eyes at Alexander Vasilievich:

— Sasha, maybe something can be done for the first time after all?

— Yes, I’ll talk to Shchekin; Nikolai Andreyevich good guy for the first time may take place. — At the same time, we went to the workplace and in our group a tense silence reigned, nervous heard rustling paper drawing so slamming leafed through the folders with the drawings. Soon, Tamara Petrovna flew into the shop, followed by the left and Alexander. And my annoyance again cramped throat, a lump has risen to the sky foreboding disaster. Still disappointing early career overshadow the reprimand, all the troubles of the alleged collective blame one person, and that person turned out to be me. It became unbearable to sit in this room, to hear sniffling colleagues work and catch them sidelong glances. And even two students intern Polytechnic Institute assigned to our department to serve posited practice began to whisper, glancing warily at me. Well, at least Lubchenco Alexander Vladimirovich was not, well, Golde Alexander Askoldovich him.

Perfectly beaten track working, I could not stay longer in the room and breathe the smell of ammonia from the air, from fresh copies of the drawings, neatly arranged in the drawing folder. What do you do in this, absolutely idiotic situation, I did not know, and we ought to get out into the fresh air and think calmly their behavior among these people, snapped at me. Saving idea came suddenly and somehow immediately pushed for action: — «Yes, this well-wishers say that you need to see a dentist, the tooth hurts.» Ideas for saving hint, I began waiting impatiently Isaiah. And on a whim, he flew into the department, with the words:

— Folder forgot drawings.

Without giving him time to recover, I quickly ran to him: — Alexander!

— Yes, yes, I will listen carefully?

— I would be a doctor.

— Something urgent?

— Yes. I wanted to take time off in the morning, but due to our five-minute out of my head.

— Yes, I also surprise even forgotten folder.

— I suffered a two output, thought himself to be held, and there it was. Yes, I firmly decided on Friday to the doctor with this tooth, but, frankly, was afraid. So that?

— Well, that’s so good, I asked to go to and no talking. Come into frames, take a leave. Only now, that does not catch your eye Shchekin. There is Zinaida Maksimovna, it will issue a leave and sign for it, and I’ll sign it. Well, let’s go, and the tooth hurts even more. — The words of Sasha our eyes sparkling smile.

— And where to find you?

— Listen, Valentine, I’m not old, come on, «You», but then I somehow embarrassed to talk to you, this we all Lubchenco only «you» says.

— Yes OK. Well, I went. And then for you to sign.

— Yeah, let’s go. Do you know where our clinic? Today, there is just a dentist accepts.

— I have mother-in-law at the Institute of Dentistry, opposite the Bessarabia Market, physician-scientists are working stoma. He is waiting for me already.

— So go. — He put the folder with drawings under his arm and ran out the door. And I with a sigh of relief went through the cabin number six. Asked on duty there woman on duty — Where to go? — I said that going for a furlough. This procedure took me less than ten minutes. And five minutes later I triumphantly presented a leave guard in the booth number six. That long considered a piece of paper with the signatures, I could not resist, did quipped: — Signatures are all genuine, what’s wrong?

— There must be signed Chief of Staff.

— But there Maksimovna signed Zinaida, she has the right to a formal management approval of the plant and the secret part. — I do not give up. The guard stared at me with her evil little eyes, and slowly without taking his eye mouse slowly slipped on a piece of paper sticking out the pin, which has a pile hanging severance passes.

— Come on! — He muttered, pressing the pedal stop rotating cross. I like to springs charged jumped into the fresh air of the factory gate and collided with Isay.

— Alexander, but where are you?

— I was in the frames. Think of a question about your AWOL removed. Well, there is a separate entrance from the second floor. So that’s all right. — With a smile, a reassuring look at me, my team leader.

— Yes, Friday and today will not be tabulated.

— It is clear that I do not get a penny these days. — But Isaiah was no longer there. With the drawing of a mouse, he stood on the steps of the entrance porch and talked with the military in the form of Soviet Navy.

There remains, finally, with himself, I walked slowly walking along the tram tracks towards the Red Square. There near the monument to Ukrainian philosopher Gregory pan, I sat down on a wooden bench, and began to reflect on his present position in the design department of special plant «Electric appliance». Bus passing by, some stayed near the bench where I was sitting. Finally, it dawned on me that I was still in the parking lot route. I had to, got up and walked in the direction of Andrew’s descent. Following along the rows of souvenir, I noticed a familiar climbing the stairs towards the top of Castle Hill. Legs like themselves-gales motion in this direction, and, most surprisingly, I did not feel any fatigue. And all this guilt was indescribable thirst for unexplored miracle. I wanted to feel again the strange change in the weather, and I went straight to this magic circle, without knowing why. Excitement filled my senses. I would particularly like to feel like a researcher unidentified phenomena of nature, which can not be said, even the closest people, to not consider you not quite adequate mood. But today’s conversation in the department said unpleasant metamorphosis so that I would generally send everything and plunge into something predictable, once and for all put an end to the humiliation of the deed weathered minutes misconduct. No longer hesitate, I looked at his watch, not to be late home, and not to betray the fact that I did not have the whole day at the factory. The time was exactly eleven zero, zero, and the inscription of the day, «medium», of course, one thousand nine hundred and eighty one. Having determined the time, I boldly stepped into the center of the circle. Instantly everything changed. Trees and shrubs why they became half the size. Some of the trees did not exist either in place or nearby. There was a lot of space and light, and it was cool. And on the branches of bushes and trees near the foliage was not observed. Wind does not feel the warmth of the sun was shining, but not warmed. Shivering from the cold, I stepped back from the community, to the place where you just stood in amazement, nothing happened. Landscape, which has just changed in an instant, was unchanged. I froze with fear. Repeatedly jumping in the middle of the circle, and back I tried to go back into your reality, but all in vain. My manipulations to nothing lead. Desperate, I realized what had happened. I do not have my measurements, I’m in another reality. I began feverishly to think what it could mean. The idea came desperate to lose examples of people in the caves, extinction of entire crews of vessels on the high seas, and even remembered the ghost train, disappeared in the early nineteenth century, the Italian tunnel with passengers. Gradually, I began to come to life, struggling with despair of his foolish act. Then it became a logical co-deliver the facts, trying to find a memory of a constructive approach to the incident. In this new dimension, I found the cut tree stump and sat on it. The body immediately felt the cold touch, but I did not care, I have ceased to feel the cold. Reflecting on his back, I still could not believe that it happened to me. After sitting a little more, I made a last attempt. With eyes closed, he came to the center, and carefully opened his eyes, slowly raising the eyelashes. Everything was in place, nothing is changing. I had to go back on the stump. The cold and despair slowly left me, came to replace the cold and sober thinking of the fact of what happened. I began to think more coolly. Thus, if this phenomenon exists, then there is a de facto. So the one who came into this reality, that of it and went out, otherwise there would be observed this black spot, as many as three circles. But that meant three laps. In my case, it may mean only that the first time I walked in and was able to get out immediately. This is indicated by the outer circle. The second round, medium, means that for the second time a man stuck in a foreign reality for a long time. But that means an average circle appear that this phenomenon exists and that there is in this place. A person faced with this phenomenon, how to stay fork-encrypted message to his counterpart in misery, do not despair, you can come back and come back at a certain time. Yesterday! Not on Friday, pushed me back into my reality. So, on Friday I can come back and come back another year. What to do? It should be a year, somewhere to live, something to eat and drink, to do something. Well, my God, wow, that’s it got involved. To tell you will not believe, I do not consider in their mind. Well, the fact happened and the decision is made. It is necessary to survive in the new reality, not to be lost, and to control the situation. After all, I’m in Kiev range of people should be the main thing will be defined with the local reality, well, at least to know what year and what’s going on here? And stay in the shade and not to attract attention. So, I begin to adapt, to get to my cart-hour rotation, which will come on Friday, the next year in late September, the 25th day.

Reassure myself of this opportunity to return to my reality, I have decided to move quietly to explore a strange reality. Coming through the wet grass to dry the proposed tourism ladder, I was horrified to find solid bushes, through the bare branches, which, viewed a steep cliff that fell straight to the Little House on St. Andrew descent. In desperation, looked at St. Andrew’s Church, which from the height of the Castle Hill It was well visible and are still standing as a beacon in its rightful place, where she was once hoisted the famous architect Rastrelli. From this my heart was a little lain, and I self-preservation instinct, just mechanically, almost nothing is not knowing rushed as misguided ship in the ocean, in the light of this beacon of hope given to shaving.

When he reached the edge of the top, I found a trodden path that led down the hill, which lost further in the direction of the church. Along the path quickly began to descend from the mountain front it was another hill, not as big as Castle Hill. After it, I went down into the street St. Andrew’s Descent. There were no traders souvenirs or series of artists with their creations. The old dilapidated houses clung to one another. Some

The walls were flaky, which emanated from the musty basements and terrible poverty. By me were people dressed in old, battered clothes and curiously regarded Wail my working clothes consisting of a cloth jacket colors sun-bleached grass, wet shoes, a white shirt with a black collar and tie speckled, given to me for my birthday my wife. I decided not to focus on the views of passers-by and move on to the church. We saw a kiosk steps «Sojuzpechat.» He came closer, looked in the window booth. He looked at me with a face that seller big nose and sharp gray eyes, as if to ask what interests you, young man. I became curious to consider storefront with exposed logs, «Crocodile», «Young technician», «Soviet Sport» and other publications. Stallman does not pause first, he asked me:

— You must travel, young man? — Heard the voice, I was glad of human speech, and restraining the emotions and excitement, asked in turn:

— And you can find the magazine «Health» you have?

— Of course, we sell, but it gets a little kiosk better to write, just fifty rubles a year. — But I was tormented by one question, what year, day and month? And I began to ask again, at random: — Now September thirtieth, and the following month, in October, I can write? — Began to carefully observe the reaction Stallman, but he did not blink, then a month and day was all right, but, as for the year? But Stallman himself told me a year.

— You know, at the fifty-third better to write at once, that’s a month before the end of the fifty-two, you have to write, and it may be that not enough. This magazine is the most popular here in Kiev.

— Hey, you’re stuck there?! — I heard a gruff voice behind him. — You take or not take?

— What for travel rush?! — Shouted a man Stallman.

— Yeah, come on; carry on the war veteran snowstorm, your business trip nothing happens. Give’s better magazine «Soviet Sport». I check on «Dynamo» with «Spartacus» played?

But I was not listening. It was clear that the court of one thousand nine hundred and fifty second year, September 30, and in the calendar that hung in the window of a kiosk, I saw that today is Tuesday.

Chapter Four

It was necessary to solve something. Day has steadily moved to the end. It was getting cold, and there is no desire to be behind bars. But this was young and healthy, because that distant time, from Kiev where the homeless were taken away, arranging them on the job, after identification. I have, except the red badge at the «Electric appliance» no up-Document was not. Therefore, the most reliable option, and there was one, pretend to the poor old man and get out of the city to the village. I recalled my childhood, trying to remember myself at that age and all who come to us for alms. My God, of course there was one poor man, he lived in our village and my grandmother felt sorry for him and fed occasionally. I even guessed somewhere in the subconscious mind who it was. Of course it was me. Since my fifty-two years, I was six, of course, could not the poor and the old self to consider in more detail. I remember only that I had a long gray beard and gray hair. No wonder, after experiencing a throw back in time, you can completely turn gray. And my beard grows back quickly, and in the spring and in the summer I’m just going with a long beard and white hair. I still remembered that a beggar named Dorosh. In those days the poor old men do not pay attention. They were sitting near the church, begging and the authorities avoid them, because «God» people did not represent any harm to the Soviet authorities and was under the protection of the clergy. Also, the mendicant elder at the church, allowed to eat in the dining room for the poor. You could eat and keep warm. So, I had to be transformed into a beggar, this was the only guarantee that in a year I’ll get to that time portal and go back to yo