Classics fantasy – 10

WITHOUT AIR

Next morning Gatling felt better. Fever decreased. It passed in a radio equipment room and sent the radiotelegram with a signal of “SOS” (a distress signal – “Save our souls!”) and the indication of longitude and width on which there was a boat.

All crew of the underwater vessel was in alarm. Electricity burned dimly. Became to pant. Oxygen was on an outcome. It was necessary to rise by all means to the ocean surface, but dense seaweed it is tenacious held the production…

Old men Ternip, gasping widely open mouths, lay on a floor. Young people felt a little better.

Lamps were ready to go out every minute from a lack of current…

– There is the only means – told Gatling – to get out via the hatch for torpedoes and to try to clear away a knife a way among seaweed. – And it took a knife. – I will try to make it…

– You went crazy, Gatling. With your hand…

– It is impossible! – also other voices were heard. And all exchanged glances, as if looking for who would undertake this venture.

– Here that, Gatling – Simpkins unexpectedly acted – you saved to me life, and I at you in a debt. I undertake this business. Do not contradict. There is no victim. Eventually, if to die whether so everything is equal where. Ladies can turn away! – Having quickly undressed and having armed with a knife, he told: – I am ready! If in twenty minutes the submarine does not rise to the surface – means, I died!

Quickly turned off an internal cover of the hatch, Simpkins crept in a narrow pipe, the cover was wrapped, and the external cover at the same time automatically opened…

Симпкинс disappeared. Painful minutes of expectation stretched.

And Simpkins at this time as the unprecedented torpedo, got out of a side of the submarine and, clinging to seaweed, began to work with a knife quickly. Having felt what to it does not gasp, he emerged on a surface, recovered the breath and again dived into greenish sea depth. Work moved slowly.

The stay periods under water were shorter and shorter, it was necessary to have a rest on a surface longer and longer…

In the twilight of a submarine people choked and with the distorted reddened faces tensely looked behind a minute hand of hours…

Ten… Fifteen… Seventeen… Nineteen… Twenty… Twenty five… Twenty six… It is over…

A half of crew was in subconscious state… In lamps only the red spark as the going-out coal shone. Groans were heard. People grabbed themselves a breast; one rode on a floor, hid in corners under furniture, others climbed up, being piled up on tables and chairs, and looked for greedy, opened, as at fish ashore, mouths though a breath of fresh air. Were stared from orbits. Cold sweat covered a forehead. But air was poisoned everywhere.

And these last minutes of despair began to seem to people as if the boat easily rose a nasal part, shook again down and slowly began to rise. Yes, it is not a hallucination. The arrow of the device specifying immersion depth spoke about the same. More and more…

– We on a surface!

The shivering hands of Gatling and two sailors hurried to unscrew a cover.

Suddenly bright light blinded all. The stream of vivifying sea air joined the boat.

Air. Light. Life.

And in joyful vanity people clambered up, pulled out old men Ternip, the wounded sailor.

The Gatling rushed to Simpkins’s body lying on the edge of the ship case… Симпкинс fell into a faint from overfatigue, but recovered soon.

And suddenly new explosion of joy: on the horizon, smoking black pipes, the huge American steamship seemed. It went here. He noticed the boat. It gave a signal.

Rough joy turned into silent nervousness… The closer the gray bulk of the steamship approached, the some links which connected all these people in a single whole tried more. This whole broke up to certain people, with the personal cares, the destiny, the roads.

The steamship is closer, the they became farther from each other.

The daughter of the billionaire, dirty sailors, the fallen Ternip – that the general between them? Симпкинс and Gatling – again enemies.

The Gatling was quiet, but is sad.

And Simpkins already changed clothes and cheerfully whistled a song.

Some more minutes of expectation – and they by steamship.

Chapter 15

RESCUE

To them the captain met halfway; passengers surrounded them with a dense ring… Симпкинс with a professional look as a shadow, followed Gatling…

What did it need to do? In a rush of generosity and affection own heroism it promised Gatlingu before ascending to the steamship, to keep the secret of his personality and suggested to run as soon as the steamship arrives to the next harbor. But Gatling, this unclear person, is dry and with bitterness answered it: “Do the part” as though everything is indifferent for Gatlingu… Eventually, ten thousand dollars do not roll, and Simpkins already managed to whisper something on an ear to the captain.

The sailors islanders who ran wild and weaned from people pressed close aside. Mr. Ternip very clearly tried to show that he not that these dirty people, though are not purer than them. He managed to keep the bowler hat full of holes and now pulled it over a forehead with a type of the dandy…

While there were inquiries, a sharp-sighted eye of the detective managed to notice some portrait in the newspaper which was held by one of passengers of the steamship.

Симпкинс asked the newspaper, fluently read the message and, having suddenly screamed, approached to Gatlingu standing nearby and Ms. Kingman, unexpectedly took out manual shackles from a pocket and with professional dexterity put on one “bracelet” a hand of Gatlinga, and another – Ms. Kingman’s hand, having held down thus their hands.

All were struck. And Simpkins opened the newspaper and loudly read:

MYSTERY OF MURDER OF DELLA JACKSON

The other day the secret of murder of Ms. Della Jackson of which Redzhinald Gatling was accused was absolutely unexpectedly revealed. In Lorrobi’s bank large theft from fireproof cash desk was found. As one of keys of this cash desk was at the son banker Lorrobi who led extremely dissolute life recently, suspicion fell on it, and it executed a careful search. The gone money at it was not found, and its participation in theft remained unspecified. However at a search the documents convicting Lorrobi of murder of the bride, Ms. Della Jackson fell into hands of the investigative authorities. The letter of Ms. Della Jackson to Lorrobi was found in a casket for letters. In this letter she refuses flatly to marry it after learned, through “private bureau of instructions”, about some details of his private life. Lorrobi had imprudence to keep the diary in which in detail states crime history. The mentioned letter was received by it in day of murder. Knowing about the rival – Gatlinge, Lorrobi spied on him long ago, using services of the maid Jackson bribed by it who reported to him about the preparing appointment. Believing that her love to Gatlingu, Lorrobi in a rush of jealousy was the valid cause of failure of Ms. Jackson decided to revenge Ms. Jackson. It was to the place of an appointment before Gatlinga, killed Ms. Jackson on the spot and disappeared, nobody noticed.

Confessed to a crime of Lorrobi. Thus, thanks to combination of circumstances the victim of a miscarriage of justice Redzhinald Gatling whose innocence was investigated quite nearly died. Unfortunately, Gatling, apparently, died at the crash of the steamship “Veniamin Franklin”.

– Here it, Gatling! – Simpkins shouted, finishing reading the newspaper. – And as not in vain I caught it and so much with it was taken, I also decided to sentence him to lifelong imprisonment… from Ms. Kingman if she has nothing against.

It obviously had nothing against.

The public welcomed this “severe” sentence a loud applause.

Part fourth

Chapter 16

SCIENTIFIC EXPEDITION

The old man Kingman is Viviana’s father – very much was delighted to return of the daughter. He did not hope to see any more it as Viviana Kingman appeared in the list of the died passengers of the steamship “Veniamin Franklin”. Was to marriage of the daughter Kingman kindly favorable disposed. He only shortly asked Gatlinga, meeting him:

– Profession?

– The engineer – Gatling answered.

– Well. Business … – And, having thought, Kingman added: – In Europe, apparently, there is a belief that we, the American rich men, dream to give the daughters for the burned-through European counts. It is incorrect. Fools exist everywhere, and the American fools wish to become related with European, but I prefer the husband who made the way in life for the daughter. Besides I at you in unpaid to a debt: you saved my daughter! – And Kingman strong shook hands with Gatlinga.

Once, when young spouses sat over the map, discussing the plan of the travel conceived by them, phone rang out, and Redzhinald, having taken the call, heard a familiar voice of Simpkins who asked appointments “on an important issue”. Before agreeing, Gatling loudly told in phone tube:

– It you, Simpkins? Hello! You want to see us? – also looked interrogatively at the wife.

– Well, let will arrive – Viviana quietly answered.

– We wait for you – Redzhinald ended telephone conversation.

At Simpkins everything became soon – “for hundred twenty percent rather, than at absolute Americans” as he spoke.

Gatling heard noise of the approached car soon. Simpkins was and at doors started talking:

– News! Large news!

– What is, Simpkins? – asked Gatling. – Really one more of your criminals was the honest person?

– I opened a riddle of a crime of the captain Feargus Sleyton!

– In what this riddle?

– So far it is, um, the evidence which is not subject to announcement…

– Then you did not tell anything new, Simpkins! On the Island we knew that Sleyton has a shadowy past.

– But what! I came to offer you one project – perhaps, to ask for your help.

– We listen to you.

– I should open Sleyton’s riddle up to the end. How you will treat the project once again to visit the Island of the Lost Ships?

– You are incorrigible, Simpkins! – told Gatling. – The world is of interest as in it there are criminals to you.

– Well, you look at it as on sport. But why you burst out laughing?

– We burst out laughing therefore – Viviana answered – that we just discussed your project before your arrival.

– To go to the Island and to open Sleyton’s riddle? – the Simpkins surprised and pleased asked.

– Not absolutely so. We are interested in secrets of other criminal more…

– Another? Really I do not know about it? – Simpkins became interested. – Who this criminal?

– The Sargasso Sea – smiling, Viviana answered. – Unless it ruined the ships a little? To reveal secrets of this criminal sea, to warn others – here our purpose.

– In a word, we go to a scientific expedition for studying of the Sargasso Sea – finished Gatling.

– Here it that! But I hope that you will not refuse to take me with yourself in order that I could make the business in passing…

– Certainly, Simpkins! But what sense to you to go? Sleyton is killed…

Симпкинс significantly moved with eyebrows.

– Sleyton is not necessary to me any more. But here interests of others are mixed. On the Island I managed to get some documents.

– Really?

– Симпкинс does not linger – the detective fatly noticed. – But, unfortunately, I took not all documents. They should be got, and then everything will become clear.

– Interests of others? That is another matter. We go, Simpkins!

– When you sail?

– I think, in a month…

– Who else with you?

– The oceanographer is professor Thomson, two of his assistants, team, and more than nobody.

– So, we go. You know my address. – And, having taken leave, Simpkins hasty left, and Gatlingi went deep into studying of the card again.

– Here look – Redzhinald pointed to the card – this straight line drawn as on a ruler – a way from New York to Genoa. We will go on this way to the three hundred twentieth degree of east longitude and we will curtail on the South – and Gatling made a mark a pencil.

The new visitor prevented them from working. Professor Thomson – the famous researcher of life of the sea entered. After fussy Simpkinsa Thomson struck with the tranquility and even sluggishness. This the person, good-natured, inclined to completeness, never hurried; but it was necessary to be surprised how much he managed to make.

Gatling hospitably met Thomson.

– You study our way? – he asked and, having by the way darted a glance at the card, told: – I think, it is better for us to head to the south, for Bermuda at once, and from them to go on the northeast. But we still will talk about it. Today I received three boxes of the equipment for chemical and photographic laboratories. The aquarium is ready and already established. Tomorrow the library ordered according to my list will be received. In a week our biological laboratory will be equipped quite. And how at you by an engineering part?

– For about three weeks – Gatling answered. – In a month we can throw down a challenge Sargassam.

Thomson nodded. He understood that the word “call” means. Gatling bought the small, outdate for the military purposes Defiant ship for an expedition, and it under the direction of Gatlinga was adapted for the peace purposes. Its guns gave way to devices for a pulling of drags. Except biological laboratory, a number of storerooms for storage of scientific production was arranged. The Gatling worked much to adapt the ship for swimming among seaweed of the Sargasso Sea. On a nasal part the sharp cutter which had to cut seaweed was fixed into Kiel of the ship. That seaweed did not prevent operation of the screw, it was protected by the special cylinder from the metal gauze.

The radio set, two easy tools and machine guns on a case of collision with islanders supplemented the equipment.

All participants of an expedition worked with such hobby and diligence that the ship was ready to withdrawal even before the appointed term.

At last hour of withdrawal came. Participants already were by the ship. Waited only for Simpkins. The big crowd familiar and just curious stood on the embankment.

– Where it got lost? – Gatling was perplexed, looking for hours. – Forty minutes of the third.

– Let’s wait a little – professor Thomson told.

Rub… Half of the fourth… Simpkins is absent everything. The captain hurried with withdrawal. “It is necessary to get out before twilight of a coastal strip with the big movement – he said – especially as fog approaches”.

Decided to sail away to four. The siren is heart-breaking cried as a wounded fantastic giant cat… and the ship sailed away. From the coast waved hats and scarfs.

Suddenly several people standing at the edge of pier jumped aside aside, and on their place there was Simpkins who got wet, disheveled with the hat which got off on a nape. He violently shouted, waving hands.

The captain “Defiant” swore and ordered to reverse. And Simpkins already fell down in the boat and floated to the ship, without ceasing to wave a hand.

– Thousand apologies! – he shouted, climbing a ladder. – Awfully hurried… An unforeseen delay … – And it appeared on the deck.

– What is with you? – poluispuganno, полунасмешливо asked Vivian, inspecting Simpkins.

His nose swelled, on cheekbones bruises were seen.

– Anything… small boxing with the old acquaintance, Cross-eyed Jim… Such unexpected meeting! Escaped, the villain; his happiness! If I did not hurry … – And, calming myself, he added: – Nothing, will leave. It is a small game… I will make a lotion, and everything will pass.

Fog tightened coast. The ship went slowly. From time to time the siren shouted.

– Damp, we go down – Viviana told and went down with the husband in biological laboratory. There already professor Thomson and two assistants – Tamm and Müller worked.

The laboratory represented itself quite capacious room with a big square window in a wall and two hexagonal windows in a ceiling. The left side was taken by photographic laboratory, right – chemical. Over wide tables with boxes, as in drugstores, regiments with books. On empty seats of walls various jails, harpoons, regiments and shelves with bubbles and medicines are strengthened. Each span of the area is used. Even on a ceiling oval boxes what are used by naturalists, and spring scales are attached. In the middle of laboratory there was a huge table. Here microscopes, accessories to preparation, stuffing of effigies and preparation of herbariums were located: scalpels, scissors, tweezers, press. Several stools with the rotating seats were strengthened so that could move along a table. Thomson slowly went on laboratory, slowly rearranged banks, humming in a low tone, and work was argued in his hands.

Evening passed enough drearily. And at night the siren did not allow to sleep. By the morning the siren calmed down, and Viviana fell asleep a sound, healthy sleep.

Morning came solar, clear. Had coffee on the deck, under an awning. The ocean sighed dark blue waves exactly and rhythmically, fresh sea air poured in cheerfulness; and, having forgotten the nightmares and doubts, Viviana told:

– As it is good, Redzhinald that we went to this travel!

– Still – Simpkins who already removed bandages responded for it – we will be able to open Sleyton’s riddle.

– And riddles of the Sargasso Sea – professor Thomson thoughtfully told. – Tamm, prepare a drag. It is necessary to poissledo-vat a bottom.

While Tamm equipped a drag to descent, Thomson continued:

– The sea is a multystoried building. In each “floor” there live the inhabitants who do not rise in top and do not go down to lower “floors”.

– Well, it, we will put, not only in the sea – told Simpkins. – And on the earth the inhabitant of the cellar “is not accepted” in the dress circle…

– A small difference – Müller put in a ward, people from the cellar could live also in “dress circle” as you speak, and sea inhabitants… for them it would be death. If deep-water fish carelessly rises above the set limit, she will become torn there as the boiler when its walls do not maintain internal pressure explodes.

– Um… so sea inhabitants of “dress circle” can sleep peacefully, without being afraid of attack from below?

– In each “floor” there are predators.

Tamm lowered a drag – a rectangular iron frame with a bag from network. Stones were attached to a bag, for weight.

– On what depth to lower? – Tamm asked, unwinding a cable together with Müller.

– Meters on six hundred – Thomson answered.

All silently watched work.

– To decelerate! – Thomson told.

The captain made the order.

– Well, something to us was sent by destiny?

Two sailors came to the rescue of Müller and Tamm.

Hardly the drag appeared on a surface as Tamm and Müller at the same time screamed:

– Linofrina!

All with curiosity started considering a sea monster. All fish as though consisted of a huge mouth with big teeth, not less huge bag stomach and a tail. On a chin of this monster there was a branchy appendage (for a bait of fishes as Thomson explained), and on the top jaw – something like a trunk with a thickening in the middle.

– It is the shining body, so to speak, own electric lighting.

– And why to it lighting? – asked Simpkins.

– It lives in depth where the beam of the sun does not get.

– To live in an eternal gloom – too pleasure! Managed them to choose such unsuccessful apartment!

– Will even more surprise you if I tell that they test for each square centimeter of the surface weight in several honeycombs of kilograms. But they do not even notice it and, believe, feel perfectly.

– Look, look, sargassa! – Viviana exclaimed suddenly, running up to a handrail.

On the blue surface of the ocean the separate rounded kisteobrazny bushes painted in orange and golden and olive colors really were seen.

All were delighted to sargassa as though they met the old acquaintance.

Between August second and sixth the ship went already near Bermuda. On the third of August just separate bushes of seaweed floated. They were an oval form, but under easy whiff of the southern wind were extended in long strips. The Gatling burned from impatience rather to try the technical devices on continuous sargassa. At last continuous meadows of sargass appeared on the seventh of August. Now, on the contrary, the blue smooth surface of the ocean looked out islands among an olive carpet.,

– Here it, “the curtailed sea” as his ancient Greeks called – Thomson told.

The Gatling with nervousness watched how it will cope “Defiant” with this web of seaweed. But its nervousness was vain: the ship almost did not reduce speed. It cut sargassa, and they parted, baring the long dispersing blue films of water on both parties of the ship.

– Perhaps, your precautions were excessive – professor told. – Eventually, for modern vessels of a sargassa absolutely do not constitute such danger any more. And in general their “impassability” is exaggerated.

Having caught several seaweed, Thomson began to consider them. Viviana observed too.

– Here you see – he explained to her – white stalks? These are already died off. Sargassa, broken by wind and taken by a current in the Caribbean Sea, rush on the North. Five and a half months are required that they passed a way from Florida to the Azores. And during this time they not only keep life, but also ability of fructification. Some sargassa make the whole circular trip, returning home to themselves, to the Caribbean Sea, and then make a secondary trip. Others get in a circular ring and die off.

– Ah! What is it? Live! – screamed from Vivian’s unexpectedness.

Thomson burst out laughing.

– It is the Australian fad-tryapichnik, and these are aktenna-riya – the most curious inhabitants of the Sargasso Sea. You see how they adapted? Not to distinguish them from an alga!

Really, painted in brown color, speckled by white spots, with the torn shapes of a body, ak-tennariya extremely resembled seaweed of the Sargasso Sea.

Chapter 17