All at once
Book two
Eugene Alexandrovich Rakhmanov

© Eugene Alexandrovich Rakhmanov, 2025

ISBN 978-5-0068-2385-3

Created with Ridero smart publishing system

All characters, names, patronymics, surnames, locations, street names, firms, organizations, enterprises, companies, and events described in this book are fictional. Any resemblance to historical events or real people – living or deceased – is purely coincidental.

“Welcome to Krasnosibirsk. The Way Home”

Following the “big truck” with his gaze, Andrey quickly descended the hillock to the gravel road and, excited, ran up to Prokhor Fomich, who was muttering something fearfully under his breath.

– Prokhor Fomich, Prokhor Fomich, – shouted Andrey.

He flinched…

– What? Who? Who are you? What do you want?

– I’m Andrey…

– What damn Andrey? I didn’t see anything and don’t know anything… Leave me alone! I must go!

– Wait, where are you going? Stop…

– I’m telling you, leave me alone, I don’t know you!

– How can you not know me? I’m Andrey Maltsev. Lyuba’s husband. Your boss.

– I don’t care who you are. I have no bosses. I’m on my own! I collect berries… Leave me alone! Go where you were going!

– Please, stop…

– Leave me alone, I say… Pestering me.

– One question, and I’ll leave. Please.

Prokhor Fomich stopped and said nervously:

– What do you want? Hurry up, I have no time!

Andrey caught his breath and asked:

– What year is it now?

– What? – Prokhor Fomich was taken aback. – Are you drunk or something, or are you some kind of fool?

– Just tell me, what year is it now… Please!

– Ugh, you devilish nature. Definitely a fool! Your eyes are darting around, crazy! Leave me alone, or I’ll hit you between the eyes with my stick.

And, turning sharply, he headed towards the concrete fence with barbed wire.

– Hey, wait… Just tell me, and I’ll leave.

– Leave me alone!

– Are you going to the crawlway?

Prokhor Fomich stopped and, his eyes bulging, began to chatter quickly:

– To what crawlway? What are you talking about? I don’t know anything! Who are you? What do you want? Leave me alone! Why are you pestering me?

– Calm down, I’ll explain everything.

– What will you explain? What do you want?

– I know about the crawlway…

– What crawlway?

– Prokhor Fomich, don’t be afraid!

– And I’m not afraid… Who told you I’m afraid? Here’s another, you made it up. Look at you… Why should I be afraid? What for? I’m an honest man. I just collect berries, that’s all!

– Calm down, everything is fine!

– I am calm… I was… until I met you! What do you want from me?

– What year is it now? The date and month? – said Andrey quietly, looking Prokhor Fomich in the eyes.

– Are you serious? – he frowned. – I thought you were joking!

– Please, tell me.

– And you’ll leave? You’ll leave me alone?

– Yes!

– July sixth, 1980. That’s it? Satisfied?

– Very satisfied! – Andrey smiled. – Three more years ahead! So, I understood everything correctly. I’m happy, thank you very much! – he shouted joyfully.

– Quiet, quiet, why are you shouting, you madman? Do you want the border guards to hear us? You want to go to prison? You can’t be here, it’s a restricted area!

– Oh, oh, sorry… – Andrey whispered guiltily. – I completely forgot about that!

– You can’t forget such things! It’s a criminal matter!

– I’m sorry!

– Well, that’s it? I said what you wanted. Now go where you were going!

– Yes. Thank you very much! I’ll go…

– Where are you going? You need to leave through the crawlway.

– Yes, that’s what I meant. It’s not far from here. Running, thirty minutes, and I’m home.

– Running in this heat? Definitely a madman!

– Don’t worry, everything will be fine!

– Yeah, yeah… – Prokhor Fomich smiled. – And who told you about the crawlway? Probably, limping Pashka, who trades at the market? His tongue has no bones. He always talks nonsense about anything!

– You told me.

– You’re lying! – Prokhor Fomich shouted nervously. – I didn’t tell you anything! You’re lying about everything! I don’t know you!

– That’s right, – said Andrey, – you didn’t tell me… but in three years you will.

– What?

– It’s a long story. – Andrey smiled. – Thank you for everything! You are a good person. Take care of yourself!

– Aha… And you take care of yourself too!

– And remember, Prokhor Fomich, no matter what happens in the future… Be sure, you are not crazy!

– I know! – he smiled. – But I’m not so sure about you!

– All the best, – Andrey shouted on the run and ran along the gravel road. Towards the five-story buildings.

Prokhor Fomich watched him go for a while, and then said warily:

– What a weirdo! – and, groaning, crawled into the crawlway under the fence.

Orlov opened his eyes. Without hurrying, he carefully looked around. A smile from ear to ear appeared on his face. He remembered… Understood that he was at home! On his favorite sofa! Without moving and practically not breathing, he just lay silently. And his eyes carefully and greedily scrutinized every detail of the interior of his one-room apartment. He thought, remembered… What was that? A dream? Or… what? He clearly remembered pressing the detonator button. Remembered the pain he experienced during the explosion. But how? Why is he alive then? Lying calmly on the sofa and reasoning about all this. There were many thoughts, many questions. And, as always, exactly zero answers!

The silent stillness was broken by the ringing of the telephone in the hallway.

Orlov flinched.

Breathless and wet with sweat, Andrey burst into his apartment. And with quick steps, he went to the kitchen.

Lyuba was cooking lunch.

Andrey approached her and abruptly kissed her on the cheek.

– What’s with you? – she snorted. – You’re all wet! Did you buy milk?

– No, dear… Sorry.

– Why? – she frowned. – What’s with you? What’s wrong?

– I was running!

– From where?

– From far away…

– Andrey, are you joking, huh? I sent you for milk, and you’re running around who knows where?

– Sorry. I’ll catch my breath and go… Again!

– Okay… buy it tomorrow. You’d better go for a walk with the children while I cook the cabbage soup.

– With the children? – he smiled. – With pleasure!

Andrey carefully entered the children’s room.

His son Seryozha and daughter Masha were sitting on the floor. They were playing. Building a city out of blocks.

Andrey smiled modestly, his eyes moistened.

He kissed Seryozha on the top of the head and picked up Masha.

– You are so small, – he said, almost crying. – You’re only five years old.

He held her tightly to himself and kissed her on the cheek.

– Daddy, you’re all wet. What’s wrong with you? – said Masha, smiling.

– Everything’s fine, my sunshine. Now everything is fine! – Andrey answered in a trembling voice.

– Let’s go for a walk! – he said, smiling.

– And, grabbing Seryozha with his other hand, playing and having fun, he carried them into the hallway. The children squealed joyfully and laughed. They put on their shoes and quickly rushed out the door.

The phone was ringing, not stopping! Orlov clicked his tongue angrily and jumped sharply off the sofa. With large, heavy steps, he entered the hallway and picked up the telephone receiver:

– Orlov! Listening! – he said loudly and irritably.

– Comrade Captain, permission to report, duty officer Petrov! – a clear, brisk young voice came from the other end of the line.

– Permission granted. Report!

– Observation towers: first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth – no remarks or incidents. The traffic police post in the city center reported: no remarks or incidents. Report finished!

– What do you mean, finished? Why didn’t you say anything about the Institute of Nuclear Physics?

– What institute? – the duty officer asked perplexedly.

– The Vladimir Ilyich Lenin Institute of Nuclear Physics! – Orlov shouted, nervously pronouncing every word.

– There are no institutes in our city! Only a school and a technical college.

– Are you serious right now? – Orlov asked irritably.

– Yes, exactly, serious!

Orlov turned his head towards the kitchen and looked at the window…

Hot summer air was blowing slightly through the open vent.

He peered.

– What’s the date today?

– July sixth. – answered the duty officer.

– Wow… – Orlov was stunned. – Well, I’ll be…

– Comrade Captain, is something wrong?

– Hmm…

– What?

– Ah… yes… I… Tell me… what’s your name?

– Petrov.

– Yes… Petrov… Tell me, why are you reporting to me at home?

– You yourself ordered to report to you at home during your vacation!

– During my vacation? – Orlov asked in surprise.

– Yes, exactly!

– And how long have I been on vacation?

– Since Friday.

– Aha… – he thought. – And what day is it today?

– Sunday. – the duty officer answered cautiously.

– Correct… Everything is correct… – Orlov said slowly, thinking. – You know everything… Ready for service. Well done. You, this… what’s your name?

Petrov.

– Yes… right… Petrov… Tell Smirnov to come pick me up urgently! I need to go on business!

– Which Smirnov?

– My driver!

– Your driver is Zaitsev! And who is Smirnov, I, unfortunately, don’t know. Sorry!

– Zaitsev? – Orlov was surprised.

– Yes, exactly! Zaitsev!

He looked at the kitchen window again and thought.

– Comrade Captain, should I tell Zaitsev to pick you up?

Orlov looked at the window and was silent.

– Hello, comrade Captain, can you hear me, hello…

The bright summer sun blinded his eyes. Birds chirped on the tree branches.

– Comrade Captain, can you hear me? Hello!

– I hear, I hear, don’t shout so loud, – Orlov said calmly. – No need to pick me up. I changed my mind!

– Okay! – said the duty officer. – Do you need anything else?

– Yes… Tell me, Petrov… – he looked at the kitchen window again. – What year is it now?

– The year? – the duty officer asked again.

– Yes. What year is it now?

– Eightieth.

– 1980?

– Yes, exactly! Why?

– Nothing… Everything is fine… – Orlov swallowed fearfully. – Everything is correct! You know everything. I dare not detain you further. I’ll call if I need you!

– I serve the Soviet Union!

– At ease! – said Orlov and hung up the phone.

For a couple of minutes, he stood motionless, with a thoughtful look. Then he slowly went into the kitchen and approached the window.

– July sixth… eightieth year… I’m on vacation… – he said, pondering.

Outside the window, children were playing soccer in the yard. Two old women on a bench near the entrance were talking animatedly about something.

– July sixth… eightieth year… I’m on vacation… – he repeated again.

Then he stepped away from the window and opened the refrigerator. Automatically, he took out three chicken eggs and a liter jar of rendered pork fat, with a wooden spoon inside. He was about to close the refrigerator when he suddenly froze in place. His gaze stopped on the bottom shelf, where three zucchini lay, neatly stacked in a row.

He took one of them in his hand and said:

– Zucchini? Where did they come from? I don’t like zucchini! Strange!

He closed the refrigerator and approached the window again:

– Where did you come from in my refrigerator? – he said, addressing the zucchini. – Huh? I didn’t buy you, that’s for sure!

He looked out the window:

– If mom were here… she would decide what to do with you! – he said, lost in thought, and looked into the hallway at the phone.

Andrey sat on a bench and watched his children playing in the sandbox.

His smile suddenly disappeared from his face.

He remembered Captain Orlov.

– I need to see him! Talk to him about what happened. – thought Andrey.

And he got up from the bench:

– Children, it’s time for us to go!

– Daddy, we just came out. Why do we have to go home? – Masha was indignant.

– It’s hot outside. You could get sunstroke!

– But we’re in the shade. – said Seryozha.

– You can get a stroke in the shade too… just a heatstroke! – Andrey said businesslike and, taking the children by the hands, led them home with quick steps.

– You’re back already? – Lyuba was surprised, seeing her family on the threshold. – Only thirty minutes of walking?!

– It’s very hot there! – Andrey instantly replied.

– Mom, we were in the shade. – Seryozha complained.

– You can get a stroke in the shade too. Just a heatstroke. – said Lyuba.

– You see, and you didn’t believe me! – Andrey added, addressing Seryozha. – We’ll go for another walk in the evening, don’t worry.

Seryozha smiled and ran to the kitchen.

Lyuba was pouring hot cabbage soup into bowls.

– Wash your hands, we’ll eat. – she said to Andrey.

– I’m not hungry, I need to go!

– Where to? – Lyuba narrowed her eyes.

– On business!

– What kind of business?

– Lyuba… – Andrey twitched, raising his tone.

– What? – Lyuba asked calmly. But in this calmness hid the flame of a scandal, which Andrey did not dare to fuel. And, smiling modestly, he answered:

– I promised to buy you milk and didn’t. This is unacceptable! Understand? I will go and buy it right now. As I promised you!

– What? – Lyuba was taken aback. – Come on… What are you… You’ll buy it tomorrow, don’t worry! – she blushed coquettishly. – You are so good after all!

– Hmm… I’ll go… – Andrey lowered his gaze. – I’ll just call first.

– Who?

– Lyuba, what’s with the interrogation? I’ll call work.

– But you’re on vacation?!

– Sanych asked me to. I need to, in general.

Andrey approached the phone and began fussily dialing numbers, silently pronouncing them with his lips.

Some time later

Orlov was busy near the stove in the kitchen. Humming some melody to himself.

The doorbell rang.

– Wow, – he was surprised, – who could that be?

Opening the door, he saw Andrey on the threshold, who was looking at him with a crazy look and breathing heavily.

– Hello, – Orlov said calmly, – come in, take off your shoes, come to the kitchen.

Andrey obediently did everything.

– Sit down, – said Orlov, – are you hungry?

– What? – Andrey asked quietly.

– I said, will you eat? Fried zucchini with eggs.

– I…

– Can you imagine… – Orlov interrupted him, – I open my eyes… And I’m home! Lying… looking at everything… It’s good to be home, right?

– Well…

– And then the phone starts ringing, – he interrupted him again, – I even flinched. They called from work. Said I’m on vacation!

– I’m on vacation too! – Andrey blurted out quickly.

– Congratulations! – Orlov said approvingly and shook his hand.

Andrey smiled.

– And they also said that today is July 6, 1980. Can you imagine? Did you know?

– I knew. I know!

– Yeah… and I know now too, – Orlov said thoughtfully, – so, will you eat zucchini or not? I fried a lot, enough for two!

– I will! – Andrey answered cheerfully.

Orlov took the frying pan and carefully divided the zucchini equally into two plates:

– So, I open the refrigerator, – he continued, – and I see them on the bottom shelf… – he lowered his eyes to the plate. – But I don’t really like zucchini and I definitely remember I didn’t buy them! Strange! Agree?

– Yes… strange… So where did they come from then?

– I have no idea! Lying there in a neat row. Three of them.

They both thought.

– Eat, eat, – Orlov said suddenly, – how is it, by the way?

– Didn’t expect it, but it’s delicious! – Andrey said, smiling. – I don’t really like zucchini either. But the combination of flavors pleased me!

– I’m in shock myself! I just sliced the zucchini into rings, fried them on both sides in a pan, and poured three chicken eggs over it all. Salted, peppered, and there you go… Delicious!

– Indeed. – Andrey chewed enthusiastically. – Who would have thought it would be so tasty?

– But I definitely wouldn’t have thought of it!

They both laughed.

– I talked to my mom on the phone today, a whole 20 minutes! I would have talked longer, but we were disconnected. A secret object after all, you understand!

– I understand. – Andrey nodded.

– And they tell me, like, Comrade Captain, you’ve been talking with your mother for too long. Stop immediately! And they disconnected. Can you imagine? I ordered a pass for her. She’ll come to visit in a week!

– Great! – Andrey rejoiced. – Congratulations!

– Yeah… – Orlov said thoughtfully. – Thank you. I haven’t seen her for three years. She died in ’82!

A minute of silence fell in the kitchen.

– And today… now… – he continued, looking into nowhere. – I talked to her! And in a week, I’ll see her! Strange! What do you think?

Andrey was about to answer, but Orlov interrupted him again:

– And you, by the way, who are you?

Andrey coughed, choking:

– What?

– I said, who are you? Where do you know me from?

– Are you serious?

– What, does it look like I’m joking?

Andrey looked at Orlov and didn’t know what to say:

– Well…

– What well? Do you know me?

– Yes.

– For a long time?

– Not really.

– Where did we meet?

– At your work.

– Under what circumstances?

– You arrested me!

– Wow. For what? Are you a criminal?

– No! I’m an honest, decent person! – Andrey blurted out irritably.

– Then why did I arrest you? They don’t arrest honest people!

– But you did arrest me! – he said through his teeth. – And also…

– Okay, okay, I get it! – Orlov interrupted him, shouting. – You’re an honest man! Decent. Don’t freak out! Tell me, what did you do that I arrested you for? – he said, looking intently into Andrey’s eyes.

– You don’t remember anything?

– Speak!

Andrey swallowed:

– I… was watching people… with binoculars…

– Sooo… – Orlov said drawlingly. – Why?

– Strange things were happening in the city. Do you really not remember anything? I think I should go?!

Andrey got up from the chair.

– Sit down! – Orlov commanded sharply.

Andrey sat down on the chair.

Orlov slowly leaned towards him and said quietly:

– Speak! What was happening in the city? What strange things?

Andrey sighed and continued in a trembling voice:

– I… will try to explain to you… but… if you don’t remember…

– Don’t mumble! Speak!

– At the Institute of Nuclear Physics…

– The one being built on the outskirts of the city? – Orlov interjected.

– Yes.

– Continue!

– Well… There, scientists were testing an electromagnetic accelerator…

– Stop! What? How do you know what it’s called?

– I read the name when they were transporting it past me.

– What? Come on, come on, in more detail. Who was transporting what where?

– I woke up today… I mean… I was… Well, I was on the outskirts… I was there. Ended up there by accident! Absolutely by accident! Long story short, this contraption was being transported on a huge trailer, surrounded by armed soldiers. And when this trailer passed by me, I read the name. The tarpaulin fluttered in the wind, and I read it. “Electromagnetic accelerator of charged particles ‘Taiga-6’.”

Orlov froze. His heart began to beat faster.

– What happened next? – he said in a half-whisper.

– Next? I went home. You can’t be there! Restricted area. You understand.

– I’m not talking about that! – Orlov flared up. – You were talking about scientists!

– Scientists? Ah, yes! Well, they were testing it for some reason, this accelerator… And…

– What “and”? – Orlov tensed.

– A green smoke appeared. – Andrey slowly pronounced every word. – It covered the whole city, with an electric dome. It killed people. Drove them crazy, sending all sorts of hallucinations to their brains.

Orlov closed his eyes and lowered his head.

– Comrade Captain, do you really not remember this?

– Maltsev! – Orlov sharply slammed his fist on the table. – Well, of course, I remember this! – he shouted irritably. – I wish I didn’t remember! What the hell is happening? What? What is happening? How did we end up here?

– Comrade Captain, – Andrey exhaled joyfully and howled, – I’m so glad you remember everything! I almost went crazy when you said to me: “Who are you?” I thought you were a different Captain Orlov!

– What? What do you mean?

– Well, Captain Orlov from 1980. You really didn’t know me back then!

– I didn’t understand anything… well, never mind! Can you explain to me what’s happening? Why are we here? Why are we alive? I blew up the institute!

– You did it after all? – Andrey was surprised.

– Yes, exactly! I did! I even remember the pain… during the explosion… Unpleasant sensations, to put it mildly!

– And I died! – said Andrey, smiling. – Burned alive, just like you said! It was painful, terribly!

Orlov frowned:

– Maltsev, are you even normal? You’re telling so joyfully about your death, as if it’s something fun!

– Why grieve, we are alive after all!

– Not sure!

– What do you mean?

– I pressed the detonator button and there was an explosion! After that, no one and nothing survives, that’s for sure! But… I’m alive! Sitting in my kitchen and eating fried zucchini with eggs. By the way, did you finish yours?

– Yes. Thank you, very tasty!

– Give me the plate, need to wash it.

– Here, take it, thank you!

– So, – Orlov continued, washing the dishes in the sink, – how? Why am I alive? And, am I alive?

– What do you want to say?

– I want to say, Maltsev, that we both died! And we remember it well! Moreover, we ended up in the past for some reason. There’s only one conclusion.

– Which one? – Andrey tensed.

– We are in heaven! Well, or in hell! Haven’t figured it out exactly yet. Although I don’t believe in these things! But, nevertheless.

– An interesting thought, – Andrey thought, – but I think we are still alive. Yes. Alive! We just ended up in the past. That’s all!

– Seriously? – Orlov’s eyes bulged. – Just ended up in the past? Just?

– Yes! Why not? I was already in the future. So why can’t I end up in the past? I can!

– Maltsev, stop, I beg you! – Orlov smiled. – Are you starting your story again about that future, with big stores with food shelves reaching the ceiling?!

– What? – Andrey twitched nervously. – You decided to laugh again? I was there! You ate crackers with the taste of aspic and horseradish. You ate them! Almost the whole pack, all by yourself!

– Ate them all? – Orlov burst into loud laughter. – What slang you have, Maltsev. And you said you were a decent person. Where are your good manners?

– You’re doing it on purpose, right? Intentionally mocking me? You know I’m right! Why don’t you just admit it?

– Because, Maltsev, I don’t believe it! That’s why!

– What does that mean? What exactly don’t you believe in? In the green alien killer smoke? In the crackers… that you ate? Or that we are in the past? What don’t you believe in?

Orlov lowered his head:

– I don’t believe in anything, – he said in a quiet, doomed voice, – I used to believe my own eyes. But now… I don’t know what to believe!

– Comrade Captain, in this world there are many things that are difficult and even impossible to believe in. But that doesn’t mean they don’t exist! Understand?

After a minute of reflection, Orlov said:

– Let’s assume. Just assume, we are in the past. How? Why?

– I think that when you blew it up… this smoke… It somehow transported us here.

– I repeat, how? Why?

– I don’t know! Maybe by accident, maybe on purpose.

– Unlikely on purpose, – Orlov said, smiling, – because then we can make sure it doesn’t appear here at all!

– What do you mean? Interfere with the construction? Blow it up?

– Maltsev, are you in your right mind? They’ll shoot us immediately, without trial or investigation!

– Then what?

– For now, we’ll watch.

– For whom?

– Not for whom, but for what. For the construction of the institute! And when it’s built, we’ll just talk to the professor, their chief. We’ll explain everything to him.

– He won’t believe us!

– Then we must be very convincing so he believes!

– Can’t we talk with the leadership, with yours, from Moscow?

– Are you serious? And what will I tell them? That in 1983, green smoke will kill the whole city. And how do I know that? Well, I’m from there… from the future!

– Hmm. You’re right, they’ll fire you immediately.

– They’ll put you in a mental hospital, and then fire you!

– So what should we do then?

– Just watch, Maltsev. Watch and observe! I’ll call my UAZ now and we’ll go take a look at this construction site!

– Ah, Smirnov. How is he, by the way?

– No, Smirnov is at home now, – Orlov smiled, – walking with girls on Arbat. My driver now is… – he thought. – Zaitsev! Yes, Zaitsev! Serious. Even too much. I don’t really like such people.

– Really? – Andrey grinned. – Why is that? Why don’t you like serious people? You, I see, are quite the joker!

Orlov glared at Andrey. He quickly turned away fearfully.

– I am cheerful, – Orlov said sternly, – I just think one should have a reason to be cheerful. And in our life, unfortunately, there are few reasons for cheer. I would even say, none! Only you alone amuse me with your stories about the future! – he smiled.

– Andrey shook his head reproachfully:

– — I won’t waste my nerves on you. Someday you’ll believe me anyway. You’ll end up there and believe!

– Yes, – Orlov smirked, – that’s how it will be! I can’t wait! Okay, comedian, let’s go take a look at the institute.

– I’ll call the duty officer, call for a car.

Some time later

They went outside and, seeing his driver, Orlov smiled broadly and began to extend his hand to him:

– Oooo… Zaitsev, hello, how are you?

He was taken aback, his eyes bulged, and he began to stutter:

– Me… me? Good.

– Long time no see.

– What? But we… saw each other yesterday!

– Yes? Well… Yesterday… Good!

– Maybe we should go already, Comrade Captain, – Andrey intervened, smiling, – we seem to be short on time!

– Yes, yes… Let’s go, Zaitsev.

– Where are we going, Comrade Captain?

– Drive. I’ll show you the way.

The UAZ was driving on asphalt heated by the heat. Orlov stuck his elbow out the open window and, smiling, took deep breaths of the hot summer air. He watched the cars passing by and the people walking. He heard fragments of their conversations and the faint hum of a living city. How he missed all this! He squinted, looking at the sun, and enjoyed the chirping of birds hiding in the shade of dense poplars.

– Comrade Captain, – Andrey said in a whisper, leaning towards the front seat, – please tell me, why were you questioning me about everything if you remembered everything?

– When was that?

– At your home.

– Yes, I just wanted to understand what was happening. Thought maybe I was dreaming, or something else… In short, I was stalling for time. Thinking!

– I see.

– But, when I heard about the future, I immediately understood that you are the real one! – he smiled.

Andrey shook his head:

– The joke is starting to get old. – he muttered discontentedly under his breath.

– Zaitsev, turn here, – Orlov pointed with his hand, – and go straight to the construction site.

You’ll see it, you can’t miss it.

– Yes, exactly, Comrade Captain!

After five minutes, the UAZ stopped not far from the building under construction. Orlov and Andrey slammed the doors and walked with a slow gait towards the gates of the future institute. Noticing them, a stern man in a black leather jacket, unbuttoned, moved towards them.

– A special officer! – Orlov said quietly.

– What makes you think that?

– In a leather jacket, walking in such heat. And a pistol is peeking out from under his arm, see?

Andrey tensed.

– Comrades, – the stern man shouted, – you better go back to where you came from! This is a government secret object! You have no business here!

– Hello, – said Orlov, approaching closer, – I am Captain…

– I know who you are, – the man cut him off, – I’ve seen your photo in your personal file. You’re Orlov.

The local overseer.

– Overseers are in the prison zone, – Orlov answered sternly, – and in this city, I am responsible for the safety of the residents! I came for an inspection!

– An inspection? – the man sneered maliciously. – Have you lost your mind, Captain? You have nothing to inspect here! This is not your jurisdiction! And I don’t see you in uniform. Conducting inspections in civilian clothes?

– I’m on vacation. – answered Orlov.

– Then go and rest peacefully, Captain. Why did you come here? – the man took a step forward.

– I conduct inspections whenever I want! And in any clothes. Even on vacation! – said Orlov and took a step towards him.

– Really? – the man took a step.

– Yes! – Orlov stepped forward.

They were face to face.

– Any questions, Captain? – the man sneered.

– One.

– I’m listening!

– Is the construction going according to plan? Will it be completed in ’83?

– That’s two questions, Captain. But I will answer them. I will be so kind!

Orlov clenched his fists.

– Yes. Everything will be completed exactly according to plan! Don’t even doubt it! Did I answer your questions?! Now take your friend and leave! Otherwise…

– Otherwise, what? – Orlov interrupted him.

The man smirked and spat on the ground:

– Otherwise, it will be bad for you! Dismissed, Captain!

Orlov looked at him intently and seriously, straight in the eyes, and, slowly exhaling his anger, silently turned around and walked quickly to the UAZ.

Andrey hurried after him, hastily moving his feet.

– What was that, Comrade Captain? My heart almost jumped into my heels!

– I don’t like insolent people! – Orlov said nervously.

– Can he harm you in some way?

– He can and he definitely will!

– Specifically what?

– For starters, he’ll write a complaint to Moscow, to his people. Well, they’ll give my leadership a reprimand!

– Can they fire you?

– They can, if we come here again. And we will definitely come! Or rather, I will come. There’s no other way! Watching and observing the object from a distance won’t work! So, I’ll be careful, that’s all!

– Why don’t you want to take me with you? I’m on vacation anyway!

– Maltsev, when I come here next time, your vacation will be over. Or do you think they’ll build the institute in a week?

– Sorry, didn’t think. – Andrey smiled.

They got into the UAZ:

– Zaitsev, let’s go! Take me home and you’re free for today. But first, we’ll drop this gentleman off at home.

– Oh, can we stop by a store first? – Andrey became agitated. – I urgently need to buy milk! If I come home without it, Lyuba will be very displeased!

Orlov smiled and shook his head:

– Maltsev, you are in your usual form!

– What? What are you talking about? – Andrey didn’t understand.

– Nothing! Let’s go, Zaitsev.

Some time later

– Well, that’s it, Maltsev, get out. Final stop! Your house. Don’t forget the milk!

Andrey got out of the UAZ and slammed the door:

– Thank you, Comrade Captain!

– For what?

– For the ride, for being alive! Glad to see you in good health!

– For the ride, thank Zaitsev. He’s at the wheel! And for being alive, it’s not my merit.

– Anyway, thank you!

– You’re welcome, Maltsev! – he smiled.

– Maybe you’ll come to my house? We’ll have tea, talk.

– Next time. Business!

– Well, then, goodbye!

– Good luck!

Orlov followed him with his gaze and, sighing heavily, said:

– Let’s go, Zaitsev. Just don’t speed. The day is wonderful! I want to fully enjoy it!

07:30 July 7, 1980

Apartment of Andrey Maltsev.

The alarm clock on the bedside table rang. And a moment later it was turned off by a quick movement of Andrey’s hand. He lay back in bed and stared at the ceiling. His gaze was anxious and fearful. Andrey quickly looked around the room with his eyes and, sighing heavily, slowly got out of bed and went to the kitchen.

Approaching the tear-off calendar, he began to examine it intently:

– Sixth, tear it off… – he said barely audibly. – A new day has come! – he exhaled with relief.

– He opened the top shelf of the kitchen cabinet and moved everything that was there to the bottom shelf. And into the freed-up space, he neatly placed the just torn-off calendar sheet.

– Then, trying not to wake anyone, he quietly returned to the bedroom and carefully lay down in bed.

– Lyuba stirred, stretched, opened one eye slightly, and asked in a sleepy, hoarse voice:

– Are you already awake? What time is it?

– Almost eight, – Andrey answered, smiling, – did I wake you? Sorry!

– It’s okay, I was about to get up anyway, – she said, yawning, hugged Andrey, and lay her head on his shoulder.

– Lyuba, don’t be surprised, in the kitchen, I moved all the spoons and forks to the bottom shelf. I need the top one for a project!

– For what project?

– I came up with a hobby for myself. I’ll collect sheets from the tear-off calendar!

– Lyuba was surprised:

– Oh… well… okay. A strange hobby, of course. Maybe it’s better for you to collect stamps or ancient coins?

– — No! Sheets from the tear-off calendar! And at the end of the year, or rather at the beginning of the new year, on January first, I’ll throw them away.

– Then what’s the point of the collection?

– The point is to collect all year, and then throw it away at the end! – Andrey said confidently.

– Lyuba raised her eyebrows:

– Yes, dear, you’ve brought a new meaning to the concept of ‘collector’! – she smiled. – Maybe we can still get a little more sleep before the children wake up?

– But as soon as she said this, the children burst into the room with exclamations:

– Mom, dad, we want to be with you! – and jumped into bed with their parents.

– Didn’t make it! – Lyuba said, smiling. – That’s it, children, quickly wash up and to the kitchen. We’ll have breakfast!

Closer to lunch, Andrey called Orlov:

– Comrade Captain, hello!

– Maltsev, is that you?

– Yes!

– Do you work for the KGB?

– No! – Andrey was surprised. – Why do you think that?

– How do you have my home phone number?

– The duty officer told me.

– What? – Orlov choked. – Did the duty officer give you my address too?

– Yes. What’s wrong with that?

– What’s wrong? Maltsev, this is secret information! It can’t be told to just anyone!

– What do you mean, just anyone? He told me! And not to someone there!

– What are you saying? – Orlov got worked up. – Are you an important bird to us, huh?

– Yes. I’m your friend!

– Maltsev… – Orlov exhaled.

– What?

– Nothing! I’ll give everyone in the duty room a reprimand, a severe one!

– Please, don’t! – Andrey became agitated. – The duty officer didn’t want to tell me. I somehow persuaded him! I said I was your friend. Haven’t seen you in a long time. Three years! Theoretically, I didn’t lie. We really last saw each other in 1983, and now…

– Okay, I understand, – Orlov interjected, – what are you calling for, friend?

– I’m calling to say that a new day has come! – Andrey exclaimed joyfully. – Can you imagine? A new day!

Orlov smiled:

– I see and hear. The radio said exactly that: Happy new day to you, comrades!

– I was almost awake all night, – Andrey said with anxiety in his voice, – I was afraid to fall asleep! I kept thinking. It was scary to close my eyes! Only towards morning I passed out for a short while.

– And I, on the contrary, went to bed early. Didn’t even set the alarm, but still woke up at 06:00. Damn it! Habit is a terrible thing! I thought, if I end up in my office again, at least I’ll be well-rested. Just in case, I wrote my address on my palm with a pen. Didn’t need it!

– It’s good that it wasn’t needed, I’m so tired of this madness!

– It’s good for you, – Orlov broke into a smile, – you always woke up at home. And I, not only did I never sleep, but I always ended up at work. Bam… And I’m sitting at the table! Some kind of madhouse!

– But you didn’t need to wash, get dressed, go to work. You were already at work. Very convenient!

They laughed.

When the laughter died down, they both sighed heavily.

– Maltsev, everything is fine. Live an ordinary life. There is still time! Stop thinking about the bad. Better pay attention to your family! It’s summer now. You’re on vacation. Rest!

– Indeed, – Andrey thought, – maybe go to the river? Swim, sunbathe.

– There, there, you’re thinking right!

– That’s what I’ll do, I’ll talk to you now and we’ll go, rest!

– Well done! Keep it up!

– What will you do?

– I have an idea. I’ll tell you later.

– Okay. Then I’ll go, make my family happy. They love active recreation.

– Go, – Orlov smiled, – good luck!

– Goodbye.

Andrey hung up the phone and, after thinking for a couple of seconds, smiled and shouted:

– Children, dear, get ready, we’re going to the river.

– Hooray, we’re going to the river! – the children squealed joyfully and ran out of their room.

Some time later

Andrey sat on the riverbank and, smiling broadly, watched his children frolic happily in the water. Nearby, on a blanket, Lyuba was sunbathing. He raised his head and, squinting, looked at the sun and the large, fluffy clouds that were slowly and serenely floating somewhere beyond the horizon. For the first time in many days, Andrey was happy and calm!

– Everything will be fine! – he thought and, looking at Lyuba, said in a half-whisper. – I love you!

– Lyuba removed her panama from her face and, squinting from the bright sunlight, answered:

– And I love you! It was a good idea with the river, well done! The children are delighted! You’re watching them, by the way?

– I am, – Andrey answered, smiling broadly, – I am!

20:30 July 7, 1980

Apartment of Andrey Maltsev.

The children were sleeping peacefully in the nursery. Lyuba was in the bathroom.

Andrey dialed the number:

– Hello, Comrade Captain, it’s me.

– Why are you whispering?

– The children are already asleep. And if Lyuba hears – there will be problems!

Orlov smiled:

– Were you at the river?

– Yes! It was good, but tiring! We decided to go to bed early. Very tired!

– I see.

– What were you doing?

– Reading! A lot!

– What do you mean?

– I went to the city library and got a bunch of books. I’ve been reading all day!

– Wow. And what books, if it’s not a secret?

– Physics, chemistry, biology. And various magazines on the topic. Interesting articles there! I’m exhausted! My eyes hurt. I’ve never read so much in my life!

– Why were you reading all this?

– I wanted to understand what we’re dealing with?!

– You mean the green smoke?

– About it!

– I see. Did you understand anything?

– Not sure, I need to digest the information! And in general, it’s unlikely that anyone else has encountered this before us. Therefore, tomorrow I will read more. Read and think!

– I see.

– Okay… friend Maltsev, – Orlov smiled, – I’m going to sleep. And you go too. Everyone had a busy day. We need to rest! Tomorrow will be a new day!

– I hope so! – Andrey swallowed convulsively.

– Don’t even doubt it! And when the day X comes, we will be fully armed! We’ll prepare!

– Yeah. I’d like to avoid this day X altogether!

– We’ll live – we’ll see. Maybe we will avoid it. Who knows? Time will tell!

– Okay, I’ll go, – Andrey whispered, – Lyuba will come out of the bathroom now. Good night.

– Until tomorrow! – Orlov smiled.

06:30 July 8, 1980

Apartment of Andrey Maltsev.

Andrey woke up in a cold sweat. Sitting in bed, he very slowly looked around. His breathing was heavy and fast. His heart was pounding in his chest. His head was spinning.

– Andrey, what’s wrong with you? – Lyuba asked, waking up, – dear, are you feeling bad? – she touched his forehead, – you’re cold as ice. What’s wrong with you? Lie down, I’ll bring you some water.

– No need, – Andrey answered. – Everything is fine. I just had a bad dream. A scary one.

– Lie down, I’ll bring some water, you’ll drink.

– Thank you, my love! I’ll do it myself. I’ll go wash up. Sleep. It’s just a dream!

– It’s no trouble for me, I’ll go.

– Everything is fine, sunshine, – he smiled, – I’ll be quick, sleep.

Andrey got out of bed and went to the bathroom.

He washed his face with cold water and, looking in the mirror, said:

– It’s just a dream!

After that, looking around, he went to the phone in the hallway and dialed the number:

– Comrade Captain, hello, it’s Andrey.

– Good morning. Or… judging by your voice and the early call, not so good! Right?

– Right!

– Let me guess, you had a scary dream?

– How do you know? – Andrey was stunned.

– I guessed!

– No, seriously, how?

– I had one too. Like I’m in that institute… Pressing the detonator button. Explosion. Everything to shreds! I feel pain! And then… All over again. Pressing the button, explosion, pain… And so on without end! Again and again! Woke up in a sweat. My whole body aches. Can’t move. Somehow recovered! And what did you dream about? Probably your last minutes of life? How you burned alive in the embrace of the green smoke?

– Yes, – Andrey said in a trembling voice. – What’s happening? Comrade Captain, what is this?

– Maltsev, I was right! We did die after all!

– What? No! Nonsense. No! We are alive. Alive!

– Do you have another explanation for all this?

– I don’t know. Need to think. No thoughts yet.

– Maltsev, both of us dreamed about how we died…

– We are alive! – Andrey interrupted him nervously. – Enough already! It’s just a dream. Just a scary dream!

– You think it’s a coincidence?

– Yes! Exactly. A coincidence! A scary dream and a coincidence. That happens! We experienced horror! Therefore, it’s just a dream!

– Well, I’d like to believe it’s a coincidence. I prefer being alive to being dead, – he smiled. – Yes, I like your version! Although, it’s debatable.

– We are alive! – Andrey repeated confidently.

– Well, alive, so alive, I don’t mind! Besides, my mom is coming soon. I really want to see her, hug her!

– Everything will be fine!

– I hope! – Orlov exhaled anxiously. – Okay, I’ll go make breakfast. And then I’ll continue the epic with reading smart books. Didn’t manage everything yesterday. Need to finish today! And tomorrow I’ll call my leadership in Moscow. I’ll try to carefully find out more about this damned institute.

– Seriously? – Andrey was surprised. – That’s good! Although, they are unlikely to tell you anything.

– I think so too! But, an attempt is not torture, as they say. Okay, Maltsev, I have to go. And don’t stress yourself out. You said it yourself, it’s a coincidence. Therefore, live as you lived! Visit someone, have fun. Spend more time with your family! In short, you’ll figure it out, you’re not a little kid. That’s it, keep in touch. If anything, call.

Andrey slowly put down the phone and thought:

– I won’t ruin my life because of some stupid dream, – he smiled, – I’ll go with my family to Vitya’s. Yes! He’s always glad to see us. I’ll call him after breakfast.

Andrey returned to the bedroom and lay down on the bed.

He lay silently and stared into space.

When Lyuba woke up, he talked to her, and she supported his idea of visiting.

The rest of the day passed for Andrey as if in a fog…

He had a good time, talking with Vitya and his wife Tamara. He talked, joked, hugged Lyuba, and played with the children.

But no matter what he did, he couldn’t distract himself and forget. Before his eyes constantly stood pictures from the night nightmare. The terrible scenes of his death!

He impatiently waited for the night, hoping that the next day would bring relief and deliverance from the tormenting memories. Andrey couldn’t sleep for half the night. As soon as he closed his eyes, the fear came alive again! He terribly wanted to sleep, but fought against it. His fatigue turned out to be stronger than him… Towards morning, Andrey fell asleep.

06:39 July 11, 1980

Apartment of Andrey Maltsev.

– Andrey, Andrey… the phone, – Lyuba, without opening her eyes, pushed him on the shoulder, – Andrey, the phone is ringing throughout the apartment! Go, answer. It will wake the children now!

Andrey didn’t immediately understand what they wanted from him. But, in the end, he got out of bed and, squinting at the light, wandered into the hallway to the phone:

– Hello, – he said, yawning, – who is this?

– Maltsev, it’s me, – a loud voice sounded, – Captain Orlov. Are you already aware? Did you see what happened?

– What? Who is this?

– Maltsev, are you deaf? Or… are you sleeping, or what?

– Well, yes, – Andrey yawned and scratched his back, stretching, – it’s a day off. That is, vacation. I’m on vacation! What, what happened?

– It happened, Maltsev! We jumped over three days! Understand?

Andrey winced:

– To be honest, not really!

– What’s the date now?

– I don’t know. What is it?

– July eleventh. Friday.

– So what?

– Maltsev, wake up! – Orlov shouted. – Yesterday was Tuesday, July eighth. And now it’s already Friday! Eleventh! Nothing suspicious?

– What? – Andrey became alert.

– I repeat once more for those who like to sleep too long. We jumped… stepped over… ugh, I don’t know how to say it correctly! In short, three days passed during this night! Understand?

Andrey was petrified with fear, his heart began to beat wildly in his chest:

– I’ll just… – he put down the phone and walked with quick steps to the kitchen.

He looked at the tear-off calendar on the wall. July 11, Friday. He broke out in a sweat.

His head spun.

– No, no, no, not this! – he repeated again and again, returning back to the hallway. – Comrade Captain, hello.

– Hello, Maltsev, where did you disappear to? Is everything alright?

– No! Everything is bad! Everything is very, very bad! – Andrey cried hysterically. – It’s starting again! Why? What happened?

– Quiet, quiet, – Orlov raised his tone, – pull yourself together! Nothing has started. We need to think. Figure it out!

– Figure out what? We were thrown forward three days. A time jump occurred!

Everything is clear anyway!

– Maltsev, I don’t know what’s clear to you there. But you said it well! Need to remember. Time jump. And I was talking some nonsense! Jumped over, stepped over. Sometimes it happens, you want to say something, but you just can’t find the right, needed words! There’s mush in your head. And a lot can depend on these words! – he sighed heavily.

– Comrade Captain, what are you even talking about? – Andrey began to stutter nervously. – I’m scared! Understand?

– I understand. Me too, Maltsev. But I’m holding myself together! Which I advise you to do too! Get dressed and come outside. Zaitsev is waiting for you there. Remember him? My driver. You’ll get in his UAZ, he’ll bring you to me. Here, in a calm environment, we’ll discuss everything with you. All these time jumps!

– Are you at home now?

– No! In my office! Get dressed faster, don’t waste time in vain. It’s playing against us now!

– Okay. I’m coming out now!

Andrey put down the phone.

A sleepy Lyuba came out of the bedroom:

– What happened? Where are you going out to?

– I urgently need to go to work!

– But you’re on vacation.

– Sanych asked me to come by. I won’t be long. Go lie down, it’s still early. Sleep!

– What, not even breakfast?

– No time! I’ll come back and have breakfast.

– So businesslike, – she smiled, – come on, faster there. If you don’t want to eat cold food!

– Okay, my love, – Andrey smiled back at her and kissed her on the cheek, – I’ll try to be quick. I’ll just wash up and go.

Some time later

– This is some kind of nightmare. Horror! Not only is God knows what happening, but I’m also lying to my own wife! More and more often in the last few days. I don’t like it! – Andrey was indignant, entering Captain Orlov’s office.

– Tell me about it, – Orlov smirked, – problem after problem!

– I’m serious! – Andrey sat down on a chair near the table. – I don’t like to deceive. It’s not accepted in our family!

– You don’t say. Well, tell her the truth! Like, so and so, I’m from the future, in which there is no future. Because green alien smoke killed the whole city!

– Comrade Captain…

– What?

Andrey fell silent and lowered his head:

– Everything is repeating, right? – he asked in a choked voice.

– I don’t know. I hope not. But, time cannot be stopped! Therefore…

The phone ring interrupted him.

– Orlov, listening! – he said sternly.

– Comrade Captain, permission to report, duty officer, Private Sharov.

– Report.

– The freight train that brought the special equipment yesterday is leaving back to Moscow.

– What? What are you talking about? What train?

– The one that brought the special equipment.

– So, Sharov, let’s start from the beginning and in detail. Okay? What train and what other equipment? I don’t understand anything!

– They told me during the shift change that you asked to be informed when they leave. So, I’m informing you!

– Sharov, – Orlov began to get nervous and slightly raised his tone, – I’ve forgotten a bit, can you explain properly, what are you even talking about? Please!

– Okay. Yesterday a freight train arrived and brought special equipment. Dump trucks, graders, excavators, and bulldozers. And it brought workers too.

– Is that so?

– Yes.

– For what?

– They will dig a ditch around the city on this special equipment. That is, they are already digging! As soon as they arrived, they immediately unloaded. And this morning they started work. Well, and the train left back to Moscow.

– I see! – Orlov thought. – Thank you. You’re doing an excellent job. Report all incidents in the city to me immediately!

– Yes, exactly!

– At ease!

Orlov hung up the phone.

– What happened, Comrade Captain? – Andrey asked anxiously.

– I remembered! I remembered when they dug these ditches.

– What ditches?

– In the eightieth year, a freight train brought a lot of special equipment from Moscow. They dug giant ditches around the city day and night, in two shifts. And then another freight train brought large metal pipes. Many pipes! They were so big that a KamAZ truck could easily move through them. And inside these pipes there were magnets, large, black ones. Then another freight train came and another one. In total, there were nineteen trains with such pipes. They were laid in these ditches and welded together. All these pipes, in the end, where do you think they led?

– To the Institute of Nuclear Physics?

– Exactly! There! When did we appear here, alive and well?

– A couple of days ago.

– No, Maltsev. We appeared here when that big crap was brought from Moscow. That accelerator.

– Electromagnetic accelerator of charged particles “Taiga-6”, – Andrey said in one breath.

– Exactly! – Orlov was surprised. – Wow, how accurately you said the name. You remembered it. Well done!

– Thank you. And why did you say that, about our appearance? What’s the connection here?

– I don’t know, Maltsev, but the time jump happened when the special equipment was brought. Understand?

– Not very!

– I don’t quite understand either. It’s just strange! Agree?

– Hmm. – Andrey thought.

– You know, I’ll call Moscow! – Orlov said suddenly and dialed his boss’s number on the phone disk.

– Comrade Colonel, I wish you health! Orlov bothering you.

– Hello, Petya, – a joyful voice sounded, – how are you? What happened? For the evening report, it seems, it’s still early.

– Yes, everything is fine, – Orlov smiled, – just wanted to tell you that the construction of the Institute of Nuclear Physics in Krasnosibirsk is in full swing. They brought special equipment with workers yesterday. They started work this morning. They are digging a ditch around the city.

– What ditch? – the colonel was surprised. – What are you talking about?

– Well, a ditch. Then they will lay pipes there, big ones, with magnets.

– Listen, Petya, to be honest, I’m not very interested in this! The government of our country and the KGB are overseeing this construction. I don’t interfere there. And you don’t interfere! Do your job. Guard the city from all kinds of enemies. Understood?

– Yes, exactly, Comrade Colonel, understood. But I am just doing my job! Trying to protect the city and its residents.

– From whom?

– Hard to say…

– Orlov, are you in your right mind? If the city is in danger, speak directly! And if you have nothing to say, then don’t talk nonsense! Do you have anything to say?

Orlov began to breathe heavily, his forehead covered with sweat.

– Are you going to talk or breathe into the phone?

– Comrade Colonel, – he raised his tone, – this institute is a threat to the city…

– I told you, don’t interfere there, – the colonel didn’t let him finish, – forget about it! Understood? Do you understand me?

– It’s very strange…

– I don’t want to hear anything!

– Vladislav Semyonovich, listen to me…

– I’m telling you, I don’t want to hear anything more about this institute! – the colonel interrupted with his shout. – Why did you call me? To fray my nerves? Petya, I’ve known you for many years. You are a reliable, responsible person. Therefore, I’m saying it nicely, Comrade Captain, do your job! And about this institute. Forget it!

Long beeps sounded in the receiver.

– The law of paired cases. – Orlov said quietly, looking into nowhere. And slowly hung up the phone on the hook.

– What? – Andrey asked perplexedly.

– I read yesterday in a physics magazine. Some scientist there described the law of paired cases. He claimed that sometimes it happens that the same event can happen again!

– I don’t understand you. – Andrey said frightened.

– Maltsev, we need to prepare for the events that you and I have already experienced once. The institute will be built in any case. We can’t interfere with this in any way! My leadership definitely won’t help us!

– No! Not this! Can’t anything be done?

– We’ll improvise! We already killed this green creature once. We’ll kill it again!

– If it’s repeating again, it means we didn’t kill it!

– Doesn’t matter. This time we’ll definitely kill it! Don’t worry!

– I don’t want to! No, no, no… – Andrey panicked and began to choke.

– Maltsev, Maltsev, – Orlov shouted, – calm down! Get a grip! If we don’t stop this crap, everyone will die! Understand?

Andrey broke into a cold sweat, and his hands trembled:

– I… I… I’m afraid…

– I’m afraid too, Maltsev. It’s just that, there’s no one else! Understand? No one will help us. We must stop it! Let everything go as it goes. Let this green smoke think it has won! Let it come. Let it! And we will be waiting for it. And preparing for its arrival! We will act according to the circumstances. We can. We have no other way!

Without saying a word, Andrey looked at the floor. And after a minute of thought, clenching his fists tightly, he silently nodded.

– That’s good, – Orlov smiled slightly, – live as you lived and rejoice every minute! Zaitsev will take you home. Tomorrow, we’ll call each other.

Andrey got up from the chair and slowly went to the door.

– Maltsev, – Orlov said after him, – we will cope!

Without turning around, Andrey nodded once more and went out the door.

He spent the whole day in thought and reflection. Late in the evening, kissing the children goodnight, he wished them sweet dreams. And at night, hugging his wife, he closed his eyes and, in order to fall asleep, recalled the happy and peaceful days spent with his family.

06:30 August 22, 1980

Apartment of Andrey Maltsev.

– Andrey, get up, we’re leaving! – Lyuba shouted to her husband, closing the front door behind her.

Andrey abruptly opened his eyes and shouted:

– Stop, stop, stop! – he jumped off the bed and ran to the exit. – Wait, where are you going?

– To work, – answered Lyuba.

– And the children?

– The children are with me. There’s no one to sit with them. You need to go to work too.

– What’s the date today? – he asked with bated breath.

– August 22.

Andrey froze in place.

– What’s wrong with you, dear, you’ve turned all pale! – Lyuba stroked his cheek. – Are you feeling bad?

– No! – Andrey quickly answered. – Everything is fine!

With a silly smile on his lips, he kissed the children on the tops of their heads and Lyuba on the cheek.

– Until evening, – he said, continuing to smile, and slowly closed the door behind them.

Then with large steps he proceeded to the kitchen and looked at the tear-off calendar.

After which he scurried into the hallway and dialed Captain Orlov’s home number.

There were long beeps in the receiver.

Immediately he dialed his work number:

– Orlov, listening.

– Comrade Captain, it’s, Andrey, – he said loudly, breathless with excitement.

– Maltsev, hello.

– Do you already know?

– What’s the date today?

– Yes.

– I know. The vacation passed so quickly, didn’t even have time to notice! – Orlov chuckled.

– Comrade Captain, six weeks have passed. Six! In one night!

– Yes. Time flies nowadays, can’t keep up!

– You are so calm.

– Maltsev, when day X comes and this green freak appears, be sure, I will meet him as expected! This time I will not follow the rules and regulations. For the sake of saving the city’s residents, I will do anything! I have the keys to the warehouse, and there are so many ammunition there… I can blow up this creature every day if needed! There are tanks in the bays. If necessary, I will use one of them. This smoke feeds on fear. And I, I’m tired of being afraid! Now it’s his turn! Don’t let it intimidate you. We are stronger than it! This time we will definitely kill it! Maltsev, for the sake of your family, for their salvation, you burned alive in this electric smoke. Experiencing terrible pain, you did not give up! You went to the end. You are a hero, Maltsev! I tell you exactly. And heroes are not afraid, understood?

– Understood, – answered Andrey. – So, what will we do?

– Today, we will work. Perform our daily duties. And tomorrow, we’ll see.

– Just work and that’s it? As if nothing is happening? – Andrey was surprised.

– And nothing is happening. So what, six weeks passed. Tomorrow, maybe a whole year will pass!

– What do you mean a year?

– So what? Anything is possible. I won’t be surprised by anything. Maltsev, everything is fine. We will cope!

– Well… – Andrey thought. – I’m also pretty tired of being afraid of it. You could go crazy like this!

– That’s what I’m talking about! – Orlov smiled. – Go to work, or you’ll be late.

– It’s still early for me. Besides, I haven’t had breakfast.

– Well, then bon appétit.

– Thank you.

– That’s it, Maltsev, don’t distract me from work. I’ll call if I need you.

– Okay, goodbye.

– Andrey put the receiver on the hook and thought for a couple of seconds. Then, smiling slightly, went to make himself breakfast.

19:36 August 22, 1980

Apartment of Andrey Maltsev.

– Lyuba, you surpassed yourself today, the rassolnik is just a masterpiece! – admiring, chewed Andrey.

– Glad I pleased you, – Lyuba smiled. – How was your day?

– Haven’t done physical work for a long time, it’s a bit hard out of habit.

– What do you mean, haven’t worked for a long time? The vacation ended three weeks ago! Strange… – Lyuba was surprised. – Probably, the muscles are not yet accustomed to the load. It happens, don’t worry. Over time, everything will be as before. – she stroked his shoulder.

Andrey looked at Lyuba and broke into an awkward smile:

– Yes, you’re right, dear. Well, – he abruptly began to gather, – thank you very much for the soup! I finished, let’s go to sleep?!

– Let’s go. I’ll just wash the dishes.

– No need. I’ll wash everything tomorrow morning! Let’s go.

Lyuba smiled and hugged him:

– Thank you, dear. You are so good to me! – kissed him on the lips.

When Lyuba fell asleep, Andrey lay for a long time and looked at the ceiling. He recalled the words of Captain Orlov, which he said to him this morning on the phone. These words instilled confidence in his heart and gave him strength. He smiled and, hugging Lyuba, fell fast asleep.

Captain Orlov, on the contrary, was not going to sleep at all tonight. He felt that something should happen… Until three in the morning he read books. And then, he went out onto the balcony and, taking deep breaths, enjoyed the fresh and cool summer air. Suddenly everything around froze.

The tree branches stopped swaying from gusts of wind, the birds fell silent, the clouds in the sky froze in place and stopped floating…

An oppressive dead silence pressed on the ears and caused a feeling of fear.

Orlov began to look around and tried to understand what was happening. Suddenly everything came to life at once and began to move at an incredible speed. In a matter of seconds, the sun rose and night immediately fell. Orlov watched everything happening and could not believe his eyes. Days flew by in an instant! The leaves of the trees turned yellow and fell down. Winter came. But the snow melted after a minute. Young green leaves appeared on the trees again. Fragrant grass quickly began to fill the gray lawns with its greenery. For a fraction of a second, everything froze again… but then time went on as usual. Orlov quickly glanced around and walked with quick steps to the kitchen. Turned on the radio:

– Good morning, comrades! – a cheerful female voice sounded. – Moscow time, six o’clock in the morning. May 22, 1981. Meet the new day with a smile and good mood! Get ready to perform gymnastic exercises…

06:00 May 22, 1981

Apartment of Captain of the Border Troops of the KGB of the USSR Pyotr Orlov.

Orlov clenched his teeth and went back to the balcony.

Slowly and concentratedly, he began to examine everything around.

In the house opposite, a man was doing exercises on the balcony. He lifted heavy weights and squinted from the bright rays of the sun with a smile on his face. In the yard, a young woman was walking her dog. She constantly yawned and rubbed her eyes with her hands. A janitor was sweeping the sidewalk and muttering something under his breath.

The city was slowly waking up.

Orlov smirked and silently, with an impassive expression on his face, went to the kitchen to make himself breakfast.

08:00 May 22, 1981

Apartment of Andrey Maltsev.

– Andrey, get up, we’re leaving! – Lyuba shouted to her husband, closing the front door behind her.

Slowly, he, stretching, yawned and slowly got out of bed. With a lazy gait, he went into the kitchen and looked at the tear-off calendar on the wall.

– What? – he shouted sharply. His heart began to beat wildly.

The doorbell rang.

Startled, Andrey flinched. Went to the hallway.

– Comrade Captain, you? – Andrey was surprised, opening the door.

– Me, – Orlov said calmly. – Can I come in?

– Yes, of course, come in, – Andrey stepped aside.

Orlov entered the apartment.

– Something happened? – Andrey asked, closing the door.

– And you are not aware?

– About what? Ah… – he remembered frightened. – I was about to call you, but you came yourself.

– I came! And I have a talk for you.

– Yes, I’m listening.

– Maltsev, as I said yesterday… – Orlov smirked. – Time is going faster and faster! This creature is mocking us! Understand? – he clenched his fists tightly and gritted his teeth in anger. – I really look forward to meeting him! I will do everything to make sure he dies this time!

– I also look forward to meeting him! – Andrey said confidently.

Orlov smiled:

– That’s the attitude I like! Well done! Due to the fact that time is accelerating, it is quite possible that already tomorrow… day X will come!

– You think?

– Anything is possible! By the way, the dormitory for scientists on the territory of the institute has already been built. And they were brought from Moscow tonight.

– And again, a time jump occurred?

– Yes! I have a plan!

– What? – Andrey became interested.

– I will carefully sneak onto the territory of the institute and talk with the professor, who is their chief there.

– I’m with you! – Andrey blurted out.

– Don’t even think about it! – Orlov objected. – It’s dangerous! I have a special task for you.

– — What?

– Here are three rubles, go buy notebooks and markers.

– What for?

– Listen to the end. Don’t interrupt!

– Sorry!

– So. You will buy notebooks and markers. You will tear sheets out of the notebooks and on each of them write this text with a red marker. – Orlov handed him a folded piece of paper.

Andrey took it in his hands and, unfolding it, read:

– Dear scientists. The electromagnetic accelerator is deadly dangerous! Because of it, the residents of this city may die. And you included! I appeal to your reason, stop the launch! Save innocent people from inevitable death!

– Wow… – Andrey exhaled admiringly. – Strong!

– Will you make leaflets? Can you?

– Yes! Of course I can. What are the deadlines? When will they be needed?

– By twelve o’clock at night! I will come for them.

– Okay. I’ll do it!

– Hm, strange! You’re not even going to say anything about your wife?

– What do you mean?

– Well, that twelve o’clock at night is late… the wife will scold!

Andrey smiled and shook his head:

– No, I won’t say that. Everything is fine, I’ll manage!

– Good, – Orlov smiled back at him. – Okay, Maltsev, I have to go!

– How will you get there? – Andrey suddenly asked.

– Where?

– To the institute.

– Why do you need to know that?

– Interesting.

Orlov smiled:

– Well listen, if you’re interested. There are guard towers at the corners of this institute. Two at the main entrance – there are Muscovites there, and the back two – there are my soldiers there. They kindly entrusted us to guard their rear! They say, the enemy won’t pass there, the taiga is deaf and all that… The enemy won’t pass, but I will! I’ll go around the entire territory of the institute and they’ll throw down a ladder from our tower. I’ll quickly climb over the fence. Well, and then depending on the circumstances. If I still can’t talk to the professor, then your leaflets will come in handy. I’ll scatter them near the scientists’ dormitory. They’ll come out, read them! So, you understand, these leaflets are very much needed! Don’t let me down, Maltsev! Do everything on time. Exactly at twelve at night I will come for them.

– I won’t let you down, Comrade Captain, be sure!

– Good, then let’s do this, so as not to wake up your family with doorbell rings, just look out the window more often. When you see my UAZ, take the leaflets and come out! You’ll give them to me and go to sleep. Deal?

– Yes! Okay.

– Well, then see you later, – Orlov said on the go and left the apartment.

– See you later, – Andrey answered and closed the front door.

– He took a couple of steps towards the kitchen when he suddenly felt a sharp dizziness.

– His heart tightened in his chest. It became difficult to breathe. Andrey fell to the floor, losing consciousness.

Orlov came out of the entrance and walked with quick, confident steps to his UAZ:

– Zaitsev, start it, – he commanded. – Let’s go… – but, without finishing, felt a sharp pain in his chest. His vision became cloudy. A drop of blood slowly flowed from his nose. Orlov stopped, grabbed his heart with his hand, staggered slightly, and collapsed unconscious to the ground.

He opened his eyes. Everything is fine, he is at home.

Lying, covered with a light blanket, on his favorite sofa. He is wearing a light blue shirt and black trousers.

– What was that? – he thought. – Did I faint? Who changed my clothes? Maltsev, or what? Or Zaitsev? Why?

The phone in the hallway rang:

– Definitely Maltsev, – he smiled. – Calling to ask how I feel.

Someone picked up the phone receiver:

Orlov tensed.

– Hello, – a pleasant female voice said. – Is it you again? What do you need? Leave me alone…

Orlov was taken aback. He recognized this voice! He was thrown into a fever, then into a cold.

– Why are you doing this, why? – the woman cried. – Don’t touch my parents. Do you hear? Leave us alone! I will do it, do you hear? Just don’t touch anyone, please! That’s it, I’m leaving him. Really, I’m leaving. Yes. Exactly! Okay, I’ll write. I’ll do everything. I’ll write, I won’t forget!

She put the receiver on the hook. And all in tears, she entered the hall, where a shocked Orlov was lying on the sofa. She passed by him and went to the table. On a piece of paper, with a trembling hand and choking with tears, she began to write a farewell letter:

– Don’t look for me! Forget me! We are breaking up! Goodbye!

– Yulia… – Orlov said barely audibly. – Is that you? You’re alive?

But the woman did not hear him. Having finished the letter, she hastily threw her things into an old brown suitcase and quickly went to the exit.

– Yulia, what’s happening? – Orlov said already loudly. – Can you hear me? Where are you going?

She silently went out the door, wiping tears with her hand that flowed incessantly from her eyes.

– Yulia! – Orlov shouted.

He jumped off the sofa and, quickly putting on his shoes, flew out of the apartment.

Running out of the entrance, he noticed how her back disappeared around the corner of the house. He rushed after her headlong, shouting on the run:

– Yulia! Stop! Wait!

Running around the house, Orlov saw her already approaching the pedestrian crossing. He rushed to her. The green light came on, and she, wiping tears with her hand, began to cross the road. Out of nowhere, a truck appeared and hit her at full speed. Without stopping, it disappeared around the nearest turn.

– Yulia! – Orlov shouted with all his might. – No!

Bystanders began to gather around the woman lying on the road.

Orlov ran to her, but suddenly crashed into something… and, falling to the ground, began to convulse. He got up and tried to approach again, but a sharp electric screech stopped him.

– Aah… it’s you, green freak! – said, gritting his teeth, smirking, Orlov. – Decided to show me how my beloved woman died? Thank you! Did me a favor. I was just at work at that moment. Didn’t see it. Very kind of you, creature! Only… why? Why did you show me this? Huh? What do you want? What do you need? – Orlov shouted furiously and ran to the road where Yulia was lying.

A bright blinding flash and crack…

Orlov fell on his back into the snow.

He quickly got to his feet, brushed himself off, and began to convulsively look around. He was surrounded by old four-story houses made of life-worn red bricks. Late evening. Silence. Not a soul. Only snow all around and a piercing cold wind. Orlov began to shiver and his teeth chattered from the cold. He wrapped his arms around himself, trying to warm up, and, looking around, squinted and peered at everything that surrounded him.

– What? – he was surprised. – I remember this yard. We lived in this house with my mom when I was little. It can’t be! I’m in Moscow?

A little boy of about seven suddenly ran into the yard from the arch. He was very frightened. Five teenagers were running after him and shouting for him to stop. When they finally caught up with him, they beat him severely. And, snatching something from his coat, they immediately ran away joyfully.

Icy chills ran down Orlov’s spine.

He recognized that boy…

It was him!

On that ill-fated evening, a neighbor asked him to go to her acquaintance and pick up medicine for her sick daughter. She was almost dying, and only this drug could save her. This acquaintance lived on the next street and had access to then scarce medicines. And when he was already returning home, local thugs followed him. They saw that he was hiding something in the inner pocket of his coat. And they decided to get this something at any cost.

That evening, the little boy Petya did not bring the neighbor the long-awaited medicine. And the next evening her daughter died. She blamed him for her death! A terrible persecution began! Over time, all the neighbors joined this persecution. Because of this, he and his mother had to leave for the Moscow region to his aunt.

The little boy stood up, wiped his bloody nose with his hand, and, brushing off the snow, limping, went home.

Orlov silently followed him with his gaze.

And when he entered the entrance, after a couple of minutes, angry shouts of the neighbor were heard.

– I’m not guilty of anything! – Orlov shouted into nowhere. – There were five of them! What do you want? You want to make me feel ashamed? For what?

– I didn’t do anything! What do you need? Damn freak, – he took a couple of steps forward.

– A bright blinding flash and crack…

Andrey slowly opened his eyes. Everything was as if in a fog. Looking around, he saw bare, shabby, pale blue walls of a large barracks bedroom. Which were abundantly furnished with metal bunks. On one of which he lay in an old, gray pajama with patches on the side. Andrey stood barefoot on the floor and tried to understand where he was.

Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

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