"Farewell, Mobi Dik, farewell to a new meeting! It is good that you not a white cachalot. To me still long-long to search for
you on all oceans of my Planet, to search both again and again to kill you. Over a rough wave and in eternally quiet depths
to catch in perekrestie a sight your fat nape.
And now I am a little tired, though to me very much and very well. Now I will return to myself on base, I will put to "Pigeon"
in a hangar and, saying goodbye, on custom to its kiss in a wet window: "Thanks, the friend". And all will be as usually, only
now on the basis of me wait ".
2. CANDLES IN FRONT OF the PANEL At midnight the rain has gone. On highway became skolzko, and Zvantsev has
reduced speed. It was unusually dark and uncomfortable, the glow of city fires has left for black hills, and it seemed to
Zvantsevu that the car goes through desert. Ahead on rough wet concrete this world of headlights danced. Counter cars
was not. Last counter car Zvantsev saw before has curtailed on highway to institute. In kilometre from turn there was a
settlement, and Zvantseva has surprised that, despite the late hour, almost all windows are shined, and on a verandah of the
big cafe at road of full people. Zvantsevu it seemed that they are silent also something wait.
Akiko has looked back.
- All of them look to us following, - she has told.
Zvantsev has not answered.
- Probably, they think that we doctors.
- Probably, - Zvantsev has told.
It was last shined settlement which they saw. Behind turn wet darkness has begun.
- Somewhere here there should be a factory of household appliances, - Zvantsev has told.
- You have not noticed? - Is not present.
- Never you notice nothing! - at the wheel - you. Start up me for a wheel, I will notice all.
- Well is not present, - Zvantsev has told.
It has sharply braked, and the car has brought. It sideways has crept on the screamed concrete. Headlights have shined a
signpost. Signal lights was not, the inscription on the index seemed faded: "Novosibirsk Institute of Biological Coding - 21
km". Under the index the warped plywood board with a clumsy inscription has been beaten: "Attention! To include all
neutralizers! To reduce speed! Ahead an outpost!" And the same on Chinese and English. Letters were big, with black
potekami.
- Ogo! - Zvantsev has murmured, has got under a wheel and has included neutralizers.
- What outpost? - Has asked Akiko.