Аннотация: The Short Story about the North African diary by Vanya Zhukov
The Short Story about the North African diary by Vanya Zhukov
Vanya Zhukov vigorously bypassed all credit institutions, where he had previously made loans in the course of obtaining the title of modern Russian writer, and repaid all debts.
Strange appeared at him a feeling. As if in the course of payment of debts the famous diplomat watched him from somewhere. "What for illusion at me appears?" - Vanya thought.
Vanya felt pockets. In them still there were many banknotes. "There is enough money to publish at own expense the book about the Latin American republic", - Vanya ambitiously thought and went to the airport to receive the manuscript.
Really, the manuscript already arrived. Vanya received it in administration of the airport and went along one of corridors. From round the corner suddenly there was a vigorous suntanned person in civil clothes, but sewed from camouflage fabric.
He enthusiastically welcomed Vanya. Even slightly embraced. It seemed to Vanya that the vigorous person imperceptibly felt Vanya's pockets. "I overtired. Again an illusion arises", - Vanya assumed.
Meanwhile the suntanned person explained to Vanya:
- "Now books about the Latin American republic enjoy enormous popularity. Your books will appear in the list of bests!".
- 'I am going to publish!' - Vanya with pleasure held the manuscript in hand.
- 'Excellent thought! You have to approve yourself at a position of a modern Russian writer!' - the suntanned person insisted.
In the course of the conversation they came to the flight field and appeared near plane.
- 'In General, we fly to North Africa!' - the suntanned person solved both for himself, and for Vanya. - 'Your social status will only benefit if you add a publication about North Africa up to your books about the Latin American republic.'
Vanya could not resist such prospect. He came into the plane. The suntanned person settled all formalities. The plane took off and headed for North Africa.
Vanya decided to keep detailed records of the trip. The suntanned person kindly gave him a writing pad which can be bought in small shops of Soyuzpechat and ballpoint pen for three rubles (are on sale in supermarkets).
On the first page of the writing pad Vanya with pleasure made an inscription: "Vanya Zhukov. The North African diary".
Looked not bad.
The visit was very dynamic. It turned out that in North Africa there are both Field Marshals, and Prime Ministers.
Vanya was lucky to see a column of cars. It seemed that in one of the cars he discerned the UN Secretary-General.
"Heinrich Schliemann, it seems, has been to North Africa..." "Anton Pavlovich, it seems, from Sakhalin through the Suez Canal was returning..." - for some reason a memories were coming.
Personally to communicate to the Field Marshal it did not turn out, but Vanya visited something like the press center. In this division the brought-up young officers in a beautiful form explained the prospects of economic development.
Those visitors who listened attentively, they were taken out into the fresh air and showed oil rigs. Then they were returning back. The curtains were pulling back. The closed chiffonier with a thick glass was showing. On the shelves of the chiffonier were huge loafs from yellow metal - probably, gold ingots lay. Everything was clear and evident.
Further they were showing a forms of a certificates. These papers were inscribed in unfamiliar letters. But but the figures there were Arabic: 500. And all-known badge "%%".
Vanya could not resist. He took out several banknotes received from the generous Latin American señor and in exchange received the certificate. He carefully folded the document and put it in his shirt pocket. Since it was very hot, had to wear a jacket in his hands.
Gradually the writing pad was filled with records.
A visit to the government was very interesting. The government consisted of the European educated people. Vanya was already able to read a little in English. He understood that the texts of conventions, charters and declarations weighed on the walls.
"All about human rights and democracy," - explained the government official.
Vanya carefully and respectfully looked at the documents.
- 'Is there the Lithuanian Statute?' - Vanya decided to demonstrate his own erudition. He once read about the Lithuanian Statute in the encyclopedia.
But it was not succeeded to got the staff of the government into scrape. They handed to Vanya beautiful the booklet brochure with touching photos. In English and in Russian on the title page was wrote: "Save the Far East orcas and white whales!"
It was necessary to cease to ask questions, to thank for the brochure and to go for sightseeing.
Sights, per se, were not. The desert is a desert. And the city was not in the best state. There was a wish to look at the sea coast, but driving on camels took a lot of time.
Camels did not really want the Vanya's riding, but he nevertheless insisted on the and proudly rode a camel on the barkhans.
When he got off the camel and turned to shake off the sand, a wet ball of foam flew to him and fell on his sleeve.
Vanya suspiciously looked at a camel, but the camel turned away the head.
Had to silently wipe spit and not to be offended on a camel.
There was a cheerful tanned man in civilian clothes, but sewn from camouflage fabric, and said that the political situation was heated, more flights will not. However, one of the possibilities they can try to use.
They rushed off on airfield. Indeed, there was a plane on the take-off field. But it was not so simple to approach it. It was necessary to pass through check-point. The suntanned person showed documents and freely passed through a post.
Vanya had with himself the manuscript of two books about the Latin American republic, the North African diary (filled with detailed observations and descriptions), the book about the Latin American republic bought on money of the generous Latin American señor, the certificate with "500%%", the booklet with photos of the Far East killer whales and white whales and still a quantity of money in different currencies. Documents were not. The suntanned person successfully solved all formalities at the time of a departure to North Africa. And at the time of departure back something stalled.
Employees on control at once returned the certificate with "500%%" to Vanya, and carried away all the rest to the neighboring room, probably, for survey. They carried away also a jacket. But Vanya put the certificate in a breast pocket of a shirt.
Suddenly one of employees left the neighboring room. He in hands had a booklet with photos of the Far East killer whales and white whales. The employee asked Vanya about something. Vanya did not understand a question and answered in Russian: "It is my booklet". Then he explained in English: "Freedom for marine animals!".
The employee briskly started talking unclear language. From the next room there was one more of employees. Employees of control put Vanya in the car. The car rushed off on the road.
After a while Vanya saw the sea. He wanted to see the sea. His dream came true. But all happened very suddenly. Not far from the shore was a ship. It was posted some banners with major inscriptions. It seems to be seen the word "Freedom".
Employees brought Vanya up to the inflatable boat filled with people, put him in the boat and pushed the boat away from the coast. One of employees removed from a shoulder the automatic machine and for persuasiveness fired a volley in air.
The boat headed for the ship. For a short time of presence in the boat, the beautiful shoes bought according to the instruction of the generous Latin American señor went off from Vanya. In exchange were issued a beach rubber slippers. However, Vanya discovered the booklet in his hand.
By the ship friendly people examined both Vanya, and the booklet. Vanya took the quite good place in one of cabins.
The ship started motors and went. In several hours friendly people transferred Vanya to the person in a beautiful military uniform, apparently, the European type. Transferred to the same person also the brochure about the Far East killer whales and white whales with texts in the Russian and English languages. The person in the uniform quickly read the brochure and for some reason pursed lips.
The person fixedly looked to Vanya in the face and, without tearing off a look, asked in Russian (with accent):
- 'When will orcas and white whales be released?'
- 'Soon,' - Vanya answered.
The person in the uniform with relief sighed. He filled out some forms and transferred Vanya to other people in uniform. From this point Vanya had again a strange feeling as if the great diplomat from where looks at him.
People in uniform read the illustrated brochure with interest. The booklet didn't come back to Vanya.
There were two employees of embassy. Vanya was put in the plane. On the plane it was succeeded to drink mineral water and to eat something.
After the airport and a trip to the subway Vanya came out to a surface and went on the city street, reflecting on the taken place events.
In Soyuzpechat's booth there was a book under the attractive name "The North African Chronicles of the Political Traveller". Money for its purchase was not. In a pocket of a shirt only the certificate with "500%%" lay.
"Until recently I had money, a suit and a quite good footwear" - Vanya philosophically thought. In beach slippers around the city it was not really convenient to go. However... people are walking...
The famous diplomat was walking towards Vanya.
He kindly invited Vanya in restaurant, ordered and at once paid two cups of coffee.
- "It is good that we met. Your talents need application. You, I heard, visited North Africa. But there is a small debt on you. You if does not change me memory, not at once paid me for my intermediary efforts on the finding for you the profitable occupation. Let and small, but percent were counted, additionaly..."
The diplomat kind of for form's sake asked a question:
- 'Money is?'
Vanya negatively waved with the head.
A mood of the diplomat, seems, as if has improved a little.
Nearby just there passed the waiter. Vanya decided to catch a favorable moment and asked the waiter:
- 'Is it possible to have some bread?'
The waiter brought a plate with several pieces of bread.
- 'You will repay the debt completely, will develop your talent and will gain additional literary experience. Besides, there can be new monetary foreign visitors to whom I can to recommend you,' - the diplomat continued meanwhile.
Vanya with interest looked at the diplomat.
- "I open for you a new opportunities. Simultaneously (in parallel) with the ten other people involved in literature, you will prepare texts of publications about current events in North Africa. I cannot guarantee that your text will be used. Everything depends about timeliness of its preparation and on its quality. But, anyway, I will support you in an issue of recovery of your certificate of the member of literary association."
- "Thanks," - Vanya said, biting off and chewing bread pieces.
- "Goodbye. I'm in a hurry." - The diplomat stood up suddenly and quickly left the restaurant.
- "I ask you to pay for bread," - the waiter addressed Vanya.
Vanya looked at the waiter in confusion.
- "Your companion paid only for the coffee," - the waiter explained.
- "And what to do?" - Vania said in confusion, showing with all his appearance that he had no money. 'That's how things turned out...'
The waiter looked at a plate with bread crumbs. He sighed.
- "Go to the utility room, carry out the garbage bags to the dumpster. After that - you is free."
In process of delivering a bag with garbage to the dumpster, Vanya reflected on the great diplomat:
"He keeps his brain on the pulse of events!" "A series of a sharp publications about North Africa! It needs much in the current situation!" 'He may find a rich señor to help me to improve my financial situation." "A great man!"
5 April 2019 22:03
Translation from Russian into English: April 6, 2019 12:33.
Владимир Владимирович Залесский 'Рассказ о северо-африканском дневнике Вани Жукова'.