– Arthur… you didn’t tell me that we…
– Sorry, Anna, but we have no other choice. Didn’t mean to drag you into this…
– But you pulled it in! – the girl, on the verge of hysteria, retreated to the wall. The professor, looking reproachfully at the indifferent Arthur, approached her, holding out a glass of water.
– Anna… Alas, sometimes we have to accept the challenges of fate against our will.
– But my family, my friends… How can I leave them here? They’ll go crazy if I disappear!
– Believe me, I understand your despair, but think… Your alibi – going missing while carrying out a dangerous mission of the institute – is much safer for those around you than your arrest. For everyone else, you will go on a reconnaissance expedition, the purpose of which will be to protect the ecology of this region. The fact is that quite recently the Council decided to build an atomic energy plant in the upper reaches of the Vilyui River…
Arthur nodded.
– Thank you, professor. I knew you could be trusted…
Chapter 4 Death Valley
The news had the effect of an exploding bomb. The members of the future expedition were completely delighted. It’s necessary – to go hiking along the taiga paths and see in reality the confirmation of ancient Yakut legends. And the meeting with the mysterious Atlantes and, perhaps, passing through the famous Stargate (everyone remembered how many adventures had to share SG1 – the team from the famous television series of the same name!), spurred on no worse than red-hot iron. True, some were embarrassed by the need to lose the Chips, but the craving for adventure overcame. In addition, outside of Chip’s control and without the use of an antidote, the world around began to sparkle with hitherto unseen colors… So many unknown emotions, such a range of colors and sensations, many of which still needed to be understood! And Stas, as the best engineer of the team, immediately got into the system and projected portable computers,
As promised, the professor spoke with his acquaintances and a week later Alex had the opportunity to introduce the well-known scientist to everyone – Dmitry Ushakov, professor at the Archaeological Institute of the Russian Federation, who replaced Professor Karpatov. Together they began to prepare for a grand journey. Since the institute could not sponsor their trip (it was impossible to make public the true reason for the campaign), and the funds allocated by Valery Stepanovich were clearly not enough, they had to rely only on their own strength. But, fortunately, the collected funds were enough not only to stock up on provisions and uniforms, but even a small amount remained for extreme expenses. The team consisted of six people: Denis Zudin, a specialist in nuclear energy, Alla Wels, Doctor of Biochemical Sciences, Stas Shevchenko, researcher and technician, scientist, Well, respectively, Anna and Arthur himself. The meeting was scheduled for seven o’clock in the morning on September 1. So that no one at the institute would find out about the impending enterprise, all the participants pretended that nothing was happening. But still, many the day before could not hide their excitement. Even Denis absent-mindedly examined the structure of basalt instead of pumice through a laser microscope for three hours, not understanding why the rock had changed so much…
Finally, the long-awaited day has come. Getting up early in the morning, the expedition members, having loaded heavy equipment, equipment and all the necessary things, including food into cars, stopped by Arthur, who was planned to have breakfast, and only then set off.
– So, Arthur, – Stas put a glass of coffee on the table and looked at him. – What are our plans?
– Yesterday I reviewed our itinerary again. Airplanes and a light train do not suit us in any way, since, having appeared in society, our group can raise many unnecessary questions. And we have absolutely no need to attract the attention of the Watch and the Guard. So, the plan is as follows: we leave Moscow, then we will pass cities such as Novgorod, Kazan, Ufa, Chelyabinsk, Omsk, Novosibirsk, then through Ust-Kut, Tynda and Aldan we will get to Yakutsk. From Yakutsk we will go to Vilyuisk, and from there we will move along the mouth of the river to the Valley of the Boilers. If you’re lucky, we’ll get helicopters.
Stas interrupted him.
– Helicopters? Who in their right mind would agree to give us a helicopter? If the owners find out exactly where we are going to fly, you know what will happen…
– Come on… For the money they will take you wherever you want.
– Not really. Remember what the professor was talking about – this area is little studied, and during the flight, the navigation system often starts to fail and the engines fail. What sane person would do such a thing?
“Well, then, we should only hope for the power of our machines and the strength of our legs. I must warn you – the road has long been abandoned, which means we will have to move through difficult terrain – this is the taiga, and it means swamps, mari and swamps…
– But it’s wonderful. Just imagine how many new things we learn! – Alla Wels exchanged glances with Anna. True, the girl did not tell her the true reason for their trip, but nevertheless over the past week they found a lot in common and managed to make friends.
– Then let’s go! By cars!
It seemed that nature itself favored their undertakings. The weather was wonderful, the sun was shining brightly. Having got out of the city, we drove onto a superhighway, and without incident, reached Yakutsk for three and a half weeks. But there we had to make a short stop due to heavy rains, and then we could easily get to Vilyuysk. However, upon arrival there unexpectedly new difficulties arose. None of the locals agreed to show the way or be hired as a guide. And it was worth mentioning the mysterious valley, as if their interlocutor was blown away by the wind. As it turned out later, the reason for this was not swamps or impenetrable forests of the taiga, but… legends. Most often, it was about the mysterious forces guarding the path to the valley.
Arthur lost heart. Having traveled such a long distance, they will be forced to turn back! And how he would look the professor in the eyes… And then it dawned on him! How could he forget, because Valery Stepanovich told him before leaving: “You have a difficult path ahead, but I foresaw this. When you arrive in Vilyuisk, try to find an old Evenk. His name is Loko and he was Karpatov’s guide. With his help, their group then safely reached the quarry and, by the way, it was he who showed them the way to the clearing, where the laws of gravity collapse. By the way, from his words it was clear that he knew many such places, and could easily show them to us if the team had the time and the necessary equipment… So, in parting, the professor gave him a satellite navigator with a built-in radio beacon and taught to use it. So that,
Immediately, Arthur took out his GPS and adjusted the ultra-sensitive satellite navigator to the coordinates given by the professor. A small red dot flashed on the screen.
– That’s where he is! But it’s very close!
Wasting no time, Arthur threw on his jacket and, without answering the questions of his comrades, quickly left the room. Going downstairs, he went out into the street and, crossing the road, entered the old diner. He saw shabby tables, covered in spots in places, and the bartender standing behind the counter looked so bored that it became clear that very few people looked here. Walking up to the bar, Arthur ordered kvass for himself.
– Looks like you don’t have a lot visitors today.
– Yes, but to be honest, I’m not surprised. Although in winter there are more people here.
The young man looked at the bartender in surprise.
– Really?
– Oh yeah. The fact is that in winter there is an important event for all residents – reindeer sleigh races. Then a lot of people come here, including nomads. They are