Читать книгу: «Classics fantasy – 10», страница 2

SARGASSO SEA

Jim Simpkins slept badly this night. He turned on a bed in the cabin and to something listened. All it seemed that Gatling somewhere nearby, creeps to deal shortly with him, to revenge it, perhaps, to kill. There are someone’s steps, the door somewhere creaked… The detective in horror sat down on a bed.

– No, everything is silent, seemed… Oh the hell what stuffy night! And then – mosquitoes and mosquitoes haunt. From where all these winged evil spirits among the ocean could undertake? Either I rave, or we is close from the earth? Whether not to go to be refreshed?

Симпкинс not the first night went to be refreshed to a steamship hold where there were stocks of canned food and wine.

He safely reached the place, blundering about in the dark on familiar transitions, and already took a sip of a good drink of rum as he suddenly heard some strange rustle. In this labyrinth it was difficult to define from where these sounds were heard. At Simpkins grew cold in a breast.

– Looks for. There is nothing to tell, good hide-and-seek. If only it did not find till the morning. And there it is necessary to ask protection of Ms. Kingman. – And it began to make the way, with bated breath, in a far corner of a hold, almost at the covering. Exactly there, behind a covering, rustle as though some unknown sea monster which came up from a sea bottom rubbed rough skin about a steamship board suddenly was heard. Mysterious sounds became more heard. And suddenly Simpkins felt how from a soft push all steamship kolykhnutsya. Neither waves, nor reefs could make such strange fluctuation. After this a push some more together with some deaf hoot followed.

Simpkins was captured by ice horror of far animal ancestors of the person: horror before the unknown. A grief to the one who will not manage to overcome this horror at once: blind instincts extinguish then a thought, will paralyze will, self-control.

Симпкинс felt how cold pakhnut in a nape and head hair rose. It seemed to it that he feels tension of each hair. With a wild roar it rushed, stumbling and falling, up, on the deck.

He was met requirements by Gatling. Симпкинс, having forgotten about everything, except fear of the unknown, nearly fell arms from what just escaped as a mouse in a hole.

– What is it? – he asked some hissing whistle (nervous spasms squeezed his throat) and grabbed with Gatlinga by a hand.

– I know no more than yours… The steamship softly shook on one side, a nasal part fell then and again rose. I hastily put on and left to look.

The moon brightly lit a part of the deck. The kilevy part of the steamship which was injured after accident was shipped in water, and the deck lay almost on water level here.

Симпкинс remained higher, watching Gatling who examined all kilevy part of the deck.

– Strange, strange… Go down here, Simpkins, are not a coward.

– I thank you, but and from here it is well visible to me.

– Симпкинс, it you? What there happened?

– Ms. Kingman, I ask you to descend here – told Gatling, увидав Viviana who was going down the deck.

It approached Gatlingu, and after it also Simpkins dared to go down. Presence of the girl calmed him.

– Admire, Ms.!

In bright beams of the moon the deck brightly grew white. And on this white background dark stains and traces were seen. As if some enormous animal всползло on the deck, made a semicircle and fell down from the right board, having broken as a straw, iron rods of a handrail.

– Pay attention: it is similar to a trace from a heavy belly which was dragged on the deck. And on each side – traces of paws or it is rather fins. We were visited by some unknown monster.

Simpkinsu it became terrible again, and he imperceptibly began to move back on the sloping deck back.

– And it that for litter? Some plants which are obviously left by the unknown visitor? – And Ms. Kingman lifted an alga from a floor.

The Gatling attentively examined an alga and disapprovingly shook the head.

– Sargassum, groups of brown seaweed… Yes, there is no doubt! These are alga sargassova. Here where brought us. Devil take it! Business gets a bad turn. We should discuss situation.

And all three rose by the main deck. Danger pulled together them. Симпкинс waved a hand on “rights”, he understood that only knowledge, experience and energy of Gatlinga could save them.

Most of all detective disturbed an unknown monster. It did not attach to any sargassovy alga significance.

– What do you think, Gatling, about our uninvited guest? – asked Simpkins when all took seat on wattled chairs.

The Gatling shrugged shoulders, continuing to twist an alga in a hand.

– This is not an octopus, not a shark and not some other of the famous inhabitants of the sea… It is possible what is here, in this mysterious corner of the Atlantic Ocean, there live unknown to us monsters, some plesiosauri who remained from primitive times.

– And suddenly they will get out of water and will begin to pursue us?

– We have to be ready to everything. But, I admit, I am disturbed not so much by unknown monsters, how many this leaf – and it showed an alga leaf. – The steamship after all is too big and strong even for these unknown giants of the underwater world. To them not to get also into our close cabins. At last, we have a weapon. But what weapon can win against this? – and it showed on an alga again.

– What terrible is in this insignificant leaf? – asked Simpkins.

– The fact that we got to the area of the Sargasso Sea, the mysterious sea which is located to the west of Korvo – one of the Azores. This sea six times more Germany occupies the space. It everything is entirely covered with a dense carpet of seaweed. “Alga” in Spanish – “sargassa”, from here and the name of the sea.

– As it so: the sea among the ocean? – Ms. Kingman asked.

– This issue was not resolved also by scientists.

– As you have to know, the warm Gulf Stream Current goes from the passages of Florida to the North to Spitsbergen. But this current is divided into ways, and one sleeve comes back to the South, reaches the Azores, goes to west banks of Africa and, at last, having described a semicircle, comes back to the Antilles. The warm ring in which there is cold, quiet water – the Sargasso Sea turns out. Look at the ocean!

All looked back and were struck: the surface of the ocean lay before them motionless as a standing pond. Slightest wave, movement, splash. The first beams of a rising sun lit this strange, stiffened sea which resembled a continuous carpet of greenish and pale seaweed.

– I do not want to frighten you, Simpkins, but a grief to the ship which got to this to “bank with seaweed” as Columbus called the Sargasso Sea. The screw if we also have it in serviceability, could not work: it would reel up seaweed and stopped. Seaweed detain the course of the sailing vessel, do not give the chance and to row. In a word, they it is tenacious hold the victim.

– What will be with us? – asked Simpkins.

– Perhaps, the same, as with others. The Sargasso Sea is called the cemetery of the ships. Seldom who manages to get out from here. If people do not die of hunger, thirst or yellow fever, they live, their ship from weight of the accrued polyps or a leak will not drown yet. And the sea slowly accepts the new victim.

Ms. Kingman listened carefully.

– Awfully! – she whispered, peering into the stiffened green surface.

– We, in any case, are in the best conditions, than many of our predecessors. The steamship keeps well. Perhaps, we will manage to repair a leak and to extort water. There will be enough stocks of products for us three for several years.

– Years! – Simpkins exclaimed, having jumped up on a chair.

– Yes, the road Simpkins, it is possible that several years you should expect the promised award. Take heart, Simpkins.

– I wanted to spit on an award, if only to me to get out of this damned kissel!

…Monotonous, painful, hot days stretched. Clouds of some unknown insects were above this standing swamp. At night mosquitoes did not allow to sleep. Sometimes fog laid down over the sea a funeral veil.

Fortunately, by steamship there was a good library. Ms. Kingman read much. In the evenings all gathered in big magnificent salon. Viviana sang and played grand piano. And even more often Simpkins began to be on these evening meetings with a wine bottle: from a grief he washed down.

Gatlingu was necessary to lock wine cellars. Симпкинс tried to object, but Gatling was relentless.

– There is no that we had to potter with the patient with delirium tremens still. Understand, ridiculous you the person that you will die soon if not to stop you.

Simpkinsu was necessary to obey.

Chapter 5

IN THE KINGDOM OF THE DEAD

It seemed that the steamship is motionless. But, apparently, some slow current carried away it on the middle of the Sargasso Sea: even more often the semi-decayed and become green fragments of the ships began to meet on the way. They appeared as dead persons, with naked “edges” – frames and the broken masts, some time followed the ship and slowly departured afar. By nights Simpkins was frightened by “ghosts”: from the green surface of the sea there were suddenly some columns of pale fog reminding people in shrouds and slowly slid, waved and thawed… It evaporations in those places where in a continuous carpet of seaweed there were “ice-holes” escaped.

In one of moonlight nights some half-ruined brig of the Dutch construction close approached the steamship. It was painted in black color with bright gilding. Its mast and a part of bulvarok were demolished, брашпиль is broken.

With the mixed feeling of curiosity and horror watched Vivian at this dead ship. Perhaps, this their future; time will come – and their steamship will also rush by the sea, not recovered by any human being. And suddenly she screamed:

– Look, look, Gatling!

Having leaned against the broken mast, there was a person in a red cap. In beams of the bright moon on dark, almost black face teeth sparkled. He smiled, smiled from ear to ear. At his legs the bottle lay.

Consciousness that they not one that in this green desert there is one more living human being, excited all. Симпкинс and Gatling loudly shouted and waved hands.

The person in a red cap, still smiling, waved a hand, but it is somehow strange as if having shown something behind itself. And the hand fell at once as a lash. The moon came for a cloud, and the person already died it is visible. But the brig swam up closer and closer to the steamship.

At last the brig already almost closely approached a ship board. At this moment the moon ascended and lit a strange and terrible picture.

The skeleton was tied to a fragment of a mast. Clothes tatters still remained on it. The escaped bones of hands dangled on wind, but the others dropped out of shoulder joints for a long time and rolled on half of the deck. Face skin remained, dried up by the hot sun. On this pergament face the skull smile sparkled. The semi-decayed red cap covered its top.

One moment, and Gatling jumped on the deck of a brig.

– What do you do, Gatling? The brig can depart from the steamship. Then you died.

– Do not worry, Ms., I will be in time. There is something interesting.

The Gatling ran up to a skeleton, grabbed the sealed bottle and jumped on the deck of the steamship while the brig departed already almost on meter.

– Madman! – the turned pale Ms. Kingman met Gatlinga, rejoicing to its safe return. – Well, for the sake of what, really, you so risked? – asked Vivian, looking at a bottle. – We have enough this good.

– And here we will look. – The Gatling beat off a neck of a bottle and took the semi-decayed leaf of bluish paper. The faded, almost red letters could be sorted.

Obviously, by a goose quill, with a strange stroke and curls, it was written:

“Whoever you were, a Christian or incorrect into whose hands this bottle will get, I ask and I conjure you to execute my last will. If you find me after my death on a brig, take money that lie in a white leather bag, in a captain’s cabin, 50 000 guldens gold. From them take 10 000 guldens to yourself, and give 40 000 guldens to my wife, Marta Tes-sel, in Amsterdam, Morskaya Street, own house. And if the brig sinks, and one you will find a bottle in the sea, send it, Marta Tessel, my wife, my last greeting. Let will forgive me if upset her in what… All our died… All crew to the sailor… Carat, Gubert… the first… I one am living, so far. Week… without food… I will become attached to a mast… who will notice… Farewell… Gustav Tessel. Brig of ‘March’, 1713 September of the 15th day”.

When Gatling terminated to read, there came silence.

– As it is terrible and strange! We received an assignment from the dead person to say hello it to the wife who two hundred years as in a grave … – And, having shuddered, Ms. Kingman added: – How many awful secrets this sea keeps!

– Fifty thousand guldens – Simpkins thought aloud, seeing off eyes the being removed brig. – How many it will be at the rate on today’s number?.

Part second

Chapter 6

LANDING PLACE

– Earth! Earth! Ms. Kingman! Gatling! Go here rather. We approach some harbor. Tops of masts and a pipe of steamships are visible already. Over there. Look… more to the left there!

The Gatling looked in the telescope.

– The harbor opened by you has devilishly strange appearance, Simpkins. This “harbor” extends on many miles: masts and pipes and again masts… But pay attention: any pipe does not smoke, and masts… Their equipment, sails?. Look, Ms. Kingman – and Gatling transferred her the telescope.

– Yes it rather some cemetery of the ships! – Viviana exclaimed. – Masts and pipes are broken, from sails there were one shreds. And then… where earth? I understand nothing…

– It is impossible to tell that and for me everything was clear, Ms. – Gatling answered – but I think that the situation is so: in the Sargasso Sea, in this standing swamp, obviously, there are the currents though which are very slowed down by seaweed. Obviously, we got to one of these currents which, alas, and brought us to this “landing place”. You look what “harbor” we enter. Here who meets us – and it gesture showed around.

The closer the steamship approached the unusual harbor, the sad fragments of the ships met on the way more often. There were broken, crippled, semi-decayed vessels of all countries and the people. Here pie from the whole piece of a tree… And here one skeleton of a fishing bark: the external covering fell off, frames stuck out as naked edges, and a kilevy part resembled a fish spine… Further away more or less remained vessels were seen: barques, schooners, tenders, frigates, galleys… The rusty modern steamship stood side by side with the Portuguese caravel of the sixteenth century. It had beautiful curved ship lines. The low board towered intricate superstructures on a nose and a stern. The core of a wheel passed through all stern, on the middle of boards there were openings for oars. “Santa Maria” – distinctly was seen onboard.

– Surprisingly! – Gatling exclaimed. – Almost on the same vessel Columbus floated, and one of his caravels was also called “Santa Maria”, two others – “Pint” and Nina. And here you look – and far-sighted Gatling read onboard the linear ship: – “Henry”. Further, you see, the three-deck vessel: “The sovereign of the seas” and “1637” on its board. And between them the wheel steamship of the first half of the nineteenth century – no more than fifty meters of length.

to the internal mass of the ships which are closely pressed to each other which as if merged to a peculiar island.

Satellites were silent. All had such feeling as if they were brought alive at the cemetery.

– If the destiny brought us here, it is necessary to get acquainted with this unusual island. Симпкинс! We go!

Симпкинс it was obviously not located to be let in an excursion on this gloomy cemetery.

– What sense? – he tried to evade.

– Be a man, Simpkins. Who knows that he conceals in himself this island? Perhaps, there are also inhabitants.

– Ghosts of old Dutch seafarers?

– We will look at it. In any case, whoever lived here, it is better if we learn the first about them. This island can become our grave, but who knows, perhaps, here we will find also means to rescue. It is necessary to examine vessels; whether it will be some else suitable for swimming?

– To examine vessels! – Симпкинс remembered “Marta” from her 50 000 guldens gold. It fluctuated.

– But how we will leave one Ms. Kingman?

– Do not worry about me. I am not afraid of ghosts – she answered.

– We here that we will make, Ms. – Gatling offered – put straw in a fire chamber. If you are threatened by some danger, set fire to straw; we will see the smoke which is coming out a pipe and immediately we will hurry to the aid. We go.

The Gatling got over on the three-sailing vessel of the eighteenth century Victoria standing nearby. Симпкинс reluctantly followed it.

They slowly moved ahead in depth of the island.

Hardly something in the world could be more sad than a show of this enormous cemetery. The sea buries the lost ships, the earth – people. But this cemetery left the dead persons open, at full light of the hot sun. It was necessary to go carefully. The semi-decayed boards shivered under legs. Every minute travelers risked to fail in a hold. On this case each of them had on a rope to give help each other the necessary minute. A handrail fell off. Scraps of sails at one touch were scattered in ashes. Everywhere a thick layer dust of decay and greens of rotting lay… The skeletons glinting in the sun a whiteness of bones or darkening still the remained skin or tatters of clothes lay on many decks. On an arrangement of skeletons, on the broken skulls it was possible to judge that the people who went mad before death quarreled, revolted, aimlessly and cruelly killed each other, revenging someone for sufferings and the ruined life, Each ship witnessed the great tragedy happening on it fifty, hundred, two hundred years ago.

From what inhuman horror, what terrible anguish living owners of the skulls bleached by the sun grinning now in a terrible smile had to suffer! And all of them smiled, smiled to ears…

Even Gatlingu became terribly from these smiling grins, and Simpkins was shaken by fever.

– Let’s leave from here – he asked. – I cannot more!

– Wait, there well remained ship. It is interesting to go down in cabins.

– On ladders which will break off under your legs? – Симпкинс it ozlitsya suddenly. – Gatling! I will not make more to a step. Enough. I ask you not to order me any more. You forgot about the one who you are and who I am! Where you conduct me? What for? to dump somewhere in a hold and thus to get off me without noise! Oh, I know: I disturb you.

Gatling this speech enraged:

– Become silent, Simpkins, or I really will throw you overboard.

– Not so simply – venomously said Simpkins and, having leaned against a wooden protection at a board, directed a revolver barrel to Gatlinga. The Gatling quickly stepped forward, but before he grabbed by Simpkins’s hand, the shot and a sound of the fallen handrail was distributed. The bullet flew by over-headed Gatlinga. At the same time he saw how Simpkins, having ridiculously waved hands, fell overboard together with fragments of the rotted-through handrail. Behind a board deaf splash of water… silence… then Simpkins’s snorting. The Gatling looked overboard. The detective floundered in green porridge of seaweed. Seaweed hanged down in garlands from the head, entangled hands, is tenacious held the victim. Симпкинс strained all efforts to be hooked for a ship covering. After a number of attempts it managed it. But his hands were tired, seaweed pulled down, it is a little more – and it would go to a bottom.

The Gatling departed from a board, sat down on a barrel and lit a tube.

– The Gatling, forgive. I was a silly donkey – heard Gatling Simpkins’s voice, but continued to smoke silently a tube. – … save the Gatling… Гатлинг!

The Gatling approached a board. It fluctuated. Nevertheless the person asks about the help. But what person? The selling detective, the spy who will not stop even after rescue now to betray Gatlinga in hands of the authorities to receive thirty silver coins.

– No, no – and Gatling sat down again and began to smoke strenuously…

– The Gatling, I beg! Gatling! Gatling! – Simpkins groaned.

The Gatling strenuously smoked a tube.

– Ga-at … – and suddenly this shout turned into some choking sobbing.

The Gatling gritted the teeth, rejected a tube and, having untwisted the end of a rope, threw it drowning.

Grabbed with the last efforts of Simpkins a rope, but as soon as Gatling began to drag it, Simpkins broke: seaweed it is tenacious held it, in hands there was no force any more.

– Tie round a rope! – Gatling shouted to it.

Симпкинс somehow tied round, twirled knot and began to rise by the deck.

Facing Gatling, Simpkins was so excited that he only continuously repeated: “Gatling!. Gatling!. Gatling!.” – also gave it a hand.

The Gatling frowned, but, having looked at sincere animal joy in the opinion of saved, good-natured smiled and strong reaped a wet hand.

– I cannot express to you, Gatling…

– Stand – Gatling suddenly pricked up the ears, quickly pulling out the hand – watch, by our steamship smoke from a pipe. Ms. Kingman calls us. There something happened. We run!

Chapter 7