with a gold stamping. Sharp eyes of Hans were read on backs
covers of “Ziolkowsky”. On a table – the desk set, a lamp, a blotting pad – and
anything else. Finger was a little disappointed. Vinkler subsequently
explained to him that Zander usually works in an attic where at it
the library and small laboratory are located. But in this sanctuary it
lets nobody, and Vinkler managed to look only once
the room and that in absence of the owner.
The owner met them friendly, seated in chairs and, having had a talk about that,
about this, suddenly asked Hans an unexpected question:
– Whether you will tell me that such bipolar equation of a hyperbole?
Finger studied mathematics and somehow answered. Zander nodded and
asked a new question which nonplused Hans. Followed it
others – from the field of chemistry, astronomy, biology. It was real
examination. Hans was confused – he expected it least of all and therefore as to it
it seemed, not always answered truly and it is sensible even on well familiar
questions. Really it will fail at this examination? But Zander was,
apparently, it is satisfied. He nodded meaning that test
it is over, and told:
– You know more, than I assumed. But you should know immeasurably
it is more than what you know if you want to become my same assistant
as Vinkler.
Would he like to become! Hans was ready to work day and night that
to seize all necessary knowledge.
– You got used to be engaged independently? – the new question was asked. —
Vinkler will help you, but he will not be able to devote to it much time.
– And, addressing already Vinkler, Zander continued:
– I think, to our Hans Finger will be reasonably useful to live
month – another in a glass sphere. Observations will not take away from it too
it is a lot of time, and there it will be able to increase the mathematical knowledge. Without
mathematicians in our business it is impossible to step also to a step.
Zander talked some more minutes to Vinkler about affairs and got up.
The audience was ended.
– Well? Did not expect such bath? – Vinkler when they left from asked
houses. – You should sit in solitary confinement.
Month-other in solitary confinement! This prospect at all not
smiled to Hans. He wanted to get acquainted somewhat quicker with the city, from it
strange laboratories, extraordinary constructions. It not all
saw.
– To all time will come, – Vinkler consoled it. – Today you will carry out
put more “on freedom”, tomorrow, well, since morning you will bypass, you will examine
what did not see yet: laboratory where experience action of various
substances, other laboratory in which ways of cooling are tested
working part of the rocket – walls snuffled or дюз. For tomorrow it is enough.
– What will I do in the conclusion?
– Oh, your existence will be very peculiar! You on yourself have to
you will be to test and on you it will be checked whether the person can exist
in the conditions of artificially created circulation of substances. As soon as you
you will enter a sphere and you will receive the necessary explanations, a hermetic door
will slam for you. But there is phone, and we will be with you
to keep in contact. You will take with yourself necessary books, textbooks,
notebooks.
– But what I will eat there?
– Perhaps, you should sit a little on vegetarian food. You
you will eat those plants and fruits which grow in
to sphere greenhouse. To your services there will be an electric stove, a teapot.
– And water?
– Tomorrow you on everything will receive the answer. All allocations of your organism
will be processed. Allocations of intestines will go to fertilizers;
allocations of a bladder, having passed through the soil, through plants, gases,
refrigerators, filters, will turn into the purest water. Water will be given also
the cooled breath gases emitted by you, plants and “companions on
to the conclusion” – animals. You will have to look after and behind them – to feed,
to give to drink. Plants will give oxygen, they will absorb exhaled by you
and animals carbonic acid. In a word, if calculations are right, you will have in
sphere all necessary. I will visit you. If you it is nasty itself
you will feel, we will stop experience. Create to yourself the notebook or
notebook in which write down the major formulas, data from the theory
jet flights, help data, calculations. It is Zander’s council. Such
the notebook very much will help you.
Hans nodded and asked:
– By the way, tell whose portrait hangs in Zander’s office? His father?
Vinkler burst out laughing.
– Yes, in some way father. It is also the famous scientist-self-educated person
Tsiolkovsky,
