The border was close, but the continuous sea of fire – is even closer. Fortunately, wind was changed. Carried smoke and hot air aside. Otherwise all would choke before would devour their flame.
– I see a gleam – Ignat the thunderous voice cried.
All started, looked forward, but behind smoke nothing was visible. However Ignat was not mistaken. Only several rows of trees separated a taiga from wood border.
Filled up by sparks, choking, captives of fire continued to fight for the life, dumping the lighting-up boughs from the deck. Грицай from the water remains in a bucket ran all over people and poured over them. From clothes steam rose.
Suddenly Dudin’s shout sounded from a stern:
– Cable. “Dragon” was hooked for a tree bough. Stop. Stop the car.
These words were immediately transferred to the captain. Everyone endured heavy second of internal fight. Situation for all was clear: the delay of “Taiga” at least for several minutes can cost life everything. It is possible to escape, having only offered “Dragon” and coils. Behind on many kilometers the fiery sea stormed. And “Dragon” will inevitably fall in fire. But to allow death of companions… never. All to escape – or to die all.
– Stop.
“Taiga” stopped as the bridled horse. Dudin, having poured over itself the water remains from a bucket, pulled a cable, trying to release it.
“Be not late because of us. Save the all-terrain vehicle and crew” – wired coils.
The captain only annoyancely waved a hand. Dudin continued to wind on the winch, to release a cable. But the cable was strongly hooked for a bough. The tree already flared below. Flame fires, getting over from a branch on a branch, approached a cable. The cable will be warmed, metal will become more softly and will tear…
Everything, having forgotten about personal security, with nervousness monitored Dudin’s work. Foma, having taped heavy boots on the iron deck, disappeared in the hatch.
– Ignat, you have a revolver? – Jim asked.
Ignat trembled from this question and viewed with great concern Jim. Really at it did not sustain nerves and he wants to commit suicide? But Jim, overcoming nervousness, smiled. Ignat after short fluctuation gave the revolver to Jim. The same minute from the hatch Foma with a rifle in hands rose. The same thought came to Em and Jim to mind. They began to send to a bough a bullet behind a bullet. The bough cracked – the cable was released. All breathed a sigh of relief.
And a circle of “Taiga” the flame stormed. Heat became intolerable. It was impossible to remain further on the deck. Simakov gave the order to all to go down to the internal room of the ship. But he decided to remain on the captain’s bridge.
– Alive you will burn down – Ignat objected.
Simakov persisted.
– I have to … – Simakov choked with smoke, has a fit of coughing and reeled.
Ignat seized him with the huge ruchishcha as he of the child, and incurred to the hatch.
In a saloon Simakov regained consciousness and again tried to come to the deck. Ignat squeezed a hand of the captain and strictly told:
– Sidi, “Taiga” moves forward and itself will get out of the fire. There was a half a kilometer.
Anna Fokina dropped the head on a table. Faint… Jim rushed to it to the aid. But what he could make? Raised the zolotovolosy head of the girl, perplexed blew in a face. Dubrovina with white as at the dead person, the person being unsteady and clinging to hot walls, ran to the first-aid kit behind alcohol. But near a door itself fell.
– However business – tobacco – Foma spoke anybody without addressing.
– Hallo. You are living? – coils cabled. – “Taiga” is at edge of the wood. Remained no more…
– What is? Why he did not finish speaking? – Simakov was excited and cried in the receiver: – Testov! Testov! Hallo! Grinev! Do not answer. Really “Dragon” came off? I go on the deck – Simakov resolutely told.
Ignat saw that this time to dissuade is useless.
– Wait a moment. Before the father do not climb in a scorching heat – Foma hooted, placing hands before Simakov – I say, wait a moment, but I will knock not that. Sidi. I now…
Foma, rolling over as the bear, left and returned with a leather coat, a helmet and dark glasses soon.
– Here, put on. Yes water have a shower bath. I still preserved half-buckets. Simakov quickly put on. Foma poured over it from legs to the head.
– Now we go.
Ignat also followed them.
Hardly climbed up a hot iron ladder to the hatch. Foma, having put on leather mittens, opened the hatch. Drenched them with hot crimson smoke. Foma quickly slammed the hatch.
– Cover. Kayuk – he told. – It is impossible to leave. All the same you will burn down. – And it violently brought together Simakov from a ladder.
Being unsteady, reached a saloon. People sat and lay on tables, there was not so hot, as on the heated floor. Silence, rumble of motors, fire noise…
– However as though freshened up a little – Foma told.
And at the same moment the coil voice bearing a message about rescue was distributed.
– “Taiga” left the fire. Whether you are living? We are living. Cold wind quickly ostuzhivat walls of “Taiga”. Are saved.
8. “Dragon” in the swamp
“Taiga” stopped. All come to the deck covered with ashes and coals. Somewhere else the semi-burned boughs smoke. Lowering sky. Sows a rain, as through a sieve. Looks rise up. Where it is proud “Dragon”, emptiness flew. Around night. Silence…
– The navigator, mechanics, in places! Full speed! – Simakov orders.
– The full speed is impossible. Accumulators were exhausted – Dudin reports.
Simakov frowns and gives new team:
– To lift Dyubo’s pipe and vindrotor.
– Is to lift Dyubo and vindrotor – Grishin and Dudin answer.
In a few minutes “Taiga” slowly turns and goes to a big fire. Fire laid in the wood a huge gap. At the edges still flare as torches, lonely trees. “Taiga” moves wearily as if the covered with wounds monster. Wind slowly pours in forces in the exhausted accumulators. And people as tireless ants, already strive, clean the deck from garbage, ashes, coals. Here the first searchlight flashed and filled in with blue light the road ahead.
– Simakov! I fly to investigation – Anna Fokina says.
The captain tenderly
