world where this Stone will be safe…
Arthur leaned his hands on the table and looked at the professor intently.
– That’s why we turned to you. You are a friend of the great scientist – Professor Karpatov believed in you… You must help us get to Elyuya Cherkechekh.
– Valley of Death? Are you seriously? Why else is this? – Professor Vyazemsky looked at the young people with amazement. Just don’t say you…
– Yes, it was not easy, but we managed to decipher a few tablets. And we found a map – the man took out a wooden board from his briefcase, covered with intricate symbols. “According to the data on it, it leads us straight to the Gates of Eternity…
– Stargate? How…?! Oh, yes, yes, yes, I heard about them… But why do you need them?
– Well, it’s clear… Your scientists, who put me in an unflattering light before the Council, need proof of the existence of the Higher Worlds. They will get them. And you will do everything possible on your own to make our expedition successful. Otherwise, I will leave here right now, and you will have to explain to the Council at length and in detail how you got this card…
– Alex, are you… kidding me?”
The man smiled coldly.
– So what? You know perfectly well that leaving this stone in this world and this time is too dangerous… Wouldn’t it be better to hand it over to those who created it?
– Atlantis? No, it seems that my brain will overheat now…
– Well, as I see it, our conversation has reached an impasse. I have the honor to bow out.
The man looked like he was about to leave. Professor Vyazemsky shook his head wearily.
– Well, you took it. I think that many people can still believe your words. For example, my friends – employees of this institute – are the same romantics at heart. Denis Zudin is simply obsessed with the study of extraterrestrial civilizations and (secretly from everyone except those he trusts) created a mini astronomical laboratory at home, Alla Vels from the Chemistry and Biology Department, constantly read Jules Verne’s Journey to the Center of the Earth, and Stas Shevchenko, like a true design engineer, he sits for many hours in the library and laboratory of the institute, hoping to find a solution to restore the Stargate. By the way, no earlier than yesterday I found him re-reading the works of the famous science fiction writer Ray Bradbury for the third time…
Valery Stepanovich sat down in a chair next to him and plunged into thought. Then he looked sadly at the young man.
– Yes, Arthur, you will go far… I warn you – treat this with all possible caution. Without the chip, you are an excellent target for the Guardsmen and the Watch. Catch you… The casemates of the Magisterium are not the most pleasant place. Therefore, if you still find the Gate… Do not go back.
Arthur nodded. The girl looked at her friend in shock.
– 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?
