MY PERFECT LADY.
MY PERFECT LADY.
Russian "foxtrot" for the British tourists.
London One more capital where anybody does not have affairs to me. With
This elegicheskoj thought I flied to England. The second thought all time
It was intertwined with the first: whether "I Could think". Whether I could think, say, in
The fifth class when on a school desk the textbook of incomprehensible English for the first time has laid down
Language, or standing on the bridge of a submarine which bypassed the country
The probable military opponent from the north, or collecting in not so old
Times uncountable signatures on the characteristic before a trip to the brotherly
Bulgaria, - whether I could think, that once I will glance in the old Moscow house
On samoteke and I will buy there rather cheap round in capital Connected
Kingdoms the city of London?
Every time, having got to the unfamiliar country, I try to be pulled out from
Track of the tourist standard. To become at least for some days similarity
The German, the Frenchman, the Chinese! All it is possible, if you have acquaintances
Germans, Frenchmen, Chineses. Familiar Englishmen at me in London were not. Not
Was? Really was not? Also has suddenly dawned - Tereza! The red-haired snub-nosed
The fervent Irish has left to me about twenty years ago the London address...
1970. A train "Russia" Moscow - Vladivostok. I, newly made
The lieutenant, meal to a service place to Sakhalin in the remarkable company of neighbours
On a compartment: the pastor from Germany, the professor of geography from Denmark and the twenty years' lady
From London which follows to Japan to the husband-Japanese. They have met in
To tour across Sweden, in the same place have registered marriage and have parted on the
To the countries. Now, after a year, Tereza, having saved up money for a long journey,
Has gone to Tokyo to see the lawful spouse. Desperate
The girl reminded me the heroine from the novel "Children of the captain of the Grant". I only
That has handed over state examination in English language and could entertain the quite
ryzhekudruju the fellow traveller, the Irish on a birth. Seven days and seven nights under
One roof moreover in road narrowness pull together people much more, than others
Seven months. So the novel with "the daughter of the captain of the Grant" developed
Promptly. In front of Khabarovsk I have already dared to make to its the hand proposal
And hearts. Presence of the semimythical husband at all did not confuse me.
In Khabarovsk all foreigners should do change, that
To follow further in a detour of the closed Vladivostok on the Find. There was also I.
On coast of the Cupid we have spent the whole days. My friend, the staff reporter of the Moscow
Newspapers, has given in our order "Volga" with the driver. I bluffed
As could, not losing, however, advantages of the Soviet person Our farewell
At the Khabarovsk station left rather touching and promising. Tereza
Has left, and me have there and then invited in local KGB where have made the soft
Suggestion about that is not necessary to the Soviet officer so close
Dialogue with foreigners in general and with foreigners in particular. Probably,
Our driver has shown due vigilance and has signalled the competent
To bodies. However, this history was not reflected in any way in my military career.
Soon I have been translated in the Moscow garrison and ahead of schedule became seniors
The lieutenant. My representations about insidiousness of special services of NATO were strengthened
So, that, when once phone call at night was distributed and I have heard
Voice Terezy which joyfully invited me in hotel "п п я я п?п©п?п я "
Immediately, as tomorrow it departs to Japan, me proshib the cold
Sweat: here it, left on recruitment Tomorrow is a new day: we have met in
"Metropole", have sat in cafe where gallant waiters studied us eyes
Major Pronin. Then I have not thought up anything the best how to invite her in
Planetarium. There precisely any military secrets.
At parting Tereza has left to me the address. "You will be in London,
- She has told, - necessarily come ". Then for me it has sounded, as
"You will be on the Moon".
And here I on the Moon, that is in London. After the Moscow ices, snow,
Frosts so it was strange to leave on a green lawn where the lonely blossomed
Yellow rose. It in January! I felt as chukcha which has got out
From jarangi in the middle of blossoming jungle. Always considered, that England, whose coast
Are washed by the North Sea, the country too the northern. But winters in London almost
Same, as in our Sevastopol or Yalta.
I have called Tereze from the street payphone. Long hooters. Then
Has decided to go to its house and to throw in a mail box a card. Mine
The taught less English nevertheless sosluzhil to me kind service: I enough
Has quickly found rather modest, but tidy trehpodezdnyj for a cottage about two
Floors. At the glazed door the box decorated with waybills post hung
Small horns. There I also have intended to throw the message. But here to the house
Has approached blue "ford-kombi", three sheep-dogs have jumped out of the car, and trace
Behind them has got out because of wheel Tereza. Most of all I was afraid, that it is necessary to me
To explain, who I, whence and what for have welcomed. Thanks God, it not
Has occurred. Tereza, slightly pouvjadshaja for the last years, but all same
ryzhekudraja and fervent, has learnt me with astonishment and joyfully. In an environment
Dancing dogs we have entered into a drawing room, zastlannuju a soft oriental carpet to a fireplace, in
Which the gas flame blazed. I hardly understood its speech, on everyone
The case about me responded to all inquiries "yes, is final", and after the fifth or
The sixth consent at it eyes were approximated. I do not know, what opinion has developed
At it about my life, but I have fine surprised her with something. Quite probably, that I
Has appeared before it the single father having many children, besides the unemployed
The vagabond. And can, I have unintentionally agreed with it that all my previous
Six wives were terrible shrews and I have run away from them to London to ask
Political asylum. Eh, it was necessary to learn language is better
I have understood the most important thing: Tereza was married three times. Its present
The spouse should return just about from job.
- Robbie will come and will go with you to hotel behind your things, -
It has decided. - you will live at us. We have a room for visitors.
WHILE we drank tea with milk, there was a husband - the elderly tired person,
The sports view which has saved, however. It is impossible to tell, that him has pleased
Prospect to be dragged with me through all London, nevertheless it
Villages implicitly in the car, having opened me the left door. Was very much
It is unusual to rush on the right strip. While went, have got to talking: Robbie too
Served on fleet. Was the petti-officer (it like our warrant officer or
The ensign) in special purpose parts. Us has very much amused, that
Our ways twice, and can, and were three times crossed in Mediterranean sea - in
The same year we were with it in Alexandria, twice I passed
Strait of Gibraltar when Robbie bore the watches on the Rock so call
They the base in Gibraltar.
After opening of this fact our relations have considerably become warmer.
- What do you wish to see in London? - He has asked.
- Russian submarine. It have bought from us about five years ago and have made
Museum of "cold war". I served on it.
- And, it is "foxtrot". It costs to Darling Harbore. I reduce you
There.
We had supper three together, short of, of course, three English-speaking
German shepherds who did not reduce eyes from our plates. Robbie
Told about the military adventures in Mediterranean sea. I suddenly
Has recollected, how our aircraft carrier "Kiev" stood on anchor a flank near Gibraltar.
Under a board the English trawler turned. Mine the neighbour in a cabin, the scout
The captain-lieutenant, has looked out in a window.
"With fighting swimmers goes", - he has told with skill. By the evening
On a trawler have lowered a little a flag. Someone at them there was lost. Most likely, one
From fighting swimmers which has risked to survey an underwater part of the Soviet
The ship. Cя п?п п п? to an aircraft carrier to turn rowing screws, and one sea
The saboteur became less.
PROBABLY, in that group there was also petti-officer Robert Stephen, present
Husband Terezy. And here to what we dovoevalis: I sit at it on kitchen and I drink
Its beer, and my submarine costs on an eternal trick somewhere nearby
In English port.
After breakfast Tereza undertook to show me London. It has sat down
For a wheel of the avto also has left on a highway conducting in the centre of capital.
- Where we go? - I have asked.
- In a planetarium.
Tereza did not joke. We have really parked at a planetarium.
Truly one good turn deserves another. However it was soon found out, that a planetarium
And the well-known museum of wax dolls of madam Tussaud are united by one management.
Tereza worked in a museum as someone like the costumier. Sewed buttons, as
It was expressed, to the world stars at which fans continually tore off
Something for memory. We have entered into a showroom through an office input. Dolls
Here for a long time not wax, but plastic. Here it is possible to embrace without ceremony with
Merilin Monroe or Deparde to shake hands with Churchill or to pat shoulder
The king of Belgium. All it was made on my amazed eyes
Numerous visitors. Only princess Diana has been fenced by the easy
Chain. High, very pale, with a sad half-smile it stood aside
From royal family, slightly frightening of the zhivopodobiem.
Here, in museum cafe, we have sat down with Terezoj for a little table.
- Why you so long did not come? - She has asked. To respond
On this question, I should bring it to Lenin's doll and to read lecture
- Why Bolsheviks did not encourage a trip to England fellow citizens,
To tell, that was created in streets of Moscow in August of 91st and how long
I then found an elementary financial solvency to buy
Once the air ticket to London, the ticket which, by the way to tell, costs more cheaply,
Than flight in a city of our crazy youth, to Khabarovsk.
- Kej Dzhi Bi? - Has specified Tereza, having interpreted in own way my tightened
Silence. Well, maybe, and KGB stood between us, as a part of the iron
Curtain.
We have returned to the car, and Tereza has moved along Thames. High
Quays burst with palaces, banks, luxurious offices and hotels.
With a strange feeling I looked at this rich city from a window of my car
Not taken place bride: after all it could be mine, if then in Khabarovsk
I was more resolute With same iskusitelnoj thought I considered
In the evening the cosiest rooms of its house: here I would live, if... Has amazed
That anywhere I have not seen any book. There were two TVs, it is a lot of
Artificial flowers, walls almost entirely zaveshany pictures in frameworks, but
Anywhere the sight has not encountered one book back.
On Sunday Robbie has carried us to Darling Harbor. The Board
Invited: "Will feel a cold of" cold war ", having visited onboard the Russian
Submarine "п?п?п я я я п?я -540"!
It was native "small insect" - big a diesel engine-electric underwater
Boat of 641st project. On NATO classification "a type submarine
"Foxtrot". It stood under serpasto-molotkastym the Soviet flag. Slightly
Has jammed heart at the sight of the perfect captive. However, to rank it to
In any way it is impossible for fighting trophies of the British fleet. A submarine have bought on metal,
But have made of it branch of a national sea museum. In a nasal compartment
Twisted the documentary chronicle about sea opposition of two blocks. There
There were also my shots which have been removed during a campaign to Mediterranean sea. Removed
For itself, but the English TV has switched on a fragment of my film in one
From the transfers. As it was strange to see here, in England, my persons
Companions on the blue screen. We were flown again by "Vikings" and "oriony", hardly
Not clinging to the lifted periscopes. And the commander, such young, all
Thirty! - the captain Evgenie Nevjarovich showed 3 ranks from the bridge a hand,
Where the buoys-spies dumped from planes have fallen. And warrant officer Pletnev caught
Them from water, having lassoed the casting end, as the real cowboy. And
starpom ZHora Bautin smiled in an objective, stroking itself on the approximated
"krantsu". Then Tereza has seen me in shorts and tropical pilotke with
Long peak also has clapped the hands.
In the car, having turned back together with me to throw the farewell
Sight at Russian "foxtrot", she has asked:
- It also is your perfect lady?
To me remains nothing how silently nod to it as a sign of the consent.
Nikolay
TCHERKASHIN.
Moscow - London.
Photos
From archive of the author.
//* an information Source: the Russian newspaper, 27.02.98
//* Reg. Nom. - 1080200229.09-------------------------------------------
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