I read this book when I was young. Ten years have passed, and she again fell into my hands. I opened the plot with skepticism to refresh my memory - I was sure that I had grown out of it. I read it to the end without stopping. Five or six years later, I did it again. The last time I re-read it was yesterday - two decades after the first reading, already after I had read all twenty-five volumes of Heinlein's Worlds.

What I want to say ... Heinlein is the only writer, after each work of which I want to howl with envy and whine "why, why didn't I write this!". Global, fully dug out, crystallized ideas. Alive, as if life lived with them, heroes. No supermen - ordinary, not even very strong people, placed in unusual circumstances and forced to fight.

Tunnel to Sky is the best of the best in my opinion. To what I said above, unexpected, downright enchanting plot twists are added. An amazing reception - when the author leads the reader step by step to the expected event, it is already brewing, here it should be on the next page. And on the next page - another event, contrasting with the expected one, and also logical, like the first one. Take at least marriage to Jackie - not the expected marriage of the main hero to her, but the second in the top three - Jim. And there are several such twists and turns in the plot - literally breaking the plot, bending it and taking it to another plane.

Apparently, with this novel, Heinlein closed the topic of a group lost on an alien planet - everything I read after it was only a pale reflection of the "Tunnel".

Great, without exaggeration, a thing.

Score: 10

The more I read Heinlein, the more disappointed I am. The book is about nothing, like many others. Only an inexperienced reader may find this book interesting.

With such a promising start, I was looking forward to adventures, mysteries, incredible discoveries, the ingenuity of the main characters and the description of the mysteries of the planet. In general, real science fiction in the spirit of the worlds of Sheckley, Garrison and Simak. But none of that is here. Not only did we not understand what kind of planet this was, where the bones came from on the shore, what kind of civilization built small houses, what animals fled from - but the “adventures” of the heroes themselves were nowhere more banal. Just hunting with stones and spears for ordinary terrestrial animals ... no non-standard solutions, no unusual creatures. Complete nonsense with all this far-fetched politics. Heinlein is already starting to annoy me, trying to sculpt it completely out of place. As already mentioned here, it is unlikely that teenagers would breed such rubbish with laws and committees.

As a child, I read the books of Kir Bulychev, and they, even as children, were filled with real sci-fi ideas. I'm very glad I didn't start reading Heinlein as a child. Such books could completely discourage interest in science fiction. The main drawback of this book is not that it is a children's fairy tale, but that the book is really about NOTHING. I remember one politician from the book "Founders" (Foundation) by Asimov, all of whose speeches, after semantic and linguistic analysis, self-destructed. I think it's about Heinlein. He managed to write 200 pages of text and did not tell the reader anything new.

If the ratings could be negative, I would put minus one hundred. It's a shame that the high ratings of the local readers make them waste time on such books.

Rating: 1

A group of teenagers, during the test of survival in the wild, is sent to an unfamiliar planet. Under the terms of the test, the guys take with them only everything they need, in the amount of hand luggage. The task itself is very dangerous and accidents in such exams are not uncommon. But everything is aggravated by the fact that something happened to the spatial tunnel through which the teenagers were supposed to return home a few days later. And now, it seems that yesterday's boys and girls are stuck on a wild planet for a long time, far from civilization, with a minimal set for survival. What surprises the new “home” is preparing for them, how to survive in completely unfamiliar conditions and how the interpersonal relations of the guys will develop - these are the main questions, the answers to which will be given to us by the novel “The Tunnel in the Sky”.

I'm embarrassed to admit it, but this is my first encounter with Heinlein. And despite the fact that this book is considered not the strongest in the work of the Author, I now perfectly understand the universal love for this science fiction writer.

Of course, "Robinsonade" is a fascinating topic at all times, and add to this the fact that the scene is an alien planet, then you can fall in love with a book only by annotation. And Heinlein had only not to spoil his own idea. With which he successfully copes.

The novel is very compact and balanced. The characters are bright and memorable. The characters are developed as much as the volume of the book allows. Decent dynamics, which was set at the beginning, is maintained until the very end. Not to say that the plot twists surprised me very much, but I did not feel bored from the adventures of the main characters. I liked that in addition to the struggle for survival and the production process for the arrangement of young Robinsons, the Author paid attention to domestic political intrigues among the guys. It's certainly not Game of Thrones, but for a teenage romance, not bad at all.

It is clear that the book was written in the middle of the last century, and therefore many aspects are now perceived as a little naive and idealized. In my opinion, it is foolish to expect from the adventure fiction of the middle of the last century, written for young people, some kind of hard bloody realism, insoluble moral and ethical bifurcations, etc. But it’s very good that there is no busting with love lisping, soul-searching and youthful reflection, which the current young adult is “famous for”.

Everything is simple, boyish: straightforward, honest and courageous.

Score: 8

I don't know why, but this novel is Heinlein's most beloved of all, as well as the most re-read. The novel can be attributed to the so-called teenage fiction, which occupies a rather significant place in the author's work.

Despite the rather interesting science fiction plot, which tells about the attempts to survive and colonize the planet by a group of lost schoolchildren. And, as it turned out, the main treasure that needs to be protected and which they inherited from all earthly civilization turned out to be democracy, freedom (no matter how paradoxical it sounds for a handful of people on an absolutely uninhabited planet, where there is more than enough freedom). Nevertheless, it is for freedom and democratic elections (though democratic in the sense of the Americans) that the survivors will have to fight. Naturally, this is all written with a bit of pathos, but nevertheless, IMHO, this is the main idea that the author was trying to convey.

Of course, all this was evident in subsequent readings of the novel, in a more adult period. In the beginning, like all teenagers, he paid more attention to the heroism of the pioneers, trying to survive on an unknown planet, rebuilding society, trying to remain civilized no matter what, even if there was practically no hope of returning.

Score: 10

In my opinion, Sky Tunnel is a great book, and for teenagers, it's just so wonderful. A fascinating story with adventures is well built compositionally and presented without moralizing, it is easy to read (despite some roughness of the translation). Of course, a number of points are calculated immediately (for example, the fate of Johann, the secret of Jack, Rod's delusions), but this does not prevent you from enjoying reading. Master Matson is a wise mentor, who certainly inspires confidence in young readers - perhaps they, ignoring the advice of adults around them, will heed his words. Or simply, walking along the path of the formation of a new civilization with the heroes, they will be convinced by their experience, as if by their own, that any knowledge and skills can be useful, even invaluable in the most unexpected situations; that it is very difficult to survive alone; and that in any conditions one should first of all remain Human.

To an "adult" look, the finale of the epic on Tangaroa will seem quite natural. And for teenagers, the same maximalists as the main character, his choice will be close and desirable. It is wonderful if even one out of a thousand, with the help of this book, gains faith in himself, in the ability to accomplish the impossible and become a pioneer of the unknown. This is remembered every time on a June evening, when another tunnel opens into the sky - where the multi-colored graduation balls flew ...

Score: 9

The first time I read "The Tunnel in the Sky" a long time ago, and re-read it quite recently. So, for the first time, the work left practically no trace in the soul and memory, despite the fact that I was a teenager at that time, just finished primary school, and such fantasy should have been fundamental in the future development of tastes and preferences. But the recent re-reading caused a lot of emotions, feelings, palpitations and a whole sleepless night, although when I started reading, I immediately remembered what the novel was about and how it would end. Maybe it's all about associations. In childhood, everything new was really new and unknown, and the scale by which the books read was measured was Wells, Jules Verne, Belyaev, Dumas, Bradbury, plus numerous children's books, for example, the masterpiece about Dunno on the Moon, or the magnificent Chronicles of Narnia . Naturally, in comparison with such masters, the "Tunnel in the Sky" passed quickly and imperceptibly, although it remained in my memory.

But now, when you read, you also notice a wonderful, light literary style, humor, fascination, the ability to reveal the characters' characters, dynamics, plot, science fiction theory. In addition, the name of Heinlein did not mean anything to me before, but now it is, of course, a guarantee of quality.

So, about associations. Reminds me of Stephen King's The Long Jonte for some reason. This is of course due to the mode of transportation. And Golding's brilliant novel Lord of the Flies. Those who have read know what I mean.

About the ending. As a child, I was entirely for the option that everyone stayed on this unexplored planet. And now I have approved the return home. Maybe because in this case you can visit another thousand planets and life will begin anew, you can benefit yourself and society, and families with children will feel better using the benefits of civilization. Or maybe it's not too big, but still the difference in age.

Score: 9

Once again I am convinced that the opinion of the majority is not necessarily true (although I may not be right! :wink:).

I read this book at school and it touched me very much, I lived every moment with the main character of the work, felt annoyance and grief, joy and euphoria ... and just as often wondered ... I can say this book became significant for me, That character was not a character for me, he was me! Now I'm married, I have completely different problems and worries. but I decided to re-read it ... and surprisingly it had no less and even more influence on me than before.

The book is very deep, I agree with donpedro!,

Heinlein described the world of the far future in which the problems of our time are ripening, a world in which "ordinary" people are careless and rely on what the Power presents them ... they, like "mannequins on the big stage", live the life of not my posture and thoughts, and only those who is able to "step over the edge" ... not to be afraid and "pass the gate", to survive and live ... only he really "creates" history! There is no ideal, but there is a striving for it, and how difficult it is sometimes to sacrifice for the sake of others what you would not give for yourself!

Reading the end of the book, I feel like again, half a life later, a lump of sadness of parting rolls up in my throat, and once again I understand for myself ... We are not born Humans - we become them!

Score: 10

Having carefully read the statement of my colleagues, I realized that, unfortunately, most of those who left comments did not see the forest for the trees, considering the novel about the formation of man and society to be a “textbook on life safety”. But strong philosophical truths sound throughout the novel. Something like: the most dangerous animal in the world is a man, "A man with a gun - becomes deaf and blind," and strangely enough, "The main achievement of civilization is democracy." The book is not at all about survival on a wild planet, the book is about the formation of the individual and the place of the individual in society. The touching and painful finale of the work is the return of all the inhabitants of the colony home, leaving the city, abandoned and reclaimed from nature, abandoned crops and huts. The work is clearly aimed at a teenage audience, it is for her that she can help determine priorities in life and often make far from easy choices (IMHO)

Score: 10

Which of the teenagers did not think that he already knew everything in this life and did not seek to get rid of the annoying guardianship of adults as soon as possible and test all his knowledge in practice? Which of us didn’t think like that at the age of 15-17, reading about the misadventures of the heroes: “Here I would be in his place, I would have done better!”

And here is his chance to prove himself right. During a "routine" school test/routine for Heinlein's future/a group of teenagers find themselves stranded on a desert planet and get stuck there with no hope of help. You can survive only using your knowledge, poor life and social experience, relying on the help of comrades. Through difficulties, the loss of friends, pain and fear - to growing up and gaining solid ground under your feet, to understanding that only that has true value, for which you paid with work and sweat. And not without reason, grown-up guys return to their world and find it insipid and emasculated, becoming pioneers and space explorers.

It would seem that a book about growing up is for teenagers. But it contains so many smart and interesting ideas about the development of society, about the place and significance of an individual, about knowledge, about education, that you can read it at any age and find something of your own.

Here's at least an interesting thing: Heinlein describes a society where teenagers on the verge of adulthood are subjected to quite severe tests before choosing a profession. Cruel and unacceptable from the point of view of a person of the 21st century. But, looking around and seeing young people protected from any difficulties of life and getting lost at the slightest, no, not danger - inconvenience, you begin to ask yourself the question, maybe Heinlein is right in something, tempering the characters of his heroes in trials and difficulties.

What can I say here: if the book is relevant even more than half a century after it was written, then this is really a Book and it is worth reading.

Score: 9

It was after this book that the type of the lion's share of early Heinlein stories was revealed to me:

1) There is a main hero (most often a boy). He is surrounded everywhere by dullness and natural Cattle.

2) The main character himself is smart enough, inspired, in other words, more of a dreamer than a practitioner. And here's the trouble - "hands grow from the wrong place." Cattle surrounding him, albeit Cattle, but he knows how to live in the conditions that the main hero dreams of, because he himself is assigned the “lower” path according to his abilities.

3) Sometimes there is a girl who (most often, indirectly) acts as a motivator to start bringing the dream into reality. Most often, the main character concedes her to another character, because, in his own opinion, "she will be better with him, I am not worthy of her."

4) Gritting his teeth, rolling his "eyes white with rabies", the main character achieves his dream.

5) And now, when the dream is in your hands, the main hero is faced with a choice: either live the way he always dreamed of, or, finally, grow up, give up his dream, take on the necessary responsibility and become a man already. The main hero chooses the latter.

Heinlein is not in vain, at times, called the "Tolkien of science fiction" - in terms of moralizing, they are almost next to each other. It's probably even good.

Score: 7

When the trees were taller and greener, and the air cleaner, in general, in my youth I read this novel. Even then, I really liked him. I don’t know what I paid attention to then, probably mainly on adventures, survival. Having read it now, I found many very interesting points for myself. He paid attention to what power rests and builds on, to the fact that in the field a person is valued not by the things and money that he has, but because what a person knows and can do, that how important it is when around you faithful friends. Also, the fact that you need to choose your friends, it’s not the case for anyone to be friends with yourself. To the fact that in order to become more mature it is necessary to leave the hothouse conditions of parental shelter, and parents, in turn, should not dominate the child. It's worse for himself and for him. When they were found, how did I understand the feelings of the protagonist, when reporters flooded in .. They trample in his HOUSE without asking, they misrepresent everything .. On the other hand, what else I liked about the novel was the idea of ​​​​gathering a crowd of like-minded people and living independently from government decisions, they are not afraid every winter of new varieties of influenza, to live with normal people, and not with all sorts of personalities that exterminate animals, set fire to and cut down forests, in a world where money does not solve anything. This is almost my dream. I got really excited about the idea of ​​going to the mountains in my old age, without TV, radio. Live for yourself.

And finally, having returned, so to speak, back, I realized one thing. Throughout my entire conscious life, most of it, I have been worried about the thought that this is the end of civilization and a handful of people survived. And how will I restore civilization. And having read this novel now, I realized that it was he who sowed this seed in my head, and sprouts have already sprouted.

About the text itself, I want to say that I only read uninterestingly in one place. This is at the very beginning, when there is a description of how crowds of people migrate through the gate. All the rest of the story captivated me, as in the old days I read without stopping.

Score: 10

"The Tunnel in the Sky" is a novel that evokes very controversial sensations - on the one hand, it is romance, uncharted worlds, spatial tunnels, and on the other hand, it is a rather cruel (it might be more correct to say - tough) future in which people must be able to survive and to adapt to any conditions, a future in which there are examinations in schools that represent a mortal danger ...

Spoiler (plot reveal)

The episode in which the protagonist observes the resettlement of colonists from Earth to other, immeasurably distant planets, only once again proves the cruelty of the future presented in the "Tunnel"...

However, there is another important aspect of the novel that I would like to pay special attention to - the description of the life of complete strangers who have come together with one goal - to survive. Of course, not all of them are ready to obey someone even for the sake of working for the benefit of the whole society. Some of these characters put their personal interests far above the public. The colonization is described in sufficient detail, with Heinlein's usual humor, and definitely deserves praise, as well as the novel as a whole. Definitely something to think about here.

Spoiler (plot reveal) (click on it to see)

1. The unexpected transformation of Jack into Jacqueline and the subsequent wedding. Some kind of humpbacked mountain right :)

2. 16-year-olds talk too much like adults. Maybe in 1955, young people were so zealously interested in politics that they knew about all the committees, types of government, methods of government, official marriages, etc. Some too businesslike guys. No one is fooling around, everyone is so solid, conscious ... I was embarrassed all the way.

And the ending is great! And with reporters a cool episode, and a conversation at home. I immediately remembered “Is it easy to be a king” by Paul Andersen. Also from the princes in the dirt.

Acquaintance with the work of Heinlein will be happy to continue.

Score: 9

Liked the book. The author managed to interest the reader at the beginning without long and boring prefaces, to outline a clear, believable and interesting world. The book focuses on situations of a social, moral and psychological nature, and in accordance with them, people's actions. Most likely, it is precisely this direction of the narrative that does not allow us to fully reveal the character of the protagonist (at least for me). Survive and save a drop of civilization - it is with these tasks that the heroes of the novel will cope. And the fact that the characters are mostly teenagers is not at all accidental, because the problems in the novel (not all of course) in real life appear just at this age, which makes this book a good literature for the development of young people.

There are, however, some minor disadvantages, such as

Spoiler (plot reveal) (click on it to see)

“stobors”, “sleepy rabbits”, or rather their description, after which it is simply impossible to perceive them as the reason for the mass migration of animals. And in the “sleepy” state, they should have all died of hunger, because they pose almost no danger. It can be seen that the modeling of new animals, in contrast to social situations, was not the strong point of the author.

In general, we are aware that man is a very dangerous and very adaptable creature. I agree with the author that survival skills will be needed by humanity even in the distant future.

This is the first time I have read such a work and there is simply nothing to compare it with, and therefore I will not rate it.

Rating: no

I already once wrote that I have a weakness for retro-futurism. This is probably due to nostalgic memories of the pre-computer era, when one could find a bundle of Soviet science magazines tied with twine in grandfather's garage, under a workbench.

Pages buffy from dampness with faded pictures of astronauts and spaceships... Space at the time of their release was more of a romantic phenomenon. Its secrets prompted scientists, writers and journalists to build numerous conjectures and hypotheses. Everyone at the same time wanted to know what the starry sky was hiding, and to preserve this enigmatism of the unknown that tickled the imagination. That's probably why I've always enjoyed reading old-school science fiction books. The first flight into space has not yet taken place. They had only - a typewriter, more or less knowledge of physics, mathematics and chemistry (and sometimes not even that), a pipe stuffed with tobacco and long hours of the night. They created their own cosmos, using nothing but the stars, in a tiny window in, say, a garage.

Heinlein was one of those dreamers. And I undertook to read his book simply because I saw a retro-futuristic picture on the cover. Sometimes this little is enough. At that time, I did not yet know that both novels from this volume belonged to the For Youth series. It might be better that way. ⠀ I have not read with such appetite for a long time. As already mentioned in the review of Neuromancer, over the past 5-6 years I have eaten modernist literature with its lack of plot, anemic reflection and, often, cumbersome style. Heinlein writes very professionally. That's the word that comes to mind. His prose is both rich in events, moderately psychological, and the characters evoke a feeling of empathy. You think and rest at the same time.

The heroes of both novels are young people who are forced to fight for their lives in a hostile and unfamiliar environment. The will and human dignity are always put at the forefront. Someone shows these qualities, being on the verge of death, someone makes a deal with conscience, passes, betrays. The works have similar features, which, apparently, generally distinguish the “youthful cycle” and, most likely, were thought out by Heinlein in advance: ⠀

▫️ Good and evil here, as in a fairy tale, are clearly demarcated. There are practically no conflicting characters. Except for one, very, by the way, interestingly drawn, in "The Tunnel to the Sky"; ▫️ The best manifestations of the "human" always, one way or another, win everything and everything; ▫️ The works invariably carry a humanistic message; ▫️ Description of technical points is extremely scientific. The old school generally made a special bet on this. Many of them were apparently proud of their knowledge and wanted to reconcile the romantic mood with plausible justifications in their novels. Sterling, in the preface to Gibson's collection of short stories, wrote that it was precisely because of this desire that many works of old-school science fiction writers grew old prematurely. After all, progress every year throws their hypotheses further and further into the realm of the naive; ▫️ The characters are very similar, and their dialogues resemble a conversation with oneself of the same character, who is usually sharp-tongued beyond his years, prone to strange, slightly discouraging bravado and reckless heroism. From this, novels lose their truthfulness, but gain lightness; ▫️ The thought of the immensity of the world in which we live sounds like a refrain. Distant galaxies inhabited by mysterious races are always mentioned. ⠀ I was familiar with the work of Heinlein before. He read his most famous, multi-layered novel "Stranger in a Strange Land". In this case, the prose really turned out to be more focused on a teenage audience. That is why it so organically fit into the somewhat naive and so dear to my heart aesthetics of retro-futurism. I enjoyed reading a lot. If you want to relax and nostalgic, I highly recommend it.

Robert Heinlein

Tunnel in the sky

Chapter 1. MARCHING CROWS.

The bulletin board outside Lecture Room 1712-A at Patrick Henry High School was lit with flashes of red light. Rod Walker pushed his way through the crowd of students, trying to make out the notice on the blackboard. He felt a jolt in his stomach and heard:

- Hey! Stop pushing!

- I apologize. Take it easy, Jimmy, - Rod grabbed Jimmy Throxton's elbow with a submission hold, but did not squeeze. Craning his neck, he looked over Jimmy's head. - What's the announcement?

- There will be no classes today.

- Because tomorrow "Ave, Caesar, going to death ..."

– That's how! Rod felt a heaviness in his stomach, as always before an exam.

The crowd parted, and he was able to read the announcement:

PATRICK HENRY HIGH SCHOOL

DIVISION OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

Special Announcement to All Students of Course 410 (Choosing the Higher Seminar) Who Successfully Completed the Survival Course, Instructor Dr. Matson, 1712-A, MBT

1. There will be no classes on Friday the 14th.

2. Twenty-four hours of preparation for the final exam in the Solo Survival Course is hereby declared. Students are required to report at 9:00 am on Saturday to the Templeton EXIT area and at 10:00 am begin to pass the EXIT at 3-minute intervals.

3. Test conditions:

a) any planet, any climate, any territory;

b) no rules, any weapons, any equipment;

c) grouping is allowed, but groups will not be passed through the OUTPUT together;

d) the duration of the test is not less than forty-eight hours and not more than ten days.

5. The test may be postponed only by decision of the examination committee, but any student may refuse it without administrative penalty until 10-00 Saturday.

6. Good luck and long life to all of you!

B.P. Matson.

I affirm: J. R. Roerich, for the Council."

Rod Walker read the ad slowly, trying to calm his nervous trembling. He looked again at the conditions of the test - but these are not conditions, but their complete absence. No restrictions! They will throw you out the EXIT and the next moment you could be face to face with a polar bear in 40 degrees below zero or fighting an octopus deep in warm salt water. Or face a three-headed monster on a planet you've never heard of.

He heard someone's soprano:

“Twenty-four hours of training!” But there are less than twenty hours left. Not fair.

The other girl replied:

- Who cares? I would like to start immediately. Don't close your eyes at night anyway.

“But if twenty-four hours of training is promised to us, we must receive it.

The second student, a tall and strong Zulu, chuckled.

“Tell that to the Deacon.

Rod turned away and pulled Jimmy Throxton with him. He knew what 'Deacon' Mattson would have said, something about justice being out of place on the survival test. He thought about the temptation hidden in the fifth paragraph of the ad: no one would judge him if he dropped out of the course. After all, Survival was just one of the university courses; he could have finished college without it.

But deep down he knew that if he did not calm his nerves now, he would never be able to complete the course later. Jimmy asked uneasily:

What do you think of this, Rod?

- I think everything will be all right. But I would like to know if it is necessary to wear warm underwear. Do you think the Deacon might give us a hint?

- He? Only not him! He thinks that a broken leg is a great joke. This man is ready to eat his own grandmother... without salt.

- Let's go to! He eats with salt. Yes, Jim. Have you seen what it says about groups?

- And what? Jimmy rolled his eyes.

Rod felt irritated. He hinted, as delicately as he would propose to a girl, that he was ready to spend his whole life in the same basket with Jimmy. The biggest risk in a single trial was that the person would eventually have to fall asleep, at least for a little while. The test in the group reduced this danger - while one sleeps, the other is awake.

Jimmy should have known that Rod was stronger than him, both armed and unarmed; the offer was favorable to him. However, he hesitated, as if he didn't want to give Rod an advantage.

- What's the matter, Jim? Rod asked coldly. Do you think it's safer to go alone?

- No, of course not.

"Maybe you don't want to team up with me?"

No, no, I didn't think so!

"Then what did you think?"

“I thought… Rod, I am very grateful to you. I won't forget this. But the ad says something else.

- About what?

“It says we should kick this damned course and graduate from college. And I am happy when I remember that there will no longer be a need to retail trousers.

“I thought you were proud to be a highly educated lawyer.

- Such an exotic jurisprudence loses all its attractiveness ... But what should I care about? My old people will be happy to know that I remain loyal to the family business.

Does that mean you're scared?

Well, there's only one way to avoid it. What do you think?

Rod took a deep breath.

- Yes. I got scared too.

- God! Now, together, let's demonstrate the best way to survive by going to the college office and putting our names on the list of those who refused the exam.

- Oh no! You will go alone.

- You're staying?

– Rod, have you seen the statistics of the latest releases?

- Not. And I don't want to. Bye.

Rod quickly turned and walked into the auditorium, Jimmy's worried gaze following.

About a dozen students of the higher seminar gathered in the auditorium. Dr. Mattson, the "Deacon," was sitting at the edge of the table, and his manner was quite casual. He was a thin man of small stature, with a yellow face and a patch over one eye; three fingers were missing from his left hand. There are three narrow ribbons on the chest, which meant that he took part in the first three famous expeditions; a tiny diamond on one of them testified that he was the only survivor on this expedition. Rod settled in the second row. The eyes of Matson, the "Deacon", lashed out at him, then the instructor continued.

"I don't understand the displeasure," he said cheerfully. “The terms say 'any weapon', so you can defend yourself in any way, from a sling to a cobalt bomb. I thought that you would be admitted to the final exam with bare hands, even without a nail file. But the Board of Education did not agree, so we were forced to turn the exam into a test for sissies.

“But, doctor, perhaps the Council knows that we will have to fight dangerous animals?”

- O, sure! With the most dangerous!

Doctor, is this true?

“Then I think it’s better to go to Mithra and watch Bigfoot there than to be on Terra with leopards.” Am I wrong?

The deacon shook his head hopelessly.

- My boy, with such knowledge you will not complete the course. These stupid creatures are not dangerous at all.

“But Jesper in Predators and Prey says that the most cunning, the most dangerous—”

“Crazy aunt Jesper!” I'm talking about the true king of beasts, the only animal that is always dangerous, even when not hungry. About a two-legged monster. Take a look around you!

The instructor leaned forward.

“I've told you this a thousand times, but you still don't believe me. Man is the only animal that cannot be tamed. When it suits him, he behaves peacefully like a cow for years. But when the world is unfavorable to him, he is more dangerous than a leopard. This is especially true for women. Take another look around. You are all friends. You have all gone through field survival tests together, you can rely on each other. So? Read about the Donner party or the first Venus expedition. One way or another, during tests in space, various situations that are unfamiliar to you may arise. Dr. Matson fixed his gaze on Roda. “I would not like to see any of you after this ordeal. Some of you are typical city dwellers by nature. I'm afraid I didn't get it into your heads that you won't meet a policeman there. But I will not shake hands with you if you allow a stupid

A red light flashed on the bulletin board outside auditorium 1712-A of Patrick Henry High School. Rod Walker tried to push his way through the crowd of students to see what the advertisement was, but he was immediately elbowed in the stomach and advised not to push.

I'm sorry, Jimmy, I didn't do it on purpose. - Rod clamped his elbow in a wrestling hold, but did not press and, stretching his neck over Jimmy Throxton's head, asked: - What is there?

There will be no classes today.

One of those standing near the blackboard answered him:

Because tomorrow starts Ave, Caesar, morituri te salutant!

Seriously? - Rod felt that everything inside him was compressed into a tight knot, as it usually happens before exams. Then someone moved aside, and he finally read the announcement:

PATRIK HENRY HIGH SCHOOL

Department of Social Sciences

ATTENTION to all students of course 410 (optional seminar for high school students)

"Survival: Additional Information".

Tool - Dr Mattson. 1712-A.

1. Classes are canceled on Friday the 14th.

2. Hereby declared twenty-four hour readiness to the final solo survival exam. Course participants are required to report for a medical examination at 9:00 a.m. at the dispensary at Templeton Terminal and at 10:00 a.m. at three-minute intervals will begin to pass through the gates in the order established by lot.

3. TEST CONDITIONS:

a) any planet, any climate, any terrain;

b) none rules, weapons any, equipment any;

in) allowed to join groups, but the members of the groups will go through the gate separately;

G) exam duration- not less than forty-eight hours and not more than ten days;

5. The test can be rescheduled only on the recommendation of a doctor, however, any student has the right to withdraw without any administrative consequences until 10.00 Saturday.

6. Good luck and long life to you all!

Signed - B.P. Matson, d.s.

Approved by: J. R. Rorich, Member of the Board of Directors.

Trying to calm his excitement, Rod Walker slowly re-read the ad. Read the terms and conditions again. However, what are the conditions? It is rather “no conditions at all”, the complete absence of any restrictions! You can be thrown through the gate, and the next moment you will face a polar bear in a temperature of minus forty or you will grapple with an octopus in warm salt water.

Or, he thought, you'll find yourself in front of some three-headed monster, and on a planet that you've never heard of before.

Someone on the sidelines complained:

Twenty-four hour readiness! Yes, there are less than twenty hours left. It's just not fair!

Who cares? - responded the second girl. - It would be better if they started right now. I won't sleep tonight anyway.

But if we're supposed to have twenty-four hours to prepare, it should be twenty-four hours. For everything to be fair.

Another participant in future trials, a tall Zulu girl, chuckled softly:

And you go tell the Master about it.

Rod got out of the crowd and pulled Jimmy Throxton out with him. He seemed to already know that "Master" Matson could respond to such claims. Justice, they say, has nothing to do with survival. However, the fifth point made me think for a while: no one will reproach him if he decides to quit this course. In the end, "Survival: Additional Information" is an institute course; a school certificate will be issued without it.

But he knew that if he chickened out now, he would never have the courage for a second run.

And how do you like it all, Rod? Jimmy asked nervously.

I guess it's no big deal. I would only like to know whether it is worth wearing fleece underpants. What do you think, maybe the Master will give a hint?

Wait! He has a bit of a sense of humor. And in general, this type will eat his own grandmother - he will not wince, and without salt.

Well, you screwed it up. He won't eat without salt... Look, Jim... Did you see what it says about bands?

Yes, why? Jimmy looked away.

Rod felt a fleeting surge of irritation. After all, he was trying to make an offer, no less responsible than, say, when you offer a girl a hand and a heart. He invited him to unite and fight for life together. The biggest danger of a solitary trial is that its participant, whether he likes it or not, must sleep at least sometimes. With a partner, you can share the watch and take turns on duty.

Jimmy knew full well that Rod was better prepared, both armed and unarmed. The offer was clearly in his favor. Still, he hesitated, as if he thought it would be easier without Rod.

What's the matter, Jim? Rod asked warily. "Do you think it's safer to be alone?"

No, that's not the point...

Are you saying you'd rather deal with someone else?

No, what are you! I didn't mean it at all.

And then what?

I mean... Look, Rod, I'm really, really grateful to you and I'll never forget that. But there was more to the ad...

What exactly?

It says you can drop out of this course and still finish school. And I just remembered that it is not needed at all for the clothing trade.

Like this? After all, you were going to be a generalist lawyer.

It turns out that the extraterrestrial field of jurisprudence will lose its brightest star ... And God bless her. My old man will be very happy when he finds out that I have decided to continue the family business.

In short, you are afraid.

It is possible to say so. And you?

Rod took a deep breath.

I am also afraid.

Shine! Let's show a classic example of survival together - let's go to the secretariat in orderly rows and bravely sign the refusal lists.

Mmm... no. But you go.

Will you submit?

Listen, Rod, have you seen the stats for last year's edition?

No. And I don't want to see anything. Bye. Rod turned abruptly and moved toward the auditorium door. Jimmy remained where he was, watching him with a worried look.

More than a dozen course participants were seated in the auditorium. Dr. Matson, known as the Master, was sitting on the edge of his chair with his leg tucked under him, speaking in a rather frivolous manner. He was small, wiry, with a thin face. One eye was covered with a black patch, and three fingers were missing from her left hand. On the chest of the instructor gleamed miniature medal bars for participation in three very famous first expeditions; one of the bars was adorned with a tiny diamond constellation, which meant that he was the only one who remained alive after this expedition.

Rod slipped into the second row. The master moved his eye in his direction, but did not stop.

“…I don’t understand what you are complaining about,” he said good-naturedly. - The conditions say "any weapon", so you can take anything for defense - from a slingshot to a cobalt bomb. I personally think that the final check should be done with bare hands. To not even have a nail file. But the Board of Education does not agree, and therefore the exam will be held in such hothouse conditions.

Uh-uh... Doctor, so the council knows we're going to run into dangerous animals?

BUT? Be sure to face the most dangerous animal in the world.

If it's not just a figure of speech...

Of course no!

Then we are either sent to Mithra, where the snow monkeys live, or thrown somewhere here on Earth, where we will encounter leopards. I'm right?

The master shook his head in disappointment.

Scribner's (youthful) cycle - 9

1. MARCHING CROWS

The bulletin board outside Lecture Room 1712-A at Patrick Henry High School was lit with flashes of red light. Rod Walker pushed his way through the crowd of students, trying to make out the notice on the blackboard. He felt a jolt in his stomach and heard:

Hey! Stop pushing!

I beg your pardon. Take it easy, Jimmy, - Rod grabbed Jimmy Throxton's elbow with a submission hold, but did not squeeze. Craning his neck, he looked over Jimmy's head. - What's the announcement?

There will be no classes today.

Because tomorrow "Ave, Caesar, going to death ..."

That's how! - Rod felt heaviness in the stomach, as always before the exam.

The crowd parted, and he was able to read the announcement:

PATRICK HENRY HIGH SCHOOL

DIVISION OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

Special Announcement to All Students of Course 410 (Choosing the Higher Seminar) Who Successfully Completed the Survival Course, Instructor Dr. Matson, 1712-A, MBT

1. There will be no classes on Friday the 14th.

2. Twenty-four hours of preparation for the final exam in the Solo Survival Course is hereby declared. Students are required to report at 9:00 am on Saturday to the Templeton EXIT area and at 10:00 am begin to pass the EXIT at 3-minute intervals.

3. Test conditions: a) any planet, any climate, any territory; b) no rules, any weapons, any equipment; c) grouping is allowed, but groups will not be passed through the OUTPUT together; d) the duration of the test is not less than forty-eight hours and not more than ten days.

5. The test may be postponed only by decision of the examination committee, but any student may refuse it without administrative penalty until 10-00 Saturday.

6. Good luck and long life to all of you! B.P. Matson.

I affirm: J. R. Roerich, for the Council."

Rod Walker read the ad slowly, trying to calm his nervous trembling. He looked again at the conditions of the test - but these are not conditions, but their complete absence. No restrictions! They will throw you out the EXIT and the next moment you could be face to face with a polar bear in 40 degrees below zero or fighting an octopus deep in warm salt water. Or face a three-headed monster on a planet you've never heard of.

He heard someone's soprano:

Twenty-four hour preparation! But there are less than twenty hours left. Not fair.

The other girl replied:

Who cares? I would like to start immediately. Don't close your eyes at night anyway.

But if twenty-four hours of training is promised to us, we must receive it.

The second student, a tall and strong Zulu, chuckled.

Tell that to the Deacon.

Rod turned away and pulled Jimmy Throxton with him. He knew what "Deacon" Matson would have said - something about justice being out of place on the survival test. He thought about the temptation hidden in the fifth paragraph of the ad: no one would judge him if he dropped out of the course. After all, "Survival" was just one of the university courses; he could have finished college without it.

But deep down he knew that if he did not calm his nerves now, he would never be able to complete the course later. Jimmy asked uneasily:

What do you think of this, Rod?

I think everything will be ok. But I would like to know if it is necessary to wear warm underwear. Do you think the Deacon might give us a hint?

He? Only not him! He thinks that a broken leg is a great joke. This man is ready to eat his own grandmother... without salt.

Let's go to! He eats with salt.