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.

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

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.

Robert Anson Heinlein

tunnel in the sky

Chapter 1. Marching hordes

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.

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.