The girl, in the form of Bulgakov, became puzzled and only murmured:
- I do not know whether I am worthy ...
The Lucifer pioneer surely proorat:
- Of course it is worthy! - Also shook finger at Bulgakov. - I know that you very much envied pioneers, especially, in process of increase of a physical infirmity.
Here suddenly Lucifer changed again. Though whether suddenly? It is rather a richness organic property of the Satan. Persons not angry, but fiercely hating any templates! Before Bulgakov there was the most natural robot with wings, but with angular forms of the racing car which reared. And on an outstretched arm, it held the most natural TV. Only not that black-and-white primitive that Bulgakov, and with the big color screen got used to see.
The robot Lucifer mechanical, that is reading to separate syllables, by voice said:
- I give the forecast for the future. Russia - Germany, probability of war in ninety three percent. The biggest percent - the beginning in June, 1941 ... Forecast: defeat of Germany by 1945. Probability of a victory of the Third Reich - nineteen percent. In case of the entry in 1941 of Japan, the chance of a victory increases up to forty eight percent, plus twenty four - a neutral outcome. The chance of a victory of the USSR increases the introduction in war of the USA.
The robot suddenly evaporated and on its place there was a boy in a garrison cap and with a red tie again. The Lucifer, seemingly, summed up all results:
- There now, mister Bulgakov. Your Homeland and all Soviet people will overstrain many millions of people will die in the hardest fight during which, and you want that I allowed you to rest in bed in the warm place of an underworld?
Bulgakov, in the form of the girl, turned pale and asked again the Devil:
- Into the account of war with Germany, it is not a joke?
The pioneer Lucifer severely answered:
- Unless with such things joke!
Bulgakov, it is lost twisting the head murmured:
- But there are another seven percent that war between us will not be!
Pioner-Satana splashed a heel on a parquet and having a little frowned eyebrows said:
- It is small probability. Practice of all wars showed what is to be rather to the conflicts, than not to be. And time only increases chances of collision. Though, certainly, there is some probability that the Fuhrer will want to deal with Britain and he will be enraged by bombings of Berlin. Maybe Stalin will be able to lull Hitler and to convince that he is not going to free Europe, on extremely measure in the next years. Knowing Stalin's character if the Fuhrer does not attack, Coba will begin approach with probability in twenty nine percent. And in this case at the USSR huge chances to win far smaller blood.
There came the pause and Bulgakov asked Mephistopheles in a garrison cap:
- But you such Almighty ... Why to you in general, completely not to prevent war with Germany ... - And it is resolute, having waved a hand, added: - And with all wars around the world!
The boy Lucifer lost fervent tone, and grew dark. Then on its place there was a beautiful girl, in a sacking and chains on the brought-down, bare feet. The touching little girl from under whose fragmentary sacking, crimson shone is even fresher, the brand half inflamed, very sad voice said:
- Over Earth I am not imperious. Any power there from God! And we can influence wars only indirectly! Sorry, but only hell, this place where so far God does not turn my Creation into a scorching heat! So that ...
Again there was a guy in a garrison cap and loudly finished: - You can be consoled in the fact that in hell there is always a place for a feat and it is impossible to die!
Bulgakov, in the course of writing "Mastera and Margarita", re-read various literature, including on communication of the Devil with people much. The Satan really often tests people and gives them tasks for which, in case of their successful execution can give an award. However, the transaction with the devil, does not guarantee paradise on Earth. Though hell, with his sufferings, looks nevertheless far more interestingly than the sublunary planet. But least of all Bulgakov wanted to appear on real war.
He is not a maniac or, any romantically adjusted boy. During a time to think that Lucifer, revenges such sophisticated way it for "Mastera and Margarita". Maybe really Voland's image, caused some feeling of irritation. The ... Malchishka-Dyavol interrupted reflections of the writer with a ringing laughter:
- Well you also give ... Yes can in all hell nobody is as dear to me as you!
The Satan gave a whistle and scenery began to change again. And the ringing voice added:
- Before leaving to make feats, it is necessary to hold a friendly party with kind friends.
Bulgakov sighed, remembered a ball of the Satan and "refined" public ... The little boy Mephistopheles hurried to assure the writer.
- Very interesting people will gather. Beautiful interlocutors and philosophers! Will pleasantly conduct conversation!
Transformation ended and they appeared in huge, sparkling jewelry, unknown on the earth, and topped with statues and falls, the hall. From above, in the improvised sky shone, fifty stars at once. Everyone peculiar and fine, with fancy rosettes, curls, icicles. And these sun replaced artificial lighting. Bulgakov exclaimed:
- Mad embodiment!
The Lucifer noticed:
- Well why the Creator, so stubborn, gives to all stars the form of a sphere? Unless stars cannot be more various and richer?
Bulgakov was not that to object to it. Really, to what to limit a flight of fancy, so far as concerns such fine subject as stars. About the entities which are throwing up light with the unique shades and fibers awakening desire to create.
The enormous hall where there had to be a magnificent feast, struck with the luxury and abundance of jewelry. And, each decoration, real masterpiece of the fine arts of the unique image of drawings. Possibly, really created by the most talented masters of the planet Earth who received a new haven in hell.
The Lucifer remained a boy in a garrison cap and with a red tie. Only boots disappeared from legs. The girl who arose from air hardly covered with threads from jewels began to mass to the Satan of a heel and anklebone. That, zaurchav from pleasure, presented the girl:
- This is the world famous countess Genoveva de Sez. How many innocent souls ruined because of animal jealousy!
The countess bent, submissively kissing Lucifer in brilliant as if luster, a foot and whispered:
- Very much I regret for it great messir!
Unexpectedly, malchik-Satana caught fingers its nose and having slightly squeezed, said:
- Jealousy, this feeling of people defective! They are weak on reason, them it is even a pity for the poor!
Bulgakov, and itself being rather afraid of Omnipotent Mephistopheles, despite his very thoughtless image of the pioneer in shorts, having hardly overcome itself, noticed:
- Can too, for the lady?
The Lucifer burst out laughing and, having released the girl, indulgently said:
- Its it is not sick, and from the master of the Universe underworld such joke is not offensive.
The countess Genevieve too, quite sincerely, agreed:
- Messir is kind and taught me to love for the neighbor!
Bulgakov strongly was surprised:
- And it still as?
The Satan boy nodded supposedly tell. The girl was accepted, tinkling bracelets and brightly sparkling beads, to be filled in with a nightingale:
- The last night before the death penalty was the most awful. Took off a rich dress and all jewelry from me, took away even footwear and forced to dress a dress of the simple peasant. My bare feet strongly froze in a crude chamber, the stomach clenched for hunger as I for dinner was given only not too pure lokhanka. But the most terrible, is even not physical suffering and not in a disgusting way the rats peeping in a condemned cell. The most terrible, it was the wild horror before hell. Especially, the padre on a confession so browbeat me with him .... Moreover and "The divine comedy" of Dante. So terribly there all this is described. - The girl even turned pale and on her pretty face there passed the disturbing wave. - I was kneeling and violently prayed. And before dawn, shivered and weakened, fell asleep. And I dreamed an underworld, huge as the Alpine mountains tongues of flame and a Satan. Such terrible, horned that I cannot even describe it. And when it pierced through me long as a knightly spear a claw, I screamed and in horror woke up. The message that I am already conducted on execution, apprehended nearly with relief. Especially as a condemned cell, dark, in the cellar and very cold, especially for my coddled legs. Before, I was in one of the best rooms of the Bastille, prison for rich people and generally could not complain. And here a terrible jail with rats to whom, however, I did not pay attention.
My stiffened legs turned blue from cold and it was very sick to go. I strongly limped and sighed, jailers supported me. When left in a court yard, the sun stood quite highly and cobble-stones got warm. And then the legs which froze in the cellar, began to ache even stronger, to be poured by blood and to be ill. And me shook on warm air from a fever. On custom, me brought quite big cup of strong wine. I greedy nestled to it. Up to a body began to flow, more precisely, even pleasant heat spread. The fever was gone and terrible leg pain ceased. I could get into the vehicle independently. In my head from drunk rustled and the fear was gone in hop. The peasant's dress that I was graciously given out, was short. I think, can it purposely truncated to steal fabric, and at the same time to humiliate more the prisoner. I went by the open vehicle, showing all naked, red from the flowed blood of a leg and a hand. Let on shoulders hair down, graciously allowed not to cut them. And in general, for my crimes much more cruel and painful execution, than the otrubany heads relied.
I, then one more of the most beautiful women of France, bare-legged and in too frank dress. On me were all eyes, some pointed a finger and, that stood closer, pulled greedy and lewd hands.
Be I sober, probably would burst into tears with shame that I stand as the whore offered for auction: before commoners and the torn-off poor boys. But the wine drunk on a hungry stomach and without snack, awakened in me the demon and extinguished shame. I even purposely pushed bare feet and allowed to touch them. And the piquancy of a similar situation even brought me, touches of rough, dirty hands caused a tickling when ran on fingers, I even zaurchat from pleasure.
Did not pay attention to various insults, as if shouted not at me, and on some it is made other young woman whore. To me even it seemed that it abruptly to show naked legs to hundreds and even thousands devouring me with views of oglodavshy wolves of men, and to allow it me to concern.
But when, at last, the scaffold, with the fleecer of huge growth effortlessly shaking a pole-axe where in one toporishche there is not less than a pood of tempered iron loomed. A mighty giant, I recognized legendary Samson at once (there their whole dynasty of executioners!), me began to rock for fear again ... And painfully pulled out. Wine poured out from an empty stomach, hop evaporated as dew at midday and ... At once the shame returned. I densely reddened, and desperately drew in the naked legs, and in general shrank in shoulders, trying to cover broad cut on a breast. It not too well it turned out, and I tried to cover nakedness of a bust with hair. And here noticed the gray-haired lock which appeared for the terrible night spent in a basement condemned cell in a red shock. And me it became even more terrible.