Portartur
1940
Boris Trofimov
© Boris Trofimov, 2019
Created with Ridero smart publishing system
Portartur
Part one
Chapter one
one
Tikhon Podkovin fun counting down the steps of the wide staircase, heading for the exit. An hour ago, the secretary of the Irkutsk Court of Justice told him:
You can be our registrar.
The huge words on the marble plaque Truth and mercy and reign in the courts today seemed to him especially important.
In the evening, at the insistence of his sister, Fima, and her friend Vari Berezkina, Tikhon explained in detail how he was produced to the registrars.
Varya laughed loudly.
So everything will go well, she said. You will be an official soon.
It will go But I will not be an official. You need a higher education. I even will not reach the regular registrar.
Varya looked inquiringly at Tikhon.
You still forget that I should go to the soldiers
Varya lived in the same yard with her mother-nurse and her brother in the same room.
I never even took my hand, the girl thought, running across the courtyard. What is he like? Dont you dare or not love?
Mother Wari sat at the table and sewed.
Tikhon registrar appointed.
I did not doubt him. He can be appointed as clerk.
And he says: I will not be an official. Soldatchina hurt.
Reasonable guy. He will not marry before the end of military service.
Varya sighed heavily. Mother looked at her daughter.
I approve Tikhon. You should not marry head-on, a lot of family soldiers have misfortunes We will wait. He is more than a year old before being drafted
Varya turned away and began to uneasily smooth her dark hair; her wet eyelashes shuddered.
2
Prior to entering the court chamber, Podkovin was a clerk in the fish shop of a merchant Kytmanov. He was tired of naughty lady-buyers. But in the clerical work, he did not find satisfaction.
Two years in the court of justice, four in military service, and then to new places, to the Siberian rivers, Tikhon often thought.
Six months ago, he met the family of merchant Rychagov. From his son, Elisha, he took books for self-education.
Shortly before this acquaintance, young Rychagov traveled to Port Arthur. It was necessary to look after a place for trading activities, and in Manchuria, new cities were being built, a railway was built.
The Far East needs us like air, Elisha liked to say. We Russians must master it.
During the conversation, Elisha often closed his eyes. He stood leaning against the wall, leaning his left hand on the back of a chair. A rant and a game with a chair jarred Tikhon.
A hanging lamp lit the table at which the Levers-Father sat. On the lean and oblong face of the old man, a grin wandered.
If we do not fortify ourselves in Manchuria, continued Elisha, then the Americans or the Japanese will fit in there.
Japanese!.. Father exclaimed, Trifty country, hairdressers. Danger from the British, but most likely from the Germans.
Young Levers leaned forward, leaning on the back of a chair.
Youre right, dad. However, the British would elect the Japanese against us. And we will overcome them! In Port Arthur are our warships.
Have you been to them? asked Podkovin.
was. And the port-arturskie forts saw. They are disguised, prepared several lines of defense. But we hardly have to fight on land. The Russian fleet will not allow the enemy to go ashore. The fortress is being built just in case Now the emphasis is on expanding economic influence. We need a non-freezing trade port, and the port of Dalny will be such a port.
Why didnt you choose a place for yourself there?
We have with you, Dad, pocket thin. To work in the Far or in Harbin, you need capital. The Chinese are first-class merchants and it is very difficult to compete with them. To look around and grow roots among them money is required. Well move there for a year or two. And during this time there will finish the fortress and strengthen the fleet.
Heather boy, said the old man and pushed Shoe in the side. Although, to tell the truth, this is a good deal to miss.
In vain worried. We not only Amur region is waiting for enterprising people. And you, and especially us with Tikhon work enough.
Tikhon must go to the soldiers, remarked Elishas mother. He will serve his term and nothing will happen to him.
What if the war?
There will be no war.
3
Talk about Port Arthur was often conducted in the court of justice, where Podkovin worked. One morning, the secretary of the office, Nikolai Vasilyevich Delusto, rummaged in folders and filed a signature list for the lawyers.
Gentlemen, a cathedral is being built in the fortress of Port Arthur. Donate as much as you can.
The first on the sheet signed a young lawyer Patushinsky.
They say our new fortress will be an impregnable stronghold. The Russian command also took into account local conditions and the latest data from the engineering of military science, he said.
Whom will she have to deal with? Interviewed Delyusto.
Undoubtedly, with the Japanese, the sworn attorney Stravinsky said, signing for a hundred rubles.
In this case, the fortress will be idle! Patushinsky exclaimed. The Japanese will not be allowed to land.
The enthusiasm is characteristic of youth, the famous defender Zverev interfered in the conversation. But the enthusiasm before the beginning of the case is harmful, because it does not allow to study the danger in detail. Meanwhile, Japan is growing by leaps and bounds.
Japan likes to compare itself with the UK, but its a pimple, said Patushinsky.
Moreover, all the more Acne is different. And you need to approach them skillfully, and then a malignant tumor can form.
According to the latest data, more than two million rubles have been released to Port Arthur. There are several commissions from military specialists. Probably, not only we, Ivan Nikolaevich, are concerned about protecting our state interests, said Stravinsky, who did not like Zverev and was jealous of him.
Thats right, Rafail Sigismundovich. Your concreteness is known to all. But we must not forget that Japan is not alone. In addition, the theater of military operations will be, figuratively speaking, three steps from it and ten thousand miles from our center. There are rumors about the slow equipment of the fortress Good would go there and see By the way, why hasnt there ever been an exit session of the court chamber? Nikolai Vasilyevich, what is your opinion on this matter?
Cases from there comes decently. Treasury money, unscrupulous contractors By the spring it will be possible to come up with something.
The bell rang. All went to the meeting room.
four
On the last Sunday of January Valya Inova came to the Podkovins. Tikhon met her on the third day of Christmas at Rychagov.
Come to us now, suggested Valya Tikhon and his sister. Our people left for the village, and no one will interfere with us I am afraid that we will soon leave Irkutsk. Pape offer a very profitable service in the Far East. Im sorry to part with you, but apparently Ill have to.
Tikhon began to dissuade.
And do not think. What kind of news?.. Come on, lets go!..
The apartment of the bank clerk Modest Vladimirovich Inov was large and luxuriously furnished. Nobody came before dusk. Valya played the piano, Tikhon sang. Fima looked at illustrations in the rich editions of the Inov library.
From you, Tikhon, you can make a singer, even for the stage.
I would never become an artist. But I love to sing. Occasionally sing something for friends is not bad.
Vale suddenly wanted to explain to Tikhon.
For Wari?
Varya is a good girl, but I did not give her any reason
I can see
Tikhons cheeks were covered with a blush.
Listen, Quiet, I want to give you a riddle. Are you offended by my joke?
I am afraid of your jokes only in a big company. Speak
You decided to marry, and you have two beauties in mind. Both of them you like, and you are sure of success. In what order would you make an offer?
First to you and last Vare. Im sure of her, but you are not. And if I had made an offer to Vare, I could not have given you pleasure.
Thats what you are mocking But you would have lost. Would I have missed such a falcon?
Valya laughed loudly.
And what kind of mansion will I take my fairy to?
Won that came up! We have a different social position, you are the son of a peasant But the heart, not the reason, participates in the choice of the beloved, said Valya.
All this is correct, but not for the husband, but for the beloved.
Youre intolerable boy, bit her lip, answered Valya. You argue like an old man, but you, with your dark gray eyes, lad
In May, the Inovs were to go to Harbin, and in late April it became known: the session of the court chamber would travel to the Far East in June. Tikhon was included in the session.
One of your trips can justify your work as a registrar, said Valya, having heard the news that was pleasant for Podkov.
Tikhon looked at the girl with embarrassment. His heart was beating fast.
five
The fertile plains of Manchuria turned around the Khingan Range before the Podkovin and judicial officials who left Irkutsk for a session. Around treeless, hilly expanse. There were still few villages, but herds of cows were often encountered. The train crossed fields with thick thickets of kaolin and corn. On high beds green soybeans. The fields sown by her seemed like striped fabric.
Delyusto and a member of the judicial chamber Kostinsky did not move away from the carriage window. The comrade of the prosecutor Yerakov, the defender Zverev, the member of the chamber Malinovsky and the chairman of the civil department Baron Taube played cards.
A rich country lies at our side. Wild and desert country. Even the Chinese learned about its economic opportunities only after the Russian Chinese-Eastern Railway, said Delyusto.
The Chinese should be grateful to the Russians for this road, said Baron Taube.
Mmmmm, muttered Zverev, smiling crookedly.
Along the roadway, after three or four kilometers, small fortresses of the railway guard, built to protect them from the Hunhuz, adorned the raids, still flaunted.
Behind Sungarii Bridge, on a large plain, noisy Harbin grew fabulously fast. On the river near the piers there were a dozen and a half beautiful river steamers plying along the Sungari and the Amur from Harbin to Blagoveshchensk, Khabarovsk and Nikolaevsk. Life in Harbin was in full swing.Huge flat-bottomed barges loaded wheat, beans, bean oil, barley, and eggs. The pipes of flour mills continuously smoked. At the stations, the products were fabulously cheap. The edge rose to life.
The sotolok of the Harbin station stunned Tikhon. Thick crowd of Chinese buzzing on the platform. It was difficult to get through it. Every now and then he was snatching a suitcase with the proposal to take him to the hotel.
Tikhon, Tikhonya! Podkovin heard a female voice behind him. Where are you in a hurry?
Valya!
Podkovin flushed and lowered his eyes. He became happy, and at the same time something confused him. He was confused.
Yes hello! Valya grabbed Tikhon by her free hand and kissed her cheek. Not expected? Fima is well done, telegraphed.
Placing the suitcase, Tikhon took Valya by the hand, looked into her eyes:
Hello, Valya!
Oh, my God, how I missed Irkutsk You have completely changed. A tunic suits you.
Podkovin looked at the judicial officials.
You need to talk with the secretary! Lets go together.
Delas was surprised. Valya met him and said:
Today release Tikhon Stepanovich to us. We were friends with his sister when I lived in Irkutsk. Tomorrow morning, he will come to you, wherever you indicate.
I am very happy. Tomorrow he can find us in the hotel Far East.
While members of the court chamber sat on dirty cabby cabs, Valya and Tikhon drove past them on a pair of well-groomed horses harnessed to a brand new carriage.
Seems our registrar? asked. Malinovsky.
Yes, Delauce laughed. Today he was met by the daughter of a local bank employee. The guy is growing!..
A sign of the times! exclaimed Zverev.
6
The train raced between the hills. On the left stood jagged mountain. Podkovina satellites were military and two merchants. Mount Samson, said the soldier. We will see Kinzhou soon. The strongest position! And here are the first fortifications of the Kvantunsky Peninsula, see trench belts.
On the left, the Gulf of Tiena was spread. The morning was quiet. The sea drew on itself, and Podkovin did not want to think about war and fortifications. He was full of experiences from Harbin. And at the same time, some awkwardness confused him. It seemed to him that in Harbin, in the presence of Vali, he did and did not say what was necessary.
That seems to love and suddenly so much doubt! I am afraid of her, I do not believe her, and therefore I cannot love her. But there is no mile and no find. Soon parted forever. For her, I am a toy, a hopeless raznochinets
At a train station in the city of Far, an unfamiliar fair-haired man approached Podkovina.