The Target Page #2

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in a mobile customs unit.

- Which one?

- On the Route.

- Guanjou - Paris?

- Yes. East-West.

So you are riding high.

- Here's to victory!

- And to our acquaintance!

Brother dear, how are you?

I want to set off with

the Creator of Things

climb on the

Light-and-Lissome bird,

and soar beyond the six directions

into the Boundless field.

By the way, Nikolai's

flying with us tomorrow.

Really?

Why didn't you tell me?

I'm like a cuckold,

always the last to know.

- Will we all fit?

- You don't want Nikolai with us?

- No, it's just a... a practical...

- We'll fit. He's brought you luck.

Let him come. I don't mind.

And why do YOU need it?

I'm a thrill seeker.

It's my life, my calling.

I still don't really understand

what it's all about.

Zoya, you'll see for yourself,

people come back like newborns.

- They stop aging?

- Isn't it a bit early for you?

And you?

If things go really badly,

call this number.

Things that are

hard to get cause harm.

Everything will be OK.

See you tomorrow.

Viktor, why did you give money

to that loser?

Mitya, you don't like people.

But twice a week

they really love me.

"Ni Hao". Hello.

Joining you again, it's me, Anna,

your hostess for our program...

"Chur Ji Hanyu"

"Chinese for Dummies"

Before we start the next chapter,

I suggest we share

a cup of Chinese tea.

And then, as Lao Tzu said,

"Tian di xiang he yi xiang gan lu

min mo zhi ling er zi jun."

So, we walk into a "cha guan".

It is located at "guinea shu".

We sit down at a "zhouzi".

We are approached by a "xiaojie"

who asks a typical question:

"Ni yao shenme?"

What kind of tea do you prefer?

"Hongcha? Molihuacha? Lucha?"

Choosing tea is not only choosing

your mood, but also "jieguo".

- Who is that?

- A woman.

She hosts the program

"Chinese for Dummies".

You like her voice?

Very much.

My Viktor is fluent in Chinese.

Well, not quite.

(Speaks Chinese)

And you, Nikolai?

It depends on the situation.

(Speaks Chinese)

(Speaks Chinese)

I thought that with them you...

Things can always be explained

without throwing punches.

Zoya...

When was the last time

you were rated?

Mitya, I don't need one

because I'm a wife.

Mine's the highest for life.

- What about you, Nikolai?

- First.

That's not bad, either. I didn't

get the highest until last year.

It's the cream of the crop here.

And so what do we all need?

Freedom, youth, and happiness.

Hello!

It's chilly!

Yes, it's cold and dry here.

But the sky is the clearest

in the world.

- No one's waiting for us?

- There's no phone connection here.

- Are you coming?

- Yes.

Get in. Pay in advance.

- How much?

- Fifteen grand.

- Are you crazy?

- Find another car if you want.

OK, it's a deal.

Do you have electricity here?

We have a generator.

We fire it up sometimes.

- How do you live like that?

- How did people live before?

Are you a local?

No, there are just two local

families here. I'm from Kazakhstan.

- Been here long?

- Twenty-two years already.

Did your parents bring you?

What parents! By that time

I already had two sons.

- How old are you?

- Sixty-four. Why?

It's open. The room's

twenty-five grand a day.

Again, you need to pay in advance.

- Do we pay you?

- Who else?

- When do you want to go?

- When should we?

Go now if you want. There are no

lines here. You can go right now.

Then let's go now.

You have to eat beforehand.

I'll pick you up.

- Hello!

- Hello!

Did you pay Valerka?

We paid.

Then get settled in.

Here,

and at the other end

of the corridor.

Here's a washstand.

The toilet's outside.

I'll go check out the facility.

Thank you so much.

You really helped me out.

We don't have a hospital

or pharmacy here.

- The nearest pharmacy's in Tashanta.

- It was no problem.

Could you read the directions?

I can't see without glasses.

Of course.

"...is a synthetic equivalent

of the pineal gland hormone.

It normalizes circadian rhythms,

and regulates

the sleep-wake cycle,

daily changes in locomotor

activity, and body temperature.

Contradictions:

Kidney dysfunctions, autoimmune

diseases, leukemia, lymphoma..."

That's not really important.

"Maximum daily dose: two tablets."

Hello! Pardon my intrusion.

I think I know you.

And I think I've seen

you somewhere too.

You host the program

"Chinese for Dummies".

Yes.

You're Anna Zivers.

I'm Anna Zivers.

And you're Dmitri?

Yes, I'm Dmitri.

I listen to you over and over.

Every day.

Why over and over?

You need Chinese that badly?

It's not that. It's just that

you have a remarkable voice.

- So you're on the radio?

- Yes.

We don't even have a radio here.

- Have you been here long?

- No, since morning.

You came from Moscow?

I was at a resort in Belokurikha.

Some friends there told me

about this place.

Strange.

- Why is that strange?

- It's strange that I met you here.

You look very much

like your voice.

Listen,

I'm famished.

Go to the restaurant.

- Where is it?

- Up on the hill.

Hello!

Hello!

Today we have vegetable soup.

And fried rabbit.

Cute girl.

I almost fell.

- Let's switch seats.

- Thank you.

I was about to suggest the same,

but I was too late.

Anyway, mine's wobbly too.

- How's yours?

- Well...

- Mine's perfect. Want to switch?

- It doesn't matter.

Take your hat off the table.

What's your name?

Taya.

That's a pretty name.

Pretty mysterious.

How many people are living

in your village?

About fifty.

Does this place even have a name?

It used to be called

"Urban Village B-114".

Now it's Bombay.

- Bombay? Why?

- Because it starts with "B".

I thought it was because

it's overpopulated.

Thank you very much.

Valera, who drove us here, said

he's sixty-four. Is it true?

It's true. He has

two grandchildren.

Taya, and how old are you?

I'm fifty-two.

Your carriage awaits.

So what is it, guys?

It's an astrophysical facility

for accumulating

and recording space particles.

There wasn't another one

like it in the USSR.

And why at this particular place?

First, it's the clearest

place in the world.

Second, it's high up

with almost no precipitation.

In '92 the guard was disbanded,

and in '93 everybody left.

Then we came.

- Where are you from?

- From Kazakhstan.

Is this radiation dangerous?

It's not dangerous,

just the opposite.

There it is.

Here it is.

What is it?

The thing. The detector.

The Target.

When everything was working,

they called it the Target.

The retention layer was called

the Target. So that's why.

Their AVIDA ratings

are total nonsense.

According to AVIDA, I'm some kind

of compenstated sociopath.

And my brand is

"Agressive Ranger".

Can you imagine? And according to

ALMATRA I'm a "Zoo Lion"!

Is that better?

I guess you could say yes.

Actually, that's what I feel like.

They keep rating us every year.

- Viktor's personal core is "Minister".

- Really?

I'm joking. Everything

about him is classified.

And what's your class? Highest?

Highest. Why?

I'm fourth class. I don't take

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