Читать книгу: «All at once»

© Eugene Rakhmanov, 2025

ISBN 978-5-0067-6478-1

Created with Ridero smart publishing system

All characters, names, patronymics, surnames, locations, street names, firms, organizations, enterprises, companies, and events described in this book are fictional. Any resemblance to historical events or real people – living or deceased – is purely coincidental.

“Welcome to Krasnosibirsk”

Krasnosibirsk-6.

A small, closed city. High fences topped with barbed wire encircle its perimeter.

Watchtowers manned by armed soldiers of the USSR KGB Border Troops.

The city is strictly classified. Not marked on any maps.

Entry and exit permitted only with special passes.

Population: 19,369.

Core enterprise: Timber Processing Plant.

Logging, woodworking, and pulp/paper production.

The city’s top-secret facility: the V.I. Lenin State Institute of Nuclear Physics.

The city is guarded and supervised by a division of the USSR KGB.

08:00, December 3, 1983

In the auditorium of the V.I. Lenin State Institute of Nuclear Physics, all employees had gathered. They looked exhausted and drained. They yawned, rubbing their reddened eyes with their hands. Each fought sleep as best they could…

The hall was dimly lit, except for the bright lights above the stage. Scientists kept glancing back at the entrance door.

The wait weighed heavily on them…

After a while, confident, loud footsteps shattered the sleepy silence…

A stately, silver-haired elderly man in a white lab coat and glasses stepped onto the small stage. Professor, Theoretical Physicist Eduard Yuryevich Volynitsky.

He scanned the hall and smiled awkwardly. Clearly, he was deeply nervous. The professor wiped sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief. He smiled again, sighed heavily, and began his speech:

– Good morning, comrades! Today…

He stopped abruptly. Swallowed. Anxiety had dried his throat. He cleared his throat, dabbed his forehead, and continued:

– Today, December 3, 1983, at exactly 20:00, we will make our country even greater! Today, we will inscribe our names in the history of our nation’s glorious victories! Remember this day, colleagues. We’ve worked toward it for many years. As for me… I’ve devoted my entire life to it!

The professor removed his glasses, wiped them with his handkerchief, then his forehead, and continued:

– Today, we begin testing the High-Energy Electromagnetic Particle Accelerator, codename Taiga-6. This device will allow us to study – and later control – so-called dark matter… Dark energy! We will be the first in the world to achieve this! By mastering dark matter, we will enter a new era of achievements and inventions. An era of progress! For 15 years, I’ve studied classified materials provided to me from the KGB archives. They became the foundation for the accelerator’s invention. Success didn’t come easily… But as Comrade Stalin said:

– There are no fortresses the Bolsheviks cannot storm! And we’ve conquered this fortress! In my work, I was greatly aided by my close friend and colleague Pavel Konstantinovich Yushkov.

The professor gestured toward a forty-year-old man sitting in the hall, listening spellbound:

– When I was on the verge of despair… when I thought nothing would work… I turned to him. He is one of our country’s most respected and brilliant nuclear physicists! As they say, two heads are better than one! My experience and Pavel Konstantinovich’s unconventional thinking helped us find the solution. It took us five long years… Five long years! Following our blueprints, the finest minds of our great nation assembled the accelerator. And now, our government has entrusted all of us to test this device! This is a tremendous responsibility!

Enormous! You are the best specialists in your fields. Out of hundreds of applicants, you were chosen! You are the best! I’ll never tire of repeating it. They believe in us! And we have no room for error! We will do our job! We will succeed!

Approving shouts erupted in the hall. Everyone was in high spirits. They nodded in agreement and applauded.

– Some of you may think, – the professor continued, – that our government deliberately chose this city because it’s far from Moscow. To avoid endangering themselves! In case the tests fail for some inexplicable reason. That’s not true! I assure you! The accelerator is absolutely safe! This city wasn’t chosen randomly…

It’s surrounded by dense, impassable taiga. The city is well-guarded by KGB personnel. It’s classified! Not on any maps!

It’s the perfect place for our accelerator! For its testing and future operation. So, no need for false panic or rumors. Everything’s fine!

A light murmur swept through the hall…

The professor wiped his forehead again and continued:

– We’ve worked together for a full year! In this wonderful city! Adjusting the accelerator’s settings, calibrating all parameters… Countless hours spent assembling it here at the institute. And by the way… it was designed *specifically* for us! Built day and night for three years! Around the city, tunnels were dug 30 meters deep to house the accelerator’s dipole magnets. Imagine that – encircling the entire city! It was complex, titanic labor! A deep bow to our Soviet builders, engineers, and technicians! To everyone who contributed to this vital project for our nation!

Applause broke out again…

– My friends, I know you’re exhausted! We’ve been awake for 24 hours, conducting final calibrations… But allow me to share the accelerator’s origin story. Until today, it was a secret… I’ll tell you… and then you can finally rest… until 19:00.

So…

On January 7, 1943, Serbian-American scientist and inventor Nikola Tesla was found dead in his hotel room. After his death, U.S. intelligence agencies stole his technical documents, manuscripts, and blueprints. Among them was a black notebook… This very notebook was obtained by a sergeant of the USSR NKVD state security during a covert operation… at the cost of his own life! He was gravely wounded and died in the hospital. Unfortunately, information about him remains classified! We cannot properly honor the hero. But… we still say thank you for his bravery!

That black notebook was delivered directly to the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin. After thorough study, it was stamped “Top Secret” and archived by the KGB.

It was materials from this notebook that formed the basis for inventing the electromagnetic accelerator. Refined and perfected by me and my comrade, Pavel Konstantinovich Yushkov. This is our victory! Victory over the capitalist West and all enemies of our great nation! Tonight, we test the accelerator. And we’ll show the world that the USSR has always been – and will always be – first in everything!

The hall exploded in thunderous, prolonged applause.

 
At the Same Time
08:00, December 3, 1983
Apartment of Andrei Maltsev
 

– Andrei, get up, we’re leaving! – Lyuba shouted to her husband, closing the front door behind her. He opened one eye, barely mustering a reply, but the door slammed shut… Squinting against the bright sunlight from the window, Andrei slowly sat up and swung his legs off the bed. He stretched, yawned, and sat motionless for a few minutes. Finally awake, he stood and shuffled to the bathroom. His wife Lyuba had taken their children, Seryozha and Masha, to school. Then she’d rushed to work. As usual, they were in a hurry… As usual, running late… Andrei’s shift started at 10:00. He *could* have taken the kids to school himself… Helped his wife. Shared responsibilities. But… Lyuba preferred doing everything herself! Not that she didn’t trust her husband… She just did everything better than him! Or so Lyuba believed. And Andrei never argued or contradicted her! He wasn’t henpecked! He simply loved his wife deeply! Andrei was a modest, intellectual man. He loved reading books, learning new things. Loved nature and… quiet. Noisy Moscow depressed him! By chance, he learned that a small carpenter was needed in a closed town deep in the taiga… Andrei accepted the job. Packing his belongings immediately, he left! He and fifty others were escorted by plainclothes KGB officers… Secret city – Andrei understood. It didn’t bother him! It was here he found peace and unity with nature. Here, he met his true love! A woman he fell for at first sight… Lyuba! She became his life’s meaning! Made him the happiest man on earth! Within a month, he proposed…

She gave him two wonderful children. Andrei adored his family! Sadly, work consumed all his time… For his children and wife… he was desperately needed, yet rarely there! Only on weekends could he fully enjoy time with his loved ones! Officially, Andrei was a carpenter. In reality, he was just a loader. Hauled planks onto freight train cars. Afterward, long trains carried them across the vast USSR.

Andrei brushed his teeth, washed up, and headed to the kitchen. Ten minutes later, content, he devoured fried eggs with cracklings. After breakfast, he always approached the tear-off calendar. Ripping off the day’s page, he placed it in the kitchen table drawer. It was his ritual, his hobby! He saved all pages for a full year, then after New Year’s – usually January 1—he’d discard them! And start collecting anew… for the coming year!

– Time for work! – Andrei smiled. He went to his room to dress.

At the Same Time

08:00, December 3, 1983

Office of KGB Border Troops Captain Pyotr Orlov

Pyotr Mikhailovich Orlov was serious, responsible, and punctual. Strict but fair. A patriot! Solidly built, he kept himself battle-ready. He was no darling of fate. A child of war… From earliest childhood, he knew hunger and death… His large brown eyes held so much pain few could withstand his intensely heavy gaze! He rarely smiled. Spoke little. Had almost no friends. People feared him! He had no enemies – for the same reason!

His hair was prematurely white. His heart had no room for tenderness… Once, he’d been happy… made plans, wanted a family, children… Everything collapsed like a house of cards! When the woman he loved more than life left him… Forever! A year ago, his mother died! Orlov was utterly alone! Now, only his work remained… which he did better than anyone!

Years ago, young Pyotr Orlov served his military duty in the border troops… guarding Krasnosibirsk. That’s when he fell in love with this place! Dreamed of returning… Fate granted that chance!

For his dedication and exemplary service, Captain Pyotr Orlov was assigned to the closed city of Krasnosibirsk as company commander. Under him: 60 soldiers, 9 sergeants, 16 officers, and 3 warrant officers.

The company protected the city and its residents, preventing and suppressing crimes and administrative violations. Orlov knew and controlled everything in Krasnosibirsk…

Everything except the V.I. Lenin Institute of Nuclear Physics! Access was restricted to institute personnel only! Whatever happened there was a “Top Secret” mystery.

The phone rang. Captain Orlov picked up:

– Orlov here!

– Comrade Captain, permission to report! Duty Officer Vasilyev! – a crisp, youthful voice came through.

– Permission granted! Report!

– Observation towers one through six: no incidents. Checkpoint of the V.I. Lenin Institute of Nuclear Physics: no incidents! GAI traffic post in the city center: no incidents. At 06:30, patrol detained one intoxicated citizen… Nonviolent! Given a warning and driven home. No other incidents in the city!

– Any requests or complaints from personnel?

– None! – Vasilyev reported.

– Understood! Report anything immediately! You know the drill!

– Yes, Comrade Captain! – Vasilyev replied loudly. – Serving the Soviet Union!

– At ease! – Orlov hung up.

 
Later That Day
13:35, December 3, 1983
V.I. Lenin State Institute of Nuclear Physics
Office of Professor Eduard Yuryevich Volynitsky
 

The professor sat at his desk writing. A knock at the door…

– Yes, yes, come in! – he said.

– Eduard Yuryevich, may I? You called? – Pavel Yushkov asked timidly, peeking around the door.

– Pavel Konstantinovich! Pasha! – The professor rose excitedly and hurried to the door. – What are you saying, my friend? I didn’t call… just asked you to drop by. I need your advice! Your support!

– What’s wrong, Eduard Yuryevich? – Pavel tensed.

– Everything’s fine! Just want to discuss something…

– Eduard Yuryevich, you’re so agitated! Don’t confuse me… tell me straight. What happened?

– My friend… Pasha… The issue is, we lack sufficient power for a full-scale accelerator test!

– Phew… – Pavel exhaled, smiling. – Seriously? Eduard Yuryevich, your fears are unfounded! I assure you! Don’t worry so much. I thought something terrible had happened… you scared me!

– Pasha, I’m not joking! Power will be insufficient!

– How do you know? We checked everything, repeatedly!

– Pasha, Pasha, – the professor grew nervous, raising his voice. – Don’t you understand? The accelerator won’t yield results without correct power!

– What are you implying?

– I mean, – the professor stepped closer, whispering. – Pasha, I need your support! Understand?

– Yes…

– Hear me out! I called the center… explained the situation… they approved!

– Approved what?

– Pasha, I know if we run at maximum power… the accelerator will yield unimaginable results! Don’t ask how I know… Just trust me!

– I trust you… – Pavel stepped back, intimidated by the professor’s intensity.

Eduard Yuryevich stepped forward. Gripped Pavel’s shoulders firmly. Staring directly into his eyes, he spoke in a monotone, hypnotic voice:

– Pasha, exactly at 20:00 tonight… The power plant will divert all city electricity to us! For 15 minutes! In that time, we can run the accelerator properly! We’ll achieve what we’ve strived for all these years!

– What? All electricity? Cutting power to the city is a terrible idea! It can’t be done! They won’t allow it…

– They already have! Approved! I just told you…

– Eduard Yuryevich, I must…

– I know what you must do… – the professor interrupted. – As a project curator, you’re obliged to report any plan deviations to the center. To Moscow! But… I already called! Understand? They approved! Understand?

– Not entirely! Why are you speaking like this? What are you hinting at?

– I’m hinting that you shouldn’t call anyone… It’s decided, Pasha! Do you trust me?

The professor squeezed Pavel’s shoulders harder…

– I… – Pavel grew nervous, unsure what to say or do…

– Trust me, Pasha! Fifteen minutes without power won’t hurt anyone. No one will even notice! This is the first major test… It shouldn’t run longer than fifteen minutes anyway! Immense work has been done! So much… time, effort, money spent! We cannot fail! Support me, Pasha!

Pavel knew this was wrong. But… he trusted the professor. Suppressing his doubts, he nodded approval.

– I’ll always support you, Eduard Yuryevich! Do what you think is necessary!

 
At the Same Time
13:35, December 3, 1983
Cafeteria, Timber Processing Plant
 

Andrei Maltsev and his workmate Viktor ate lunch in the cafeteria.

– Great soup today! Awesome! – Viktor chewed admiringly.

– Yeah… agreed. – Andrei smiled.

– Glad I asked for seconds. Skipping the main course – better to enjoy the soup. This borscht… – Viktor moaned with pleasure.

– Doesn’t Tamara feed you at home? – Andrei asked.

– She does, – Viktor sighed sadly, – but she… can’t cook! Only here can I eat properly! Andryukha, don’t tell Tamara, okay? She’d kick me out. For such honesty! She’s sensitive!

– Like I’ve nothing better to do? Tell Tamara about you? – Andrei laughed.

– Where will you celebrate New Year? As usual? – Viktor inquired.

– Yeah! Home, with the family!

– Well, if you want, you can come over with Tamara. You know we’re always happy to see you! Chat, drink, watch *Blue Light*.

– Thanks, Vitya. Maybe… but not sure… They’re showing *Charodei* on TV. Our family’s favorite film!

– Charodei? I prefer Railway Station for Two.

– I love that one too. But Charodei is a New Year’s film! Feels festive! Magical… my kids love New Year!

– Got it! – Viktor drawled. – Well, just offering… Come if you want!

– Thanks, Vitya.

– Don’t mention it! Finished eating? Time to load planks! Sadly, they won’t load themselves.

– Yeah, let’s go! – Andrei agreed, finishing his compote.

At the Same Time

13:35, December 3, 1983

Office of KGB Border Troops Captain Pyotr Orlov

Orlov dialed the duty officer. Asked about the city situation… Vasilyev reported all quiet. Orlov hung up, glanced at the wall clock. Stood and unhurriedly left his office.

Lunchtime…

He walked straight down the corridor to the end. The medical unit was there. Headed for years by Klavdia Vasilyevna Shishova. Medical Sciences Candidate, war veteran, Hero of the Soviet Union, retiree, and incidentally, Captain Orlov’s friend. They spent every lunch break together over strong, hot tea. Discussing world affairs… Talking about life… sharing secrets. To Klavdia Vasilyevna, Orlov was like a son! She had no children… so poured all her care into him! Long retired, she still worked. Besides work, she had nothing. Like Captain Orlov. Two lonely souls! They jokingly called themselves that.

– Love your pies, Klavdia Vasilyevna. – Orlov chewed hungrily.

– Petya, at least drink tea! Eating dry like that! – Klavdia Vasilyevna smiled. – Only eating cabbage ones! Take some liver ones, with onion and egg… take them, don’t be shy!

– Thanks! You working New Year’s again?

– Yes! Like you!

They smiled…

– Klavdia Vasilyevna, will you make your signature salad for New Year’s?

– Of course! Where would I go… You love it!

– I do! Remind me of the ingredients, please. Keep meaning to make it at home. Never get around to it.

– Oh, it’s simple… Boiled eggs, canned seaweed, sausage – any kind, doesn’t matter. Onion, herbs to taste. Salt, pepper, also to taste. That’s it! Oh… dress with sunflower oil or mayo. Also flexible. Depends on preference.

– Got it! – Orlov said thoughtfully.

– What’s wrong, Petya?

– Hmm? Oh… Just remembered…

– Remembered what? Tell me.

– During the war… we lived with my aunt near Moscow. Food was scarce in the city, easier in the village. Mom often made stew… Chopped three or four onions into the pot. For flavor, she’d add a piece of salted pork fat. How delicious that stew seemed then…

His eyes moistened. Orlov turned away, wiping them with his hand.

– Sometimes I make that stew, – he whispered, staring into space. – It evokes strange feelings… Like remembering childhood, Mom young… Alive! But in reality… it ends with heartache! So intense it’s hard to breathe! Memory’s a strange thing… joy and pain fused. And it’s just stew… just onions and water… Damned war!

Klavdia Vasilyevna approached Orlov and hugged him so tightly his bones creaked. Stroked his head. Tears streamed from her eyes…

 
That Evening
19:50, December 3, 1983
V.I. Lenin State Institute of Nuclear Physics
 

The institute buzzed with nervous energy. All staff were at their posts, hearts pounding as they awaited the accelerator test. Everyone was on edge! Utterly focused! Professor Eduard Yuryevich Volynitsky stood at the main control panel. Over the loudspeaker, he announced:

– Comrades! In mere minutes, we activate the Accelerator. Be attentive and observe safety protocols! Exactly at 20:00, additional power will flow to the main accumulator… Testing at full capacity! Right sector, switch the accelerator to the main accumulator! Test duration: until 20:10. Repeat: shut down the engine and gradually decelerate the turbine at 20:10! Left sector, copy? *Gradually*! Comrades. All personnel prepare! Attention! Countdown…

Activate keys for engines one and two!

Ten, nine, eight, seven…

Activate keys for engines three and four!

Six, five, four, three, two, one…

 
At the Same Time
19:50, December 3, 1983
Apartment of Andrei Maltsev
 

Andrei and his wife Lyuba were in the kitchen. He ate soup hungrily; she watched him adoringly, occasionally stroking his hair. The apartment lights were off. Only the kitchen was lit. The children were already… asleep… Andrei and Lyuba spoke in whispers, trying to stay quiet.

– How was your day? Tired? – Lyuba asked.

– Exhausted! – Andrei grumbled. – Desperately sleepy!

– Eat up, then we’ll sleep… – Lyuba smiled, kissing his crown. – Guess what? Seryozha got an A in math today! Masha got two B’s! Our kids are great! Pity Dad barely sees them. They miss you. Masha even cried near school today. Said, “I want to see Papa more!” Barely calmed her…

Andrei stopped eating. Sighed heavily:

– I miss them too! Come home from work – they’re already asleep. Mornings… Don’t see them at all! Tomorrow, let’s go somewhere! Entertain them! Spend time together!

– Where? Nowhere to go!

– Visit someone, for example!

– Andrei, visits? People are saving every kopek for New Year’s! Skipping meals for a richer holiday table. And feeding guests? No! No guests! Sled them around the yard, that’s it! Or take them to the cinema. They’re showing a new film. Galya from work saw it recently. Said it’s good.

– Well, maybe we’ll go! I’ll think of something… Hard to plan when Saturdays are workdays! Who invented six-day workweeks? Fine for us… but kids? Studying Saturdays! Awful!

– Andrei, quieter, – Lyuba said fearfully. – Our government did! Said it’s temporary… Only a month like this… After New Year’s, back to normal. Five-day week. They promised!

– Yeah, listen to them, – Andrei fumed. – They didn’t do this for nothing! Temporary now, permanent later!

The kitchen light died. The fridge stopped rumbling…

– What now? – Andrei exclaimed.

– Fuse blew? – said Lyuba. – Check the hallway.

Andrei rose and approached the window.

Streetlights were dark…

Neighboring buildings were dark too…

– Not a fuse! – Andrei whispered fearfully.

At the Same Time

19:50, December 3, 1983

Office of KGB Border Troops Captain Pyotr Orlov

Captain Orlov sat at his desk, writing briskly in the duty log. Then he called Moscow… reporting the day’s events. They thanked him for excellent work, wished him a good weekend, and said goodbye until Monday…

Orlov hung up and slowly walked to the window.

Outside was deserted and quiet. Snow fell slowly, covering the swept roads and sidewalks. Orlov was profoundly alone… Nowhere to rush. He came home at midnight or 1 AM… much to his driver Sergeant Smirnov’s frustration, who couldn’t rest nights because of his boss!

The office light was off…

Orlov stood silently in darkness, watching the window. He savored the peace. Outside, fluffy snowflakes blanketed the city’s sidewalks and roads…

– Tomorrow, street cleaners will be busy! – he thought, smiling.

Streetlights suddenly died…

The city plunged into darkness…

– What? – Orlov gasped. Never in his memory had this happened! City power *never* failed!

Emergency!

He strode to his desk.

Picked up the phone to call the duty officer.

No dial tone…

He slammed it down… grabbed his greatcoat, and ran outside…

That Evening

20:06, December 3, 1983

V.I. Lenin State Institute of Nuclear Physics

The Electromagnetic Accelerator test was in full swing…

Engines roared at full power! Readings meticulously recorded. Professor Eduard Yuryevich Volynitsky stood near the main console, peering through the large observation window into the test chamber where the accelerator stood. It began emitting sudden grinding and ringing…

– Increase power! – he commanded.

– Time to shut down? – Pavel Yushkov clarified. – It’s ringing! Eduard Yuryevich, we have enough data. Something’s wrong!

– Pasha! – Eduard Yuryevich shouted. – Increase power! I know it’s close… increase!

Pavel swallowed nervously and obediently flipped switches, boosting turbine power…

The accelerator vibrated faintly; the ringing became a hum.

– More! – the professor demanded. – Pasha, more! One unit up. Now! I feel it… Pasha, increase! Come on!

Pavel glanced fearfully at the turbine sensors – glowing bright red… “Overheating.” He wiped his sweaty face with his lab coat sleeve. Looked again – horrified… now all sensors blinked… “Emergency.”

– Pasha, increase another unit! – Eduard Yuryevich yelled over the turbine’s roar. – Come on, increase!

– Pavel Konstantinovich, we’ll blow up! It’ll kill us all! Don’t listen to him, shut it down! – terrified scientists monitoring results cried.

Eduard Yuryevich stared wildly – first at the large digital clock near the accelerator, then at the device itself… He realized in minutes, he’d have to shut down engines and turbine.

Time was running out, yet the desired result eluded him! He rushed to Pavel’s console and flipped all switches – three notches up!

– Don’t touch anything! – he shouted feverishly. – Don’t dare! Hands off the console!

Pavel stared terrified, not recognizing his mentor… Before him stood not the teacher he’d revered for years, but a madman with manic tendencies! Pavel was too stunned and scared to move, barely breathing. In shock, he didn’t notice the accelerator stop humming and vibrating…

He only snapped to when Eduard Yuryevich screamed in astonishment:

– Pasha, Pasha, look! It worked! I told you! It worked!

Pavel looked at the accelerator – stunned…

He couldn’t believe his eyes.

– What is that? – he barely whispered.

– What we strived for! – Eduard Yuryevich gasped excitedly. – Dark matter! Pasha, it’s a piece of the universe! The greatest cosmic mystery! We did it! Did it! They didn’t lie…

All institute staff watched the accelerator, mesmerized. It rotated slowly; around it, something formed and grew…

Like bright green smoke. It expanded smoothly around the accelerator, shimmering dirty gold with crimson flashes. Then slowed, becoming transparent as glass. Then stopped completely, covered in a mirror-like surface reflecting everything.

– Impossible! – Pavel gaped. – It worked?

– Yes! – Eduard Yuryevich replied proudly. – It worked! Did you doubt me, Pasha? Think I’m insane? No! I’m a scientist! No great victory without risk, Pasha. We must act. Decisively! Only that way. Pasha, my friend, forgive me… I lied to you… I never called Moscow… No one would’ve permitted cutting… city power. Absolutely forbidden! But we needed the energy! I risked it… lied! Called the power plant, asked a favor… Said it was secret, no calls needed… I’m respected; they agreed quickly!

– Lied to me too! – Pavel whispered bitterly.

– Pasha, a necessary lie! – Eduard Yuryevich shouted defensively. – What choice did I have? Thanks to my lie, we achieved what we sought for years! They told me it would work… And they were right!

– Who? Who told you?

– Pasha, irrelevant! We did it! Just needed more energy… that’s all!

– Eduard Yuryevich, I don’t know who told you what… But you broke the law! The KGB will jail you! Or shoot you! And me too… What have you done? How? Why? This was forbidden. It’s sabotage! Treason! God knows what else they’ll charge us with… Horror! Why? The city couldn’t lose power! What if intruders entered? Nightmare! We’re doomed…

– Pasha, Pasha, don’t panic! Calm down! Our government will *reward* us for today! Forgive all sins… We’re heroes, Pasha, heroes! Not criminals!

– I doubt it! – Pavel said dejectedly. – Maybe rewarded first, jailed later!

– Pasha, don’t fear! I’ll say you knew nothing… take all blame!

– Eduard Yuryevich, under torture, *everyone* confesses!

– Pasha, I beg you, what—

Their talk was cut by a sudden, rising sound. Like an electrical whistle and crackle. It grew louder… Evoking fear and sharp headaches. Scientists covered their ears – useless. The sound was deafening! They tried fleeing… But standing, they collapsed paralyzed. Seized by convulsions. They screamed and writhed… blood flowed from eyes, ears, noses.

The accelerator stopped rotating. Green smoke around it froze mid-air… The sound ceased.

Seconds later, a deafening *crack* echoed… A shockwave vibrated through the entire city!

The Next Morning

08:00, December 3, 1983

Office of KGB Border Troops Captain Pyotr Orlov

The phone rang. Captain Orlov answered:

– Orlov here!

– Comrade Captain, permission to report! Duty Officer Vasilyev! – a crisp voice came through.

– Permission granted! Report!

– Observation towers one through six: no incidents. Checkpoint of the V.I. Lenin Institute of Nuclear Physics: no incidents. GAI traffic post: no incidents. At 06:30, patrol detained one intoxicated citizen… nonviolent! Given a warning and driven home. No other incidents in the city!

– Any requests or complaints from personnel?

– None! – Vasilyev reported.

– Understood! Report anything immediately! You know!

– Yes, Comrade Captain! – Vasilyev answered loudly. Serving the Soviet Union!

– At ease! – Orlov hung up and… paused. Something felt off…

Unease lingered. Strange! Like he’d meant to do something… What? He couldn’t recall! He checked his planner, flipped through duty logs… all normal. All fine!

Orlov sighed deeply, held his breath, slowly exhaled…

The Next Morning

08:00, December 3, 1983

Office of KGB Border Troops Captain Pyotr Orlov

The phone rang incessantly…

Orlov mechanically answered:

– Listening!

– Comrade Captain, permission to report! Duty Officer Vasilyev! – a crisp voice came through.

– Permission granted! Report!

– Observation towers one through six: no incidents…

– Stop! Halt! – Orlov blurted suddenly.

– Something wrong, Comrade Captain? – Vasilyev asked.

– Wrong? You mocking me?

– No, Comrade Captain!

– You reported this already!

– Reported what? When?

– All of it! You just called!

– Me? Aah… – Vasilyev hesitated.

– Stop mumbling! – Orlov grew nervous.

– I didn’t call you, Comrade Captain! I just came on duty!

– Meaning?

– Literally! Took over shift, calling to report!

Orlov stayed silent… His heart pounded so loudly he heard it. Thoughts tangled, breathing grew heavy. Anxiety mounted…

– What’s happening? What’s wrong with me? – he mentally asked.

– Comrade Captain, hello? You hear me? – Vasilyev panicked into the phone.

– Stop yelling! – Orlov snapped. – I hear you!

– Sorry, my voice is just loud, not yelling. You were silent, I thought—

– Oh, his voice is loud… – Orlov interrupted. – Vasilyev? You *are* Vasilyev?

– Yes, Vasilyev!

– Didn’t you have duty yesterday?

– No, Comrade Captain! Rybakov was on yesterday! I came on at 07:30!