- Where are we? - Somerset said.
- Europe. The city of Rome, can't you see your terminal? - someone's voice rang out.
- Landed safely! - Dolbin's shout was heard, - Absolutely safe! We're standing in the square! - he began to happily curse in Russian.
- No one's going anywhere! - Dupare suddenly muttered, having come to his senses.
- Fuu you! - someone answered.
- Find his gun! - another voice rang out.
- We've already found it!
There was a hum of drives sticking out metal platforms, previously laid on the floor like huge scales. People began to leave their places, making their way to the stairs - after all, the shuttle was not an airliner and getting out of it in gravity conditions was quite an attraction.
Finally, Somerset, having waited for his turn, grabbed the metal steps and climbed down. Halfway there, it became clear that the lower airlock was already open - not only was it illuminated by daylight, but a breeze was blowing. A real breeze! Somerset once again bitterly remembered those who had remained there, on Mars.
Less than a minute after leaving his place, Somerset was already standing on the floor of the sunlit airlock with the ramp thrown back. Ahead, the corner of some ancient stone building or palace was visible. There was a smell of smoke, wood smoke - the shuttle had probably burned something. It would be good if only trees.
It turned out that the ship had stopped in the middle of a square and across a wide street. Trees were planted along the edges of the latter. They were the ones burning. Somerset turned his head and caught his breath. A little to the side of the towering triangular colossus of the shuttle, an ancient building he had seen many times was spread out. It was the Roman Colosseum. The symbol of ancient humanity now bore a very fresh mark. The computer had no trouble squeezing the shuttle into the landing space, but the ejectors of the reverse units each produced two streams spaced at an angle. One of these streams passed over the granite of the ancient building, leaving a thin layer of white plaque - this is how most rocks reacted to the exhaust plasma. The event was immortalized.
From all sides, cars and some heavy copters flew toward the landing site. Onlookers ran. Archaic combat aircraft of the Confederate armed forces thundered in the sky. Several of them began to slow down, sharply raising their noses and spreading out perpendicular to the direction of flight. Less than a minute later, they were already hanging over the shuttle, shaking the area with the roar of their engines. Why they did this was not entirely clear, maybe they just wanted to show off. Or feel a fleeting superiority over a truly powerful machine.
- Is all this about Mars really true? - shouted the first of those who ran up, a black, burly man in a suit and a simple cap. It was so earthly. They sorely needed such simple people there! Overwhelmed by emotions, Somerset, staggering, walked away from the ship.
- As you can see, - one of the arrivals answered the earthling's question, - Do you think we just occasionally decided to land in the middle of your city? It's a very serious matter. There are two more shuttles. We don't know where they flew to.
- Yes, we do! - Dolbin, who had managed to get out, joined in. Somerset unmistakably recognized him by his voice.
- Australia, the "Herschel" rocket site and Russia, the "Ural" rocket site, - announced this main instigator.
A copter-minibus with the inscription TV appeared. As far as Somerset understood, Dolbin and Walter were mainly trying to achieve this.
The crowd was growing. Judging by the fact that no one was freaking out, the landing really was clean and no one was hurt. What Dolbin, Leyta and Walter had conjured up with the warning system worked. It seemed that Dupare, who had come to his senses, was here too. Big guy followed him. Both of them did not show themselves in any way.
Without listening to the conversations of those around him, Somerset headed for one of the ambulances that had landed nearby. Closing his eyes for a few moments, Somerset saw nothing. The vision never returned. Back in the shuttle, "Snow White" had said that he could do as he pleased. And she had disappeared. Oh well. Is it worth loading your head with some otherworldly ghosts that are incapable of anything but chatter? Although why disappear so abruptly and unceremoniously...
He felt lousy. Actually, there was nothing surprising about it. At least in view of the returned earthly gravity. The others were also unlikely to be ready to play sports in the open air right now.
The ambulance was parked in the middle of the lawn. The door was wide open. Very soon he would have a ton of money and without any real bullion.
Having complained about feeling unwell and hallucinating after the anabiosis, Somerset was settled on the couch, there, in the car. Despite all the assurances of the disappeared "Snow White" that all this was harmless, Somerset decided to act in his own way and now he was lying in the car. The suit's interface should have been compatible with their equipment, but who would have doubted it, it didn't fit - software or something else.
Less than a minute later, an elastic mesh thing with sensors was placed on Somerset's head. The doctor sat down in front of the screen and began to study something.
At that moment, some woman entered the salon, whom he had noticed when he was walking to the medical transport. She appeared quite characteristically - she climbed out of a black car that had fallen from somewhere above and parked no less dashingly than the shuttle. Slamming the door, she rushed somewhere to the ship, as if there was something valuable there, something she really needed. Well, for some reason, that was exactly the comparison that came to Somerset's mind. She herself was also all in black, or rather, in black and blue. Even her black hair, gathered in a ponytail at the back, was tied with a blue ribbon. This is how agents of the same CSSS could look, but only in the movies, and not in life.
- Do you have an astronaut? - the woman asked the doctor without any introductions or greetings.
- A Martian, - the doctor answered sullenly.
- Oh, well, of course... How are you feeling? - She turned to Somerset, putting on a smile.
- Excellent, - Somerset replied, having managed to feel the inner wariness.
- That's great, but if it really was excellent, you wouldn't be lying here? Right?
- I meant my mental state. Mood...
- Mental state... Ah, - she said, as if thinking and smiling unkindly.
- Mister Doctor, - she turned to the doctor, - I have a small favor to ask of you. Well, I don't like to say "assignment", so let's say that the favor... In general, we need a DNA test of this brave man.
Judging by some awkwardness of the phrases, English was not her native language.
- DNA sample? - the doctor asked again.
- Well, yes. It will take a minute, if not less. Please do it and give it to me. I mean the test. By the way, how is the man's condition?
- All right, Madam. And about the test... I can't do it right away...
- What do you mean, you can't? It's... Well, they should be everywhere... Don't you have one or something?
- It happens sometimes.
- Listen, Mr. Doctor, don't be shy, I don't represent your ministry, right? Could you call your colleagues who are here and ask for one or more?
- Okay, as you say, - the doctor agreed without much enthusiasm, - Perhaps I'll just go out. I'll be here for a minute. Will you stay here?
- Of course! - she responded much warmer, - You'll excuse the inconvenience.
The doctor stood up and headed for the exit door, which had been wide open all this time.
- How are things on Mars? - the stranger turned to Somerset.
- So-so, - Somerset answered.
- Who would doubt it, Mr. Somerset. You will have something to remember, - she headed towards his place, and now she was standing over him, slightly bent over.
- Don't look at her, close your eyes! - a voice sounded in his head. The voice, if it did not break into a scream, was quite emotional.
Meanwhile, the stranger leaned even lower and put her hand on his forehead, as if she wanted to check his fever - given all the equipment involved, the action was completely pointless. Most likely, she wanted to show some kind of friendliness. I wonder if she was very worried about her colleagues - Dupare and that thug.
At some point, Somerset's gaze caught the badge dangling from the stranger's chest. An ordinary one, worn by various government agents when they were in full dress. Like now. This badge, in all likelihood, made the doctor so accommodating.
The first and last names were long and not English. Somerset only managed to make out that the name began with Ha..., then the last name La... and at the end ht. Either his eyes were seeing double, or the bright sunlight was interfering. In general, the usually observant Somerset did not notice the badge itself right away.
- What a nasty thing, - the stranger suddenly said, spreading her fingers on Somerset's head, - You didn't like it here, there on Mars, huh? Creature... Isn't so much land enough for you? - she said precisely "here there".
- Don't listen to her, she's crazy! - sounded in his head.
- Mister Somerset, - she continued, suddenly changing her tone completely, - I'm going to ask you a very banal question. I'm even embarrassed to ask such a thing...
- Ask your question, - Somerset muttered, as if tired.
- Did you notice anything strange during the flight?
Without waiting for an answer, she began to laugh quietly, rather restrainedly. Both of them understood what was going on. Or all three of them.
- My name is Haldoris Landskricht, - she suddenly announced. - So you know...
Then the footsteps of a man stepping onto the metal stairs were heard. It was the doctor.
- Found it? - Landskricht asked.
- Of course, Madam.
- Then proceed.
The doctor unpacked the silicone bag and took out an instrument that resembled an ordinary syringe.
- It's just a formality, - Landskricht said, looking good-naturedly into Somerset's face, - A formality, - she repeated quietly, but in a completely different, cold voice and with a different expression on her face.
- The transcript will be... - the doctor began.
- No, you don't have to worry about that. Give it here. We'll do everything ourselves. According to our standards.
Having received the package with the sample, Landskricht said goodbye and headed for the exit.
- She's not a real agent, - sounded in her head, - Have you seen how furious she is? She can't do anything - people do everything for her. She's not capable of anything without machines. - The assumption that the basis of this was the most ordinary women's squabble was confirmed.
Smiling to himself, Somerset began to hurry the doctor so that he would literally deliver his ass to where it would be put in order.