ISBN 978-5-0056-7076-2

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      Chapter 1 Coach

      “Well done guys,” I said to Yuri Gromov, the football coach. But my friends call me Thunder. – My guys. Today we won, even though the enemy was strong. – I praised my team of football players. The aliens liked the game so much that championships were held constantly. I took part in them myself. Although three years ago I was kicked out of the national team. I’m getting old, they say I’m thirty-five. Although the current year two thousand one hundred fifty-three is not a bad age for an athlete. But I had problems with the law. The former governor of my planet Saturn forbade playing football in the courtyards and near his palace. I rebelled. Blocked roads. Of course, the law was quickly removed. But I was suspended. So I lead the local junior team. Boys from ten to fifteen years old. Smart guys. At least some. Under my leadership, we won the world championship. Although we were defeated at the regionals. We’ll make it through next year. – Tomorrow is training. Don’t go out with ladies. – I smiled. That he was not young himself. Went home. The guys will take care of themselves. Moreover, their parents drove up to pick them up.

      I walk down the street. Beauty. The lights do not go out and nature is not polluted. The beauties from Alpha Centauri passed nearby; they call themselves Deruvs. But we earthlings call them Elves. They have pointed ears and pale skin. They themselves say that they flew to earth in the distant past. It is from them that we have legends about elves. I don’t like them. Painfully cunning and strong. But still, we are still peaceful. At least those on our planets. The war has been between us for a long time. I took part in it myself. For now there is a tense peace between us. Not like the Casiopeans. The race is straight out of fairy tales. Warriors with heavy blasters. Strong. They feed on us. But we are holding on.

      – Here you are, Mirte. – I said, spitting. A poster of our new dictator stands in front and smiles. An old man in his late fifties. Three years in power. It was quiet on our provincial planet. But there was a lot of destruction and pogroms on Earth. It’s calm now though. But the galactic council did not like it. They drove us out of it. Although we didn’t really have a voice there. So representation. All matters were resolved without our approval. At least there was peace. Sports are cancelled. They want to destroy the economy. Just animals. I’m moving on. The council of planets consists of five races. They call themselves the chosen ones. These are Kasiopeians, Lirepurami, Scorpios, Katalni, Deruvs. The remaining races are powerless and have no voice in the council. Although they participate in it. Just like the UN of old. But we are not there and that’s bad. Being on the council, even minimally, is a sign of the development of the state. Without this representation, we can be robbed by everyone without consequences.

      – Do you have any cigarettes? – asked a hoarse voice. The guy stood in the shadows and held a blaster in his hand. It sparkled so beautifully, reminding me of past wars where I was a soldier. Reliable weapon. Burns through people. We have to be on our guard.

      – I’d like to smoke. You’ll treat me. Dad. “Two others in leather jackets came out from around the corner. I understood their intentions immediately. Although we have a good planet, we still have crime. Many bandits fled from Earth from persecution. There are also a lot of rebels. But I don’t trust them. They are the same criminals as the authorities.

      – Guys, I’m an athlete. I’ll beat you up and I won’t understand it myself. I hit hard and accurately. – It’s not for nothing that I served in the space landing force for five years. Went through two wars for satellites. Although he was wounded in the stomach. We fought against the council. But they lost and gave up their positions. But we were not crushed then, but were forgiven and allowed into the council. They liked our culture. For them it fades. For too many years they have lived in abundance, unlike us.

      – We’re just going to talk. Don’t be afraid, we are not punks. “The leader came up to me. He didn’t put the blaster away. He took out a document from his pocket and unfolded it in front of me. – Sergeant Belov OSO (special secret department).

      – Ugh, you. Scared. “I said, although I myself reached into my pocket and quickly dialed my roommate’s number on the phone. He answered and listens. – If I had known that OSO was coming to see me, I would have washed the floors and tidied up the apartment. – This is our secret password. Igor is my debtor. I drank a lot before. How my wife went to a rally and was shot. But now he has recovered and is not living badly. I even found a bride. I hope he will have time to enter my apartment and erase everything from the computer’s hard drive. – Under what article? Out of disapproval or calls for something? – I said, stalling for time. The phone vibrated once. Feel better. This means that the neighbor managed to erase everything. I smiled. – Maybe because of a too beautiful smile. Now you won’t understand why they can imprison you.

      – Citizen, you think wrong. Don’t arrest you. Our leader wants to see you. There is a conversation. – He approached the second one with a scar on his cheek. – He needs you. Football hero. I used to root for you as a child. When the Scorpions were defeated in the final. Your goal in the last minutes helped me and the lady light up. She bet that we would lose. I owe you a lot. I have never had such a time in my life. Although she became my wife. But I’m sorry for that.

      The blow was quick. Apparently a master of his craft. I fell into the void. There is nothing to be afraid of. I wrote only from false addresses and under pseudonyms. I shouldn’t be tracked down. Maybe the ruler wants to boast about me. They say he is interested in football. He’ll take a couple of photos and let him go. Tomorrow is training. What about the children? Although they will find a replacement for me quickly. My salary was paid by the parents of these children. They are not poor people.

      – Well, hero, get up. Our champion. Our pride. A crowd favourite.

      The voice was clearly female. Pleasant. Thin. I felt a hand on my cheek. Warm. Tender. Apparently she didn’t work hard. Office means. But not a firing squad. Their hands are tougher. He served two months for that rally against the abolition of football. They put me against the wall three times. They were looking for accomplices. Where will I get them? I’m not a politician, I’m an athlete. Football is my life. I don’t care much about who is in power. Moreover, they paid me well. I had talent since childhood. And throughout my life I have not lost it like many before me.

      – What a big beard you have. I need to shave it off. The ruler doesn’t like such bearded men. He’s not like you. Haha

      Laughs. Nice laugh. What did they inject me with? The mind seems to be in a fog. Although it could be from the blow. He opened his eyes. I’m indoors. Indoors. There are only two of us here. Me and a beautiful girl no older than twenty. She is wearing a beautiful blue special services uniform. I thought correctly. Kontorskaya means he wants to find out secrets. And the fact that my head is on her lap is a trick. Although the legs in this mini are beautiful. You don’t see these every day. I stroked them with my hand. She didn’t even react. She just laughed even louder. Not even tights. Her feet are warm. Smells like lavender. Nice perfume. How does it taste?

      – Let’s stop there for now. We don’t even know each other yet. Although I have known you since childhood. You are my hero. Champion of the galaxy. Although a former one. We didn’t win the championship again. We didn’t even make it to the qualifiers last year. And now we have been kicked out of the championships altogether.

      – Fine. I’m stopping. – And the legs are delicious. Just the same. She rubs them with honey. Apparently she was preparing to meet me.

      – I am Lieutenant Maria Nilova.

      – Born on the Nile. Right?

      – Are you in the thunder or something? No, I’m in Asia, Novosibirsk. And don’t distract me. I am your escort to our great leader Myrta. Kind and fair.

      – Let’s agree right away. – I said, straightening my sports uniform and checking my pockets. As I thought, they are empty. – Without this nonsense about the great leader. I’m a footballer, not a politician. I don’t care