Snowmaidens of Ivdel

By Boris Dolingo

In the very distant future trading companies deliver the goods between planets. People who do this job, are called “Star Forwarders” (SF). Two competitors come to an abandoned planet Ivdel, where aborigines worship to maidens made of snow. They were met with big hospitality, but after three days party all the goods were stolen. Two SFs are fires and have the only way to act...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Boris Dolingo
• Release date: Sep 12, 2012

Boris Dolingo

Boris Anatoly Dolingo Born on the 3rd December 1955 in Kokand (Uzbekistan, USSR) Since 1975 lives in Yekaterinburg (Sverdlovsk), Russia. Education: – the Urals State University, Sverdlovsk (1979) physics department. – the Public University of Press, Sverdlovsk (1984-85); Since 2002 – the Chairman of the “Aelita” convention’s organizing committee (the oldest Russian Sci-Fi & Fantasy Convention). Since 2007 – the editor of Sci-Fi & Fantasy department in the “Urals Pathfinder” magazine First publication – 1990 (short story “Variants are possible”). Since 2011 – the Chief Editor of the Electronic Publishing House “Aelita”. Member of the Russian Writers’ Union since 2004. Novels: “Runaways” “To Understand the Eternity” “Point-G-L” Cycles: “The Wanderer on the Facets” (“The Wanderer Against His Will”, “The Fugitive Against His Will”, “Round Facets of the Earth”), “The Babylon Game” (“Games of the Third Kind”, “Creators of Pandemonium”, “The Entrance to Babylon”, “Gardens of Babylon”)

Book preview

SNOWMAIDENS OF IVDEL

By Boris Dolingo

PUBLISHED BY:

Boris Dolingo on Smashwords

Snowmaidens of Ivdel

Copyright © 2012 by Boris Dolingo

Adult reading material

*****

Just information: Ivdel is a small settlement

to the north of the Sverdlovsk region, Russia.

There are many prison-camps around there.

When SF Ali ibn Serov left the chamber, Ivdel already had been waiting for him.

The meeting person stood afar near the fence, enclosing the landing platform, covered as everything around by white virgin snow.

Ivdel waved and went towards Ali, sinking down in snow almost knee-high. Serov also, in decency, made a gesture in the air by the palm of his hand, threw back the hood of the jacket and looked around to see how the land lies.

Occasional snowflakes with cat’s grace were gliding down from whitish clouds, completely covered all the sky. Here and now dusk was falling. White hilly plains stretched to the distance which eyes could embraced. Far away a wall of forest loomed – and there was neither a light nor any sign of life. The only evidence of human presence were three round unloading platforms of the pointing system with its high fences in which access guides for evacuation of cargo containers were yawning.

One sight was sufficient to understand that he was late – on the next platform stood another chamber. It meant that his adversary, also SF, al-Faraday, the representative of the Instant Cargos, had arrived first.

So bad, thought Serov with slightly drilling pain in his cheekbone. Bad, but I hope not everything is still lost

Ali looked upwards, where behind cloudy darkness his cargo lighter hung at the stationary orbit, stretched downwards invisible gravitational cable, just by which the chamber had slid down. If within three days Serov wouldn’t manage to persuade aborigines to sign the contracts, the containers from Spacetrans would never slide down by this cable.

In any case, though being upset that al-Faraday had arrived earlier, Serov understood perfectly that his chances weren’t completely lost: he knew this upstart gringo quite well and had now doubt that there still is a hope to win local tender.

OK, said Serov to himself, Not always the one, who comes first, wins. We’ll see what we’ll see.

Ivdel had approached, smiling, and sniffed loudly, as if saluted.

Now Serov could watch him properly, despite of fading evening light and parka’s hood, hanging down the man’s face. Somewhat rough features: chapped and tanned at open areas skin, rather long nose, protruding forward as a hook. And at the same time as if naпve, childishly glittering and at the same time impudent grey eyes.

Well, may be, hello! Welcome! Ivdel also threw back the hood, as if he knew out that the guest wants to see his physiognomy better. The eyes shone brightly with warmth, and mouth was stretching, opening strong but not very clean teeth, among which a pair was absent.

Hi, Serov just in case also smiled and stretched his hand. I’m Ali ibn Serov, Star Forwarder, that one with whom you spoke recently through the connecting channel.

Ivdel hemmed as if the name caused some disappointment for him, and nodded:

Well, and as to me, you must know then, how they call me – Ivdel, and that’s all! I’m the receiver, the person who meets traders here

Yes, yes, I know, confirmed Serov, continuing to keep a trademark grin.

The aborigine looked sideway to the sky with certain fear:

Lets’ go, or how? Otherwise I’m afraid these your boxes start to fall down…

Ali curved his eyebrows in surprise:

"Why, don’t you know? Automatics guarantees complete safety: my lighter will start to lower down containers only if the platform is empty! If someone of people enter here, the process will be