"The time is early, Moscow is unusually quiet, deserted ...

Spassky
tower ...
And exactly at 6:00 00 00 00 Moscow time, when
The hands of the clock stretched out into a smooth golden vertical ... the bell
slashed
silence with its sharp ringing ... And again ... And again ... Singing bells.
painting the ornamentation of the sound of the first seconds of a new day. "
Yu. V. Pukhnachev." Riddles of sounding metal. "

Prologue

On a quiet winter evening in 1927, we sat at tea with Professor Alexei

Ivanovich Yakovlev in a cozy dining room with windows on the Cathedral of Christ
the Savior.
(Now - the pool area at the Kropotkin Gate.)
I knew Alexey Ivanovich from childhood. A student of my father, then an
assistant professor,
He visited our house in Tryokhprudnoye, he remembered me as a child, and now, when
I, widowed, with my teenage son fought for life, he helped me with
earnings. Serving in the library of the Museum of Fine Arts, I took
Yakovleva packs of library catalog cards, copied them. Alexey
Ivanovich was in charge of the library department.
- Have you heard the famous conductor Saradzhev? Constantine
Solomonovich? Yulechka, the owner's daughter, asked me. - Kotik - his son from
the first marriage. Ringer. Musicians consider him a genius. Kitty Saradzhev!
Anastasia Ivanovna, he can come now, so that you will know. And then you do not
you will understand! After all, he is special!
A look of dark, big eyes Yulechki burst into the tide of a story:
- Kotik from two sides of the extraordinary families: about the father, I
already said,
he has a talent by inheritance: from seven years old - a composer! And mother -
daughter
Filatova, for the children's illnesses of the professor, his name - the Moscow
children's
clinic. My mother died a long time, Kitty was still small. He is like her, although
on his father is like too: something eastern. You will see for yourself! Kitty
stammers.
Sometimes - almost purely speaks, and sometimes - it is difficult! But the most
important thing in it -
this is hypersynesthesia of hearing, - the narrator hastened to inform, - he hears
in
the octave is quite distinct - 1701 sound, drew a diagram to us. I'll find her,
I'll show you! About his "harmonization" of piano (he so calls) Kitty carelessly
He speaks. Only recognizes the bell! We are going to listen to him the other day -
come with us?
- How does he accompany the church service?
- Well, yes, and he is angry that at other times you can not ... He is
hindered
church services. He's a queer fellow, Kotik ... He does not understand! On
Saturday, let's go,
OK? And when in some bell he hears a sound too
beautiful, he releases from the hands of all the bell-ropes and ... (the word
"falls"
disappeared in a phone call from the front - long, persistent; no, not hurry, not
nervous - urgent; as if festive).
Chapter 1

Gladly, somehow solemnly, - knowing that they are waiting, left the front
tall, dark-haired young man in a neat, tight shirt,
belted: pulling it up (as the boys do from
shyness), but - not so, not shyly, but - in some cheerful readiness
to appear. Brown, huge, in the eastern long cut eye shone
shine dark and childish in the strength of openness. The voice stammered:
- I op-posed n-nem- (joyfully breaking through) - a lot!
Ppp-growth-those ... - bowed, shaking hands, laughed.
"Perhaps, it is beautiful, hair wavy, longer than it was laid down." Tsar
Fedor
Ioannovich is a theatrical! "- I thought.
"My Source detained me," he explained slowly, but gently
he us, smiling accompanied by the words - he told my sisters - late home
I come.
"He names the source," Yulechka whispered to me.
Kitty suddenly got very excited:
"I hm-h ..." the word did not work out for him, "Gliere had one before!" -- Is
he
He led us all with eyes that shone. - And I will be issued a permit from
Narkompros, "he spread his hands broadly and joyfully," sk-kolko n-need me
kkolokolov, in which n-need keys! Finish me my bell-tower!
P-please, - he ran his hand through the air, as if enumerating us -
n-come you all!
Yulechka sat the guest at the table, poured tea, brought bread, jam.
He ate cheerfully, enthusiastically, childishly. It was amazing to watch this
a mixture of bitterness of it from incomprehensibility - with joy from the bell
victory.
He suddenly stopped his story. Gently rose to his feet, touched his finger
crystal sugar bowl.
- It's amazing! he cried in astonishment, as if he had seen a friend.
type-peasant sugar bowl in the style of up to 112 flats! And he stroked her,
cat.
-- Yes! - Cat caught on, apologizing for being distracted, - the most
The main thing: I already took out one small bell - 1 pood and 7 pounds, it's on
weights, old ones, - he seemed to be embarrassed - and the other - well, this one
is bigger
will be! - He laughed - not yet hung it n-on scales, well, I think, poods 5
will ... You can not imagine what a sound! Etto, as they say,
divine! In the chest - a chill even! I'm even afraid ... such a sound! Well and
still the bell is already heavy! Only a few people can lift it!
Re-sharp!
He cut off a gray bread and smeared a layer of jam on it. - What
bread is delicious! He's fresh, right? Fresh! I, however, did not dine today, there
was no
time! When a person did not eat for a long time - so everything seems delicious to
him, right? I --
noticed ...
Something Yulia told her mother, and she went out. But already forgot Kitty,
which is not
dined, floating on the waves of the story of the People's Commissar Bells, and
therefore
I was surprised suddenly when I saw the plate of soup in Yulechka's hands. She put
it on the table,
moved, carried more bread.
Kitik rejoiced like a child.
"This is a very good soup, I see!" - he declared, must be ashamed,
that he will be one of those present! And, deeply immersing the spoon in
seasoned with vegetable oil and onion, the dish became silent to them
enjoy.
I considered Kitty with a complex sense of admiration for his talent and
Pity for his difficult speech.
 But it was time for me to go. I got up quietly, afraid to disturb him.
Yulechka came out
behind me in the hall.
- Unusual, right? she asked, closing the door. - Unique!
You know, he's different than everyone! He has a passion, - Yulechka is easy
used already obsolete word, it is clear in their family used. -- She is --
ballerina. But this is all - platonic! E-flat (how many flats -
forgot!). He writes letters to her, happens to them. Does she understand in his
bells
- I do not know, but he dedicates his bell harmonies to it. You will hear,
it's like a whole concert! Music is amazing! And he himself is amazing!
Serious, courageous, attractive face of Yulechka, usually striking
strong-willed, was festively animated.
"Yes, quite an impressive impression," I replied, not finding
another word. "Do you know who he reminded me of?" Do not know? Prince Myshkin!
-- True? Well, it's you ... No! Do not you think he's very mocking: father
nicknamed the Source, the sisters - the Rev ... Self-defense! Naughty sometimes
even! In Myshkin this was not!
"How old is he, Kotik?"
-- Twenty seven! It is a pity that you leave.
Icy stairs, frost, wind. I'm going, hiding my nose in the collar.
The son, probably, has returned from school, it is necessary to go more likely.
Behind was a whole
a world that is magical and incomprehensible, incomprehensible, but until
plaintiveness is real. Before
some vague embarrassment in the chest.