Plague fair
Рафаэль Тигрис
Биотеррористы пытаются похитить ценного специалиста по чуме, участника научной конференции в городе Лондоне.
Рафаэль Тигрис
Plague fair
“There are no constant friends and no constant enemies, only interests are constant” – Winston Churchill.
A silver airbus landed at Heathrow Airport. The London air was moist and fresh.
– Solomon Grande? – the British border officer read in the passport, – the purpose of your visit?
– Business. To participate in a scientific congress.
– Are you a scientist? In what field?
– Actually, I'm an infectious disease doctor, a plague specialist. We will have a conference here on this topic.
The officer slapped the stamp in the passport. The way to the country was open.
– Solomon!
It was Yesenia's voice. They met on the social media, first on a professional basis, and then friendly relations began.
This is exactly how Solomon imagined Yesenia: with her father's Irish-toned nose, her transparent, ever-smiling eyes, and her unusually white-skinned. But, her figure was fattening, figure she took after her Colombian mother.
Solomon joyfully stepped forward and they embraced like good friends.
–Welcome to London! So tell me, how did you arrive?
–There is no direct flight from our country. I flew through Rome.
They approached the silver “Golf”.
– Hey Solomon! We've the steering wheel on the right and the passenger on the left. Look, don't confuse.
Yesenia laughed lightly. Solomon liked this lack of complexes very much.
Soon they reached the city center. Solomon peered avidly at the famous London landscape. He is in the capital of Great Britain-unbelievable, but true! His report was included in the congress program at the last moment.
–Thank you, Yesenia! It was you, who facilitated my arrival.
–Your work on the plague is unique. Without it, no one would have considered my opinion.
Yesenia drove into the famous Oxford Street and turned towards the prestigious May Fair district, and soon the car pulled up at the door of the Victorian-style hotel.
The spacious hall was fragrant with spring. Right in the middle were huge vases with freshly cut branches of blossoming Sakura trees. Real wood burned in a large fireplace. Around them, sitting comfortably in armchairs, the guests read the latest newspapers.
Solomon's attention was attracted by rare photographs on the walls. On one of them, Sir Winston Churchill with his constant cigar was depicted at the entrance to the hotel. On the other- Her Majesty the Queen of England in front of the hotel.
They approached the front desk, behind which stood a graceful blonde girl.
–Sir, unfortunately, your room will be ready by three o'clock. Please wait in the meantime.
–Yesenia! You'll have to keep me company until three o'clock.
–Aren't you tired? Would you like to take a nap in a armchair by the fireplace?
– Napping during the day in this splendid city, in the company of such a charming girl! That's outrageous.
– Then let's go, sir!
They walked along the streets of May Fair, and the girl told the guest about London.
Solomon liked the company of Yesenia more and more. The ease of communication, the eternal charming smile on his face-all this attracted him very much.
– Listen Yesenia! If you don't mind, let's have some to eat. I won't turn down an English steak with chips.
– That's a good idea. There's a cheap but cozy pub not far away where the chef makes wonderful steaks. Let's go.
– A fine drink, – Solomon said, smacking golden ale in the pub.
– The ale is pumped from barrels stored in cellars. Previously, the water in the Thames was a source of all sorts of infections, including plague, and the inhabitants used ale as drinking water.
–So the plague killed the people here to?
–It did, and more than once. Rats and fleas. The banks of the Thames were crawling with them. There were many inhabitants. They settled in the slums next to the river. The years 1665 and 666, Satan's numbers, were fateful for London. It began with the great plague. People were not buried in time, and corpses were dumped into the m