Alexey Kochemasov barefoot on the clouds read online. Review: “barefoot on the clouds” - for those who are afraid to fly, and not only

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What happens if the plane's engine catches fire? Who is to blame for flight delays, and why is smoking not allowed in the cabin? If you are interested in answers to these and many other questions related to flights and passenger air transportation, then this book is what you need.

Alexey Kochemasov

Alexey Kochemasov - civil aviation pilot, PIC. Known on the Internet as Pilot Lech, he runs a blog that is familiar to almost everyone who is interested in aviation. In 1995, he retired to the reserve and began working in civil aviation: first at Vnukovo Airlines, and since 2001 at Siberia Airlines and Continental Airlines. From 2007 to 2011 (with a short break) he worked for Sky Express airline. Alexey currently works for the charter company Nord Wind.

Who is this book for?

“Barefoot on the Clouds” will bring pleasure not only to those who are in love with the sky, aviation and beautiful photographs, but will also be useful to people who are afraid of flying.

Analyzes the main situations of possible technical problems with the aircraft.

Leshik, we have a problem!

What's there, Vlad?

The oil is leaving!

It also explains why you shouldn’t be afraid of them.

The book describes in detail and simply the most common reasons for flight delays, and also explains why sometimes passengers must wait until the crew rests at the hotel. Special attention is paid to such a phenomenon as aerophobia, as well as how the hysteria of at least one passenger can disrupt the entire flight.

This is not just a book, but a photo book with photographs that will take your breath away.

In addition, here you can find clear answers to the most common passenger questions, including:

• Why and where are there traffic jams in the sky?
• What can be the consequences of violating cargo transportation rules?
• Is it possible to get lost in the sky?
• Why is there chatter in the sky and how dangerous is it?
• What is the most reliable plane?
• Why are TU-154s still flying?

Is it really possible to spin a “barrel” with passengers? Easily! And on any type of aircraft, even an A380. Of course, skillfully. Moreover, if you sit a person in a seat, pour him a cup of coffee, close the window shade and perform a roll roll correctly, the passenger will not even understand that the plane has turned over its “back”!

Conclusion

“Barefoot on the Clouds” are inspiring and useful stories told through the prism of many years of experience and the professional assessment of the author. A must read for those for whom thoughts of an upcoming flight cause nervous tremors and insomnia, as well as for those who are interested in the field of aviation. A light, positive text from a person who is in love with his profession and the sky.

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Barefoot on the clouds
Elena Vladimirovna Popova

© Elena Vladimirovna Popova, 2016

ISBN 978-5-4483-5864-7

Created in the intellectual publishing system Ridero

annotation

Five best friends go on a bachelor party to properly celebrate Theo's last day as a bachelor. His future wife Emmy is looking forward to the long-awaited tomorrow, and standing at the altar, she will say “I do” - finally becoming his wife. However, the terrible accident that ended the bachelor party evening changes the fates of all the heroes. It took the lives of four, leaving only Mike. But no one realizes that Theo and the other three of his friends are still together and are watching from the side what happens after their death.

Everyone has probably thought at least once about

what happens to the soul when a person dies?

Does it continue to exist?

Watching us from the side?

Or is this still a fiction?

Maybe it doesn't exist at all?

And if the soul continues to live, remember everything, be nearby and see what happens to people close to it?..

Barefoot on the clouds

Part one

Chapter 1. Bachelor Party

It seemed that there was nothing more pleasant when you wake up from Emmy’s weak, but at the same time deliberate, touches - with thin fingers she barely touches my back, pretending as if she didn’t even think about waking me up. When it’s still twilight in the room, and half an hour remains before dawn, but you can no longer close your eyes just to wait for the alarm to ring. When the aroma of freshly brewed coffee comes from the kitchen...

- Good morning dear! As your future wife, I order you to get out of bed and invite you to breakfast! – Emmy, standing in my shirt, buttoned with one button in the middle, is slightly disheveled. There is a slight smile on the face. It’s simply impossible to resist, and breakfast has to be postponed a little.

– Today is an important day! You will have to say goodbye to your single life! Yes, yes, Theo. I advise you to party to the fullest, but after the wedding - no, no!

– And football on Saturdays with the guys is cancelled?

- You can say the same, football! You pour several liters of beer into yourself and cheer for whoever you have to in your sports bar. And the waitresses there seem to be okay. So, honey, take my advice. Today you can have a blast, and tomorrow, after you put this ring on my finger and we tie our hearts in marriage, you can forget about your past wild life and about your four comrades.

Emmy laughed (we both knew she wasn’t serious), put the ring back in the red velvet box, slammed it so that it echoed throughout the house and, again pretending to be menacing (even though she couldn’t do it), looked at me.

- Well, then I, too, declare my rights as a future husband! First of all, no gatherings at Jane's on Fridays after work. Secondly, cut down conversations with friends for two hours on the phone - at least to half an hour! Thirdly, your shoes will move to a separate closet! And since only the closet with sports equipment from my sports past is free, there will be a place for them!

All this time she stood, carefully listening to my conditions.

- No, well, you forgot about shoes! What if, getting ready for a party, I start rummaging through this dusty, dark closet and put on your skates instead of shoes?

- This will never happen, because there is rule number one for this - no parties!

- Wait, wait, stop. It was about gatherings at Jane's!

- Well, then the get-togethers usually smoothly flow into parties, and I have to look for you in all the clubs in the city!

– It only happened once! – she smiled offendedly.

Emmy realized that she still couldn’t talk me out of it, and dutifully began tying my tie.

“Uh-oh,” she muttered dissatisfiedly, running over my smoothly shaved cheeks.

- Is there something wrong? – I laughed, already knowing her answer.

– Actually, I prefer boys with stubble! - Grabbing me by the tie and pulling me towards her, pretending that she wanted to kiss me, she touched my lips, and then, in retaliation for the stubble, bit my lower lip.

- For what? – I laughed, while pretending that I was in pain. Emmy ran into the bedroom, throwing off my shirt as she went. She turned around flirtatiously: she was teasing me, knowing that I could not be with her for some time.

As always, I left the entrance, and Emmy was already escorting me from the terrace, wrapped in a blanket.

- This minute! - I answered, understanding what she meant, and pretending to hold my hat on my head, I moved toward the car with a moonwalk. Emmy's laughter echoed throughout the block. Slowing down sharply at the car, I bowed and jumped inside.

She wasn't a Jackson fan. But after several attempts to turn off the radio while his songs were playing, she still realized that I would not change it to the pop music that Emmy loves to listen to.

Emmy, a young girl who needed to walk around, travel around the world, swim in all the seas and oceans. And even now I don’t understand if she’s ready...

Is she ready to become my wife? Maybe I was too hasty? Maybe we should have given her more time to think things over. Although she herself says that, besides me, she still won’t need anyone.

A tap on my back brought me out of my thoughts.

- Theo, what? Is everything ready for the party? – this is Mike, my old friend, we are working together to promote our company. Since adolescence, he and I suffered from all sorts of nonsense. They tried everything: they got into debt and got out together, and only now, at the age of thirty, they created a company that brings in good money.

– The party was a blast! – I decided to joke with him, pretending that everything was cancelled.

There was a silent question in Mike's eyes.

– Yes, Emmy forbade me to have a bachelor party, she put forward her demands, and I could not disagree with them. You know, friend, how much I want to marry her, so I decided not to risk getting into arguments with her,” I made a sad face, looking at him from under my brows.

- No, well, of course, I understand everything...

There was obvious disappointment on Mike's face, and while he was trying to find words, I also tapped him on the shoulder: did you believe me?

- Oh, you bastard! – Mike rushed after me around the office, throwing various things at me that were on the desks of our employees. Who, by the way, looked at us without understanding what was going on, and certainly thought: oh, God, who is at the head of this company!

Later, with the song “Goodbye single life, long live married life!”, two more idiots burst into the office: John and Sam. With bags with whiskey and various snacks sticking out of them.

- Okay, stop. Party only in the evening! And it’s time for lunch!

- Well, what don’t you understand? “Sam spread his arms, took off his cap, deftly throwing it over the window handle, jumped onto the table, crushing all the documents, and at the same time shouted with John:

- Everyone go home! Your boss says goodbye to single life and gives you freedom!

It was clear that the people clearly did not understand what to do or what was going on here. Everyone, of course, already knew these eccentric guys, but when to take them seriously and when not, it is still not clear. Even me - sometimes.

Mike announced an unscheduled day off to employees. Strictly adding that everyone should be in their places by eight tomorrow morning. Although he was never a strict boss.

John was so impatient to start the bachelor party that, without waiting for the last of the crowds to disappear in the door, he turned on the speakers at full power and began, dancing, pouring whiskey into glasses. Mike set the table economically, probably only because these idiots had already started throwing all the documents into one pile in order to clear the table, on which they then sat.

The only thing missing was Eric, who was stuck at work. I thought he didn’t realize that the bachelor party was already in full swing, since all the plans were for the evening, but I was wrong.

– Hello, is this the Star City company? Great, can I hear the director? -

Sam called the company where Eric works and where, according to him, the director is very strict.

Turning off the music, motioning for us to be quiet, he waited with a serious look until he was connected.

- Good afternoon! Does your company have an employee named Eric Jameson? Oh great, could you tell him that his wife gave birth two hours ago!

At this point even I couldn’t restrain myself and started “grunting with laughter” into my shirt sleeve.

- No one can reach him by phone, could you tell him that his wife is waiting for him in the maternity hospital? Thank you very much!

Before Sam had even hung up the phone, wild laughter erupted in the office.

“I would give anything to look at Eric’s face right now,” John added.

And he and Sam began to wildly fantasize about this topic.

- Eric, your wife gave birth, but no one can reach you!

- Who gave birth?

- Yes, yes, they just reported.

- But I don’t have a wife...

– I don’t know anything, Mr. Jamson, go to the maternity hospital and figure it out!

At the same time, Sam, in the role of director, stood with a pointer and a folder of documents. And John made a surprised face: exactly like Eric’s. He is the most modest of our company: trusting and a little naive. A simple, skinny guy who is very difficult to joke with. By the way, it’s better not to pour too much for him.

- I have a toast - I offer you a drink!

“Theo, tomorrow you’ll fucking leave our flock of bachelors, and it’s sad...” Mike knitted his eyebrows, holding them with his hand, closed his eyes and pretended to sob. - Oh, what a sentimental evening, gentlemen... We will miss you so much, our comrade in arms and just a good Friday drinking buddy!

He made a sad face again. Me, Sam and John looked at him, holding back our laughter and waiting for what else he would say.

– But, breaking through the tears, with my trembling lips, I am still forced to let you go, brother. To a wonderful family life. If it weren’t for Emmy, I would even try to dissuade you from tying the knot. But Emmy is the girl with whom, as we all have long understood, our Theo will be happy! And I hope, brother, that tomorrow, when her father leads her to the altar, and there you will stand in a white tuxedo, and next to me, your witness, the most beautiful witness will stand opposite me!

Everyone was already tired of holding their glasses aloft, and when it became clear that this was another frivolous speech from Mike, they clinked glasses without waiting for the end of the toast. Which Mike was even offended by.

- Now it's my turn! “Sam couldn’t do anything just like everyone else.” He heaped a chair on the table, climbed onto it and began to toast.

- Of course, I will seem a little banal, but, as was already said above, we are losing our comrade in arms.

He ran his hand over his face, pretending to wipe away a tear.

“So, we are gathered here today to send Theo Marallis to the family front. Our faithful captain in the litroball team and the best striker for the remaining two pistachios in the plate, so as not to give in to the opponent and eat them first.

Everyone was already rolling on the floor laughing and was no longer able to listen to the nonsense that Sam was spouting, when he suddenly became extremely serious.

- In fact, it’s probably so cool, when returning from work or no matter where, to know that your beloved wife is waiting for you. Dinner is on the table, and soon the little Marallis will be running around the house! I, too, am already dreaming about this, looking at you. I’m glad that the beautiful coquette Emmy will become your wife, and, of course, she will introduce me to her girlfriends!

Before we even had time to clink glasses after such a positive toast, we heard some rustling in the office.

– Couldn’t you come up with anything more interesting? – it was Eric. He sneaked through the work tables, lifting his briefcase up so as not to roll anything up, as he often does, and through his fogged glasses one could read one thing in his gaze: who thought of calling his director? It became clear that we couldn’t do without explanations.

- No, well, it’s necessary: ​​my wife gave birth! When I heard this, I was, excuse me, speechless. So many thoughts ran through my head. Of course, I immediately thought of you. But then I think: what if, really, some ex of mine took it and gave birth?

- Well, did it work? – John shouted joyfully and, encouraging, tapped Eric on the shoulder. “And we thought that you would sit in your hole again and crawl out like a vampire after sunset.” But now you’re in the ranks!

After drinking two glasses of whiskey, Eric, judging by his casual dancing on Mike's desk, was no longer worried about anything.

“Well, I suggest we continue the party at the sports bar,” John was right: it was already approaching seven in the evening, and I still needed to drop by home to change from my formal office look into something more convenient for the party. Emmy was waiting for me home from work, and we wanted to go together: she to a bachelorette party, and I to a bachelor party. I wonder what she will think when she realizes that the bachelor party is already in full swing? Although she herself told me to have a blast today.

The office and home were only two blocks apart, so we walked. Eric and I are in front, listening to how he was dumbfounded by the call to the director today, and the guys are a little behind, waving a bottle of whiskey and luring pretty girls passing by to the bachelor party.

Passing by a flower shop, I remembered that the white roses that Emmy loves so much were almost withered, which means that I had to give her a bouquet - she likes there to always be fresh flowers in the house - namely, white ones that have not yet opened, roses. She touches the petals every morning and then leans over them, drowning in their scent. According to her, the smell of a rose is the smell of anti-stress and good mood for the whole day.

The sellers had long ago learned what flowers my Emmy loved, and without further ado, they assembled for me a lush bouquet of those same, not yet fully opened, buds.

- So, I’ll go with Eric, at least he won’t say any nonsense! And you, gentlemen, be so kind as to be quiet.

Sam, Mike and John shook their heads almost simultaneously, making serious faces, letting us know: no problem, we understood everything.

I opened the door slightly and called Emmy almost in a whisper.

- Darling, are you still at home?

There is silence in response, but the light in the bedroom is on.

“Either she’s angry with me, or she just forgot to turn it off,” I tried to reason with my drunk, quiet friend, who, in bewilderment, simply shrugged his shoulders in response.

The answer did not keep us waiting and came out to us in a beautiful black tight-fitting dress with a huge cutout on the back. The curls fell on her fragile bare shoulders, and the length of the dress made it possible to see her thin, tanned legs in detail.

- So so so! And how did this wind bring such busy people to us? – Emmy, as always, tried to make a very menacing appearance, but, as always, she failed again.

“By the way,” Eric muttered timidly, standing behind me to smooth the situation.

Emmy laughed and melted when she saw me buried in a bouquet of her favorite roses.

“I take it this is an apology for thirty-five missed calls?”

In a panic, I reached into the pocket of my leather jacket, felt for my mobile phone there and looked at the screen, I realized that all this time I had not even thought about the phone. Through the music and screams, hardly anyone would have heard my cell phone ringing in the pocket of my jacket hanging on a hook at the end of the office.

– Fourteen, to be more precise, missed...

- Oh, well, yes, what nonsense: then everything is in order! You can continue to celebrate the last day of freedom!

Emmy looked over my shoulder and greeted Eric with a smile, who stood with the air of a guilty child at the very door.

- Eric, come in, you’re propping up the door there, so be it - I won’t hit you! – Emmy laughed again. I love her for her frivolity and ability to smooth out any conflicts. It seems to hint that she doesn't like it. But how subtle. And without scandals.

Eric, not understanding the humor, remained standing in the same place, and I went to take off my office suit, while Emmy carefully changed the roses in the vase in the living room.

-Will you wear this T-shirt? – Emmy asked in surprise, looking at my usual walking clothes.

- Yes. Is there something wrong?

- How? Today is a holiday... You say goodbye to single life, you need to dress smartly! – she raised one eyebrow up and let her head go a little, looking from under her brows, and smiled slyly.

It was not difficult for me to melt her heart again and make her smile. Having hugged my most beloved little man, I ran my hand along her thin neck and again pressed her tightly to me, inhaling the aroma of my favorite perfume.

– It doesn’t matter to me what I’ll wear today and, in general, what I’ll look like. It is important to me what awaits me tomorrow. Today is not a holiday for me, it’s just such a good tradition to have a bachelor party. And the real holiday will come tomorrow, when you, standing in a white dress with a veil, say “Yes!” Then the real holiday will begin, Emmy, and it will never end.

Almost in a whisper, looking straight into her eyes, I said what was in my soul, and saw tears rolling in her eyes. Screams from the street interrupted such a pleasant conversation. And if Eric stood silently at the entrance, then these blockheads sang songs for the entire block, and in addition, they also whistled. I couldn’t tear myself away from her, we stood there for a couple of minutes, trying to catch a sentimental moment of silence, but it didn’t work out well with my friends. Emmy stroked my face, slowly leading me from my lips to my temples, and barely audibly whispered:

- I love you, Mr. Marallis. Run, otherwise they will destroy half the area now. And the girls are probably already waiting for me,” she smiled sweetly and with a graceful gait, on tiptoe, walked to the mirror, imagining that she had already put on her heels.

– And I also love your stubble! – she shouted from the bathroom.

I remembered Eric and went into the hall to put on my shoes.

- Emmy, we're going, darling, go close it behind us.

While Eric called the elevator, I paused in the doorway to make sure Emmy would close the door. In principle, I always do this, otherwise she might simply forget, lost in the clouds of cosmetics, outfits and shoes, shoes, shoes.

- Going…

And after a couple of seconds she jumped out in one shoe and hugged me again.

“See you at the altar, miss!”

- At the altar, mister!

Eric had already pressed the elevator hold button five times, but still, quietly, modestly and patiently, he followed me to the cheerful company.

As it turned out, Emmy came out onto the terrace to see us off, and Sam and John made her oath promises to deliver me to church tomorrow safe and sound. Emmy just laughed all over the street from the height of the fourth floor. And these drunken comrades tried to pretend to be very sober and serious and even spoke very convincingly.

Mike was silent. He was probably afraid to make any promises, realizing that all responsibility would still fall on him. I agreed with Emmy that I would stay with Mike, and she could calmly get ready for church, surrounded by her girlfriends.

Sam stopped the taxi with a loud whistle, and we boarded a yellow transporter suitable for a large group. I climbed in last, trying to take my eyes off Emmy, who was watching us, and, almost jumping into the car, I heard her voice.

– Tomorrow I will become Mrs. Marallis! Did you hear, Theo Marallis?

“And I will love you even more, my little Mrs. Marallis!”

All my doubts about whether she was ready or not were dispelled, and we went on to have fun. As I got out of the taxi last, I heard the elderly driver ask: “Maybe I should take you back?” I waved it off, making it clear that our evening would not end soon!

Already in the familiar atmosphere of our favorite sports bar, Sam and John hurried our familiar bartenders to bring us drinks, and Mike, meanwhile, pestered the waitresses.

- Well, Theo, let's do it for you and Emmy! – John shouted over the music and threw the entire contents of the glass into himself.

It seemed to me that he had had enough, and even more so for Eric: as I already said, it was better for him not to pour it.

Having missed a couple more toasts, I was convinced of this again when, glancing at Eric, I saw a couple of his attempts to get up from his chair, holding onto the table. Then he collapsed into his seat and smoothly lowered his head in front of him.

- Mike, maybe we can send Eric home?

“Well, let the guy have fun,” Mike snapped at me without looking up from the waitress’s skirt, not even looking at Eric, who was sleeping at the table.

I grabbed him by the shoulders, silently turned him around and pointed in Eric’s direction.

- Oh, looks like you're right, we need to get him home. Otherwise, the wife is in the maternity hospital with the child, and here he is sleeping on the table.

Remembering that incident with the call, we laughed and moved to wake him up.

While we were trying to stir him up, Sam and John were already hanging on to some guy in their arms, and only when they parted did I see Edward.

This is Sam's old friend who dropped by to give him the car keys. He drove a white convertible and lent it to Sam for the wedding procession tomorrow.

“Maybe I’d better drive it to your house tomorrow?” – Seeing Sam’s “cheerful” state, Ed was clearly worried about his car. But then John entered the conversation.

“Ed, don’t even think about it, your sweetie will be safe and sound,” he tried to put on a sober face. – I am responsible for her, I promise! Today she will stay at the bar, and tomorrow morning we will take her from here.

I don’t know how, but Edward believed the drunk, but, as always, convincing John and threw the keys into Sam’s hands. And then, having said goodbye to everyone, he left the bar.

The guys were having fun, but I really wanted this evening to end as soon as possible. And not because I was bored. The thought that tomorrow my Emmy would become my wife haunted me and caused a small, pleasant tremor. So I was already looking forward to tomorrow. And I really wanted to call her and hear her say it again.

I dialed her number and, making my way out into the street through the screaming guys shouting over the music, I didn’t hear Emmy already talking to me.

“Emmy,” I tried to break into a quiet place.

- I hear you have a lot of fun there. Maybe it's time to leave? Otherwise, tomorrow the priest will get drunk from your smell, Mr. Marallis.

As always, she spoke with a little irony.

“I’ll try to convey this to those comrades who dance on bar counters in football club hats,” turning around, I looked out the window and described to Emmy what was going on in the bar.

- By the way, one is already ready!

- Eric? – Emmy quickly realized and laughed.

– Actually, I once again wanted to hear what you shouted from the terrace.

- Mrs. Marallis, Theo. Marallis! And no more!

Again that shiver ran down my spine from her voice and the way she tried on my last name.

- Kisses, Emmy!

- And I you...

I pressed the reset button and realized that I hadn’t even asked how she was resting. But judging by the very positive voice and music in the background, it is clear that she is not sad in the company of her girlfriends.

– Sam, John, maybe it’s time to go home? Otherwise tomorrow I might be left without a best man! – I pointed with my eyes at Mike, who could barely stand on his feet, and Eric, still sleeping at the table.

“What are you talking about, Theo, this is the last “single evening,” John shouted over the music, dancing, rocking a huge football cap on his head.

“He’s right, John, it’s time to go, otherwise the bride won’t forgive us tomorrow,” muttered a tired Sam in a slurred voice.

We moved to wake up Eric, picking up dancing Mike along the way, who did not understand what was going on, and Sam, meanwhile, made gestures, clasping his palms and placing them against his ear, hinting that he needed to get some sleep.

The bartender breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that we were going to leave, and was already standing at the door with the keys so that we would not change our minds.

- Eric, your wife gave birth, get up! - John shouted right in his ear and lifted him by the collar of his shirt. Eric opened his eyes slightly, in which it was written: “Where am I?”, stood up with a sleepy look, shook his head, patted himself on the cheeks and silently moved towards the exit.

We tumbled out into the street, and the bartender fussily closed the door and turned the sign over to the “Closed” side.

It has always been difficult to get a taxi into this area. Although it was a fifteen-minute walk to Mike’s house, we decided not to risk going in different directions and take everyone home. For another ten minutes we hung around the sports bar, trying to stop cars passing by, and Mike was hopelessly looking for a taxi on the phone. Taxi services responded that there were no free cars, and those that seemed ready to earn extra money drove by when they saw a drunk company. I remembered the words of that driver: “Maybe we can take you back?” And I already regretted not taking his business card.

- Here comes salvation! – Sam shouted, pulling the keys to the white convertible out of his pocket.

- No, no, what are you talking about, Sami, we are not able to drive the car, and Ed will then strangle us in turn.

“You don’t know where the gas pedal is, Theo?” Five skilled drivers won't figure out how to drive a car? Even if I’m in a coma, I’ll get there with my eyes closed.

“And if the police stop you, then tomorrow we won’t be at the wedding, but in the police department.” “It’s not worth the risk,” added a slightly frightened Eric, having sobered up a little from the fresh air.

“And Sam’s right, damn it, we’ll drive slowly, we’ll pick up Mike and Theo first—there’s actually two intersections to go through.” And then we’ll drop Eric off along the way, leave the car at Sam’s house, and I’ll walk from there—it’s two steps away. Well, what's the plan, brothers? – John smiled.

The idea, of course, is abnormal, but after hesitating a little more, we nevertheless jumped into the convertible and dragged the resisting Eric there.

“At least close the roof: if they notice us, it won’t seem like much,” Eric lamented, constantly looking around and observing with what confidence Sam set off.

“Well, it doesn’t seem that bad,” Mike exclaimed, encouraging Eric, who was sitting next to him.

- Yes, everything is just super! – John shouted from the front seat, turning to us.

– Maybe we can take a ride around the city at night? – Sam asked, turning the music down and smiling sarcastically.

- Yes, we could get home without incident! – I, of course, understood that Sam was joking, but suddenly he became excited about such an engine, because he himself rides in an old pickup truck. I hope Emmy never finds out about the details of our bachelor party...

- Well, you’re almost home! – Sam addressed Mike and me with such a proud look that he almost took us to Mike’s house without any problems, looking in the mirror at our reaction.

I barely had time to breathe out a relieved breath when his house appeared on the horizon, when Sam suddenly turned the steering wheel sharply and jumped out from around the bend into the oncoming lane, along which the “water sprinkler” was slowly moving. Its blinking lights on the roof merged in the darkness, and I couldn’t make out whether Sam had time to change lanes or not.

- Oh, damn, damn! “John, in a panic, began to grab the steering wheel and turn it towards himself. Eric dropped his head to his knees so as not to see all the horror. And Mike and I shouted something to Sam, clutching the back of his seat.

The car turned across the road. Clap... Blow... More than half a minute, no screams...

In a panic, we left the mangled car and to the loud screams of Sam: “Run, run, run!” They rushed around the corner of the store.

-Are you an idiot? Why the hell did you run into oncoming traffic?

- Why did you speed up like that, Sami? We're all drunk! John attacked Sam, and Eric tore out his hair, realizing that we would all be responsible for the consequences together.

I, too, stood in a stupor, realizing that blaming Sam for everything was, at the very least, stupid! We all voluntarily jumped into the car, and everyone was having fun - until we crashed into this sprinkler.

- Yes, that’s it. Stop, stop, stop yelling! Eric, calm down!

- That's it, let's come to our senses! What happened, happened - now we need to think about what we will do next! We are drunk, including the driver. And we also escaped from the scene of the accident! Surely, that guy at the “watering station” has already called the police, and in a matter of hours Ed will find out that his car has turned into a pile of metal! Let's think about what to do next, and not grab each other by the chest, passing the blame!

- Okay, stop. Where's Mike? “John interrupted me, noticing that there were four of us, although I myself didn’t even immediately realize that Mike wasn’t with us.

“Oh, damn, he didn’t make it out in time,” Sam panicked.

“Okay, that’s it, we need to go back for him!” We will not leave him, let it be what will be! In the end, we’ll hardly be able to figure out what to lie to the police now, we’ll get off with fines and together we’ll chip in to repair Edward’s car!

“Yes, that’s right, let’s all go together,” John signed my words.

We turned the corner with guilty faces, like children who have done something wrong and are now afraid to admit it.

About a hundred meters away from us we could see a “sprinkler”; the driver was hovering near our car and excitedly talking about something on the phone.

“He’s probably calling the police,” muttered Eric, scared half to death, timidly walking behind us.

There was something lying on the asphalt, about five meters from the car. And only as I came closer did I see Mike lying in a pool of blood.

- Oh God, it's Mike! – I shouted without turning around, changing my step to running, the others caught up with me.

- Mike, Mikey, buddy, can you hear me?

- Dont touch him! - John shouted in panic, seeing me trying to lift what seemed to be a dead body. “What if his bones are broken, don’t touch him, move away, Theo!”

My cheekbones began to cramp as I leaned over Mike.

- Call the ambulance, quickly, call quickly! – I shouted, addressing everyone, rummaging through my pockets with trembling hands in search of my mobile phone.

Sam ran up to the driver of the sprinkler, who was still talking on the phone in emotions, and began shouting something about an ambulance, but he did not pay attention to him. John leaned over Mike, listening to his breathing, and only Eric stood frozen, looking at the car in which we were traveling.

- Yes, yes, there are four corpses here! That's for sure! “One of them still seems to be breathing,” the driver suddenly said into the phone.

- What did he say? – I looked at John and Sam in bewilderment? Is it really our fault that someone died?

– Was there someone in that car? – Sam said slowly.

John rushed to the sprinkler, Sam - to the driver, trying to reach him. And I approached Eric, worried about his silence. And only when I turned my gaze to where Eric was staring like that, I was horrified.

In the mangled convertible, a bloody, lifeless Sami lay behind the wheel. Next to him on his shoulder is John, with a broken head, in the back seat is Eric, crushed by John’s seat, also showing no signs of life. And... I... Cut right through the chest by a large glass. And also... No signs of life.

My legs went numb, my body began to cramp, and I couldn’t wrap my head around this whole picture.

Eric still stood motionless, his eyes full of tears.

- Are we dead? – turning into the void, I asked that terrible question.

- It's us, Theo. More precisely, all that’s left of us,” Eric answered, still in the same way, without taking his eyes off his body.

I turned around, looking for something I didn't know about, at Sam and John, who were

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