You scarcely have time to realize that the mountains ribbed with sharp steep ridges and clothed with vegetation on both sides are the Urals when you find them below you and in another minute or two far behind.
On and on you fly with the ever-changing scenes below till you safely land at the airport in Sverdlovsk.
No, you will never make me believe that there is a better way of travelling than by air.
4. AT THE INQUIRY BUREAU
P. Could you possibly tell me how I could get to Ashkhabad?
C. Well, there are different ways. You may go by air, or by land, or by sea.
P. Not by air, thank you. I don’t take to flying. But what do you mean by sea? What has Ashkhabad to do with the sea?
C. Well, you just look at this map here. Can you see from there?
P. Yes, I can.
C. Now you see, here is Ashkhabad. From here, that is from Moscow, you may go by train via Tashkent. This is a roundabout way, see?
P. I do. And how do I go by sea?
C. Well, you may go by train as far as Baku. Here it is.
P. Now I understand. There I change the train for a boat, cross the Caspian sea, get the boat-train for Tashkent and here we are.
C. Quite right. And there’s another way still.
P. Another way? I don’t see any other way there.
C. Well now, suppose you want to go on a pleasure trip and have a squint at the world.
P. Well, let’s suppose that though I’m too busy to go about sightseeing.
C. Then you go to Odessa —.
P. To Odessa? Why on earth should I have to go to Odessa?
C. Why, to do some sightseeing! — to skirt along the coast of the Black Sea, to call at differents ports and see big ships coming in from and going to distant lands, to — well, don’t you call that sightseeing?
P. I do. And it’s rather alluring, but — no time, you know. Which is the shortest, I mean, the quickest way to get there?
C. By air, of course. It’ll take you just a few hours to get there.
P. Well, I thank you for the pains you have taken in giving me such useful information. Goodbye.
5. AT THE STATION
P. Oh, there you are! You have come early; it’s only a quarter to eight.
M. Well, I prefer to be ahead of time rather than behind.
P. Have you had breakfast?
M. Yes, half an hour ago. Have you packed?
P. No, not yet. I have still a few things to pack but there’s no more room in the suitcase.
M. Well, put them into your briefcase then. In the meantime I’ll go and call a taxi.
P. Right! And where’s your suitcase?
M. I’ve sent it to the station. My brother is taking care of it.
P. Where shall we meet him?
M. In the waiting room. Well, I’m off for the taxi. I hope you’ll be ready by the time I get back?
P. Sure.
M. Well, the taxi is at the door.
P. Oh, you were rather quick, I should say. I hadn’t time to take a bite. Well, never mind. Will you help me to take the suitcase down?
M. Certainly.
P. Now where is my hat?
M. Look for it in the wardrobe.
P. It’s not there.
M. Have you looked for it in the other room?
P. Not yet.
M. Then do so.
P. Oh, here it is. Well, it seems that there’s nothing left behind. Go ahead, please. I’ll be down in a moment.
P. Here we are. Here, driver, take this. No, you may keep the change.
M. What are we going to do now?
P. We’ll have to hail a —. I say, porter, are you engaged? PORTER. No, sir. I’ll see to our luggage, if you please. What train?
P. The 9.00 to N. But we have to get tickets first. Say, Michael, you go with the porter to the waiting-room. I’ll go and get the tickets now. By the way, what’s your number, porter?
PORTER. 46, young man.
P. Thank you. Well, Michael, we meet in the waiting-room?
M. Yes, but do be quick — our time is short, you know.
P. No need to worry. Now where is the booking-office, I wonder? Oh, there it is.
P. Two tickets to L., please.
CLERK. What seats, young man?
P. Reserved berths, if you please.
CLERK. ... pounds, please.
P. Here you are. Thank you.
6. IN THE PORT
N. {To a passer-by.) How do we get to Pier 2, please?
P. You are on your right way. Straight ahead and then to the right.
(They see the ship at the pier.)
M. My, what a beauty she is!
N. Yes. How many passengers can she accommodate, I wonder?
M. Some 500—600 at least. She is on her maiden voyage, don’t you know?
N. Really? They have lowered the gangway. Let’s hurry on board.
M. {On board the ship.) Which is the way to Cabin 24, 3rd class, please.
SAILOR. Straight ahead, then right and down. You’ll be attended to there.
N. It’s rather difficult to find one’s way here with all these narrow corridors, isn’t it?
2ND SAILOR. You’ll get accustomed to things here in no time, gentlemen. Well, here we are, Cabin 24, 3rd class. These are your berths.
M. But how small the cabin is! There is hardly any room to turn in here.
SAILOR. You may put your things here in this locker.
N. Who are we sharing the cabin with, I wonder?
SAILOR. You’ll find out in due time, I hope. The restaurant is on the main deck. A pleasant voyage, gentlemen.
N. We hope so. Thank you very much.
M. What do we do now? Go up on deck?
N. Of course. Let’s go up now.
7. THE VOYAGE
M. I say, N., I feel rather queer.
N. Sea-sick already? Why, we are hardly out at sea yet.
M. Well, this rolling motion of the ship affects me somewhat.
N. I wouldn’t say you are much of a sailor then. Want to go down?
M. I’d rather not.
N. Hold on to the rail. Isn’t it a nice breeze?
M. Yes, it —. Say, N., are there any life-boats on this ship?
N. What! Have you lost confidence in the ship already?
M. Not quite, but —. We are in for a storm, I suppose. The sea is getting rough.
N. You’d better not look down, M. You’ll get giddy. Here, take this deck-chair and sit down for a while.
M. No, I think, I’ll go down, after all.
N. Hold tight, I’ll take you to your cabin. You’ll be all right by the morning.
M. I hope so.
N. We touch at K. at nine o’cl —.
M. I feel like vomiting, N.
N. Well, relax yourself and you’ll feel better. Well? How do you feel now?
M. Much better, thanks.
8. IN THE PLANE
STEWARDESS. This way, gentlemen. These seats are yours.
N. Have we to strap ourselves with these belts now?
S. No, this is in case of emergency.
N. When we begin to tumble down, eh?
S. Complete safety is guaranteed. How do you take to flying, gentlemen?
N. Can’t say. I’ve never been in a plane before. Have you, M.?
M. Neither have 1.1 hope it won’t make me feel bad.
S. So do I. If you should want anything, gentlemen, there’s a stewardess call button over there. The individual loud-speaker is at your right.
M. With whom may we talk?
S. With the captain and me, sir.
M. Is smoking allowed here?
S. The sign over there will answer your question, sir.
M. Oh, yes. Thank you. It’ll be a good reminder.
S. The smoking-room is at the rear of the plane.
M. When do we take off?
S. In ten minutes’ time. If you feel tired you may adjust the seat in a reclining position.
N. Yes, thank you. How many hops do we make in our flight?
S. We are in for a non-stop flight, sir. If you feel hungry, you’ll be provided with a hot meal on the way.
N. Oh, that’s fine! And when can we have it?
S. As soon as we reach altitude. In the meantime you may read this booklet entitled “The ABCs of Jet Flight.” The reading light is above you. I hope you will enjoy the flight, gentlemen.
BOTH. Thank you.
9. TRAVELLING BY CAR
