Valery Rubin

“Freedom does not exist” by Valery Rubin

So this is Perpignan. Three in one: France, Spain and Catalonia gathered here under the hot Mediterranean sun. I didn't even know that was possible. This is a place where you live in both France and Spain at the same time, entirely legally. Wide sandy beaches are just a few miles east, and the snow-capped peaks of the Pyrenees and their ski slopes are to the west. The world-famous resort of Costa Brava is 90 minutes away from Perpignan, and the noisy bustle of Barcelona is less than two hours away. Perpignan, with a population of 300 thousan...

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“The man who built the Tower of Babel” by Valery Rubin

Sadly enough, it is less and less often that you can meet on the street a weirdo with an open mind, dreaming of ennobling all humanity at once. Oh, the times, the morals.No, no, captains of fundraising have nothing to worry about so far: businessmen, benefactors, sacrificing from the generosity of their few profits - to reduce the taxable part of the surplus value - thank God, did not translate. But the real revolutionaries, these disinterested people with a burning gaze and a flaming engine in their chest instead of a heart, fell into obliv...

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“Quo vadis” by Valery Rubin

— Almighty, forgive us! We beg You! We do not know how You imagined the human civilization of the future, whether You wanted to make all people free and happy, living in peace and prosperity, having shelter and daily bread.— Why these empty words? What you ask for is a mirage and a fantasy. The day will come, the hour will arrive, and cruel rulers will take away from the weak what I gave you, and from the poor, the last piece of bread, and everything will return to normal. Life on Earth could have become free and happy for you, but you were ...

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“Doomsday Clock” by Valery Rubin

— Boss, do you agree that an idea can transform the world? It’s like the lever Archimedes of Syracuse mentioned, the fulcrum that can change our understanding of human capabilities.— You're right, Alex. In the Heavenly Chancellery, we gave you the Ten Commandments hoping everything would go smoothly. How cruelly mistaken we were. Life was simpler before, but it felt more comfortable and confident. People were more genuine — I'm not referring to Pithecanthropus. There was less envy and more authentic friendship. And as for money? What money? ...

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“It's us, God...” by Valery Rubin

Are you there, God? It's me... The real human talent is destruction. Not creation, but destruction, you heard me right. We arrogantly, single-mindedly, and, let's face it, effectively destroy nature, the basis, the basis of our existence, given to us from above. Every creature for every creature, remember? Did you hear that the last white rhinoceros died in Sudan? That the number of lions on the African continent and tigers in South Asia has dwindled so much that there is nothing to talk about. That the polar bear in the Arctic? — Very rare....

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“There is nothing better than bad weather” by Valery Rubin

Sitting in the bar gets boring, and for the regulars, our appearance here is suspicious. Irene says she hasn't been to the movies in a long time. A movie is a movie. I found a horror film, the kind I don't watch myself and don't recommend to others, not without love scenes, of course, who'd be surprised. But we safely made it to the finale. It was raining the same, shallow and boring rain outside. Visibility is poor, like through a veil. - Why are you sad? - I'm not sad. Why should you say that? - I can see it.  You can hear the wa...

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“I'll tell you a story...” by Valery Rubin

Submitted to Contest #101

The boss spoke, Alex listened. - Civilization is dying. People have gone mad. For the sake of money, they're willing to do any meanness and murder. Morality? - Nothing to talk about, a waste of time. The church is not able to talk sense into sinners. Their ranks multiply, growing like mushrooms after the rain. Parishioners come to the service in the temple of God, listen to sermons, place a candle, praise Him, but the next day everything repeats again. They confess that they have done wrong, lied, harassed, stolen, raped... just to atone for...

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“Detective is life” by Valery Rubin

Submitted to Contest #100

The morning haze was gone, and the usual humid heat was coming. The sultry sky had taken on the colour of the faded blue overalls issued to the working class in factories and plants. The asphalt was melting. Minimarkets, with their colourful windows, beckoned for fruit and vegetables. Young girls wandered back and forth in lightweight shirts and shorts. But I wasn't tempted. I was not in the mood to store, to lust after the beautiful sex, or to kill my health under the southern Israeli sun. At home, we have air conditioning and the kind of p...

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“Barcelona... Barcelona...” by Valery Rubin

Barcelona... Barcelona... How long have I wanted to visit the city, the foundation of which is attributed to the mythological hero Hercules? In the city of ancient history, the center of world culture, where tourists lead all the roads and air routes, where you can admire the creations of the wizard of architectural design Anthony Placid Gaudi and Cornet, the great Gaudi. The Sagrada Familia, the House of Batlló, the House of Milla... What can I say: Barcelona needs to see!.. And here I am. With my prayers and according to my wi...

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“Spain? Why not... Your home is where you live” by Valery Rubin

Submitted to Contest #98

So that was it. I remembered the phone number that my supervisor had given me for emergencies, that I could always call and be helped, immediately evacuated from whatever country I was in at the time — sort of like an "emergency" for a sick person. You've drawn too much attention to your personal. Enough, no more adventures, and it's time to disappear from the radar screen. The question is, where will the Speedo boots take me? That's for me and me alone to decide. Well, of course, there can be no doubt: Barcelona, the international airport E...

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“Bounty” by Valery Rubin

Submitted to Contest #97

Nostalgia. Nostalgia. Who among us, boys, did not dream of a heroic profession in a distant childhood. Become an astronaut, a pilot, a football player? Other times, other manners. Most people choose a portfolio of bankers, financiers, managers, at the worst, officials or politicians. Yes. But someone, admit it, dreamed of being a pirate, huh? To step, so to speak, on a pirate path, to lift "Merry Roger," to shoot from cannons of the main calibre on a royal flagman ... Pistols and machetes - ready? Surrender your vessel, or you're going to di...

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“Perpignon. The best place for business meetings” by Valery Rubin

Submitted to Contest #96

So that's what it is, Perpignan. I'll be damned. Three in one: France, Spain, and Catalonia, come together here under the hot Mediterranean sun. I didn't know it was possible. It's a place where you live both in France and Spain at the same time, on a completely legal basis. The wide, sandy beaches are just a few miles to the east and the snow-capped peaks of the Pyrenees with their ski slopes to the west. The world-famous resort of the Costa Brava is a 90-minute drive from Perpignan, while the hustle and bustle of Barcelona are less than tw...

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“To Argentina. Urgently. On business” by Valery Rubin

Submitted to Contest #95

This is a real story, as far as any story can be real, not made up. But who makes up stories, since it is already History? - Historians, of course. And if History is at odds with reality, who should we turn to? - Right, to historians. The correct and interpret everything in the light of current events and trends. It is not worth getting upset about such insignificant things because our past is still unpredictable, and our future is in a thick, impenetrable swamp. You know as well as I do that we are living in times far worse than ancient His...

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“Night librarian” by Valery Rubin

Submitted to Contest #91

- What have you got there? Show me your references, young man. I hope you're not a reader or a bibliophile. - I like to flip through a book before I go to sleep, but my friend doesn't pick up books at all. Here's my recommendation, if you'd like to see it. My name is Shimmie. I worked in the archives of the Academy of Sciences. I have a bachelor's degree — a philologist by training. - What do you mean, you have a degree, and you don't read books? - But I wouldn't say I like reading. I've read enough in my life. My head is swollen from books....

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“Quo Vadis, Domine?” by Valery Rubin

Submitted to Contest #90

The fundamental human talent is destruction. Not creation, but destruction, you have not misheard. We arrogantly, purposefully, and, it must be admitted, effectively destroy the nature, the basis, the basis of our existence, given to us from above. Every creature for every creature, remember? Did you hear that the last white rhinoceros died in Sudan? What do we care about? - I see... That the number of lions on the African continent and tigers in South Asia has dwindled so much that there is nothing to talk about. A polar bear in the Arctic?...

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