Chapter 117：On the base

Two in the afternoon! It was time to go - the road! Since even if you go fast, they can only reach the base in an hour and a half hours. And in the mountains it is getting dark already closer to 7 days. They will be able to work but in a new place no more than 2-3 hours, and they will have to come back at night, which is not good to eat in the mountains even in the mountain gorge!

Therefore, not really sorting it out, they all put their instruments in a jeep, collected not tricky leftovers from the treats, and even recovered on the return trip. The view was still the same, only occasionally in the steppe, small stone mounds came across. they were poured from gravel and small stones that carried temporary streams from the mountains.

As the locals said, the shepherds (as far as they could be believed) that in these small hills, people who lived in the steppe 300-400 years ago were buried. One visiting historian, scientist, said that robbers, shepherds, warriors, merchants, travelers who died in the 17-18 centuries rest in these impromptu graves. But how to prove and refute this, no one could. Since the desecration of graves is considered a very great sin, so the locals were categorically against conducting archaeological work. A little at a distance there was a small cemetery. On the fence of stakes of trees hung the skulls of mountain rams with large rounded horns. On the fence that encircled the cemetery with wire, colorful ribbons were tied. This was a tribute to the monotheistic religion. In the steppe, this was more likely the norm than the exception. Monotheistic religion came to the steppe only 200 years ago. And then there were 70 years of complete atheism. The population of Small-An returned to its origins only 40 years ago with the acquisition of independence and sovereignty from the second empire.

Some old shepherds were traditionalists, on the one hand, they were former party members, while many in the steppe were at the party, went to conventions in the metropolis. They were given medals for performing socialist competitions. In their yurts on the walls hung old letters of honor from the 1950s and 1970s. As well as portraits carved from newspapers, where party secretaries handed them banners or medals. But all this has long been a thing of the past.

They drove through such villages, nomads, and those who had long been accustomed to jeeps cutting their steppes, just tired eyes watched them.

In the middle of the road, there was an artesian well, Baraz decided to stop the jeep for a couple of minutes and try freshwater. There, a powerful jet of water spurted from the well. It was very seductive! However, after fatty sausage, it was not a good idea. But Baraz did not listen to him, so the car remained. And Baraz went to drink some water. Dara did not come out, he wanted to get to the base as soon as possible. Fang lazily stepped out with Baraz to stretch his stiff legs. Mirbobo joined them. Barno got out of the car and took some pictures from her apple iPhone, both an artesian well and the surrounding area.

Near the well on the concrete wall of the pool was an inverted large bowl. Baraz rinsed it under a stream of cold water and drank it with pleasure. After he rinsed and gave Fanga a drink. He calmly drank the water, smacked his lips, the water was cold as ice, sweet, tasty, he set his teeth together! After rinsing the bowl, Fang handed it to Barno, but she stiffly refused, saying how many people go here, who knows, maybe they are sick? I will not drink! The water is not chlorinated! All the men laughed at her. But they did not insist! Mirbobo drank the last, he turned around and wanted to call Dara. But when he saw that he was sleeping sweetly, he decided not to wake him. Just went to the car, unhooked a flask from the belt of Dara, went to the well and filled it with water. So that later Dara could appreciate the beauty of this steppe water.

In less than five minutes, from their stop, as a cloud of dust appeared in the steppe. A few minutes later a broken motorcycle with a sidecar drove up to them. A policeman came out from there, a man in a black suit, a white shirt, trousers tucked into boots, and a young guy in a T-shirt remained sitting behind the wheel. And time was the beginning of spring. The steppe is still cold. But nomads are not used to it; they live in yurts and at minus 20 and minus 30 degrees Celsius.

A policeman came up, took a visor, and asked, "who are you? Where are you from? What are you doing here? Do you have permission to take photos"? But then looking at the number of the jeep, he again saluted! And he said something in a whisper to a man in a suit.

He introduced himself immediately - "I am the local secretary of self-government, Agzam Mirza, I'm glad to see you here? Are you from the capital? What are our fates? With the inspection? Let's go to the board? Is there tea, bread, meat?"

Baraz smiled, saying - don't be afraid, we are not with the inspection, we just stopped drinking water! And we from the capital, Baraz unfolded his identity card as a veteran of the secret police, and Mirbobo showed his identity card to the Department of State Security, which indicated that this jeep was assigned to him. All questions have been removed! The policeman saluting again apologized, and the secretary, smiling happily, wished them a happy journey!

A delay of five minutes cost them as much as 20! Dara had woken up a long time ago, and could hardly restrain her anger at the stupid Baraz.

They are old people, they like to do their own thing. Mirbobo hooked a flask to Dara's belt, everyone sat in a jeep and drove to the base. And they were escorted by the happy glances of those remaining.

Not? And what kind of room? I do not understand why you gave the honor twice and became so polite? But we just had to find out by instructions who it rides on our territory? said the secretary.

"Don't you read the news? These are employees of the state security department! They have a project here on orders from the capital! The governor asked them to provide full assistance! They are looking for the missing documents!" said the policeman.

And, I was running out of business for some reason, somehow I overlooked this? And what kind of documents? asked the secretary.

"Old"! said the policeman shortly.

Ahh. What were they doing here? asked the secretary.

"Worked" is clear, the policeman answered.

"Well, all right, let's drink some water and go to the board, there are still many things to do." Come on, and our water is so delicious!

"Of course, even the city, metropolitan, appreciated her taste!"

By 4 pm, the jeep was at the base. Baraz said that today he was already tired and would not go looking for treasures and invited everyone to rest. Barno supported him, and Fang was tired, he needed to write another report.

And Dara said that he would go a little look around, taking with him a metal detector and he shoved a spade straight into the valley. Mirbobo got in touch with him for the sake of interest. In addition, in the instructions for labor safety, only two or more people can move in the mountains.

Therefore, Dara did not particularly mind. Both went to the search for treasures!