"Lazar Lagin. The Old Genie Hottabych (англ.)" - читать интересную книгу автора

tell you what: let's drop in on Pyotr Ivanych."
Pyotr Ivanych, the school doctor, examined Volka for all of ten
minutes. He made him close his eyes and hold his arms out before him with
his fingers spread apart; then he tapped his knee and drew lines on his
chest and back with his stethoscope.
By then Volka came to himself. His cheeks turned pink again and his
spirits rose.
"The boy's perfectly well," said Pyotr Ivanych. "And if you want my
opinion, he's an unusually healthy child! I think he was probably
overworked. He must have studied too much before his exams, because there's
nothing wrong with him. And that's all there is to it!"
Just in case, though, he measured some drops into a glass, and the
unusually healthy child was forced to drink the medicine.
Suddenly, Volka had an idea. What if he could profit from Hottabych's
absence and take his geography examination right there, in the doctor's
office?
"By no means!" Pyotr Ivanych said emphatically. "By no means. Let the
child have a few days of rest. Geography can wait."
"That's quite true," the teacher sighed with relief, pleased that
.everything had turned out so well in the end. "And you, my young friend,
run along home and have a good rest. When you feel better, come back and
take your exam. I'm positive you'll get an 'A.' What do you think, Pyotr
Ivanych?"
"Such a Hercules as he? Why, he'll never get less than an 'A'+!'
"Ah ... and don't you think someone had better see him home?" Varvara
Stepanovna added.
"Oh no, Varvara Stepanovna!" Volka cried. "I'll make out fine."
All he needed now was for a chaperone to bump into that crazy old
Hottabych!
Volka appeared to be in the pink of health, and with an easy heart
Varvara Stepanovna let him go home.
The doorman rushed towards him as he was on the way out. "Kostylkov!
Your grandpa, or whoever he is, the one who came here with you...."
At that very moment, old man Hottabych appeared from the wall. He was
as happy as a lark and immensely pleased with himself, and he was humming a
little tune.
"Help!" the doorman cried soundlessly and tried in vain to pour himself
another cup of tea from the empty kettle. When he put the kettle down and
turned around, both Volka Kostylkov and his mysterious companion had
disappeared. By then they had already turned the nearest corner.
"Pray tell me, young master, did you astound your teacher and your
comrades with your great knowledge?" Hottabych inquired proudly, breaking a
rather long silence.
"I astounded them all right!" Volka said and looked at the old man with
loathing.
Hottabych beamed. "I expected nothing else! But for a moment there I
thought that the most revered daughter of Stepan was displeased with the
breadth and scope of your knowledge."
"Oh, no, no!" Volka cried in fear, recalling Hottabych's terrible
threats. "You were imagining things."