Аннотация: The Short Story of how Alex became a Minister of energy
The Short Story of how Alex became a Minister of energy
Alex's working day began with disturbing news.
The lack of electricity and water in centralized electricity and water supply systems has become commonplace for residents of the city and the country.
But the residents got used to the fact that periodically, as a rule, in the morning, electricity and water appeared, and they, the residents, could recharge the batteries, use electrical appliances and stock up a water for a while.
For Alex, the opportunity to take the subway sometimes was especially valuable. Trips to the subway were reducing a fatigue level during a delivery of pizza from cafe to customers.
The administrator of cafe this morning reported that information came: the electric equipment necessary for power supply of the country and the city fell into disrepair. In any case, partially.
The receptionist had a list of not fulfilled orders, and the cafe had a certain amount of cooked, but not delivered pizza. Alex took the address, the pizza, and went to the customer.
"What will happen to the cafe?' - Alex thought. - "What will happen to a buyers of pizza?" '"What will happen to the residents?" He tried to calm himself. At the beginning of the month there was no electricity for about a week. So what? Everything went fine!
Suddenly, a luxury car stopped next to Alex. A cheerful, well-dressed man came out of it and approached Alex. Alex noticed from the corner of his eye that strong men in black glasses were getting out of the car (and another escort car).
- Hi, guy! - the person friendly told. - Tell, please, what is your name?
- My name is Alex. I carry pizza.
The man looked around. There was a café nearby. The person imperceptibly waved the head towards cafe, doing the sign to the men accompanying him.
- "It's a good day, Alex," -the man said pleasantly. - "I'm on the side of the common people. Such people, as you, vigorous, clever and perspective. I on your side, and I respect you!"
- Thank you, señor.
- Call me "comrade". "Comrade Friend"!
- Okay, comrade Friend.
- Let's go get a cup of coffee.
Alex didn't dare refuse.
When he and his high-ranking comrade entered the cafe, there was no one there - except the security of a high-ranking comrade.
One of the guards kindly led Alex into the next room and gave him a suit, shoes and a white shirt. Alex all this put on. Recently he happened to drop into the functioning hairdressing salon. So Alex looked not bad.
A high-ranking comrade looked at Alex with pleasure, and they drank a coffee.
Alex managed to see different visitors in the own cafe, and knowing these samples, he tried to behave most culturally.
- "Here's the thing, the guy," - the important man said amiably. - 'You are appointed the Minister of Energy'.
Alex lost an ability to speak.
Without hearing the answer, the important man repeated:
- You are a Minister of Energy.
- Thank you, comrade Friend. But...
- I know! No experience, no knowledge, no understanding of the situation and no programme of action. You do not need all this. You are an ordinary citizen. You're defending the revolution. You - restore an electrosupply and care about the people. You are visiting an energy facilities. You will be photographed and will interviewed you. You tell everyone that the energy supply will soon recover, that the prospects are excellent, and that there is no need to worry. Nothing more is required of you.
- "I heard the electrical equipment was out of order, comrade Friend," - Alex said.
- It's true. It's broken. Most likely, it will never recover. Nevertheless, we are considering at least three options. The first - the main. Electrical equipment will never recover. The second - a spare. Something will change and the electrical equipment will be restored. The third is a most possible. Gradual transition to any solar batteries, accumulators, wind generators and other dot power sources.
- The centralized power supply will not be. It's most likely. But I am a Minister of Energy, - Alex tried to understand and formulate a situation.
- It won't be long. It's most likely. When it becomes clear that you have not coped with the task, you will be removed. You will be dismissed. I think that your work as the Minister of energy will last a month. Maybe a little more or less. Then your incompetence and lack of results will be revealed. But don't worry. We humans are not evil. We live and let an other people to live. Not important, what messages will be published about you in newspapers after your dismissal. We'll find for you a place in life. In an extreme case, you will go back to your cafe and will continue to deliver pizza. You will say that you were visiting for a month your aunt in a province.
- How will the cafe work if there is no electricity? - Alex expressed doubts about his future.
- You if you will be pleasant to the people, will continue to be Minister, - the important person calmed Alex. - Against you nobody has anything. Also treat life more optimistically. When did the centralized power supply systems arise? At the beginning of the 20th century. The main volume of classical works of human culture was created without the centralized power supply systems. And after emergence of these systems certain outstanding people preferred to be without them. So we will not worry ahead of time. At first we will say that we restore earlier existing systems, and later we will change the subject. We will begin to say that we build the new, eco-friendly, energy saving, the unprecedented on the planet, society. We are not an angry people. Who does not like our way of life, those have the right to go abroad.
Alex shrugged his shoulders. "After all, what do I lose?"And it is not so easy to refuse. Now he smiles. What will happen if I will refuse?...
- "I thank you for trust, comrade Friend," - Alex thanked for the trust of an important person, having let know that he agrees with a responsible mission.
The visit to the cafe was completed. The car took an important man and Alex to the Ministry of energy.
It is necessary to pay tribute, the electric power was in the Ministry. Apparently, a powerful generator worked.
The important person read out the decree on the appointment of Alex to the post of Minister. Hanged about Alex's neck, a symbolic chain, signifying the inauguration of the Minister.
Employees of the Ministry applauded. "A Young!" "He is energetic!" "From ordinary people!" "He will defend the revolution!" - there was a whisper among the employees of the Ministry.
The important man led Alex into the Minister's office-room, patted him on the shoulder for encouragement, shook Alex's hand once more, and headed for the Palace.
One of the great man's guards took Alex to the next room for a moment and handed Alex a weighty package of foreign currency. "For a future expenses!" "Start to act, the guy! Revolution hopes for you!" - the person from security team encouragingly told to Alex.
Alex in response asked to deliver the pizza, scheduled for delivery to the customer, but not delivered because of the events. "Both the customer and the cafe are waiting for fulfillment of the order!" The security man kindly agreed.
Alex quickly held a working meeting. Everything appeared not so difficult.
No one was going to restore the power supply system. There were no qualified people, no spare equipment, no money, no way to find somewhere a qualified people or a spare equipment.
In addition, everyone in the Ministry understood that recovery is a meaningless activity. The money, efforts, time will be spending. - And a new, renovated electrical system will out of order again. - Not a good. Just a new troubles and a unnecessary costs.
The meeting was devoted to the program of Alex's visits to electric power facilities and the creation of information occasions. The synchronous work of the Ministry's press service was also discussed. Each visit of Alex should be accompanied by confident statements, photos and numerous publications.
There was an hour before Alex's next scheduled visit to the power facility.
The young, attractive girl secretary entered an office-room. She brought a cup of coffee.
Alex leaned back on a chair back.
"In general it is not so bad to be the Minister of Energy ..." "The subway does not work ... How to carry out a delivering of pizza up to customers ?..."
April 2, 2019 09:52
Translation from Russian into English: April 2, 2019 21:54.
Владимир Владимирович Залесский "Рассказ о том, как Алекс стал министром энергетики".