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But it is not only on account of the convenience, comfort and speed that I like air travel. The whole experience is a spiritually

thrilling thing for me. I enjoy greatly the feeling of flying. As you leave the earth behind you, you seem to belong to another world, a bigger, wider, freer world than the one you left. What loveliness there is on earth when you see it from above; the rapid changing scenes below are of underscribable beauty.

What can compare in beauty with the view one beholds when flying, for instance, from Moscow to Sverdlovsk? Just as the early tinges of dawn flush the eastern sky you take off from the Moscow airport leaving behind the huge city in deep slumber; the sun has not risen, but the bird-like machine is flying to greet it. Looking down you gain a magnificent view of a charming landscape — to the right are fields carefully cultivated, to the left — pasture-lands, ahead — a cheerful river winding its way through the lowland. On you fly past villages and cities, hills and valleyes, each following the other in quick succession. There in the far distance you perceive the outlines of a mountain range.

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 INQU IRY 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.