The Raccoons are copyright of Kevin Gillis etc. Written and translated to english by Oblenn. Here is my first fanfic about "The Raccoons", and this is only translation from russian. Second variant of translation, btw. Now, when I become to speak english better, I understand, what terrible and incorrect was first variant. So, sorry peoples, I'll try to learn this language even better further. EVERGREEN WAR The Weather in Evergreen forest is terrible today. Bert looked into the window. The same landscape already whole week: the endless column of tanks moving to the north on fast-builded road. Past the house are going heavy "Abramses", painted in evil-looked black color with big white stars, light M-60, which are old, but still use, high M-113, "Voulcans", "Hammers", many another armored technics... Crews are looked at the trees in forest with depression in his eyes: they are going to the war. Bert sighed. How good was only one year ago! Bert remembered, how it all began. Just ended Evergreen olympics, and on TV started to show anxious news. And soon suddenly declared: War! NATO started to fight with Russia. First time battle was on another continent, and here, in the forest, seem something unreal. But a week ago russians desanted on Alaska. War, already named World War III, came nearer to the Evergreen... Next day weather is little better. Bert had breakfast alone: Ralph and Melissa already went to edition. Knox, selling oil into Army, planned a new big bargain, and they are going to write about it. When Bert finished eating third sandwich with his favorite peanut butter, door opened and Lisa comes. - Good morning, Bert. - she greeted Bert with not so joyful voice. - Good morning, Lisa, come on! - answered Bert, swallowing last piece. Lisa came and sat down in front of Bert. She looked not so good, looks like she wasn't sleep whole night. Interesting, why... - Bert, - she asked - Do you busy today? - No, Lisa. - Bert answered - What's happened? - On our garage wind has broken half of the roof yesterday. I think, dad can't fix it alone, could you help him? - Of cource, Lisa, not a question! - Thanks, Bert. - Lisa smiled a little - You're the real friend. When they went to the Lisa's house, was oppressive silence. At last, Bert decided to break it. - What's happened, Lisa? You looks dejected today. - Oh, nothing, Bert. Yesterday evening I called to my friends in city. Do you remember, I told you about John? - Yes, he was your first boyfriend. And what with him? - He... He died three days ago. Blasted with his tank. Jessie told, that his parents already get his body. With a flag, with all honours... Even with medal... - I'm sorry, Lisa... - Not excuse, Bert, you aren't guilty. I cried whole night, can't believe. Damn war... And all further way they kept silence. When they arrive to Lisa's house, George and Bentley already sat on the garage roof and nail something boards. When Bentley saw Bert, he waved to him. It's very astonishing, how he can keep cheerful mood in this atmosphere of total anxiety. - Morning, Bert! - he shouted - Come here! - One moment. - answered Bert and lean his bike to the wall. Lisa silently go to her room. She needed to stay alone. After few hours of work, they're almost finished repair. Suddenly Bentley look up and joyfully said: - Hey, Bert, look! Bert looked, where he showed. First time he haven't seen anything interesting, in that sector of sky only turned two military planes. For last week all get used to its constant roar of engines. But then Bert understand: planes not simply turned, they are battled. In the sky of Evergreen forest. There are real air battle. Lisa put out from the window near Bert (window of her room is looked at garage roof, if you don't know) and begun to look on the sky too. - Interesting, right, Bert? - said Bentley. - Nothing interesting! - Lisa angry answered - Maybe there are someone died, but we are looking on it as on show! From the ground impossible to distinguish, what plane is NATO, and what is Russian. Both looks like small black point. And one point is smoked, this plane was already hit. It's hard to understand, what's happened there, looks like they just turned. Suddenly smoking plane is unfold and fast flying across another plane. Moment later they are collusion and exploded. Raccoons droped there jaws. In few minutes in air opened two parachutes, both pilots catapulted. - Wow! - exclaimed Bentley - That was great! Lisa begun to look on one of decreasing parachutes. - Hey, Look. - she said - That pilot can landing not so far from us. C'mon, maybe he'll need help. - Lisa! - Deorge said angry - Don't interfere, it's not our war. - Dad, I'll go anyway. For me it's too much deaths for today! - And I'm with you! - quickly said Bentley. Looks like, he has bothered to repair the roof, and those adventure is planned... Looking into his kids, George sighed and say: - Ok, but be careful. Bert, thanks to you, I'll finish alone. - Than I'll go with Lisa and Bentley. They came down from the roof, sat on bikes and went aside to slowly falling parachute. They quickly founded place of landing. Parachute hooked for trees, and was seen to all forest. When they came nearer, they saw the pilot. It was young raccoon in military uniform. He lied on the ground without consciousness. - Hope, we isn't late! - said Lisa, jumped out from bike and quickly run to the pilot. Bert and Bentley going after she. - Sir, are you alive? - asked Lisa, when pilot started to come in consciousness. Pilot looked on she. Looks like, he still don't understand, where is he. He is a quite handsome guy, but raccoons are recoiled in fear: there are two red stars on his uniform... Cyril Sneer furiously went to his office. "Knox, green piece of shit! He again steal my bargain!" - he thought - "Before this damn war I was reacher, than he, but now... He is playing in unfair play! I must know, why he always had best contracts!" He run to communicator and push the button. - Pigs! To me, now! - his voice heared in each corner of the mansion. Less than in one minute pigs standing in front of him, and shaking in fear. They knew boss, when Cyril was in that mood, it foretold big troubles for them. - You, sausages with legs, - Cyril started to talk - Find to me the best detective in this forest! But not Bert Raccoon! And he must know everything about Knox, and his bargains. I want to know everything: what bargain, when are concluded then, with whom... Don't spare the money, you fat hams! The day after tomorrow his report must to lie on my table! - Yes, Boss! - screamed pigs and run out. Cyril stood a little, and then go to his table. He must to work... The pilot finally come in consciousness and sat, lean to tree. He looks on raccoons with curiosity. First, Bentley broke silence, and blurted out: - Errr... Are you russian? - Russian, of cource. - pilot answered - Or you think, in Russia are live only bears? This time Lisa noticed, that his uniform on right leg was tear and from there are flowed blood. - Och! - She exclaimed - You are wounded! Can I help you? Pilot looked on his leg and said: - Nothing serious. Better tell me, where I am. - In the Evergreen forest. - answered Bert. - A-ha. - Pilot take out a map and look on it - Thanks. Nice to talk with you, but could you go as far away, as possible? - But... - Bert trying to asked. - Very soon very many your soldiers will be here. - said pilot, reloading his pistol - I'm not surrendered alive, and I would not like, if you will killed by casual bullet. Raccoons step aside and started to counsel. - We can't leave him here. - Lisa said - If we'll do nothing, he'll die. - But what we can do? - I don't know, but I won't leave him here! - Lisa cathegorically declared - For me it's too many deaths for today! And he... He can live in my room, until his wound will healed. And after that he'll decide, what to do further. Bert jealously looked on pilot, and then said: - Maybe he could live in my house? We have a free room. To his surprise, Lisa agreed. - Sir. - she said to pilot - We can't leave you here, and you are wounded... So you're don't need to die in battle here, you can live with us, until you healed. And then you can try to leave this forest, and go everywhere you want... - Hey, girl. - asked pilot affectionate - Why you wanted to help me? I'm your enemy, eh? - I don't see enemy here! I see only a young and fool raccoon, who really needs help! Very soon raccoons understand, that pilot can't go independently. Lisa bandaging his wound on the leg, but anyway he can go only leaned to the Bert's shoulder. He tried to keep silence, and answered to all questions shortly and a little. Raccoons can know only that his name is Den, that he is captain of Russian Air Forces, and that he flying on smokied plane in that battle. But when raccoons, at last, come to Bert's house, another surprise waiting for them. When Bert opened door, first, whom he had seen, was a Troy Malone! In uniform of the major of Canadian Air Forces. He sat at the table and told to Melissa: -...Well, And when I landing, I remember, that you live not so far away... Bert is waved to Ralph, which standing in the corner and looked for Troy with such look, as if he wanted to kill him immediately. When Ralph came to the door, Bert asked: - Errr... Ralph, what Troy doing here? And I didn't know, that he is a soldier. - I'm too, Bert. Troy's plane was hit by russian plane in the sky of our forest. Bert, Lisa and Bentley have exchanged glances. - Errr... Ralph, could you somehow distract his attention, while I going upstairs? - Yes, I could, but what's the reason? Bert showed "the reason", standing behind him with pistol. Ralph dropped his jaw. - This... He... Ochh... - Yes, Ralph. - Lisa said - He hit Troy. - But... How... And... - Ralph, he is wounded. Let him will live here only two days, then he'll leave. Ralph sighed. Appear in one house with two pilots, which shooting each other only hour ago... But he can't refuse to help Den. - Ok, I'll say to Melissa. - finally said Ralph - But he'll live in your room, Bert. Melissa already promised to give the free room to Troy. - Troy will be staying here? - Maybe. He don't know yet, when he can gone away. And Melissa... you know, Bert... Then Ralph gone to the house. - Hey, Ralphik. - is heard Troy's voice - I hope, from time our last meeting, you learned to fly best? - No, Troy, I wasn't fly all that time. But do you need to inform your commander about your current location? - Ah, yes, I forget about it. Where is your phone? - Come on, Troy, I'll show you. - heard the voice of Melissa. While Troy is communicated to HQ, Bert and Lisa are dragged Den upstairs to Bert's room. - Thank you. - said Den, sat on Bert's bed - Well, I was ram major Malone... I heard about him, he is real ace. - Den, please, don't leave this room until Troy gone away. - said Lisa - We don't need local war here. - Of cource. - Den answered - It'll be easy, in the beginning of war I was live a month in bunker, we thought, will be nuclear bombing. So, as compared with bunker, this room looks like Miami. - Then we'll go home. - said Bentley - I think, daddy already worry, where are we going. - See ya, Bentley, Lisa. Den, arranging where you conveniently... - How is bargain, Saymoor? - All is excellent, Boss. Knox sold all, as you wanted. - Perfect. Our partners from east will be delighted to this. And what about Sneer? - As you wanted, I refused to him. - Perfect. Prepare to bargain with him next week. - As you wish, Boss. Next day Den feeling better. Wound are healed, and he could to walk, but he don't leave Bert's room. Day has passed as usually, endless column of armored technics still moving to north, above head still flying planes, and all sky was full of roar of engines. Looks like, nobody wanted to find Den, certainly army has more important things, than find someone russian pilot. On evening raccoons have meeting to look news on TV. News are usual too. On TV showed russian offensive at Alaska, spoke about capture Ancoradge, about big casualties from both sides. - Troy, - Melissa asked suddenly - You're in the army now, maybe you know. Why this war started? - Well... - Troy become confused - I don't know, Melissa. To us spoke, that some border incidents happened, or something... But nobody could explain, where and how. - I understand nothing. - said Ralph - The war started a year ago, but nobody knows, why?!! - Well, when I came to the recruiting center, - Troy said - They told, that russians attacked us, country in danger, and I must to defence it. I believed to them, russians always wanted to start war. Bert stand up and go upstairs to ask something at Den. When he open the door, Den quietly sang, accompanying himself on Bert's gutar: ...Ya smert obmanul, No drugich ne vernut. Tebya ne chranil, I proklyat moi put. A serdce kak led Cholodit... Moi prervan poljet Pozadi... Vse to, chem ya jil, I kogo ya lubil... (Translation: ...I am alive, But my friends are die. I'm not saving you And my way is damned. My heart is cold Looks like ice... My flying is end. In last times... All, with who I live, And all my love...) When he saw Bert, he stop singing and said: - Good guitar, Bert. In Russia don't made so good. - How are you, Den? - All is normally. Leg aches a little, but nothing seriously. - Den, tell me, why war started? - Well... - Den become confused - I really don't know. All our air base is draw up and our commanders said to us, that americans attacked us, country in danger and we must to defence it. I believed to them, americans always wanted to start war. Bert mused. Something strange doing in that world... Next day Cyril get detective's report, as he want. "Well..." - thought Cyril - "Knox hiding something. Now let's look, what's he hide..." - Mr. Cedrick, please, don't enter there. - Lloyd warning - Boss is very angry now, I think, better let him alone. - What's happened? - asked Cedrick. - He get report about Knox's bargains. I don't know, what was so unpleasant in this report... No, mr. Cedrick, please, don't enter... Cedrick anyway enter to father's office. Cyril sat at a table, and looked not angry, but very depressed. - What's happened, dad? - asked Cedrick - Knox steal your bargain again? - Worse... - Cyril moaned - Look... This is the scheme of the Knox's bargains for last half of the year. Cedrick looking on this paper. Scheme looks like web. And all lines through the bigger or smaller quantity of mediators conducted to one person: "Senator Milton Midas". - Midas... - asked Cedrick - This is same Midas, which... - Yes, it's he. - Cyril grumbled - I don't know, when he became the senator, but he standed for all Knox's bargains, and don't want, that anything is known about that. - And what? - asked Cedrick again - Even if it's all Midas's business, what's wrong? - Look at this scheme... - told Cyril fatally tired voice. Cedrick took this small piece of paper, and already after first sight... - Ralph, Ralph! - Cedrick's excited voice was heard in telephone - Ralph, quickly go here, to mansion. It's... terrible... - Hey, Cedrick. What's happened? Ochh, hanged up... - What's it, honey? - asked Melissa. - Cedrick called, he said, that something terrible happen in mansion. I'll go and look, what's happen there. - Ok, but please quickly. Troy will gone away tonight, I want to have a farewell dinner. "I'll be happy, if Troy's catapult will broke next time!" - Ralph thought. - Well, Cedrick, what's happened? - Ralph asked, when he came up to mansion. Cedrick waited for him near the gates. - Ralph, look on this. - answered Cedick and gave to Ralph scheme of Midas's bargains. - Lines... names... What it all means? Cedrick begun to explain, and Ralph felt himself terrible. Midas traded with both sides of a conflict. He bought Knox's oil and sell it to russian tank divisions, He bought weapons in Russia, and sell it to NATO... He played on share price of different firms, and create for himself good situation on front. He is turned very many fictive bargains from false firms, and nobody knows, who doing it. Millions are dying on front, but for him war was only business, very profitable business... He, and people like he started this war, war for money, war without a sense. Ralph turning pale. - So, this war... It's all Midas's business! And it's need only for him... - Yes, for him and other peoples like him. Traiders without honour and conscience... Now I understand, why wasn't nuclear bombing in the beginning of the war... - We can't just see on this! Thank you, Cedrick. I'll published this scheme in "Evergreen Standard" immediately, world must know about it! - Ralph, it's dangerous, Midas can kill us all... - Unimportantly! This war must be stopped! - But... - Cedrick tried to say, but suddenly stopped and look on the road. There are Bert on bike speed along to them. When Bert came in, he breath harder. - Ralph... - he said, trying to catch his breath - There... - What? - asked Ralph with a presentiment of new misfortune. - Troy founded Den! - Hey, who is Den? - Cedrick asked. - No time to explain. Quickly, Cedrick... When they come in to the house, situation was really strained. In a corridor on second floor standing Den and Troy, with a pistols, targeting to each other, but don't shoot. - Hey, what's happened here? - Ralph exclaimed. - Troy has casually mix doors and go into Bert's room. - Melissa quickly explained - When he saw Den, both they are pull out their guns, and they're standing so a half of a hour. Troy wants to captive Den. - Russians aren't surrender! - angry said Den, ever more strongly compress his fingers on the handle of "Makarov". - I'll not release you! Surrender or die! - C'mon, shoot! If you'll shoot, you'll die too! Ralph sighed with tired and said: - C'mon, Melissa. If this idiots wanted to shoot down each other, it's their right. Midas will get more money on their death. - What Midas? - asked Melissa - About what do you spoke? But Ralph already turn around and go downstairs. Melissa looked on him, then on pilots, then again on him... and go downstairs too. Den and Troy both lowered their guns. - Den, Troy, Bert! - heard downstairs the voice of Melissa - Abandon your stupid war and come here, Ralph wants to say something important! Den and Troy have looked against each other with eyes, full of hatred, but go downstairs. Ralph placed all on sofa and started to tell about Midas. When he finished, in all house was silence. Than in that silence clicked lock of "Makarov". - This war must be stopped! - said Den. Clicked lock of "Beretta". - Agreed. - said Troy. This day all raccoons are met on Evergreen station. - Are you sure, that you can do that? - asked Bert. - No. - Den answered - Therefore if in three days nothing will happen, you really could publish this scheme. It means, that we're not alive. - But you wanted to shoot down each other only a hour ago! - Melissa was really surprised. Den and Troy have exchanged glances and both answered: - We don't want now. - Good luck to you, guys. - said Lisa silently - Revenge to him for John. - And come back to us! - added Bentley. Arrived train to Toronto, city, where Midas HQ located. Den and Troy are come into carriage and waved to the raccoons as a good-bye. The train departured. Above a head flying with a roar a squad of heavy bombers. Melissa looked into sky and begun to cry. - Damn war... Moscow, 17:54 19/03/2004 Translated in 01:26 17/04/2004 Corrected in 23:51 11/02/2005 In the memory of all died in all wars. P.S. Fourth day morning, when "Evergreen standard" already printed, Bert run into edition and exclaimed: - Ralph, Melissa!!! Peace!!! They're signed peace!!!