How to become a "Japanese spy"

"You will pay for the murdered agent."
N. Konstantinov. "The things of Mr. Pik."

Nikolai Konstantinov was shot as a Japanese spy. He really knew a lot about espionage. But not in " Japanese " , but in " Chinese " . And not in life, but in literature. Konstantinov composed fantastic stories, and with his imagination he was all right. The writer born in Pskov wrote and published in 1928 in the USSR a scientifically - fantastic story “ The things of Mr. Pic ” . For a twenty -year -old author, it was a breakthrough.

" Mandarins brought up freaks "

It would seem that the novice writer was ahead - a science fiction writer was a fantastic literary career. He was noticed, and the publications continued. The magazines " World of Adventures " , " Around the World " , " The Struggle of the Worlds " , " World Rastype " , " Young Proletarians " , " Cape " , " Koster " ... A few years later published books appeared. In the magazine, Nikolai Kochergin, Nikolai Kochergin, was made in the magazine to the story of “ Mr. Pik's things ” .

The plot of " Mr. Pik's things " is adventurous. Some Mitchel wants to steal the drawings of the inventor Ram. But he is very careful. However, Mr. Peak appears, he is also a “fabricant of spies”, who knows what to do ... And yet the main character of the story is not a person, but a person is a table. “The tangerines raised freaks for indoor services, following fashion, ” the story says, written by the future “ Japanese spy. ” “Newborn children were placed in porcelain vases, and gradually the child’s body itself became a vase, acquired its shape ... The principle is ordinary: a person imitates things.” The “Fabrikant of Spies” grew freaks, which he then introduced into various places inaccessible to an ordinary person. A table - a spy under the guise of ancient furniture of the Chinese princess was introduced into the factory apartment of the inventor ...

There is something in this story, Kafkian. Konstantinov (in Pskov he was remembered under the real name: Konstantin Bogolyubov) came from the priest’s family and studied in his youth at the Porkovo Theological School. But the writer and journalist was Soviet. In the early thirties, he became a successful feuilletonist. And yet, in the first published story, Konstantinov (Bogolyubov) invented a terrible story rather. Although the humor has not yet escaped a characteristic for him. Here is a somewhat term of this story: “He was a very small gentleman, fat, with a belly, round, like an apple, with narrowed eyes and a tiny mouth. The head of Mr. Pick was a large, overwhelmed by villainous intentions, which, in fact, should be in the head of the secret office ... of the office of what? Thefts, robbery, robberies? to others ".

In the early thirties, Nikolai Konstantinov began to depart from fantastic themes, and specialized more in children's educational literature. Feuilletons were also successful. He composed them in co -authorship with Julius Sharo (pseudonym B. Schu). When connecting " KO " and " BR " , the Cobra turned out. Thus, a new writer was born - a satirist: Cobra. Konstantinov and Brest - Sharo even wrote a brief autobiography " Cobra " (“I was born unexpectedly for myself in 1933. My parents - N. Konstantinov and B. Rest - first met at the round editorial table of the newspaper Literary Leningrad. My first screaming was barely heard, as my parents began to come up with a name ...” ) Cobra composed biting and stinging " Fuelithnons-overgrows " and " feuilleton-non-duma " .

In January 1937, Nikolai Konstantinov, having returned from the All -Union meeting in children's literature, published an article with the optimistic name " No Anturement !" In Literary Leningrad! By that time, he became a great boss, turning into the deputy chief editor of the magazine " Bonfire " . The article expressed a wish to the Union of Soviet Writers: "To ensure that 1937 was a year for him a rocket in relation to children's literature." So it happened. The great turning point happened. But not at all the one that Nikolai Konstantinov dreamed of. The Chekists that year had no reassurance. Until 1938, not everyone survived. Konstantinov did not live.

The investigation did not last long. During this time, Konstantinov (Bogolyubov) was also suspected of sabotage. The sabotage was supposedly in the fact that he made a "sabotage trick" , delaying the access to the printing of Miklouho-Maclay's books.

He was arrested in September 1937, and on November 17 they sentenced to execution - for " espionage " and " terrorist activities. " The verdict was carried out on November 24. On the same day, several “ terrorists ” related to children's literature were shot in Leningrad: the employee of the magazine “ Koster ” -the children's writer Sergei Bezborodov (author of the documentary adventure story “ at the edge of the world ” ), Oberiut of Nikolai Oleinikov, Abram Serebrennikov (head of the house of children's literature under the children's literature) ...

The Soviet government by the Decree of the Commission of the NKVD and the Prosecutor's Office of the USSR killed the snake - Cobra. But not completely. B. Rest was not touched, and he lived until 1984. And the body of Konstantin Bogolyubov was thrown into one of the ditches of the Leningrad training ground of the NKVD " Levashovo " . There are several Pskov authors.

Many schoolchildren of the sixties and seventies should remember Nikolai Konstantinov’s fascinating book “ The map tells ” -about the history of the origin of geographical maps. After rehabilitation of the author, it was reissued several times. But the card did not tell that he was shot in November 1937. But now we know how the things were fabricated. The USSR prosecutor’s office in 1957 checked the criminal cases of executed writers.

It turned out that there was, of course, no documentary evidence of espionage and involvement in terror. And there were only confused readings of the " accomplices " , apparently obtained under torture. Moreover, they mentioned several times a man who helped young children's writers - Samuel Marshak. In the same testimony, they seemed to be like to recruit ("involve in the counter -revolutionary organization" ), but he refused. And in other testimonies, Marshak himself was the main “ terrorist ” , which the youth involved in “counter -revolutionary activity”. At the same time, Samuel Marshak did not go in any capacity in any capacity.

Konstantinov (Bogolyubov) was undoubtedly a Soviet writer. This did not save him. On the contrary, Soviet power destroyed more Soviet writers than anti -Soviet ones. It was easier to reach the Soviet ones.

" I cut off the calendar with an irresistible, rude force ... "

But another writer born in Pskov was an unconditional anti -Soviet. He-Boris Semenov-proved this after the October Revolution, joining the North-West Army of Yudenich during a campaign in Petrograd. Semenov was older than Konstantin Bogolyubov for eleven years. He managed to take accelerated officer courses, fight in the First World War, fall into German captivity, and go under the arrest in the Cheka.

If Bogolyubov was from the priest’s family, then Semenov was from merchants. Before the revolution, in Pskov there was a " trading house K. I. Semenov and Co. " . K.I. Semenov is Konstantin Semenov, Boris's father. Something we know about Uncle Boris Semenov-Alexei Semenov, Porkhovsky tradesman.

Boris Semenov studied at the Pskov Sergievsky Real School, and in exile lived in Prague for several years - he studied as a lawyer. In the same place, in Czechoslovakia, he entered the circle of young Russian authors who created the literary association " Skit of poets " .

Then the first publications of Boris Semenov appeared - in the Prague magazine " His Ways. " This socio-political magazine published in 1924-1926 the Russian Democratic Union in Czechoslovakia .

In his “ ways ” , Semenov was not only printed, but was related to editing individual numbers, including the latest dual number No. 12/13 (June 1926).

Readers and critics treated young and not very young emigrant authors, printed in their own ways , not only with interest, but also with suspicion. Even the name " Prague Komsomol members " appeared - including because they used simplified Soviet spelling.

Ivan Bunin unflatteringly spoke about “ his ways ” : “I accidentally looked at the last number of the Prague magazine“ With his ways. ”Bad paths, woeful level!” The level was different. Remizov, Gazdanov, Therapino, Efron, Semenov ...

Today they completely forgot about Konstantinov (Bogolyubov), and sometimes they remember Boris Semyonov - apparently because he is from emigrants. In recent decades in Russia, more attention in Russia. But his poems, as a rule, are given “ correct ” , simple, landscape, those that are easy to quote - about Pskov, about the Kremlin ... But there were other verses.

.. he spent a fight with a fight, a gang

The shadows of the scum of somersault rushes. Forehead - in the forehead

(bastard).

Fragile,

Bryast

(tooth

In the cartilage) ...

Some of his poems are recorded as if these are patterns of platbands in the rustic Russian hut, which played the role of amulets.

A selection of works by Boris Semenov, including the “ Tale of the Blessed Tsar and Vasily Returned ” , printed in the almost voy -member of the Strand Tom under the long name “ Skit”. Prague 1922–1940: anthology. Biography. Documents ” , published in the Russian Path publisher in 2006.

Semenov studied at the Prague Russian Faculty of Law (it existed until 1933). The protectorate over the Russian Law Faculty was established by Prague Karlov University. Lectures in the Russian Law Faculty were given by George Vernadsky, Pavel Novgorodtsev, Peter Struve, David Grimm ...

The Prague period of life has ended in a few years. Semenov continued to be published in European Russian magazines - Prague, Warsaw, Estonian. These were poems, journalism, research on Russian folklore. Prague " Bulletin of Peasant Russia " , Warsaw " Native Word " , Prague " Years " , Prague-Parizh " Will of Russia " , Tallinn literary and artistic collection " Nov " ... But he constantly lived on the Pskov land.

The state was Estonian, and the land was Pskov. Pechora, Izborsk ... This territory passed from Russia to Estonia in the Tartus world.

For thirteen years, Boris Semenov worked as an instructor in the Union of Russian Educational and Charitable Societies in Estonia. I traveled to Estonia-I gave lectures, arranged literary evenings, exhibitions and performances, created an ex-reader, organized excursions, circles, courses, taught Russian language and literature in the gymnasium in the village of Lavra ...

It was in sight. Perhaps there was a secret activity related to crossing the border in the USSR of illegal literature - on behalf of " peasant Russia - the Labor Peasant Party. " But it was much easier to believe in the Dyroye: Boris Semenov did not engage in any illegal activity - despite the fact that he had an attitude towards " peasant Russia " .

Boris Semenov really entered the so -called " peasant Russia - the Resting Party Labor Party " , created in exile by the former Socialist Revolutionary Serei Maslov (he also gave lectures at the Russian Law Faculty). In the USSR, little was known about this party - until in the USSR in 1930 the " case of the Labor Peasant Party " began to be fabricated in 1930. In this case, economists of Chayanov, Kondratyev and many other economists and farmers were arrested. The intercessor for them, Nikolai Vavilov, ten years later, will be remembered and also arrested - as one of the leaders of the " Labor Peasant Party " , to which Vavilov had nothing to do. But Boris Semenov was related to the party with the same name. It so happened that Boris Semenov will die in the same Saratov prison No. 1 as Nikolai Vavilov. Vavilov died in January 1943, and Semenov in May 1942.

Was Boris Semenov on the instructions of the Central Council of the Labor Peasant Party by crossing the border to the Soviet Union of Agents and Party Literature? It is possible that Soviet investigators came up with retroactively - in order to increase the term of its conclusion, and at the same time to reinforce the long -fabricated testimony of the arrested Soviet citizens (Nikolai Vavilov was charged with supporting " Communications with foreign white emigrants" ).

Some publications about Boris Semenov say that he was arrested "June 21, 1940, the day after the Red Army entered Estonia." But the Red Army entered Estonia gradually, in several stages. The Estonian President Konstantin Pents was still hoping to maintain power, although Soviet military equipment was already moving along the streets of Tallinn. It was a transition period. So, most likely, those who say that Semenova originally detained the Estonian political police, placing him in the central prison of Tallinn. And only then he was handed over to the Chekists.

So, Boris Semenov was arrested on June 21, and exactly a month later - July 21 - the first session of the Estonian parliament (Riigikogu) of the new convocation in the presence of armed Soviet soldiers decided to form the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic. Many residents of Estonia, including the ex-president of Pentas, will be sent away from their native places (Pytsa-to Bashkiria). By that time, Boris Semenov will be under arrest in Leningrad for almost a month.

The verdict Boris Semenov was " gentle " - 15 years. But he was not given to live them. In one of Boris Semenov’s poems, there are such lines: "Someone is unnecessary, alien and non-wary // irresistible, rude power // My calendar cut off ..."

" In order to write like that, you have to love ... "

The most famous writer -Pskovich, who died during the years of pre -war repression, is Wilhelm Zorgenfrey. He was much older than Semenov, and even more so Bogolyubov. Born in 1882 in Ackerman, but after the death of his father he moved from Bessarabia to Pskov to his uncle - pharmacist Gustav Zorgenfrey.

Wilhelm Zorgenfrey graduated from the Pskov male gymnasium - the very one, in which future writers Yuri Tynyanov, Veniamin Zilber (Kaverin), Antonin Ladinsky, Victor Muzhel, August Letvet, Lev Zilber, Vladimir Bradis, Isaac Kikoin ...

Initially, the Zorgenfrey became known as the poet -humor. But then he took up translations from German (translated Thomas Mann, Henry Heine, Stefan Zweig, Henry von Kleist, Hans Fallada), left memories of his teacher - Alexander Blok. Translator Maria Beketova (Aunt Blok) wrote in a letter to Zorgenfrey: "... I just read your memories ... I find that this is the best that is written about the block. There are memories more brilliant in terms of brightness, by the strength of talent, but as touching, like yours, there will be no ... in order to write like that, you need to love A.A. without the back. thoughts, without a shadow of envy, how you loved him ... "

Zorgenfrey was considered a master of epigrams. Yes, not easy, and epigrams -emitas ("in case of death" ). Thus appeared intravital epitrics at the famous writers of the Silver Age: Kamensky, Kuzmin, Artsybashev, Bryusov, Alexei Tolstoy ... Then "Moriturus. Literary necropolis arose. The Zorgenfry included Mayakovsky, Pasternak, Shklovsky, Zamyatin, Akhmatov, Pilnyak ... The prose writer Viktor Mujel, who was known in the Pskov province, known as his long heavy works “ from folk life ” , Zorgenfrey dedicated such an epigraphy: “He made the most for the people, // Covying every line:“ // Put the Russian peasant with the earth, // Il will write a longer one three times, // than "sin". "

The policy of Zorgenfrey was moderately interested in, in any parties, like Boris Semenov, he did not enter. True, he, as a satirist before the revolution, had to compose on topical topics. In the Palace Palace, “ Awakening of the Stream ” , written in 1904, there are lines: “... with a sarcastic tone // called the“ Japanese spy ”.” Constantine Bogolyubov, born in 1905, could later evaluate this.

In Soviet times, Zorgenfrey behaved unnoticed. He did not enter literary battles. He remembered his profession (he graduated from the Technological Institute) and worked as an engineer -technologist.

However, the Zorgenfrey was arrested not as an engineer-technologist, but as a writer, a participant in the " anti-Soviet counter-revolutionary writer's organization. " Harming began from afar. The sadly famous Alexei Selivanovsky showed zeal. He began his career with the Donbass Literary Association " Software " and rose to the editor -in -chief of the Literary Newspaper . Selivanovsky’s literary criticism was more like denunciations. He did not criticize, but exposed, stigmatized, cursed ... It was time to curse the book of Benedict the Lifeline " One and a half -eyed Sagittarius " (memoirs about the history of Russian futurism). Selivanovsky accused Lifshitz of fascism. This critic has every second one was a fascist. A few years later, when investigators needed “ enemies of the people ” from among the Leningrad writers, Benedict Lifshits turned out to be a suitable figure. " Fascist " - black in white in the Soviet newspaper is written. What other evidence is needed? But it was necessary to form a whole platoon of " fascists. "

Judging by the protocols of interrogations, the case of writers was prepared large -scale. Firing testimonies were obtained for dozens of celebrities - Boris Pasternak, Anna Akhmatov, Yuri Olesha, Konstantin Fedin, Ilya Erenburg ... There are dozens of surnames in the list. The most famous did not touch, leaving the " compromising " in reserve.

Среди арестованных в январе 1938 года был давний знакомый Лифшица Вильгельм Зоргенфрей. Из него выбили такие показания : "Свержение советской власти возможно только при условии смертельной борьбы с ЦК ВКП(б), и решающее значение в этом плане имеет физическое уничтожение Сталина" . Судьба Зоргенфрея была решена. Как и Селивановского.

Автора сборника " В литературных боях " Алексея Селивановского арестуют в ноябре 1937 года, а расстреляют на полигоне " Коммунарка " в апреле 1938 года. Лифшиц и Зоргенфрей проживут ещё полгода. Их казнят в сентябре 1938 года.

***

Ещё раз вспомним: "Новорождённых детей помещали в фарфоровые вазы, и постепенно тело ребенка само становилось вазой, приобретало её форму". В тоталитарных государствах именно так с людьми и поступают. Их искривляют и корёжат с самого начала. Не все способны это выдержать. Многие погибают. Оставшиеся приспосабливаются. Отрицательный отбор беспощаден.

Среди выживших много тех, кто научился подстраиваться, мимикрировать… Начинающий писатель–фантаст Николай Боголюбов, сочиняя свой рассказ " Вещи господина Пика " , вряд ли имел это в виду. Но его образ подходит для описания происходящего. Воспитание моральных уродов – процесс длительный, растянутый на десятилетия. В России он длится целый век.

Alexey Semenov - writer

The "Opinion" expressed in the heading of the point of view may not coincide with the position of the editorial office