The insidious converter

  Two minutes later the bell sounded again. Somebody was showing his insistence of a well aware detective.
Michael restrained. The bell resumed rapidly barking. At last from behind the door was sounded with someone's voice: “Mr. Obrezov, please, open the door, I all the same have already seen you walking inside around the room”. “Wow!”, surprised Obrezov and did no one even tiny act.
“Open!”, the low and a little dense voice was sounding hypnotically, “I'm able come without anyone's help but, you understand, the rule of good manners doesn't allow”. After a little pause the  strange man reported more animatedly: “By the way, your mother-in-law is now quite far from here. Nothing prevents you to sip from the bottle and get high. Drink, Michael Ignat's, out of terror and doubt and then let me come in. I hope, you understand that usual mortal is not able to see you through just two doors”.
Latest argument worked. Having opened the bottle just in the toilet Obrezov sipped for courage and specially made a few coughs stepped hard into the hall. Having opened the door of the apartment he saw some usual unknown man in the crumbled raincoat and old-fashioned hat. But what interesting was this man had a face like rather famous actor Basov but in his hands in front of himself he held some box of food processor size.
The man just strangely, like using attached lips, smiled and resolutely moved into the room pushing Obrezov with the closed to the man's belly box. Half a minute later unknown guest put this thing on the table in the drawing-room and no putting off his hat started dropping on Obrezov's brain. 
At first, mister Obrezov, let me demonstrate to you all the possibilities of our converter, - started he in quite strict tone like being at the lecture. His voice really reminded actor Basov's voice, too, and this fact made Obrezov hesitated. He only frowned and sceptically asked:
What? What have you said? Con...?
The converter, - repeated the man drily and raised from the table a list of paper which lied there. - Let me ask you which thing you would like to get just at once and likely from nothing. Of course, the thing can be very tiny because the mass of this paper's too little. You better to want something of little weight, for example a morsel of cloth. Do you have some piece of cloth? It's without difference, it's suitable anything.
         Obrezov had to strain his brain to understand what was happening next to him and what was wanted from him by this foreign. Automatically he drank from his bottle of wine again and having got some calmness asked about piece of sugar. The guest agreed: “Please, bring sugar here. Or cloth. Or anything else. I have not so much time”, said he impatiently, having stretched his palm.
     His peremptory tone and resemblance of his favorite actor nearly against Obrezov's will pushed him out to the kitchen. When he stretched the tiny piece of sugar on his palm to the strange, he noticeably perked up. Having made over the combine some gestures he installed the piece of sugar into the little hole opened suddenly on the front side of  apparatus. Two seconds later they could see some a little light point flashing on the case and that piece of sugar fell out on the table. The strange installed into some slot on the other side of the case a list of paper and after about half of minute from the hole appeared a very tiny piece of lump sugar which was an exact copy of the piece brought by Obrezov, only its size was noticeably less.   
          - What is a trick?, asked Obrezov with his pompous look. - Is it a sugar machine?
          - Likely I've said it's a converter.  No one trick. This device has realized the analysis of the sugar piece and then has got the same from the paper. That's all trick and no more, - dryly explained the guest. - Would you like to get one piece of sugar yet? Or, perhaps, anything else? Then bring the sample. And actively, please, actively. It's time, understand?
          Being like in fog Obrezov went to the kitchen again and about minute later put on the table in front of the strange the piece of moldy cheese, the long loaf of white bread, opened pack of butter and the couple of eggs. Then, after three second thinking, set next to the magical device the started bottle of tangle-legs.
        - Good! It's just other matter, - the copy of actor Basov joyfully rub his hands. - And now pull, please, here all the junk. All what you would like to get rid of. Even the content of garbage can. And more vividly! Why do you do so slowly?!, - the person even shouted to the master.
  Obrezov got excited. Less then after two minutes next to the table there were grown the heap of mother-in-law's rags  long ago were wished to be burned by Obrezov. In his head appeared the thought about the happiness from getting rid of all this garbage.  With his blinking eyes Obrezov with great pleasure was watching the swelled nearly into two sizes combine which began digesting the junk spitting out on the table the exact copies of the provision which had been brought from the fridge a few minutes early. And what was main – wished tangle-legs stood in front of his view as the couple of opened and started bottles. Even a little dust on the glass up of the original bottle was copied too. And no one rag so seriously guarded by the mother-in-law!
- I see you are likely very surprised, aren't you? - expressly seriously asked the foreign.- And  it's understandable thing. I would be surprised too. But the converter has yet showed to you only very tiny part of its possibilities. Ensure you, its potential is incredibly great! Of course, in the frames of acceptable mass. And those not very significant limits installed in its program.
           - What does it mean? I'm talking about acceptable mass..., - automatically asked Obrezov, licking over his dry lips.
  -  You see, - the guest began solving aloud, - everything is subordinated to the laws of physics. So is the favorite expression of your scientists. Getting something from nothing, indeed,  is not possible. Finely even most developed beings in the Universe aren't able to replace the Creator. And getting anything per the converter orders giving it some equivalent mass which must be calculated with some certain formula. There's no one reason to you to know this one. However, if you do agree to accept some responsibility on yourself and take this case as a gift so you need to mean that the mass of garbage turning into any useful product must be for about fifteen percent  bigger than the mass of expected thing. And, of course, the possibilities of very apparatus to widen itself aren't endless. I mean it's possible to copy, for example, a TV-set, but impossible for a car. But if we see that our converter had brought certain use to the humanity so we'll send the case of significantly more size and possibilities.         
  All the foreigner's words following after the word “TV-set” Obrezov passed through his ears.  He long ago wasn't calm without any second TV-set. Mother-in-law, as you should understand...
A few minutes later there was the very heap of different rags and old books risen next to the converter. And so the real garbage has already ended Obrezov brought from the mother-in-law's room quite a lot of her magazines of very long ago years. Alas, having eaten all this rubbish the converter gave out the TV-set of two times less in the size than a real “Rubin” was.
- It's possible, really to make an exact copy of this TV-set even from any book, - busily explained the alien. - But it definitely will be in size of a lump sugar piece. And, of course, it will be working.
- But who needs to have such a TV-set for midgets! - with irritation in the voice exclaimed   Obrezov. And suddenly he got a very light thought. - Listen to me! But what about water? I mean usual water from tap? Is it possible to get something hard from water?
- Certainly possible, - the tone of the wizard's voice even hadn't been changed. - Only it's needed to regulate it a little. This regulation, I think, takes no more than twenty minutes. I mean I have a time. But it's needed to turn about twenty kilograms unstable form of raw. 
Obrezov reminded he didn't have any video-recorder or player and therefor there wasn't the original thing of such a kind to copy. Having come to calm in his head he returned to the topic of this magic case's pedigree.
- Yes, - agreed the alien, - it's time to open the cards. A fortiori it's already finishing. So as I see you've already guessed that this apparatus is made on the other planet. And I'm an emissary of that planet. One minute! No fainting! Nothing especial is happening. Simply the choice fell on you and the cause of it was just very subjective. I have no permission to tell about it. And unique what you should make out personally is that you get a choice – take this case to use, of course, without any terms and payment. Or to refuse taking this gift. If you choose first variant the converter stays at Earth forever and can't be returned to its masters at all, in any circumstances. In second variant it won't be proposed to anybody and I'll send it there where have got it. Have you understood it well? So, and take in attention, please, destroying this converter is not possible for all the forces of your civilization – in any circumstances, too. However having desire you're able to copy with its aid so many the same cases as you'll need. Have I expressed clearly?
Being in worry Obrezov even began stuttering:
- That's as I've...I've...I've understood now this con..vert...vertor stays here with...out.. an..ny.. fee? For so...so-so....to spea...k healthy living?
- No one payment! - harshly repeated the alien. - I think I've explained exactly. And you must know that they give you equally one day. Twenty four hours later you'll give me your final answer. Have to repeat once more: it's your right – to stay this case as your own thing or to refuse. As for about you doubts so I explain that very converter doesn't conceal any danger. It's able only transform one kind of substance into an other offering to copying. But, of course, this converter can't copy any alive being. And any weapon, too. For all the rest its potential is unlimited. Repeating once more it's in the frames only acceptable mass.
- If all it's so and you're not lying, sorry, you're not joking, - impatiently interrupted Obrezov, - so I'm ready...
- Wait! No be in a hurry! - with banal gesture the alien stopped him. You'll answer tomorrow at the same time. But now goodby.
Busov from the other planet got off from his pocket some thing like a ray pointer, drew with it on the room's wall some like a door, pushed it with his shoulder and, having nodded to spacey Obrezov calmly came out after that the drawn door at once disappeared likely it didn't appear here at all.
A few minutes Obrezov was in trance. Then he started running around the living room feverishly minding about his next actions and what of his rising up to his cherished material well-being he should make at first. Finally he pulled to the converter two buckets with the water, gave the converter some time to regulation and after that copied to himself a big “Rubin”. Then he made the old bike which was staying before this time at the balcony, the copy of rubbed fur coat of his mother-in-law, his bought recently jeans, the ragged blouse of his wife... Stop! “What's for to me all this old junk!”, returned Obrezov in his mind.”I think me better to go to the shop and buy there some good new things”. He nearly threw himself to put on his coat but in the time minded that didn't have enough money to any shopping. There were only metallic coins in his pocket. “That's, of course, possible to stamp these irons for a few thousands ruble”, started he speculating.”Only who'll accept so many change for a video-recorder? And what's main I'll become a counterfeiter! Having seen so a lot of coins they definitely will call the police! And those certainly come to sicking around the flat. They'll detect the converter and take away it!”.
Then he decided to borrow about six-seven thousands ruble from some his friends. And refused it too. No one of them held such a sum in his hands. Maybe it would be better to borrow the film-recorder of his nearest neighbor Jenka? Won't give! He at all shakes over this thing like a greedy king over gold. And all the same if even all's OK Obrezov's wife and mother-in-law will begin to demand to explain where he have taken this recorder and also all that he's already got. God don't give to tell about the converter! Tomorrow the entire district will be known about this magical thing. And the entire flat will be full of the different rubbish. He'll even lose the place to set the new recorder.
Unexpectedly even for himself Obrezov transited to the thoughts about the convereor's impact on the humanity living. What if the tool gets to the hands of some enterpreneur and that person opens its secret? Certainly he'll start the production of some primitive good from garbage. What will happen then? At first, he'll need not any working hands. For second, he'll quickly fill with some cheep things the shelves of the shops. But what's a main – he'll definitely become found by the the others. Will they kill this man or not – is not so important. The main – they'll definitely start their hunting this case like King Starh did it. And then they'll begin to dismiss the workers. What's the reason to hold them if the converter will stamp on just the mountains of the different products? The alien said it's possible to copy the converter. It means somebody definitely comes to understanding how to do it and initiates the trade for these converters. Stop! If there are a lot of converters no one will want to pay any wage to the people! It's terrible to imagine what after that early or later will start!   
In front of Obrezov's inner gaze as a berserk train sped the hypothetical events of potential future which certainly comes to the humanity with this magic case. The total dismissing, strikes, pickets, the hills of unclaimed goods, robbing the storehouses. The governments, of course, will do the steps. First what they will have to do is to compel the owners of all the goods stamped over needs to give around the unemployed people. And then no one will want to serve the rich persons. What's the reason if everyone can turn to unemployed and get everything without any payment? But the rich persons won't patient such order of living and stop stamping the products. But the press all the same will sniff out everything about this fact and lead all them into pure water. The people will  demand to give out all the magical things to their control. It will come the times of perfect disorder of living when the crowds take in the circle the houses of any rich persons and the establishments and the other people speed around the populated sites carrying away from the warehouses all that's still stayed there. The moneybags certainly will want to get rid the world of the converters but nonsense! Heh-hah! As that alien said, our civilization isn't able to do it. And the moneybags can only hide somewhere all the converters. They will try them to sink into the rivers, sea and bogs but the people will be chasing such riches. All will become crazy and it definitely will lead to the war all against all. No one will want to return to the working places. Everybody will be worried to take  away the converters from the moneybags. The difference between the rich and poor will disappear. And there will be appeared the slogans of type as “Each familiar must get one converter!” The aliens, of course, won't give a big converter. It means the humans won't get the cars and flats. But those who have the cars will be ridding with freestuff gas. They'll become envied because there will be very a lot of “horseless” on Earth and the car production will be stopped. It's the soil for war again.   
Obrezov imagined how poor earthlings are pouring the gasoline on the enemies' car just though the windows of their poor flats throwing after that any firing sticks down on the cars' roofs. And the owners of those car are desperately trying to defend themselves shooting from their automatic guns and launchers. The knifes are glimpsing into darkness, the bullets are whistling. The children are loudly crying and the women are screaming in terror. And nobody is already turning any garbage into needed things and food because all are busy with fighting and defending.
“No!” yelled Obrezov. “It's impossible!”
Having had some rest and eaten a piece of bread and copied sausage he submitted  the other plot.
….At first the converters are taking away all the junk and after that....the new garbage is appearing.  It's after consumed food and things. Then it annoys people to bring out this junk. The set the converters just near to the water of any seas, rivers, lakes... And... In front of Obrezov's inner view appeared quite spooky picture.
The mountains of different cheep goods are growing just in front of the people's eyes. The bellies of people begin bursting because of overeating. And streets become pressed with the hills of garbage which nobody wants to eliminate in spite of the appeals of ecologists and the governments.  But the reserves of water become less and less. And again it starts the conflicts – now it's because of water. It's possible to turn all the garbage back into the water, but who will initiate bringing it to the converters? The robots? But copying them orders to have at least one ready.
“But, of course, so categorically no one plot happens”, tried returning calm Obrezov. “It wiil be found some healthy forces in the society. They definitely will return the order”. But half a minute late he came to terror having thought: “Order? And how will they be returning it? Violence again?  And how to compel the people to live normally if there isn't any sense to make money? People usually aren't able to work for any future!”
- So I knew you've come away from your work!” crowing voice of his mother-in-law sped into his ears. “And you're in silence, leading us a pretty dance! And what have you made on the table? Oh, you're messy!”, she yelled just into Obrezov's ears.
Having captured the converter into his arms Obrezov desperately voicing run out from the flat.   
That night he spent in the accommodation of his schoolmate and comrade Serega who was absolutely indifferent about the cause of Michas's running away from his home and what was the thing he had brought with himself. In Serega's fridge there were only one egg (fortunately it was not rot) and one not very fresh frankfurter. But the half of liter of “white” (as Russian call any clear vodka) Serega took off from his nest egg yet not opened. While he was walking for the bottle Obrezov had enough time to “xerox” to tens of egg, about one kilo frankfurters and about twenty morsels of brown bread from found into covered with cobweb breadbasket callous original one. When his comrade had returned to the table he saw the frying pan with the hissing eggs and sausage. Serega was already under hops.
Gee! - shook he his head. - You've sat these eggs, haven't you?
Aha! - glowed Michael testing the fresh fried eggs. - And the frankfurters with the bread, too.

That evening was spent famously. They both have no any necessity to get up early. But closer to noon in Serega's flat like out of nowhere suddenly appeared the last guest. He even didn't ask Michael about his decision. Simply took the converter into his hands, smiled with his attached smile, said “thank you for attention, sorry, please, for trouble” and came out through the drawn door into the wall which disappeared after him like never emerged at that place.
Serega that time was sitting in the toilet and saw nothing...