Second model

The events of the “Second Variety” begin when six years have passed since the start of the global war between the Soviet Union and the United Nations , led by the United States . The first victories of the USSR forced the American government and production to move to the Lunar Base, and leave it behind. To counter the complete victory of the USSR, UN technicians invented robots called “claws”. The simple model was a metal ball with rapidly rotating blades, which, responding to heat, attacked from an ambush and sawed the body of the victim. UN troops were protected from the "claws" by bracelets that emit weak radiation . Over time, the “claws” became completely independent of people, they repaired themselves in underground factories, created new models and modifications.

The UN military receives a message from the Russians with a proposal to send a high-ranking officer for urgent negotiations. It seems that the "claws" provided the long-awaited victory of the United Nations. Major Hendricks sets off for negotiations . Along the way, a little boy named David joins him . Soon they meet soldiers of the Soviet Army , who immediately kill the boy who turned out to be a robot. The program for creating “claws” invented complex robots that are indistinguishable from humans, but intended exclusively for killing. Two soldiers met by Hendricks, recruited into the Soviet Army by the Austrian Klaus Epstein and the Pole Rudy Makser , as well as the Russian Tasso who joined them, say that the entire Soviet Army and its command were destroyed as a result of a collision with the latest robots.

From the identification plates found inside the robot housings, the SA soldiers identify two models: “1-M” - the wounded soldier and “3-M” - David. "2-M" - The second model - remains unknown. Different plants were independent of each other and varieties were given the numbers of the factories that released them. They also discover that United Nations bracelets cannot protect against the latest robots. Hendricks tries to warn his team bunker of danger, but cannot establish a connection.

Klaus kills Rudy at night, mistakenly believing that he is the Second Model. The next morning, Hendricks along with Klaus and Tasso set off for the United Nations defense line. When they reach the bunker, it turns out that instead of the Americans, a lot of Wounded soldiers and David hid in it. Heroes fight off the endless stream of robots surrounding them, until Tasso destroys most of them, using a new powerful type of hand grenade. Taking advantage of the moment, Hendricks and Tasso flee the battlefield, leaving Klaus to fight against the "claws" of the old model - metal balls. Klaus, however, remains alive and catches up with the fugitives. Tasso shot him from afar. He turns out to be a robot - the very Second Model in their opinion.

The explosion of a grenade injured Major Hendrix's arm and shell shock - he could hardly move. The only chance to escape from the approaching robots is to escape to the Lunar base. Soon he and Tasso find a hidden missile cruiser, but there is only one place in the spacecraft. Hendricks is about to fly, but Tasso convinces him that the major is injured and does not reach the moon, thereby condemning them both to death. Hendricks gives way to Tasso's ship, hoping that she will call for help, and he will be taken from Earth.

Left alone, Hendricks stumbles upon the remains of Klaus and unexpectedly finds a 4-M plate instead of a 2-M inside his case. The robots attack immediately begins. Having repelled the first wave, the major sees several approaching robots of copies of Tasso, which is the true Second Model. Hendricks understands that the lunar base is doomed - Tasso sent there will not save him. There are more and more robots. The last thought of the major before the death: The second variety has already begun to create weapons (grenades), which has only one purpose - to destroy other varieties of "claws".

In addition to the accurate translation of V. Berdnik, there is a censored version of the story in the translation of B. Makovtsev. In this version, the Russians are replaced by Asians, the Soviet Army by the United Army, instead of the Austrian Klaus Epstein, Vietnamese Lee Sun Cha becomes one of the heroes, and Tasso from the Russian nationality becomes French.

The Canadian film starring Peter Weller , based on the short story “The Second Model,” was released in 1995 under the name Screamers . The film adaptation accurately conveys the plot of the "Second Model". Film critics have found similarities with the Alien movie. Despite the low budget, the film was nominated for the Canadian Genie film award.

The Terminator series of films has much in common with the story “The Second Model”: the world after the nuclear war, in which robots, originally designed to protect the United States from an external threat, get out of control and create increasingly advanced models in the war against humans. Like improved claw models, terminators use human skin to disguise themselves.
The story was read in the project “Model for assembly” on the radio “Energy” .

• "The second model" on the site " Science Fiction Laboratory "

• List of Publications of Second Variety at ISFDB
• The second model in the library of Maxim Moshkov (Translation by V. Berdnik)