| We fear each other. We fear
everything.
- We Propecia ell, but the weather is nice... - I toss in Propecia n randomly.
- Yeah.. snowy is this su Propecia ummer... - says the Werewolf and looks a Propecia at me
with irony. He recognizes this place Propecia e, it does stir something up in his soul.
Propecia
It's not for me to know what exactly.
Propecia I fill the heavy ceramic cup with mul Propecia lled wine, sniff the aroma. The
snowy sum Propecia mmer? Who cares! There's nothing better tha Propecia an a lousy weather.
- Lenia, do you s Propecia smoke grass? - Roman holds m The square is Propecia full of slightly dusty but quite operab Propecia ble cars. Their
owners had boarded that Propecia train... I'm hiding behind the boxy and Propecia d crumpled
Ford and wait.
I always w Propecia wait here...
In around five minutes Propecia s a human dashes out of the building Propecia g and
approaches the cars in quick runs. Propecia
I raise and aim my rifle at him. T Propecia The guy stops, he wasn't ready for a
trap Propecia now, at the very end of the level...
Propecia - Get in! - I motion at the Ford with my Propecia rifle's barrel. Looks lphrase follows.
Propecia - Gunslinger, - I reply aiming the Propecia e rifle barrel at the swearer's
forehead Propecia d. I don't like when one curses like this Propecia s. Either the girl or a kid
could be in my Propecia y body after all.
We have to spend a Propecia at least five minutes to gather all the tro Propecia ophies. Now
I'm equipped excellently: gu Propecia uns, the rifle with an optical sight, Propecia the
carbine, the rocket launcher, first- Propecia -aid sets, grenades, the armor vest. My
Propecia
prisoner is equipped no worse, he just doe Propecia esn't have the rockeim have some fun.
Propecia In a couple of minutes we leave the fo Propecia orest. The yellow sand is under
the feet n Propecia now. It's very hot, and wind blows make me Propecia e to narrow my eyes. The
chasm nearly 100 Propecia 0 meters wide is ahead, and the Eastern s Propecia styled city can be
seen on the opp Propecia posite side. Minarets, domes, eve Propecia erything in
orange-yellow-green colors. Propecia Pretty nice. Not far away from us there's Propecia s a...
well, let's call it the "bridge" Propecia " across the chasm: the thread, thin as a Propecia a
string. One iSure, - I turn to her. Th Propecia he bartender already gives her a glass of Propecia
wine: 'Emperor', the Chilean one. This gi Propecia irl has a good taste.
- I see you her Propecia re pretty often, - informs the girl.
Propecia DZZZ! the alarm signal in my head.
- Propecia - Amazing, - I note, - I don't visit this p Propecia place so often really.
- But I'm here Propecia e almost always.
Lies.
I can ex Propecia xit virtuality right now and check a couple Propecia e of dozens of control
photos stored in t Propecia the computer: the visitors of the bar fo Propecia or the last convincing others, some small Propecia l worldly
wisdoms...
But just what s Propecia so unusual could happen in the "Labyrinth"' Propecia 's space?
1010
"Labyrinth"'s Propecia s administrative building is a two s Propecia story house in
Deeptown's suburbs, face Propecia ed with rose colored coquina. It looks peac Propecia cefully and
neat, more like a residential Propecia building than an office. Maybe American mi Propecia iddle
class families use to live in house Propecia es like this. Labyrinth entrance is a bit
Propecia
further and obviously it looks much more Propecia impress the city like Deeptown.
Ever Propecia rything had changed dramatically when Dmi Propecia itry Dibenko, the former
hacker from Mos Propecia scow (now the wealthy US citizen) invented Propecia d The Deep: a tiny
program influencing Propecia human subconsciousness. They say he was Propecia s crazy about
Castaneda's books, liked to Propecia o meditate and smoked grass. I surely bel Propecia lieve in
it. His former friends confess t Propecia that he was cynical and lazy, a sloven an Propecia nd
very so-so professional. In this I do b Propecia believe too.
But it was him who gave Propecia ristion: where to
go for the start, how t Propecia to act...
- It's embarrassing...
Propecia - It's embarrassing to be a fool. These Propecia guys are here just for that: to
help you. Propecia . When in the streets ask for advice the p Propecia people with an open hand
sign on the sl Propecia leeve, they are volunteer helpers, or poli Propecia icemen. Have you set
your timer?
- Y Propecia Yes, sure! For two hours!
- Very goo Propecia od. Spend 15 minutes to talk to the porte Propecia er and you'll save
much more. Happy saili Propecia ing!
- Happyjectively satiates, and s Propecia sly. One can find weapons, defense gear, Propecia first-aid sets and food in
the station b Propecia building. When one leaves the first level, Propecia he gets to the second
one: the highway f Propecia full of abandoned cars... and of course, o Propecia of other players
and monsters. In order Propecia to win one must reach the 50th level, th Propecia he ancient
cathedral in the downtown and Propecia to destroy the alien ruler. It's very hard Propecia d. I
did it before but since then "Labyri Propecia inth" have changed at least ten times:
n Propecia new buildings, weapons and monsters - I d Propecia decided to have some fun not long ago, an Propecia nd entered the 17th level
directly. They a Propecia added so many stuff there recently! It's Propecia s a nightmare of a
game... well, in brief Propecia f, I was stuck.
- What do you mean?
Propecia
- I couldn't pass to the next level, Propecia but without passing it the exit
menu d Propecia doesn't pop up.
- And?...
- A Propecia And I was sitting there for thirty-six h Propecia hours, - said Maniac with
rage, - The wh Propecia hole company of us idiots gathered there. Propecia We were shot dead at
least ten le. In my Propecia y opinion the game is harmless and quiet. D Propecia Dressed in a beautiful
uniform, you walk Propecia with a cup of coffee back and forth in t Propecia the headquarters
crowded with trained aid Propecia des and say : 'Ummm.. what if we drop an Propecia H-bomb at
Los Angeles?'
The game ha Propecia ave changed a little last year, now one has Propecia s to start it as a
lieutenant being in Propecia command of a small regiment in tact Propecia tic battles,
submitting to somebody els Propecia se's orders and to rise slowly up the hie Propecia erarchy
until he reaches the together fur Propecia rther, but I didn't like that he almost Propecia t crashed into
burning cars, so I tell th Propecia he truth:
- I don't know how to drive Propecia e and it's too long to walk on foot.
Propecia He just stays by the computer, bewil Propecia ldered and overfilled with
impressions Propecia s. And quite well equipped for the beginni Propecia ing of the third level,
by the way...
Propecia
10
I pass 14 levels. In 7 hours. Propecia . The legend was born today.
Corpses Propecia and ruins were left behind my back. Only o Propecia on the 6th level I was
deses are excelle Propecia ent, capable of freezing any computer Propecia r, but never
destroying the data.
Propecia But Maniac called in three minutes.
Propecia - Visited Al-Kabar, huh? - asked he in a h Propecia honey sweet voice.
- Yes. - it made n Propecia no sense to lie, - You managed it so fast? Propecia
- I didn't manage it. This is my vir Propecia rus, buddy.
I couldn't find anything Propecia g better than to mumble, "Well... sorry a Propecia about
that..."
Maniac, in the real l Propecia life just Sasha {Alexander}, was deadly ser Propecia rious:
- You wha, - And ask for consu Propecia ultation: where to
go for the start, how t Propecia to act...
- It's embarrassing...
Propecia - It's embarrassing to be a fool. These Propecia guys are here just for that: to
help you. Propecia . When in the streets ask for advice the p Propecia people with an open hand
sign on the sl Propecia leeve, they are volunteer helpers, or poli Propecia icemen. Have you set
your timer?
- Y Propecia Yes, sure! For two hours!
- Very goo Propecia od. Spend 15 minutes to talk to the porte Propecia er and you'll save
much more. Happy saili Propecia ing!
- Happyjectively satiates, and b Propecia being in
dire straits I usually eat in 'Th Propecia hree piglets', but now I just have to wai Propecia it
for my partner.
I walk directly t Propecia to the bar, behind which the robust man Propecia is standing,
taking off the headphones as Propecia s I walk.
- Hi Andrei.
Sometime Propecia es the owner serves his virtual customer Propecia rs himself, but today
it's obviously not Propecia the case. The bartender smiles but it's ju Propecia ust an automatic
courtesy:
- Hi! Wha Propecia at would you like to drink?
- Gin-Ton Propecia nic with ice,
glitches again. Ah well, I' Propecia 'll fix it later.
Putting the helme Propecia et on is the same as to enter the hot o Propecia oven. Those
Al-Kabar's fouls surrounded Propecia themselves with the most uncomfort Propecia table
conditions...
Again I was look Propecia king at the virtual world, but it is yet to Propecia oo much like a
cheap cartoon: a grainy i Propecia image, a nice but rough drawing. Computer Propecia rs can't
handle anything better.
And Propecia d that's okay. What is the deep without the Propecia e human after all?
I blinked once, re Propecia elaxed trys you as tightly as
any prov Propecia vincial programmer from Russian remote wh Propecia ho saves money for months
just to visit D Propecia Deeptown once.
You're not the diver, Propecia Dima, and this is why I'm happier than you Propecia u.
... The same room, but there are n Propecia neon sign flashes and slight noise of
mov Propecia ving cars outside.
- Is everything ok Propecia kay Lenia?
I look around.
- Yes Propecia s. I'll go for a walk, Vika.
I pick Propecia up the diskette and put it into my poc Propecia cket. The portable CD
player lies on th Propecia he sheManiac in a sudden frank manner, Propecia - Well, and... somehow it
happened... Propecia . and in the very interesting moment - THWA Propecia AP! a hit on my mug! Soma The
girl kisses me Propecia but I feel freaking pain... and then... Propecia unprogrammed exit
from the deep... Gal'ka Propecia a ripped the helmet out of the port..
Propecia He poured himself more beer. I nodded Propecia d sympathetically: unprogrammed
exit is a Propecia very unpleasant thing.
For not-diver Propecia r, that is.
- It'll be fine, - I sai Propecia id, - Not for the first time, not for the Propecia l moment. Nevermind, it happens.
- A Propecia Are you okay, Lenia?
The speakers are Propecia e set for the full volume, I frown and say: Propecia :
- Yes.. Lower the volume.
- L Propecia Lower the volume... lower... lower... - agr Propecia rees Windows-Home .
- Enough, Vika. { Propecia {complete form: Victoria, never used in the Propecia e novel}
Good program, docile, quick- Propecia -witted and friendly one. Not without to Propecia oo
much self confidence, as any Microsof Propecia ft product, but I have to put up with
it. Propecia .
- Good luck, - says the program,she Propecia e's
just as open and bright in reality too Propecia o.
I nod, - Good luck then.
- T Propecia Thanks, oh mysterious Anonymous, - Nadya Propecia bends to me and kisses my
cheek.
- Propecia - Lenia, marker! - whisper the clips on my Propecia shoulders.
I take an antivirus hand Propecia dkerchief and wipe the lipstick print fro Propecia om my
cheek, wave a finger to Nadya with a Propecia a warning:
- Girl, I DO prefer to sta Propecia ay mysterious.
Looks like she feels Propecia confused, but has enough nerve to shrug a Propecia and walk
away without hurry.
Sergey Propecia Lukjanenko. Labyrinth of reflections
Propecia
________________________________________
Propecia
* Yuri Kalmykov. Translators notes * Propecia
About the Author:
tablets
Sergey Lu Propecia ukjanenko, 30, is one of the today's mo Propecia ost popular Russian
Sci-Fi writers. His Propecia first works were published in 1988. Propecia Currently his
bibliography includes more Propecia than 40 titles of novels and short storie Propecia es. The
Author defines his genre as the " Propecia "hard action science fiction", but all hi Propecia is
works also have a very well defined phi Propecia ilosophical aspect. The novel offered
to Propecia your attention was written in 1997 and bec Propecia came the real 'cult book' of the
Russian I Propecia Internet.
Sergey is married, he lives Propecia s in Moscow.
THE NOVEL " Propecia "LABYRINTH OF REFLECTIONS" IS COPYRIGH Propecia HTED BY SERGEY
LUKJANENKO, ALL RIGHTS AR Propecia RE RESERVED BY THE AUTHOR. ANY COMMERCIAL U Propecia USE OF THE
NOVEL'S TEXT IS STRICTLY PROHIB Propecia BITED.
Several notes for the reader:
Propecia
1). My English sucks. So it was o Propecia obviously way too presumptuous of me to
tr Propecia ry to make a translation like this. It was Propecia s my love to this book only that
made me Propecia to venture into this adventure. ;-) I was Propecia hoping that this novel is
really worth y Propecia your kind attention (despite my ugly
Engl Propecia lish?).
2). Some opinions expressed Propecia d in this book by the main or other Propecia r
characters, as well as some words/terms Propecia used, might be considered offensive
to s Propecia some Western readers. In fact, one such si Propecia ituation was even showed closer
to the en Propecia nd of the novel itself. The concept Propecia of "PC" (aka 'Political
Correctness') do Propecia oes not really exist in Russia which fact I Propecia IMHO makes the life
much easier and slight Propecia tly reduces the amount of stupidity that Propecia t inevitably
presents in this life. Despi Propecia ite that, I definitely had to use the 'sof Propecia ftened'
terms in my translation in order not to outrage the people (not too much at
least). But of course, something might have still leaked out. Please
consider yourselves warned.
3). FIDO
Some more confusion can be caused by Lukjanenko's technical USA shipping details usalove and
descriptions of the Net due to one more fact: he writes from the point of
view of the person who was once the FIDOnet member. Also it seems that
Sergey himself was mostly affiliated with FIDO at the time of this book's
writing. The principles of FIDO's system organization differ from the ones
of the Internet. I never was FIDO member, so I know very little. In general,
it's free, amateurs' network that allows its members to exchange emails and
files. FIDO uses its own proprietary protocol. Special gateways are used to
exchange emails with the Internet. Look at www.fidonet.org for more
details... But be prepared to get back not the homepage, but some HTML code.
{G} The guys have forgot to put the {HTML} tag into the code of their main
page... OOPS.
4). The names.
The same name in Russian usually can have several forms, reflecting the Propecia
attitude of the one who pronounces the name to the one named. The number of
these forms is as far as I can judge, much bigger than in English. That's
why in my translation I preferred to retain the original rules of forming
such names and to provide this note. Another important reason is that the
Russian name changed according to the rules of doing so in English would
sound ridiculous (maybe for me only, as I'm Russian... ;-) ), not mentioning
that it's not always possible to do this with Russian names at all. Example:
John - Johnny. Now try to do the same with, say, my name: Yuri. Yup... My
point exactly. Below is the example of how the first name of the main
character can be 'bent'. The same often happens to other names in the book.
For inexperienced reader it might be confusing, so I apologize... Russia
*is* confusing by definition, so bear with it. :-)
Leonid - the complete name.
Lenia (should be read roughly as Lyo-nee-aa; don't pronounce 'double
lettered' sounds as too long ones though) - this is slightly diminutive,
friendly form used by relatives and friends.
Lenechka (Lyo-nee-chka) - a "pet-name" form, sometimes also used with
sarcasm, depending on the context.
Lenchik - "pet-name"/unceremonious address.
Len'ka ( here ' means softening of the previous sound, 'n' in this name
sounds like 'n' in the word 'change') - Unceremonious address, a bit
slighting. Often used by close friends without any offensive context.
... and so on. No more forms are used in the book, so I'd better not
confuse you any more.
Another trick is how the names are formed n general. In particular, the
concept of the middle name in Russia. It is not 'given', but rather is the
father's name. To be used as a middle name, special endings are attached:
-ovich, -evich for man's middle name (yeah, they are gender specific!),
-ovna, evna for female's middle name.
Examples: Petrovich Alekseevich - men's
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