| rifle barrel at the swearer's
forehead. I don't like glucophage e when one curses like this. Either the gi glucophage irl or a kid
could be in my body after all. glucophage .
We have to spend at least five minu glucophage utes to gather all the trophies. Now
I'm e glucophage equipped excellently: guns, the rifle wi glucophage ith an optical sight, the
carbine, the r glucophage rocket launcher, first-aid sets, grenades, glucophage , the armor vest. My
prisoner is equipped n glucophage no worse, he just doesn't have the rocket la glucophage auncher.
It's impossible to drag away glucophage such a pile ofbut so much more - to
reach glucophage the bottom and to return. The first thi glucophage ing to remember: the deep is
dead without u glucophage us. One must believe and not believe in it a glucophage at the same time.
Otherwise one day yo glucophage ou'll not be able to surface.
1
glucophage The first movements are the most difficu glucophage ult. The small room, the table
in the middl glucophage le of it, computer wires from the UPS go t glucophage to the computer, the
thinner wire plugged glucophage d into the phone jack. The sofa stands by th glucophage he wall, under
the luxury carpet, the sg glucophage on the screen. No, possibly I'm wrong, I ne glucophage eed to
set the different reaction to 'old glucophage girl' - slight resentment, pouting, a
l glucophage look cast slightly aside.
- Any mail?
glucophage
- Seven letters.
- Read.
glucophage There was nothing interesting in the mail: glucophage invitations to visit two new
clubs, price glucophage lists of some small trading company, the glucophage letter from Maniac
sent in the morning.. glucophage ..
- Delete everything, - I said sitt glucophage ting by the computer. I plugged the
suit glucophage in and put on the helmet I pad to the fri glucophage idge and get a can of Sprite. The
liquid c glucophage cools the throat. It's almost a ritual - th glucophage he deep always dries the
throat. With the glucophage e can in my hand I come out on the balcon glucophage ny, into the warm
summer evening.
It glucophage t's almost always evening in Deeptown. Th glucophage he streets are lit by the
bright light of glucophage f neon signs, cars softly growl scudding glucophage along the streets,
and people move in n glucophage neverending stream. Twenty-five million of glucophage permanent
inhabitants: the biggest megap glucophage polis in tern looking guy demonstrating som glucophage me complicated
moves. In the open air type glucophage e cinema called 'Movies' the imposing man ge glucophage estures
energetically standing before the s glucophage screen. I peek inside and hear:
- Chea glucophage ap stuff! This movie is a disgusting cheap s glucophage stuff!
Boring-boring-boring, Ladies an glucophage nd Gentlemen...
Alexandrians are prob glucophage bably right: we have turned the virtual worl glucophage ld into
the parody of the real one, but par glucophage rodies are never better than the original,
glucophage
their goal is different: to mock it,.
glucophage - Go ahead, - agrees the wolf gazing aroun glucophage nd.
I half close my eyes.
Abyss- glucophage -abyss, I'm not yours... let me go, abyss... glucophage .
I shivered slightly and stood up; glucophage tiny screens before my eyes, the
desert glucophage t, the chasm, the statue and the city in th glucophage he distance is on them, very
nice drawing. glucophage Al-Kabar has good designers.
The virt glucophage tual helmet is heavy, one of the most soph glucophage histicated models by
Sony: with excellent glucophage color screens, great speakers and built-in glucophage microphone,
with rs, a day... Maniac who glucophage o set
his timer for 36 hours was already an glucophage n exception. The waking of somebody who
ha glucophage ave spent two days in the deep is.... a foul glucophage l smelling sight.
Of course it is poss glucophage sible to break and disable the timer. Or to glucophage break it
and add a couple of zeros to the glucophage e number '48' but such kamikaze are rarely glucophage y
found and their end is mournful.
Li glucophage ike Unfortunate's.
It's impossible to glucophage pass "Labyrinth of Death" in a single att glucophage tempt, one
can't just have strength for tha glucophage at. Tnu doesn't pop up.
- And?...
glucophage - And I was sitting there for thirty glucophage y-six hours, - said Maniac with
rage, - T glucophage The whole company of us idiots gathered the glucophage ere. We were shot dead at
least ten times glucophage each, then we just blocked ourselves out i glucophage in some basement,
sang the songs, firing ba glucophage ack at the monsters... until our timers went glucophage t up.
- You have thirty-six hours limi glucophage it of continuous being in the deep?
- glucophage Twenty-four now.
- What about Gal'ka? glucophage ?
- Ah, she was... at moth him, got o glucophage out of the car and went towards my house glucophage e feeling
inflated like a balloon. Now I glucophage have to either fall asleep submitting mysel glucophage lf
to the morning hangover or to submer glucophage rge into the deep: it cures hangover
well. glucophage .
On the second floor of the staircas glucophage se where the light is on always for
some r glucophage reason, five teens were sitting, playing glucophage cards right on the floor,
talking about glucophage something in dimmed voices... No, not talk glucophage king, it'd be better
to say growling to glucophage each other. I trance is filled with swirli glucophage ing red fog.
And right into this fog glucophage people are coming, slowly as if mesmeriz glucophage zed.
Maybe not all or them are real, some glucophage e of them are created starlix by "Labyrinth"'s
sys glucophage sops for more solemnity but it's impressive glucophage anyway.
I join the common flow.
prandin glucophage - Hey...
The guy walking by my side glucophage touches my shoulder:
- What's your na glucophage ame?
- Gunslinger.
- I'm Alex.
glucophage
- Nice to meet you... - I turn away glucophage y, but the guy doesn't leave me
alone.
t glucophage to get the apple out? - asks Roman.
- glucophage It's fine, - I fling my jacket open and flo glucophage op on the shirt's pocket, -
the trade artic glucophage cle's in place.
The Werewolf relaxes a glucophage a little.
- What about the buyer?
glucophage I check my watch:
- In ten minutes. glucophage . At the river bank nearby.
- Let's go glucophage o? - Roman takes his glass.
I scoop mi glucophage ine and we exit the restaurant door that is glucophage hacked through the
stony wall. In the smal glucophage ll lobby I say softly:
- Individual sp glucophage pace for us both. Grant as?
1011
glucophage No ordinary Deeptown inhabitant can ex glucophage xit the deep by himself: he'll
just nev glucophage ver see the computer, won't be able to enter glucophage r the exit command or to
contact the oper glucophage rating system with voice. It's only in vir glucophage rtual houses with
drawn analogs of real c glucophage computers installed where subconsciousness glucophage gives a
kind break. One can exit the glucophage deep only where it was entered: in his glucophage s
imaginary home which might be a palace or glucophage r a hut but with a 'real' computer.
Th glucophage hat's why le to disable the virus.
It glucophage t was late evening, the time when hackers ju glucophage ust start working. I packed
the virus with glucophage a text fragment and called Maniac.
I glucophage had to wait a couple of minutes until he glucophage picked up the phone. I was
lucky: he easil glucophage ly could hang about in virtuality, indiffer glucophage rent to any calls,
fires, floods and other glucophage r annoying trifles of life.
- Yes?
glucophage - Maniac, it's me.
Hacker's voice glucophage softened a little.
- Hi Lenia, what's glucophage s up?
- The new virus for your cnemy w glucophage with the heel on his forehead of
thrus glucophage sting magic spells onto him. Good game, I vi glucophage isit it once or twice a month
but some peo glucophage ople never quit the duels. They say that i glucophage if one doesn't abuse
magic which unfortun glucophage nately is not available in reality, it is glucophage s possible to
learn to fight pretty well. glucophage I doubt it though: the hit that one feels glucophage with
the help of virtual suit is one thin glucophage ng but the real steel reinforcement that
yo glucophage ou'll be hit with in the street is absolutel glucophage ly different.
Anhing more but the
sci glucophage i-fi writers' creation. Computer networks glucophage s, virtual helmets and suits
already exi glucophage isted, but all this was only profanation. glucophage Hundreds of games were
created where one glucophage could move in the spacious and colorful c glucophage cyberspace but
virtuality even couldn't be glucophage e mentioned.
The world created by co glucophage omputers is too primitive, it can't be compa glucophage ared
even with cartoons, not to mention glucophage n movies. Thus, the real world is
com glucophage mpletely out of question. One could run arou glucophage und inut something too. Then
inquires:
glucophage
- Excuse me, how many servers did you glucophage pass through to come here?
- Unfortun glucophage nately, I don't remember.
Urman shrugs glucophage s.
- How may I refer to you?
- I glucophage Ivan The Prince.
Brief pause, then he glucophage smiles, Somebody have explained him.
glucophage - Oh, the Russian tales' hero! Are you Russ glucophage sian yourself?
- Does it really matter glucophage r?
- You're absolutely right... Well, glucophage Mr Diver, as far as I understand,
you p glucophage penetrated our block illegally...sited it ev glucophage ven just once.
- I don't think it'll h glucophage happen.
The man without face throws hi glucophage is cloak open with an experienced stripper
glucophage
gesture. There's a rainbow disk on the i glucophage inside: a swirling glowing spiral
surround glucophage ded by blue.
Oh my. He's from the pol glucophage lice himself. At least commissar if he ha glucophage as a
rainbow badge.
- Oh great, go ah glucophage head... - I say in a cheerless voice, - I kn glucophage new that all
cops are ass holes, but not to glucophage o this extent..
- Just listen to me fo glucophage or the start. glucophage
wl scudding along the stree glucophage ets,
and people move in neverending stre glucophage eam. Twenty-five million of permanent
inh glucophage habitants: the biggest megapolis in the wo glucophage orld. Faces can't be seen from
the height glucophage t of eleventh floor. I finish my Sprite a glucophage and throw the can down
returning into the glucophage room.
- Not ethical... - mutters the glucophage computer. Ignoring it I leave the room,
p glucophage put on my shoes and open the door. The stair glucophage rcase is empty and brightly lit,
very-very glucophage y clean. While I deal with the lock, the ti glucophage iGood night to you, the most loyal of my f glucophage friends... I turned the power
switch and tu glucophage urned off the modem. I need a quiet nigh glucophage ht, let all mail wait
until the morning. It glucophage t's already 3:30 am though... the sky become glucophage es lighter.
And I want to sleep so muc glucophage ch! The head is aching of excess information glucophage n.
I pulled off the virtual suit. Man, glucophage , does it stink of sweat, it requires
clean glucophage ning for a long time by now... Then I plo glucophage opped down on the sofa. Good
that I didn't glucophage t do the bed yesterday. How u what, have sto glucophage olen a program from them?
- Not exactl glucophage ly... But in general yes, this was hidden in glucophage n the file...
- Have you contacted any glucophage glucotrol XL ybody via modem? I mean, since you received glucophage d the
file.
- No.
- Lucky you, glucophage - informed Maniac, - You see, this is not j glucophage just an ordinary
virus, it's a postcard.
glucophage I didn't understand and Maniac explaine glucophage ed:
- A postcard with return a glucophage address. If the virus detects the
comm glucophage munication hardware on the computer, it atta glucophage aches the seSergey Lukjanenko. Labyrinth of glucophage reflections
__________________________ glucophage _______________
* Yuri Kalmykov. Trans glucophage slators notes *
About the Author:
glucophage Sergey Lukjanenko, 30, is one of th glucophage he today's most popular Russian
Sci-Fi wr glucophage riters. His first works were published glucophage in 1988. Currently his
bibliography incl glucophage ludes more than 40 titles of novels and sho glucophage ort stories. The
Author defines his genre glucophage as the "hard action science fiction", but glucophage t all his
works also have a very well defin glucophage ned philosophical aspect. The novel offered glucophage d
to your attention was written in 1997 and glucophage d became the real 'cult book' of the
Russia glucophage an Internet.
Sergey is married, he liv glucophage ves in Moscow.
THE NOVEL glucophage "LABYRINTH OF REFLECTIONS" IS COPYRIGH glucophage HTED BY SERGEY
LUKJANENKO, ALL RIGHTS ARE glucophage E RESERVED BY THE AUTHOR. ANY COMMERCIAL USE glucophage E OF THE
NOVEL'S TEXT IS STRICTLY PROHIBITE glucophage ED.
Several notes for the reader:
glucophage
1). My English sucks. So it was obviou glucophage usly way too presumptuous of me to
try to m glucophage make a translation like this. It was my lov glucophage ve to this book only that
made me to ventu glucophage ure into this adventure. ;-) I was hoping th glucophage hat this novel is
really worth your kind a glucophage attention (despite my ugly
English?).
glucophage 2). Some opinions expressed in this glucophage book by the main or other
characters, glucophage , as well as some words/terms used, might be glucophage e considered offensive
to some Western readers. In fact, one such situation was even showed closer
to the end of the novel itself. The concept of "PC" (aka 'Political
Correctness') does not really exist in Russia which fact IMHO makes the life
much easier and slightly reduces the karela amount of stupidity that inevitably
presents in this life. Despite that, I definitely had to use the 'softened'
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 details 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
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
P |