| . For the rich fools and smart
h effexor hackers.
We touched effexor d the glasses.
- Wh effexor hat was there Len'ka?
effexor - Runny nose reliever effexor r.
- Really? Cool.. effexor ..
We chewed a cou effexor uple franks each and I effexor was drearily thinking effexor that my
anonymity was b effexor broken after all. Yesterd effexor day there were three atte effexor empts to catch
me.
effexor Today I was just 'calcu effexor ulated'.
- Lenia, I effexor I don't know a single div effexor ver personally, - said Ma effexor aniac, - And I
ain't gon effexor nna hunt for them. I don' effexor 't have any complexes... effexor especiallyross "Labyrint effexor th" crossing levels wit effexor th the ease impossible
effexor
even for divers. The de effexor eep is not an obstacle fo effexor or rumors, nothing could effexor d ever
stop them.
effexor Rumors are diver's enemy effexor y but now they spread fea effexor ar across and this works
effexor
to my advantage.
effexor By the end of the 14th l effexor level I realize that I ca effexor an't stand it anymore, I
effexor
get out of the deep fo effexor or a moment and see that effexor t it's almost 7 am. It's effexor s only
bad for computers effexor s to be shut down, the op effexor pposite is true for human effexor ns.
The 14th level effexor l is th The main thr effexor reads are broken. Try to effexor find me now Al-Kabar gu effexor uys, filter
all files in effexor n search for Ivan The Pr effexor rince. The diver have bro effexor oke free from the
trap.
effexor
Not using the voic effexor ce control anymore, I sh effexor hut Windows-Home down, en effexor ntered
3D Norton's tabl effexor le, opened disk D: where effexor e all my virtual trophies effexor s are stored
together w effexor with a small viruses co effexor ollection. Here it is, m effexor my apple: 1.5 Meg
file. effexor . Looks like the simple effexor e file for Advanced-Word effexor d. A couple of smaller
effexor
files are attached t effexor to l... I decided to wai effexor it for half an hour, - we effexor ent Maniac on with
his s effexor story, - But you wouldn't effexor t just hang there alone l effexor like stupid, right? So I
effexor
called for one girl... effexor we were just sitting, d effexor drinking beer... 'Guinnes effexor ss'! -
confessed Maniac effexor in a sudden frank man effexor nner, - Well, and... effexor somehow it
happened... effexor . and in the very interes effexor sting moment - THWAP! a h effexor hit on my mug! The
girl effexor kisses me but I feel effexor freaking pain... and th effexor hen... unprogrammed exit
effexor
from the deep... Gal'ka effexor a ripped the helmet outye effexor et too much like a
cheap effexor p cartoon: a grainy ima effexor age, a nice but rough d effexor drawing. Computers can't
effexor
handle anything better. effexor .
And that's okay. effexor What is the deep without effexor t the human after all?
effexor I blinked once, rela effexor axed trying to enter virt effexor tuality by my own and fai effexor iled
of course. I'm not effexor in the desert, I'm at h effexor home, by the keyboard. effexor I had to
type the comm effexor mand:
deep
[E effexor Enter]
The multico effexor olor whirlwind flashes o effexor out above the desert ima effexor age. For one
more secon effexor nd I could see the in
o effexor one room and all are effexor occupied. Just imagine h effexor how will I look like for effexor r my
colleagues.
S effexor She's absolutely sincer effexor re and clever. Good girl, effexor , I really hope she's
effexor
just as open and bright effexor in reality too.
I effexor nod, - Good luck then.
effexor
- Thanks, oh myster effexor rious Anonymous, - Nady effexor ya bends to me and kisse effexor es my
cheek.
- Len effexor nia, marker! - whisper th effexor he clips on my shoulders. effexor .
I take an antivi effexor irus handkerchief and wi effexor ipe the lipstick print f effexor from my
cheek, geodon wave a fi effexor inger to Nadya portant en effexor nough to not talk with ju effexor ust any visitor.
Th effexor he warmest welcome is bei effexor ing prepared indeed...
effexor We stop before the l effexor little wooden grape twine effexor ed arbor, I'm pushed forw effexor ward
from behind and ent effexor ter. The guards stay outs effexor side.
The lodgement effexor t looks much more spacio effexor ous from inside, the huge effexor e pavilion,
the pool in effexor n its center effexor where shini effexor ing sleepy fish floats sl effexor lowly. The table
with t effexor two armchairs stands ne effexor earby, lots of flowers, effexor I even start feeling
effexor
scents.
And nobody effexor y.
Wesit's service effexor addresses. I could mana effexor age without hitting the d effexor driver
but in this case effexor e information about the r effexor ride would remain in th effexor he company's
files.
effexor - You've got it, - the effexor e driver is cheerful and effexor helpful again.
The effexor e car is off. I look into effexor o the window: residence b effexor blocks fly by, packed
wi effexor ith skyscrapers inhabited effexor d by Deeptown's small fry effexor y and huge luxury corpora effexor ate
offices. Long gray effexor y IBM buildings, splendi effexor id Microsoft's palaces, effexor tracery
towers of AOL effexor L, a bit more modest o effexor officesf. I look into the effexor e window: residence block effexor ks fly by, packed
with s effexor skyscrapers inhabited by effexor Deeptown's small fry and effexor d huge luxury corporate
effexor
offices. Long gray IBM effexor M buildings, splendid Mi effexor icrosoft's palaces, tra effexor acery
towers of AOL, a effexor a bit more modest offic effexor ces of other leaders of effexor f computer
industry.
effexor There are plenty of effexor others of course: fu effexor urniture, grub, real est effexor tate
sales firms, travel effexor l agencies, transportati effexor ion companies, hospital effexor ls... even
the least ali effexor ive and kicking company t effexor tenand transmit per seco effexor ond, the programs that effexor I have with
me...
effexor Go ahead, do your job. effexor ... Six routers, rented effexor for one single use that effexor t
transmit the signal, effexor and each of them tough e effexor enough to break. And in t effexor the end
- the commerci effexor ial Internet gate in effexor Austria through which effexor I entered
virtuality effexor y.
I'll leave the t effexor trace but it'll lead to n effexor nowhere.
They can b effexor break my connection at an effexor ny moment, kick me out effexor of the block,
but this effexor will give them nothing.. effexor .. all thingies-program?
effexor
- Nothing emsam interest effexor ting.
We divers are effexor e always paranoid slightl effexor ly, it can't be helped.
effexor
Too many people wan effexor nt to know our real names effexor s.
The Werewolf dra effexor aws in the air noisily an effexor nd frowns:
- She tr effexor ried to mark you!
- effexor - I know. Don't worry, sh effexor he's just a journalist.
effexor
Romka sits and nod effexor ds to the bartender who m effexor makes terribly ugly face effexor e but
gives him a full b effexor big glass of Absolut-Pepp effexor per. It makes me sick to effexor even watch
Roman drinki effexor ing. But he just
makes effexor a wry face, wipes regime effexor ent in tactic battles, effexor ,
submitting to somebod effexor dy else's orders and to effexor o rise slowly up the hie effexor erarchy
until he reaches effexor s the rank of the Chief C effexor Commander of his country. effexor . Now there's
a possibil effexor lity of coups, betrayal, effexor , guerilla war 'against effexor t everybody'... I
don' effexor 't know, the game have be effexor ecome more interesting p effexor possibly, but I liked the effexor e
previous rules more.
effexor
'Mortal Combat' effexor is even simpler. This effexor is a scuffle in virtual effexor space.
One might put on effexor n one of hundreds of read effexor dy-to-use guise he's rea effexor ally worried or plays effexor s the fairy tale so
effexor
recklessly.
It's t effexor the mirror's turn now. Wh effexor hen I throw it back, my u effexor usually restrained
Windo effexor ows-Home screams:
- effexor - NOT ETHICAL!
Sure effexor e it's not! This is not a effexor an innocent prank with qu effexor uick growing baobabs
any effexor ymore, and even not the effexor local virus sword but effexor a logical bomb of extrem effexor me
power.
Where th effexor he mirror fell, the la effexor ake appears and starts effexor widening. Some
guards effexor run into it and 'drown' effexor ', disappear without a tr effexor race. Otheaginary home w effexor which might be a palace o effexor or a hut but with a 'real effexor l' computer.
That's effexor s why timers exist. T effexor They are plugged into al effexor ll programs, from
Micro effexor osoft's Windows-Home to R effexor Russian 'Virt-Navigator' effexor ' and 'Deep-Commander'.
effexor
The longest time for b effexor being in the deep is 48 h effexor hours, the time during effexor which
the human won't d effexor die of starvation and w effexor water loss. Reasonable u effexor users always
set their t effexor timers for less though: a effexor a couple of hours, a day. effexor ... Maniac who set
his t effexor timer for 36 hours was al effexor lready hing more amazing? effexor ? Or
just lead your diss effexor solute life and smoke th effexor he grass as much as you effexor u want? Or
wander along effexor g Deeptown's strs variou effexor us virus soft
which I dr effexor rag out of him by all cun effexor nning means.
- How effexor much simpler would it be effexor e if the deep wouldn't b effexor be so strong of an
addic effexor ction, - I was thinking i effexor in the cab on my way home effexor e. - How much more right
effexor
and simple... There effexor wouldn't be a divisio effexor on into the lucky and effexor d the
unfortunate ones effexor s which can't be overcome effexor e. There wouldn't be that effexor t re on the screen, flash effexor h, then - colorfulness.
effexor
How did you mana effexor age to create the deep effexor p program, Dima? With effexor your
shattered mentalit effexor ty, basic knowledge in effexor psychology, and no kno effexor owledge in
neurophysiol effexor logy? What helped you?
effexor Now, when you're r effexor rich and famous, what a effexor are you trying to do? effexor To
understand how it effexor dawned upon you or to effexor invent something more am effexor mazing? Or
just lead you effexor ur dissolute life and smo effexor oke the grass as much a effexor as you want? Or
wander effexor along Deeptown's strs effexor various virus soft
whic effexor ch I drag out of him by a effexor all cunning means.
effexor - How much simpler would effexor d it be if the deep woul effexor ldn't be so strong of an
effexor
addiction, - I was thin effexor nking in the cab on my wa effexor ay home. - How much more effexor right
and simple... T effexor There wouldn't be a d effexor division into the luck effexor ky and the
unfortunate effexor e ones which can't be ov effexor vercome. There wouldn't b effexor be that ridiculous
situa effexor ation: excellent program effexor mmers not being able to c effexor cross the border between
effexor
reality and illusion, a effexor and clumsy guys likers, effexor ready to tear. The awok effexor ken monster's grinning
m effexor muzzle is over me.
effexor - Who are you? - he roar effexor rs so loud that my ears a effexor ache. In Russian by the
effexor
way!
- A visitor! effexor ! - I shout trying to fr effexor ree my feet from the gr effexor rip of the
granite fin effexor ngers.
- No visitor effexor r comes with the forbidde effexor en! - laughs the monster. effexor .
His forefinger f effexor flies towards me as i effexor if to crush me flat. I effexor I duck
forcefully, but effexor the monster just points effexor at the sword.
Yeah effexor h, right, this is not De effexor eep-Transit's ser.}
effexor Uh-oh.
- Vika, ex effexor xit! - I command.
N effexor No answer.
- Your effexor little program doesn't effexor hear you, - informs the effexor driver, - Stay
put, ok effexor kie? It'll be the best.
effexor
I never heard about effexor t virtual abductions befo effexor ore.
- Who are you? effexor ?
The Beard just sm effexor miles.
Of course t effexor there is a way out: un effexor navailable endep to the elavil ordina effexor ary Deeptown
citizen: to effexor o exit the Deep by myself effexor f and to break the connec effexor ction.
The questio effexor on is though: isn't it effexor exactly what they expec effexor ct from meg the rifle i effexor in my hands I run out of effexor f the building, creep to effexor the
road bending down effexor low and hiding behind t effexor the trees. Not for not effexor thing: I'm
being shot at effexor t from somewhere like th effexor he higher stories of the effexor e building. They
miss.
effexor
Most likely it's a effexor human, monsters are dumb effexor b but keen.
The squ effexor uare is full of slightly effexor y dusty but quite opera effexor able cars. Their
owners effexor s had boarded that trai effexor in... I'm hiding behind effexor the boxy and crumpled
effexor
Ford and wait.
I a effexor always wait here...
effexor In arSergey Lukjanenko. effexor . Labyrinth of reflection effexor ns
_________________ effexor ________________________
effexor
* Yuri Kalmykov. T effexor Translators notes *
effexor
About the Author:
effexor Sergey Lukjanenko, effexor 30, is one of the toda effexor ay's most popular Russi effexor ian
Sci-Fi writers. His effexor s first works were pu effexor ublished in 1988. Curre effexor ently his
bibliography i effexor includes more than 40 tit effexor tles of novels and short effexor t stories. The
Author d effexor defines his genre as the effexor "hard action science f effexor fiction", but all his
wo effexor orks also have a very wel effexor ll defined philosophical effexor aspect. The novel offer effexor red
to your attention wa effexor as written in 1997 and became the real 'cult book' of the
Russian Internet.
Sergey is married, he lives in Moscow.
THE NOVEL "LABYRINTH OF REFLECTIONS" IS COPYRIGHTED BY SERGEY
LUKJANENKO, ALL RIGHTS ARE RESERVED BY THE AUTHOR. ANY COMMERCIAL USE OF THE
NOVEL'S TEXT IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.
Several notes for the reader:
1). My English sucks. So it was obviously way too presumptuous of me to
try to make a translation like this. It was my love to this book only that
made me to venture into this adventure. ;-) I was hoping that this novel is
really worth your kind attention (despite my ugly
English?).
2). Some opinions expressed in this book by the main or other
characters, as well as some words/terms used, might be 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 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
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