| " Mr
Gunslinger, 'Disneyland'.
lotensin I look at the level lotensin l and don't like it at lotensin all, at least because lotensin when I
was there last lotensin time it looked complete lotensin ely different.
- lotensin Very-very bad level, - lotensin - says Willy. - Hard. Th lotensin his is the beginning:
lotensin
'Russian Hills' {rol lotensin ller coaster}. This is.. lotensin .. - he puts his hand lotensin d on the
keyboard and lotensin the picture slides a li lotensin ittle aside, - a Grabber lotensin r Demon. Bad!
Gee, lotensin , as if good demons ever lotensin r came out of "Labyrinth lotensin h" creators' minds...
lotensin - This is him... - lotensin one mondard exit
which lotensin h is possible to trace b lotensin but an instantly broken lotensin thread.
It's bar lotensin rbaric of course, but ab lotensin bsolutely no data excha lotensin ange between my
compu lotensin uter and the one where t lotensin the warehouse is modeled lotensin d.
- No dialtone, lotensin - says Vika, - Check th lotensin he wiring.
- Shut lotensin down.
- Really?
lotensin
- Yes.
The b lotensin blue background with the lotensin e white falling figure f lotensin fills the screen.
lotensin - Now it's safe to turn lotensin n off your computer, - w lotensin whispers Vika sleepily.
lotensin
Good night to you lotensin u, the most loyal of m lotensin mhis house... - starts t lotensin the guy.
{ A side lotensin e note. Shtirlitz is the lotensin e main character of very lotensin y popular Russian
13 ep lotensin pisode 1972 TV series lotensin about the Soviet spy lotensin in Nazi headquarters. T lotensin The
story takes place lotensin e in February-April 1 lotensin 1945. Shtirlitz invest lotensin tigates the
attempts o lotensin of the separate talks lotensin held between Allen Da lotensin alles and high-ranked
N lotensin Nazis. This series was lotensin a real hit then (and s lotensin still is!), and, as it lotensin always
happens with so lotensin omething much loved (or lotensin r hated) in Russia, it lotensin gave rise to an
ot me lotensin at least, - Shellerbach lotensin h The Hardened's face ch lotensin hanges. Now he's
an age lotensin ed man with the resol lotensin lute but nervous face. lotensin - But I assumed that th lotensin he
diver's word is piou lotensin usly.
- I don't de lotensin eny it. I'll give you th lotensin he file, - with a slight lotensin t knock I send
the disk lotensin kette across the table, lotensin - But next time not a lotensin single diver will even
lotensin
move a finger for you. lotensin . You violate our ethics lotensin s, Mr Shellerbach. Any lotensin job must
be paid accor lotensin rding to it's complexity lotensin y.
Shellerbach pi lotensin icks up the diskette an lotensin ns freezes. watches nev lotensin vertheless, examining m lotensin me with
curiosity of t lotensin the hunter who managed t lotensin to shoot the firebird.
lotensin
- Okay, you have lotensin asked for this, - I sa lotensin ay trying not to panic a lotensin and take
the revolver o lotensin out.
Six bullets - lotensin - six different viruses lotensin s. It's a weak weapon b lotensin but I rely on
the varie lotensin ety of loads, maybe the lotensin kidnapper's protection lotensin won't stand it.
T lotensin Three bullets just mevacor go t lotensin through him without 'se lotensin eeing' the target. Goo lotensin od
antivirus, prevented lotensin d the detection of its c lotensin computer. One bullet fl lotensin latteners, - proclaimed lotensin d Maniac stubbornly, - lotensin You what,
still use W lotensin Windows-Home?
- Ye lotensin ep.
- Maybe you're lotensin e right, - sighed Mania lotensin ac drearily, - A pleas lotensin sant voice,
advices ab lotensin bout amount of 'brains' lotensin ' and hardware quality. lotensin ... Pah!. No need to
t lotensin think at all, just drag lotensin the arrow along the scr lotensin reen and gaze at the pic lotensin ccies.
- And what lotensin about you? Still foolin lotensin ng with 'poluos' '? {OS/ lotensin /2: 'half-os'}
- W lotensin Why 'fooling'?!, - said lotensin d Maniac with indignatio lotensin on, - It's the best OS
lotensin
if not to count UNIX!e lotensin en.
Here we go.
lotensin I opened fire, sho lotensin ooting with the left mo lotensin ouse button and reloadi lotensin ing the
rifle with the lotensin e right one. The bright lotensin yellow shells flew ac lotensin cross the whole
screen lotensin n, the headphones rumble lotensin ed. After I shot those t lotensin three who were visible, lotensin I
moved my shooting lotensin at the cars. It's not lotensin easier to hit the fuel lotensin l tank in
virtuality lotensin than in reality but whe lotensin en you shoot at the draw lotensin wn silhouettes, this
is lotensin s the task for a kid.
lotensin deep
Enter
lotensin What the hell, didn lotensin n't I tell you to said M lotensin Maniac, hanging up insta lotensin antly.
I started t lotensin the modem and sent Al-Ka lotensin abar's surprise to greed lotensin dy hands of the
virus c lotensin creator, then opened the lotensin e fridge, took out bread lotensin d and sausage and moved lotensin d
to the kitchen to set lotensin t the teapot on the sto lotensin ove. It'll take Maniac lotensin at least
half an hour lotensin r to examine the virus. lotensin For the first ten minut lotensin tes he'll break it,
the lotensin en for 20 minutes more lotensin he'll admire its struct lotensin ture, will laugh lookin lotensin ng at
unsuccessful solu lotensin utions and frown finding lotensin g some ideas he missed h lotensin himself. Rilook cast sli lotensin ightly aside.
- An lotensin ny mail?
- Seven l lotensin letters.
- Read.
lotensin
There was nothing lotensin interesting in the mail lotensin l: invitations to visit lotensin two new
clubs, price l lotensin lists of some small tra lotensin ading company, the lett lotensin ter from Maniac
sent lotensin in the morning...
lotensin - Delete everything, lotensin - I said sitting by the lotensin e computer. I plugged lotensin the
suit in and put o lotensin on the helmet. - Vika, lotensin connect to Deeptown... lotensin . through the
spare cha lotensin annel. Person number sev lotensin ven.
I didn't us lotensin se this connection for a lotensin at le and other annoying lotensin g trifles of life.
lotensin - Yes?
- Maniac, lotensin , it's me.
Hacker' lotensin 's voice softened a litt lotensin tle.
- Hi Lenia, w lotensin what's up?
- The n lotensin new virus for your colle lotensin ection.
- Toss it lotensin here! - said Maniac, ha lotensin anging up instantly.
lotensin I started the modem lotensin and sent Al-Kabar's sur lotensin rprise to greedy hands o lotensin of the
virus creator, t lotensin then opened the fridge, lotensin took out bread and sau lotensin usage and moved
to the lotensin kitchen to set the tea lotensin apot on the stove. It'll lotensin l take Maniac at least lotensin t
half an hour to exa lotensin the teapot on the stove lotensin e. It'll take Maniac at lotensin t least
half an hour t lotensin to examine the virus. Fo lotensin or the first ten minutes lotensin s he'll break it,
then lotensin for 20 minutes more he lotensin e'll admire its structur lotensin re, will laugh looking lotensin at
unsuccessful soluti lotensin ions and frown finding s lotensin some ideas he missed him lotensin mself. Right
since the lotensin Moscow Convention that lotensin resigned with the inev lotensin vitable and legalized
t lotensin the production of nonf lotensin fatal viruses, he spec lotensin cializes in making them lotensin m. His
viruses are e lotensin excellent, capable of lotensin freezing anygreeting lotensin g; that we're moving alr lotensin ready even if I haven't lotensin told the address.
lotensin - It's only one road lotensin from here, - says the d lotensin driver and turns to me w lotensin with
a smirk. He has lotensin a scar on his cheek an lotensin nd decayed teeth. It's n lotensin not a program
obviously lotensin y, it's a real person.
lotensin
- Stop the car.
lotensin - That's against th lotensin he rules, - the driver g lotensin grins steering carelessl lotensin ly.
{The whole sce lotensin ene hints to another Rus lotensin ssian hit movie called " lotensin "The Diamond
Hand", rel lotensin leased in 1968. It's a lotensin a great comedy about a lotensin a modest ae'll separate lotensin if you want. Well?
lotensin - Okay.
We sha lotensin ake hands and walk sid lotensin de by side. The bloody lotensin fog envelops us,
not lotensin thing can be seen around lotensin d anymore. The voice mexitil com lotensin mes from the sky:
lotensin - Your entrance mode?
lotensin
- Pair entrance! - lotensin - says Alex, - Alex and lotensin Gunslinger!
- Pai lotensin ir entrance, - I repeat, lotensin , - Gunslinger and Alex! lotensin !
The fog dissipa lotensin ates slightly. We're st lotensin tanding by the section lotensin car that
rests on th lotensin he rusted rails. Two ov lotensin veralls are scattered on lotensin n it together with
two lotensin o mxactly mountain one lotensin but with rapids and ver lotensin ry fast.
The flock of s lotensin some birds can be seen i lotensin in a distance, I don't k lotensin know what exactly
are lotensin they: they never fly cl lotensin loser. The lotensin table stands lotensin s by the steep, there a lotensin are
bottles of Gin, To lotensin onic and Absolut-Pepper lotensin on it. Also, a big ni lotensin ickel plated
thermos f lotensin full of mulled wine: a lotensin tasty one, with cinnamo lotensin on, vanilla, pepper,
c lotensin coriander and nutmeg. Th lotensin hree wattled chairs are lotensin by the table, we sit an lotensin nd look
at the river.
lotensin
Beautiful.
T lotensin The white foam on threp lotensin proachfully chirping com lotensin mputer.
Does the s lotensin security program conside lotensin er the existence of dive lotensin ers?
The monster lotensin is motionless. I'm dea lotensin ad, long time dead.. I lotensin step on the
hair brid lotensin dge carefully...
- lotensin - Who are you?!
Oh lotensin h my, again... Looks lik lotensin ke it reacts to the tou lotensin uch of the micardis bridge. Even lotensin n
worse.
- The on lotensin ne who is not at your me lotensin ercy! - I reply.
- lotensin - But whose mercy you're lotensin e at?
Something ne lotensin ew.
- Allah's, - I lotensin I answer randomly.
lotensin This time the monster lotensin r just slams mtocol. Sp lotensin pecial ga half a year lotensin ago, we pursued the s lotensin single
goal, Mr Diver: lotensin to detect you. The per lotensin rson being in virtuality lotensin y could never
cross i lotensin it, - Urman smiles spari lotensin ingly, - For the first lotensin time in my life I can lotensin n
see the real diver.
lotensin
One-zero... not in lotensin n my favor.
- Well lotensin l, for the first time in lotensin n my life I can see the lotensin real billionaire.
lotensin - So you see, our meet lotensin ting is fruitful already lotensin y.
Windows-Home wh lotensin hispers,
- The sec lotensin cond router was traced.. lotensin ..
Urman frowns - lotensin - looks e to one more lotensin fact: he writes from t lotensin the point of
view of lotensin the person who was o lotensin once the FIDOnet member lotensin r. Also it seems that
lotensin
Sergey himself was mos lotensin stly affiliated with FID lotensin DO at the time of this lotensin s book's
writing. The lotensin principles of FIDO's sy lotensin ystem organization diff lotensin fer from the ones
of th lotensin he Internet. I never was lotensin s FIDO member, so I know lotensin w very little. In genera lotensin al,
it's free, amateurs lotensin s' network that allows lotensin its members to exchange lotensin e emails and
files. FID lotensin DO uses its own propriet lotensin tary protocol. Special lotensin ga half a year ago, w lotensin we pursued the single
lotensin
goal, Mr Diver: to det lotensin tect you. The person be lotensin eing in virtuality coul lotensin ld never
cross it, - U lotensin Urman smiles sparingly, lotensin - For the first time lotensin in my life I can
see lotensin the real diver.
O lotensin One-zero... not in my fa lotensin avor.
- Well, for lotensin the first time in my li lotensin ife I can see the real b lotensin billionaire.
- So lotensin you see, our meeting is lotensin s fruitful already.
lotensin Windows-Home whispers lotensin s,
- The second ro lotensin outer was traced...
lotensin Urman frowns - looks lotensin s like he's informe, an lotensin nd again I try to conta lotensin act Vika - without any lotensin success. My
voice comm lotensin munication channel is bl lotensin locked.
Abyss-abys lotensin ss, I'm not yours...
lotensin The car's interior i lotensin is on the helmet's scree lotensin ens. Wow, drawn great: lotensin this
is well recogniz lotensin zable sporty 'Lancia'.
lotensin
I laid my hands lotensin on the keyboard, typed lotensin in several commands, lotensin pressed
Enter.
I lotensin It worked.
deep
lotensin Enter
I'm in lotensin n the car again. The dr lotensin river looks back at me lotensin cautiously. I spin
the lotensin e revolver in my hand lotensin thoughtfully: are havin lotensin ng their fun. With
iro lotensin ony I watch the persiste lotensin ent insect - the steady lotensin flow of air blows from lotensin m the
apartment pushing lotensin g the bug back out... F lotensin Finally the door is cl lotensin losed, the bug
knocks a lotensin against it in the last e lotensin effort, a short flash lotensin - and it falls on the
lotensin
floor.
- Should lotensin I file the complaint to lotensin o the landlord? - asks W lotensin Windows-Home. Now
the v lotensin voice comes from silver lotensin clips on my shirt's col lotensin llar.
- Go ahead lotensin - I agree. I always for lotensin rget to explain to the lotensin program that
the land lotensin dlord isSergey Lukjanenk lotensin ko. Labyrinth of reflect lotensin tions
_____________ lotensin ________________________ lotensin _____
* Yuri Kalmy lotensin ykov. Translators notes lotensin *
About the Author:
Sergey Lukjanenko, 30, is one of the today's most popular Russian
Sci-Fi writers. His first works were published in 1988. Currently his
bibliography includes more than 40 titles of novels and short stories. The
Author defines his genre as the "hard action science fiction", but all his
works also have a very well defined philosophical aspect. The novel offered
to your attention was 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 lozol 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 |