Buzz #10 16 сентября 1997

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Novella - Computer novel "The Neverending Story" Part 1

                 *** COMPUTER *** NOVELLA


(C) VA PRINT 1993


                    THE NEVERENDING STORY

                 ---------------------------
                 (C) 1985 OCEAN SOFTWARE LTD.


   Atri was standing in a clearing in the center 
rasspolozhennoy Big Woods. Midst of this spot fun crackling, 
burning fire. Northwest wind gusts, shumevshego in the tops of 
ancient trees, blew sparks into the thicket.


                          PART 1.

   Rokbayter, the stone monster, said Atri that goes
the Tower in order to tell the Empress of the trouble had 
befallen the country: Emptiness consumes territory Fantasia. It 
will be a lot of time and fairyland, with its forests, fields, 
rivers and villages disappear into the infinite Void. 
"Imagination must be saved" - with these words Rokbayter heavy 
gait walked along the path to north-east, where the trees 
loomed in the distance tower whitish-yellow color - ivory 
tower. After retiring Rokbaytera, Atri remained in the clearing 
odin.Podbrosiv firewood into the fire He sat down and pondered. 
He was overcome by the thought that no one else like him, must 
save Fantasia. But how? "We need to catch up Rokbaytera and 
consult Sneem" - thought Atri. He jumped off a log on which 
sat, and ran down the path to the northeast. Running some 
distance, far ahead he saw Tinvini and Rokbaytera. Even here it 
was seen as deeply moved Tinvini. He frantically gesticulating 
hands, trying to explain something to her satellite. Indeed, 
for the excitement of Tinvini was enough reason, because his 
land had already been almost completely absorbed Emptiness. 
Since the disaster, he decided to seek help from the Empress 
Fantasia. 

   At this point the trail turns east and dodging, went to the 
side, where the forest thinned and gradually shifted into a 
large clearing. In its center stood a tower, resting the base 
on the ground, and leaving the top of the clouds. Hodilo many 
legends about her. One says that it is a magic screen, showing 
every corner Fantasy, a wish. Other - not knowing the true

roads, it is impossible to reach the top, but you can 
zaplutatsya in various corridors. But is it true or fiction - 
none of Fantasy residents did not know exactly. In the tower 
were only admitted to your favorites. 

   Running out of the woods Atri said that over the clearing, 
toward the tower, flying elf. Then the door to the tower 
opened, and all three - Rokbayter, Tinvini and elf disappeared 
behind her. Atri was again left in the odinochistve. A breeze 
rustled in the tall grass and flew further. On the edge came 
opalescent trilling birds. Here, life ran its course, though, 
and have not been around death Emptiness step by step, leaving 
less and less living space on this earth. Suddenly attracted 
the attention of Atri a shiny object lying in the grass. 
Bending over and lifting the object, he was delighted. In his 
hand was Aurina - the golden amulet. Two Snake svivshis tricky 
way together, formed a magic octahedron. Atri once

heard that using Aurina Empress may turn away Void.

   Had to return the amulet to Empress! Tugging great door
Tower, he realized that now it is impossible. A little thought,
the young man went to his home. In his head, ripe Plan - What
Whatever it is to find Falkora and use it to try to save
Fantasy. And yet his path lay to the east, the well-trodden 
path leading from the tower to the eastern edge of the Great 
Forest. Soon forest ended and before his eyes stretched grassy 
steppe homes. Going further east, he found himself in the home 
village. All the buildings were a thatched hut and 
prenadlezhali the same as the plain people of Atri. His cabin 
was on the southwest end of the village. And around the village 
of ocean meadows stretched in all directions as far as the the 
eye could see. House Atri anything special did not stand out: 
four walls, thatch and poor conditions inside - that's all it

economy.

   Taking with him a faithful horse Atraksa, some food and a 
piece of sturdy leather, Atri went off. He decided to visit all 
izvestvye his place. From the center of the village, he went 
south, crossed the southern steppes and stopped. Next the road 
was just to the east. Unbridgeable limited desert steppes in 
the south and southwest. Galloped for some distance, Atri found 
that on all sides It is dominated by mountains and only a 
narrow rocky path leads in the north-east. He sent his horse 
back. The path led him to the base of the Snowy Mountains. Next 
move was impossible: the road obscured by thickets of thorns. 
Behind him could be seen dimly the dark entrance to the cave. 
How Atri nor attempted to penetrate her, sharp thorns dry 
plants were forced to retreat. Having achieved nothing, but 
only tore the clothes, the young man jumped on the north-west 
and then west. He raced on endless green expanse, where grazing 
herds of wild buffalo, the fields and meadows, where the soft, 
succulent grass reaches to the waist, while has not reached the 
Big Woods. Narrow path, dodging, went into forest in 
south-west. Atraks had gone there, but Atri pulled the reins 
and sent the horse to the north-west towards the marshes. Dull 
place surrounded traveler. Ominous silence interrupted only 
gurgling of gas rising from the bottom of the swamp. It seems 
here never gone before. Suddenly Atraks stumbled and broke a 
fragile hooves layer of marsh grass. Quagmire began to suck a 
horse so fast that Atri was saved only by a miracle, grasping 
for some sort of snag. 

    Wet from head to foot, he came to the firm ground, having 
lost his horse, but not the desire to save Fantasia. Atri moved 
to standing alone in the middle of the swamp tree. How it 
manages to survive here - is unknown. Suddenly, a big bump, 
protruding from the ground not far from the tree moved, and 
seemed Morla - edinstbenny dweller local marshes. He did not 
like uninvited guests, and Desiring to quickly rid the young 
man told him that the only who can help Atri in his quest - 
this is the southern oracle. After This Morla hid back, and 
Atri went south through the swamp, back into the forest. To get 
to the southern oracle must cross the desert, but predvigatsya 
walk on it too dangerous. Reflecting on this, boy dobrel to the 
Tower, and again plunged into the forest to south of it. 
Unnoticed trail turned to the southwest and brought Atri a 
clearing where cross three forest track. Here at grass lay 
silvered bugle. Atri picked up and blew into him. Rog gave low 
and twang. Moments later, a clearing landed Falkor - a flying 
dragon. Again trumpeted, Atri was convinced that nothing else 
happens, and decided to leave the horn here. Sowing the dragon, 
a young man headed west, then turned to the southeast. At this 
point the forest is cut off and began desert plain, here the 
dragon, on the orders of Atri, took off and flew slowly south. 

   Sitting on the back Falkora and arms round his neck, a novice
balloonist looked around. Ahead of the desert could be seen in 
the woods and on the left and slightly behind the village to be 
seen Atri. Soon desert behind us and the dragon landed near the 
forest, which borders the desert to the south. To the east of 
the forest thinned, there was growing at its edge huge tree 
from the top of which is easily visible all neighborhood. In 
his thick suchyam it was easy to get on top, and there Atri saw 
the south entrance to the southern oracle. Going down back, he 
almost broke down, but in time grasping the branch, safely 
reached the ground. 

    Going south, Atri saw a tiny cottage belonging to the 
gnomes and Engivuku Argle except them no one lived in these 
places. Engivuk knew the way to the oracle, and agreed to tell 
how to safely overcome the entrance there. Instead, he asked 
for a new crystal to his telescope. Peering Atri saw to east of 
the house and the telescope itself - a strange-looking 
structure. Nothing left to do but to accept the offer of a 
gnome. Atri with Falkora again crossed the desert, and found 
himself at the southern edge of the Great Forest. Only one path 
north-west led to the forest. Proiydya on it, and then by the 
same, but leading to the north, the young man found himself at 
the western border of the forest. Then he stopped and pulled 
out of the bushes thick, resinous branch. "Should she be well 
lit" - thought Atri. And then his head The thought occurred 
with the fire to get into that cave in the snowy mountains 
where he could not help so long to get into. Perhaps there 
among the stalactites and stalagmites, he will be able to find 
much-needed he crystal. The young inventor quickly launched 
dragon and raced on it in the side of the field with a 
campfire. Branch, pololozhennaya on hot coals, immediately 
broke out and turned into a torch. After some time, never never 
stopping, Atri Falkora stopped at the cave. He climbed down 
from the dragon and set fire to undergrowth. A few minutes with 
them was over. Only a few charred roots protruding from the 
earth, still reminded of rosshey here was once the bushes. Way 
down into the cave was free. There have been dark enough, but 
soon the young man's eyes adjusted to the darkness, and he 
noticed a glass box, slightly gleaming in the dark. Rising from 
her back to the light, Atri discovered inside a large crystal. 
But as he tried to box, would not open. Then he remembered that 
the south-west of the tower he saw the heavy stone. Wasting no 
time, the young man went there. Putting box on the grass, he 
picked up a stone and smash hit ney.Korobka passypalas in glass 
dust, the grass was left was a large yellow crystal and a 
single fragment from the box. Throwing stones as superfluous, 
Atri took the crystal, and a splinter wrapped in a piece of 
skin, because of its severity, and also put it in his pocket. 

   Atri again crossed the desert and gave Engivuku 
kristall.Gnom put him through a telescope and said the 
following words: "Sometimes my eyes Sphynx blink. At this time 
you can go. Thanking Engivuka The information Atri went south. 
Steep cliffs surround the traveler, and further south could be 
seen two huge sphinx. Coming closer, Atri said that the Sphinx 
are close to the rocks, leaving each other only through the 
narrow channel. Their eyes were stone directed at a point in 
the middle of the corridor. Waited until Their eyes twinkle, 
Atri resolutely stepped forward. 


                (Deadline for next issue.)