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(c) С.Лукьяненко
Л А Б И Р И Н Т О Т Р А Ж Е Н И Й
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продолжение
Это может продолжаться бесконечно долго, а мне сейчас не до
игр... Я сажусь в машину, водитель - улыбчивый парень с
безупречной прической и в накрахмаленной рубашке, поворачивается
ко мне. Предпочитаю таких таксистов, вышколенных и
немногословных.
- Компания "Дип-проводник" рада приветствовать вас!
Имениhe does not name - the program stopped the taxi anonymously.
- How will you pay the bill?
“That’s it,” I say, taking a revolver out of my pocket. Strongly
I hit the guy in the temple. He tries to defend himself, but doesn't have time. I
I look at his pale face, shake him by the collar,
I order:
- Al-Kabar quarter.
“This address does not exist,” says the driver. He
"stunned" and subdued.
- "Al-Kabar". Eight-seven-seven-three-eight - a simple code
opens access to service addresses of the "Deep Explorer". I could
and not hit the driver, but then it would remain in the company files
trip information.
“The order has been accepted,” the driver smiles, he is cheerful again and
helpful The car starts moving. I look out the window - residential buildings flash
neighborhoods filled with skyscrapers with all sorts of small riffraff
Deeptown, huge, luxurious company offices. There are long gray ones
"IBM" buildings, lush palaces of "Microsoft", openwork towers
"America On Line", more modest offices of other computer
legislators.
Of course, there are also plenty of offices of companies selling furniture, food,
real estate, travel agencies, transport companies,
clinic... a more or less viable company seeks to open
has its own representative office in Deeptown.
"Deep Explorer" thrives on this abundance.
Traveling around the city on foot is a lot of fun. We're racing
byhighways, slow down at intersections, turn into tunnels
and cross the junctions. I'm waiting. It would be possible to order the driver
take the shortest route - but then he would be forced to contact
control room. And I would leave a mark...
The city ends suddenly - like a wall of palaces and skyscrapers
cut off with a gigantic knife. Ring road, behind it is a forest.
Dense, dense... separating those who don’t want themselves from the bustle
advertise.
“Slow down,” I say as we pass the mango bushes and
We pass by a completely Central Russian thicket. - At the next one
paths.
“It’s still a long way to the Al-Kabar quarter,” says the driver.
- Stop it.
The car stops. I open the door and walk away from the limousine
one step. The driver waits obediently. And I too - there is a gap in the road.
Why do we need witnesses? Here it is, finally...
I aim at the car and shoot. The revolver hits quietly, recoil
weak, but the car instantly lights up. The driver sits looking
in front of you. A few seconds - and the "Deep Conductor" becomes
one less taxi.
Fine. Let it all look like some drunken punks are having fun. I
I'm going to the forest.
- Unethical... - Windows Home mutters from the pins.
- Have you optimized?
- Yes.
- That's it, now I need help. Look for the cache, code "Ivan".
“Glowing tree,” the program reports.
I look around. Yeah. Here it is, a huge oak tree, shimmering with witchcraft
blue light. Flickering onlyfor me. I walk up to him
I put my hand into the hollow and take out a large, heavy package.
I change into a white linen shirt and pants, belt myself
patterned belt. Short sword in sheath, a few things in
pockets. I created the cache a couple of days ago, illegally using
one of the computers of the Transcaucasian transport department
railway. There are weak programmers there, they won't notice for a long time
this little invasion.
-Where is the stream? - I ask.
- On the right.
I lean over the running water and look into the reflection. Several
I hit it with my palm once, then I start moving my finger, erasing
your appearance. Instead of me, from a trembling mirror is drawn
fair-haired, stately, robust man. The face is good-natured and unpretentious
disgust.
“Thank you,” I say to the program, straightening up. I stand and admire
forest. Damn, it's been so long since I left the city
stench...
“Aren’t you waiting for me, good fellow?” - they ask because
backs. I turn around and out of the thick bushes comes a huge,
chest is my height, wolf.
“Maybe you too,” I say, admiring the wolf. Damn it
magnificent! He is really gray, and not just gray - exactly
blackish with gray wolf color. Some wool is matted here and there,
A burdock stuck to the front right paw.
- Should I eat you, good fellow? - asks the wolf and
grins. Fangs yellow like teethsmoker, one broken off under
root. A seasoned, experienced wolf.
- Why are you boasting in vain, running into a heroic sword?
I improvise. - Better serve!
The wolf smiles and sits down.
- How will you pay, hero?
“Three thousand green each,” I say. Wolf satisfied
nods, rubs his muzzle with his paw. Asks:
- "Al-Kabar"?
- I guessed it.
- Mission?
- Theft.
- Who is the customer?
I shrug. The answer is as rhetorical as the question.
Customers don't like publicity.
“Let’s try,” the wolf decides. -Are you ready?
- Quite.
- Sit down.
to be continued...
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