Expertise - Novella based on the game "NEVERINDING STORY".

 THE              
           NEVERENDING          
              STORY             
             NOVELLA            
three stood in the clearing,
located in the center
Big Forest.    In the middle
glades, crackling merrily,
the fire was burning.       Gusts
northwest wind,
rustling in the upper echelons of the centuries
trees, carried sheafs of sparks into
the very thicket.                     
   Rockbiker, stone monster,
told Atri that he was heading
to the Tower, to tell
to the empress about what befell the country
trouble: Emptiness consumes
territory of Fantasy. More will pass
a little time and fabulous
country, along with its forests,
fields, rivers and villages
will disappear into the endless
Emptiness.     "You need imagination
save,"- with these words
Rockbiker with a heavy gait
walked along the path
northeast, wherein the distance
a tower rose behind the trees
whitish-yellow color - Tower
from Ivory.  After leaving
Rockbaiter Atri stayed on
one clearing. Throwing firewood into
fire, he sat down and thought. His
was overcome by the thought that no one else
how he must save Fantasia.
But how?!                        
   - "We need to catch up with Rockbaiter and
consult with him,"-thought
Atri.                           
 He jumped up from the log, onto
where he was sitting and ran along
path to the northeast.
After running some distance,
far ahead he saw Tinvini
and Rockbaiter. Even from here it was
you can see how excited Tinvin is. He
gestured desperately with his hands,
trying to explain something to my
companion.  And in fact, for
excitement, Tinvini had
sufficient reason, because it
the lands were already completely
swallowed up by the Void. With this trouble
he decided to seek help from
Empress of Fantasia.           
   There is a path in this place
turned east and
looping, went to the side, where
the forest thinned out and gradually passed
into a large clearing.  At its center
stood the tower, resting at its base
on the ground, and leaving the top behind
clouds.                         
   There were many legends about her.
One said that it contains
magical screen showingany corner of Fantasy, whatever
only you wish, the other - what
not knowing the right path,
impossible to get to the very
top, but you can only get lost in
numerous corridors.   But
Is it true or fiction - no one
from ordinary residents of Fantasia
I didn't know for sure.    To the tower
Only a select few were admitted.     
   Running out of the forest, Atri
noticed it was above the clearing, by
An elf flies towards the tower.
Then the door to the tower opened and
all three: Rockbaiter, Teenwini and
the elves disappeared behind her. Atri again
left alone.          
   From the edge of the forest they heard
iridescent trills of birds.  Here
life went on as usual,
as if there was no one around
deathly Void, step by step
step by step leaving less and less
living place on this earth.
Suddenly Atri's attention was attracted
some shiny object
lying in the grass.  Bending down and
picking up the object, he was delighted.
In his hand was Aurin-gold
amulet  Two snakes twisted
in a cunning way among themselves,
formed a magical
octahedron.   Atri once upon a time
I heard that with the help of Aurin
the empress can force
retreat Void.   If only
return the amulet to the empress!     
   Pushing the huge door
Towers, he realized that now it is
not possible. After thinking a little,
the young man went to his placehome. B
a plan matured in his head - what
find Falkor no matter what and
try to save him with his help
Fantasy.  In the meantime, his path lay
to the east along the trodden
the path leading from the Tower to
eastern edge of the Great Forest.
Soon the forest ended and in front of him
the grassy
the steppe is his native place. Having passed
further east, he found himself in
native village.  All buildings
were covered
thatched huts and belonged
the same as Atri residents
plains.   His hut was on
southwestern end of the village.  A
around the village there is an ocean of meadows
spread out in all directions
as far as the eye could see.  
   Atri's house is nothing special
stood out: four walls,
thatched roof and poor
the atmosphere inside - that's all
his farm.                  
   Taking with you the faithful
Artax's horse, some food and
a piece of strong leather, Atri
set off on his way.  He decided
travel around all known to him
places.   From the center of the village it
went south, crossed the southern
steppe and stopped.   Next
the road was only to the east.
Impenetrable desert
bordered the steppes from the south and
southwest.  After galloping for some time
distance, Atri found that
on all sides above him
mountains rise, and only a narrow
rockythe path leads to
northeast.    He directed
your horse there.   path
led him to the founding of Snezhny
Gor.   It was further to move
impossible: the road was blocked
thickets of thorny bushes. For
he could vaguely see the dark entrance
to the cave.  No matter how many Atri
tried to penetrate her, sharp
the thorns of dry plants forced
him to retreat.   Nothing
having achieved, but only torn
clothes, the young man galloped
to the northwest and then to
west  He rushed across the endless
green spaces where they grazed
herds of wild buffalo, across the fields and
meadows where the grass is soft and lush
reached the waist until
reached the Big Forest.           
   A narrow path, winding,
went into the forest to the southwest.
Artax was about to go there, but Atri
pulled the reins and directed the horse
to the northwest towards the swamps.
Sad places surrounded the traveler.
The ominous silence was only interrupted
gurgling gas bubbles,
rising from the bottom of the swamp.
It seems like it's never here
a man's foot stepped.          
 Suddenly Artax stumbled and
tore the unsteady layer with his hooves
marsh grass. The quagmire has begun
suck the horse like that
quickly that Atri escaped
only by miracle, having grabbed onto
some kind of snag. Wet from toe to toe
head he climbed onto solid ground
ground, having lost a horse, but not
desiresave Fantasia Atri
moved towards the lonely one
in the middle of the swamp to a tree.
Unexpectedly big bump
sticking out of the ground not far from
tree, began to move, and
Morla appeared - the only one
inhabitant of the local swamps.        
   He didn't like uninvited guests
and, wanting to quickly send out
young man, told him that
the only one who can help
Atri in his search is southern
oracle  To get to the south
the oracle needs to cross
desert, but travel on foot
it's very dangerous. Reflecting
about this, the young man reached the Tower and
again went deep into the forest south of
her.      Unnoticed path
turned southwest and left
Atri to the clearing where they crossed paths
three forest paths.  Here on
lying silvered on the grass
hunting horn.  Atri raised and
blew into it. The horn made a low and
long sound. After a few
moments landed in a clearing
Falkor is a flying dragon. More
Having sounded the trumpet once, Atri was convinced
that nothing else happens
decided to leave the horn here.       
   Riding the dragon, young man
headed west then
turned southeast.  In this
where the forest ended and began
desert plain, there is a dragon
At Atri's order, he took off and slowly
flew south.                  
   Sitting on Falkor's back and
wrapping your arms around his neck,novice balloonist
looked around.  Ahead beyond the desert
a small forest was visible, and to the left
and a little behind you could see the village
Atri.  Soon the desert remained
behind and the dragon has landed
near the forest bordering the desert
from the south. To the east the forest thinned out, there
at its edge grew a huge
a tree from the top of which
everything was clearly visible
surroundings.   By his thick
it was not difficult for the branches to climb
upstairs, and from there Atri saw
south entrance to the southern oracle.      
   Going back down, he slightly
it didn't fall down, but
grabbed the branch in time,
reached the ground safely.
Passing south, Atri saw
tiny house owned
gnomes Engivuk and Arglu, except
no one lived in these places. 
   Engivuk knew the way to
to the oracle and agreed to tell
how to safely get through the entrance
there.  In exchange for this he asked
bring the new crystal to him
telescope.  Taking a closer look, Atri
I saw to the east of the house myself
telescope - strange looking
design.                    
   There was nothing left to do
how to accept the gnome's offer.
Atri with the help of Falkor again
crossed the desert and found himself at
southern edge of the Great Forest. Only
one path northwest
direction led into the forest. Having passed
on it, and then on the same one, but
leading north, young manfound myself
at the western border of the forest. Here he is
stopped and pulled out
thick, resinous thickets
branch.                          
   - "She must be good
is it burning?" - thought Atri.       
   And then it occurred to him
thought with the help of fire to penetrate
to that cave near the Snowy Mountains, where
he couldn't hit it not long ago.
Perhaps there, among
stalactites and stalagmites, him
I'll be able to find it like this
the crystal he needs.       
   Young inventor quickly
turned the dragon around and rushed towards
towards the clearing with the fire.
Branch placed on the stubby
coals, instantly flared up and
turned into a torch.  Later
some time never anywhere
without stopping, Atri stopped
Falkora at the cave.  He got down from
dragon and set fire to the thicket. Via
I spent a few minutes with them
it's over.     Only a few
charred roots protruding from
lands, still reminded of the growing
once upon a time here in the bushes. Way down
the cave was free. There was
quite dark, but soon
the young man's eyes got used to the darkness,
and he noticed a glass box,
slightly sparkling in the dark.
Climbing back with her
light, Atri discovered inside her
big crystal. But no matter how he
I tried, the box didn’t want
open up.Then he remembered that
southwest of the Tower he saw
heavy stone.   Without losing
time, the young man went there.
Putting the bark on the grass, he
picked up a stone and hit it hard
on her. The box crumbled into
glass dust on the grass
stay down big yellow
crystal and the only fragment from
boxes.   Throwing a stone at
unnecessary, Atri took
crystal, and the fragment was wrapped in
a piece of leather, because of its sharpness, and
I also put it in my pocket. Atri
crossed the desert again and gave
Engivuku crystal.              
   The gnome placed it in a telescope
and said the following words:
"Sometimes the eyes of sphinxes blink,
You can pass this time."    
   Thanking Engywook for
information, Atri headed to
south.    Steep cliffs surrounded
traveler, and further in the south there were
two huge sphinxes are visible.
Coming closer, Atri noticed that
sphinxes stand close to the rocks,
leaving only a narrow
passage  Their stony gaze was
directed to the point lying
in the middle of the corridor.  Having waited,
when their eyes blinked, Atri
stepped forward decisively.       
                                
            Part 2.            
                                
the chanting voice of the southern oracle
filled the air. He told
Atri, the salvation of Fantasia
should search outside
of this world. And Atri flew to
Falkore continue his search.
After a long flight the young man
I realized that it was possible to penetrate
beyond the limits of Fantasy.            
   While Atri was busy
searching, almost emptiness
completely absorbed the effort.  C
the heights of dragon flight are visible
only the last remnants have not yet
affected area.  It was
ancient city.  Once upon a time here
life flowed rapidly, but now
the city was empty and he was quite
the name City was appropriate
Ghosts.      Atri decided
will land here. But during
approach turbulence
The voids suddenly caught on
Falkora and Atri had to
lands alone.             
   Having woken up, Atri stood up from
ground and looked around.
The Big One stood around him like a wall.
Forest.  Only in the east, through
gaps between trees, you can
was to consider high
city wall made of
large stone.   Overcoming
pain caused by a fall, young man
wandered there. Soon he got out
on the path that went around
city from the south and led further to
east, towards the hill. ButAtri
turned away from her and headed towards
north, where in the city wall
were once made strong
gate.    But now it's metal
rusted and they, dangling only
on one loop, published
nasty squeak.   Here on
hung on the inside of the wall
huge picture. On it is Atri,
flying on his dragon above
Fantasy. Walking along the wall to
its eastern end, Atri found
glowing ball.  He was glowing
so bright, like a particle of the Sun
placed in this piece of mountain
crystal.                       
   In this place from under the wall
There was a thick fog coming out.    He
wrapped around all objects,
and when Atri entered it, then
felt like he was
It’s enough, it doesn’t let you leave.  Wishing
quickly leave this gloomy
place, brave traveler
moved in the opposite direction. U
he turned the gate north and
went out to the orchard,
surrounded on all sides
dilapidated wall.         
   Most of the trees have dried up
only one apple tree
standing apart from one's own
dead neighbors, pleasing to the eye
nice greenery.  Underneath her
an apple lay on the grass, glistening
in the sun with its peel.  Atri
took it with me.  Four
paths led from the garden along
four directions
light.  Atri thought and went to
west, and found myself inovergrown
forest dead end. No further passage
it was, so he picked up the lying
rope on the ground and headed
back.  Passing the garden again, he
came out from its eastern side.
Small pebbles covered this
large yard. In the northeast
towered dilapidated
church, to the left in the northwest
the ruins of those standing were visible
once houses. Standing in the church
reconstruction, Atri was surrounded
clouds of church dust raised
from the floor by gusts of wind.  He was blowing with
east, where behind a small
there was a fence
cemetery  Like everywhere else, there too
traces of destruction were visible:
the crosses were turned inside out, and
gravestones are scattered
horrible.  Atri didn't go there, but
picked up an ancient book from the floor
wooden binding with an ingenious
clasp.   The headline read:
"History of the Tower".                
   One of its chapters explained how
you can get inside the tower if
she doesn't want to let in.  For
this requires a golden key, but
the key was lost many centuries ago.
Nothing else in the book
there was nothing interesting, so
Atri put it back, and he
went west to the ruins
houses.   With difficulty getting through
through a pile of stones,
logs and earth he entered into
what used to be called home.
There was no roof or southern wall,a
the rest of the walls were like this
dilapidated, that they could
collapse.   But the strange thing is
in the middle of it all, right next to each other
there were several old ones lying around, but still
strong boards. As if someone
I put them here on purpose. This
Atri became interested, he removed
boards and found stone ones there
steps leading down into darkness.
   Having gone down them, Atri
I found myself in the library.
Crystal ball in his hand
radiated an even light, snatching
from the darkness heaps of books and scrolls,
lying in disarray on
semi. Trying not to stumble about
them, Atri became cautious
make your way to the door
northeast corner of the room.
The door creaked open and
Atri found himself in a big
corridor. To the east it narrowed and
there were spots of moss on it
stone walls.                
   There were doors in the south and west,
leading probably to others
rooms.   Walking south, Atri
got into the kitchen and here, just like
in others he had seen before
places were in chaos and
desolation without stopping
here for a long time he moved on
east.                         
   Pantry shelves, where does it go?
entered, they were filled with dusty
cans and bottles, just one
the object attracted him
attention - small bottle
tightly closed with a stopper and
strange symbol onside.
Having lifted her from the floor and pulled her out
plug, Atri found inside
white powder.                  
   - "Hmm,"-thought the young man, -"maybe
be he somewhere and
will come in handy".                    
   He plugged the bottle and put it
put it in your pocket.   Back on
kitchen, Atri took a knife and entered
west door.   Was here
an unusually long room.
In the middle of it stood a huge
oak dining table. Atri here
ate the supplies he had taken from home and
set off along the corridor to
east.   In the northern wall he
found the door and walked through
she found herself in the bedroom, where
nothing special
observed.                    
   Back in the Atri corridor
continued researching it
eastern part. The walls are under here
exposure to very humid air
overgrown with slippery green moss. 
   The corridor in this place
turned to the southeast, and in
There was a door on the northern wall.  For
a flock of hungry rats grabbed onto her
Atri at her feet and managed to get through
shoe, even before he
managed to jump back into
corridor   Taking a breath, young man
opened the bottle of powder and
threw it to the floor. Feeling
danger the rats ran away and
the way was clear.              
   Room, inwhich Atri hit
was very small, on one
Atri found the key from the shelves and went out
into the corridor and went southeast,
then the corridor turned sharply
to the southwest, and in
half-collapsed eastern wall
a passage was visible. Looking there
and not finding anything interesting,
Atri walked further down the corridor and
went down the stairs.     
   A huge web blocked
corridor   Scattered around her
half-decayed bones, filling
the air has an unforgettable aroma.
Atri pulled the web with his hand / TAKE
WEB / , but the big spider bit
him.  The poison started from the bite site
quickly spread throughout
body, but the young man did not lose his temper.  
   He knew apples were the best
remedy for the bites of these harmful
creatures.   The apple he ate
quickly neutralized the poison.
Taught by bitter experience Atri
began to act more carefully. He
took out a knife and slashed it across
web.  She curled up and the spider
disappeared into a large crack in the floor.
Now the way was clear. Having passed
to the west and turning to
southwest, Atri found himself in
dark dungeon. To the east and
south there were cameras with durable
iron bars, in the cold
there was a chair and a table on the stone floor
security guard.  Atri unlocked it with an iron
key the eastern chamber and enter
into her. There was a small one lying on the floor
leather wallet.When Atri
picked it up, then to the floor with a clang
a gold coin fell. Coming out of
cameras and walking a little more on
West, Atri got caught in the cell
torture facilities, equipped with
the latest technology.   B
floor, opposite the western wall,
he noticed a round hole.   
   A coin thrown there
put into action hidden
mechanism, and the western wall
stepped aside, freeing
small passage. There on the heap
diamonds, coins and others
he found gold jewelry
the key, the same one about
it was said in the book.  Grabbing
key with him Atri headed
back. To shorten the road
he entered the cell where before
found a wallet and crawled out of it
down a narrow passage. Login
it was quite narrow, but
gradually the passage widened and
took Atri to the bottom of the well.  C
with the help of a rope tied to him
still at the top, he's safe
got to the top, and the stairs to
library brought him out of the dark
the underground world to the surface. 
   Left unexplored
only the northern part of the city.
There, at the very border of the Atri forest
came across a scribbled sheet of paper
paper.   But the action of the Void
it was especially strong here, and he
hurried south, towards
city gate, where there was another
calm.  Time and moisture have done
your business - ink on paper
blurred andfaded, one
the line could be read.
"Fantasy Glass, only
real glass,"- read Atri
and thought about it. Nago had a piece
glass left over from the box
with crystal. But what attitude
this had to do with what was happening young man
I didn't know.                        
   He left the city and
went along the path
which he got here, i.e. on
east.    She brought Atri
straight to the top of the hill, with
which had a view of the city
Ghosts.  From here it was visible
how the Emptiness quickly comes upon
it from all sides.
Turning away from this sad
spectacles, Atri to his greatest
found joy at the edge of the forest
Falkora and Auryn.  And as soon as
they rose into the air, terrible
an explosion thundered below.   This
the last remnants of Fantasia
disappeared into the void.   Only her
small fragments like asteroids
flying in the black void of space.
   To one of these asteroids
miraculously survived
Tower.                          
            Part 3.            
                                
after landing on an asteroid,
Atri headed east, and
then north to the Tower. In her
a huge door was built in
golden lock, corresponding
sizes.  Using the Atri key
unlocked the door and entered the Tower.
Having passed the huge hall, in which
desolation reigned, he approached
stairs leading up.
Having climbed it, Atri
found himself standing in
endless maze
wooden, glass and
stone corridors.             
   Numerous stairs,
leading up and down, still
confused the labyrinth.    After
long wanderings, Atri came across
on a box with precious
stones.  With them he began to mark
the road so that he knows where he walks
one place or somewhere
is advancing.   In the end
the correct path was found:
after the first staircase
northwest, up, east,
southeast, up, east,
to the east, to the east and finally
up. Having taken this tricky path
Atri found himself at a closed door,
built into the eastern wall. This
there was more than just a door.   She
opened only to polite people
to people.  Hearing the magic word
"please"the door swung open
and let Atri inside. Having passed
another room, Atri entered the chambers
empress and returned the amulet to her. 
   Now Fantasythere will be
rebuilt and life again
will seethe in this beautiful
country.                         
                                
 * * *             
                                
      ©1996 Gusmanov Mikhail     
                                
(Based on materials from the book  "The best
games for ZX-SPECTRUM" release
first)                         
                                
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