Создатели Судьбы / The Creators of Destiny: Глава 39

Chapter 39

Camrad_RIP 18.01.23 в 17:27

"Volodya, more salad?" I shuddered and came back to reality. Vera Vasilyevna, Vitya's mother, pointed her spoon hintingly at the bowl of Russian salad. Nodding, I waited until I was given a refill and then lethargically picked at the treat with my fork. The salad was classic, with boiled sausage and homemade mayonnaise, as the housewife had been used to since childhood. It was tasty. But I had no appetite.

Camrad_RIP 18.01.23 в 17:28

The New Year, as we had arranged in advance, was celebrated at the new dacha of the aspiring dental celebrity. In addition to us, there were Victor's parents, his relatives, friends of his parents, brought to show off their son's achievements, and some strange strangers to me. Vitka did not seem to know them all either.

Camrad_RIP 18.01.23 в 17:30

I arrived late. Vitek hastily introduced me to some of the guests. From then on I moved silently through the space of the two-story big house, playing the ghost until I was caught by the host.

Camrad_RIP 18.01.23 в 17:32

"Vova, you quite weird."

Camrad_RIP 18.01.23 в 17:33

"What's wrong?"

Camrad_RIP 18.01.23 в 17:33

"Usually, you sit somewhere against the wall, but here all the time in the middle of the room."

Camrad_RIP 18.01.23 в 17:36

As I turned my head, I realized that I was standing almost exactly in the center of the room. With a chuckle, I admitted:

Camrad_RIP 18.01.23 в 17:37

"It's all virtual. For the third month, I've been playing for eight hours a day. It's addictive."

Camrad_RIP 18.01.23 в 17:43

"Uh-huh. If you do something..."

Camrad_RIP 18.01.23 в 17:44

"...then do it well!" I smiled. The first time I said that to Vitya in the army, I made him redo his work. That's when we had our first fight.

Camrad_RIP 18.01.23 в 17:44

"And who do you play there?" Andrew came out from behind me, took my plate away from me, and, in two strokes of his fork, slaughtered the salad.

Camrad_RIP 18.01.23 в 17:45

"Paladin."

Camrad_RIP 18.01.23 в 17:45

Andrew choked and coughed, coughing for a long time, pounding his chest with his fist and trying to regain his breath.

Camrad_RIP 18.01.23 в 17:45

"Hey, did you slip him some poisoned salad?" Vitya watched his friend's torment with curiosity.

Camrad_RIP 18.01.23 в 17:46

"It's not me, it's Vera Vasilyevna."

Camrad_RIP 18.01.23 в 17:46

"Ah, well, then let him eat."

Camrad_RIP 18.01.23 в 17:49

"Pa...ladin? Cough... you? - Andrew bulged teary-eyed and sighed cautiously a few times. "Murderer! You can't do that. I thought you were playing thief or mercenary, as usual."

Camrad_RIP 18.01.23 в 17:51

"That "usually" was a long time ago. In fact, I'm a peaceful manager now, with five pink shirts and a dozen speckled ties!"

Camrad_RIP 18.01.23 в 17:51

"Then it would make more sense to play as demons or another incarnation of evil."

Camrad_RIP 18.01.23 в 17:52

"Paladins have a better social package."

Camrad_RIP 18.01.23 в 17:52

"A knight, then? Got a horse, too?" Vitya's father came up from behind.

Camrad_RIP 18.01.23 в 17:53

"Horses? I rode one when I was a kid, I remember. You have to load a carrot into a special intake opening then you are allowed to move through the space in a very uncomfortable way."

Camrad_RIP 18.01.23 в 17:54

"You can also feed an apple."

Camrad_RIP 18.01.23 в 17:55

"You can run around in circles for an apple yourself. There are no horses in COD. There the developers even eliminated the riding animals with disasters."

Camrad_RIP 18.01.23 в 17:55

"Why?"

Camrad_RIP 18.01.23 в 17:56

"That's what I keep thinking. Probably, so cities don't drown in manure. It's a very detailed game."

Camrad_RIP 18.01.23 в 17:57

"Volodya, I'm not being nerdy, but - a game? It's for kids. Aren't you bored there?"

Camrad_RIP 18.01.23 в 17:57

I pondered. Then I summed up the long, five-second reflection:

Camrad_RIP 18.01.23 в 17:57

"Not at all. It's really a very thoughtful world. There's no nonsense there at all: everything that can be explained in some way. Sometimes I forget that these are not players, but computer ghosts."

Camrad_RIP 18.01.23 в 17:59

"Is the Turing test passed?"

Camrad_RIP 18.01.23 в 17:59

"More like circumvented. If you want to be fooled, you will be fooled for sure. And then there are all the conditions. The mirror not only responds but also assents."

Camrad_RIP 19.01.23 в 11:17

The screen was on, and the people had gathered in the living room. The Guarantor of the Constitution spoke from his chair by the fireplace about another year and future prospects, traditionally holding a glass of champagne in his hand.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.23 в 11:18

To the chimes, two ladies were frantically drawing their wishes to be burned, the older generation was loudly counting the beats, and the children were helping. I took a sip and set the glass almost full on the table. I don't like such noisy gatherings, though I understand their necessity. I used to, but not anymore.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.23 в 11:19

Where would I like to be right now?

Camrad_RIP 19.01.23 в 11:46

A year ago, I answered - on the beach or better somewhere in the mountains, at night. Sitting on the warm hood, drinking local soda, and looking up at the sky. Make a fire, warm up a can of stew and eat it with stale bread. Listen to the sound of the wind and look at the stars again.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.23 в 11:49

I even bought a mod for glasses, with views of the sky around the globe.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.23 в 11:50

And when I finally got a chance to do what I wanted to do, I suddenly stuck to the painted world. So I didn't really need that beach or those mountains.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.23 в 11:50

The children squealed happily. Vera Vasilyevna brought a large cake and, placing it on the table, began to bestow sweets for the little ones.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.23 в 11:51

"Vova, how will you justify yourself this time?"

Camrad_RIP 19.01.23 в 11:53

I turned to Nadia with surprise.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.23 в 11:53

"What is it this time?"

Camrad_RIP 19.01.23 в 11:54

"Why again without a girlfriend? At least for the sake of decorum you could have invited Svetka!"

Camrad_RIP 19.01.23 в 11:54

"Svetka and I broke up temporarily."

Camrad_RIP 19.01.23 в 11:54

"Why so?"

Camrad_RIP 19.01.23 в 11:55

"She promised me the last time we met that if I let my hands get loose, she would break them."

Camrad_RIP 19.01.23 в 11:55

"And so?"

Camrad_RIP 19.01.23 в 11:55

"And she didn't. How can I build my life with such a deceiver?"

Camrad_RIP 19.01.23 в 11:57

Nadia looked at me reproachfully, and I had to make a puzzled face.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.23 в 11:57

"Wife, don't touch this brave knight! He's grieving for his Fair Maiden! Go and feed your legitimate husband!"

Camrad_RIP 19.01.23 в 11:58