Читать книгу Parallel worlds – two. Birth of God - Артур Задикян - Страница 3

Already at the table, in the circle of the group, Ruthra turned to YatSan.

– YatSan, please tell me, what do you remember before you came out, or rather, came up out of the rig?

– Before virtual reality or in it?

– Have you been in virtual reality?

– You don't think so? Was it a natural reality?

– What is it? Describe the event.

– Rutra, what are you talking about? Are you making fun of me?

– YatSan, please describe the events.

– What?!

– The ones you remember.

– Don't you remember? Need I remind you?

– I might remember. But that's not the point. The point right now is what you remember. I need to know the last thing you remember before you woke up in the rig.

– Rutra, is it always like this with you and everyone?

She spoke resentfully and angrily. Ruthra realized the confusion of the situation. Perhaps she had amnesia. He walked over to her, ducked down to her ear, and said:

– Can I talk to you for a minute?

YatSan silently obeyed. Rutra took her aside from everyone and whispered.

– What you're trying to say, I don't understand. Maybe you only remember the events on the ship, or rather, in the helicopter?

– What, did you think I was a naive little girl? Why did you bring that up? Or do you think if I fall for you, it's the end of the world?

– What's wrong? Can you tell me? What are you talking about?

– You little bitch. So you don't remember what happened.

– Oh, wait. You should probably show me the tape.

– Did you record that, too?

– Wait, girlfriend, calm down. Sit down, have some coffee. We'll get to the bottom of this… Keep her busy and we'll see what was going on in her head.

– You look at what's going on in your head first.

– Okay, honey, I'll look. Just don't yell.

Ruthra waved to his scientist friend, went to the hardware screen of the rig.

– It can translate directly into the brain," said the "luminary of science," referring to Irene.

– No, I don't want to. Come here, on the screen.

– Can I join you? – I heard it from behind.

It was Julia.

– You'd better ask your friend what's wrong with her.

– A friend's clone," she made an ironic remark.

– What clone? Forget the clone! It's YatSan.

– Yeah, yeah, yeah. Just not really.

– Okay," Ruthra waved his hand, signifying both an end to the argument and permission to be present.

– What are we watching? – Irene asked.

– Is there a lot of it? – Ruthra asked a counter-question.

– Three days had passed in her conscious images. All the imagined scenes, all the fantasies of the body she was looking for, that is, the work of the brain in that body, passed into this brain by the most persistent sensations. That is, if she clearly visualized something, imagined something, wanted to "animate" these scenes, to make them real in that body, then in this she had it all laid down to her as a real event… or events.

– It's interesting to see what she's imagining," Iulia said with a slyness in her voice, but without losing her joking tone.

– You should ask her yourself.

– I asked, that's why I'm here.

– Come on, what did she tell you?

– Yeah, now.

– Madame Iulia, don't you think…

– Thank you, Rutra Tigrovich, for reminding me. And someone said friends, friends.

– IuLia, you should also understand correctly, the model of relationships that I proposed, which has developed – it is sincere. Just don't forget about the case and the relationships in the project. Maybe by violating these principles you are abusing friendship? Don't you think so?

– Okay, what do you want? You want me to tell you all the woman's secrets?

– What do you mean?

– In the box, as you like to say.

– Just tell it like it is.

– She says you've been practicing…

Iulia stopped talking, smiled, and shook her head up and down. The gesture added more ambiguity than clarified the situation.

– Specifically.

– Love!

– What's the big deal?

– That's your male mentality. So it doesn't mean anything to you? Then you wonder why she's acting like that.

– That's not what I meant.

– That's not what you all mean.

– Are you two in cahoots or something? Calm down and sit next to me. Irene, scroll down to the moments of high emotion.

– Why don't you look at it alone?

– Have you seen it yet?

– I've seen everything in the process.

– Ooh, that's interesting. Rutra Tigrovich, let's see what you're doing with your female employees," his colleague joked with the curiosity of a teenager.

– Oh, come on. I'll look at it separately first, then I'll decide.

– No, no, please allow us to enjoy such a racy scene.

– That's enough, honorable Parmenides.

It was a secret, though official for the center, name of a scientist. Rutra stood up, went into the next room.

– Can I come with you?

Ruthra wanted to forbid it, but changed his mind. She must have been a good judge of human nature. If it had been an order, he would have refused immediately, but this was a request.

– Okay, only up to a point, most likely.

– I agree.

– Did you do it out of curiosity? Or did a friend ask you to?

– No-" the scientist interrupted her. – So she's allowed?

– That's enough. You can watch it later.

– I'm not interested alone.

– Well, bring your girlfriend.

– This is an interesting topic, by the way.

– Oh, I don't think I'm in here.

– Uh, no. Let's go.

They went into the next room, Ruthra sat down at the monitor, and Iulia sat next to him, provocatively close. Not that he was against it, but… Ruthra knew that giving her hope and then screwing her up was ungentlemanly, but not giving her a chance was worse. So he decided to try it out. He knew he wasn't going to give her a chance. He knew he had a choice to make. But which one? Was the goal the same as hers? Probably not. Once, at the time of his youthful maturity, but still narcissistic naivety, with which many remain until the end of their lives, a familiar lady of Balzac's age on his "friendly" relationship with a very seductive young lady said: "All girls want to get married." It seems simple, but men think that women see in them the same thing they see in them – a seductive image. Women desire this, of course, but their main goal is not to become another station on the path of the locomotive.

Iulia was a master of seduction, and Rutra understood that. A lady with a child, divorced, careful of her inner and outer worlds, moderate in sports, non-smoker, strict with alcohol, as with men; she would smile, make a joke, have a taste of wine, not get drunk, but let her get drunk.

– I feel a little uncomfortable. Not because there might be scenes from the movie "Doubles of the Kama Sutra," but because of your friend's reaction.

– Why is that?

– Maybe she specifically said yes or asked you to. Maybe she wanted me to see if I would watch it with you.

– You're making too big a deal out of this. Trust me, it's much simpler than that. Girls do it, only the more important point for her will be your determination… since that's the case, I'll say, just you don't betray me, you need a bit of poofiness, which will be judged in public but perceived as independence and confidence.

– Where have you been before? How did I spend my life without your counseling?

– Be friends with me and you'll understand a lot of things.

– Yes, Comrade Commander.

– Come on, turn it on, let's see how macho you are.

– Irene, turn it on from here. By the way, before and after what?

– There's a life situation, a dialog. I'd say it's no less important.

– Well those are dreams…or imaginary. I don't have all the time in the world. Let's take this moment, see what it's all about.

Footage appeared on the screen. Rutra was walking down a busy street, with beautiful storefronts, everything sparkling. It was evening. He entered a building that had a two-level restaurant on the first floor. The ambiance was exquisite. He went up to the second level, headed to a row of tables along a stained glass wall. YatSan, Julia, and Catherine were seated at the table.

– Oh, we're here," Iulia almost exclaimed, moving closer to Ruthra as if she hadn't meant to.

– Quiet," he said in a whisper, keeping his eyes on the screen. – Let's hear it.

On the screen, Ruthra approached them.

– Hey, girls.

Ruthra approached Iulia and Catherine from behind and kissed them on the cheeks. They returned the favor. Then he approached YatSan, grabbed her gently under her knees and around the waist, lifted her up and sat her down, holding her in his arms.

– Rutra, what are you doing," YatSan whimpered slightly.

The girls smiled.

– My sweetheart, don't you like it? – Ruthra said, smiling.

– She looked at him meaningfully, then at her friends, who were obviously waiting for the rest of the story. – Only at first, even good friends, are first defined in a relationship. You, as a little boy, should say everything to your face.

– That's right!

– You're making jokes again. Do you realize how I, as a lady, feel about this? How other people are gonna take it?

– How?

– Ruthra, come on. You know everything.

– You're going to screw up again now, aren't you?

– I will. Because first you have to decide for yourself who a person is to you, and then perform actions that will be understood unambiguously. You're all about the extravaganza. All your friends, all your friends, all your friends, all your friends, all your friends, all your friends. I don't like it.

– Here we go. Thought I was gonna have a great night with you guys.

– So walk me out. Then why did you grab me?

– Well, there are reasons.

– Then do me a favor and say them for everyone to hear. You're a grown man, but you're acting like a kid.

– I'm a naughty boy at heart.

– We don't doubt it," IuLia said, glancing at Catherine.

The banter and smiles gave lightness to the dialog.

– So what you're saying is that my behavior doesn't indicate some exceptional relationship. You think I can do that with everyone?

– Not exactly. You put us in an uncertain position with your good attitude, which I admit we are all very happy about.

– Oh, it's warm already.

– Rutra, understand, you are a good friend, a great leader, we respect you, only you decide to what extent we are friends, like a boy and a girl.

– Uh-oh.

– Oh, my God. I didn't expect that from you.

– He understands, Yat, he's kidding," Catherine explained.

– Bastard, then," YatSan said, smiling and looking into Rutra's face.

– Oh, okay. That's it, divorce and maiden name.

– Why, did we have a factory?

– Well, I thought you did. I thought you said you dreamed about walking through factories.

– Rutra, that's enough. Can you be a little more serious?

– I can. What is it, my queen?

– Ruthra, let me go.

– No way.

– Let go now.

– It's beyond me.

– Rutra, we are about to have a broken relationship beyond friendship – supervisor and subordinate.

– Oh, that's the kind of role-playing you like to do.

– Let go, I don't like it.

– Why is that?

– If you haven't realized it, the doctor can't help you anymore.

– You shouldn't do that. I really, really–

– So, if something is very – you should not be shy about it, you should say it directly and show it in your actions. Let me go.

YatSan forcefully freed herself and sat back down, Ruthra didn't hold her back much though, just grabbed her arm to keep her from getting too far away.

– I don't like that kind of behavior.

– Me, too. What am I to you? Make up your mind. You take me in your arms, put me on your lap, everyone sees it. What they're gonna think.

– Oh, my God.

– Not God, Rutra, but you have to think. This isn't anywhere, it's where everyone knows us. We're not at a resort, we're not on your cruise ship.

– You've ruined the whole moment of romance.

– It may be romantic to you, but to me it's serious.

– And I'm the wind.

– It's your behavior. You're everybody's friend, you love all the girls.

– Not all of them. That's too much.

– There you go. At least it wasn't just one.

– No, sunshine, just one.

– Well, then decide who.

– Determined.

– И?

– Give me your hand.

– Why would you do that?

– Give it to me.

– Ask.

– Hands and hearts?

Ruthra laughed.

– That's it, I'm gone.

YatSan wanted to get up and walk past Ruthra, because the couch was along the wall, and the only way out was from his side. At that moment, Rutra grabbed YatSan, hugged her, and put her back on his lap.

– Let go!

– Wait a minute.

He grabbed her hand lightly but firmly, pulled out the ring finger of her left hand, and while she tried to stand up, he put on a white metal ring with a sparkling stone. The polished white gold resembled a mirror-like surface, and the diamond scattered rays like cupid's arrows. The scene was worthy of a movie adaptation. Catherine's modest smile and IuLia's not-so-humble one blended into a cocktail of uncertain flavor, as uncertain as the expression on YatSan's face. She was clearly surprised and didn't know how to react. YatSan looked at the ring, shifted her gaze to Rutra, then to her friends. Iulia apparently read her thoughts from her facial expressions. She caught YatSan's next attempt at a queen's stance and almost shrieked:

– Yat, don't be stupid.

The silence continued.

– We should probably go," Iulia said, rising from the couch.

Catherine followed her. The girls could not take their eyes off the ring. As she left the table and passed Ruthra, Catherine looked at the diamond and said:

– That's a nice rock.

– Rutra, what is it? – YatSan said sweetly, then looked at her friends, who were also looking back at her.

She "told" them something with a look. Ruthra noticed it. Her friends' faces were cheerful, as always, with a twist of intrigue. Ruthra was encouraged, and he looked at YatSan, into the depths of her sweet, childishly mischievous, sparkling eyes, and held her close to him.

– Do you like it?

– Who wouldn't like it? Only in honor of what?

– Let's go. I'll tell you in another setting.

– Where to?" she barely had time to ask.

Rutra, having already lifted her in his arms, carried YatSan towards the exit.

– Rutra, what are you up to?

– It's gonna be great.

He carried her to the auto and put her in a late-model Ferrari convertible.

– You're going to drive me crazy right now," YatSan chirped, looking at the car while Ruthra shifted into the driver's seat. – But I have to ask…

Rutra looked at her intently. YatSan, after hesitating for a moment, said:

– …what role am I in?

– I'm telling you, it's gonna be great.

– I already know you well. I know you're gonna be great. That's not what I'm asking.

She kept demanding answers while the dynamic force pressed her into the chair.

– Ruthra!

– Now.

– Where are we going?

– I'll just take you for a ride for now.

– All right, well, I hope I get through to you.

– Buckle up, we're gonna do a couple turns.

– I'm scared.

– Don't be afraid, I'm with you.

She smiled, but clearly didn't know what movie it was from. Yes, times, times… In fact, we change time, not time us.

Rutra took the highway along the sea and drove. He didn't only break the rules of the road from time to time. YatSan was squealing – from pleasure, from the scenery, and from a slight fear....

Ruthra leaned back a little in his chair as he watched, sitting relaxed. He didn't notice Iulia putting her left arm around his shoulders and her right arm around him, nuzzling him. Waking up a little, Ruthra noticed. He liked it, because he could interpret this action himself as he wished, and then carry out further actions at will. Moreover, he had already anticipated the events on the screen and subconsciously knew the reasons why YatSan was behaving the way he did when he woke up in the clone. That's the kind of bastard he was. As he said, he was a creature of God, and everything created by God is perfect and beautiful.

The city Rutra couldn't identify. Perhaps it existed only in YatSan's imagination. The street was beautiful, running along the sea or bay, buried in greenery. Perhaps it was spring or early fall, people were dressed for the season, the beach was empty; the terrain had elevated…

Ruthra turned off the embankment and sped down the busy street, the music playing loudly in the car, only occasionally drowned out by YatSan's squeals. Rutra zigzagged and labyrinthed through the cars, moving between the lanes with an arrow, and then he came to an intersection, turned around with a skid and a slip, and sped back down the oncoming lane.

– Rutra, stop it. Ruthra, I don't want to anymore. Oh my god. Ahhhh," YatSan squealed, and that turned him on even more. – Rutra, please stop. I'm scared," she yelled, but he just smiled.

After another skid-and-turn turn, YatSan squealed:

– I knew you were crazy, but not to this extent.

– Not to that extent? Then look," Ruthra said, and as the car sped off like a rocket, he fired a real flare in the direction of travel.

She flew out and turned into a mini meteorite, which, crashing into the atmosphere from outer space, gives us the hope of the fulfillment of the wish we made while doing so. YatSan watched the scene with fright and excitement. Rutra took out a shiny thing that looked like a sci-fi weapon from the movies and shot a stream of sparkling rays into the sky, where they lit up and turned into the inscription, "YatSan, I love you!" It was marvelous. She watched with bated breath, her eyes glistening even more, and involuntarily a small crystal, no less shiny than the one on her finger, rolled down her cheek. YatSan looked up at the sky and watched the blurring letters, glancing occasionally at Ruthra. He put his hand on her thigh and occasionally made deliberately sharp lunges of the machine to the right, as if inertially running his naughty fingers over the "start" button, which was known to many as point K. Rutra was a master of such acupressure, and further acupuncture as well. The mythical G-spot, which women in the realm of bliss so often made men look for and which they could not find because the ladies secretly changed its position, was like a wandering fire of passion, jumping from the earlobe, the curves of the neck to the labyrinths of the navel and heels. Point K, on the other hand, had a precise location. So, having given a signal to this point, which even the promiscuous ladies responded to the memory of fingerprints that opened their "safe", among whom Casanova was especially remembered, although Don Juan and even the Marquis de Sade were pleasant memories, Rutra beckoned to YatSan with the signal of a wet lock pick, which was getting rough from brandy, especially for the age of the mistress of the "vase", where the petal of the blazing flower was hidden.

Of course, such comments were born in Rutra's mind as he looked at the screen, from the passionate thoughts that YatSan had in her mind on that very screen. What was going on in Yiulia's head, Rutra didn't want to check, he just needed to feel it. She was not a timid lady, if not a determined one. Ruthra was silent, he liked it.

On the screen, however, the characters pulled into a quiet neighborhood to a beautiful mansion. Rutra pulled out a fancy, rhinestone-studded "queen" mask.

– We're gonna be a mystery. We're playing mafia. Put it on.

– What about you?

– I'll walk you out.

He helped YatSan put on the mask, stepped out, opened the door, and led her inside. Inside, they were greeted by a large hallway, more like a reception hall, with rounded side staircases leading up to the second level; Ruthra bypassed them and led YatSan into the next hall. Here was a huge pool, arranged like the baths of the Shahinshahs. There was melodious music playing, loud enough to muffle the sounds of bubbling, artificial geysers and the gurgling jets of a fountain that flowed with burgundy water like dragon's blood. It was young wine. It was young wine that Ruthra loved, for it was the only wine that gave "lifeblood," while aged wine was honored only by the cooper and the oenologist.

– When can I see it?

– Wait. First the nectar for uterine rabies.

– What?!

– For bliss, then," Ruthra said with a laugh.

Lifting the mask slightly to free her mouth and keep her eyelids open, Ruthra put the wine glass to her lips.

– Take a sip, hold it in your mouth.

Then Ruthra put the glass away and licked YatSan's lips. A trembling shiver ran through her. YatSan couldn't say anything, even if she wanted to, because there was wine in her mouth. Ruthra pressed his lips to her passion-charged scarlet lips and took in the sweet-sweet drink. He deftly undid the straps around her shoulders and, while she cried out from behind her falling dress as he kissed her, whispered in her ear, "There's water in there," pulled back the mask, and pushed YatSan into the pool. As she squealed as she plunged in, he instantly threw off everything, revealing what Adam had covered with a fig leaf.

In the old days, when he had to teach the fighters in a southern country how to undress quickly during the burning of a match so that the Mujahideen would not notice the light, he shared with them a little secret: to prepare the invisible parts of the clothes for the process in advance, for example, to undo some buttons, loosen the belt, the laces on the boots. And then Ruthra, having done this trick while YatSan was recovering from the stress, held her by the hips, lifting her up so that her breasts were at his eye level. YatSan wanted to hit him, more out of classic genre than true desire, but the pleasure she began to feel exceeded all expectations. She felt like a skilled taster determining the flavor of her succulent fruit, and judging by the way he was passionately digging into it, it wasn't just tasting: he was hungry. Ruthra was only able to tear himself away from this exciting activity because he was anticipating even sweeter temptations. He held YatSan's graceful body with one hand and her firm buttocks with the other and laid her on the edge of the pool. YatSan only managed to moan languidly and sweetly "ah-ah-ah". And then… history is silent.

Ruthra couldn't adequately assess what was happening on the screen any further. After a quick scroll through the rest of the recording, he leaned back in his chair, not finding anything suspicious, and… perhaps he was relaxed by the surroundings, perhaps by something else… Perhaps by someone. Periodically opening his eyes, he observed two convex lenses in front of him, the focusing of which magically hypnotized him, and the ensuing "brain pumping" plunged him into the abyss of nirvana....

Rutra and Iulia walked out and headed to the meeting room. YatSan was furious and almost lashed out at Ruthra. He stopped, looked at her in surprise, and then looked around at the people present, as if looking for a response. They smirked faintly.

– What's the matter? – He asked sternly.

– A traitor and a creature," YatSan blurted out.

– Why?! I don't know if everyone is aware of it or not, but you made a big deal out of it…I, however, would very much like to do it again.

– Screwed up?! You bastard," she shrieked and threw herself on the chair, covered her face with her palms and began to sob.

– What's going on? – Ruthra asked loudly. – What's going on, Catherine? – He asked, noticing the look in her eyes.

She was silent.

– Will someone explain it to me? – Ruthra now looked at Andrian.

He stood up, took Rutra under his elbow, took him aside, and showed him the video. It was the scene of him and Yiulia viewing the visions of YatSan's consciousness. Indeed, it was very "intimate" to the outside observer. And why it was so – history is also silent.

Ruthra was almost furious, turned around, looked fiercely at Iulia… and then softened. She was looking at him, beaming a magical smile, and, like a skillful actress who can play the lead in both Gone with the Wind and Deep Throat, she made an innocent face, licking her lower lip with her tongue.

– But how? I don't understand," Ruthra said calmly. – Are you having an argument? Did you have an agreement beforehand? How did you know what was going on there? And how could you know what was happening afterward before you watched it?

– How clever you are, and they played you in no time at all," YatSan whispered, still in tears.

– You put on a play without knowing the consequences? I mean, you didn't know exactly how it was going to go down. You assumed.

– And it's done! – she cried out.

– So this is your idea, that everything is not as you dream? – He turned to Iulia, restraining himself.

She was silent for a few seconds, then looking at YatSan, she said:

– He's gonna kick us out.

– So be it.

There was real resentment and anger in YatSan. Rutra decided to resort to his favorite trick. Sowing doubt about reality. What is reality? If we doubted whether the Earth was round or flat, whether there was a god or not, whether we were descended from monkeys or aliens, whether we were two times two, whether we lived in reality or in a virtual matrix, then what could we talk about?

– First of all, none of this is true. It's as staged as what you've experienced.

YatSan looked at him with the expression of a hurt child. Exactly, offended by the failure to fulfill a promise.

– I'm sorry, but it's true.

– That's enough. You're already lying.

– No, honey," he walked over to her, trying to hug her.

She took his hand away.

– We're in a little bit of a wrong relationship. It's still a business project, it's better this way. Come with me, I'll try to explain. Everyone will confirm. No offense, but everything we say is true.

YatSan was still staring at him angrily. Ruthra tried to take her under his elbow and lead her, but she pulled back and snapped at him, but she followed him. The group walked in silence down the corridor, and only occasional jokes from the luminary of science lightened the dull atmosphere. When they entered the laboratory, Ruthra led YatSan to the machine where her real body lay. While she was looking at herself – Rutra turned around and wagged his finger at IuLia as if to warn and scold her. She smiled slyly as usual.

– Look, it's hard for you to believe, because the very mechanism of transmigration is based on this, everything has to be realistic. But this is your real body. You feel a little different now.

– A little yes," she said quietly.

She wanted to know if the recent events between Rutra and her friend were a lie. Rutra, on the other hand, realized the significance of exclusivity for her. It was much more serious for her than it was for him. That is the nature of the sexes. We often live in fantasies, even in reality; the less we do trial and error, the more fantasies we have. Chastity and the knowledge of god, the knowledge of god and the eternal flight of scientific thought. And yet only practice yields the fruits necessary in reality for us as living substances, otherwise how, even if according to Descartes, we, being a thought without a body, knowing what we are, not feeling pleasure, and therefore not feeling emotion, would still not give birth to thought. Because according to philosophy, including that of the above-mentioned respected thinker, we are our self, even if we do not have a body, but we have the ability to think. And Rutra's conclusions concerned the fact that without a body, without its sensations, we will not give birth to thought, because behind representation and imagination there must be a support of practice in the form of those very feelings of pleasure and emotion. Of course, also pain, including spiritual pain, gave us a hurricane of inferences. And here this effect worked because it was desired: the effect by us of an imagined reality. Every woman wants to be deceived. She believes the worst, but hopes for the best. Knowing this, Ruthra wanted to whisper in YatSan's ear, "It's all lies," but changed his mind:

– Look, it's taping right now. You've already made friends with Irene as a girl. So, lie down in the rig, we'll transfer your consciousness back into the body you're looking for, then you'll wake up and watch the video.

Having said that, still whispered in her ear about what he really wished for.

– I enjoyed watching the story in the pool and really wouldn't mind doing it again, and everyone before and after too.

She, looking at Rutra with eyes still red from tears, finally said:

– If you lie to me, my revenge will be severe.

– Lying about wanting to do it again? You'd have to be crazy to lie about something like that," Ruthra said with his trademark smile.

– I'm not kidding, I'm gonna kill you. I'll kill you both.

– What are you talking about? Didn't you ask your friend to act out a scene like this? I thought it might happen.

– So it's true?

– Of course not. We played you, too. It's a montage.

– You're lying.

– Uh, no.

– You're lying.

– Come on, lie down. Not everyone can take your fantasies.

– Don't be afraid of your desires, be afraid of mine," she finally said her favorite slogan firmly and confidently.

– You've got someone to scare. Let's go. I'll just get ready for the inspection," Ruthra said, smiling and pulling her against him.

Noticing this, everyone applauded, which cheered up YatSan and she smiled back.

– How long are we going to admire the lovebirds here? – As always jokingly, the scientist reminded about the purpose of coming to the laboratory.

All the fantastic realities of the new world were realized by the group as commonplace, but the relationship between Rutra and YatSan was perceived as very unusual.

YatSan lay down in the rig, and the lab staff began the process. Ruthra sat down with the girls on the far couch; Andrian, seated separately, was already unrolling the "air" chess pieces, and the scientist was working on the monitor. Rutra smiled at Iulia, but crossed his arms and said:

– Game over, girlfriend. Friendship is friendship, but this is serious. I respect you, I like you as a friend and a coworker, but–

– But you've developed feelings," Catherine said modestly.

– Yes, I confess, I'm having feelings.

– We'll check them out," Iulia was in her own style.

– We mean.

– We mean we.

– You think she'd be interested in that?

– Why, did you convince her?

– Loading the memory back up will be without this plot. She won't know anything about it. So, my dear, I hope you don't have to erase your memory too.

They glanced over to Catherine.

– It's dangerous.

– Behave well and this place will be fine. It was a fun game before and everyone had fun, and since it is now – please justify the concept of "friendship". If we're friends, then we're friends. And if it was pretend, then it's strictly a working relationship.

– Friendship," Catherine said.

– Friendship," Iulia said boldly and firmly, but it didn't sound the same coming from Catherine.

Still, she wanted a special role for herself.