And this magical ancient symbol ofВ healing, used inВ Tibet and China for thousands ofВ years, makes my heart beat with joy and excitement. Hello, the brightest and most unforgettable adventure inВ my life!
On board my «personal» plane, it’s incredibly clean and cold, almost sterile. White leather chairs and folding tables, dazzling white plastic. A steward in a snow-white uniform with a restrained expression on his face meets us at the entrance to the salon and obligingly takes my modest luggage. Zhang Kiang and I sit down opposite each other in incredibly comfortable chairs, and our silent, by the way, also snow-white, ninja companions are placed in the tail of the plane.
«Miss Larina, our flight will last no more than two hours. During this time, you need to familiarize yourself with the content of the contract with the Corporation and sign it. Unfortunately, we will not have time for discussion at the airport. You will be immediately transported to…»
«I know, I know,» I interrupt her impatiently, «the plane to the location. To be honest, I didn’t expect such a… um… hasty start.»
The glossy lady looks at me seriously and answers without the slightest hint ofВ her already nerve-wracking robot courtesy:
«Miss Larina, obviously you do not fully understand the seriousness of the Corporation’s intentions. We have selected the best of the best for the mission. You are called to discover the most important secret and find a solution to an ancient riddle. It means a lot to us. We cannot afford even the slightest mistakes in organizing the Game. Magnificent receptions and public attention are not included in our plans. Miss Larina, I am absolutely sure that on the way back you will be able to enjoy the beauty of Lhasa and, as you call it beautifully, „join the Tibetan culture.“ Although, between us, what do you know about this? Absolutely nothing.»
She pulls her damn smile backВ on.
«Here’s the contract. Check out its content. If you have any questions, I am at your service.»
On the one hand, IВ am ready toВ sink into the ground inВ shame. On the other hand, rage boils inВ me. Ultimately, the fact that IВ am lucky enough toВ be inВ the top ten does not deprive me ofВ the right toВ know more about the adventure IВ am embarking on. And if, according toВ her, IВ am so special, then at least IВ deserve more tactful and helpful treatment. Having overcome the inner volcano ofВ emotions, IВ take the contract from her hands:
В«Actually, aВ little. IВ have read something about Tibetan monks, symbols and traditions. During the game, IВ learn more.
В«During the game? Oh, Miss Larina, you are wrong. Our quest has nothing toВ do with Tibetan traditions. The glossy lady seems genuinely surprised.В»
Second big disappointment toВ date. InВ order not toВ demonstrate it, IВ just delve into reading.
The contract is drawn up inВ Chinese and English. The parties are Antakarana Corporation (game organizers) and the participant (inВ this case, me). IВ quickly skim through the usual preamble and standard clauses ofВ the contract. IВ draw my attention toВ the rights and obligations ofВ the participants. Nothing new, almost all the points were listed inВ the initial instructions, which the organizers sent byВ email along with the invitation toВ the Game.
The plane starts toВ take off. As usual, my head is aВ little dizzy and my breathing quickens. The palms become wet. IВ pretend toВ carefully study the contract so as not toВ please my companion byВ showing inner discomfort.
She’s just doing her job, I tell myself. However, my antipathy to her grows with every minute I spend together. We are gaining altitude. I’m glad this is a small private jet. The smaller the aircraft, the safer it seems to me. As if a huge airliner with hundreds of passengers on board could collapse due to its weight! I am well aware that this has no scientific basis. A couple of times the plane wobbles a little from side to side, so it takes my breath away. But I do my best to concentrate on the contract, and in the end I succeed.
The plane has climbed up and Zhang Kiang solemnly informs me that it is finally time toВ enjoy Chinese green tea. IВ nod politely and curse inВ my mind, having received aВ small mug the size ofВ oneВ sip.
InВ the meantime, IВ get toВ the description ofВ the paragraph on the grand prize for the winner. The РЎorporation promises the lucky devil one million dollars.
Of course, I don’t count on the jackpot. I have never had any luck in the events like these. I chuckle at the thought of the words «like these». As if the adventures of this kind happen to me every day! Yes, I have never won lotteries, horse races, casinos, money disputes or card games. But still, I know exactly what I expect from this game: emotions, activation of mental activity, new acquaintances, well-thought-out puzzles, my own dose of adrenaline…
In a world-class quest, it simply cannot be otherwise. And yet… the thought of the likely win is dizzy. There won’t be many of us. I cope well with the intricate tasks in online quests, I have good intuition and, thanks to constant training, I am in excellent physical shape. If you add a drop of luck to this cocktail…
What nonsense this cocktail! IВ discard the thought ofВ winning, emphasizing toВ myself the intention toВ spend time inВ an interesting, effective and simply unusual way. The contract has already been marked byВ the head ofВ the Corporation with two strange symbols, presumably Chinese hieroglyphs.
«Zhang Kiang, I’m ready to sign.»
В«Miss Larina, IВ want you toВ be aware that after you sign the contract, you will not be able toВ leave the game until it is over. Under no circumstances. This is the last opportunity toВ refuse.В»
IВ shall warn you that aВ difficult test lies ahead: strong opponents, hard conditions, difficult tasks, aВ constant burden ofВ responsibility for the decisions made. The В«Quest inВ RealityВ» is just aВ game, but this week everything will happen for real.
The organizer will not appear at the touch ofВ aВ button toВ give aВ hint or help inВ passing an obstacle, as it happens inВ regular quests. Participants will have toВ rely only on themselves. It can be emotionally hard.
You still have the right to change your mind. But, on the other hand, you should know that the Game can show you a previously unknown world, demonstrate new facets of life and open the most secret corners of your subconscious. After completing the Quest from start to finish, you will never be the same again. You will be surprised at what your body is capable of, but even more at what your soul is capable of. It’s up to you to decide, Miss Larina, and only here and now.
Her words evoke conflicting emotions inВ me: on the one hand, IВ feel the much-desired rush ofВ adrenaline inВ my blood and aВ dizzy euphoria about the upcoming adventure. AВ real, live adventure! On the other hand, at some point aВ chill runs down my spine, as when IВ answered the strange questions from the questionnaire about maniacs and Cyclone-B gas suffocation.
В«The decision is made.В»
The glossy lady just nods and hands me aВ pen. IВ put my signature on the line intended for this.
В«Welcome toВ the Game!В»
Zhang Kiang smiles, and this time IВ feel like IВ see the emotion inВ her eyes for the first time: this is relief.
***
A few minutes later, the plane is landing. Then everything happens extremely quickly. The glossy lady takes my suitcase, assuring that she will return my things safe and sound at the end of the Game. I am allowed to take with me only identity documents and one item that will remind me of home. I choose a notebook in a luxurious leather cover and my favorite pen – the presents from my father for the twenty-fifth birthday. I’m used to carry them with me and periodically make notes, if suddenly, in the middle of a working day, I am flashed by some kind of guess about the quest task, over which I had been puzzling untill midnight. Sometimes I just like to write down my thoughts in a notebook.
One ofВ the ninja accompanying us approaches and without aВ single word puts aВ device similar toВ aВ large medical syringe without aВ needle toВ the right side ofВ my neck, closer toВ my forearm. Zhang Kiang explains:
В«AВ coordinator will be placed inВ your shoulder, no reason toВ be alarmed.В»
В«AВ gamer with aВ built-in GPS, what aВ great idea,В» IВ joke grimly.
В«You can put it this way, too,В» my companion responds indifferently.
Her presence gives me more and more discomfort. The woman gets on my nerves, frightens, pisses me off with her detachment and facial expressions devoid ofВ all emotions.
Our plane lands safely. IВ am so lost inВ thoughts about this strange day and how differently IВ imagined it, that IВ forget toВ be scared. When we finally stop, Zhang Kiang turns toВ me:
В«Well, all formalities have been met. InВ less than an hour, the plane with all participants will head toВ the Location. On board you will be offered aВ warm lunch, drinks and additional instructions.В» After aВ short pause she adds:
В«Miss Larina, you look extremely sloppy. Let me fix your hair.В»
My first impulse is toВ jump up, push her away and, perhaps, even be rude. But Zhang Kiang is quicker: she deftly removes the elastic that secures my ponytail, straightens the long dark hair, and then pulls it back into aВ bun. At this moment, the Glossy Lady bends down toВ my ear and whispers softly, almost with her lips alone. And yet IВ clearly catch her words:
«Don’t trust anyone. Follow the instructions carefully. This is your only chance.»
Then she walks away abruptly. The pumped up ninjas turn their turtle heads inВ our direction.
В«Thank you.В» IВ try toВ hide my surprise.
Zhang Kiang only nods indifferently inВ response.
***
IВ get off the plane and instead ofВ the airport IВ see aВ primitive two-story building. Surely, the same uncomplicated equipment is inside. But IВ am not allowed toВ find it out. AВ few hundred meters away, aВ small snow-white plane with the Antakarana emblem on its wings is prepared. It sparkles brightly inВ the sun, dazzling with its splendor. AВ white limousine with aВ familiar three-dimensional symbol is already waiting nearby, ready toВ take me aboard the aircraft.
Feeling uncomfortable before, now I am seized by a real panic. What did Zhang Kiang want to say with her words: «Don’t trust anyone. Follow the instructions carefully. This is your only chance.» A chance for what? Get one million dollar prize? What if this is not a game at all, but just a trap? What if now I fall into the hands of cruel pirates or slave traders?! I was naive in my belief having caught the luck of my life and that is why so easily hooked! Can I break free, scream, call the police? But can they kidnap people just like that, in daylight? What if they are all at one and it will only make it worse? While preparing for the game, I saw documents confirming the existence of the corporation. As if you can’t fake them in Photoshop! Everyone knows where I am. A chill runs down my spine: no one, absolutely no one, including me, knows where we are going in a few minutes. My trail is getting lost here at an unknown private airport in Lhasa. Panicked, I turn to the Glossy Lady.
В«Good luck, Lavina! IВ will be rooting for you.В»
I catch in her eyes the second emotion of the day. And I definitely don’t like her. This emotion is condolence.
***
My Game name. The Glossy Lady named me Lavina. Does this mean that the Game has begun? Lavina is practically my second name, identical toВ the name Victoria. This is the nickname my classmates gave me back inВ high school. Conceived as an abbreviation for the full Larina Victoria Nikolaevna, it was intended toВ become offensive. However, the comparison with the natural phenomenon flattered me, and soon my close friends, then fellow students, and then colleagues began toВ call me like that. From time toВ time my parents turn toВ me like this when they want toВ emphasize my restlessness and spontaneity. This is the nickname IВ use on forums and social networks. No wonder IВ chose it toВ participate inВ the Quest.
Barely breathing at the same time from fear and anticipation, IВ get out ofВ the limousine. Two Chinese women meet me at the gangway. (Frankly, the ubiquitous white color begins toВ depress). They show the way affably. With my heart beating loudly, IВ enter the plane.
Against the expectations, neither pirates with machine guns inВ black masks nor aВ pack ofВ ninjas inВ white suits attack me. Instead, my eyes see aВ cozy, bright business class salon. The path is illuminated with blue lights, as are the individual information boards over the heads ofВ the passengers. Huge leather chairs are arranged inВ two rows, one chair inВ each.
InВ the first seat, IВ see an elderly man inВ his 60s who reading aВ newspaper through the glasses pushed toВ the tip ofВ his nose. Gray strands show through his hair. The man is dressed inВ jeans and aВ green sweater with aВ lapel.
To his right sits a pretty neighbor. Actually not just pretty but a very awesome girl. To be honest, she’s a cliche of jokes: not particularly smart, but dazzlingly beautiful blonde. Long legs in trousers and stiletto heels, smooth blonde hair falling over fragile shoulders, refined features. We meet eyes. Of course: huge soulful blue eyes, framed by long black eyelashes. The top button of the mint-colored blouse is unbuttoned so that you can see the graceful neck.
В«Hello! My name is Lavina.В»
IВ hear some greetings inВ return. An elderly man stands up and holds out his hand toВ me:
«I am Planck. Well, then, we’ll play together.»
He smiles friendly, and this is the first warm smile all day. I feel calmer because Planck certainly doesn’t look like an air pirate. And for ninja tricks, his bones are probably too old. In general, this elderly man immediately makes a pleasant impression on me.
IВ move through the cabin looking for aВ free seat. IВ walk byВ aВ middle-aged woman with aВ bright appearance. Judging byВ the sharp features and fiery gaze ofВ her brown, almost black eyes, she could be Spanish or Italian. The southerner smiles broadly with aВ dazzling white-toothed smile, waves her hand and nods inВ my direction. Her hot temperament complements her expressive appearance, so IВ straight away feel sympathy forВ her.
ToВ the left ofВ the woman, just behind Planck, IВ notice aВ young man. He sits with his head bowed over aВ glossy magazine taken from the pocket ofВ an airplane seat. Hearing my voice, the guy looks up and nods casually, and then immediately returns toВ reading. IВ am struck byВ his pumped-up arms. From under the t-shirt bursting at the seams, muscles and those notorious cubes on his stomach bulgeВ out.
В«Apparently, he is an athlete,В» IВ say toВ myself.
InВ the third row, IВ immediately recognize Alex. He looks extremely like the guy on the photo and is also handsome, only slightly taller, judging byВ the fact that his knees bump into the front seat.
В«Hello, Lavina,В» he addresses me inВ Russian without any prefaces.
Several people turn their heads inВ our direction.
В«As you can see, the place next toВ me is free. IВ will fly with aВ compatriot and aВ game partner! Even if it was only once and ended inВ aВ shameful loss.В»
В«Hi Alex, glad toВ meet you personally. InВ that game, we were both not on top.В» В«Have you already had the pleasure ofВ meeting our promiscuous team?В»
«Yes, and it’s a big relief. At one point, I already thought to be dealing with an organized crime group for slavetrade.»
Alex throws his head back and gives out aВ sincere guttural laugh. Nice dimples form on his cheeks. But for some reason it makes me angry.
«What’s so funny about that?» I snarl.
В«What made you thinkВ so?В»
«Well, yes,» I begin hesitantly, «these strange escorts and the Glossy Lady…»
В«Glossy Lady?В»
В«IВ called her that for her appearance: too flawless and unreadable.В»
Alex laughs again, head thrown back.
В«IВ can imagine that you felt not at ease. ByВ the way, aВ casual style ofВ clothing and no hairstyle at all suit you. But you have toВ work On your face: you absolutely do not know how toВ hide emotions!В»
IВ ignore his remark.
«A very sinister reception. Then there were those supercharged Chinese ninjas and secrecy… Didn’t it alert you?»
В«Lavina, someone here is not eager toВ study boring documents, huh? Have you read the constituent documents, instructions and the contract?В»
В«OfВ course IВ did!В» IВ interrupt him impatiently. В«Well, the main points.В»
InВ response, Alex instructively reads aВ whole lecture on the paragraph about the strict confidentiality ofВ the project. That information about the game is known toВ aВ narrow circle ofВ people. ByВ accepting the invitation, we automatically agree toВ keep secret the places ofВ the Location, the conditions ofВ the game, as well as information about the founders ofВ the Corporation and the organizers ofВ the games.
В«Although,В» he looks at me, as if at aВ hopeless person, В«with your attentiveness, you can hardly tell about it even under torture.В»
Alex has a lot of fun and shines with sly eyes. We’ve known each other for no more than ten minutes, and I’m ready to strangle him. Of course he’s right. By my nature, I am always too lazy to study documents, to read the details, not to mention trying to understand the meanings of incomprehensible words. I am angry that this insolent fellow figured out my disadvantage so easily.
В«Paragraph 127В ofВ the monotonous narrative mentions that all participants will be taken toВ the collection point separately, with aВ personal escort and security. No wonder we were greeted without bread and salt. Or inВ this case, without tea and dried grasshoppers.В»
I turn away to the window. It’s supremely stupid to be offended, but for some unknown reason, I’m upset. Third major disappointment of the day. Instead of a charming young man with whom it would be nice to spend time at the Game and, possibly, flirt, I get a cocky self-confident twerp who believes to read me like an open book.
В«Lavina, IВ am very glad that it was you who passed the competition,В» suddenly he changes his intonation.
IВ turn toВ him abruptly with open surprise on my face.
«You are so… funny with your comments on forums and in dialogues with quest heroes. I thought straight away that this girl would’t be boring. And then you enter the cabin with disheveled hair, a large spot on a T-shirt, and with burning eyes, you initiate me into the theory of the capture by slavers. In which you obviously sincerely believed at that moment and still got on the plane. Lavina, you’re just awesome!»
Alex bursts into guttural laughter again and winks at me friendly.
Funny? Does he consider this as aВ compliment?! The urge toВ be rude toВ him becomes unbearable. My eyes sparkle with indignation.
«You don’t know how to hide emotions, Lavina. Lightning from your eyes speaks quite expressively about the desire to kill me. We will definitely make friends.»
«I’d rather be best friend with that blonde in the first row than with you!» I think angrily to myself…»
В«AВ casual image suits you, really. And, most importantly, it gives food for thought toВ the blonde inВ the front row: how could you have come toВ this? And if the blonde starts toВ think, then it makes her aВ little brunette.В»
Unexpectedly, I giggle stupidly. Damn it, you can’t be angry with him for long!
At this moment, aВ thin middle-aged man enters the plane. Round glasses slanted aВ little on his crooked nose. The rare hair is carefully combed back, evidently inВ aВ desperate and failed attempt toВ hide the bald spot. Despite his somewhat awkward appearance, inВ aВ strange way, he instantly disposes toВ himself. Perhaps the point is inВ the often blinking kind gray eyes. Stopping at the entrance toВ the salon, the man smiles uncertainly, slightly hunched over his thin shoulders, shifts from foot toВ foot, and finally speaks English with aВ pronounced Spanish accent:
«Um, hello. My name is Jorge… that is, Joleo. Yes, Joleo is my play name.»
