В«Well,В» the old man smiles from the screen, В«your reaction confirms once again the fact that the Corporation was not mistaken inВ choosing you. All participants are familiar with the rules ofВ the game inВ detail, IВ will not repeat myself. IВ would like toВ just give two pieces ofВ advice: do not try toВ break the rules and stick together toВ the last. IВ wish you the best ofВ luck. And remember: this is just aВ game, but you are experiencing it inВ reality.В»
The screen goes blank. Two uniformed girls appear, and the guards hide inВ the cockpit. The silence is interrupted only byВ the instructions ofВ the flight attendants. We take our seats and fasten the belts. The plane enters the runway, quickly picks up speed and this time really takes off from the ground.
***
More than two hours pass, but still no one speaks aВ word. Everyone copes with the shock inВ his own way. IВ closed my eyes and pretended toВ be asleep. IВ feel uneasy at the mere thought ofВ looking out the window. About an hour after take-off, we were offered lunch, but IВ did not even touch the exotic dishes.
It always seemed toВ me that, having gone through such aВ shock and suddenly being safe, IВ would feel aВ euphoria, similar toВ the one IВ experience when waking up from aВ nightmare. But instead, IВ am filled with aВ terrible emptiness, unbearable sadness and incomprehensible longing.
ToВ distract myself, IВ reflect on the words ofВ Maestro. What can unite us all? Have we met somewhere before? IВ had aВ chance toВ visit abroad twice: inВ Spain for climbing the Pyrenees mountains and inВ India at the tourist resort ofВ Goa. None ofВ the players present seems toВ me even close toВ familiar.
We’ve definitely never seen each other until today. We are absolutely strangers, people who were not only not united by the plane crash, but also distanced from each other as much as possible.
One innermost desire, said the Maestro. What could it be inВ my case? For what am IВ ready toВ make such sacrifices as, for example, toВ experience this impromptu disaster? IВ have always considered myself toВ be quite aВ happy person. IВ have wonderful parents and aВ small but loyal circle ofВ friends. IВ was lucky toВ do what IВ love and do not have toВ complain about health problems. AВ list ofВ things toВ do before you die? Like all people on earth, IВ have aВ list with rather generalized phrases like В«swim with dolphinsВ», В«conquer the Mont BlancВ», В«jump upside down from aВ bungee inВ Sochi Olympic ParkВ» and other nonsense. But can IВ call anything from this list my innermost desire? Definitely not! Love, family and children? IВ never thought about it seriously. Now my heart is free, and it suits me perfectly. IВ love the feeling ofВ absolute independence. Moreover, IВ am convinced that all this will happen inВ due time and without the help ofВ some powerful Corporation. Another open question. IВ have no idea about aВ response.
The words of Maestro do not go out of my head: «Better stick together to the last,» said the elder. How will I interact with all these people? I’ve always had a hard time pairing quests, not to mention team games. I can find a common language with almost everyone, but it gives me discomfort to discuss and explain my decisions to someone else. Continuous questions and not a single even approximate answer!
Realizing that, despite the long tiring flight from Russia toВ China, IВ will not be able toВ sleep, IВ open my eyes.
В«Alex, are you awake?В» IВ ask inВ aВ whisper.
«No, I’m sitting and waiting for you to ask me if I’m sleeping,» he jokes. But the expression on his face is not at all like that self-confident cheerful grimace, which so angers and pleases me at the same time. «Lavina… sorry to my laughing at your fear of airplanes. It seems that from now on I am also afraid. It must be contagious. My own fault, I should have washed my hands in time,» Alex tries to cheer me up in his own peculiar manner.
«You’re pale, are you all right?»
«Yes, it’s from the awful look of the dinner. What is this muck? They didn’t manage to smash us to the ground, and that’s why they decided to poison us?»
«Alex… I always thought that the expression „life flies before your eyes“ is a myth. What did you seen in the last seconds of our lives?» I ask strangled, unable to drive away the obsessive memories.
«I haven’t seen anything like this, because I don’t have your violent imagination. I remember only one thought constantly spinning in my head: what a fool I was that I did not know how to appreciate life. That’s all. No faces, no memories, no sound thoughts. Only: what a fool I was, how blind I was. Probably, I should be grateful to the organizers for opening my eyes.»
В«And are you grateful?В»
Alex laughs joylessly:
«I’d hold each of them while the athlete polishes their smug faces. Tell me better about your visions.»
«It’s rather strange,» I say thoughtfully, «I saw brightly and distinctly moments from life, people’s faces and some places from the past. For a split second, I experienced the same emotions as during that period of time. Some events are clear-cut, and some have completely faded from memory. The last memory was my older sister. She died tragically 20 years ago in a terrible car accident.»
As soon as IВ say it out loud, IВ suddenly understand the reason for my sadness. No matter how successful and happy our life is, we will never be able toВ drive out ghosts from the past, survive the tragedies that have happened and heal the wounds inflicted. One way or another, they overtake us at the most unexpected moment and, when all bad things seem toВ be left behind forever, they fall down with aВ heavy and devastating load.
Suddenly aВ thought comes toВ my mind. What if each ofВ us has experienced aВ terrible loss inВ the past and now leads his ordinary life trying not toВ look back, because there is only pain and emptiness? At least this is some kind ofВ clue! IВ make the first note inВ my notebook: В«Common: past tragic losses?В»
В«What are you writing there?В» Alex cranks his neck curiously.
В«Plan how toВ seize aВ million dollars.В»
***
We talk toВ each other for aВ while. He tells aВ little about himself, generously seasoning the monologues with jokes and anecdotes. At the same time, the guy does not skimp on jokes aboutВ me.
I am deliberately not mentioning anything about my assumption. At the first stage, I don’t want to share my thoughts and guesses with anyone else, even with Alex. The conversation encourages me a little, but I still feel miserable. The rest of the passengers are either asleep or in muffled conversations with each other.
IВ decide toВ visit the restroom and follow toВ the rear ofВ the plane. Suddenly, like aВ bolt from the blue, inВ the last row IВ notice aВ girl about 10В years old. She looks out the window and holds something tight toВ her chest. This is so unexpected that for aВ moment IВ am speechless. Although the rules did not mention anything about the age ofВ the participants, IВ was sure that only adults are allowed toВ play. Does that mean she also had toВ go through that hell? Well, this is too much! It is inhumane and cynical toВ do such experiments on adults. But toВ subject children toВ such tests is aВ heinous crime. There is no limit toВ my indignation. IВ appeal toВ the girl:
«Hi! What’s your name?»
She turns her head toВ me, then looks away again without saying aВ word. IВ am amazed byВ her huge, serious and incredibly blue eyes. Combined with bright red hair and pale skin, they give the girl some kind ofВ fantastic look. She reminds me ofВ someone.
«My name is Victoria or Lavina, whichever you prefer,» I make a second attempt. This time she doesn’t even turn in my direction. «You understand English? Are you scared? Maybe you need help?»
No reaction. IВ stand inВ confusion for another minute, but the girl continues toВ ignore me. IВ decide toВ discuss this with Alex, but when IВ return, he is fast asleep, snoring inВ his chair. IВ make myself comfortable, close the eyes, and finally manage toВ fall into aВ restless sleep.
***
I spend most of the flight sleeping. I retreat twice to the rear of the plane. The strange girl sits in her place, curled up and fast asleep. I am extremely surprised when I understand what kind of object she is holding tightly to her chest – a small chessboard. The thought of the mysterious passenger haunts me.
Once Alex wakes up and IВ ask if he has noticed the strange girl behind us. He cheerfully replies with aВ shrug:
All the boys and girls on this plane are strange. As for the absent-minded scientist behind you, he is just from another planet.
I decide not to develop the topic with Alex and figure it out on my own. Maybe it’s just the daughter of one of the crew. Perhaps she doesn’t understand English or is playing the role of a character in one of the quest tasks. I open my notebook and make a note: «get to know the mysterious girl better.»
We get aВ second lunch two hours before boarding. Despite my lack ofВ appetite, this time IВ still eat the whole tray. The food seems bland, cold and totally tasteless. Alex makes aВ sarcastic comment В«they know how toВ cook bad.В»
After the flight attendants have removed the leftover food, the monitor turns on, and aВ woman like my good old friend The Glossy Lady greets us dryly. She asks toВ listen toВ the rules again, which, as it seems toВ me, everyone has already learned byВ heart:
1. The location ofВ the game, tasks and situations, methods ofВ organization and equipment are the intellectual property ofВ the Corporation and must be kept inВ strict confidence.
2. When communicating, the participants should use the following terminology: Location – the place where the quest takes part, Players – participants in the quest, Platform – the gathering place for Players to discuss current tasks, Bungalow – the place of residence of the Players, Cell – the Player’s room. This rule is advisory in nature.
3. The players’ communication language is exclusively English.
4. Play names should be used throughout the game. This rule is advisory inВ nature.
5. At the Location, the Organizers will provide the Players with everything necessary for the Game. Each Player has the right toВ take with him one piece ofВ home, such as an amulet, photograph, personal item, accessory, stationery or small piece ofВ clothing. All electronic devices, especially communication facilities, are strictly prohibited for use inВ the Location.
6. The player is obliged toВ wear wardrobe items and use only things provided byВ the Organizers inВ everyday life.
7. Daily schedule: wake up strictly at 9:00, going toВ bed strictly at 21:00. ByВ this time, each Player must be inВ his cell alone, have already had dinner, taken aВ shower, put on the provided set ofВ clothes and gone toВ his bed. Healthy and prolonged sleep is an absolute must inВ the Game. Each Player determines the meal time for himself.
8. Every morning for seven days, the Players will be asked situations with detailed instructions. When completing tasks, players are guided byВ their own decisions. The organizers do not interfere inВ the decision-making process and the development ofВ strategies for completing tasks under no circumstances.
9. Only one Player can win the Game, however, joint problem solving is encouraged until the final.
10. Under no circumstances the Players have the right to leave the Location and independently remove the Game Coordinators from their forearms before the Game’s end.
11. The Players will be punished for violation ofВ the rules ofВ the Game, and eliminated from the Game for significant violations.
12. The organizers are not responsible for the actions ofВ the Players inВ aВ particular situation, as well as have no right toВ interfere with the course ofВ the Game.
13. The game is considered over when one ofВ the Players completes the final task.
The woman on the screen monotonously repeats the rules inВ aВ circle over and over again, which obviously irritates the passengers. Therefore, everyone sighs with frank relief when the first pilot announces the landing ofВ the plane. The curator on the monitor gives further instructions:
В«The cars waiting at the airport are supposed toВ take the players toВ the location. Please follow our drivers.В»
The screen goes blank. IВ look out the window and gasp for breath. AВ ridge ofВ islands spreads directly below us. They create bizarre geometric shapes framed byВ snow-white sand strips, then pale blue areas ofВ lagoon water and, finally, deep blue water abysses. This is roughly how IВ imagined paradise. Stunning views relieve the tension ofВ the last day. Against all odds, IВ once again feel the excitement inВ the solar plexus area ahead ofВ the upcoming adventure.
В«What do you think these islands are?В» IВ ask Alex dreamily.
«Let me think about it, given the plane’s trajectory, altitude and speed, wing angle and the appearance of the islands, it becomes obvious that I have no idea. The Indian Ocean has a great many archipelagos: Chagos, Seychelles, Eparhe, Maldives, Yemen and so on. Choose what your heart desires.»
В«IВ only know that this is aВ heavenly place, and we will have aВ great time here. Such islands are created for absolute happiness, harmony with nature and their own inner world.В»
«Provided that we won’t be eaten by the local aborigines.»
***
The plane lands at aВ small airport drown inВ greenery. Lush vegetation pleases the eye. Wild trees and flowers have surrounded the runway and seem toВ stretch their green paws towards the plane. An uncomplicated building, equipped with radars, looks rather like aВ small hangar, which, perhaps, it is. Mesmerized, IВ watch the lush vegetation amid aВ faint hint ofВ civilization until the plane finally stops.
Three snow-white jeeps with the Antakarana symbol on the right wing are waiting at the gangway.
As soon as we leave the plane, my first thought is – how will I breathe here? The air is heavy, warm, and seems very humid. But a couple of minutes pass, and the lungs adapt to it, so the unusual humidity and heat do not bother me anymore. I look around with delight and wonder how different the green color can be: from light, almost yellow, cutting eyes of light green to dark emerald, almost black.
The local drivers inВ white suits are waiting near the cars. Planck, the blonde girl, the southern woman and the athlete get into the first jeep, and it drives off immediately. The driver ofВ the second car gestures toВ the next four passengers who left the plane: me, Alex, the absent-minded scientist and the guy with an angelic face. We sit down inВ aВ comfortable spacious salon and the car starts toВ move. IВ turn around and see the last three participants: the Chinese woman, the thin woman with the big glasses and the little stranger girl. Obviously, the third jeep is prepared for them.
The driver turns toВ us, smiles and mutters something inВ the local language, sounds like aВ greeting.
В«How long will the trip take?В» Alex asks inВ English.
The driver explains with gestures that he does not understand him. As for me, IВ plan toВ take advantage ofВ the travel time: toВ get toВ know the participants better and adore the great views. However, either from aВ long journey, or from the experienced shocks, my eyes suddenly begin toВ stick together. IВ struggle for another couple ofВ minutes, then finally fall into aВ deep sleep without any dreams.
***
When I open my eyes, the darkness has descended – so thick that nothing is visible outside the car. My whole body is numb, I can feel pain in the muscles of the neck and a metallic taste on the tongue. The head buzzes unpleasantly. I yawn wide and hear the driver muttering something in his own language.
В«Obviously IВ fell asleep. How long were we on the way?В» IВ ask Alex inВ Russian, still half asleep. He often blinks with sleepy eyes.
В«IВ have no idea, because IВ slept like aВ child. The flight can be so exhausting when it starts with aВ small plane crash.В»
«Does anyone know how long we were on the way?» I am addressing other participants in English. It turns out that we all slept all along. At this moment, the monitor, placed directly above the driver’s head, lights up. The same woman as on the screen in the plane appears, and announces in the same even voice:
В«Welcome toВ the Location, dear Players! Local time is 8:00В p.m.В This means you have an hour toВ occupy your cells, take aВ shower, put on your prepared clothes and go toВ bed. The light will go out exactly at 9:00В p.m.В After that, no one is allowed toВ be outside the cells. Tomorrow morning, at exactly 9:00В a.m., the Game will begin. Try toВ get some rest and prepare yourself for the challenges ofВ the first day.В»
***
We leave our jeep, wave goodbye toВ the driver, and head towards the Bungalow. InВ the dense twilight, little is visible, but this also sharpens the sense ofВ smell and hearing. IВ listen toВ unusual sounds with aВ sinking heart. The cries ofВ unfamiliar nocturnal birds and the hysterical chirping ofВ insects with the rhythmical, enchanting sound ofВ the ocean inВ the background create the impression that IВ have entered another world. The aroma ofВ night freshness, mixed with aВ specific smell ofВ algae, hits the nostrils. What an unearthly pleasure toВ inhale this air, toВ feel the moist warmth ofВ the ocean on your skin, toВ feel the gentle touch ofВ aВ light breeze on your face!
The path toВ the Bungalow is lined with stones with built-in lanterns, the dim light ofВ which makes it possible toВ distinguish the silhouettes ofВ tall trees.
We four enter our new home. InВ the dark, it is difficult toВ tell what material it is made of. The corridor is painted white and has no furniture or interior elements. The bungalow is constructed inВ the shape ofВ aВ circle, the doors are situated every two meters from each other. They are numbered and signed with the game names ofВ the participants.
1. «BeBe». What a strange nickname, I have no idea who it could belong to. 2. «Planck». A courteous elderly man in the front row. 3. «Yu». Briefly and clear, that nothing is clear. 4. «Angel». A guy with a cute face stops in front of this cell, smiles charmingly and wishes good night. Of course, «Angel» means angel in English. I find it a little sugary, and out of the corner of my eye, I can see Alex struggling to keep from laughing. 5. «Lavina». My cell. I say goodbye to Alex and the thin man – Joleo, as he introduced himself on board the plane – and open the door.
The interior furnishings and decoration ofВ the room are as simple as possible. The cell is aВ square about three byВ three meters, without windows and any adornment. The walls and ceiling are painted white, traditional for the Corporation. There is aВ small bed against the right wall, next toВ it is aВ bedside table and aВ chair. Looking closer, IВ notice aВ small niche inВ the wall. Nearby IВ see aВ button, when pressed, the metal screen moves. Behind it there are aВ toilet and aВ tiny shower.
All scarce furniture, bed linen and aВ towel inВ the shower are snow white. There is an electronic clock on the nightstand, which shows 20:07. On the back ofВ aВ chair, aВ crisp white nightwear is neatly folded. It smells sterile clean. The temperature inВ the room is quite comfortable, obviously supported byВ the central climate system. And yet IВ am extremely disappointed that there is no window inside. The smell and sound ofВ the ocean would be dearer toВ me than the most comfortable temperature created byВ the modern technology.
IВ wonder what toВ do next. According toВ the schedule, at 21:00В you need toВ be inВ your bed, but for me there is no chance ofВ falling asleep. All the shocks experienced today and aВ long sleep inВ the car will not allow me toВ relax. This means that aВ restless, sleepless night is ahead, and inВ the morning I, very tired, will start my first game day. With these thoughts IВ head toВ the tiny bathroom, but the water flows only inВ aВ cool, thin stream, so that the hope ofВ soaking up under aВ warm shower after more than aВ day ofВ flights is crushed toВ smithereens.
«The conditions created by the organizers are far from ideal,» – I note with regret to myself.
After the shower, I put on my pajamas, sit on the bed and take out my notebook. Time to make the first notes about this strange day. But not a single worthwhile thought wants to go into the head. My gaze falls on the last record about the young stranger. What a mysterious girl! Certainly, I must learn more about her. Why am I so attracted by her secret – is the reason her age or something else?
Suddenly IВ hear steps outside the door. Without thinking twice, IВ jump toВ my feet, look out into the corridor and immediately see the bright red head, whom IВ was thinking about aВ secondВ ago.
«Wait, don’t go, please,» I whisper.
The girl, without turning around, stops in place. At least she’s not deaf and dumb, I think with relief. Where to start so as not to scare her away?
В«IВ saw aВ chessboard inВ your hands. My father loves this game very much. From my childhood he made me keep him company. If you get bored or need aВ second player, maybe then you will let me join?В»
The girl turns around and looks at me seriously with big blue eyes. Suddenly, a wide, sincere smile lights up her face. I feel confused from surprise and don’t know how to react.
В«Thank you, dad,В» IВ think toВ myself, В«finally your queens are good for something.В»
Her smile shakes toВ the core and fills with incredible warmth. Perhaps this is exactly what IВ need toВ overcome the shock IВ experienced today.
«You’re right. It’s better with a partner. Playing chess alone is not very interesting. I win at myself all the time,» she nods, a little thoughtfully, as if doubting her decision.
«It seemed to me that only adults are allowed to participate in the quest. The fact that it can be children…» I abruptly shut up, scolding myself: «Damn it! These are definitely not the words to gain her trust.»
«I’m not an ordinary child, but a master of sports in chess in the junior category. And I take part in this Game because they need me,» she calmly answers.
«I’m sorry, of course! I did not mean to offend you. It’s just that the things happened today are capable of breaking the psyche of an adult, let alone children…»
