Catherine was calm and judicious, the kind of person Ruthra wanted to entrust with monitoring and analyzing the contacts between Iulia and YatSan. Iulia in turn was to be both a beacon and an anchor for actions, motivations for actions, and checks and balances on YatSan's actions, but not all of them. IuLia had many pluses as well as, perhaps, minuses. For example, in her 36, she managed to live with several men for quite a long time, one of whom gave birth to a child, but after 3 years of joint life "love-wetting" ended: the woman chose a child and freedom. YatSan did the same after seven years and without a child, the absence of which may have been the cause of the estrangement, but this, of course, according to the rules of the genre, she denied. Although there "love-carrots" was initially boiled, suitable for vinaigrette. Either way the wenches were on a systematic search, which is what Rutra needed. Of course, that couldn't be the main criterion by which Rutra chose them.
IuLia was active, a leader, a motivation for others, an epathetic personality. YatSan was more quiet, but very observant and cautious. By zodiac sign she was a Libra, and this played both a positive role – in the form of prudence and responsibility in actions, and a little bit negative – in manifestations of indecisiveness. Although the latter was not so important, the main thing, as they say, was not to make fateful mistakes that could not be changed . But time passed, and, as you know, ladies fade, and the school system produces every year not only future specialists, but also new competitors, and in the case of women – competitors, because boys older than themselves rarely choose and prefer younger, brighter.
A spectacle was played out in which, especially for the ladies, of great importance were the demonstrative purchases for large sums of money or the money transfers that Rutra asked Iulia to make, giving access to his account. Once in a while, quite respectable men, richly dressed and with guards, would visit Rutra when he was in the company of the crew. In addition, Rutra would put calls on speakerphone that discussed large deals and incidents (both happy and sad) with very famous personalities. And, of course, a certain secret halo, maintained at his request, was around his reports, which Rutra would let Rutra secretly review ostensibly to correct spelling errors. These papers, of course, included very important organizations and individuals with high government positions mixed with unknown names, who nevertheless had solid academic degrees. Of course, this aroused interest.
Once again, when Rutra pretended to be very busy so he couldn't take part in the game, he decided to stir up even more interest and offered to help the team help him. It was an intrigue fueled by the hint of large sums of money and even fame. Uh-oh, what is our life?…caviar, then red, then black. That's what Rutra himself liked to say. And it all worked out. Rutra devised a plan, he came up with a new event – the release of another book with overwhelming reviews and awards; everyone was invited to celebrate the success. Prior to this, Rutra had occasionally spoken about his work and the topics addressed in the books – conspiracies, mysteries, secret data – which suggested Rutra's uneasy inner content. So, at the meeting Rutra offered, already friends, to participate with him in a secret program, warning in advance that although they pay very large sums for participation – the responsibility will be no less high. In particular, Rutra announced a condition that required moving to a secret center and living there for a while, without leaving, under complete control, with minimal contact with the outside world. After a couple of glasses of the brut that the ladies had chosen, what Rutra said was received with interest and cheerful levity, and only Andrian, after cheers, asked seriously:
– Is this something real or is it a game, based on a book you have in mind?
– What's so unrealistic about it? I'm offering you a serious topic. And it looks fantastic at first, because you haven't seen anything yet.
– Uh-oh," Yatsan exclaimed. – From the way you said it, it's all true.
– I'm telling you, the subject is wo," Ruthra clenched his fist and pointed his thumb up.
– Did you even understand what he meant? – Andrian asked her.
– I missed something too," Catherine intervened.
– Rutra, are these amounts a gimmick?
Of course, for the average person, such an offer might have seemed unrealistic. Moving to a secret center, and literally everyone should know the legend about a completely different activity, although with some secrecy (allegedly a shift in a foreign country), the offer to receive a million dollars at the end… it was confusing, but at the same time made them feel euphoric. This cocktail bubbled in them for about 13 seconds and eventually burst out in fireworks in the form of cheers and emotional aura vibrations.
– Rutra, say it's a joke! – Iulia's eyes were shining, and at the same time she hoped it was true.
– Guys, please sit down and listen to me seriously now," Rutra said calmly and monotonously. – I'm offering you a very serious thing. Are you ready for it? It is a very great responsibility, and perhaps even a danger and a risk. But I tell you at once that you are in no particular danger, provided you comply with the requirements. The main threat to you is if you violate the regime of secrecy and secrecy. At this stage, I must warn you of your responsibilities and offer to participate. Either you refuse, or from now on you are in the program… and are bound by secrecy, even if you do not agree to the experiment. And if you do, you can't leave the program until it's over. This program is supposed to last a year. You can't leave the system even if you don't participate in the program. Not until after a year. And if you violate the non-disclosure regime, you'll be arrested and most likely spend the rest of your life in a restricted area.
Their faces became serious, the ladies looked at each other, then smiles appeared. Ruthra continued, noticing this:
– What did you think, you were offered that much money out of the blue? Surely there's something important behind it.
– Strange, why us? – Andrian asked.
– Yes, amazing," Catherine maintained her interest.
Iulia looked at Ruthra questioningly. Their gazes crossed involuntarily. Ruthra felt a spark. Iulia was unaware of his ability (with Irene's help) to read minds. She used a secret language that Ruthra called the "poke method," and many called it enchantments. Where the origins of the word are unknown. It's like the concept of god: anything that is intuitively perceived as reasonable but rationally inexplicable. Few people think about why we determine a lot of things by looking, what the expressions "to read the eyes", "to strike with a look" mean. This language was to be finally understood by mankind in the era of the reign of artificial intelligence …
Ruthra could easily read her intentions and goals, and it was clear. An unmarried woman with a child, good-looking (both externally and internally); of course she wanted to marry, and to marry a worthy man. This did not interfere with the plans. It even accompanied them. Ruthra decided to play along. Of course, Catherine and YatSan also desired attention. Many men don't understand why women try to be so attractive: it's a kind of sport. They, having received attention, can forget about the admirer at all. The main thing – to satisfy their desire, and no matter how then a man would not try – interest and love for himself may not deserve. This is the nature of women. They need a lot of "tits in the hands". They need a guarantee just in case. Just like men, but on the contrary, pokoketnichal, put noodles on ears – and maybe there will be a continuation, maybe it will be easy to plunge into the "labyrinths of nirvana".
It was a card to be played, of course, even though Ruthra was betting on YatSan, but again he intuitively sensed her peculiar irresponsibility, which was itself unconsciously manifest. It was just that the girl, if she could be called that, had not yet found herself in situations where everything depended solely on her, on her thoughtful actions.
– Can we make it?
– Let's get serious.
Rutra was surprised to hear it from YatSan. She was clearly intrigued and interested in the proposal and the experiment.
– Listen carefully. This is very serious. First, do you accept the condition of secrecy?
– Accept," IuLia said, smiling, while glancing at YatSan, indicating a lack of understanding of the seriousness of the offer.
Ruthra, looking at the situation "from the outside", was able to realize: they were not yet a good idea of the danger if they broke their promises. He decided to explain everything again in a different environment and in a different place.
– Let's do it this way, if you're interested in what I've suggested – tomorrow we'll meet at that building, and then in the appropriate office I'll tell you everything in detail.
Rutra pointed them to a building not far from the cafе where everyone was sitting. It was the local FSB office.
– Just no questions, no doubts, no pomp and circumstance, no disclosure. Consider our agreement already made. The sum I offered you is not offered for a case that does not involve great responsibility and risk. I'll ask you to take that into account, too.
– That's what makes me doubt," Andrian retorted.
– Do you accept the treaty? – Ruthra asked sternly.
– I think so," Andrian answered first and as if for everyone, looking at his friends.
– I'll see you tomorrow, then. I'll meet you there.
Ruthra pointed at the building again. There was a look of disbelief on their faces. Ruthra got up from the table and said goodbye, making one last remark:
– But I tell you right away: if you don't believe me, if you are not serious, if you say one word, then immediately, even if I ask you to do so, refuse. This is an extremely important matter. I'm not joking. Honestly… I can read what is behind your smiles.
– No smiles. I really believe it, but it's unusual," Iulia justified herself.
– You'll understand tomorrow. Goodbye.
Chapter 10. Ticket to those worlds
The next day, as agreed, they met at the appointed place. Accordingly, a command was given "from above" and an indication was given of where Rutra had decided to perform the rite of enlistment. By and large, he was not even surprised by the arrival of all of them: he had confidence in the boys. In addition, the fact of the reward played a significant role. People do not know whether the promise of paradise is true or false, but the probability that it is true is so important that they try to fulfill the conditions to hypothetically be there, especially these conditions are not so difficult. And here coming to a meeting is too simple a requirement to fail to fulfill and deprive oneself of the possibility of getting a weighty sum of money.
Rutra made sure that the people were met and escorted to a secret windowless room in the underground floor. He wanted to create an aura of mysterious importance, which he succeeded in doing: the arrivals were no longer the jokers they had been before, their faces were serious. Rutra did not "cheapen" the plot with such a conversation starter: "Well, now do you realize who you're talking to?" No, as was his custom, he behaved in a simple manner and got straight to the point.
– Good morning, gang. It's come to fruition. We are all together in the process. Although we're not yet in parallel worlds, they're not far away. Just a few thousand kilometers away is the laboratory. There we have the equipment that will transport you to other dimensions. Yes, yes. There's also an observation and training room. How's that working out for you? Let me tell you about something that is purely scientific in style and scientific in itself. The first and foremost thing you have to accept is that you're in the system, and there's no easy way out. In fact, there is no way out of there at all. If you think my inviting you and welcoming you into this organization is too cool, it's not really. This is just a normal government organization. I could have received you elsewhere, but receiving you here gives you a certain sense of importance and seriousness. It's really very serious. Honestly, absolutely no kidding. If you take it lightly, if you're going to change your mind, much less demonstrate any sort of whimsy, then leave right away. And if you stay, then know that if you violate the terms you have accepted – no friendship. Nothing will save you. I'm dead serious. Think of me as a stranger. If you enter the system, you're there forever.
The faces of his new friends were serious and at the same time incomprehensible. Of course, everyone was wondering why me and what it all meant. Ruthra didn't make them worry about those questions.
– I understand you're thinking, if this is so serious, why did they pick me? What do you have to do with something so important? Well, you have to accept the first condition first, and then the whole deal. I repeat: you are entering a system from which there is no way out. Do you understand?
Rutra somewhat famously began pointing his index finger at each, and people took turns nodding their heads and saying "yes."
– Now that's it, the jokes are over, as well as some of your past life, you have a new secret stage to begin. Now I'll explain further. Only first I have to turn on this little thing that blocks our conversations even from these friends.
He pointed his index finger upward, and everyone knew who he meant, then Ruthra pressed a button on the self-heating coffee cup, and robotic butterflies flew out of it, scattered to the corners of the room, attached themselves to the walls, and began flashing. The spectacle was dignified and certainly felt like a show to those present so far. However, everyone realized – this was not happening in an apartment, a cafe, or even an office. They had a premonition of something both amusing and dangerous.
– At this stage I will tell you about the main topic, the second stage is for you to move with me to other lands. Everything will be clearly formalized as an important business trip to a foreign country. Accordingly, you will first for alibi, as a legend, will be invited to work in an international corporation, and perhaps – and in the embassy of one of the countries. I think the embassy will be even better. The third stage is direct involvement in the project. Now why you. By way of introduction I will say: you have to believe me, there is no game. And there's no time for games either. If something is not clear – memorize, then ask. You were chosen for this project by an artificial intelligence. Ask me again why. It did not choose you exactly, but the most suitable combination according to many indicators, which included many things, from age and state of health, including moral and psychological, to the parameters of everything that concerns you and society in ten years. Everything is very simple and everything is very complicated. So, let's start from the point where it means that you should believe me, and listen further… There is a certain super-secret international program, in which I am a very important bird, let's say so – in popular language. Now, the main backbone of this group are scientists. Believe me, the level of science that you know, though it may be overwhelming to some, is stone age for our group. Or almost. For example, what would you say if I told you about the possibility of cloning, creating a copy of you, downloading your digital copy through your brain and instilling your image into the clone. You would say: nonsense and fantasy. And I will answer you: you will live and work in this system. Now I will say again, as if by the way, although you understand, I warn you… Yes, yes, you will have to think quickly and understand me half-heartedly. And I want to say, of course, what else?
Ruthra pointed a finger at Iulia, who, thinking, snapped back:
– You have to be able to keep quiet.
– Not only that," Ruthra added with a look of approval and satisfaction on his face. – You're not as free as you'd like to be, but you're in the system. If you break the contract, your memory will be erased. Yeah, yeah, I'm not kidding or scaring you. It's not a fantasy, it's already a reality for many, not quite even secret, secret structures. You should be aware of that. Shall we continue?
Everyone nodded.
– So first I'll tell you something scientific, and then I'll tell you what I and a group of smart guys and secret world rulers have planned. Shall we?
– I'm curious," Iulia was the first to answer.
She was the most active.
– I'm intrigued too," Catherine replied.
– I hope you don't need a degree to understand," Andrian said a little jokingly.
YatSan remained silent, but she signaled with a look that she was waiting for more information.
– So, let's begin. I have to tell you about such a topic as the theory of multiworld interpretation. Don't ask me what, why and why yet. I told you from the beginning – you have to believe me. For you little by little my story, training, what is happening – everything will be put together like pieces of a mosaic into a picture. Consider that you yourself are picking up the puzzles to understand the overall meaning. Going further. Let's say, for example, we are living in ancient Egypt at the moment of completion of the construction of the pyramid of Cheops. Tell me, was it a grandiose event?
Before they could react in any way, Ruthra himself answered:
– Yes, you're going to say it's huge. And I will say, yes, it's grandiose, comparable to the first human space flight. And what would you say at that time if someone asked you to explain the existence of molecules or the structure of the solar system? You would have considered it magic, devilry and fantasy, if not to say nonsense. So now in our world quite serious scientists, and for a long time already, consider the existence of parallel worlds. Yes, yes.
Ruthra took note: although their faces remained serious, a slight chuckle ran through them.
– Let's hear what science has to say about it. A multiverse is a hypothetical set of all possible real-life parallel universes, including the one we are in. According to the hypothesis of Hugh Everett, the creator of the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics, we live in a universe, or rather, a multiverse, in which many successive worlds are constantly being born and branched off, each containing a different version of you. I'll tell you right away – don't try to memorize everything by heart. We will come back to this topic many times, and I will give details, explain everything. So, physicists who studied this topic used the many-worlds interpretation to explain the incomprehensibility of the Copenhagen interpretation, namely, the statement that an unobservable phenomenon can exist in two states. There is the Copenhagen interpretation, Everett's many-worlds interpretation, and a bunch of other theories, but these are the main ones. So instead of saying that Schr?dinger's cat is both alive and dead – the many-worlds interpretation says that the cat has simply "branched off" into different worlds: in one it is alive, in another it is dead. Now here we need to sort of move on to this cat.
Ruthra looked at Andrian and noticed his desire to show his knowledge of the subject, but the girls didn't know, because it wasn't a woman's subject. So, with a nod, Ruthra continued:
– So, the cat experiment. It was presented to the world by someone very clever and imaginative – Uncle Schroedinger. What is the experiment? The point is that at the atomic level there are processes that are miracles and mysticism for our material world. These are such processes as, for example, a flying atom, which at first has the shape of a ball, but as soon as we decide to photograph it, that is, see it, it turns into a line. There are such oddities in the microcosm. It's as if this particle sees us, or rather, the observer, and appears in a different image. You may ask, how do we know that the atom was a ball before it was seen? And I will answer you: there is a trace that it leaves on the screen in front of it. It has to be recorded somehow, that it was there at all. I'll explain more about that later, but for now about this cat. It's actually a thought experiment. There is no cat. So, conditionally, we take a cat and put it in a box. We put a flask of poisonous gas, a radioactive atom and a Geiger counter. The radioactive atom may or may not decay at any moment, that's its nature. If it decays, the counter will detect the fact – and a special mechanism will break the flask with gas, and the cat will die. If it doesn't, the cat stays alive. Here's the one with and without surveillance. We close the cat in the box – from this moment, from the point of view of quantum mechanics, our atom is in a state of uncertainty: whether it has disintegrated or not. For us, while we are in ignorance, without precise observation, before we open the box and look in it – it will be in two states at once. And since the cat's life directly depends on the state of this atom, it turns out that the cat is literally alive and dead at the same time. That's how quantum theory depicts this situation. Now we move smoothly to the multiverse. So what's the point? In different variations it is as if the life of the cat, i.e. atom, and consequently – of all atoms and, of course, of everything that consists of these atoms – is under question: how it is there – in the world where another event happened. Here I will go a little bit ahead and say that we should add such a mystical phenomenon as quantum entanglement. This is such a thing, when two particles are friends, let's say, but they were separated, they scattered. Well, they're twins, let's say. So these twins can fly apart over incredible distances, but they can stay connected to each other. A bond so strong that it's instantaneous, faster than the speed of light. Of course, you don't have to know all the laws of physics, but I'll tell you that in our world, in our universe, there is nothing greater than the speed of light. No, because it's a law! But not in this case. Nevertheless, it is still a kind of mysticism: how and with what help they make this connection – no one knows yet. A miracle in the solid laws of exact science. It sounds delusional, but it is a fact. Here I have already told you about two mystical phenomena. Now, of course, you'll think: why did he gather us here and tell us such things? But you're interested, aren't you? Aren't you?
– Well, yes, hard to understand, but interesting," Iulia replied expectantly.
Ruthra looked around at everyone: those gathered were a little pensive and tense, but satisfied.
– Since we have understood the topic, the essence, and, most importantly, each other, I suggest that we continue to delve further into the program in a more comfortable environment, for example, in a cafe, over a cup of tea. First of all, we forget about my proposal. The legend will be as follows: I am a researcher of one international organization, which is conducting a space project. Specifically, training astronauts to go to Mars. It's not much of a surprise nowadays. To be convincing, we need to talk about the ongoing program of flight simulation and crew cohabitation. There is a real program. You can refer to it. I will now give information on it, if anything – all your data will really be entered into that program. So everything is real. You have to live it, get into the roles so much that you can start having conversations among yourselves about it as if it were your real business.
– What about secrecy then? – Andrian asked.
– Secrecy is exactly what it is all about: the false story must look like the real story, no one must in any case know about the true deeds. Understand, great minds think there, so everything is provided for. Our program itself is so incredible that even if you tell about it – your false story will be believed more than the real one. I'll give you a few days to think about it. All your conversations are being monitored. I'll send you links to where and what to read about the program. You can talk openly about suggestions for the program. Now listen to a little more about the program that will be a legend. Are you ready?
Everyone shook their heads in agreement. Ruthra turned on a video: "Mars Flight Simulation: Participants in a new test will spend eight months in isolation. After a short introductory video, he looked around at everyone. Even this information was definitely something out of the realm of science fiction for the ladies.
– I hope the topic is clear? – he asked, turning off the video.
– It's clear," Andrian replied.
The others reacted in silence, though their faces expressed both delight and bewilderment.
– Now the following. You will be in Europe, directly in the dungeons of CERN. For those who don't know enough, CERN is the European Organization for Nuclear Research, the world's largest laboratory for high-energy physics. It is located on the border of Switzerland and France, near Geneva. Legend has it you'll be at the Ames Research Center, USA. It's one of NASA's laboratories. Areas of activity: information technology, space biology, astrobiology; research on the origin, evolution and distribution of life in the universe; research on the operation, capabilities of airplanes, their operation and safety. Located on the grounds of Moffett Federal Airfield, near Mountain View, California. Memorize quickly and, if you want to be on the project, stay focused. Now coming out.
They left the building and went to the same cafе from where Rutra had pointed to the place of this meeting, and soon they were sipping coffee together. Rutra continued:
– So, we pass to representations about parallel worlds, which form those very second particles escaped from the first ones. The many-worlds interpretation itself remains quite a controversial issue. Not everyone presents it in the same way. Even among scientists studying the subject, there is no agreement. That's because no one has ever been there. It's like heaven and hell. Everyone describes everything, but nobody knows anything for sure, because nobody has ever returned from there. Maybe they have, since everyone imagines these places as really existing. So there are no less interesting and hot disputes about parallel worlds. Here it is necessary to say something in favor of physics. Note, not everything is based on some notions and conditional belief: really experiments with particles are carried out.
Everyone looked at Rutra with even more interest.
– You want to know exactly what experiments and how? About that later, in the center," Rutra said the last in a whisper. – I'll just say that Chinese scientists launched the second particle into space on a satellite, and on Earth they influenced the first particle; so it changed there instantly. Nobody can understand how they communicate, and more importantly – at what speed, because it is literally instantaneous. Yes, yes, a miracle. However, let's go further. It is difficult for us to imagine even the size of the Sun relative to us, and the fact that we live in a multiverse of gigantic dimensions is beyond comprehension. We can imagine something huge, but here the mechanisms of our imagination are triggered, which were also formed by evolution. People once thought that space ended at the horizon line. Then they went to look for the edge of the earth, including the sea. But they soon realized that there was no edge. Then we went into space. Now we're trying to figure out how long a light year is. And that's a lot. For example, moving at 300,000 kilometers per second, light takes a second to reach the Moon. It's over eight minutes to the Sun. And to the nearest star other than the Sun, it takes four years. So calculate how many seconds and how many kilometers light travels in a year. And our galaxy is 100,000 light years across. And it's not the biggest. To the known "edges" of the universe – either 13-15, or all 37 billion light years. Imagine traveling at that speed for that many years. And that, it turns out, is not the limit of the multiverse's imagination. Imagine that our universe is one city, and there are more cities out there, somewhere very, very far away. Believe me, that's a lot. Our sun holds over 1,350,000 planets like Earth. And in our galaxy, how many stars do you think there are?
Ruthra was so engrossed in the story that he didn't notice how the tense, thoughtful faces of his listeners had changed to cheerful and mischievous ones.
– God knows," again the first was JULIA.
Andrian remained silent, the other ladies shrugged their shoulders, smiling.
– I understand what you're thinking. You're thinking, what does the amount of money I outlined have to do with a reasonable job offer from the organization we met in the basement of? Why did we leave there, fearing a wiretap, what does that have to do with an interesting astronomy story? Hello, though. You have to listen to understand. Now on to the next one. So, there are so many of them that scientists can't tell the exact number – whether it's 100 billion, or 200, or 300, or even 400 billion. And that's just in our galaxy. Let's move on to this very interpretation. Interpretation is also a kind of inaccuracy, a kind of representation that it is like this… I am telling you all this to make you realize that it is really very difficult and unrealistic to understand information at first. I told you – you have to believe me. If I do not bring you to the secret center and do not give you the first part of the sum – then you will have the right to consider everything a lie and fantasy. That would be natural. So now is the moment of truth. Don't laugh, don't be surprised. Take it for granted; I didn't just tell you everything and give you examples. Imagine that tomorrow all the news agencies of the world will report the fixation of a signal from an unearthly intelligence. Would that be a shock? Yes, of course it would. And if these signals were constant? What would you say a year from now? It won't be a big deal. Everyone will get used to it. It's the same thing with the lighter, TV, real-time wireless video, organ transplants and all that. So now I'm going to shock you a little bit. Remember what I said about the mystique of the microcosm of particles? Well, these particles are somehow flying apart, but they're still connected to each other. From this fact, we began to develop the theory of parallel worlds. Yes, yes. It all fits. If there is an antiproton, for the discovery of which we have already received the Nobel Prize, why should not all substances exist in the opposite, i.e. antivariant? And now let's ask: what kind of world do they form? The opposite world, of course. These second scattered, they are called entangled pairs, particles and form their own world, which is as if mirror relative to ours. That is, parallel. Is that funny? Maybe. But the truth, like the author, is near. The inventor of this theory is before you. Your doubts are normal. Now we've come to the line where the scientific review begins. Let's take another coffee and listen to Rutra.
– I'll take the tea," Andrian said and raised his hand, signaling the waiter.
– We'll be right there," Iulia said smiling.
YatSan and Catherine stood up with her, all of them heading towards the inside of the cafe in a friendly manner.
– Is it really real? – Andrian asked.
Ruthra nodded thoughtfully and affirmatively.
– Absolutely.
– Parallel worlds?!
– Imagine a very, very small circle of people knowing about this. Now imagine how great a responsibility I've placed on you.
– I don't even know what to say. It's interesting, and curious… and unbelievable… and dangerous, or something.
