The Children of Zegandaria - Atanas Marinov, Atanas Marinov, Atanas Marinov, Atanas Marinov (world best books to read txt) 📗

would happen. He wanted to steal the fuel in a very tawdry and dishonest way, and the two boys were going to be used as bait. He would have no trouble covering his tracks, hadn't he done it so many times before? Why would this time be any different? What would he face in securing safe transit? What was hard to believe was that Jail carried a heart in his chest as well, as much as it was not to be believed. Many had abused his trust over the years.

Jail wanted to take his big shot and retire. It made him want to escape to one of the distant planets, where he could neither eat onions nor smell onions to see out his life.

He had calculated that his creditors were breathing down his neck and that compound interest would turn his debts from the aforementioned five hundred and forty-three thousand into millions.

He had to come up with all sorts of scenarios to survive these almost two years and repay the debts.

He was desperate for markets for the interon fuel that would be his salvation.

Jail Hunter knew he was unlikely to get a second chance to do something like this and wanted to be on the level.

His life as a commando in the past had taught him not to trust his eyes and ears, but his intuition.

He remembered one of the many operations he had performed. Most had been axed hard! He just always had to operate with other people, and that changed the rules of the game! Why was everything going so haywire?

He remembered all that nonsense about the chain of command that had nearly cost him his life more than once.

Somewhere in there he began to realize that this planet was a pretty dangerous place especially for a broke retired veteran who didn't have much prospects of accomplishing anything in life.

He had to act the right way or he could lose too much.

His partners, as he called his former colleagues among the commandos, were quite bitter about the fact that under the new social order they had to pick up the crumbs from the King's table instead of occupying any decent places in the hierarchy.

So he did his best to redress this injustice.

He dreamed of retiring to one of the captive Outer Ring and watching his life.

It wasn't so impossible after all. The quotation rate of the interon fuel had reached astronomical heights, and he intended to exploit that fact.

Of course, he had to have his own people on the planets of the so-called Outer Ring. People he could go to and stay with long enough before finally, deciding what to do next.

The Central Bank of En Basan, which incidentally was owned by Om Gur Nal, had every reason to give him a small reprieve, knowing that he was doing his best to deal with his problems.

Jail went home.

He was tired and rather groggy. He hadn't counted on the kids to get things done, but he had no better idea, since only students with special permission from Om Gur Nal were allowed to break into the refinery for their fifteen days of community service. Governor Elmbaum's iron rule had to be obeyed!

Through stooges among the guards, he would have caused a revolt among the trade unions to coincide with this moment as well.

But why did he have to wait two whole years? Well, frankly, there were several reasons, but one of them had to do with a huge transfer of money.

And that money belonged to Om Gur Nal himself. Yes, Jail was the mysterious enemy that Om Gur Nal had. He had very cleverly taken advantage of the marginal Sacklin and stolen his discovery of entering the fifth level, but he hadn't done it alone. They'd used that hopelessly ill man from Emvor Na, who didn't care either way, as this was one of the few chances he had to talk to someone in the last moments of his life.

Jail had been preparing his plan for five years, if not more. He had calculated the probabilities down to the micron. He also knew that sooner or later Om Gur Nal would make a mistake, and he had made sure to leave no trace.

Well, it was true that Archibald had gotten some information about an unknown intruder on the sovereign level, but he himself had no particular motives for joining forces with his sworn enemy.

The commando's quarters were not far from the halls where they trained. Incidentally, he was well aware that the place had long been devoid of any signs of life, and so the classes were held there.

- "Your time is drawing near Om Gur Nal," he barked through his teeth. "I will deal with you once and for all. And that was the word of one of the last survivors of Au Kaktir."

Lying on his makeshift bed of boxes, he sank into a deep sleep. He hoped it would at least be pleasant this time.

THE THIRD LEVEL

"You have only one life."

Unknown author

 

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SEVEN: THE THIRD LEVEL

 

Archibald bade farewell to Ak Din, who had been his kindly companion, and in parting the Arab said to him:

- In order to move on, it will not be enough to possess a high intellect and innate talents for assimilating the higher levels of artificial reality. I'll give you something.

He fumbled in his spacesuit and handed him a small electronic ball. It was the size of a larger egg.

- This is the most versatile switch I have. But it'll only do you for level three, which is totally different from mine. And yes the pain in your head will grow in direct proportion to your ascent in this illusory world.

- "And why don't you leave your level?," asked Archibald Peos.

- I'm too old for that. I'm almost forty now. And I'm used to it and I'm fine here.

- "But this might be your last chance to do something!," said Archie excitedly.

- "Your mission isn't over yet, my boy. Hurry up, because you may not be able to complete it soon, which will be quite unfortunate," Ak Din answered him seriously. "I have been your companion so far. But from now on, you continue. That's it! It's very simple!"

Archie decided to ask him one really last question.

- How do you go to the next level?

But by the time he turned around the Arab was gone. There was no sign of him. Second level was special in many ways and Archie would never forget what he had learned so far. He had to use it at all costs on his way up.

To get to this level, he also needed more serious knowledge to help him in his battle for survival. Above all, this level was very dangerous. He couldn't just get to it by passing the Arleon Gates, he had to find them as well.

Wandering around the second level was a hell of a nightmare. Ak Ding wasn't available as his assistant and it was taking a toll on his psyche.

Archie realized how lonely he had been all this time and how only a lucky string of circumstances had led to his reaching this place.

The young man decided not to wave, but to move on.

Archie spent quite a long time on this level, trying to find the way forward. Nothing was working out, and perhaps nothing would. The boy could feel himself drowning in his ignorance.

Then he remembered the words of his mentor, "This is the most universal key I have."

Suddenly, An endless ocean bordering the desert appeared before him. It was vast and impressive. But it seemed to End in nothingness, and that was a slight sign of its artificiality.

Archie stared at the remarkable waves, so artfully crafted by the architects of virtual reality that it was sickening.

"Go on!," he heard a voice in his head.

He headed in that direction. Some unseen mechanical voice commanded:

- To proceed to level three virtual reality, you must have an IQ of at least one hundred and sixty. You also need to be morally decent to exist there.

Archie mused. He had never taken a test like this. He didn't know what he should say or do. It seemed absurd, but it only soured his mood even more.

After looking around more carefully, he noticed that the harlequin doors seemed to float above the surface of the water. That was impressive. But they seemed to be about a hundred and fifty yards away from shore, so he had no idea how to get to them. He tried swimming, of course. Archie was an excellent and experienced swimmer. In college he was always first in every race, but he had never entered the planetary races because he was extremely modest. He insisted on making a breakthrough and succeeded.

The water caressed him like a mother caressing her child. He kept swimming and swimming, but he seemed to be endlessly exhausted. Finally, he reached the gates, mighty and mystical, a wellspring of secret answers that tormented the mind of genius.

- "Morality is more important than knowledge," the voice continued. "Much more important!"

In that endless ocean swam chuhuns[70] that could tear a man to pieces, but they did not bring you close to Archie. These bloodthirsty fish were put in charge of clearing this artificial world of malefactors who couldn't hide their true emotions. Clearly something or someone was protecting him and giving him a chance to move on.

The chuhuns were bloodthirstier than piranhas and bigger than a large swordfish, but apparently Archie wasn't worthy of their attention for some unknown reason.

The young man had to think of a quick way that would open the gates, for that was his salvation.

Swimming he did, and the ocean subtly changed color. From a dark blue it slowly began to lighten until it reached lazy shades of green.

The doors opened. Before him stood twelve guards wearing the masks of Arthusson[71]. Their faces were stony and staring into nothingness. Archie understood-they were waiting for an answer.

- "The answer is in the water," he roared at the top of his voice. "That was where life was born. The colour blue symbolised peace and green growth. I just need to grow up."

The guards were obviously not completely convinced by this answer, because they did not move.

- "Death has no age," one of them told him, "and you convince us otherwise. Your answer is not quite accurate. Make yourself clear!"

- "So isn't it obvious," Archie tried to give himself confidence, "that every level is marked by a colour!"

- "Your logic isn't worth it," the guard laughed at him with a slightly caustic smile, "simply because it's too arbitrary and general. To move on you need to show more, much more than that."

Archie could feel himself drowning, not because he couldn't swim, but because his arms were getting weak from standing in one place for so long. The sun had begun to set.

- "Compassion!," he uttered slowly.

- "That's the right answer!," the watchman moved away respectfully. "When the body dies, the soul retains its energy, provided it leaves it properly. Otherwise it is meaningless! You may pass!"

Archie entered through the harlequin doors. And for the first time realized the huge difference with level two virtual reality. Here he felt like a newborn, for