Chapter 6.
The game.
6.1
Hunchback.
Looking at the map, I usually always note some beautiful places. It must be some kind of ocean, with incredible beauty of uninhabited islands.
I often imagined, what I would do, if I suddenly find myself far from any inhabitants at all.
One on one with the outside world.
But something haunted me.
I noticed - I have never been in the north. In the north, the map was beginning to darken ominously with impenetrable forests and swamps, but there was some kind of mystery in this darkness.
Finally, Lulu and I made up our minds.
After checking our carriage for serviceability, loading a sufficient amount of provisions, we went to distant unknown lands. To the north !
So, Lulu and I have been on our way for the fourth day.
All this time, something unimaginable was happening outside. Thunder rumbled all around, and the sky, like a bottomless bowl, decided to flood everything around.
Except for the noise of wind and rain, of course, nothing was heard, only a constant rumble, which did not stop even during the day.
Despite the horror going on around, the carriage and clothes soaked through, I tried to somehow cheer up Lulu, trying to remember various funny incidents from the past happy days.
But it was all in vain.
The forces were already running out. The worst thing is, that everyone, who follows some difficult and exhausting path is afraid, not so much of physical exhaustion, as of spiritual despair.
Lulu plunged into some kind of oblivion, and began to sob quietly about something in heavy slumber.
Trying to somehow get warm, I lay down next to her, so that it was at least somehow warmer. Immediately, from fatigue, for a while, I fell into darkness.
I woke up incomprehensibly for some reason. My ears were ringing - most likely after another roll of thunder.
With an incredible effort I lifted the heavy body and looked out through the canopy. The horses froze in some kind of horror, refusing to take even a step forward.
Climbing out in the pitch darkness, I caught the familiar and always delicious smell of smoke.
Looking back at Lulu and making sure, that she was still asleep, I decided to check where the smell was coming from.
Having passed from half a kilometer forward, the lights of a village loomed ahead.
Indescribably delighted and perked up with all the fibers of my soul, I rushed to the cart with all my strength.
Taking the horses by the bridle, we hurried forward. The first step was to find at least some kind of lodging for the elementary drying of clothes, and wait out all this weather cataclysm.
I gently pushed Lulu, who flatly refused to move on anywhere, and seemed to be preparing for the worst.
We walked together to the tavern I had noted earlier.
Where else, if not in taverns, you can ask about an overnight stay, and learn about the place in which we found ourselves.
The tavern was a rather large wooden structure of a rather unusual rectangular shape.
Nothing unusual at first glance, but at the same time, there was some kind of ancient mystery and warmth. As if this place has been familiar to you for a long time and everything that is there.
Going inside, I was immediately surprised, that the space inside seemed larger than outside.
Inside, closer to the entrance, there was a small counter where visitors could order drinks, there were tables, and in the far corner opposite there was a huge antique fireplace in a third of the wall, with huge burning logs.
There were few visitors. In the middle there was even a roulette and a card table, although what players can be in such a wilderness.
Of course, first of all, Lulu and I went to the nearest table by the fireplace, where it was undoubtedly the warmest of all and our shabby clothes could dry out faster.
And besides, damn it, it was so beautiful and romantic there! Fortunately, no one was seen in that corner.
Soon, the pretty daughter of the owner of the establishment approached us. Oh, how long have we waited for this moment!
Finally, to eat real hot food for the last three days, which we were shaking in the cart, making our way through forests and swamps.
We, with great anticipation, finally ordered everything we could, as it seemed to us at that time, to swallow. And at that moment we could probably swallow a whole elephant.
Fortunately, the menu included delicious soup and something stewed from vegetables, with some kind of unknown mushrooms, some kind of casserole and something else that I don't know the name of.
Finally, the ordered was brought to us, and we probably plunged into tasting dishes for a good hour. The whole world then ceased to exist.
Everything was delicious. Especially everything that was with cheese and mushrooms. Lulu had cooked a lot in the past.
She always approached the process with creativity and love, as well as understanding food, she also spoke highly of all dishes without exception.
It turned out, that we could rent a room right here in the guest house, next to the tavern. Wasted no time, I dragged our simple belongings into a modest room.
Sated Lulu, falling asleep on the go, collapsed on the bed and a minute later was peacefully snoring and having some kind of restless sleep.
I, in spite of the distance traveled, fatigue and other hardships that I had to endure over the past few days, could not sleep, and decided to sit by the fireplace a little longer and watch the local public.
Entering the tavern and taking a closer look at its device, I noticed that from the inside it was a rectangular shape with high ceilings, almost empty inside.
Closer to the center there was a roulette wheel and a card table, and players began to gather there little by little.
I confess I am very reckless. And who is not? I have often heard that it is necessary to stay away from all kinds of draws, slot machines and cards.
But every time, without listening to anyone, I played.
So, this time, having put my luck on the roulette wheel and lost a couple of extra coins and calmed down on this and went to the familiar table by the fireplace.
There were very few visitors left, and outside the window it continued to rage, groaning it is not clear what.
Sitting at the table, sipping a hot cocktail and enjoying the silence and warmth, I suddenly heard a rustle and noticed that a rather strange visitor sat down at my table.
He was dressed rather casually, in strange long boots and a long cloak of a funny style, which either in these lands were not worn or maybe they were worn a couple of centuries ago.
But that was not the most important thing. Either it was so dark in the corner, or because of the hood thrown over my head, I could not make out his face in any way.
The silence lasted for about five minutes, I began to forget about him, when I heard the question. It was something like wheezing.
- It's very good that you are alone.
I shuddered from surprise.
- In what sense? I asked in bewilderment, trying to seem independent with all my appearance, making it clear, that the stranger had made a mistake.
- Because today we will talk about the most cruel thing, that I know.
- About the Game.
- What Game? I answered in bewilderment.
- About the oldest and most important Game.
- Well, I don’t know, usually I sometimes play cards, roulette, so, to tickle my nerves.
- But I always lose a certain amount and stop there.
- You are talking about passion and greed, the most ancient feelings. But I mean something else.
- What you are about to hear is incomparably more.
- There is nothing wrong with excitement and healthy greed. Moreover, they are in most cases a movable force.
I am here to tell you a story about you.
At the same time, he somehow drooped and slipped slightly from the chair, as if he was not well, and some ugly mounds began to appear under the cloak.
To be honest, looking at his condition, I, getting up, wanted to refuse, but
- To the place !! he growled ... and I realized… that I could not move.
I sank heavily into a chair.
There was a heavy pause.
I could only hear some kind of incomprehensible whistle and wheeze when the strange creature sitting in front of me tried to breathe in more air.
- I would like to tell you about one, about the Game ... said the strange interlocutor, carefully choosing and weighing every single word.
Let's say about the modern Stock Exchange as the most striking embodiment of this Game.
- Although this is not essential - there may be another embodiment of it, or there may be many different ones, but in this case it is the Exchange at this time, in its modern form, in these lands, that has finally reached a development, from which one can start.
- What do you know about modern trade?
- What do I know? Trade is developing as never before - it seems everyone has gone crazy - a huge number of all kinds of stores, where everything is sold in incredible assortments in various forms.
If you don't want to go to the store, everything will be delivered instantly upon a call. One has only to want and have the funds.
- Okay, let me ask a question more specifically, what do you know about the Exchange?
- To be honest, I didn't know much about the stock exchange then. I know that trading on the stock exchange has become possible for almost everyone from home, using numerous electronic means and the general web.
Everywhere on the screens there are some kind of blinking graphics and endless running numbers.
By the way, I would like to try it myself. I feel I should succeed - I answered and cheered up.
The stranger with difficulty turned in my direction and I staggered back. His face ... it was completely haggard, deeply wrinkled and unhealthy in color, as if forces were constantly leaving him somewhere.
He hid his bony hands in the pockets of his cloak, because he could not keep them calm.
“So, first, I'll tell you a little about myself,” he said.
- I was born into a family, where education was valued above all else. I didn't have to worry about earning money until the time, when I could choose the best educational institution in our kingdom and get a diploma.
- Many years ago, I graduated from one of the best universities in our kingdom, and maybe in all the surrounding lands.
I was talented, I grasped everything literally on the fly and was a very promising young man.
The years of study passed unnoticed and after graduating from the most prestigious university, when choosing a profession and getting a job, I did not have any problems.
Having saved up a little capital and practically gaining experience in all more or less important aspects of trading, I decided to try myself in perhaps the most interesting business for every ambitious financier - to play on the stock exchange.
The most perfect and concentrated trading method - the apotheosis of the world.
- As you know, money rules the world.
- I was very ambitious and decided that I knew almost everything. I got down to business thoroughly, and, as they say, plunged headlong.
After these words there was a pause, as if the interlocutor decided to catch his breath, re-experiencing something terrible.
- If I knew ... he continued swaying ... what I would have to face.
6.2
Rules.
The hunchback was suddenly shrinking.
His whole body began to shake and, as if trying to hide from something terrible, he huddled with his legs tucked almost to the very corner, where I could make out only a barely perceptible shapeless silhouette and sparkling mad eyes.
I felt infinitely sorry for him.
When he began to speak, his voice trembled with fear and pain.
It was barely audible, and not a trace remained of the former pressure.
But he found the courage to continue:
- As soon as you press the button to buy or sell something for the first time - it seemed the first time - what a trifle.
- I knew that most lose on the stock exchange, but most of the unfortunate do not understand even one hundredth of what they will have to face.
- Having lost all the money and going crazy will be the least punishment, but then, unfortunately, I did not know any of this.
- I immediately began to make large investments in almost everything.
- Naturally, over time, the minus went, I began to bet more and more, until I got to the handle, having lost everything.
- I got into debt and was close to the last step.
- By that time, I could barely walk, my physical condition became so deplorable.
- Constant mental stress has done its job.
- I hardly ate, nothing in this world interested me anymore - only the game.
- Damn it !!
- Every time I hoped - well, now I will finally get lucky and I will play everything.
An unhealthy grimace contorted his face, if it could be called a face.
- Nevertheless, for days I continued to gaze greedily at the monitor with almost blind eyes.
- So, wait !, I screamed
- I know hundreds of traders, who have failed and nothing, they are alive and well .. many do not even lose heart.
- Yes, you are right in the majority of these ... Having received a couple of warning blows to the teeth, their sense of self-preservation worked, and they crawled away whining and gnashing their teeth ...
- Trust me, they will never be the same and most will end their days in despair and deepest depression ..
- We are talking about those madmen, who always go ahead, and to the end. I feel very sorry for them, and at the same time I admire them.
- They will never retreat, even if they know that this will be their last fight. By the way, it is for them the game designed, because only they will be able to move on.
-So, the hunchback continued, what happens next?
- Nothing good. Then a real carnage begins.
- With any gambling for money, a certain spring is triggered in the player, opening a certain veil, from where something terrible that was deeply hidden begins to crawl out.
- Following this, they immediately appear ...
The hunchback closed his eyes and whispered with incredible pain:
- For many years I have constantly asked myself the same question.
- Why such a seemingly innocent game can be such a terrible punishment??
- I must say, that over time I became vaguely aware, that there is something elusive behind this game, something extremely grandiose and dangerous.
- Everything, that players see as an innocent game for money is just a cover and a small tip of a huge iceberg, from which they need to stay away.
But it was too late, I had gone too far.
- In order not to go crazy, reliving everything anew, I will try to answer with black humor.
- If the player is not hacked to death by the creditors, whom he ruined, they appear.
-They have funs, that have been loved since ancient times.
-You have heard about the ancient punishment for those, who approached what was carefully guarded.
“The poor fellows were tied to a wheel outside and let him roll down the hill.
“By the end of the journey, they didn’t have a single whole bone.
- Yes, it's hard to believe, that this is possible in our time. But we met here, across such a distance, for no joke.
- The same thing happened to me.
-I was left in the mud, at dusk, in the pouring rain.
- I looked at the sky without feeling my body and was preparing to leave this sinful world, but at that time a shadow hung over me and a quiet voice whispered - Do I still wish to know the First Rule of the Game.
- A tear spontaneously rolled from my swollen eyes. They picked me up and put me on the cart.
- This is how I learned the First Rule of the Game.
6.3
Deal.
- You know, he began after a long time in a trembling voice
“I’m a brave warrior, of course, and often reckless, but, excuse me, I will not endure the second such test.
Here, despite the tragedy of the situation, both of us spontaneously broke in half, and we burst out laughing wildly.
This continued until tears rolled from his eyes and laughter became like convulsive sobs.
The drunks in the tavern began to worry about our sanity.
At this moment, one of the most incredible sensations of infinitely warm, like lightning passed through me.
But understanding why, came many years later.
- So, where did we stop? brushing away tears he continued.
- Several months have passed, I slowly began to recover, to go out into the street leaning on a stick.
- My hair became all gray and no one could recognize me since then.
- Suddenly, one evening, trudging along the street, in the rain, I felt, that I was not alone.
- No, this is not what it is imagined. This is the feeling when you know for sure, but you may not see with your eyes.
- Well, not alone, I thought, I’m neither cold nor hot. It couldn't be worse anymore.
- I was no longer afraid of anything by that time, and I had absolutely nothing to lose except my worthless life.
- When you make the very first move in the Game, know, that after making this step, you will not be released anywhere else.
- Nobody knows with what, and most importantly with whom, he will have to face.
- Two paths are prepared for everyone, who takes this path: ruin, destruction of body and mind, and death.
- Unfortunately, such a fate awaits most of the poor, because it is almost impossible to withstand it.
- It's only a matter of time.
- As a rule, he continued gloomily, afterwards, the player begins to understand what he faced.
- As a sign of mercy and a certain respect, the crippled one will be allowed to leave the Game alive.
- Or continue, by starting the next stage of training.
- The Game is the engine.
- The stock exchange is a tool.
- Money is a means.
- Huge money is given for a reason, not for fun.
- So, if the player decides to move on, a deal is made with him.
- Deal ?? - it got dim in my eyes, some kind of noise went in my ears, and my palms became wet - I didn't need any riches.
- Yes, a deal.
“This is not exactly what you thought when, in very ancient times, a bargain was made with everyone who craved power.
- In this case, the transaction provides for certain rules and objectives.
- After that, your training begins.
- So it started with me.
- Teachers, whom you cannot see, but who are always with you, begin to prepare you and pass on all the secrets concerning the Game step by step.
- Training can last for several years, day and night, until you are ready.
- To be honest, this is an interesting process in itself, in which you learn to notice all the intensity of passions, passing in front of you like on a film strip.
- But you yourself always stay on the sidelines. Eventually, something strange comes along.
- All the tinsel begins to peel off and fall off you.
- Even the excitement, that brightest feeling that destroyed the boredom of being, moved you, will disappear.
- Everything that you have been striving for with all your might, will cease to matter to you and will turn into dust.
- There is only one thing left - your attention, always at the ready, stretched like a ringing string - you know exactly your goal, what you are waiting for - it can no longer slip past you.
6.4
Guide.
Thoughts of my interlocutor began to get confused, eyes rolled back and it was clear that my interlocutor was afraid to miss something very important.
- So let's start simple.
- What should those, who first click on the buy or sell button on the exchange need to know?
-What ? I asked in a frustrated voice.
- What will you trade on the stock exchange?
- Well, I relaxed, what a naive question.
- There are hundreds if not thousands of different instruments on the stock exchange, such as commodities, stocks, options, all kinds of bonds of all countries - now an open global market, I answered cheering up.
-What are you going to trade ?!? The stranger screamed, gasping for breath.
The visitors seated in the hall turned their heads.
- Eh, if everyone who touched the Game knew…
- How many destinies could be saved.
- The first thing, that everyone who has set foot on this path should know is what he will trade.
- Point !!
- Without this, everything else is useless !!!
- But what about the rich, who unite in secret societies to manipulate markets, the fate of people with their treasures? A? unable to bear it, I interrupted his speech.
- Have they also gone the same way as a Player ??
- Nonsense!
- Remember once and for all!
- All these are just dolls, decorations ..
- Nobody ever controlled the Game!
- Sometimes, in order to hide the essence of what is happening, the Game can suggest something about the significance of the player, but this is just an illusion.
- So, to the main point.
- You probably know that players on the exchange use a huge number of all kinds of indicators.
- There are so many of them!
- For every taste and color, as they say.
-Be sure, I've tried them all.
- By this time, I already understood that all this was in vain, all indicators just repeated the price movement and nothing more.
- If everything was so simple and with the help of some simple tool it was possible to make money so easily, everyone would be rich.
- But the opposite is true.
- One day something happened, that turned everything upside down.
- By that time, I was already indifferent to everything.
- Realizing, that nothing would work out for me, I mechanically continued to sort out various options, mix formulas based on some laws with others, changing parameters, conditions, and simply engage in outright nonsense.
- I must admit that I am not good at programming, and this fact depressed me even more.
- That evening, as usual, stayed up late.
- Once again, out of a thousand I came across one, absolutely some kind of the most ordinary, worthless at first glance, it is not clear when and by whom the code was written.
- I brought it into a more or less suitable form, compiled it into an indicator - everything is as usual.
- Threw it on the price chart, ready to erase it in three minutes. Nothing else lingered on me - so much I began to distinguish between garbage.
- Everything is as usual, like everyone else, nothing new.
- A regular line following the price.
- Switched the chart for different time periods.
- Something invisible caught my eyes.
- I couldn't understand anything.
- The indicator was something ….alive !!!
- Incredible !!
- It showed something so great, that returning to him again and again, I could not believe my eyes!
- Even now, with the passage of time, goose bumps run down my spine.
-You know, this has happened to me before.
- Incredibly rare, but it happened. When looking at something, you suddenly notice something grandiose, behind what others do not see.
- Although I continued to adapt this indicator in every way for making money, with which it coped perfectly, I noticed a thing, that shocked me.
- Money has ceased to interest me.
- Surely you have heard over the past decades, what leaps and bounds have developed robotics and everything related to artificial intelligence?
- Of course, who doesn't know!
- Even small children play with all kinds of toys that our generation could only dream of a couple of decades ago,” I replied.
- Surely you have read many excellent books, a whole galaxy of outstanding authors about various robots that have replaced people in almost everything?
- Well, of course!
- Now there are thousands of different robots and they are great help in different areas.
- It's just fantastic! I cried out enthusiastically.
- Yes, the countless number of robots that you see around you, and no longer even notice, so much they have filled all the spheres.
- And how many you just do not see! Which perform billions of operations per second.
- Robots trade even on the notorious stock exchange !! Who would have thought a hundred years ago!
Although the tavern was hot from the fireplace, the stranger pulled a hood over his head to hide his face.
- Do you know, there is one problem, that with all the seeming optimism, has not disappeared anywhere?
- No, hesitantly, and with some kind of bad feeling, I replied.
“Something pinched me inside. Intuitively, I felt animal fear and ... endless sadness.
For some reason, I didn't want to know, what my interlocutor wanted to tell me.
Even through the shadow of the hood, I noticed how incredibly difficult it became for him, and with what effort of will he was given every word.
- There is one thing, a problem, he repeated.
- Call it, what you want.
- Like a hundred years ago, what the classics of science fiction novels dreamed about, these dreams have not moved one iota.
- All these robots remain just a heap of iron, a toy, scrap metal.
There was a long pause, as if he were gathering strength.
- It's all about .... the indicator.
- Simply put, in the code that is written in it.
- You understand, this code is based on one very simple and understandable law. If you prescribe it to a pile of iron, it will become ... alive !!
- The same as we are with you! Regardless of what kind of this piece of metal, or anything at all.
- Stock exchange, world trade, you and me, the world around what you see. The entire Universe works and is subject only to this one law, according to which the code is written.
- Old man, so you're late, this is the DNA code that was deciphered by alchemists from the swamp lands.
-You probably want to cheer me up, I'm fine, no time for jokes now, he shook his head.
-What if, say, since it is so universal, instead of a chart of exchange prices, we superimpose this indicator, let's say, on some parameters of life processes? For example, this squirrel on the tree? I did not calm down.
-He's got something twitching inside.
“In my opinion, she will not appreciate your humor,” he replied. You don't want she to sit and cry by the tear-off calendar instead of playing with other squirrels, counting how much she has left.
At first, I did not understand anything of what was said. It all sounded too unexpected and difficult.
And then, vaguely like an impending enveloping cloud, depriving me of strength, one obsessive terrible thought began to gradually reach me, which did not let go.
- It turns out that such a code is registered in us, and if it is so easy it can be prescribed to anything, making everything inanimate alive.
- In case of any reason, can we be replaced by anything more perfect?
- Who are we then ??
-You thought it right, said the stranger wearily, as if reading my mind.
“And here we come to the key point of what you should know.
- Concentrate all your attention on this, the stranger said so unnaturally quietly, that for some reason in the tavern everything fell silent at once.
The surrounding visitors somehow pulled their heads deeper into their shoulders, and an ominous silence reigned around.
The stranger began to convulse, as if some external invisible force was shaking him.
I was confused, it became a little creepy.
The stranger suddenly leaned sharply towards me at the minimum close distance and whispered one word.
Then he leaned back and said with relief.
“So, now you know what the code is based on.
- Look around again. It's good that you have someone to suggest. This knowledge cost me, you remember what. Appreciate it. Then he smiled warmly, as if to show that I would not be offended.
- Yes, and more, … Welcome to the Game.
- Then you go.
6.5
Door.
There was a long pause.
- This does not mean that you will be alone ..
- I will always be there to cover you.
- You know that I am always one step away from you, wherever I am on the edge of the Universe.
- Distance doesn't matter.
- If necessary, I will drop everything to fight side by side, perish if necessary, because nothing is more important.
I was dumbfounded.
Without giving me time to come to my senses, the wanderer quickly continued, as if everything that happened here, in this forgotten place and time, everything had long been predetermined and scheduled in advance!
It already sounded like an instruction.
- You know, I once watched a cheetah rushing after a duck through the meadows.
He is on the ground, she is in the air - they flew corps to corps.
This graceful sight is still before my eyes.
Even the water droplets flying from the duck froze in the air.
-When any system, like a cheetah in a jump, strive for infinity, there comes such a critical, turning point, when differences disappear !
- Opposites disappear !!
- Our entire Universe is built according to the law of opposites. This is her building material. And in an instant it disappears !!! The Universe is disappearing !!!
- So, always keep all your attention at the Zero level.
- The indicator, like most oscillators, shows highs and lows.
- Have you ever thought, looking at any movement, why it always stops sooner or later ???
- It doesn't matter what, the nature of the movement is universal and one for everyone.
- Any movement has one general scheme of beginning, extremum and end.
- Take, for example, price movement on a chart.
- Why does it stop at a certain high or low point and turn back?
- What is happening at this very point, that we do not see ???
-Solving this riddle, you will take the first step towards understanding the mechanism of the appearance and disappearance of the Universe and many other things.
- Even if you don’t know, it will be better for you, because many things are simply unbearably hard to know.
-But all, that interests us, is Level Zero of our indicator.
- In the Game, indicators have a common name.
- Players often refer to them as Guides, like dogs on the hunt, chasing prey. This is the most correct name in our case.
- This indicator is simultaneously a Map, a Door and a Key ..
- Yes, that very Door.
- Everything you see around, everything from the smallest to the most gigantic.
- Planets, stars, black holes, even the very blackness of infinite space with its infinite experience of being.
- All the smallest particles of which you are made, and which your wizards saw through the glass tubes, everyone simply screams until ringing in ears, that it is impossible to pass through this door !!
-Yes ,… I know it myself !!!
- That is Impossible !!!
- Everything, everything revolves around this Door !!
- This is the Basic Law, which has never been violated by anyone before!
- No, it's just Impossible !!! cried the exhausted wanderer in despair. Then, nevertheless, pulling himself together, a minute later he added.
- You see, this time, everything is … not the same as before.
“Something special and strange has happened at the same time, which frightens me the most in this entire infinite Universe and also endlessly excites me.
- How would it be easier for you to explain. This .. like ...
- Parents went to work, leaving the small child at home, while forgetting the key on the table in the hallway.
- Accident?
- No !!
- I do not believe in accidents !!