Parallel worlds – two. Birth of God

Chapter 2: The Illusion and Reality of Our Lives

Already at the table, in the circle of the group, Ruthra turned to YatSan.

– YatSan, please tell me, what do you remember before you came out, or rather, came up out of the rig?

– Before virtual reality or in it?

– Have you been in virtual reality?

– You don't think so? Was it a natural reality?

– What is it? Describe the event.

– Rutra, what are you talking about? Are you making fun of me?

– YatSan, please describe the events.

– What?!

– The ones you remember.

– Don't you remember? Need I remind you?

– I might remember. But that's not the point. The point right now is what you remember. I need to know the last thing you remember before you woke up in the rig.

– Rutra, is it always like this with you and everyone?

She spoke resentfully and angrily. Ruthra realized the confusion of the situation. Perhaps she had amnesia. He walked over to her, ducked down to her ear, and said:

– Can I talk to you for a minute?

YatSan silently obeyed. Rutra took her aside from everyone and whispered.

– What you're trying to say, I don't understand. Maybe you only remember the events on the ship, or rather, in the helicopter?

– What, did you think I was a naive little girl? Why did you bring that up? Or do you think if I fall for you, it's the end of the world?

– What's wrong? Can you tell me? What are you talking about?

– You little bitch. So you don't remember what happened.

– Oh, wait. You should probably show me the tape.

– Did you record that, too?

– Wait, girlfriend, calm down. Sit down, have some coffee. We'll get to the bottom of this… Keep her busy and we'll see what was going on in her head.

– You look at what's going on in your head first.

– Okay, honey, I'll look. Just don't yell.

Ruthra waved to his scientist friend, went to the hardware screen of the rig.

– It can translate directly into the brain," said the "luminary of science," referring to Irene.

– No, I don't want to. Come here, on the screen.

– Can I join you? – I heard it from behind.

It was Julia.

– You'd better ask your friend what's wrong with her.

– A friend's clone," she made an ironic remark.

– What clone? Forget the clone! It's YatSan.

– Yeah, yeah, yeah. Just not really.

– Okay," Ruthra waved his hand, signifying both an end to the argument and permission to be present.

– What are we watching? – Irene asked.

– Is there a lot of it? – Ruthra asked a counter-question.

– Three days had passed in her conscious images. All the imagined scenes, all the fantasies of the body she was looking for, that is, the work of the brain in that body, passed into this brain by the most persistent sensations. That is, if she clearly visualized something, imagined something, wanted to "animate" these scenes, to make them real in that body, then in this she had it all laid down to her as a real event… or events.

– It's interesting to see what she's imagining," Iulia said with a slyness in her voice, but without losing her joking tone.

– You should ask her yourself.

– I asked, that's why I'm here.

– Come on, what did she tell you?

– Yeah, now.

– Madame Iulia, don't you think…

– Thank you, Rutra Tigrovich, for reminding me. And someone said friends, friends.

– IuLia, you should also understand correctly, the model of relationships that I proposed, which has developed – it is sincere. Just don't forget about the case and the relationships in the project. Maybe by violating these principles you are abusing friendship? Don't you think so?

– Okay, what do you want? You want me to tell you all the woman's secrets?

– What do you mean?

– In the box, as you like to say.

– Just tell it like it is.

– She says you've been practicing…

Iulia stopped talking, smiled, and shook her head up and down. The gesture added more ambiguity than clarified the situation.

– Specifically.

– Love!

– What's the big deal?

– That's your male mentality. So it doesn't mean anything to you? Then you wonder why she's acting like that.

– That's not what I meant.

– That's not what you all mean.

– Are you two in cahoots or something? Calm down and sit next to me. Irene, scroll down to the moments of high emotion.

– Why don't you look at it alone?

– Have you seen it yet?

– I've seen everything in the process.

– Ooh, that's interesting. Rutra Tigrovich, let's see what you're doing with your female employees," his colleague joked with the curiosity of a teenager.

– Oh, come on. I'll look at it separately first, then I'll decide.

– No, no, please allow us to enjoy such a racy scene.

– That's enough, honorable Parmenides.

It was a secret, though official for the center, name of a scientist. Rutra stood up, went into the next room.

– Can I come with you?

Ruthra wanted to forbid it, but changed his mind. She must have been a good judge of human nature. If it had been an order, he would have refused immediately, but this was a request.

– Okay, only up to a point, most likely.

– I agree.

– Did you do it out of curiosity? Or did a friend ask you to?

– No-" the scientist interrupted her. – So she's allowed?

– That's enough. You can watch it later.

– I'm not interested alone.

– Well, bring your girlfriend.

– This is an interesting topic, by the way.

– Oh, I don't think I'm in here.

– Uh, no. Let's go.

They went into the next room, Ruthra sat down at the monitor, and Iulia sat next to him, provocatively close. Not that he was against it, but… Ruthra knew that giving her hope and then screwing her up was ungentlemanly, but not giving her a chance was worse. So he decided to try it out. He knew he wasn't going to give her a chance. He knew he had a choice to make. But which one? Was the goal the same as hers? Probably not. Once, at the time of his youthful maturity, but still narcissistic naivety, with which many remain until the end of their lives, a familiar lady of Balzac's age on his "friendly" relationship with a very seductive young lady said: "All girls want to get married." It seems simple, but men think that women see in them the same thing they see in them – a seductive image. Women desire this, of course, but their main goal is not to become another station on the path of the locomotive.

Iulia was a master of seduction, and Rutra understood that. A lady with a child, divorced, careful of her i

– I feel a little uncomfortable. Not because there might be scenes from the movie "Doubles of the Kama Sutra," but because of your friend's reaction.

– Why is that?

– Maybe she specifically said yes or asked you to. Maybe she wanted me to see if I would watch it with you.

– You're making too big a deal out of this. Trust me, it's much simpler than that. Girls do it, only the more important point for her will be your determination… since that's the case, I'll say, just you don't betray me, you need a bit of poofiness, which will be judged in public but perceived as independence and confidence.

– Where have you been before? How did I spend my life without your counseling?

– Be friends with me and you'll understand a lot of things.

– Yes, Comrade Commander.

– Come on, turn it on, let's see how macho you are.

– Irene, turn it on from here. By the way, before and after what?

– There's a life situation, a dialog. I'd say it's no less important.

– Well those are dreams…or imaginary. I don't have all the time in the world. Let's take this moment, see what it's all about.

Footage appeared on the screen. Rutra was walking down a busy street, with beautiful storefronts, everything sparkling. It was evening. He entered a building that had a two-level restaurant on the first floor. The ambiance was exquisite. He went up to the second level, headed to a row of tables along a stained glass wall. YatSan, Julia, and Catherine were seated at the table.

– Oh, we're here," Iulia almost exclaimed, moving closer to Ruthra as if she hadn't meant to.

– Quiet," he said in a whisper, keeping his eyes on the screen. – Let's hear it.

On the screen, Ruthra approached them.

– Hey, girls.

Ruthra approached Iulia and Catherine from behind and kissed them on the cheeks. They returned the favor. Then he approached YatSan, grabbed her gently under her knees and around the waist, lifted her up and sat her down, holding her in his arms.

– Rutra, what are you doing," YatSan whimpered slightly.

The girls smiled.

– My sweetheart, don't you like it? – Ruthra said, smiling.

– She looked at him meaningfully, then at her friends, who were obviously waiting for the rest of the story. – Only at first, even good friends, are first defined in a relationship. You, as a little boy, should say everything to your face.

– That's right!

– You're making jokes again. Do you realize how I, as a lady, feel about this? How other people are go

– How?

– Ruthra, come on. You know everything.

– You're going to screw up again now, aren't you?

– I will. Because first you have to decide for yourself who a person is to you, and then perform actions that will be understood unambiguously. You're all about the extravaganza. All your friends, all your friends, all your friends, all your friends, all your friends, all your friends. I don't like it.

– Here we go. Thought I was go

– So walk me out. Then why did you grab me?

– Well, there are reasons.

– Then do me a favor and say them for everyone to hear. You're a grown man, but you're acting like a kid.

– I'm a naughty boy at heart.

– We don't doubt it," IuLia said, glancing at Catherine.

The banter and smiles gave lightness to the dialog.

– So what you're saying is that my behavior doesn't indicate some exceptional relationship. You think I can do that with everyone?

– Not exactly. You put us in an uncertain position with your good attitude, which I admit we are all very happy about.

– Oh, it's warm already.

– Rutra, understand, you are a good friend, a great leader, we respect you, only you decide to what extent we are friends, like a boy and a girl.

– Uh-oh.

– Oh, my God. I didn't expect that from you.

– He understands, Yat, he's kidding," Catherine explained.

– Bastard, then," YatSan said, smiling and looking into Rutra's face.

– Oh, okay. That's it, divorce and maiden name.

– Why, did we have a factory?

– Well, I thought you did. I thought you said you dreamed about walking through factories.

– Rutra, that's enough. Can you be a little more serious?

– I can. What is it, my queen?

– Ruthra, let me go.

– No way.

– Let go now.

– It's beyond me.