The lake is spread out between the mountain and our hut which stands on considerable height too. The lake is not too big but is perfectly round, I'd say – looking drawn if it wasn't so alive. The water is dark blue, heavy, on the point of freezing.
I stay silent.
– Don't you fear it's just an entourage for whimsical customers? – asks Vika.
– Yeah right… They'll manage without it.
We look at the mountains.
– Did it take you long to draw that? – I ask quietly.
– Two years, – says Vika carelessly.
I nod. One could spend even more time on this. These are not standard beauties outside the window being sold on every corner. It seems to me that even if I take a very strong binoculars I'll not have to imagine anything, the picture is done completely, full volume.
– I want to descend there, – says Vika looking at the lake.
I silently nod in agreement.
– It's scary though, the path is too hard, – Vika sighs, – If you tie the rope to the window it's easy to get out there. But the landslide happened on the North slope half a year ago and it's most likely that the path is blocked.
I turn and look into her eyes. No, she doesn't joke or laugh.
– You want to say that all this is alive? – I ask, – You can enter there, climb the mountain, swim in the lake?
– The water is freezing, you'll catch cold.
– And this all lives? The snow is falling, avalanches and storms happen?
Vika nods.
– A separate server is needed to support such space!
– Two servers. One is completely full, the other one also supports the whole 'institution'.
I swallow the cold air and ask:
– So… why do you work here then? Any company would hire you as a spatial designer, just let them look into this window!
– I have my own reasons, – says Vika in a slightly raised tone and I understand that the question was inappropriate.
The freedom for everybody and in everything.
Who knows, maybe she likes to be a virtual prostitute?
– Thanks, – I say.
Vika frowns in puzzlement.
– Thanks for letting me to see it, – I explain, – You don't bring just anyone here, right?
– No. But will you show me your paintings? – she asks with a smile and I start. – You said you can't think out the names. It means, you had to do it before.
Uh-oh… My fault too and like Vika I haven't noticed that.
– I'm not drawing for a long time, – I confess, – It so happened… Maybe for good, I can't do anything like this anyway.
She doesn't even try to argue politely, she knows what she is worth.
– You know, I wanted to invite you to the restaurant, – I say, – If you want…
– No.
I feel myself spat all over. For some reason I was sure that Vika will accept, that she'll like "Three Piglets", that we'll stand above the mountain stream; even if it wasn't me who created the landscape I love it anyway…
– I understand, – I say.
– No, you don't. It's not because of the customers, it's a quiet hour now anyway and the girls can work for me. I want to invite you myself, to our restaurant.
I can't understand but accept. Vika examines me critically and straightens the collar of my shirt.
– Good enough, – she decides, – Let's go.
– Is it far?
Vika just smiles and grabs the small leather purse from the table. We enter the corridor and I notice that the doors don't squeak in curiosity anymore. We walk hand in hand, with decorum, like well-behaving kids on a walk. The corridor ends with winding stairs, I count 7 turns until the heavy velvet curtains block our way. For a second I think that the space is 'turned inside out' here and now we'll exit into the lobby on the first floor.
– Don't be surprised by anything, – says Vika and steps forward.
I follow her being absolutely sure that I'll be able to do it.
We exit to the sea shore.
The sunshine colors the sky in orange and gold. The sea breathes tiredly, caressing the shore. The sand under our feet is black, the entire beach is coal black. I know that such beaches exist, I never thought it's so beautiful.
White tables under umbrellas are standing on the shore, some people sitting by them. All are alive, not program fakes, I feel it instantly. Most of them are girls except two muscular guys by the table closest to the water and also a lean guy in blinders by the bar.
– This is our recreation area, – whispers Vika, – Let's go.
We sit by the empty table, Vika turns to me:
– It's self service here. Go to the bar, bring me some champaign.
I walk over sticking in the sand. Three men and twenty women watch me. Everything looks extremely strange, as if a terrible typhoon had swept along the shoreline blowing away hotels and houses but leaving only this part of an open restaurant. The impression is enhanced by the door through which we have entered – it stands in the sand lonesomely.
– Hi there, – says the guy by the bar quickly and shoves me his hand.
I shake it automatically.
– Vika prefers dry champaign, – says the guy, – But don't take the French one, take Abrau-Durso, it should be somewhere to the left under the bar… Are you here for the first time? I never saw you before. A quiet day today, all girls are here. Now they'll have a topic to discuss…
He chatters with the energy of Robinson who have met Friday for the first time. He has a very vivid face, a couple of teeth are missing.
– Gee, I like you, – says the guy, scratching his stomach, sunburned skin peeling off, – Hell, I really like you! Hee-hee… scary, huh? No, I'm not working here… well, I do but not like this… be careful not to be suddenly liked by those two by the water!
I start feeling dizzy already, I squeeze out a pathetic smile, take a bottle of brut from the ice filled bucket and a couple of high wine-glasses.
– Here, look… I was tanning too much yesterday! – says the guy in the meantime, tearing off a long piece of peeling skin. – I had a bet with the girls that I'll be sunburned, they didn't want to believe me. They come this morning – and I'm really burned!
He pushes the pitiful remains of his hide under my nose.
– Cool, huh? Worked like hell all night making tan simulation. I should try to offer it to somebody, they'll really grab it from me together with my hands… but I won't give my hands to them!
I nod hastily and run away with my trophies. Vika waits for me choking the laughter.
– Who is that? – I ask lowering myself on the chair. The soft whisper of waves by the shore seems to be the greatest bless.
Vika continues to laugh, then becomes serious.
– This is our computer genius, the hacker and the guard, the master of hard and soft… You can call him Computer Wiz or just Wiz. He likes that. Just don't call him Zuko.
– Zuko?
– Yup. He loves those instant beverages: "Zuko", "Spreem", other chemical stuff. The girls call him that, it really hurts him.
– But why is he… so weird? – I ask carefully.
– I Dunn… Maybe he scares our gays off, maybe he's really like that.
I examine the guys by the water askance and they also watch me discussing something. Then one of them is slapped on the lips slightly by the other one and turns away in hurt feelings.
I start feeling uncomfortable but Vika continues to smile and I ask with forced curiosity:
– Why would you need the guys? Can't the girls always manage the job?
– Sure. Remember the blue album?
I remember. The devil tempts me and I ask:
– And where do you keep those she-goats?
We laugh together and the tenseness disappears.
– This is a program, – confesses Vika, – We tried to put on animals' bodies but the behavior turns out inadequate. The customers for that don't happen often but at least we have everything. Any weirdness.
I pour the champaign into the glasses, we touch them.
– Good, – says Vika.
– Yeah, not bad, – I agree putting down the empty glass.
– "Abrau-Durso" is never bad. It's just for you – "not bad". I just had a doubt how will you act in such a company.
– Hm, what's so special? – I ask in the tone of somebody who walks in the company of gays and prostitutes every day.
Vika thinks for a while.
– No, you don't think so yet, – she says, – But it's okay. The most important is that you at least express agreement. It means, you'll make yourself to believe in it later.
– May I? – Computer Wiz stands by the table, somehow weirdly bent over and with a pleading grimace, – aren't you discussing me? I hope don't interrupt? May I sit?
– Sure, – sighs Vika looking doomed. The Wiz plops down on the empty chair, gets the glass and one more bottle from behind his back in a juggler's gesture: some kind of banana liquor.
– Vikochka dear, thanks! – he says, – I started to think I'm doomed to perish alone! Want some?
Vika fills her glass with champaign in an answer, I also decline the liquor. The Wiz pours it in his glass.
– For our acquaintance! – he proclaims, – I'm Computer Wiz!
– I'm Gunslinger, – I say mechanically.
– Oy! – The Wiz leans back on the chair, – Don't kill me! It's you who keeps "Labyrinth" so excited for the last two days, right? Vika, my congratulations, you've befriended the cool doomer! He makes everybody cry! He kills and kills, to the left and to the right!
– Is it true? – asks Vika.
I just nod.
– I'd never imagine.
– Well, I guess I should surprise you too.
– Hey Gunslinger, don't make too big mess in "Labyrinth"! – exclaims the Wiz, – Otherwise I'll take a leave from Madam, will move myself over there and will rip everything into shreds! I'm a peaceful guy usually but it's a nightmare when somebody pisses me off! Hold me three, two will fail… I remember once…
– Wiz, – says Vika, – We were talking, we have a serious talk. Could you please chat with Tina or Lena?
The Wiz nods sadly.
– It's always like this… Okay-okay, I'm leaving. Nobody likes me…
– I like you very much but Tina is depressed since yesterday. Cheer her up, I know you can do it.
– No problems! – Wiz brightens up. He picks up his bottle and in a dancing walk moves over to the table where the dark-haired splendid girl drinks vodka intently.
I just shake my head.
– This is our own small world here, – says Vika, – A pretty quiet and peaceful one. By the way, all girls come hear in their main bodies, not the ones we put on for the customers.
– So this is your main body in virtuality?
– Yes.
I make the next step.
– And the name too? Your name is Vika?
– In the Deep – yes. That's the only reason why I allowed you to come: you guessed it right.
She smiles sadly.
– In the beginning I even thought that you're some sort of a spy, a hacker or a diver, that you had identified my personality…
My heart starts beating hard.
– And what about now? Do you still think so?
Vika shrugs:
– Who knows? But I like you. I just want everything to coincide this way by itself… in a wonderful and beautiful way.
I don't have time to reply, the curtain on the door opens and the girl's face pokes in for a second:
– Natasha, Tina, your call. The green and the yellow albums.
The splendid girl by whom the Wiz have already made himself comfortable, throws the bottle at the door. Vika rises a little.
– Alice! – she says quietly but clearly, – Substitute Tina!
The girl by the nearby table nods but Tina raises her hands in protest,
– Vika, I'm alright.
She talks through the interpreter program but even through it one can hear feelings of tiredness and anger.
– I'll work as a kid, it's okay… That Cap pissed me off yesterday. {
a nick here
} One of the gays stands up and quickly moves between the tables, he hugs Tina's shoulders, whispers something to her and gently makes her sit, then looks at Vika questionably.
– All right Anjei, – she agrees, – Thanks.
The gay and one of the girls exit. Vika sits down and drinks her champaign in one shot, then suddenly says in a hissing whisper,
– Assholes. All you males are assholes.
– Who is Cap? – I ask.
– A customer. A constant one. I usually work with him myself but yesterday… I was busy.
– With me?
– Yes, – she replies sharply. – The girls shouldn't work with him, they are out of themselves afterwards.
– What does he need?
– The red album.
I recollect yesterday's evening.
– I haven't seen that one.
– It's an inclusion into the black album. It is not shown just to anybody. – Vika rises, – Damned… Sorry Lenia.
I rise too.
– Did you want to invite me somewhere?
– Yes…
– So go ahead!
Back in the lobby, I look around expecting to see Madam but she doesn't show up. I call the taxi and tell the address: "Three Piglets". Vika cools down slowly. I want to ask her about Cap and the red album but stay silent. I can't. Not yet.
– So, I showed you how we live, – says Vika, – Interesting, isn't it?
– It's okay, – I say, – Not too bad.
– Okay… – Vika takes cigarettes from her purse, clicks her lighter, – Not too bad…
I don't like when girls smoke, even if in virtuality.
– Vika, what did you expect of me? Screaming "How terrible!"? I'm not a hypocrite. Raptures? I can't see any reason for that either.
She touches my hand lightly.
– Sorry Lenia. I'm little worried for girls. You know, you're a random customer. You were fleeing from pursuit, ran into the brothel, went crazy on my picture… Sorry. You don't have anything to do with that.