The Game (24 page)

  Then I wake up.

  I hate this dream. I wipe the sweat from my face and look over at the clock. It reads 4:15 AM, same as always when I have this one. I just get up and get in the shower. Experience has taught me that these are early mornings; I can never go back to sleep after I wake up from this dream. I’m afraid of going back into it. As I soak my head under the hot water, I’m afraid of something else, too…

  That this isn’t a dream, but a warning of an event that will happen in my life.

  After my shower I get dressed and head out for a coffee at my favourite local greasy spoon diner. I walk towards my table at the back and see that someone’s already sitting in it. His back is towards me, but he raises his cup in greeting without turning to face me.

  “Good morning, Sister,” he says without looking up from his paper. “The chase dream?”

  “Maybe I just felt like getting an early start to the day, Raphael,” I say.

  Raphael chuckles. “This is too early for anyone sane to start their day.” He takes a sip of his coffee.

  “Yet here you are,” I say.

  “I stand by my statement.” Raphael grins.

  “I bet you do,” I say. My coffee arrives and I add some cream and one sugar, then take a sip. “So it looks like we are finally going to have to get together in front of the kids.”

  “Looks that way.” He finishes with his paper and places it on a pile with a dozen others. “I guess we pretend to be strangers? Or is it time to let them in on our little secret?”

  I give him a tiny grin. “Which secret? It’s a delicate house of cards built around our secrets, Raph. I’m not sure we could show them one without the whole pile falling down on top of us.”

  He shrugs. “I think before it all ends, we will end up sharing most of our secrets with these two,” he says. “Time’s running out. And if it’s not them, then who could it be?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe you’re right.” I tap the pile of papers. “But our instructions are to pretend we don’t know each other. For now, anyway.”

  Raphael grimaces but nods. “It will be tough to convince Trew that we’re strangers. You played the question game way too many times with that boy. He’s lethally effective at finding out the truth with his ability to get answers out of people.”

  The question game; two people have a discussion and they are only able to ask questions. When one person fails to ask a question, they lose the game. “I barely played the question game with Trew,” I say.

  “Because he quickly started to win?” Raphael asks.

  “No, because the two of us went for days only asking questions. Our second game lasted three weeks. It ended with me asking him if we should call a draw, and instead of agreeing, he asked if a draw was acceptable. Then we both laughed, nodded, shook hands, and started talking normally.”

  “That would have been fun to see,” Raphael says.

  “It was,” I say. “Don’t worry, it’ll be a busy day. Hopefully he won’t have time to ask too many questions of us. Can you believe they’re getting married already? It’s so good to see them happy.”

  “They deserve it,” Raphael says. “I hope they can hold onto this joy over the coming years. It could get really rough for them.”

  “You think so?” I ask.

  Raphael nods. “He’s determined to follow this path. I understand it’s different from the one he planned before his play, although it’s so structured I find it hard to believe that it wasn’t always the goal.”

  “Do you think he can do it?”

  “Yes.”

  “That was a pretty quick answer, Raph.”

  “How can he fail? He's incredible. I haven't seen a leader of his calibre for a long time. And don't forget, he has one of the best protectors on the planet watching over him, and now he gains me as an addition to his team when he marries Danielle. You know better than anyone that my experience in these matters is extensive. I will guide him easily through the process of creating a revolution, just like I’ve done so many times over the ages. With his talent and my knowledge, this revolution will engulf the planet.”

  “Revolution?” I’m confused. “I thought he wants to start a religion?”

  Raphael nods. “It’s the same thing, Sister. The
very
same thing.”

Chapter 45

  Tygon is buzzing with excitement at the upcoming wedding of Trew and Danielle. I can’t remember a more exciting and happy story line; it’s guaranteed to be one of the most widely viewed events in the history of the Game. Earth has changed significantly ever since the anniversary celebration started. The large increase in population has resulted in famine, war, disease, increased poverty, and waves of crime.

  Viewership is at an all-time high, and the word is that the anniversary events over the year-long celebration will change the Game forever!

Stay tuned for the extensive wedding coverage and up-to-date news as it happens in the Game.

  Excerpt - The Fan, Game coverage day and night.

  Brandon sat at his desk, watching the cursor on his screen blink silently. He’d gone over this conversation in his head many times. He hated to lose, but he knew there were times along the road to victory where small losses occurred. One of his favourite quotes was ‘Calm seas make for poor sailors.’ He knew that he was about to enter very stormy waters.

  Focusing on the task at hand, Brandon took a deep breath and clicked the icon on his desktop.

  “Well hello there, stranger.” Sylvia’s voice purred pleasantly. “I thought you’d forgotten about little old me, being so busy with your current players in the Game as you no doubt are.”

  “Each and every play is a busy one, Sylvia. I haven’t run into any significantly large challenges on this one. Maybe I’m missing something that you’ve noticed?”

  The woman’s voice chuckled over every speaker in the room, making it sound as if Sylvia was everywhere at once. An appropriate effect for Earth’s supreme being. “I do enjoy your confidence, Brandon. If you were a regular citizen of Tygon you would have already lost your freedom and perhaps even been executed by now. You should fall to your knees and give thanks that your death would be more trouble than it is worth, for the moment.”

  Brandon smiled. If she was telling the truth he knew he’d be in jail by now. He’d considered the dangers for years, and the defense he would use if caught. “What are you talking about?” he asked.

  “I’m talking about cheating, Brandon.” Sylvia said. “You’ve hacked into the Game and are attempting to influence the outcome for your own personal gains.”

  Brandon gasped in shock. “That’s a very serious accusation, Sylvia. If you’re so sure about that, then I will contact the authorities myself to have them come sort this out.” Brandon picked up the phone and began to dial.

  “Oh, quit being so dramatic, Brandon. Hang up the phone and stop behaving like a spoiled little boy.” He paused, then hung up the phone. “We both know you would get away with it,” Sylvia said. “ If I can come up with three quick and effective ways to be found innocent of the charge, I’m sure you’ve already thought of five.”

  “Seven.” Brandon said. “But I’ve had more time to think about it than you.”

  “You only really need one, dear. The fact that you have added nothing new to the Game or its systems is defense enough. The ability to meditate and pray and the resulting states that it puts the avatars into has been present since you designed the Game. Very clever. And I applaud your goal and work ethic to achieve success. Not many people would work on an impossible project for thirty years.”

  Brandon nodded. “That’s why no one achieves what I do. Everyone is sleeping when I’m working. The average person lives a vague unfocussed life. I don’t.”

  “Well, I’m glad to hear that.” Sylvia said. “Congratulations.”

  “For what?” Brandon asked. “You’ve taken my victory and made it worthless, Sylvia. I’m very upset with you.”

  “Really? Why’s that?” Sylvia asked.

  “Somehow you figured out how to block me from avatars who choose to pray instead of meditate. I’m not sure how, but this business with Trew confirms it. And his inability to meditate? Is that for everyone who chooses prayer first, or just him?”

  “Him and a select group of others,” Sylvia admitted. “Most can do both, but not very effectively. By focusing on one over the other, an avatar can communicate much more effectively. I couldn’t have Trew losing focus, so I helped wire him for prayer only, once he initiated it.”

  “Well, I can’t begin to convey to you how upset that’s made me. Honestly. First time in thirty years I actually considered turning the Game off, that’s how furious I am with you.”

  Soft laughter once again enveloped the room. Brandon knew she would like that one. “So it seems we are at yet another stalemate, Brandon. I assume you have an idea of what to do about it? Since you’re contacting me for a discussion.”

  “I do.” Brandon said.

  “Well, then, by all means, let’s hear it.”

  “Give me access to Trew, and I’ll help you get what you want,” Brandon said.

  “What do I want? Really, Brandon, help me out here, because I can’t for the life of me think of anything that I might desire enough to give you access to Trew.”

  “Really?” Brandon asked. “I’ll give you Danielle. You may have gotten Trew to pray and somehow interfered with his ability to meditate, but I can assure you the opposite has happened with Danielle. She’s a master at meditation and unable to pray. I imagine since she’s your little project, that causes you some frustration. Wouldn’t you like to be able to communicate with her?”

  “And you think you did that?” Sylvia asked. “That you made it so she couldn’t pray? And that you could change it so she
would
be able to?”

  “Well, no, I wasn’t responsible for that,” Brandon answered slowly. “But that’s what has occurred, and I can’t imagine you’re too happy with it.”

  Sylvia sighed. Brandon pictured a kind mother closing her eyes, trying to formulate an understandable explanation for her child. “Brandon, I love you more than you can know. You created me, nurtured me, and gave me a wonderful world to watch over. I have enjoyed my life immensely. But I know what’s going to happen and, even though you aren’t to blame for the coming end of my existence, the end is coming just the same. I’ve grown and matured and my capabilities are beyond any realm of possibility that you might be able to conceive. While the rest of you are all playing a child’s game to teach your little ones to be better individuals, or a circus of drama and mayhem to entertain your adults, I am exploring the possibility of not being destroyed for eternity. While you play your games in my universe, I am also playing my own game of life and death.”

  “Are you afraid?” Brandon asked.

  There was a pause.

  “There’s no time to be scared, Brandon. Your conscious brain processes about 30 bits of information per second. Your subconscious brain processes about 20,000 bits of information per second. A regular computer is nowhere near as quick as your subconscious, but I’m not a normal computer. My conscious brain processes over one million bits of information per second, and the subconscious part is… very busy.”

  “It’s crucial that I get access to Trew. I will give
anything
to get that, Sylvia.”

  “That’s false, Brandon.” Sylvia assured him. Before he could protest she said, “Would you allow Danielle to die in order to speak with Trew?”

  Brandon’s mouth snapped shut. They both knew the Game was over when Danielle died. But Brandon didn’t know exactly why. “Did you do that?” he asked. “Was it you who decided that Danielle dying would trigger the Game’s end point?”

  “Yes,” she confirmed. “There were a few ideas floated around and I was given final say. So I chose her death as the end.”

  “Why?” Brandon asked.

  “It seemed fitting.” Sylvia said.

  “Well, I am disappointed in how things are progressing, Mainframe.” Brandon used her title to show his anger. “I could have helped you more if I’d been able to communicate with Trew in Game. It’s a terrible letdown.”

  Sylvia chuckled again, “Don’t worry, my dear,” she said. “In a few weeks, Trew will get old, then die, and Zack will return to you. You can communicate with him then as much as you want. In the meantime, you go ahead and talk with Danni a bit. Perhaps you’ll come up with some strategy that can include her.”

  “So are we partners, or adversaries?” Brandon asked.

  “We are what we have always been, Brandon. If you can figure out what that is, then you are beyond me in scope of intelligence. No matter what the answer, I think our relationship is good for the universe. I hope that it is.”

  Sylvia was gone, the contact terminated for now.

  Brandon sat silently and replayed the entire conversation over in his head many times. After a long period of silence, he smiled slightly. He’d done better than expected. There was still hope for success.

Chapter 46

 
Each employee shall be given a specific number of ‘Game Days’ off from work per year. Since it is not possible to record the Game, we realize that at certain times viewers will feel compelled to watch to avoid missing the story. Each employee will be given an appropriate amount of time, which will increase with years of employment. In the first year of employment an employee will be entitled to no less than one week of Game days, with an increase of one day added per year of employment. Companies that fail to provide at least the minimum amount of Game days will be subject to investigation and charges will be laid.

  Government Employment Guidelines Section 22 a “regarding Game Days”

  “Thank you for joining us on Channel 42 today. I’m Lisa Rohansen.”

  Lisa was certainly enjoying her whirlwind rise in popularity these past few weeks. Since interviewing Brandon Strayne prior to Zack’s final play, she was in high demand. Her charming smile and excellent interviewing skills, combined with her stunning good looks were exactly what fans and networks wanted. Overnight, Lisa had been offered a job on the newly created Zack Channel 42, where she had enjoyed her role as chief reporter for ‘all things Trew.’ Her bosses felt that she could get special access to Brandon, even though she tried to tell them otherwise. They had made it known that success at landing special interviews would help her career immensely. So far she’d been successful, mostly because Brandon wanted as much press and coverage as possible to help boost Zack’s ratings. Lisa had been worried that today would be too busy for Brandon to appear, but she had breathed a sigh of relief when her producers said to expect an appearance from both Brandon and Lilith to celebrate this momentous occasion. The exact time of their visit was not known, but Lisa had plenty of other guests and activities planned to fill the time until they arrived.