Ascension. Saksaywaman. Shard of eternity. Alexander Zubkov

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СКАЧАТЬ to draw attention to myself, – Matthew joked, – besides, I don't really like swimming pools. But I'd dive into the ocean right now, if they gave passengers the opportunity.

      – It's true that you attract attention, especially from women, – Linda smiled, raising an eyebrow meaningfully. – Your serene study of dialects on the deck will cease because of the many groupies. Look how many beautiful girls are swimming.

      Linda looked around the pool area while sipping her cocktail through a straw.

      – If you stay close to me, no one will dare to compete with you, – Matthew supported the verbal game and raised an eyebrow at her friend's example.

      – How can you sit all day on the deck when you can rest so well before the serious work. You ought to meet somebody. A good company, a change of scenery is good for the learning process.

      – I agree, – said Matthew. – And so I will.

      – Really! – exclaimed Linda. – Shall we go swimming then?

      – No, I'll pass. But I saw some poker tables in the casino the other day. I guess I could play a little.

      – It sounds pretty boring to me, – frustrated Linda. – We'd be better off buying.

      – It depends on how you play and what tasks you set, – Matthew objected.

      – What kind of tasks is possible? – Linda wondered. – To win and leave the casino with the money.

      – Don't tell me, – countered Matthew. – You're not playing with a robot, you're playing with real people. It's easy to win with a good card, but beating your opponent when you have a weak card is another matter. In order to do that, you have to learn to feel your opponent, to anticipate his train of thought. That's where the interesting game comes in.

      – Maybe you're right, but it's definitely not for me. Let's sit a little longer, and then I'll go to my room. I want to leaf through some records, too, and enjoy the starry sky on my way back to my cabin.

      – You're right, – Matthew agreed. – The light is rather strong here, and you can hardly see the stars, though they're very bright at these latitudes.

      – It's not the latitude, but, as you rightly pointed out, the light. In the big cities, even at night, there is too much light, so the stars are not seen as well. But the fact that other constellations are visible here is interesting.

      – I agree. It's so nice to watch. At times like this, you start to think about things you would never think about in everyday life.

      – Yes, I've noticed that you sometimes dive into some kind of peculiar state. I don't consider myself a big expert on the subject, but I have read that the human brain can operate at different frequencies. According to researchers, there are four: alpha, beta, theta, and delta. The beta frequency, for example, characterizes readiness for conscious thinking, the alpha frequency is a state of easy relaxation, the theta frequency is responsible for creative inspiration and the delta frequency reveals heightened perception.

      – I have read about it too, but I have not really dived into the information, – Matthew confessed.

      – Well, – Linda continued, – I think that when you observe natural phenomena, your brain switches to the theta frequencies, which is not common. During those moments you receive information that is impossible to receive in the ordinary state.

      Matthew thought for a while. He remembered his colorful dreams and his intention to study the subject in more detail.

      – Linda! – he exclaimed. – You are priceless. You wouldn't believe it, but that's a question I was very interested in, only I didn't know where to look. And you opened up the veil. Thank you very much. After our expedition, I will devote some time to it. I get this condition very often.

      – See, that's good, – Linda smiled. – You never know where the information you need will come from.

      – You never know, – affirmed Matthew, putting the empty glass aside. – I'll think about it before I go to sleep.

      – It's getting late. I wanted to go to bed early, I have a few things to do tomorrow, and you can go have fun in your casino.

      She got up from the bar, kissed Matthew on the cheek, and headed for the exit.

      Matthew did not immediately go to the casino, but decided first to walk out onto the open unlit deck and look at the sky. Of the constellations of the Southern Hemisphere he only remembered the constellation of Scorpio, because he himself was a Scorpio by horoscope. Having a rough idea of what it looked like, Matthew spent about ten minutes looking for it. Finding nothing that even remotely resembled a picture from the book, he abandoned the venture and continued on his way to the gambling establishment.

      «I'll play for a while and come back here again, – he thought, quickening his pace. – I should at least learn the names and locations of the constellations, you never know what might come in handy».

      With these thoughts Matthew entered the casino. The bright light interrupted his reverie and displaced it with the anticipation of a good game. He passed the roulette tables and made his way straight to the poker tables, one of which was the object of a heated discussion. Five players were playing another hand, while four seats remained vacant.

      – May I join your game, gentlemen? – Matthew turned to the contestants with a quick glance around.

      Everyone at the table, including the croupier, looked at the stranger sternly.

      – What's wrong with an empty seat? – suddenly the elderly gentleman turned to the players. – I'm sure, young man, that you will make us good company. I think there is no reason to object.

      As everyone else was silent, Matthew sat down in a vacant seat and exchanged five hundred dollars for chips from the dealer.

      – That's all I can afford today, – he declared to the players. – If I lose, I won't buy more.

      – We'll remember your promise, – the thin man gave him an unfriendly look.

      That look. Cold, piercing, sticky. It was as if it cut right through him, penetrating him. Anyone else would have been unable to bear that piercing stare, but not Matthew. A pleasant chill ran down his back. He knew the feeling well, and he liked it. It appeared in moments of danger, and made him mobilize unknown forces, prompting him to crazy actions that more than once saved his life and dignity. He looked at his opponent with calm confidence, and the latter, fidgeting in his chair, was forced to say something not to betray his confusion:

      – Well, we'll be glad to test your fortune. My last name is Cheryshev. Perhaps you've ever heard of me?

      – I haven't, Mr. Cheryshev, – quietly shook his head Matthew. – I understand that I'm putting myself at a disadvantage, but still, like I said, I won't buy any more. I simply need to pass the time, and I hope that you will kindly help me with that.

      – How may I address you? – the croupier asked the new player.

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