[01 [02]

                           RABBIT IN THE LABYRINTH 

        Having woken up on a buzzer sound in one of deadlocks of the glass 
Labyrinth, the Rabbit has dared to lie down and dream a little more. He dreamt 
About that life which will begin for it when experiment will end also it 
Will receive a round sum due to it. 
        If did not deceive an electronic calendar at it on a wrist, 
Combined with others smart priborchikami, the Rabbit needed to spend in 
Labyrinth two hundred more sixty two days. In full isolation from an external world. 
And in loneliness – if, of course, not to consider the Doe-rabbit, for the sake of pairing 
From which once a month to it was necessary to strain brains and muscles fairly, 
Overcoming difficulties which were created by a computer brain deprived of emotions, 
Operating a huge labyrinth. And those who has created it, whether for fun, whether 
Seriously named a brain a Minotaur. The rabbit too so it named. 
        The doe-rabbit, as well as it, was the volunteer. Them have selected for experiment 
From several thousand candidates. In interested persons of a lack was not, after all 
The promised money (already translated to its bill according to the contract) 
Would suffice on for the rest of the life. 
        The rabbit was happy with itself. He looked far in the future and found 
Its cloudless. Any two hundred sixty two days – and it on freedom 
With a heap of money. Health at it excellent (that confirmed priborchik on other 
The wrist, carrying out daily diagnostics of an organism), it is still young and, 
Judging by squeal which is published by the Doe-rabbit, it is capable to set a heat to the woman. 
        The rabbit has appeared the ideal inhabitant of a labyrinth. It with ease 
Transferred superlong isolation. It did not interest at all, that occurs 
"Outside". Also it do not appear at all in a labyrinth of the Doe-rabbit, it was not too afflicted 
. Dreams of how it will begin to live in the future when will receive wished, brightened up 
The dullish and monotonous present, faceless, as glass walls. A rabbit 
As if has put the life on the fixed deposit in reliable bank and hoped to take 
It on light after some years with huge percent. 
        Ahead of it all pleasures which can be bought for money waited, 
But it was not alien also more raised matters. He knew, for example, that 
True love for money you will not buy. The Rabbit had a lot of time 
To reflect on spiritual problems. He read all books which palmed off 
To it a Minotaur. Especially it has consoled Lao-Tszy – after all the Rabbit already saw as 
Minimum one rice field. Schopenhauer raised in him such disgust to 
To trite human race, that at times he felt in glass 
To prison the happiest of people. In a similar way it amused vanity, knowing, 
That can soon dare to communicate only with with whom will want 
To communicate. 
        So, the Rabbit has risen in excellent mood which is even more 
Have strengthened morning reflexions, and has gone to be kneaded in a sports hall – 
The small premise equipped all necessary for maintenance 
Normal physical standards. Today the Minotaur slightly redesigned 
The training apparatus-transformer also has thrown to the Rabbit pair of shells that that has broken 
Head over their mission. 
        The Minotaur was inexhaustible on inventions, round the clock making billions 
Operations in a second to stump the Rabbit from it less than 
Secondary education. And, it is necessary to recognise, homo sapiens till now with honour 
Left difficult positions, supporting balance in the tightened duel. 
Here and now, having twisted shells in hands, the Rabbit identified one of them 
As espander, and to the second undoubtedly followed reserve for the coming 
Meetings with the Doe-rabbit for by means of this subject it was possible to bring the pleasant 
A variety in their sexual menu. 
        Having finished the morning exercises, the Rabbit has gone on searches of that 
Places (every time new) where the Minotaur will give out it a breakfast. Despite 
Similar shifts, the Rabbit extremely seldom remained hungry and at all 
Felt an experimental rat or (ha-ha!) a rabbit. He felt 
The high-grade participant of experiment though had rather remote concept 
About its true purposes. Something connected with colonisation of planets, and can, it 
Cover under which fighters fixed the shady affairs was simple. 
It excited a rabbit a little. If only there was no war. Thus, it it is fair 
Earned the canned food and the promised carrot in the future. 
        In its opinion to provide itself with similar way was at all 
Less adequately, than to stay in any office from eight to five, 
Spending on trifles precious time. The rabbit knew about it not by hearsay. 
It conducted such life of the whole ten years. Colleagues surrounding it interested 
Only one: is as though more tasty to devour and not to become stupid from boredom. Well and it is final, 
Slow struggle for a place under the sun meant necessity 
Stealthily to spoil against each other and to lick a bum to the heads. 
        In general, the Rabbit found weight of the positive moments in the 
Present loneliness, and dependence on whims of a Minotaur and standing up for 
It it considered clever men as realisation of a fair principle: «For all 
It is necessary to pay ». 
        Here and today it was necessary to it fairly popotet to reach meal. 
Not only that the labyrinth was not static, so also a Minotaur, apparently, 
Studied bihevioristiku. At times the Rabbit was broken off between stimulus and 
razdrazhiteljami, trying to be saved from a whip and to receive spice-cake. A breakfast, 
Entirely consisting of canned food, he has eaten only after has proved, that 
It is capable to sorting of symbols according to distribution Ripli. 
        Having satisfied hunger, the Rabbit anticipated a meeting with the Doe-rabbit, that is 
Satisfying of requirements of higher order. And still he has found out the pleasant 
Surprise – attached from within to a lid beer banks a minidisk with records 
organnyh Franc products. Probably, the Minotaur simply remunerated it for 
Attentiveness, but it is not excluded, that wished to check up at the same time, it is how much far 
Experimental from a bestial condition. 
        The rabbit has estimated a gift. He has put a disk in a player and enjoyed music 
Until behind a muddy barrier there was no seductive silhouette 
The bared Doe-rabbit. It has densely nestled a breast and a stomach on the heavy-duty 
To glass, raising to the Rabbit of the male, but after monthly abstention it was 
Unduly. 
        However with an intimate meeting business was not simply. A Minotaur was able 
Used one of the strongest stimulators, forcing the Rabbit and the Doe-rabbit 
To show resourcefulness and ingenuity miracles, to reach the friend 
To the friend. And the main thing, in default from active actions by it of nothing 
Threatened. All was as in the present life. To copulate was not 
End in itself – happened, the Rabbit and refused pleasure, if 
The problem offered by a Minotaur looked unsoluble. Then he has understood, 
That business is not reduced to one only physiology. Damned "ego" got out 
From all cracks also demanded satisfaction of ambitions – even in that case, 
When the electronic monster absolutely deprived was the unique witness 
antropomorfizma. 
        Today the Rabbit operated with inspiration and in forty minutes 
Has reunited with the Doe-rabbit, having overcome from its part the four fifth dividing 
Their barriers. It has appeared, it had a next depression. On the one hand, it 
Has afflicted the Rabbit, and with another, he has felt the inevitable superiority, for 
Itself there were much more suitable for prepared to it roles. 
        And here, while it moved, taking the Doe-rabbit behind, it, standing on 
chetverenkah, has asked it, whether he has paid attention to the figures which have been beaten out on 
Cans. 
        Certainly, he has paid attention and even has thought of that they 
Mean. Canned food were three-monthly prescription. And earlier – week, not 
More. Not that that it has disturbed the Rabbit from the point of view of their suitability to 
To the use, but, having lived in a labyrinth long term, he was accustomed to search to all 
Comprehensible explanation. 
        Between the the second and the third orgazmami the Doe-rabbit has told: 
        – Outside something not so. 
        At the Rabbit for so radical conclusion elementary on sufficed 
Data. In most cases it was guided by logic – unlike 
The doe-rabbit relying almost exclusively on intuition. Judging by that 
Their results in tests for survival rate were approximately identical, both 
Of way to conjure a reality had the right to existence. 
        – When you last time received the «Astrophysical 
Magazine »? – The Doe-rabbit has asked, changing a pose and turning over on a back. 
        So, it remembered its truly man's hobbies, and it, in the 
Turn, remembered, that last number received from a Minotaur approximately 
Corresponded on freshness to canned food. It has felt a certain failure in uniform 
To power system which their organisms thanks to a tantra have become. 
The rabbit was rather izoshchren in similar things, but the Doe-rabbit definitively 
Has spoilt to it sex. After some minutes she has said the convinced tone 
And with the impenetrable person: 
        – We NEVER from here leave. 
        And he to it has believed. Has believed to such degree, that in its imagination 
The synthetic laughter of a Minotaur was distributed. 
        And then in a labyrinth light has gone out. 

                                SHELTER 

        They sat a semicircle and listened to that told it unfamiliar 
The person in strange clothes which has appeared after send away all 
Adults also have thrown them. He pokoldoval on the become empty kitchen also has fed the hungry 
Children, has calmed the smallest, and that is more senior, has managed to arrange to 
To itself, having told to everyone no more than two-three words. But now, is closer to 
Midnight, words flew from it the river – this river was dark, in addition 
Covered by a fog of imaginations; it tightened in whirlpools of secrets and engrossed attention 
Without the rest. It flew slowly and still as if out of time. In its waters 
Tens bewitched persons were reflected... 
        The shelter bedroom reminded church where parishioners were going to, not 
Having concepts about a sin, religion and the god. And the next minute it 
Already became the ship left by a command and rushing after an ox of a wind and 
Waves in shtormujushchem the sea, and the slaves locked in hold sang the sad songs 
In expectation of the inevitable end. 
        The stranger was able to fill silence with sounds of the violent nature, 
Reknock of branches and ring of torn wires, disturbing shouts of birds and 
The roar of animals, and in wind howl behind windows at times heard voices of mothers, 
Calling lost children. 
        At any moment the stranger has suddenly put a finger to lips and has made 
To children a sign that they have cautiously turned back. Under a bedroom ceiling turned a plenty 
Glowworms, bearing a faint resemblance to rings of Saturn, and from walls the red looked 
Eyes. In this dim zelenovato-crimson luminescence children have seen rats, which 
Too settle by a circle and listened to a voice (or to gestures?) the mysterious person. 
        The stranger has started to tell about them, about habits of separate animals and 
About customs of a rat tribe. He knew about it too much for a being, 
Which simply could not squeeze into a rat hole. He spoke so, 
As if has spent all life among rats. And those sat not having stirred, dense 
Grey live ring as if understood that is a question of them. 
        The stranger has told, that rats take now an unseemly place, but 
If they were though little bit more largely would become owners of the Earth and biped 
«The creation wreath» never would reach the present exaggerated greatness. 
Then it has fallen outside the limits a small circle, has fallen on chetverenki and... Anybody 
From children has not understood, that occurred in darkness. Strange sounds, rustles, knock 
Claws... Probably, the stranger told now to rats about people. Probably, 
Its concept about fair game was such... 
        When night already was on an outcome and the red looking from walls were closed 
Eyes, from a bedroom have disappeared those whom it has withdrawn behind itself(himself) from the doomed planet. 

[01 [02]