Millions of TV viewers around the Earth are watching the world's grandest show. Behind the show happening in the world... NOT VIRTUAL, but PARALLEL. In a world open to the science of the distant future. In a world where survival is truly high art. But now, in a parallel world, life has become HELL. Back off, idiots! Prev! Bern, who is hiding in the corridor, shouts abruptly. Cats rush to the place where the door used to be, and I send half the boards at them. The second half, on my orders, begins to rotate in front of the twins, covering them, moving away from under the fire of crossbowmen. For a moment, I am overwhelmed by a wild, overwhelming belief in our luck; we'll get out.