Binary code: Mystery number one - стр. 70

The most powerful influence on us is a secret that is carefully hidden from us.

The capsule was accelerating at breakneck speed, and it was dark. Ruthra was nervous, shaking violently. Suddenly there was light, the capsule was passing through the station. Ruthra noticed that this station was very similar to the one where he had boarded the tube; he saw the sign "#22" on the wall and remembered that at the beginning of the journey it had said "#21". The capsule swept through the station; pitch blackness came again. Ruthra calmed down a bit and looked around. The capsule wasn't so cramped. A holographic display lit up in front of his face, and the words "Speak" flashed on it, not very brightly. After a little thought, he asked:

– What to say and to whom?

– Good afternoon," a female voice replied.

– Who am I talking to?

– I am the central reference computer, my call sign is Knight.

Ruthra thought it was a prank at first, but the situation was too serious for jokes. The pod sped past another station, which was exactly the same as the previous two. Ruthra oriented himself: the Knight call sign indicated that the stations had official names as well. It was customary in intelligence and military circles to use secret designations for facilities, towns, villages, military units, etc.; to contact a station, you had to give the operator a secret call sign.

Where is the capsule going? Judging by what Vasilievich said, he figured that the capsule would return to where he sat in it.

– Where is the capsule going? – Ruthra asked.

– The capsule is not coming, the capsule is going," the voice replied.

– Don't be so smart, tell me where the pod is going. – Ruthra said irritably.

– The final destination is the Polygon facility. I am a computer, I answer according to the program, don't get angry.

Ruthra took a deep exhale, calmed down, determined to make contact:

– I understand you're an operator?

Although Zero had employed a similar machine capable of supporting logical dialog, he had never had a conversation with it that way.

The computer did not respond. Then Ruthra decided to emphasize the more important question:

– What's "Polygon"? We have to go back.

– Program set," the voice replied.

– Where is this located? – Ruthra was outraged, though he tried to remain calm.

– The Polygon Center is an advanced level training facility.

– What level? I've had enough of my own.

– I'm not authorized to answer that.

– Where is it located?

– The Polygon facility is located at paragraph 88.