Book 9 · Chapter 59

Day 17

An excerpt from “The Mirror of Putin’s Double,” the ninth book in The Adventures of Putin’s Double.
If life is excessively hard, perhaps you are doing something other than what God’s will is for you.

Alina (the first lady, as the book portrays her)

I sat on the edge of a chair in front of a brand-new computer with an old Windows: it’s safe only if you don’t go on the internet. I turned on the stream from my mobile. Properly dressed, lightly made up, tired but keeping my posture from habit. At the word “war” I corrected: “SMO.” Rockets and bombs fly there, not here.…

Belkaev (a retired political consultant, guest)

Allow me to object right away: the channel “Belkaev” is named so by pure coincidence. It is run by artificial intelligence; I only reference its materials. I no longer practice political technology. About the headline “Greed will make Western brands return to Russia”: the word “return” means they are leaving en masse. A non-war occurred; in reply, non-sanctions, that is, plain squeamishness of private companies.…

The Double-Emperor (interviewer)

I asked the guest what happened to greed, how to stop smuggling of microchips, and how much his advice costs. Answer: the more expensive the advice, the harder it is not to follow. One for expensive Russians, another for inexpensive Russians, a third for an emperor on pension.

She tore the sheet of paper off the screen: the beloved face no longer enraged her. A clever expression, only a little good and evil missing from it. Well, at least that. As a parting, the guest read the words: “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden… for My yoke is good, and My burden is light.” She answered: “I know my new task.” She still did not know that her own surname would become a character in the next chapter.