The Game

  Chapter 47

  Excuse me, sir. Do you follow the Game? Excellent. My friend here and I are having a discussion and we can’t seem to remember a very important detail. Can you tell us the name of the player who went on to become the Buddha? Surely you remember the Buddha? He was some Indian prince that helped change the world. Millions follow his teachings, centuries after his death. He must have been in the Game about 15 years ago? Right! The Buddha! Do you remember the name of the player who was Buddha? No? Hmm… that’s odd, neither can we.

  Well, what about Jesus Christ? What was the name of the kid who played that avatar? I seem to remember it being a 16 year old girl…? No? Hmm. Yes, you’re right. There are Game historians who are supposed to know that stuff and keep detailed records of it.

  Here’s the problem with that.

  I am a Game historian, and I’ve searched for the colleague who knows these things…but that colleague doesn’t seem to exist.

  Recent conversation on the street of the capital city of Tygon

  Trew - 25

  What a magnificent day!

  Time just flew by. I remember waking up nervous, spending time with Dad and the guys, getting dressed… Going to the church and standing there by the preacher, still nervous. Then seeing Danielle enter the church and walk towards me… and no longer feeling nervous.

  Now it’s 2 AM. The vows have been said, the meal served, the dances danced, the bouquet and garter thrown. Everything was perfect. It was a small crowd, but somehow I kept getting the feeling that millions of people were watching us. Maybe we’re popular in this game we’re living in and a big audience tuned in to watch us. That’s a nice thought.

  Now the day’s over, just like that. The present has become just another memory of the past, and I’m lying here in bed with my gorgeous bride resting her head on my shoulder, savouring every detail so that it’s burned into my brain for as long as I can hold it.

  “Great day, huh, babe?” she asks sleepily.

  I kiss her forehead and close my eyes. “It sure was, Danni.”

  “Quick, though,” she says.

  I laugh. “I was just thinking the same thing.”

  “So how do we top this, my love?” Danni asks.

  I hug her close and bury my face in her hair. I can feel myself drifting off to sleep, but before I do, I say, “Oh, I’m sure we’ll think of something.”