Project Daily Grind (Mirror World Book #1) by Alexey Osadchuk Page A

Apart from that, there're loads of various little bits of software: bots, maps, resource guides, satnavs, music players...
    “I'm all right, thanks.”
    “That's it, then!” Sandra squeezed her bulk out of the chair. “Congratulations on your first job in Mirror World! I'm not shaking hands with you, otherwise you'll be walking round with an injury debuff for the rest of the day. Now a word of advice. You can pick up your gear tomorrow if you wish. It's better you quit the game for today. You've been here long enough for Day One as it is. Plus all your experiments with energy. You'll know what I mean when you're back. See you tomorrow. Good luck!”
    We thanked her again and walked out onto the street.
    My new friend smiled. “So, Mister Mine Digger, see you tomorrow? Once you log out, get yourself a nice big meal and go to bed. Tomorrow will be a big day for you. Oh, and one more thing. Before you log out, I suggest you bind your login to this place. That way you won't find yourself God knows where next time you enter.”
    I nodded. “Will do. I really appreciate it, man. No idea what I'd have done without you.”
    “That's nothing,” he waved my words away. “Now press the logout button.”
    Just before I did, I received a system message,
     
    Grryrsch would like to be your friend! Accept: Yes / No.
     
    I smiled and pressed Yes , then logged out.

 
     
     
     
    Chapter Six
     
     
    M y awakening, or whatever you might call it, was instant. One moment I was standing in the middle of the mining village, then I pressed Confirm Log Out and here I was, stirring in the plum jelly like a beetle in a jam jar.
    The lid of my “coffin” was already open. My vision was blurred, as if underwater. But of course! This was my bad eyesight coming back. I’d been so busy in the game I hadn't even noticed that I could see perfectly well.
    My body shuddered as the real world flooded over me.
    A dull throbbing in my temples came first. My blood pressure was off the scale—and I'd left the pills in the rented apartment that morning. Never mind, there's nothing a hot shower can't fix. It had always worked for me before.
    Gradually, the pain began to subside but it was still there. I clambered out of the capsule. My poor legs! What had those people been doing to my body while I was playing? Had they sent it to unload cement trucks? I'd been told it might feel bad but I hadn't expected it to be so freakin' awful!
    How long might I last like this? No, no, thinking like that wasn't going to help anything! I had to last—as long as was necessary!
    I felt at least five years older. My joints ached, my muscles felt leaden. My head was splitting, my eyesight was failing and my hands shook. I could clearly hear my heart beating.
    Someone supported me by the elbows.
    “Ah, you’ve come round?” I saw my brother's blurred smiling face. “Welcome back!”
     
     
    * * *
     
     
    A soft chair hugged my body. A cup of hot strong tea; a warm blanket wrapped around my legs. My brother's office was cozy and quiet. Night had fallen behind the window. I hadn't even noticed the day go by.
    “Feeling better?” Dmitry was sitting opposite, nursing an identical tea cup.
    “Sort of,” I croaked. “But I feel like I've been through the mangle.”
    “Nice simile. You did well calling it short.”
    “It was a tip from some good peop- er, good Horruds.”
    “Who did you join?”
    “Some dude called Lord Shantar.”
    “Good,” he nodded. “You'll have a fixed wage and will be able to pay off your loan just nicely.”
    “I’ve chosen piecework plus extracted value.”
    He choked on his tea. “Are you mad? You won't survive this week! Everybody knows how poor his mines are. It's basically just refuse rock they sell on an industrial scale. I'm sure the bank will bring your loan amount down now...”
    “You didn't tell me that,” I whispered. “You didn't tell me lots of things.”
    Was it my imagination or had he really shrunk under my