“I want to be Number 1. I want to become smarter, and I want to become more convincing. I want to be talked about and listened to. I want to understand processes better than anyone. I want to make people think so they would realize who helped them open their eyes. "

21:04. First Friday. Channel 95 studio.

“................. and we will do our best to succeed! We will clear the media space from the dirt of their hostile propaganda, while our bombers will continue to bomb their cities and villages. Our children will go to school, and theirs will hide in basements! I am Bogdan Andreev, and this was “The Big Sweep” see you next Friday! "

“It`s a wrap!” — came from the speakers in the studio, where Andreev every Friday from seven to nine pm hosted his TV show.

Andreev got up from the table and left the studio, which was decorated as a news center. At the exit, Andreev met two editors of “The Big Sweep” — Yuri and Olga.

— Sometimes you went over the board, “The Big Sweep” should be provocative, but today there was way too much aggression! — Olga said.

— It was amazing! Although on the brink of a foul, especially the final word... — Yuri added.

— On the brink of a foul? More like blatant incitement! Even for our standards! — objected Olga.

Andreev didn't care. He heard such criticism after each of his programs and did not take it seriously. He believed that his show was a success, and nothing else mattered.

— Just stop it! Everyone does what they do best, you do the technical part of the job! And I am the artist! I am the one who makes it brilliant! I am the one to decide what to say and when! — Andreev said forcefully.

— We will monitor the public`s sentiment on the most prominent TV channels and social networks. If the hype keeps growing, we will continue moving in the same direction, — said Yuri.

— Can we establish some norms of what is considered politically correct? — Olga insisted.

— I'm the one who is calling all the shots. And if you don`t like that — you can start looking for a new Friday evening show headliner! — Andreev declared resolutely.

Olga wanted to respond, but couldn`t find the right words. She hesitated and it was clear that Andreev`s position was stronger.

The conversation took place in the recording room which was adjacent to the studio, where the filming was done. Andreev looked at the monitors. Some of them aired the channel's live broadcast, others — international news and the pre-recorded channel "95" broadcast. On the latter, Andreev found himself. Recording of today's show. He glowed with happiness. Yuri was also very pleased:

— Well, that's it for today. See you on Thursday as usual!

— Olga, can you drive me to the Greedy Coyote? Let's celebrate today's success? — Andreev asked sarcastically.

Olga shooked her head in response.

— Okay, don't get bored here without me!

Having passed through several corridors, Andreev was on the street in a few minutes.

He was a young man in his prime years. Medium height, thin build, narrow shoulders, but he was handsome. Short pitch-black hair, dark brown eyes, perfect stubble. He went out into the street as he was still broadcasting live — in an expensive suit, a perfectly ironed black shirt, and a wide fiery red tie. Andreev was obsessed with his appearance, so he always looked great. At thirty-four years old, he reached the Olympus of political journalism. His TV shows became the most rated in the country, both in television and online platforms views. He was the rock star of the world of propaganda and information warfare. But he wanted more.

Andreev checked his smartphone, which was bursting with notifications. Most of them were mentionings of Andreev's name in media articles or social media posts by prominent journalists and opinion leaders. A small number were personal messages from enthusiastic admirers. He read every message but never answered. He never got any hate messages, as they were autoblocked.

Satisfied with having something to read at his leisure, Andreev began to look for his car. His driver parked it right in front of the exit. Sitting in the back seat, the propagandist did not take his eyes off the smartphone screen.

— Where to? — the driver asked.

— "Greedy Coyote".

22:06. “Greedy Coyote” bar.

Lively atmosphere, billiard tables, hookah smoke, plenty of screens with sports competition live broadcasts. In this bar, Andreev often spent his Friday evenings. He was never a fan of noisy parties with dancing and alcohol, but he needed to feel socialized. He usually sat at the bar, sipped whiskey, and read reviews about his latest TV show.

Andreev entered and looked around the bar. There were very few people and most of the counter seats were empty. Andreev sat down in his usual place at the bar stand and took out his phone. The female bartender approached him:

— As always?

Andreev nodded:

— As always!

The young girl quickly found the right bottle, took out a glass, threw in ice, and filled it with alcohol. Whiskey. Moving the glass to Andreev, she asked:

— How was it?

— I was on top, simply the best! — Andreev answered smugly.

— I have no doubt... — Tanya said.

Tanya was a young girl in her early twenties with long, straight black hair. Ear and lip piercings, aggressive goth makeup with thick eyelashes, and vibrant purple lips. She wore a black T-shirt with the “Demons vs. Devils” heavy metal band logo and a short denim skirt. Her entire upper body, except her face, was covered in tattoos. Despite her young age, she was already working as a bartender for several years. Tanya's main talent was sociability and communication skills. Andreev liked her a lot.

— Have you watched it? — Andreev asked hopefully.

— You know, that I am on shift when your show is airing...

— Well... You can watch it again on the internet! You won`t regret it!

— Ha! Maybe... When I am in the right mood... — Tanya smiled.

— You know we could try something... Together... Whenever you have time...

— Ha! For starters, you need to come here more often!

Andreev accidentally caught the eye of one of the visitors on the other side of the bar. He was sitting about ten meters away. Having noticed that the propagandist noticed him, he said something to his friend who was sitting nearby. His friend also turned his head towards Andreev. These were unfriendly looks.

Tanya, seeing that Andreev focused his gaze on someone behind her, turned around and noticed those two:

— Look, take it easy...

— Did you see them? Assholes... — Andreev said quietly.

— You are no gold bar, that everyone should like you — shrugged Tanya.

— No! You don`t understand!

It was getting noisy in the bar. Suddenly Andreev heard those two men laugh loudly. He couldn`t stand it:

— Hey, you! What`s so funny?

Most of the bar patrons didn`t notice. Two strangers on the opposite side exchanged looks, as they didn`t expect Andreev to talk to them.

— You think you are so damn cool? Do you think it`s easy to walk in my shoes? — Andreev went offensive.

— Jeez! Why are you so agitated? — Tanya tried to calm Andreev down…

— You know what!? You are just mice! You will never have my courage!

The strangers just grinned. Suddenly, a loud exclamation came from the depths of the hall:

— Andreev is a douchebag!

Several people in the bar laughed, but most patrons indifferently continued to mind their own business. This attack unsettled Andreev. One of the strangers noticed that Andreev seemed confused and also shouted:

— Andreev is a douchebag!

This time more people noticed, Andreev couldn`t cope with pressure:

— I`ve had enough...

— Oh come on... — Tanya tried to stop him.

Andreev hastily settled the bill and walked out of the bar with a quick step.

15:25. Thursday. Channel 95 office.

Andreev hosted his TV show on Fridays, but the preparation process for each episode of “The Big Sweep” took hours. He traditionally came to the office on Thursday afternoon. The preparation process included fact-checking, the latest analytics of events, guest selection. The team also discussed in great detail messages, that should be delivered during the show. A civil warfare conflict was tearing the country apart, so it was easy to keep the feet on the gas.

Andreev always took his job with a great sense of responsibility. For each of his live broadcasts, he carefully and thoroughly prepared. His free time was spent reading political articles, watching political TV programs, talk shows, and video blogs of opinion leaders about politics. Andreev`s sword was the word. He constantly attacked with words and did it skillfully. The propagandist humiliated people representing an alternative point of view with feigned disdain and easily manipulated them. Andreev got maximum pleasure when he could discredit another person, regardless of who they are and their motives. But on that day, he could not imagine that an ordinary day would turn into the worst nightmare in his life.

At the recording studio entrance, he met Yuri, who cared little for anything except money and personal gain. However, at that moment, he looked highly concerned:

— We have a situation... I don't know how to explain to you...

Yuri was pale, and his fingers trembled slightly.

— What's the matter? Intimidated by activists? — Andreev joked.

— You have no idea. You will enter and see something...

After this, Yuri opened the door for Andreev and gestured for him to enter. It all looked bizarre after a bit of hesitation, the propagandist entered the room. He took a quince at the room, and there were about ten people inside. Filming equipment, cameras, monitors —everything was in place. Yuri entered the room and closed the door behind him.

Andreev looked at the channel crew. Pale, frightened, there was either despair or fear in their eyes. Among them was Olga, who was silent with frozen horror on her face and looked directly at Andreev. At first Yuri, but now the entire looked like they have just attended a funeral.

— Okay guys! Let`s start! Where is my coffee? — Andreev said casually.

The answer was dead silence. Andreev looked around those who were present, but there was no reaction. From the background of the sounds of various broadcasts, one soundtrack stood out. Andreev heard a painfully familiar voice. His own.

— A cup of coffee is always a good idea! We need to start preparing for the next show!

Hearing this phrase, Andreev got excited. He spoke again with enthusiasm to the team:

— Haha! Yeah! Why are you all so dull!?

Immediately, the voice of “Andreev” came from the speakers again:

— Exactly! This is not the atmosphere!

Andreev tensed. He looked at Yuri and asked:

— Is this some kind of moronic prank?

He looked at Olga. She was uncomfortable and afraid of something.

— Come on, Olga. You know how I hate this kind of stupidity...

Andreev tried to sound cheerful, but the confusion was already heard in his voice. Olga nervously shifted her gaze from him to something behind him. Unable to withstand Andreev's intent and questioning gaze, she swallowed convulsively, nodded her head somewhere to the side:

— Look…

At that moment, Andreev felt uneasy. He turned slowly. Control panel, studio equipment, numerous working monitors. Everything was as usual, but at one moment his gaze fell on one of the screens... He saw himself sitting at the table in the studio of “The Big Sweep” TV show. On the screen, he was dressed and looked the same as now in the recording studio. He looked as if in a mirror...

But “Andreev” on the screen was just sitting silently. He was staring right at the real Andreev with a cold look. It wasn`t one of “The Big Sweep” recordings. In Andreev`s TV show something was happening every second. Andreev would give a speech, communicate with the program`s guests, or show something on the giant interactive screen behind the table. But here... His counterpart was silently sitting and staring down Andreev.

Andreev approached the control panel. Directly in front of him was a large window through which one could see the studio where “The Big Sweep” was filmed.

There was no one...

Andreev slowly turned his head to the monitor, from which “he” was looking at himself. The picture has hardly changed. “Andreev” continued to sit silently, but his head was already slightly turned to the side so as not to let his authentic self out of sight. Andreev was able to catch a subtle but venomous grin on his counterpart's face.

Andreev turned his back to the control panel, facing the film crew. They all looked depressed and intimidated. He understood that the channel's employees had nothing to do with this anomaly, but he turned to them hopefully:

— Can anybody tell me, what the dick is going on?

— *cough-cough* — behind Andreev`s back.

The propagandist slowly turned around and looked at "himself".

— Why don't you ask yourself? — the doppelganger asked Andreev.

Facial expressions, voice, intonation, speech. Perfect copy.

— What are you? — Andreev countered.

“Andreev” smiled:

— I am... You... And you are... Me... — “Andreev” said confidently.

— No-no-no… Me is me, but you… — the real Andreev objected.

He tried to find the most appropriate word to describe this... phenomenon. Meanwhile, the counterpart seized the initiative:

— You still don`t believe that you are talking to a mirror, don`t you?

— There is no one in the studio at the moment, but you are seemingly sitting there. At least the picture shows it. How is it even possible?

— It doesn`t matter, — the doppelganger answered indifferently. — And you know what, it might be not a bad thing at all... I mean that there are two of us. Well, we are the whole one but exist in two realities. We can get along just fine, especially that you owe me that much...

— Owe you??? I don`t owe anything to anyone! I became successful because of my talent and determination! — shouted Andreev.

— You. Owe. Me, — the doppelganger insisted firmly.

Andreev was confused. He couldn`t get his head around this. But just after a few seconds, the doppelganger interrupted his thought process:

— So, what we were talking about... Oh yeah... Why should we argue? We can work together.

— How?

— Easily. I host your... I mean my TV show... And you do whatever you please.

At first, Andreev liked what he heard. But the more he thought about this proposal, the more he realized what would be taken away from him.

— If you would indeed be me, you would know for sure that I would have never accepted such a proposal.

“Andreev” answered instantly:

— I know. Just... It would be very unfortunate if you made a mistake. I needed to try to convince you.

— A mistake? What`s that supposed to mean? You are nothing. Just a video interference. And I am — Bogdan Andreev!

— Bravo. I would say it like that, — the doppelganger clapped his hands. — We both don`t like empty threats, don`t we?

— What are you talking about?

— Just look at your crew... Is everyone there?

Andreev turned to the channel`s crew. Yuri and Olga were there, but he couldn`t tell whether everyone who should have been there was there. He didn`t care about other workers. Andreev interrogatively looked at Olga:

— Everyone there? I guess?

— Valera. One of our cameramen. He rode the bike to the office but got into a car accident. He is at the hospital. Spine fracture, but not threatening to his life, — Olga said nervously.

Andreev turned to his counterpart and said irritably:

— And you just want me to believe, that this coincidence is the evidence of your so-called power? — Andreev addressed to his doppelganger.

— Coincidence? I don`t think so...

— Don`t make me laugh.

— It was just a warm-up. That guy is alive, but won`t be able to walk.

An oppressive silence filled the room. Andreev turned his head towards the shooting studio, which was still empty.

— Interesting... What would happen if I entered this studio? — Andreev suggested.

— Well... You`d better not to... — the doppelganger warned Andreev.

For the first time, “Andreev's” face showed slight concern. His eyebrows frowned a little, he barely bit his lip and something changed in his look. His self-confidence and arrogance magically disappeared...

Most would not have noticed something unusual in this facial expression, but Andreev knew himself too well and caught this moment of weakness. He continued:

— You know what? You can`t stop me! I will do that.

— Bogdan, this is a good idea, — Yuri warned him.

Andreev gave Yuri a condescending glance and entered the door that led to the recording room without a bit of doubt. A spacious hall, in the middle of which was a large table. Behind the table was a huge interactive screen. Five cameras were installed around the recording room. Andreev surveyed the surroundings. Nothing suspicious. He turned to the window, behind which was the recording-studio unit and addressed his team:

— Okay, all is clear!

— Bogdan, we see you... Only you... — Olga's voice came from the speakers with undisguised relief.

— See! I knew that was kind of... Optical illusion or computer graphics... — Andreev announced triumphantly.

He went back to the recording studio. The employees, though cautiously, but vividly discussed the events that had taken place. And one of the operators happily exclaimed:

— Listen, we almost shit our pants here!

— Not during your shift, please! — Olga smiled.

Yuri came up and silently patted Andreev on the shoulder and nodded with approval. Olga put her palms to her lips. She was overwhelmed with emotion.

It was an atmosphere of victory. Andreev loved such moments when his exclusivity was openly recognized and praised by others. But suddenly a voice came from the speakers:

— I’m a little offended that you sincerely believed that you could get rid of yourself so easily. Okay, I understand those lowlifes that surround us, but you...

Until that moment, no one had looked at the monitors above the main control panel. All as one, the channel staff turned to them and on several of them was "Andreev". He was still sitting at the table in the shooting studio, in the same suit, with the same smug look, and he was patiently waiting for a response.

— I have a feeling that even if I go there two, three, four times, you will continue to annoy us, - Andreev suggested.

The doppelganger grinned:

— We can work together. I work here and all fame, money, women — are yours. I do not exist in physical space, so I cannot enjoy all these benefits, but I know that you might. You will take a step back, but we both win.

Andreev thought for a while, but after a few seconds he answered harshly:

— You know what? NO WAY! I will continue doing the thing, that only I am capable of! You are NOTHING. You don`t even deserve to stay in the shadow of my glory.

— I am not sure, that this is the right way to...

— Fuck him! Turn him off! Cut the electricity off! — Andreev shouted.

— You don`t even realize what you are getting into...

Immediately after the last word, the picture from all monitors disappeared. The room became unusually dark and quiet. Andreev looked at the team, and he knew the atmosphere was gloomy. He addressed them:

— Someone is trying to intimidate us because they are afraid. Afraid of our work. We will continue to work in this studio and I don't want anyone else to know what happened here. Considering ... Circumstances ... Today we will be preparing for tomorrow's show in another studio. Yuri and Olga will organize this.

He gazed at the silent people and continued:

— There is nothing to surprise us, nothing to frighten us. Are you with me?

Some employees began to pack their belongings, bags, laptops, but no one said a word.

Only two minutes later, Olga approached Andreev.

— Whatever it is... It will not break us, — she said quietly.

— Excellent! We start after 15 minutes break!

After this phrase, Andreev headed for the exit. Already on the go, he casually said:

— Yeah, and get me my coffee! At least something should go right today!

17:59. Second Friday. The building of the channel “95”.

Despite yesterday's events, preparations for today's “The Big Sweep” show went well. There were always enough headlines, but the military conflict that divided the society in the country could be talked about endlessly. Andreev approached the recording studio confidently. Like yesterday, at the entrance to the studio, he ran into Yuri. Andreev realized that something had happened again.

— Listen, maybe it would be a good idea to take a day off... — Yuri proposed to Andreev.

— (............)

— I get it — journalism is your life. But... It will be better for everyone if you stand aside for now...

— Better for everyone? Are you kidding? We all agreed yesterday we will not give in! — Andreev erupted.

Yuri was in despair. He grimaced and quietly said:

— Olga... Unknown people splashed acid in her face in the morning when she was on her way to the office. She went blind in one eye, partial loss of vision in the other...

— Unknown people? But...

— Four guys from our team couldn`t arrive today, for different reasons...

— What? How...

— Some of the equipment in the studio burned out. We barely had time to replace the critical hardware and...

— Wait...

— My mom was robbed and...

Yuri was unable to continue the phrase he had started. Lump in the throat.

— And....? — Andreev asked.

— Raped!

— Raped? How old is she?

— DOES IT FUCKING MATTER HOW OLD IS SHE?

Yuri was a gentle calm person, and in ambiguous situations, he was always silent. It was rare to hear him swearing. Andreev was shocked by such a reaction and looked at Yuri with a dumbfounded look. Yuri cooled down and continued calmly:

— Look, I know how important your job is to you. You... You are the best! But don't get me wrong. Now we are dealing with something... Something creepy! We cannot control this at all!

— Wait! I know this is difficult to believe but these are all the coincidences...

— NO! You know this! We have been working together for five years! Five years! There were never as many problems during five years as today! — Yuri insisted resolutely.

Yuri`s reasoning was convincing, but Andreev did not want to give up. He had no arguments, so he just stood silently, arms crossed over his chest, and tried to press with his authority. However, Yuri has already made a decision:

— Listen. I have no idea what it is. Perhaps this is someone's stupid joke. He will get bored and everything will return to normal. I just want this to stop...

— (.....)

— Think of it as... a day off. This will not affect your salary and bonuses in any way!

Andreev stood for some time thinking in silence, then clicked his tongue and headed for the exit. Yuri called out to him:

— And one more thing...

Andreev turned to Yuri.

— You will have a new driver. Exit through the back door, and he is already there waiting for you. He will take you home. And... you won't leave the house until ten in the evening...

Emotions overwhelmed Andreev, but suddenly he felt like in a cage. He wanted to say something, and he HAD to say something. And if not to say — then just scream. However, he could not get a sound out of himself. Andreev went to the exit. A black car with tinted windows was waiting for him on the street, right near the doorway. He opened the back door and got into the car. There was also tinted glass between the front and rear seats. As soon as Andreev closed the door, the car took off.

He felt something he had never felt before. Something was taken from him. Something significant.

19:19. Second Friday. Andreev's apartment.

Andreev entered his apartment. He had a small, but modern and well-furnished, high-tech two-room apartment in black and white colors. The entrance door led into a spacious living room. In the center was a large black leather sofa. There was a low coffee table in front of the couch, and a huge plasma TV hung on the wall. There was an expensive handmade Persian carpet on the floor. The apartment was decorated with a large panoramic aquarium containing exotic fish. There was a desk near the window with a computer on it. Near the table were located folders with documents, drafts. Most notably, there were several magazines, with Andreev on the cover.

Entering the house, Andreev hurried through the living room and sank on the sofa. Taking the remote control in his hands, he turned on the TV and found the desired channel. There was a live broadcast of “The Big Sweep”. Andreev did not last long. Twenty seconds, maybe less. He saw “himself” in his usual studio, but it was not him. The man in his clothes, with his voice, was hosting his show. He did not even understand what “Andreev” was talking about at that moment. The strongest emotions gripped him. A mixture of disgust, rage, and despair. He turned off the TV and threw the remote at it with all his might. Andreev laid down on the sofa and began to look at the ceiling. For the first time in his life, his mind was all clear. It was emptiness.

22:22. Fifth Friday. “Greedy Coyote” Bar.

Andreev appeared at the bar for the first time after the last embarrassment. He looked elegant as always, but bags under his eyes and pale skin hinted at his inner tension and exhaustion. The bar was filled. Andreev with difficulty squeezed through the crowd to the counter, where he sat down on an empty stool.

— Wow! Look who finally showed up! Jesus Superstar himself! — a familiar female voice called out to him.

Andreev sighed. Tanya picked it up:

— So difficult to be a Superstar, huh? As always?

Andreev silently nodded. Some seconds later, right in front of Andreev appeared a glass of whiskey. He took the glass and drained it in one gulp

— Here it is, the taste of victory! — Tanya exclaimed solemnly. — Listen, I was almost offended! For the first time in a couple of years, you just disappeared for a month, but there is no end to you on TV! Your performances can be seen even during the breaks between sports broadcasts! Can you imagine? Our boy has become a star!

— I was busy...

— Yeah, yeah, yeah... After all, thanks to you, we have the ad hoc military draft. You were able to awaken patriotic sentiments in our swamp. I didn't think anyone could do it.

— Ad hoc military draft?

Andreev froze in amazement.

— Hey, are you living under the rock? Everyone is talking about that! — Tanya was perplexed.

— I am... Not really been into the news lately...

— Oh come on! Tell that someone else!

Suddenly Andreev heard a high pitched male voice behind his back:

— Bogdan Andreev?

Andreev turned reluctantly. In front of him was a tall, thin around twenty-five years old young man with short blond hair. He was wearing a light blue shirt and beige trousers. His eyes were hiding behind glasses. Andreev saw him for the first time. The stranger addressed him again:

— Sorry to distract you! I just wanted to thank you for your work! It is vital! Involving more people especially the youth to clean up our country! I agree with you! Our enemies don't deserve to live! They must be destroyed! We need to call more people to arms!!!

— How about you, mighty warrior? When are you going to ready your weapon? — Tanya asked the young man sarcastically.

— Well me........ Ehhhh.....

While the young man was desperately trying to find words, Tanya watched him with interest. Andreev stared blankly.

— Everyone fights as best he can! Someone with a gun! Someone with words! I also play a significant role, — the young man said with feigned importance

— Oh yeah... People like you... All about slogans, but when it comes to action... Just a little bubble! Both in war and bed! — Tanya said to the stranger.

The young man was visibly uncomfortable. A toxic smile appeared on his face and after a few seconds moved further into the bar. Tanya turned to Andreev again:

— You know, since I began to see you on the screen more often than here, I began watching you more attentively...

—Hmmmmm...

— You are the real deal! I don’t give a shit about politics... But you influence people. You are a real alpha male. Everyone is ready to follow you.

— Аhа... — Andreev answered without a drop of enthusiasm.

Tanya leaned slightly towards Andreev. And in a half-whisper said to him:

— Maybe ... After my shift, we will stop at your place? Who knows, maybe something... Interesting may happen ...

Andreev smiled for the first time in a while, but there was something strange and unreadable in his smile. It quickly turned into a poisonous grin. Andreev looked Tanya straight in her eyes and said pejoratively:

— Aren't you afraid?

— Afraid of whom? You? Don`t make me laugh.

— Well... You see a person on the screen, and you think you know him... But in reality ... This is a different person... And actually, you have no idea who he truly is...

Tanya looked attentively at Andreev, then said casually:

— Are you high?

A rough male voice was heard behind Tanya near the counter:

— Hey, Girl! HELLO!! Is everyone deaf in this damn place!?

Tanya sighed and went to the client. On the way, she managed to cast a questioning glance at Andreev. He looked at his glass — empty. Suddenly he heard that same voice. On one of the monitors above the bar, an excerpt from “The Big Sweep” was broadcasted. “Andreev” was wearing a black suit, a perfectly ironed black shirt, and a fiery red tie. The doppelganger was doing what real Andreev would do, but he did it with triple energy and fire. It wasn`t just another propaganda brainwashing. Rather hypnosis, black magic session.

“War is the only option,” — was heard from the screen. “This is our duty. The modern world is a jungle in which only the strongest can survive. So we must show strength, initiative, courage, and cleanse our country of scum. They will constantly scream and whine about the violation of their rights. This scum promotes multilingualism, decentralization, freedom of speech, freedom of religion. THEY WANT TO BREAK OUR COUNTRY FROM WITHIN, DO YOU WANT THAT? I DON`T. These dogs don`t deserve the breath and to live in OUR country. Do you know why? Because they shit on everything dear to us. UNITY. COUNTRY. Every conscious citizen must make a choice. Does he fight FOR our state or AGAINST it? We must take up arms. A worthy nation — a worthy future! ” — the doppelganger completed his passage.

Suddenly Andreev had a vomiting reflex, but he controlled himself. His palms began to tremble, and sticky sweat came out. Glancing at the glass again, he raised his hand with doubt wanting to call Tanya, but she was busy serving other customers.

Andreev stood up abruptly and walked towards the exit. For the first time, he did not pay for the order. Outside he felt better, but not by much. He looked up, and the stars were shining in the black-blue sky. Andreev closed his eyes, and a tear rolled down his cheek.

12:??. Sixth Friday. “Saturday Bridge”.

Andreev did not drive for several years. He believed that driving a car was the calling of servants. However, this time was different. The car was parked right in front of the infamous Saturday Bridge. Officially, the bridge had been under construction for more than ten years, but in reality, the construction was frozen. After several years of inactivity, the structure was deteriorating, so it was no longer possible to continue construction. This bridge has become a symbol of the country which was known as another failed state.

As always Andreev was elegantly dressed, however, clothes were rumpled, and Andreev himself gave off a thick fume. He glanced at the adjacent seat. On top was an empty one-liter bottle of whiskey. He took out his smartphone. 0 new messages. He deliberately turned off the mobile internet. With a shaking hand, he turned on the front camera. Pale, almost chalk-white skin, an obscenely unkempt beard, puffy bags under his eyes. He put the phone down next to him. After that, he put his hand into the inside pocket of his jacket and took out a small army flask, which bore the initials and some kind of number. He had no idea to whom this flask belonged. He took a small sip, closed the flask, and tossed it aside.

Andreev got out of the car. Without closing the door behind him, he began to wander from side to side. At some point, he found himself on the edge of the unfinished bridge. He moved a little away from the edge and thrust his hand into his trousers pocket. He was holding a pack of cigarettes and a lighter, Andreev lit a cigarette and plunged into his memories...

*******

In a small lobby, there were several young people, two guys, and six girls. They appeared to be between eighteen and twenty years old. They sat on two black leather sofas near a small coffee table. A little further away was the secretary's desk, on which there was a fax and a computer, folders with documents, some reference books. A giant Bengal ficus grew in a cask by the window. Apart from others, lounging in an armchair, sat a young guy with a fashionable haircut in a dark blue suit and white shirt. He radiated self-confidence and arrogance. To the left of the secretary's seat was a door that led into an interview room.

A beautiful woman with neatly styled hair came out of this room. She was wearing a white blouse that tightly fitted her slender body, and a black skirt barely covered her knees. She held a list in her hand.

— Next! Bogdan Andreev! — the girl looked around the guys.

The young man, who was sitting separately from everyone, got up and with a smile went after the woman into the interview room. In contrast to the warm colors of the reception area, the room was gray, and it was slightly smaller in size than the lobby. On the walls were photographs of people who presumably worked here. On the shelves of light gray cabinets, one could see magazines, books, and small branded souvenirs. In the center was a broad white table, at which sat a stocky bald man. He was wearing a sandal-colored suit, a white shirt with an open collar. Seeing a young guy in the doorway, the man perked up:

— Bogdan! Hello! Thank you for coming! Have a seat!

Mark Turov gestured to the young man to sit down opposite him. Bogdan silently smiled and sat down at the table, making himself comfortable. The secretary left the room, closing the door behind her. Turov spoke to Bogdan:

— I suppose you had an excellent chance to look around our TV channel office. Tell me about your impressions.

Turov spoke slowly, with a constellation. His face was very serious, and all the time he looked Andreev straight in the eyes. His baritone was smooth and soft, but there was a particular strength in this softness.

— To be honest, I was expecting something more ambitious! When you watch your channel on TV, you see high-quality professional work! I thought there were a lot more people behind all of this! But everything turned out to be not overly complicated...

Bogdan spoke with enthusiasm. He waved his hands in excitement.

— Interesting... — Turov said thoughtfully.

— Mr. Turov, it seems to me that your channel is doing an excellent job with a small team. I am sure that if there are more creative people, more projects, more ideas, you will be the best!

Turov smiled.

— You know, Bogdan. There is always something lacking in our lives at different stages. It could be money, or it could be luck, resources, opportunities, time... There is always something missing. We need to work under the conditions that exist at each specific moment.

After a short pause, Turov returned to the main topic of the conversation:

— Tell me a little about yourself, Bogdan. What drives you?

— I am the winner of regional and city public speaking competitions among students, I regularly take part in debates on political, historical topics, I have repeatedly participated in television s...

— Bogdan... — Turov interrupted calmly. — Everything you are mentioning, I already know, — said Turov, putting his right hand on Bogdan's CV.

— Okay...

— Personality is the key. Tell me, what drives you?

Turov spoke kindly and softly. Bogdan thought for a few seconds:

— I think I can be the best on television. I know how to communicate with the audience, explain complex things. I know this sounds crazy, but my peers want to be rock stars, football players, work in a bank or do some kind of stupid startup. Me? I love to prove my point of view in any matter, and I will do anything to be heard!

— Hmmm... Interesting ... Have you thought about working for a local newspaper?

At the mention of work in the newspaper, a sour expression immediately appeared on Bogdan's face. He could not conceal his disgust:

— The newspaper is of no use to anyone in our time. Television, the Internet — that's where the future is!

— Bogdan, television is not a theater. This is not a place where you can casually chat and have leisure time. Even for top presenters, there are specific frameworks and limitations. From the outside, it may seem that everything looks straightforward, but the foundation of all of this is hard and dedicated work.

Turov continued to speak compassionately and gently, although his face remained focused and serious. Bogdan was not taken aback. He was ready to defend his vision:

— I understand, Mr. Turov. And I am prepared to face all the challenges. I am ready to rise in ranks, even from the very bottom of the list — passionately retorted Bogdan.

— Interesting...

Genuine surprise appeared on Turov's face. He continued:

— Let`s say, I gave you all the means and resources you need. What do you want to accomplish?

— I want to be Number 1. I want to become smarter, and I want to become more convincing. I want to be talked about and listened to. I want to understand processes better than anyone. I want to make people think so they would realize who helped them open their eyes.

Turov listened attentively. He did not take his eyes off Bogdan. This speech made a strong impression on him.

— Bogdan, to be honest, I'm delighted. At such a young age, you have already determined the exact direction in which you want to progress. I could not do that until I was thirty-six, so something tells me that you can easily achieve great success, — Turov praised the young man...

A smug smile appeared on Bogdan`s face as Turov continued:

— But you said you want to be number 1. Let's say. At some point, you achieved that. You have a big house, an apartment in the city center, an expensive car, a beautiful wife, people recognize and love you and your shows…

Turov's voice became darker, but Bogdan did not notice. He visualized what Turov was telling him.

— But at some point, you find out that there is someone. Someone younger than you, more talented, more charismatic than you. Someone whose ratings are a fraction of a percent higher than yours. What will you do?

Bogdan was bewildered. Someone better than him? This is impossible.

— Then I will double my effort, to become the best again! — Bogdan yelled out loudly.

— Ha-ha-ha-ha...

Turov laughed. His laughter was light, gentle, and lasted only a few seconds. He raised his eyes to the ceiling, looked at the table, and then fixed his eyes on Bogdan. There was a friendly smile on Turov's face, but Bogdan felt uneasy. He turned pale and Turov realized that he had puzzled the young man.

— It does not work like this! You've fulfilled your potential. You have climbed very high, reached the peaks that others can only dream of. And there is no way higher than that. You are still young, and you have a whole life, a career ahead. But believe me, every person, in every business, has its ceiling. Someone has it higher, someone lower. I already see that yours is higher than mine, because I found myself much later than you, but everyone has his ceiling, —explained Turov.

— This is some kind of an outdated concept. Nobody knows what each person is capable of, — Bogdan objected timidly.

— Do you follow chess?

— Only stuff, that I hear from the news.

— Who is the world’s number 1 chess player at the moment?

— Carl Magnussen.

— Right. Who is the second-best?

— Alexander Svilder. He was the most recent challenger for the world chess champion crown on two of the most recent occasions.

— Exactly! — Turov confirmed with enthusiasm.

Bogdan relaxed, but then he realized that there was something else behind this question. Bogdan bent down a little and looked closely at Turov. Turov explained:

— Svilder has consistently been the best chess player in the world after Magnussen. Beat the best of the best grandmasters. He consecutively took first place in the qualifying tournaments for the world chess crown. And he did it for several years. He was the best. But when he met Magnussen... He played with him twice and each time he stopped half a step away from victory. Svilder has reached his limit. He has reached a barrier that he could not overcome...

— I will do everything in my power to become Magnussen, — the young man said firmly.

— It is commendable. But still, what if you become Svilder? To be second among several million is also the fate of outstanding, talented, extraordinary personalities...

Turov insisted on hearing a direct answer to the question he asked. Bogdan felt uneasy. The whole atmosphere, the topic of conversation, and the authority of Turov pressing on him. The question was very simple, but it was difficult to answer. His mouth was dry, Bogdan looked down and out to the side. He tried to delay as much as possible, hoping to elude the answer, but Turov continued to wait patiently. The silence lasted a couple of minutes, but for Bogdan, it seemed like an eternity. He raised his head, looked straight into Turov's eyes, and said quietly, but very firmly and confidently::

— Then I'll leave.

*******

??: ??. Sixth Friday. Saturday Bridge. 

Andreev opened his eyes, simultaneously exhaling puffs of smoke. He woke up in his car, which was still in front of the unfinished Saturday Bridge. The smoked cigarette burned his fingers. Andreev threw it aside. Surprisingly, the headaches that plagued Andreev lately disappeared. It was drizzling outside. Nearby on the seat, the phone was buzzing. He started the car, took a deep breath and, closed his eyes as he pressed the gas pedal to the floor.

18:57. “Greedy Coyote” bar.

The bar always opened at half-past seven. Cooks and waiters whiled away the time before the opening. Tanya was sitting at the bar. She had not watched news broadcasts for a long time, but this time something prompted her to turn on the online broadcast of the channel “95” on her mobile phone right before the start of the “The Big Sweep”.

The latest news report was approaching the conclusion as the announcer read the last news: “Residents found the burning car under Saturday bridge in Arestovsky district. Fire brigades and a police squad promptly arrived at the scene. At the moment, a group of forensic scientists is working there. The official commentary was given to us by Ivan Venediktov, deputy chief of the Ministry of Internal Affairs department for the Arestovsky district.

“At about two o'clock in the afternoon, a signal was received from residents about a burning car under Saturday bridge in Arestovsky district. A fire brigade and a task force were immediately sent there. A corpse was found in the vehicle, presumably a man, and no identity documents were found with him. Due to deep burns, missing fingers, and teeth, on-site identification is impossible. Investigative actions have begun, several versions are being worked out. That's all I can say at the moment, — the representative of the police forces said monotonously.

“That was all news for this minute. I am, Svetlana Sokolovskaya, and right now, the highest-rated TV show of our one and the only Bogdan Andreev, "The Big Sweep!"

From the darkened studio came the voice of “Andreev”: “Democracy. The most precious of all values. An idea that millions of people aspire to. But even in our time, democracy must not only be earned but also protected. This struggle will not end anytime soon and we are all participants in this struggle. Our internal and external enemies are trying to exploit our softness and adherence to democratic ideals. But they don't realize that we will always be ahead. Our army will destroy them physically, and conscientious journalists, opinion leaders, and ordinary caring citizens will smear scum in the information space. This is Bogdan Andreev and... "The Big Sweep!"

*******