Adventurer #08: Новелла о приключениях ежиков с крыльями

(C) Cav Inc./AURYN/CPU

MUTANT HEDGEHOGS

It was a hot summer day when an event occurred that set the whole story in motion. That summer was unusually hot, and this day was probably the hottest of the entire summer. So, it was noon. Two ordinary hedgehogs, Pukhly and Zaraza, were slowly trudging along a dusty path. In fact, Pukhly was not really plump. He had definitely grown out of his juvenile phase for at least the last two summers. Zaraza, on the other hand, truly lived up to his nickname. Even now, he was dragging Pukhly to the other end of the forest to see something that had fallen from the sky. They had been walking for a long time, and the heat was getting to Pukhly.

The sun had slowly passed its zenith when the friends finally reached a stream flowing at the far end of the forest. Even in such heat, the stream was merrily running, surrounded by ancient trees, inviting them with its coolness. - Zaraza, let's take a break, - Pukhly said, - I want to drink. - There you go, whining again, - Zaraza waved him off, - there's just a little left. Then, seeing Pukhly looking downcast, he said: - Alright, drink and let's hurry, I want to make it before my friend arrives. Pukhly drank for a long time, snorting. Then he wiped his face with his paw and said to Zaraza: - There's a strange aftertaste in this water. - Oh come on, stop nitpicking, - Zaraza waved him off, and the friends continued on their way.

As they were approaching their destination, they were suddenly enveloped by a cloud of dust and dirt that seemed to come from nowhere. In the gloom that followed, the sound of wings and an unpleasant scream was heard. When the gloom dissipated, it turned out that everything was covered in a thick layer of dust. It was a pity to look at the hedgehogs. - Ahem. What the heck? - Zaraza said, coughing. - Achoo! Who knows, - Pukhly said, trying to shake the dust off his quills. Behind the bushes, the stream was invitingly gurgling... Glancing at each other, the friends rushed to the water...

Already drying off in the warm, if not hot, breeze, Pukhly felt strangely: his back was itching intensely. Approaching a tree, Pukhly began to scratch his back furiously against the old trunk. - Hey, what's wrong with you? - Zaraza worriedly asked. There was reason to be worried. Quills from Pukhly's back were flying off in all directions. It was a scary sight. Suddenly, there was a crack, and Pukhly fell to the grass with a scream. The bare skin on the hedgehog's back had an unhealthy hue and hung in tatters. Underneath, a new, wrinkled layer was visible, if it could be called skin. Suddenly, Pukhly jerked, the flaps of skin on his back parted, and leathery wings filled with strength appeared. - Holy crap! - Zaraza whispered in shock. - Pukhly, what happened to you? Pukhly opened his eyes and blinked in confusion. - What happened? - Don't you feel anything? - No. - You have wings on your back! - No way... - Pukhly whispered in disbelief. - Try to spread them, - suggested a recovering Zaraza. Pukhly tried... The wings snapped open with a clap. They were large. No, very large and beautiful. Although, of course, a hedgehog with wings is... - Damn, that's awesome, - Zaraza said somewhat dazedly. - I don't need such an ornament, - Pukhly said sulkily, trying to look behind him. - I liked myself better without wings. At that moment, Zaraza also started to feel unwell. His head was spinning, and his lower back was itching. The itching quickly spread across his back....

Twenty minutes later, there were two winged hedgehogs in the clearing. - Damn, Pukhly, how are we going to show ourselves at home now? - Zaraza said sadly. - I don't know... - Pukhly replied, scratching the ground with his finger. Suddenly, there was the sound of wings, followed by a cawing laugh. Looking up, the friends saw a crow. But what a crow! A huge gray one with small goat-like horns on its head. - ?! - was all the friends could utter. - What are you staring at? - the Crow said, settling on a branch. - Well, the horns, - Zaraza stammered. - You know, I don't meddle in your personal life, - the Crow said, offended. - A winged hedgehog is also, you know, not quite proper, he continued. - Listen, Crow, you're wise, maybe you could give us some advice? - Pukhly said hopefully. - Advice. Hmm... - the Crow squinted cunningly. - Or maybe I'm just too lazy to fly around the forest with such a freak. Then, already taking off from the branch, he said: - Up the stream, and if you have heads instead of butts, then... The Crow's last words were no longer heard. The friends exchanged glances and walked forward, towards adventures.....

Contents of the publication: Adventurer #08

• От автора - Shaitan
  Technical details of a new program interface for ZX Spectrum. Discusses improvements and features like scrolling and color change. Provides keyboard and button navigation instructions.
• От автора
  Introduction by the author and editorial team details.
• Presentation
  The article presents a software installer for creating autorun disks and introduces a new adventure game created with QUILL by Dr. Laser.
• Presentation of TRICK Software
  The article presents TRICK, a new software for program protection developed by Eternity Industry, and discusses its beta and commercial versions. The author, Alexander Kalinin (aka Paracels/EI), addresses previous shortcomings in the software and emphasizes its improved interface. It includes purchase details for the software and invites readers to request it.
• Presentation
  The article provides a detailed user manual for HELP_Z80, a free utility for ZX Spectrum that serves as an electronic guide for Z80 microprocessor commands. It outlines how to load and use the software, including command explanations, search functions, and integration with assemblers. Additionally, it includes memory distribution, operational features, and references for further reading.
• Interface
  The article discusses reader feedback on the magazine's interface, addressing concerns about pricing and software trends in the ZX Spectrum community. It features a letter from a reader expressing thoughts on game pricing and the declining number of users on the platform. Additionally, there are discussions on software developments and user engagement.
• Interface
  The article shares the author's experiences after purchasing an Amiga, comparing it with a PC, and discussing its usability for games, graphics, and music, while noting some software limitations.
• Interface
  The article discusses user support issues faced by hardware manufacturers SCORPION and NEMO for ZX Spectrum devices. It critiques SCORPION for poor customer service despite being a market leader, while praising NEMO for responsive support. The author expresses concerns about the overall market direction for ZX Spectrum hardware.
• Interface
  Article discusses the future of the Spectrum platform, addressing user demographics, software production challenges, and hardware evolution possibilities.
• Interface
  Article discusses the frustrations of a Speccy user regarding hardware issues, the challenges of modern computing, and the dedication to maintaining the Speccy platform.
• Interface
  Статья рассматривает жизнь и судьбы пользователей ZX Spectrum, включая личные воспоминания автора о друзьях и их взаимодействии с компьютерами.
• System
  The article reviews various software for ZX Spectrum, including text editors, audio players, and graphic utilities. It provides independent opinions on their features and usability, highlighting both strengths and weaknesses. The piece emphasizes the evolution and improvement of software tools available for this classic platform.
• Overview of Games
  Overview of notable games for ZX Spectrum, highlighting their graphics, sound, and gameplay mechanics. Each entry includes a brief summary and rating. Recommended for fans of retro gaming.
• Review of Demos
  The article reviews demo versions of various games, highlighting their potential and unique features. It emphasizes the scarcity of such releases in the market and evaluates the quality and gameplay mechanics of selected titles. The author shares insights into the progress and expectations for future full versions of these games.
• Guests
  The article discusses the formation and activities of the Eternity Industry group, its members, projects, and future plans for releases and competitions.
• Гости - Dr. John
  An interview with Felix from Virtual Brothers discusses his transition from ZX Spectrum to PC, development of the game 'Winnie the Pooh', and future plans.
• Guests
  Interview with the musicians Mарат and Демон from the band 'Disgust', discussing their musical evolution, influences, and perspectives on life and creativity.
• Promotion
  The article provides a detailed manual for the game 'ENCYCLOPEDIA of WAR', explaining army selection, unit types, and battle mechanics.
• Promotion
  The article provides a walkthrough for the game, detailing necessary items and strategies for progressing through various challenges, including dealing with dinosaurs and navigating villages.
• Promotion
  Статья представляет собой обзор arcade adventure игры 'ELOPEMENT' от Omega HG, выделяя ее особенности и советы по прохождению.
• Promotion
  Статья описывает текстовую адвентюру 'Остров тьмы' на QUILL, предлагая советы для игроков. Упоминаются механики и персонажи, включая загадки и взаимодействия. В конце представлена карта острова.
• Promotion of 'Knightmare'
  The article describes the game 'Knightmare', detailing its commands, gameplay mechanics, and initial quests. Players control a knight who must interact with characters and solve puzzles to progress. It serves as a manual for navigating the game's environment and objectives.
• Experience Exchange
  The article critiques the adventure game 'Island of Darkness' by Paul Moskow, highlighting its illogical design, lack of detailed item descriptions, and absence of helpful hints for players.
• Experience Exchange
  The article provides a detailed manual for enhancing the ZX ASM 3.0 assembler, introducing debugging features and functionalities for better program execution control on ZX Spectrum.
• Experience Exchange
  The article describes a phenomenon observed with the ZX Spectrum video controller, where switching between two screens can create unexpected visual artifacts. It outlines a specific program that demonstrates this effect through rapid screen toggling. The author discusses the implications and potential applications of this behavior.
• Обмен опытом - Иван Рощин
  The article is a programming guide on porting the 'iris.ss' screen saver effect from Dos Navigator to ZX Spectrum, including source code and modification tips.
• Обмен опытом - Иван Рощин
  Description of the OPEN_W procedure to create window borders. Includes details on customization of symbols and dimensions. Utilizes PRSYM for symbol printing.
• Обмен опытом - Maximum
  Introduction to long integer operations for game development on ZX Spectrum, including addition, subtraction, and conversion to ASCII.
• Experience Exchange
  The article discusses the customization of the ART STUDIO graphic editor by creating additional modules that enhance its functionality, including features like music playback and cursor coordinates display.
• Experience Exchange
  The article describes a program developed to improve the visual quality of a pixel-by-pixel moving attribute message on ZX Spectrum. It provides details on the implementation, including the use of data arrays for motion trajectory and image rendering. The program includes comments for easier understanding and can be modified for different effects.
• Оттяг
  The article features humorous sketches and commentary on various aspects of life and technology, including anecdotes about a fictional character's experience with a Pentium processor.
• Pharmacist Test
  The article presents humorous tests designed to identify whether someone is a real pharmacist or a fraud, featuring situational questions and scoring to gauge knowledge of pharmacy.
• Oddities and Self-Reflection in 'Оттяг'
  The article 'Оттяг' presents a humorous and critical self-reflection of the author, exploring various life experiences and quirks that highlight his unusual personality traits.
• Humorous Quiz: Assess Your Sense of Humor
  The article presents a humorous quiz to assess one's sense of humor and sexual attitudes through various situational questions, revealing absurd and comedic perspectives.
• Student Types Quiz
  The article presents a humorous quiz to determine what kind of student you are, ranging from a party animal to a diligent scholar. It features a series of questions regarding typical student activities and responses. The results categorize students based on their score, from carefree to nerdy.
• How to Properly Torture Windows 95 - Maximum
  Статья описывает иронический подход к установке и эксплуатации операционной системы Windows 95, включая способы ее 'мучения' и троллинга. В тексте используются гиперболизированные примеры взаимодействия с ОС для создания комичного эффекта. Это развлекательный материал с элементами юмора.
• Ottyag
  The article is a humorous narrative featuring Winnie the Pooh and his friends returning to the Hundred Acre Wood, where their carefree life turns chaotic. It describes their antics, including drinking and misadventures, as they reunite and encounter various challenges. The story showcases the characters' personalities and interactions in a comedic light.
• Novella
  The article describes a humorous novella featuring Corporal Johnlan recounting his first military mission and his interactions with a young grandchild over beers.
• Novella
  Novella recounts an adventurous escape from a Glot base using a vintage spacecraft, highlighting the protagonist's encounters and clever maneuvers.
• Novella
  The article describes a whimsical story about two hedgehogs, Pukhly and Zaraza, who, after a strange event, develop wings and must navigate their new reality. The story blends fantasy and humor as the characters face unexpected changes and challenges. This is a novella showcasing imaginative storytelling.
• News
  The article discusses recent updates from Rybninsk related to the FunTop party, detailing contributions from various individuals and teams for the 'Adventurer' magazine and demo competitions.
• News
  Статья сообщает о событиях в сообществе Спектрумистов Ярославля, включая информацию о разработчиках программного обеспечения и их текущих проектах.
• Advertisement
  The article is a collection of advertisements and announcements related to ZX Spectrum, inviting collaboration from programmers, artists, and musicians, and detailing how to acquire the journal and software.