Read Multiversum for Free Online Page A

Australia. I need you to help me get to Australia.’
    â€˜You’ve got to be kidding. You want to go to Australia, just like that? Right now?’
    â€˜That’s right. I can’t wait a minute longer. I’m going to lose my mind if I don’t face up to this. I feel as if I’m living a double life; I … have to find her.’
    Marco sighed, pressing his lips together. Then he reactivated his Mac with a tap on the space bar and started an online search.
    â€˜Do you have a valid passport?’ he asked.
    At first, Alex didn’t understand the point of the question.
    â€˜Well?’ Marco insisted. ‘Do you have a valid passport or not?’
    â€˜Does that mean you’ll help me?’
    â€˜Of course I’ll help you. What kind of question is that?’
    â€˜Yes, I have a passport. I used it for the class trip in January.’
    â€˜Perfect. Let’s see what I can do.’
    Alex moved his chair over next to his friend.
    â€˜Hmmm,’ said Marco, his eyes glued to the computer screen. ‘It’s not exactly cheap to fly all the way to Melbourne.’
    â€˜I know.’
    The list of available flights ran from a minimum of 1350 euros for a round-trip ticket. If you booked further in advance, at least three months ahead, the fare dropped by about three hundred euros, but Alex had no intention of waiting.
    â€˜What do you plan to do?’ Marco was taking this very seriously. Anyone else would have told Alex he was crazy. If he had confided in his parents or in any old friend, they would have recommended he go see a shrink. But, as he already knew, Marco was special. Marco had taken him seriously ever since the time he told him about his first fainting spell. That had been four years ago.
    â€˜I don’t know. I don’t have that kind of money.’
    â€˜That’s not a problem.’
    â€˜What do you mean by that?’
    Marco smiled. As if the answer was obvious. ‘Let’s just say that I have certain resources …’
    â€˜Listen, I’m not asking you to lend me money.’
    â€˜I have no intention of lending you money. And anyway, it wouldn’t be my money …’
    Marco sniggered and started rummaging through a dishevelled stack of paper behind the Mac. He found a folder and passed it to Alex, who started leafing through it as his friend explained.
    â€˜These are some files that I’ve been able to hack into. They’re bank accounts that I can manipulate pretty much as I like.’
    â€˜You never cease to amaze me.’ Alex thumbed through the pages without understanding the list of sums and names that he had before him.
    â€˜I can deduct small amounts from these accounts, the way any company would if you made a credit-card purchase online.’
    â€˜But is it safe?’ asked Alex.
    â€˜Of course it isn’t, but I have systems in place, don’t worry. First of all, they have to be sums of money that aren’t likely to arouse anyone’s suspicions. I’m not looking to become a millionaire with this — it wouldn’t be possible anyway, and sooner or later I’d be caught. Plus, I don’t put this money into my own account. I send it to a series of prepaid debit cards in the names of nonexistent companies that …’
    â€˜Do you think I actually understand any of this?’ Alex furrowed his brow and stifled a laugh.
    â€˜Long story short, I have no problem getting my hands on a considerable sum of money without involving my own bank account, and I can draw on that sum through the debit cards that I keep in the safe over there.’ Marco pointed to a small metal cube on a mantelpiece, right next to his parents’ wedding picture.
    â€˜Tomorrow morning, go get a prepaid debit card. I’ll take care of the three thousand euros that will be credited to it by tomorrow afternoon.’
    Alex was speechless.
    â€˜You don’t have to say a