Денис Седов – One step into Tomorrow: Reflection (страница 4)
«Kostya,» I introduced myself, extending my hand.
«Nice to meet you. Rare to meet decent people these days,» he shook my hand firmly, like a man.
«Arkhip, you mentioned fuel…» I reminded him. «And also. I need to meet someone. Here's the address.» I showed him the photo and coordinates on the tablet. He snapped a photo with his smartphone.
«I'll let my people know. We'll check it out. As for fuel—come to those gates in an hour,» he nodded towards the base.
The house was cozy, clean, clearly renovated before the epidemic. Smooth ceilings, walls without cracks, smelled of wood and old furniture. Not rot, as was often the case.
«There's water in the bathroom, guys!..» Nastya burst out of the shower room with a happy face, as if she'd won a million. «And there's hot water too. Do what you want, but I'm first in the shower!»
She disappeared behind the door, then flickered outside—dashed to the car for her backpack—and disappeared into the house again.
«Well, looks like we're moving in,» I said, looking around. «Anyway, guys, you two are in that room. I'm in the living room. Nastya—here.» I opened the bedroom door opposite and, turning around, added: «And… be careful. Leave everything the way we found it.»
Having spread a cloth on the table in the living room, I started cleaning the ORSIS. Then I took out the bow and began mounting the accessories: sight, stabilizers, attachments. Sanya and Vaska immediately sat down next to me, looking on with interest, not interrupting. This was new to them.
When I was finishing attaching the tips to the arrows, there was a knock at the door.
«I just popped in, neighborly,» Arkhip entered with another man. The man carried a deep basket. «For getting acquainted, Konstantin?» Arkhip produced a sweaty bottle without a label.
«There's a seventy-liter water heater there,» said the accompanying man, nodding towards the shower room. «Wait an hour, and there'll be hot water again. And also, over there in the corner, there's a live electrical outlet.»
He extended his hand to me:
«My name is Vasily Stepanovich. I'm in charge of everything here.»
«Kostya,» I replied, shaking his hand.
«Let your guys set the table,» Arkhip continued, «and you and I will have a quiet word, if you don't mind.» He glanced briefly at the laid-out rifle and bow, and in that glance was everything: respect, caution, and interest.
We went outside. Evening was falling. It was calm, even strangely calm—just to walk without weapons, talk, while they prepared snacks in the house. Warm, quiet, smelling of wood smoke.
On a bench by the wall, lounging relaxed, sat the mutant, the same one. Silently. Just present. Arkhip nodded to him, after which the mutant stood up and slowly walked towards the gate.
«Kostya, you seem like a normal guy. And your team seems like good people. I'll tell you straight: no matter what you answer now, you'll get fuel. You're our guests until morning. But after that… we'll see.»
Silence hung for a couple of minutes. The men lit up, and they looked hesitant: they were preparing for a conversation and figuring out how to start.
«Rumors reached us about shooting in Kolomna. I'll ask you straight: did you take out Kashtan?» Arkhip didn't exactly shock me with his question: his glance, when we met at the kiosk, had lingered on our captured jeep. I'd noticed.
«For what purpose are you asking?» I replied calmly, not looking away.
«Kashtan killed my brother. And did a lot of other things,» he said directly, simply, without threat, without pity. Just as it was.
«He wanted to bring us under his thumb,» Vasily Stepanovich interjected. «Arkhip Semyonych told him where to go back then. And then… then things started. When we saw your car, we immediately recognized it as his lackeys' ride. We were going to waste all of you. But then Semyonych talked it over with Fedka,» he nodded towards the gate where the mutant still stood silently, «and we watched you for a while. Saw your boys, your girl. Figured…» he spoke hurriedly, as if afraid of being interrupted and the truth slipping away.
I shifted my gaze back to Arkhip:
«You won't get a direct answer from me. But what happened to Kashtan… It was inevitable. That's how it had to be.»
Arkhip was silent. Just extended his hand to me.
«We're getting you new transport. This one's too conspicuous,» he nodded with clear distaste at the jeep. «Well, shall we go, as they say, sit down for a drink to get acquainted?»
Arkhip and the supply manager and I sat until it was completely dark outside. In the house, everything had long since quieted down: the guys had gone to sleep, Nastya was also nodding off, sitting by the wall, and quietly disappeared into her room. Arkhip and I had gotten into a conversation, but at some point he nodded and got up too.
«See you in the morning, get some rest, Kostya,» was all he said in parting.
I went back into the house. The soft light of candles gently filled the living room, shadows dancing on the walls. The air was warm, smelling of wood and something homely.
«Never did get to take a shower,» flashed through my mind.
And immediately I plunged into the darkness of sleep.
Chapter 4. Ozyory. The Sniper
Explosions and gunfire woke me just as dawn was beginning to break outside. It was still dark, but the sky was already lightening. That hour when silence is especially fragile.
They were shooting from the opposite side. It wasn't just banging at cans—a real firefight. Grenade blasts, the sound of heavy weapons, automatic fire. All serious.
I pulled on my boots, fastened my belt, and within moments was standing on the porch in full gear.
Vasya flew out onto the porch: barefoot, in just his pants, rifle in hand, hair disheveled.
«Are we leaving, Commander?» he asked, looking around.
«Where to?» I shot him a glance. «These people invited you, fed you, gave you drink… And you'd abandon them? Get everything together. Pack up. Combat ready. Wait for me. If I'm not back, fall back to the warehouse, hold up there. Got it?»
Vasya was about to object, but at that moment a car tore into the yard. A guy jumped out, out of breath, with a radio in his hand. He handed it to me.
«Arkhip, this is the Guest. Over.»
«Kostya, help us out. Help us fight them off. We need a sniper, without one we're screwed.»
«Wait. On my way. Over.»
«Vasya! The rifle, ammo, grenades. Move it!»
The guy disappeared into the house, and together with the messenger we loaded my backpack into the car's trunk. Half a minute later, Vasya ran out again—fully equipped, just as barefoot.
«We'll hold the fort, Commander!» he shouted, handing me the rifle.
The car roared and tore off.
While the car raced towards the main base, I quickly geared up: checked magazines, stuffed grenades into pouches, adjusted my vest. Everything had to be at hand.
By the time we pulled up to the building where Arkhip was waiting for me, accompanied by Fedka the mutant, I was fully ready.
«We don't have any long-range stuff,» Arkhip said immediately. «Kostya, help us out. Take out at least the ones with the heavy guns. They're laying down fire so we can't lift our heads.»
I didn't ask any unnecessary questions. Instead, I quickly looked around, and my gaze fell on a five-story building standing at the edge of the fenced-off zone.
«Anyone living in that building?» I asked, nodding towards it.
«A few families, but we've already sent everyone to shelter,» Arkhip replied.
«Excellent.»
I turned to the messenger:
«Fighter, follow me. If I tell you to jump, you jump. If I tell you to freeze, you freeze. Got it?»
He nodded confidently. In his eyes—determination and a readiness to go through hell.
«Take this case. And this backpack. Let's go. Don't forget the radio.»
We ran towards the building. The battle was already raging: roar, people running, screams, explosions.
The stairwells were protected from direct hits, but heavy clouds of dust still hung in the air. Explosions sounded muffled here. The apartment doors on the fifth floor were wide open.
«Wait here for me,» I said, leaving the messenger on the landing. Took the rifle and backpack from him, handing him my rifle and vest in return.
«Give me the radio, brother.»
He hastily pulled it out and handed it to me.
«Maybe I should go with you?..» he began.