Глава 16

We head south to the border with Kazimierz, find the village founded by the Infected, the one that belongs only to the Infected. There will be space for all of us there.

You're just blindly believing in this 'Reunion' without even knowing if they're the real deal...

No, I have my reasons to believe.

A few years back when I was stationed at the border, I heard a lot about them, information I could trust.

They provide shelter for the Infected, give out medicine for free, and have fended off many Patrol Units who wanted to push around people like us. I believe we will find people who share our ideals there.

That just makes me think it's some Infected delusion, or the army spinning up an excuse for a bigger share of taxes.

It makes me wonder why it took until now for a banner like this to be flown.

If... <i>If</i> we find out they do not exist, then it should be us who raise the flag.

Hah... And here I thought your time on the border would have taught you better.

Just imagine for a moment, if you had saved that count back then instead of that Infected, you could be a lieutenant right now, maybe even a captain.

Patrol Units like the one we ran into today would be licking your boots with a wave of your finger.

Then I should be even more grateful for the choice I made that day. Otherwise, I would not have had the chance to see this nation's true face, or learn what my life's greatest calling is.

Our people have been duped and deceived for far too long! They believe their current lives are what they deserve, forgetting what they should really have!

This is not only a conflict between the Infected and ordinary folk. If one day, all the Infected in Ursus died, they would use some other standard to decide who to cast into the mines.

Why do some have everything handed to them, while others must struggle for survival? Who do the fruits of their bitter toil go to?

But who actually gets to say what people deserve?

Maybe the way this land is is the way things should be. Even if there were another Terra, even if civilization started over from scratch, things might not turn out any different from now.

No... I don't believe that.

When you opened your eyes and actually <i>looked</i> at everything around us, did you not feel anger? When we feel such an instinctual rage, that means everything is wrong!

You should know that, based on what you've been through, Nikto.

Don't bring up that crap, it's ancient history...

Fine... Even if it is as you say, how far are we from the border? What other things will we run into on the way there?

I have a plan. Why do you think I asked you to gather up those chips?

They didn't blow up when we took them out of us like other chips, which means they still work as positioning devices.

You...

These things have brought us so much suffering. Why not use them to our advantage against the Patrol Units?

That's not what we agreed on when we decided to escape!

You know our condition, Rankin. How many of us can even move right now? Maybe half?

We might be able to beat one or two Patrol Units, but we can't hold off all of Ursus! The only thing causing more bloodshed would do is to trap us here even further!

If we want to live, taking this step is only a matter of time.

Every Patrol Unit lackey we kill is another spare ventilator in our hands.

Any supplies we seize can be used to leave the icefields, and allow children like Vetochki to live to see another day.

Have you forgotten what gave us the opportunity to leave this place?

Even if that thing can't be called human, we were the ones who killed it.

I don't know what you're talking about.

You've become completely unreasonable, before we've even left the mining district!

I don't want to fight over this, Nikto—

<i>Uchitel?</i>

And... Nikto, you're... here too...

What is it?

N-Nothing. I just came to see if... you had eaten yet...

Oh, you don't need to ask this guy. His stomach's already full of his grand ideals.

Haha... You're not really wrong.

You should focus on our physician friends, it was they who did all the hard work today.

I just went to... see them. They're... about to... rest.

Good. You've worked hard too.

How's the wound, does it hurt?

I... I'm okay. Everyone's... okay.

Really now? Everyone's been very brave.

Go rest. Eat your fill, then sleep tight.

Eh... We... don't have much food... My portion's... not very big...

Take care of yourself... too... <i>Uchitel</i>...

Vetochki really trusts you, Rankin, always calling you '<i>Uchitel</i>', like you're her teacher.

Everyone trusts you. They're waiting for you to get them out of here.

I know, which is why every word I tell her is what I know to be true in my heart.

It is the same as when I lead everyone. I take the path I believe to be right.

Let's hope you are.

Relax a little, Nikto. Today is the day of our first victory. It's a good omen. No need to look so anxious.

When someone awakens to the truth and decides to set off on a journey, it is the grandest of beginnings.

Quoting from Igor's biography again?

No, those are my own words.

Trust me, Nikto. We are doing great things right now.

All the surgeries are complete, Captain.

Some of the patients are developing fevers, and we're limited in what we can do...

Got it. I'll go have a word with their leader after this, and do my best to ensure the wounded are provided with food and water.

You've worked hard today. Get some rest. Taking care of yourselves is important too.

Captain, we still need to—

The Far North is under martial law, and the weather is affecting our ability to communicate too. It's difficult for us to connect to the outside.

What happened here will surely draw the attention of the Ursine authorities. We need to leave ASAP. We can't stay here.

But do we really need to work with them?

I'm worried that if we do, we'll be drawn into a conflict with Ursus...

Rhodes Island has no reason to make an enemy of the Empire, but right here, right now, these are just people struggling to survive.

Changing the lives of the Infected has always been our mission.

Besides, they have also helped us out a lot.

Don't worry for now, just do your best to prepare for the unexpected. I'll keep trying to get in contact with our base in the city.

If they can receive the information we sent earlier... I hope they will notice the clues we left behind when they come to help us.

<p=1>Bresk, Far North, Ursus</><p=2>Three days ago</>

<i>Bresk Times</i>, get your copy here—

Do you want one, <i>devushka?</i>

Oh, s-sure. How much?

Twenty <i>para</i>, is that okay?

That's fine.

But I don't have any spare change on me... Here, take this.

Thank you, <i>devushka!</i> You're amazing!

Amiya carefully places an entire <i>chervonets</i> in the boy's palm. He quickly disappears around the street corner, as if frightened his benefactor might regret her decision and take it back.

Amiya?;What're you looking at?

That boy's clothes looked... very thin.

Bresk is colder than the Ursus I remember.

It was winter the last time we were in Ursus.;Bresk is further north than Chernobog.

I still remember...

It was the first time I saw such intense fighting. I was so nervous I forgot to be scared.

At the time, I thought I would never see anything so dangerous again.

We've been through a lot since then.

At least now there's no Catastrophes or people chasing us.;At least now I know who I actually am.

Yes.

On that topic, Doctor, it's rather rare for us to have the chance to quietly watch a city like this, isn't it?

Chernobog, Lungmen, Londinium... Wherever we go, our memories seem to be filled with chaos and the fires of war.

It's how this land should be.;We should remember what this city is like now.

Let's check today's paper.;Does it say why the mines have been blocked off?

(Shakes head)