Глава 16

Yes, sir! I must apologize for what that fool did. He spends so much time underground that he's forgotten how to tell a good person from a bad one.

I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. We had a bad experience when we tried to seek help from another village, and I thought this would be the same—

Pavel.

You're honest about things. I have a fair idea how people from other villages treat the Infected... most of Ursus is like that.

But you're not those Infected that don't care about authority and just want to cause trouble. You're miners, right?

Yes! You know, of course, that we can't leave the mining district without permission from up high.

This is our foreman right here. They told him not to go back until he's found supplies.

Would the bosses leave you to starve if you don't find it?

Yes. It's not so bad for adults like us, but kids like Vetochki over here, how are they supposed to grow without eating?

Vetochki? This girl? She's a miner too?

How old are you...?

I-I'm—

Let me guess. Ten?

Fifteen.

Haha. You're shy, like my daughter... she might have a child your age now, if she's still alive.

She went to the mines after she got the Stone Disease. Not around these parts, to the east, the Northern Tundra? It's further away, anyhow.

Th-The mines, are good. D-Don't worry... <i>dedushka</i>.

<i>Dedushka</i>... grandpa, huh...?

I don't even know how and when she got sick. She wouldn't say. I haven't heard from her for a long time.

Let's not talk about that! Sounds like you have people running your mining district. Some places don't care about their miners at all, giving them nothing to eat, and they don't give them any other way out either.

I heard some miners got so desperate they ran away. They'd rather risk the Patrol Units.

Can you help us?

My wife went out to discuss things with the others before you came in.

So those footprints were...

You have the parts, Lidiya?

Right here.

Rankin takes the cloth package and gives it to the old man.

Here, you should be able to replace the aging parts on your harvester with it.

In exchange for the food you shared with us.

Sure, sure... honestly, I don't know anything about harvesters other than that it's been broken for a while. Do you mind helping me fit the part on if you want to help?

I'll take a look. I used to work in a machine factory.

That's great.

You really managed to get food. A fair bit of it, too.

Gennady says it was a good year for crops, but his harvester was broken. They managed to harvest the mossoat by hand, only to have surplus grain sitting around in granaries because the caravans didn't come this year.

Life is hard for everyone without cash. Still, they were willing to barter with us, rather than waiting until spring to sell.

Lidiya said those parts are worth more than mossoat.

As far as we're concerned, food is priceless.

Must you go so soon?

Yes. We've accomplished our mission. It's time to go back.

I had hoped that you would fill your bellies before you go.

If you want, there are a few houses on the west end of the village that have been empty since the previous inhabitants left. Your group can take shelter there, make a fire, get warm and make some food.

Spasibo...

I can't tell you how grateful I am.

There's no need. The girl helped us repair the harvester for next year. We're the ones who should thank you.

Besides, it's not like we did much.

Normally, we don't touch the collective food stores for winter. Patrol Units are less frequent these days, but it's a chore when the tax collectors come around.

All we old folks did was to take a little grain out of our own reserves, so that you can go back and say you've done your job.

Not like there's anything else we can help with—

Maybe you can tell us your daughter's name. We can try to ask when we—uh, return to the mining district.

Oh, she's not here in the Far North! She's in the Northern Tundra, far to the east...

Just tell me.

Well, I suppose it can do no harm.

Her name is Milana...

A pair of blank, soulless eyes gaze out from the darkness.

The cracking of the bonfire hides his indistinct mutter.

Achieve...

Salvation.