Глава 16

The tracks end here. Up ahead is...

Hah, I don't think we need to go any further.

What...?

What happened here?

<p=1>Far North, Ursus</>

This village is the closest to where the miners abandoned their vehicles. I thought we might be able to ask around...

Hard to tell if anyone's still alive. The burn marks on the fence look recent.

We're one step too late... again!

Amiya keeps walking, until the quiet ruins are plain in view.

The fire has long gone out. The bare branches in the surrounding woods cannot even hide the twin moons. The ruins are a sickly black in the pale moonlight, a far cry from what she imagined the village would look like.

Amiya feels a brief daze, then worry, as memories of a similar scene flash back into her mind.

Mantra, we—

(Shakes head)

I'll take a team and search for survivors.

I'll go too.

We'll be fine, and we'll be back soon.

No, let's go together and split up over there.

I think I see someone...

Hello! We're a rescue team! We're here to help!

Do you live in this village? What happened here—

<i>Govno</i>! <i>Govno</i>!

Again!

I did say we were a rescue team, didn't I? Was my Ursine weird?

No, he's just... afraid. I can sense it.

He must live around this place, though, if he showed up here.

Should we follow him?

(Shakes head)

Let's not. We don't want to frighten them.

Who's there?

Oh!

Careful—

I-I'm sorry!

I wasn't, following you, on purpose!

Your clothes, they're like hers, so...

Our clothes? Do you mean this symbol?

(Nods)

What's the name of this woman you're talking about?

S-Serafina...

Raidian's real name.

Is this Serafina a short Liberi with four arms?

You... know her?

Yes! She's our friend, and we've been looking for her.

What's your name? Can you take us to Serafina?

I'm... Vetochki.

Follow me.

A fire, broke out. The others are, outside the village.

Serafina was, helping us. Without her, we couldn't have, gotten here.

You're miners from the Central Mining District?

Yes. You're here, and you say you'll help. Thank goodness...

Now, we can live—

Here we are. Just ahead!

Who's there...?

Dyadya Volya? You still, have a fever... don't sit, at the door!

I'm fine. No fever. The wound on my leg doesn't hurt anymore when I tie it up with clothes.

And who are these people?

They know, Serafina...

We come from the same pharmaceutical company. We've come to help—

Amiya?

Amiya... it's really you!

How did you find this place?

It's really you...

We finally found you!

She runs up to her colleague and gives her a big hug.

Perhaps she should not be showing her emotions in front of others like this, but she cannot decline the opportunity to let her guard down.

Nothing beats the joy of reunion, and the comfort in seeing someone whom you have been worried about for a while.

I wasn't sure when the girl said your name, but now—

I'm so glad.

Is everything alright, Raidian?

I'm fine. Sorry for making you worried.

Team Raidian, all nine members accounted for.

Thank goodness...

How did you find this place? Did someone find the markings I left behind?

A wise course of action.

Mantra! I knew you would be with them.

The Doctor, Mon3tr, and I came when we lost contact with you.

The Doctor is with a researcher that we found, waiting for her to wake up. We'll meet up once communications are restored.

The Doctor is here in Ursus too?

I think we all have a lot of questions to ask each other...

...Rankin left with part of the group after the fire was put out.

The ones here were unwilling or unable to follow, or villagers who lived here to begin with.

I regret not being able to stop the events...

So that's what happened...

Is this Rankin linked to Reunion?

No... as far as I can tell, he never made direct contact with Reunion. He simply believed there was a Reunion position on the Ursus-Kazimierz border.

I've heard fugitive Infected in the Far North talking about it. Does Rhodes Island have any intel?

(Shakes head)

You mean these people have nothing to do with Reunion? They're just flying a banner that they happened to come across?

Who might you be?

Eloysius Gorchekova, Sergeant of the Imperial Guard, Vanguard Battalion. You can call me Eloysius.

What is the Imperial Guard doing here?

Eloysius came to investigate rumors of mutated Infected in the Central Mining District. She helped us get into the district.

It's a pleasure to meet you, Gospozha Raidian.

I am happy for your reunion, but time is short and I'll cut straight to the chase.

Were there any mutated Infected in this group of fugitive miners?

Mutated?

I'm sure you understand what I mean, as an operator of Rhodes Island.

No... at least not the ones who stayed. We did not find any so-called mutated Infected when we examined them.

That's strange... there's certainly something abnormal about these people. If there's nothing out of the ordinary with the ones who stayed, then we must hurry to catch up with the ones who left.

Did they tell you how they planned to proceed to the border? Or any other clues they left behind?

I don't think I'm obliged to report anything to you.