While I was thinking about the past, I managed to cross half of the bridge. A small wind rose and blew pleasantly in the face.
I looked at the map and with a quick glance found the hideout mark. To reach it, it will take plus or minus 170 kilometers. If I will walk at an average pace, two stops a day and without any obstacles, I will be there in a few days. There should be a relatively straight road from my location to Dikson, so the chance of me losing my way is minimal. However, the road is unfamiliar, so I need to be extremely careful.
Throwing my cigarette into the river so as not to leave traces, hoping that Mother Nature will understand me and not be very offended, I crossed the bridge and walked along the road. The sun gradually rose higher, piercing its rays through thick clouds and illuminating the space around...
In order not to walk along an empty road and not be with everyone who wants to taste my flesh or rummage in my backpack at a glance, I went down to the side of the road and walked through the trees, holding the rifle at the ready. I threw a glance at the time-worn, but working AS "Val", which for all the time of use has never let me down. Convenient, practical, and most importantly, possessing exceptionally silent shooting, it showed itself only from the best side in all those troubles that I have been into. Equipped with bullets with increased armor penetration and hybrid optics for both day and night combat, it terrified all opponents who found themselves in my way.
As my grandfather used to say - “Trust, but have a pistol in reserve!” Therefore, in a holster fixed on the chest section of a bulletproof vest, the PSS-2 was waiting in the wings, as silent as his cousin. Ammunition for 6 rounds is compensated for by a fairly high penetration, so that this boy can set the heat on an armored enemy at a distance of up to 25 meters.
In the scabbard on the right thigh was a bayonet-knife, which, in the case of close combat and proper possession, worked wonders. And on the farm, it is also very useful: for example, to cut meat with it or to cut branches to light a fire. On my shoulders was a backpack with everything I needed, and which I was able to fill halfway with supplies on the way to the shelter. On the belt of my army trousers, in addition to a knife, there was a panoramic gas mask, in case I was brought to a place where the air was polluted by radiation or other chemical rubbish. On my torso, I was protected by the previously mentioned light but durable body armor with unloading for spare magazines, as well as a belt on which several frag grenades swayed in time with my steps. Over the armor, I was wearing a black, insulated jacket, and on my legs - army ankle boots, in which it was not scary to walk through the taiga in any weather.
And with such modest equipment I travel...
It took about 30 minutes, and the terrain has not changed: a straight road surrounded by tall pines. Every now and then I looked around, and if I heard the slightest noise, I stopped and listened, holding my finger on the trigger. Fortunately, there were no predators or bandits in my way, but this did not mean that I did not need to be on the lookout. The situation can change in the blink of an eye.
After an hour and a half, I went out into an open field. There was tall grass everywhere, which had managed to break through from the melting snow. Here the wind was stronger than in the forest. To my right were the Byrranga mountains. There was a sign near the road showing how many kilometers were left to Dikson. The numbers read 255 km.
I glanced at my watch, it is 8:45 am. "I will make a halt closer to dinner" - I thought. In an amicable way, it was necessary to take a break now, since I spent the whole last night without sleep, in full tension, and the pain in my legs was getting stronger. But I didn't want to waste time. Sighing, I walked across the field, making my way through the grass and bushes.
After 40 minutes, passing a field and a small forest, I went to an abandoned village, which was located next to the road. I counted 6 wooden houses, two of which collapsed from time and bad weather. There was another field around. There were trees nearby. I always preferred to pass by such places, but the tiredness that had rolled to the limit and the loudly rumbling belly said that it would be nice to take a break. "No, that won't work. I need to take a break." - I thought. But common sense dictated that I need to look around first. You never know who or what may be in these houses.
Taking a grip on a rifle, I headed towards the nearest house. Coming closer, I looked through the broken window. There was old furniture inside and a cracked stove in the corner. Quietly walking along the wall to the porch, I climbed it, stood at the door. After checking if there was a lock on it, I began to slowly open it so as not to make unnecessary noise. Going inside, I slowly walked into the kitchen, putting the barrel of the rifle forward so that in case of an unexpected surprise I could shoot first. The kitchen was dirty and empty. I decided to check the cabinets and shelves for anything edible, although it was unlikely that any of this could be found here. God knows, how long have people been here... But curiosity took over me. I checked the kitchen, but alas, apart from the dusty service and all sorts of unnecessary junk, there was nothing useful. It was the same in the living room. Old photographs and paintings hung on the wall, which the former residents of this house decided to leave, thereby casting ghostly memories of the former comfort. After checking a couple more corners and finding only a couple of boxes of matches among the dust and cobwebs, mentally spat on the idea of finding something more useful and left the house. There are three more houses to check...
After about 20 minutes, after checking the houses and making sure that there was no threat, I decided to stay in the third house, where it was more comfortable than the others. It had only a couple of rooms, not counting the kitchen, one of which contained a sofa, a table, several chairs, an armchair, a couple of dressers, a wardrobe and a stove. Also, there were few windows and this gave me a sense of security. Going to the sofa, I shook the dust off it, took off my backpack, the rifle and put them next to me, leaning my elbows on the back. Sitting on the sofa, I busily began rummaging in my backpack, looking for something to eat. From there I took out a stew, a couple of slices of black bread and a bottle of water. After spreading the whole thing on the table, opening a can of canned food with a knife, I proceeded to the meal. Having quickly emptied the can, ate some bread and washed it down with some water, I sighed contentedly.
"We ate, now we can sleep!" - I thought happily, having previously thrown all the rubbish from the table into the oven, wiped the knife and put it back into its sheath. But before going to bed, you need to check whether it is calm around. When I finished cleaning, I left the room, went to the front door and looked behind it. It was bright enough around, the sky became cloudless, and the horizon was clear. Singing birds could be heard somewhere. Then, I closed the door to the only one of all the houses that exists on it and went back to the sofa.
I lay down on it, putting my backpack under my head. Glancing at my watch and giving my brain the command to wake up in a couple of hours, and with a sense of accomplishment, I closed my eyes and gradually fell asleep.