A day and a half has passed since the moment I left the village. The forest, too, has long been left behind. Now there was only another wide field ahead, through which I walked, firmly holding a rifle in my hands and from time to time looking around. The sky, like yesterday, was still the same gray and dull. It was drizzling rain. I felt tired: last night I decided to spend in the forest, hiding under the fallen trees. I was not going to make a fire then, as it could attract predators. And I did the right thing, because the howling of wolfhounds was often heard nearby. I didn’t manage to sleep properly either. Yes, and chilled to the bones from the cold... But I was not going to stop, because I already lost a lot of time. There was not so much left to go to the camp. If I keep the pace, I'll be there by evening. In the camp I can have a good rest and gain strength. Well, eating a normal meal would be great too...

Inspired by this thought, I cheered up and quickened my pace a little. The grass in the field was high, but the ground was relatively level, so nothing slowed me down... But after walking a few more meters I heard a loud rustle of grass ahead. Stopping abruptly and getting down on one knee, I put the rifle in front of me, having previously removed it from the safety catch. The rustle was very close and along with it came sounds like moans or short growls. I tensed, focusing as much as possible on the sounds. My finger was on the trigger, ready to pull it at any moment. Now I began to hear steps that were slowly but surely heading in my direction. I was sure that what went to me was definitely not a person. I quietly began to retreat with my back forward, into a thicker patch of grass, so that something would not notice me. Stepping aside, I waited. The steps were getting closer. A few seconds later, a cadaver tumbled into the place where I first stopped - what was once a man and turned into an ugly creature stricken with disease. This representative of his species looked as frightening as possible: a thin body, on which there were huge ulcers, hands with long claws. On the face: a mouth from which crooked fangs protruded, a hole that was once a nose and bulging eyes with a white veil. Where there used to be hair, separate tufts now stick out. He was wearing dirty, torn army clothes. He stopped and began to sniff, drawing in fresh air through his "nose". Since the cadavers were blind, they could not navigate in space with the help of their eyes, but their scent, like that of wolfhounds, was able to sharpen and they skillfully use it to track down and attack their victims... But enjoyed the smell of early spring did not frighten for long, as he immediately received an armor-piercing bullet in the head. An impressive hole formed on the right side of the skull and the "soldier" twitched absurdly and, with a last roar, fell to the ground. I got up from my knee and decided to come closer to the deceased in order to make sure that he would not get up again. The bullet went right through, so I had no doubts that the mutant would decide to wake up abruptly.

But I was alarmed that he was alone. Usually cadavers walk in groups of at least 3-4 individuals, so I took a fighting stance and began to listen to the environment. A minute passed, but apart from the wind walking in the grass, nothing was heard...

"Very strange... Probably strayed from the pack and got lost" - I thought to myself. I could not give any other explanation. But still, what the hell is this walking piece of meat doing here? As far as I knew, except for bandits, wolfhounds and some other mutated creatures, no one lived in these places. But guessing, sitting and waiting for the enemy, I no longer saw the point, it was time to move forward. Having looked at last at the dead man, under which a pool of blood had already gathered, I began to slowly make my way through the grass, leading the barrel of the gun from side to side. The adrenaline rush erased the fatigue from me. And it is not surprising, because I did not deal with cadavers so often. The only thing left was to hope that the "friends" of the now dead would no longer come across to me...

In 10 minutes I had already overcome part of the field with high vegetation. Besides the cadaver, I (glory of the Universe!) did not meet anyone, and in front there was only rough terrain and small hills. Behind them, judging by the map, lies the descent to the coastline and after 30 kilometers there is a camp. I continued my movement, intending not to slow down anymore. More than anything, I wanted to be safe, warm and cozy, and as soon as possible. The rain continued to drizzle without increasing.

"I'll be home soon, very soon..." - I thought, quickening my pace and heading towards the hills.