Крип / Kryp: Отряд_2.10

Chapter 10

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 13:04

And again the tank bounced over the snow-covered tundra, creaking with shock absorbers, thoroughly shaking the contents of the iron womb. This time Olga quickly, properly equipped herself, plugged all the connectors in the proper places, and in general felt a little more confident. There was considerably less space in the vehicle. Kryp was skinny, but his dead servant, with his multi-barreled shotgun, took up as much space as an ordinary man and a half.

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 13:18

"Why is there only one tank?" Olga asked, standing up and leaning toward the monk. She used the weighty cart with the tank as an anchor and an additional point of support.

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 13:18

"What?" the Priest looked at her incomprehensively, adjusting the gas mask hanging around his neck.

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 13:19

"Our train, it's big," Olga patiently explained. "But there's only one tank. Is it a squad for the whole armored train?"

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 13:20

"Oh, I see," the Priest shook his bald head with huge bald spots. "Well, you picked a hell moment..."

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 13:22

It sounded judgmental, but the shepherd's pale gray eyes were filled with wisps of cheerful and slightly sad irony.

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 13:28

"There was more," said the monk briefly. "Did you see the trail?"

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 13:30

"The trail?.." Olga thought to the accompaniment of the 'Chimera's' rumble. The engine itself worked quite quietly for such a huge machine, but the tank was full of things that could rattle, jingle, bang - and did not hesitate to do so.

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 13:44

"The trail from the sea," the monk said patiently. "We just passed it."

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 13:45

"Ah, yes."

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 13:46

"That's where they all stayed," the monk finished exhaustively, and with a stern look made it clear that the conversation was over.

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 13:46

The girl sank back down on the cold metal, feeling a bitter lump go up to her throat. The danger of serving in the Squad was turning from an abstraction to a pressing problem before her eyes. And Olga knew for a fact that she had enough of demons, monsters, and adventures of all kinds.

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 13:55

She met her eyes with Kryp. Fidus seemed funny and ridiculous in the standard overalls that hung over the long inquisitor like an old cloak on a scarecrow. But Kryptman looked calm and confident. So that she wanted to snuggle up to him, wrap herself in the folds of a suit of tarpaulin impregnated with the anti-fire agent, and think about nothing else.

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 14:09

Wonder she'd hugged Kryp before, and he was very warm, cozy, almost like an iron Lina with a heat output to the surface of her body. Well, yes, Fidus was wounded and feverish.

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 14:10

By the way...

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 14:15

Olga suddenly thought of a simple and very interesting thought. Why isn't there a medic in the unit? Don't they get wounds here? Or does everyone know how to heal, only she, by a misunderstanding, has not yet been taught the basics of first aid? That's a lot of weird stuff, isn't it? But when you think about it... Forty thousand years! An unimaginable pile of centuries. It's more surprising that she understands anything at all. And then the familiar and already hated red lamp blinked, heralding the end of the trip, the disembarkation, and a lot of adventure. Or, with luck, a false alarm.

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 14:21

/God, let it be nothing again! The girl pleaded, and the 'Chimera' stopped, gnashing its iron guts, which the tech-priest had diligently serviced and blessed.

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 14:22

This time the squads arrived in an area built up with overgrown apartment buildings. If Olga had not known that she was separated from the Soviet Union by more than four hundred centuries, she might have thought that she was surrounded by an ordinary city with a non-standard layout and buildings adapted to the climate. The blocky high-rises on brick foundations seemed very familiar and homely. Just looking at them made her want to go up to the staircase, open the door to the apartment with the keys, boil cocoa water on the gas stove, and curl up in a warm blanket right under the central heating radiator. Better yet, with a cat. She remembered that in old Japan they used to sell special cats to take to bed in winter for warmth.

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 14:28

Here, on the edge of the tundra town, a whole bouquet of local law enforcers gathered again. The cops, the Federals-arbitrators, the grim officers of the Inquisition. Olga slouched and lowered her gaze, trying to appear small and inconspicuous. Small helicopters, either single-seat or automatic, buzzed overhead. Not far away, a monstrous tank, twice the size of the squadron's Chimera, with a bulldozer blade and a real turret, was tossing and turning, mercilessly smoking its promethean diesel and disfiguring the pavement. Only the cannon was strange as if it were not a cannon at all, but an inflated shower nozzle. Yeah, just like the nozzle of the acid sprayer the Priest have.

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 14:44

It was cold, and it was getting dark-the sunset promised to be early and aggravated by the weather. Snowflakes fell sparsely from the gloomy sky. Bertha and the Priest exchanged a few words with the arbiter, wearing white armor that looked like antique armor. The arbiter was leaning on a shield, hand-painted with words of prayer, and seemed troubled. As the conversation progressed, the same expression flashed across the faces of the monk and the bodybuilder. The trio was joined by someone outfitted similarly to the troopers, only much better and more expensive. The conversation became heated, but apparently without mutual recriminations.

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 14:51

"Don't be scared."

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 14:51

Olga jerked in surprise, thinking that Fidus was a bastard and an asshole. Don't sneak up from behind like that. But it was Demetrius. He had a short-barreled rifle hanging behind him, and an elaborate medical-like backpack on his chest. Separate pouches were strapped to his thighs, went all the way around his waist, and even stuck out on his shoulders. The novice had the appearance of a man fully focused on a socially useful task.

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 14:54

No, it seems there will be someone to put iodine on a cut finger after all.

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 14:55

"I'm not afraid!" The girl turned her nose up, compensating for her fright with ostentatious bravado.

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 14:59

"And that' right," the boy smiled softly, seemingly in no way deceived by his companion's demonstrative bravery. "Whatever happens to each of us has long since been accounted for in the Emperor's will, and will happen according to His providence."

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 15:01

"That's reassuring," Olga gritted her teeth and once again thought that her tongue was her enemy. But Demetrius only nodded.

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 15:07

In the meantime, the Mentor and the monk had finished talking to the arbiter and the 'chemist. Bertha spat greedily into the muddy snow, trampled by many boots, and readjusted her weapon and the respirator she wore instead of a gas mask. The Priest blessed himself with an aquila and placed his fists on his waist chain, gripping it like a handrail. Both returned to the small detachment that waited in silent patience, even Driver halfway out of the hatch and lifted one 'ear' of the tank helmet to hear better. With his reddish skin and silver beads, he looked like a mad Indian cosplaying a World War II tank man.

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 15:14

"Turn around," Bertha traced an ellipse with her hand, making it clear that 'turn around' didn't mean 'go back' at all. Olga's heart thudded heavily in her ribs and seemed to fall somewhere in her pelvis. "Let's go inside. There's shit in the house. We'll have a look."

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 15:18

"Whoever is weak in faith is a fool and a dead man himself," the Priest added. "Is that clear?"

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 15:19

The team responded with a discordant murmur, spreading out in fighting order. Olga thought wistfully that the house was ladders, and dragging a cart up and down ladders was a total sh...

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 15:22

"Let's go straight!' Bertha yelled angrily, knocking out all the outside thoughts. "Hurry up with your legs, you skinny!"

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 15:23

"Well, here goes the work," Smoker said squeakily, running forward as a scout should.

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 15:25

Savlar squelched disgustingly at the hole, drawing in the cold air. Olga remained silent, struggling to keep up with her flamethrower.

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 15:34

The house was large and cordoned off on all sides. Olga saw the familiar symbols of the Ecclesiarchy, the Inquisition, and other badges. Instead of ribbons, they used real chains of light silver metal, maybe really silver. Priests in wide, richly embroidered gold coats were swinging their censers, chanting litanies. The police were beating someone with very long truncheons, clearing the area. The army brought up some real tanks, and the arbiters cordoned everything off with armored cars, with machine-gun turrets spinning menacingly on them. Along with the pillar supports for the barrier chain, the novices set up large roasting pits, pouring some pungent-smelling grass into the coals. All in all, it looked a lot like an advanced high-tech exorcism.

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 15:35

A priest in the longest and most luxurious coat greeted the unit's Priest. The holy fathers exchanged a few words, then the unit was let through the fence. Everyone around, regardless of departmental affiliation, looked at the rather unrepresentative team with fearful reverence. Olga thought that she would look at a person in her right mind and mind sticking a hand into a terrarium full of poisonous spiders. The thought, of course, did not add to her calmness and optimism. The words to pray to the Emperor, which he had already learned, rolled on her tongue. On the other hand, it was even nice to be noticed and respected by serious people from imposing organizations, even if the deference was taken for hire, at the expense of the reputation of the Squad.

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 15:38

They were taken not to the front entrance, but to the technical gate, through which the trucks were driven to the minus first floor. Olga was still waiting for some kind of briefing, but apparently, this empty formality was considered unnecessary here. Huge novices in chain mail similar to that worn by the Priest unlocked the rattling gate, padded with old zinc.

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 15:40

"May the Emperor's mercy be with you," the coat-coated shepherd admonished in the well-pitched voice of a professional orator. "May He preserve your souls from filth, heresy, and faithlessness. May your spirit be stronger and harder than steel."

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 15:41

"Verily, in Him we trust," replied the Priest.

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 15:42

"Amen," the crew chattered, but sincerely, and Olga repeated after them:

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 15:42

"Amen!"

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 15:43

The girl had expected the squad team to go inside, accompanied by the reinforcements, thanks to so much and all piled up around the high-rise. However, the deed, by all appearances, was intended only for the 'purificators'. The girl felt herself getting into the spirit of service with every step.

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 15:47

The sensation of attentive, pressing attention stabbed like the touch of a scalpel on a nerve. It wasn't painful, but rather unpleasant, alien. It was as if some entity had awakened from its slumber or deep reverie, opened its eyes, and glanced over to see who it was that had disturbed its tranquility. A quick, unfocused look from the basilisk. There was no malice, no human emotion of any kind, just a physical heaviness and tingling that made her want to tear her clothes and skin, to brush away her bare muscles and cure the nasty itch. This was how an animated trap, a living alarm system, might have looked. Olga furtively looked around, but either the sensation was only hers, or the others were used to it.

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 16:05

"Masks," Bertha commanded softly, but impressively. "Lights. And forward, to the glory of St. Clarence."

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 16:05

"The facility is sealed!" Someone behind the back yelled into a megaphone. "The maintenance company has started work! The area is closed until authorized by the Squad! For quarantine violations, burn on the spot! Watch the seals, the cordon shoots without warning!"

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 16:07

/God, be merciful," Olga pleaded to herself, pulling the gray muzzle of her gas mask that smelled like Chinese rubber with her trembling hands.

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 16:08

The inside of the house was much larger. It also had a completely alien layout. Most of all it looked like the 'tower' from 'Judge Dredd', not the puppet menace with Stallone, but the real one, where the lower jaw of Karl Urban, who Olga had liked a lot in her time, played. A tough dude with a sad look... Anyway, back to the house.

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 16:10

The building was built around a large atrium, which led in a blind well far up, to the gray roof. Olga shuddered, remembering that she had already seen a similar layout, and nothing good came out then. The impression was compounded by a large statue of some local saint in the center of the square. According to traces, earlier flowers and candles had been dragged to the statue, but now the flowers had been scattered and trampled, and the stone statue had been broken and stacked in a pyramid. Only the head with a mournful expression was placed separately.

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 16:13

"Heretics," the shepherd condemned relishingly, and no one objected.

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 16:13

Such a deliberate desecration of a shrine could only be conscious, and therefore heretical. The Holy Man quickly muttered into the tube of the radio that swung a folded antenna behind his back. Bertha silently waved her hand, Smoker understood correctly, and circled the perimeter of the atrium, shining a powerful flashlight.

Camrad_RIP 16.11.21 в 16:14