Напряжение / Voltage: Глава 22

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Camrad_RIP 11.04.23 в 17:54

On a rectangle with a floor map emblazoned with the scarlet inscription "Evacuation Plan", dozens of arrows scattered from numerous offices and halls, trying to leave the building through six exits, two on each side of the building facades and one on the ends. We were standing a few steps away from the main entrance and were supposed to exit from the side to the fenced-off bus-parking area. The only thing was that it was not as straightforward as in the three-color scheme.

Camrad_RIP 11.04.23 в 18:01

"Maxim, it's this way," Mikhail called out, pointing to the end of the queue, going off for some reason to the first floor and then to the third, going down the stairs again in the far wing.

Camrad_RIP 11.04.23 в 18:01

A human chain entangled the building, winding its way through flights of stairs and corridors, slowly moving forward in small increments once every five minutes.

Camrad_RIP 11.04.23 в 18:03

I had already managed to run up to the first floor, looked at the "extra" corridors blocked by tables with armed people on chairs nearby, heard many new poems from Fyodor, who enjoyed moving quickly and comfortably on me, and many unpleasant words from people angry beyond reason - I would not have enjoyed standing for hours leaning against the cold yellow walls either. So I looked at the map, searching for a shortcut.

Camrad_RIP 11.04.23 в 18:04

"Maxim?" Mikhail Alexandrovich, who waited patiently, asked.

Camrad_RIP 11.04.23 в 18:04

"Let's go down this door to the shelter," I ran my fingernail over the sign beside the door two corners away. "There's a similar door in the other wing, so there must be a corridor in between," I drew an imaginary line from icon to icon. "That would lead us to the technical rooms. It's right next to the reception rooms, but on the other side."

Camrad_RIP 11.04.23 в 18:05

"Shall we wait in line?"

Camrad_RIP 11.04.23 в 18:06

"Fyodor wants to eat," I said flatly.

Camrad_RIP 11.04.23 в 18:06

From above, they hummed in agreement.

Camrad_RIP 11.04.23 в 18:06

"So are we!" Tonya squeaked.

Camrad_RIP 11.04.23 в 18:07

"Maybe, but at least you're not chewing my hair," I muttered, trying to give Fyodor a reproachful look. "Anyway, come with me."

Camrad_RIP 12.04.23 в 11:18

The door to the shelter was in its place, in a small nook behind the common room, and it was securely locked - but there was no soldier nearby.

Camrad_RIP 12.04.23 в 11:19

"Closed, no key. Shall we go back?" Mikhail asked hopefully.

Camrad_RIP 12.04.23 в 11:19

"It's not really closed," I poured the Force into my hands and pressed leisurely with my palm near the top hinge, gradually increasing the pressure to the sad groan of the wood and metal.

Camrad_RIP 12.04.23 в 11:20

"Someone will hear!" Fyodor's father panicked, looking around.

Camrad_RIP 12.04.23 в 11:20

"Tonya, Katya, cry a little," I asked the girls. I saw the lack of understanding in their eyes, exhaled doomfully, and turned to the only sensible person in the family: "Fedor, bite them!"

Camrad_RIP 12.04.23 в 11:23

The hallway was immediately filled with maiden cries, behind which the sound of hinges being broken out was completely lost. I pushed until something on the other side rattled, and the top edge moved a dozen centimeters away from the doorjamb. Another push - now with known force and speed - and the door tilted audibly, opening a passage into the cool and damp corridor below, mysterious and dark. Even the girls stopped crying and stared with interest, laced with apprehension, into the dark gap of the back door.

Camrad_RIP 12.04.23 в 11:25

Mikhail Alexandrovich helped us gently push the sash back and put it back in place once we were inside.

Camrad_RIP 12.04.23 в 11:25

"It's dark," said Fyodor in a slightly shaky voice.

Camrad_RIP 12.04.23 в 11:26

"Hm..." I ran my palm over the wall, hoping to find a light switch in the darkness.

Camrad_RIP 12.04.23 в 11:26

Nearby the little ones prepared to cry.

Camrad_RIP 12.04.23 в 11:37

"Shall we go back?" Mikhail repeated a bit sadly.

Camrad_RIP 12.04.23 в 11:38

Wasn't he curious about what was next? What secrets the damp dungeon kept, how long there had been no people here, what they had left behind, what passages ran out of the place, and where they led to... Scary, of course, to the point of creeping backwardness, but very interesting!

Camrad_RIP 12.04.23 в 11:40

Something flashed distinctly in the darkness, very close by. And a warm tingling sensation - so familiar and forgotten, it seemed, forever...

Camrad_RIP 12.04.23 в 11:41

"Have you seen this?" Uncle Misha twitched beside me. "There, in the dark!"

Camrad_RIP 12.04.23 в 11:42

Fedor's legs squeezed my neck - he noticed too.

Camrad_RIP 12.04.23 в 11:43

"Not there," I said with a smile, bringing a clenched palm to my face. "Here."

Camrad_RIP 12.04.23 в 11:49

With incredible hope, interest, longing, and desire for a new meeting, I opened the palm of my hand. And when I did, the darkness was illuminated by a tiny spark floating slowly over my hand.

Camrad_RIP 12.04.23 в 11:49

"What is it?" Mikhail whispered softly as if trying not to frighten it away.

Camrad_RIP 12.04.23 в 11:50

And even Fyodor bent to the point of touching my forehead with his chin, and tried to sniff very quietly.

Camrad_RIP 12.04.23 в 11:50

"Soul," I answered softly, pouring my Curiosity wide open, genuinely afraid that the little light was about to disappear from my life again.

Camrad_RIP 12.04.23 в 11:51

The grey corridors were illuminated by the warm glow of a small hand-held sun.

Camrad_RIP 12.04.23 в 11:51

"It's so bright!" Fyodor marveled.

Camrad_RIP 12.04.23 в 11:52

"Isn't that dangerous?"

Camrad_RIP 12.04.23 в 11:53

"It's dangerous to be without it," I remembered from the last two years. "Let's go," and I was the first to walk down the slope, lighting the way for all of us.

Camrad_RIP 12.04.23 в 11:54

The spacious corridor turned at right angles several times, steadily descending until it led to a wide hall with a dozen branches. If I hadn't counted the turns, I would have been completely lost, and the large signs " Shelter" followed by a number would not have told me where to go next. Apart from empty rooms with massive benches by the walls, we did not come across anything at all; probably, if someone lived here or simply left something interesting behind, it was in other places. Sometimes there seemed to be something at the border of light and shadow, though - at least, the girls were always watching someone and squeaking at their father. But I trusted Fyodor more; he only quoted Byron once all the way, and that was because of a fire shield that gleamed with the metal of a bucket.

Camrad_RIP 12.04.23 в 11:56

We walked up the same corridor, trying to be quiet in this part of the building - all the rooms were occupied by the new owners of the city. The noise of the crowd was faint, and any sounds from behind a closed door could be of interest to the guards. The door did not need to be broken down. It opened from the inside without a key. It did, however, have two crunches and a creak in the hinge, but fortunately, nothing happened during the five minutes we waited on this side of the shelter for trouble to happen.

Camrad_RIP 12.04.23 в 12:00

"Let's go," I waved my hand and stepped quietly around the corner, leading the example.

Camrad_RIP 12.04.23 в 12:01

"It's very dangerous what we're doing," Mikhail said to me before stepping forward.

Camrad_RIP 12.04.23 в 12:01

It was as if he couldn't believe that it was all happening to him and that all he had to do was follow the trail for the adventure to continue.

Camrad_RIP 12.04.23 в 12:02

"The worst-case scenario is that we get kicked back," I shrugged, not at all anxious or worried. The excitement of the new encounter with a personal miracle overfilled my heart and encouraged me to smile and teach Fyodor some normal poetry, cheerful and sunny. I didn't want to be afraid or worried at all.

Camrad_RIP 12.04.23 в 12:03

I did not run away from people or try to hide; on the contrary, I immediately approached a woman walking about on her own business and politely inquired:

Camrad_RIP 12.04.23 в 12:04

"I've lost my papers. Do you have any idea..."

Camrad_RIP 12.04.23 в 12:05

"Second office on the right-hand side," she swiped a glance and walked past without lingering.

Camrad_RIP 12.04.23 в 12:05

I only had time to memorize the name and patronymic on the rectangular card affixed to her chest and repeated them to the officer at the next desk near the corner.

Camrad_RIP 12.04.23 в 12:06

"Tatiana Petrovna sent us here," I answered the crystal-clear truth to the formidable question, "Stop, where you go?"

Camrad_RIP 12.04.23 в 12:07

"Come in." The tension disappeared from the soldier's face, and his attention returned to the newspaper on the table.

Camrad_RIP 12.04.23 в 12:07

On the right-hand side was a spacious office with three ladies at small desks the size of school desks, occupied by rectangular monitors. On the floor, however, papers were piled up in small towers produced by a growling printer of the same size as the one that lived by the window. It seemed that even one pile could be touched, and all the rest would collapse, showering the whole office with white and black petals. So I had to walk very carefully to the nearest desk - because no one turned around at my coughing. Mikhail sensibly stayed by the door, clearly not trusting the small corridors between the stacks and his own grace with the bulky bags. Fyodor had to be unloaded, too.

Camrad_RIP 12.04.23 в 12:09

"Good day!"

Camrad_RIP 12.04.23 в 12:09