Metro 2034

“It’s not far from here.” But he made a movement with his head.” I don’t want to go on my own.”

“Take me with you.” Yelled Sasha sure.

The bold one sighed, his fingers made a fist and opened up again. “Thanks for the knife.” He finally said.

“I made good use of it.”

The girl moved back. Surprised. In the next moment she was already in control of herself again and said: ”You decide what you do with the knife.”

“I had no choice”

She was chewing on her lower lip. “Now you have always have it.”

“No, not even now. If you knew you would understand. If you would truly…”

“Understand what?”

“How important it is that I get through to the Tulskaya. Important for me. As fast as possible…”

Sasha saw that his fingers were shaking slightly and the dark stain on his shoulder had gotten bigger. She was afraid of this man but she was more afraid for him. “You’ve got to take me with you.”

She asked him softly.

“No way.” He answered. “It doesn’t matter who is doing it. Why not me?”

“You’re killing yourself.” She moved closer and carefully took his hand.

He moved back as if she had just bitten him. “I have to do it. The people who are in command here are all cowards. If I hesitated longer, I kill the entire metro.”

“But what if there was another way? A cure? If you… Wouldn’t have to do it anymore?”

“How often do I have to repeat myself: There is no cure against the fever! If so If would… I would…”

“What would you choose?” Sasha was still holding his hand.

“I have no choice.” The brigadier took away his hand.

“Let’s go.” He said to homer.

“Why won’t you take me with you?” Yelled Sasha.

Silent, almost whispering, so that nobody could hear it except for her he said: “I am afraid.”

He turned around and left. While he was passing Homer he told him that he had ten minutes until they were leaving.

“Is it because of the fever?” It suddenly sounded from behind her.

“What?” Sasha turned around and bumped into Leonid.

The musician was smiling innocently. “If I am not mistaken somebody was talking about the fever.”

“You’re mistaken.” She didn’t want to discuss this right now.

“And I already thought that the rumors were true.”

Said Leonid in thoughts and to himself.

Sasha’s fore head got wrinkles: “What rumors?”

“Of the quarantine at the Serpuchovskaya. Talks of this apparently incurable disease. An epidemic…” Leonid was looking at her, watching every movement of her lips and her eye brows.

She blushed. “How long have been listening to us?”

He spread his arms. “I never do it because I want to. I just have the ears of a musician.”

“That’s my friend” she explained and pointed with her head into Hunters direction.

“Great,” answered Leonid.

“Why did you say apparently?”

“Sasha!” Homer had risen from his bench and gave a distrusting Leonid. “Can I talk to you for a second? We have to decide how we…”

“Can I talk for a second?” The young man let the old man stand where he was and with a polite smile he made a few steps to the side and waved the girl to him.

Sasha followed him unsure. He felt that she hadn’t lost the fight with the bold one yet and if she just kept on at it Hunter wouldn’t dare to chase her away again. Then she could finally help him, even though she had no idea how.

Leonid lowered his head and whispered: “It could be that I’ve heard about his epidemic before, or not? Maybe it hasn’t been the first time that this epidemic has broken out. And maybe there are some magical pills for it.”

He was looking into her eyes.

“But he’s saying that there is no cure.” Said Sasha.

“That he has…”

“…To destroy all of them? He, your great friend? That’s no surprise. He probably studied medicine”

“Are you saying…”

“I am saying.” The musician put his hand on Sasha’s shoulder, lowered his head to her and whispered in her ear. “That there is a cure”

CHAPTER 15 Only the Two

The old man cleared his throat angrily and made one step into the direction of the girl. “Sasha! I got to talk to you!”

Leonid was winking into Sasha’s direction and stepped back, giving Sasha free with over exaggerated humility and distanced himself. But Sasha couldn’t think about anything else. While the old man was trying to convince her that they could still break hunter, was trying to tell her something and to talk sense some into her the girl was looking over his shoulder at the musician. He didn’t look back but the slight smile on his face told her that he had felt it. She nodded her head and told Homer that she was ready for anything if he would just let her alone with Leonid for one more minute. She had to find out what he knew and had to start believing that there was a cure.

“I’ll be back soon.” She cut of the old man when he was in the middle of saying something. She passed him and ran to the musician.

“You’ve got to tell me!” She was sick of playing games. “How?”

“That is the complicated part of the question. I know that you can cure the disease. I know people that have won against it. I can get you to them”

“But you’ve said that you could fight it…”

He shrugged his shoulders. “You understood me wrong. How could I? I am just a flutist, a wandering musician”

“Who are those people?”

“If you want to meet them you can. But we have to take a small stroll first.”

“At which station are they?”

“Not far from here. You’re going to see them, if you want.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“But you would like too. And because I don’t believe you fully as well I can’t tell you everything.”

Sasha’s look darkened. “Why do you want me to come with you?”

“Me?” Leonid shook his head. “I don’t care. You want to. I don’t have to save anyone, I couldn’t even. At least not like that.”

She hesitated and then she asked: “Can you give me your word that you can bring me to those people? You’re word that they can help?”

“I’ll get you to them.” Said Leonid in a serious tone.

Again the angry Homer joined the conversation:

“What are you planning Sasha?”