Balázs Pataki - S.T.A.L.K.E.R. - Northern Passage

“Bastards,” grumbles Tarasov. “They didn’t give up on the idea. That’s what our so-called scientists were after, too!”

“He and his minions started to experiment on volunteers. First, it was die-hard Spetsnaz who wanted to go beyond their limits, but then things went wrong and the scientists switched to strafbat grunts who preferred becoming guinea pigs over going to the labor camps.”

“Have you ever heard of this, Nooria?”

“No,” she replies staring into the flames. “But Panjir Valley was always a bad, very bad place. Since very long ago.”

Strelok frowns. “If you don’t mind me asking, Nooria — how old are you?”

“I don’t know exactly,” she says with a shrug and gives one of her innocent giggles. “But eight years ago when Colonel came, I was big enough to go to nurse school.”

“You know, whenever I look into your eyes I think that… On second thought, never mind. After all, it’s not mine but that lucky guy’s business to know who sits next to you.” Strelok takes a water-proof medikit box from his map holder and opens it. Inside is a pile of yellowed pages. “Bottom line: here’s what I took from the X-18 documents. I saved you the trouble of getting them yourself. Please appreciate it.”

“I do appreciate it but what am I supposed to do with this?”

“As a starter, take these papers and keep them safe. It would be a shame if they’d get spoilt now after surviving two decades in the vaults. Read them… and then decide what to do.”

“I have a bad feeling about this.” Reluctantly, Tarasov takes the box from Strelok. “If this turns out the way I believe it will — do you feel like joining me on a trip to the south?”

Strelok shakes his head.

“No. The Exclusion Zone is all I have and I’ll never leave it. Not even for a Zone where the only mutants are roasted pigs and it rains vodka. I suppose the New Zone is not even remotely like that.” He grins and gives Tarasov a challenging look. “And you? Feel like staying here?”

Tarasov gently caresses Nooria’s face.

“Well… I think I get your point. However, this brings me to the worst piece of bad news,” Strelok says.

“What could be worse than what you’ve told already?”

“Looks like your New Zone is spreading, or at least attempting to.”

“Come again?”

“I saw it on the news—a massive emission has hit southern Uzbekistan, but only there. It appeared to me as if the New Zone wanted to extend northwards.”

“Oh no!”

Nooria’s sudden cry makes the men scowl.

“I know why—it is—it wants…”

“Nooria! You’re trembling. What’s the matter with you?”

“It is—no, I’m just freezing… it is very cold here.”

Strelok offers her his bottle. Nooria takes another swig.

“Mikhailo,” she says, “I have to tell you something.”

“I’m listening, dear.”

“Not yet… Later. When we are back. I am not sure yet.”

Tarasov sighs and exchanges a puzzled look with Strelok.

“See? That’s why I didn’t get married. Women… always talking when they are not supposed to, and keeping quiet when one would expect them to talk,” Strelok says and begins preparing to leave.

“You must have pissed off the SBU big time,” Tarasov says. “What will you do now?”

Strelok shrugs but gives the couple a dashing smile.

“It’s about time for new adventures. I told you, I am a free man now, and I must thank your woman for that… She has set me free, perhaps from a worse prison than I got you out from.”

“As an old friend of mine would say — we’re quits then. I’m glad you don’t want any secret stash coordinates in turn.”

“No coordinates, but now that you mentioned a reward…” Strelok gives him a smirk. “Yes, there is something. Nooria, do you mind if I keep this pistol?”

Strelok unholsters the silenced Sig Sauer P229 that was Sultan’s farewell gift to Nooria.

“Yes. Definitely,” she replies. “It is yours as a reward from me for helping Mikhailo.”

“Great! Nooria, when we meet next time, please do have a bigger one on you… an artifact-enhanced Gauss rifle maybe? For that, I’ll rescue this clumsy guy even from Kruchelnikov’s closet!”

“There will be no more need for Mikhailo to escape from anywhere,” she confidently says.

Meanwhile, Strelok takes an armored suit from his rucksack.

“Before I forget — this is a mercenary suit from my secret stash in the Rookie Village. I keep it in an attic because Stalkers are too lazy to climb up there. Don’t give it that look, it’s better than what you’re wearing. And here’s some more goodies.” Rummaging in his rucksack, he fishes out a few food rations, bandages, a plastic bag holding a dozen bolts and a Veles type artifact detector. “It’s not exactly the best stuff on earth but should keep you alive until you get back to the Doc. Give him my regards.”

“I can only thank you, Strelok.”

“I wouldn’t give a damn about you, you know, if it weren’t for Nooria. How I wish we had some female Stalkers!”

“I’ve met one in the New Zone, actually. Goes by the name of Mac, but the real one is Beth and she doesn’t have very fond memories of you.”

Strelok stares at him with eyes fully wide open. “What? You have met her? How is she doing?”

“Perfectly, probably because she’s far away from you.”

“Oh dear. You almost make me want reconsider my decision to stay here—you know what? Make sure Nooria tells her what happened in Noah’s Ark, and—eh, just tell Beth that my message is: never say never.”

“Will do. But didn’t you just say that you’ll never leave the Exclusion Zone?”

“I need to go now,” Strelok says without answering Tarasov’s question. He hauls his rucksack to his back. “Hey, Guide! We’re leaving!”

“It’s about time,” grumbles the other Stalker. “Where to?”

“Don’t know. Got any idea where we could stir up mischief?”

“Heard about weird things going on at the Duga-3 radar.”

“Guess it was just a woodpecker scaring the shit out of some rookies.”

“Stalkers suffering from a strange sickness at Polenskoye.”

“Too far. Takes an eternity to get there. Besides, what’s the point of heading there knowing we gonna catch some damn disease and spread it around the globe?”

“Rumor has it the Black Digger is back.”

“Now that sounds interesting. To the Garbage then! Haven’t seen Seriy for a while anyway. Good bye and good hunting, you lovebirds!”

“Yes… good hunting to you too, Marked One.”

Tarasov gives a long sigh as he watches Strelok and Guide wave farewell before they disappear in the gloom. He knows that the last bond between him and the Exclusion Zone has just been cut.

“We should move on too,” he says and glances at his watch. “It’s almost dawn and the military will send out patrols at first light.”

Nooria nods and stamps out the smoldering campfire.

“When I got free from SBU and was all alone in your big city—that was hardest. I was thinking, maybe I will never see you again.”

Tarasov sighs once more, unsure about how to express his feelings. Nooria takes his hand. Her warm gaze assures him that he doesn’t have to waste any words. Yet there is a shadow of sadness in Nooria’s eyes that he has never seen before. He tries to focus on their next step and appear cheerful.

“If only half of what Strelok said about your misadventures is true and the Top learns of it, he won’t be pleased.” Getting on his feet, he slings the assault rifle over his shoulder. “Truth be told, I’d prefer Captain Maksimenko’s torture chamber than—”