Red Hills

Taking advantage of the advice of Dylan, Claire and Jim returned to the Red Hills. But before trying to get a horse in the city, the couple looked into the very same store where Claire bought medicines. A continuous knock at the door woke the old man who had fallen asleep. This store for him was not only a place of work, but also a home. Taking the gun, the grumpy salesman went to open the door.

- Who else is there? - asked the old man, pointing the gun at the closed door.

“It's me, Claire,” the girl replied.

- What else Claire? - I did not understand the merchant.

“Today I bought medicine from you in debt.”

Lowering the gun, the old man opened the door.

- What more do you want? - he did not particularly politely asked.

“I need to use your radio again.” It is a matter of life and death.

- Mine or someone from my loved ones? We have already passed, baby. If you have nothing to offer me in return ...

To finish the old cynic did not have time. Jim, who was standing on the sidelines, lost his patience. Grabbing the merchant by the throat, Pride pulled him out onto the street, lifted him above the ground, and pressed him against the wall.

- I have something to offer you in return, old goat! Either you let us use your radio station in an amicable way, or I will twist you like a boomerang, and I will throw it out over the city wall! - threatened merchant Jim.

- I am satisfied with the first option! The wheezing trader wheezed, whose eyes nearly jumped out of orbit.

“I thought so,” the pleased Pride answered, setting the old man to his feet.

Going inside, the big guy first thing raised a gun from the floor, and broke it on the knee.

- Excuse me. You can write it down to Harry, ”Claire quickly rattled, and followed Jim.

Looking after the uninvited guests, the old man thought about whether he should call someone for help and throw the insolent out of town, but when he recalled Claire’s last words, he grumbled:

- Also as I will write down. He will buy me a whole arsenal!

Reaching the radio station, Claire did not thoughtlessly click the switch, hoping to directly contact the army team, and began to delve into the depths of his memory.

- You do not know how to contact the military? Jim asked, seeing the confusion in Claire’s gaze.

- Of course not! In the end, this is the army frequency, and not some kind of entertainment radio. The inhabitants do not have access to it, the girl replied.

“Then what are we doing here?”

- I try to remember on what frequency the radio broadcast of a town called Black Fields. From him to the main army gates literally within reach. My mentor Dr. Garner and I literally dragged the mayor of this city from the dead, so now I owe him.

- Do you want him to send a courier to the army team? - said Pride.

Claire nodded. Remembering the frequency, she contacted the Black Fields City Hall, and after a couple of minutes she talked to the mayor. Nothing of what she learned from Dylan, Claire did not tell, but only limited to a request to send a courier to the army command. Reporting that she was in Red Hills, Claire hoped that the army team would contact her at least in order to find out what she needed from them. Mayor Black Fields assured her interlocutor that he would personally deliver her message to the military, finally thanking Claire for saving her life. After the end of the conversation, waiting was delayed. Jim stood calmly against the wall, keeping silence, and not finding her place Claire walked from side to side. Only 15 minutes had passed since the farewell to the mayor of Black Fields, but it seemed to an anxious girl that at least an hour had passed. After a few more minutes, a gloomy old man visited the secluded couple.

- Will you hang around for a long time? He grumbled discontentedly.

Combat fuse dealer only enough for this replica. It was worth the gloomy, healthy fellow to approach him, as the old man eased away, regretting the words that had been rashly pronounced, and the wrong tone.

- Something is wrong? Do we bother you much? - Jim asked a rhetorical question.

- No, not really. I just wanted to know how long you've been here ...

- As long as it takes. Any questions?

The old man shook his head, and walked out the door.

- You're so vain with him. If it were not for him, you could have died from the wound, Claire tried to shame Jim.

“Not attributing your accomplishments to this old merchant.” If it were not for you, I would have driven in the same pigsty. You better explain to me another - what do you expect?

- I mean, what am I counting on? I want to help my brother. Isn't it obvious?

- Even if the army team will believe in the history of chemical weapons, this does not mean that they will immediately give up all their affairs and rush to pull your brother out of the heat. No one will risk the lives of dozens of people to save one single person. This is irrational and too stupid.

Claire understood that Jim was right, but hoped for the best.

“Maybe we are wasting time, but it's better to make an unsuccessful attempt than to do anything at all.” If something happens to Dylan and my mother, I can’t imagine how I can live, knowing that I could help them, but I didn’t even try to do it.

Claire had barely finished talking about how the radio station began to show signs of life. At first, only interferences were heard, but when the signal got better, Claire and Jim heard an unfamiliar male voice. The owner of this voice introduced himself as Major Frank Archer, and asked if anyone could hear him. Excited, Claire held her breath as she slowly approached the radio station.

- Come on, answer it. You really wanted this, ”Jim reminded the wrong girl at the wrong time.

Claire just nodded shortly in response. After driving away the last doubts, the girl approached the radio station and spoke:

“Good evening, Major Archer.” I wanted to talk to you.

Faryl

As a refuge, Faith chose the tallest building in the city - an abandoned old bell tower. The tower, which is five meters high, has fallen into neglect last year, and now few have come here. Previously, the bell tower was of great value to the city, because it served as a good means of mass notification. If a large group of armed people with supposedly bad intentions were approaching the city, the ringing of the bell warned the residents of Fairil in advance of possible troubles, and gave them time to prepare for battle, or to hide safely. Also, the ringing of the bell informed the residents that it was necessary to gather in the main square for some important announcement from the mayor. But it was so until the broken heavy bell broke a hole in the floor and finished off a few people. At first they wanted to raise him back to the top, but rather quickly abandoned this idea. Therefore, now the bell tower has become an abandoned dilapidated building, ready to collapse at any second. Dragging a prisoner to the top floor, Faith accidentally stepped on the rotten boards, which immediately broke through. Only a good reaction saved the girl from death. Having managed to cling to the edge with one hand, Faith climbed back, and continued climbing, but more carefully. Reaching the top floor, and bringing to life the previously imprisoned prisoner (Faith had to go home and grab something), Faith contacted Horner and presented him with an ultimatum. Immediately after the end of the conversation with Dylan, Faith went to the window and looked down. In addition to tangible drawbacks, there was one important plus - from the top floor of the tower of Fairil Street very well looked through. That is why Faith and took with her a sniper rifle. Having mounted a night vision sight on the rifle, Faith began to slowly inspect the empty streets.

- Why do you need this? Asked Emma, ​​who was sitting in a corner, with which Faith tied not only her hands, but also her legs.

- What is it?

- Call Dylan to the city. What did he do to you?

Faith smiled.

- It is more correct to ask what your son did not. He did not finish me off when he had the perfect opportunity for this ....