Chapter 234
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 234
Chapter Title: Suspended Execution (6)
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“What about me?”
The prisoner asked. There was anxiety in his voice, mingled with a faint glimmer of hope. A wish for better treatment than the others. Winter calmly asked in return.
“Do you think protecting the kids will be your get-out-of-jail-free card?”
“…….”
He couldn’t bring himself to say yes, and instead put on an aggrieved expression.
“What’s your name?”
“Manuel. Manuel Hayes.”
“Alright, Hayes. Tell me why you were sentenced to death. And don’t lie. It’d be best for you. I can request a lookup by your prisoner number. If it turns out you’ve deceived me later…….”
What then? The nonchalant tone only scared the prisoner more.
“I... I killed someone.”
“I figured. Why?”
“I was hungry. No, I didn’t mean to kill him, I swear. I really didn’t intend to, but he suddenly pulled a gun—th-the gun—and I just reacted... with the knife…….”
“Cut the excuses. You were hungry?”
“Yeah. Back then... how do I put it? I’d gone so long without real food that I’d lost my mind, you know? I wasn’t thinking straight. Except about cheeseburgers. Why cheeseburgers of all things? Anyway, my head was full of them. Then that guy comes home with a burger bag in his hand, that smell…… Damn, why didn’t that bastard lock his door…… You’re not the type to know what that feels like. How trash like me survives in the refugee zones…….”
“You think I really don’t know? I’m a refugee myself.”
Refugee was Major Han Gyeowol’s official background, but his past life lent it authenticity. Illegal casinos ran on isolated virtual reality networks inaccessible to ordinary homes. His parents, chasing get-rich-quick dreams, had left him behind—and upon returning, saw empty energy packs and starving kids. Oh, we forgot.
“Who else did you kill?”
Winter asked.
“If you didn’t get leniency despite the mitigating circumstances, there must’ve been a reason. It happened in a home, so the second victim was probably family. Did you kill the whole family?”
He hit the nail on the head. Prisoner Hayes couldn’t lift his gaze. Still, he seemed to feel some guilt.
“I killed the man, and then someone screamed. After I killed the woman, the kids…… Fuck, fuck, fuck! I chased them up the stairs and…… the kids, the kids…….”
He sobbed for a moment, then spilled the rest in self-abandonment. He’d tried to drag the bodies and stage a domestic dispute, but gave up halfway. Ate the burgers, then turned himself in to the cops.
“Goddamn, it’d been so long since I’d eaten, I nearly died on the way to getting arrested. But the funny thing? Those burgers were fucking amazing. Not cheeseburgers, but it didn’t matter. Best burgers and fries of my life. Swear to God, better than my mom’s cooking.”
He knew refugees had it rough. He’d heard stories from the boys and girls in the Camp Roberts civilian sector. People didn’t want to head east. Conservatism and hometown loyalty played a part, but the real reason was likely the relief supplies prioritized for citizens.
The very fact that civilians remained in bases within contaminated zones proved the refugee protection areas beyond the blockade were at capacity.
“Major, sir. Can’t you just let me go? Place is empty now anyway. I’ll hole up like a dead rat. Won’t last long even if you leave me, so just do it. Please?”
The prisoner wept again, pleading for pity. Hands bound behind his back, his face smeared with tears and snot. He stopped and begged Winter in a leaking whisper.
“I know I’m fucking trash. I get it. But I killed four and saved five, so maybe—just a little—you could cut me some slack? Saved one more than I killed! If you drag me off like this, I’ll just be a plaything again and die like a dog…… Please, please…….”
Winter shook his head.
“Human lives aren’t addition or subtraction. Everyone’s one of a kind.”
“So that’s a no?”
“You can’t undo what’s done.”
“Fuck…….”
“I’m not finished. You did do some good, so I’ll make sure you’re not treated unfairly. Even if the sentence gets carried out in the end, I’ll try to keep you from extra suffering until then. At least while I have say over your life and death, I’ll see to your comfort.”
“Won’t last long anyway…….”
“I’ll make a recommendation after we get back.”
“What if it’s rejected?”
“This is the best I can do. Don’t ask for too much.”
The prisoner sighed toward the sky.
But it wasn’t a low chance. Barring surprises, Winter would get his independent company. Plenty to handle prisoner management. Of course, it depended on how Colonel Rogers of Oléma took it. The stubborn, rigid type might just say execute them all.
After ending the walk-cum-interrogation, Winter borrowed a cigarette from Morales. Lit it for the prisoner after putting it in his mouth. Even untied his bound hands for a bit. Coughing from the long-denied smoke, the prisoner’s eyes reddened again. Everyone’s toughest critic was themselves.
“Major, sir. Here’s the duty roster. Made sure one of ours is always on with each shift. My turn now. Couldn’t fully trust the cops, even if some had military experience.”
Winter checked the memo Morales handed him. More personnel than expected. Notes on armament and service history too. Reservists included—no big issues.
“Looks good. Proceed as is.”
“Phew. Swing by inside when you get a chance. Schultz got the TV in the first-floor barracks working. Satellite cable—seeing those sleek ladies after so long got me fired up. Bet the guys already popped one off each.”
Morales grinned like an accomplice. Winter nodded vaguely. TV, huh. He was curious how the world was spinning. His view had been too narrow lately.
Handing Manuel Hayes to the sheriff, Winter entered the clergy dorms. The men resting there greeted him warmly. They’d been eagerly awaiting him—for beer. Airmail drops included low-proof alcohol. Consideration for civilians isolated in contaminated zones.
Alejandro gave him pleading eyes.
“Can we have one each on off-duty? I swear I won’t get drunk.”
Winter nodded.
“Sure. In exchange, I’m watching the news.”
“…….”
The three soldiers exchanged glances, torn between the on-screen moaning couple and the beer crate. Dead serious faces. After whispering, Schultz cautiously suggested:
“Thirty minutes?”
“One hour.”
“Compromise at forty-five…….”
“One hour.”
“War updates come on the PDA anyway, do we really need to double-check with news…….”
“One hour.”
“Then two beers each would be better.”
“No.”
Rank was a bully. The men accepted the deal with glum faces, grumbling about the beer’s price. Lukewarm to boot. Winter ignored them and flipped channels. Unfamiliar numbers and functions, but he found it quick. Alejandro hit the stopwatch.
“…….”
What came on was unexpectedly foreign news.
“Breaking news from Russia. Ulyanovsk, a key stronghold on the Volga quarantine line, is on the brink of falling. Our correspondent with Russia’s EMERCOM has details. Douglas? You there?”
“Yes, Haley Douglas here.”
“What happened? It was fine just recently, wasn’t it?”
“It was. But situations change. Per EMERCOM Minister Alexander Yemelyanov’s statement, local time 6:11 p.m. today, the outer defenses collapsed. Satellite shows mutant hordes at least 200,000 strong. Scattered troops and civilians are fighting desperately.”
“So the city’s totally overrun?”
“Initially reported that way, but not quite. As you see, Ulyanovsk straddles the Volga. With the two bridges across blocked, the east side’s still safe. But over 100,000 civilians couldn’t evacuate. Russia’s held the line steady for so long; the shock’s huge. Here’s EMERCOM’s live feed.”
Next was aerial footage. Flickering Cyrillic suggested a drone feed. The city split by a massive river. East side lit by artificial lights in the darkened night; west engulfed in flickering fires and black smoke—stark contrast.
“Jesus, look at that swarm. Russia’s hell too.”
Harper sighed, sipping his beer.
Russia always seemed the white north, but the screen showed otherwise. Vast green fields around the city—neatly gridded farmlands. Lands of hope, now crawling with plague in patches.
The horde was too vast to count. Strange special mutants mixed in. Visible even from high altitude. Purposeful overall movement suggested command entities. Soldiers on rooftops firing down glanced skyward. Waved desperately at the screen. Civilians behind them.
Alejandro said,
“Even seeing that, I don’t feel sad. Can’t process it? Or just numb…….”
The others looked glum too. Winter offered the remote.
“Guess I shouldn’t have suggested it. Sorry. Wasn’t expecting this. Change it to whatever you want.”
No one took it. Schultz petted the dog and replied.
“We’ll keep watching. Feels like a duty.”
“Duty?”
“Yeah. Gotta cheer those guys on…… Or maybe it’s fear. What if we’re all that’s left?”
The dachshund sensed the kind soldier’s gloom and whined. Cleaned up now, almost tidy. Rough coat still wild, but a different dog entirely.
Harper wondered,
“But why air that as-is? We cut unfavorable stuff all the time. Russia showing it raw feels off.”
Winter thought he knew.
“We got nuked.”
“Huh? What’s that got to do with it?”
“They’re probably worried about support drying up. ‘We’re barely surviving, why help others?’ sentiment’s been around forever. Post-nuke, it’s gotta be huge. One reason I wanted news.”
America’s isolationism predated the disaster.
Russia wouldn’t miss the shift. Embassy intact, spies too.
“Damn, makes sense…… But Major, you think on a whole different level than a grunt like me. Must’ve aced school.”
Winter gave an awkward smile instead of answering. Declined the offered beer.