Chapter 88
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Lakeside Night (7), Santa Margarita Lake
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There wasn't even a reason to waste three minutes. Winter gathered the officers and interrogated the old man. Information on Captain Harris was better the more there was. The size and condition of the force, details of their armament, etc. If he knew the situation and attempted dialogue, perhaps he could avoid combat.
Of course, the odds were low. Still, trying was the boy's way.
The old man gave his statement with an uncertain look.
"The force... I think it's around sixty men."
"That's imprecise."
"I'm sorry. Ever since that dawn, we've just been on the run... We fled into the mountains and forests, so I couldn't check how many were pursuing us."
"Then what makes you estimate that number?"
"Originally, about a hundred men followed the captain. And when the massacre happened, I remember more than twenty soldiers tried to protect us. The fight itself was one-sided. All they could do was buy time. Still, the captain's side must have taken some losses."
"Hmm..."
Winter trailed off. Combat wasn't always simple addition and subtraction. In clashes between groups, the difference in combat power was the square of the difference in numbers.
'It was an accidental encounter, so there were probably many variables, but it's hard to be sure. Better assume the worst. That way, the second worst feels lighter.'
The old man didn't know much. He was an ordinary civilian. He wouldn't have had the need or ability to assess the military's armament. Much had to be inferred. Still, there was one useful piece of information. They'd fought five skirmishes to shake off the pursuit. In truth, they were embarrassing to call battles. They were blind shots in situations where they couldn't even see each other clearly.
The sheriff was quite brave. Like what Winter had experienced today, she'd stayed at the rear with people like the old man, sometimes alone, luring pursuers in the wrong direction.
"Time's up. Let's head in."
Winter said, tapping his wristwatch. The force moved through the brush beside the road, not the road itself. Enemies could be anywhere. They might end up facing both U.S. forces and mutant groups at once.
Static mixed with Winter's voice still crackled from the radio. The signal was weak. Meaning distance. But the Trickster might have deliberately lowered the jamming intensity.
The survivors were holed up in the engineer office. This remote area left no other shelter from the rain and wind.
'The problem is Captain Harris will easily figure this place out...'
Avoiding contact entirely was best, but it was growing harder to hope for. He or his men might deduce why Winter's group had come to such a place. There was nothing around but the dam.
The door was open. The sheriff waited inside. Her face still held unease, but it was better than before. Since Winter had released her restraints, a sliver of trust had sprouted. Still, Winter stayed vigilant. The other civilians were another story.
About ten meters ahead, he released the old man's cuffs. After telling him to go in first, Winter murmured low enough for only the soldiers to hear.
"Watch the civilians. They'll have deep distrust of soldiers, so they might try to take your weapons."
Calling it "taking weapons" was polite. He avoided "attack" to consider the soldiers' mindset.
"That said, don't make it obvious you're on guard. We can handle the usual stuff. Don't worry."
Jeffrey replied.
Jeffrey's squad plus three others handled outer perimeter security. One squad and the rest entered the office with Winter. Besides the old man and sheriff, people shivering intensely were visible. It seemed more from cold than fear. Even the sheriff looked worn, and she was in the best shape. No one was armed. Apparently, just two rifles total.
The people huddled together, sharing body heat. Even after the soldiers entered, they didn't scatter despite their fear. Must be that cold. Amid them, two stood apart. A heavily pregnant woman and her husband. The medic groaned.
"My God. A pregnant woman. How'd you manage to run this whole time?"
The sheriff answered.
"We have horses. Tied up a bit away."
The medic examined her and paled.
"Something... anything to burn... hurry!"
There were traces of a failed fire-start attempt. They'd gathered paper in a metal cabinet and rubbed sticks. The soldiers hastily smashed office furniture. The noise drew a peek from Jeffrey on outer watch. He gasped at the pregnant woman.
As commander, Winter should have stopped them. No perfect way to block the light leak. Even through thick mist, it'd be visible hundreds of meters out.
But he didn't. He tossed matches from his pocket to the medic seeking kindling. They came with the MREs, designed to light easily even in damp conditions.
Soldiers used gravel-like fuel tablets as tinder. The fire roared up instantly. The drab interior brightened. But it wasn't enough yet. For everyone to warm up, it needed to be much bigger. Smashed desk and chair wood piled high into the cabinet serving as fireplace.
Winter scanned the office. Nothing to cover the windows. Just the paper sheets meant for tinder. He ordered the soldiers.
"Wet the paper and stick it on the windows."
If there'd been enough, they'd layer it thick to block light maximally, but there wasn't. They left north-facing windows alone and focused on the others.
Winter asked the pregnant woman's husband.
"When's your wife's due date?"
"The water already broke. Labor could start anytime."
The husband gritted out the reply. His face melted with every emotion. The medic rubbed his face dry with both hands. Seemed hard to handle.
The other survivors' mood was restless. They seemed displeased with the couple. The sheriff and old man eyed them coldly in turn. Standing in the middle, they tried to block glares at the couple even a little.
'What a mess.'
Their flight was easy to imagine, day by day. The pregnant woman must have grated on them. Seen as a burden to everyone.
'When life weighs heavy, people discard conscience first. It's the heaviest burden.'
Even the understanding soldiers showed impatience. Winter's fragmented voice leaking from the radio tempted them further.
[Sta...tic... If encounter with unidentified U.S. forces... treat as potential enemy... Meerkat, Meerkat... All responsibility... tic... I'll take... Fire at will... Civilian massacre charges... Meerkat, Meerkat...]
Changing frequencies yielded the same. Low chance Captain Harris missed Winter's warning. Winter recalled Atascadero. First Trickster encounter. The radioman had grumbled like this. Damn monster's got good tech.
"Promise me."
The husband's words, wife in his arms. Staring at Winter with bloodshot eyes.
"Promise you won't abandon my wife."
His voice was hoarse. He seemed feverish himself. Up close, his eyes were glazed.
"Yes, I promise. But can you trust my promise?"
"You're Lieutenant Han, right?"
The man pronounced "Lieutenant Han" like a proper noun. Well, Winter's lieutenant promotion after Camp Osispo's fall doubled as morale boosting. To the man, he was still Santa Maria's hero 'Lieutenant Han.' Even seeing the rank insignia, he called him lieutenant.
Winter skillfully formed a gentle smile.
"Thanks for trusting me."
Fame had its uses. The survivors stared at the boy officer, entranced.
At the medic's urging, soldiers pooled MREs. These folks had barely managed one meal a day for days, so full high-calorie rations were too much. Heat water with flamers, dilute the main course. Taste wasn't a factor. Feed the pregnant woman first, then the rest.
Meanwhile, Winter stepped out briefly. Jeffrey beckoned from his spot. He lay prone in the brush, rain-soaked. Waterproof map spread out. Traces of tactical pondering visible.
"What now?"
"Complete the mission first. Pump house is just 500 meters from here."
"And after? I think pulling back fast as possible is best."
"Pregnant woman makes moving tough. Water broke already. Looks like we'll have to stick till delivery."
"Oh, lazy Lord of mine. Why's your task-handling always like this?"
Jeffrey banged his head on the ground, muttering weirdly. Keep this up and he'll convert to the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Strange nonsense. An old joke that used to land.
After a few gloomy head-bumps, Jeffrey spoke again.
"Bad all around. Enemy intel uncertain, mutants approaching, and we're stuck defending immobile."
"Enough griping. Gotta split the force."
"Eh? You're joking."
"Mission must be done, can't leave civilians even briefly, but can't drag 'em all either. Some show mild hypothermia. 500 meters is no joke for them. Could be life-or-death."
"Split anyway?"
"Ride horses. Be quick."
"How many there? Gotta take an engineer, plus escort? Too risky? Half-dead mutants might drop from above."
"I'll go too."
Jeffrey banged his head again.
"...Gonna lose it."
"Gotta avoid splitting firepower. My take: Harris might have numbers, but ammo's short. Forest firefights burn ammo fast, right?"
"Heard the old man, thought same. Sheriff's iffy otherwise, but damn, she did that well. Little younger, I'd propose. Older women ain't my type."
"Cut the jokes. No time."
Winter got serious; young platoon leader looked sheepish. Winter continued.
"If—worst case—fighting breaks out while I'm gone, drag it into attrition. That alone'll keep 'em off easy. We're immobile, but defense offsets it. Set traps too."
"Already placed some. Claymores mostly. Didn't overdo fearing movement, but we're hunkering here. No need to save rest. While you're out, scatter others. Wire and demo lines too, no reckless approach. Forest favors first claimant, right?"
Tripwires linked to mine or explosive fuzes, taut at ankle height. Touch blindly, instant detonation. Demo lines were different—cord-like explosives.
Both great traps. In relentless rain and dark, weaving thick tree shadows, spotting clever pitfalls would be tough.
"But..."
Jeffrey said.
"If that captain really shows..."
Mid-sentence, the young lieutenant clamped his mouth.
"No, forget it."
Fighting fellow U.S. troops. Heart wouldn't be easy.
Long talks poison. Winter clapped Jeffrey's shoulder.
"Got it covered, deputy commander. Good luck."
"...Yes sir. Hurry back."
Can't use radio freely, so soldiers ran relays for updates. Exposed already, no need broadcasting details.
Winter reentered. Sheriff still eating. Thought her tough, but wiping tears quietly. How long since a warm meal? Didn't want to disturb, but mission couldn't wait. Winter spoke.
"Sheriff. Sorry, but guide me to the horses."
"Horses? Why?"
Instant wariness. Winter explained.
"Don't suspect. I'm here to stop Salinas Dam collapse originally. Can't abandon you, so me and one other hurry there and back. Cooperate, please."
"Wasn't doubting... Ha, sorry."
Winter had a soldier return her rifle. Spare mag too.
"I'll trust you."
Sheriff's eyes widened, then light nod to the boy officer.
None of the three engineers could ride. Winter sighed, took reins himself. The volunteering engineer marveled.
"When'd you learn riding?"
"Now."
Soldier took it as joke. Winter turned mount north, looked down at sheriff. She aimed into forest dark in supported firing stance.
"Go inside, Sheriff."
"Kathleen Highland. Call me by name."
Sheriff's reply. Voice still rough, hard to parse tones, but sharper edge dulled vs. first meet. Winter nodded.
"Got it, Kathleen. Wait inside. Back soon."
Then whipped reins. Gentle, maned beast responded smoothly.
============================ Author's Notes ============================
#Dumb Joke
There's this diagnostic maker: [How long would you survive a zombie outbreak?]
My result:
-Tunguska's main weapon is Brain Attack, zombies killed: 110,000.
Survival time: 30 days
People saved: 4
Cause of death: Dumb joke
Apparently. How'd it know I tell dumb jokes well...
Will keep telling dumb jokes till Earth ends. Cheers please.
#Q&A
Q. sa2002: @Drinking tea and heading to heaven?
A. No heaven in my Dreamland.
Q. ZERO4: @With Russia's love!
A. Not many know that movie these days... Nice to meet ya.
Q. MasterCalsolum: @Tea from heaven. Hungry but too lazy to cook, crushed 3 triangle kimbaps in a bowl and mixed. Tastier than "combat rations." Shocking.
A. Last time I ate triangle kimbap was like 7 years ago. No clue what they taste like now.
Q. Ghozt: @Wanna try Cthulhu but newbie-friendly entry for modern standard Korean only? Low innocence stat.
A. Wise Living Textbook... kidding. Korean Lovecraft collections infamous for bad translations, no solid recs. Ignore and read collection or just wiki it.
Q. qoewh: @Gu-raeng! Great Old One, know will! and mercy!?
A. Dunno... what's that?
Q. Glory's Spear: @Fired Javelin at 3 guerrillas. Now launch B-bombers for war criminals?
A. Better sell bombers for bribes. Tell guerrillas to retire to Tuvalu or somewhere with missile profits. Haha. Joke.
Q. NeoGGM: @As expected, radiation mere seasoning to Great Old One. Discovery: Javelin at 1.6km on presumed 3 with AKM... Korea couldn't dream it.
A. Nah, Korea can. Nation claiming need more than 6.8 trillion on barracks after walls collapse. Lived in crumbling one... grrr...
Q. Licklick: @Listen. Visit 3x/week? Writer'll... Writer'll lock you up mercilessly. Eat chocolate from sponsor coupons like a dog and write! (Sponsor coupon incoming lol)
A. World, chocolate like a dog... Impressive innocence. Writer salutes. But won't drop 3x/week. Haha. Dreamers got futures.
Q. HealthySummoner: @Drink tea, head grows two: one nurtures innocence, one plots serialization...?! PROFIT!!
A. That head ain't normal...
Q. RGZ95: @Post-apoc classic: soldiers massacre civilians 8.8...
A. Common when society collapses. 8_8
Q. Gogugu: @Loving it!! Writer, side stories ok? Winter in other games?? Racing, fantasy, modern, murim!
A. Or BL... Nah, writer's mumbling.
Q. PepperPepperPepper: @Radiation-addicted writer. Hit rec to express condolences.
A. Hit rec to express Joy.