Prologue
"I remember the horrors that happened on that day. The screams of my colleagues as they descended into madness. They were not human." – Unknown Labourer (from the Classified Documents – Central Archives, File CX010101 "Tsaritsa")
Soviet Union, Undisclosed Mining Site, Year 1969
The flickering of the lamps that dangled under the low ceiling of the mining shaft lit up the path. The footsteps of men could be heard from a distance.
"Move faster! There isn't much time. Move!" The sounds of the Red Army soldiers were getting closer, their shadows illuminated in the walls of the cavern.
Andrei Kalashnikov, direct overseer of the mining operations, was responsible for the safety of the workers. But on this very day, the Central Party had overridden his commands. For whatever reasons, they would not inform him beforehand, only telling him they would be sending out a small deployment of inspectors to his location.
"Can't believe that the workers have to work in such disgusting conditions." A voice whispered in the tunnel.
"What do you expect? This isn't Moscow."
The two speakers made his presence known towards Andrei, and after observing how the latter man carried himself with perfect composure and posture, Andrei assumed he was the person to address first. Both men had Caucasian features, which was rather rare in this area far east of the Ural Mountains, being closer to Vladivostok than to Moscow.
"Greetings Comrade, my name is Andrei Kalashnikov, direct overseer of this mine and your guide for today."
To his surprise, the other person, who looked like a young lamb surrounded by a flock of sheep, spoke first.
"This is Second Lieutenant Popovich of the Red Army, and I am Lead Scientist of this expedition, Zinovy Dobronrarov, pleased to meet a fellow party enthusiast so far out here."
"Likewise." Andrei shook the man's hands, noticing how smooth and silky it was.
Andrei took some time to think. A man this young attaining such a distinguished position must have at least a family member working in the inner circles of the Kremlin. He looked quite naïve as well. The thought of getting promoted crossed Andrei's mind.
"Well then, shall we get moving? We have a lot of things in our agenda, but not enough time. Could you bring us to the anomaly?" said Zinovy.
"Very well then, follow me." Andrei had a glimpse of the personnels that were surrounding the Inspection Group. They did not look their part at all. Rather, it seemed like an entire military platoon had been assigned to this mission. The soldiers were carrying heavy equipments, with the likes of the DP-28 and a heavily modified Mosin Nagant amongst them, as well as a person carrying the antitank rifle PTRD-41 on his shoulders.
It had been 15 minutes since they've started walking. Deeper into the mine, the mining shaft split into many sections, and at Andrei's chosen path, gradually narrowed and exited into a large cavern with a steep incline and no bottom in sight. A robust ornate bridge was built in between the chasm – the only path between them and what seemed to be a huge soot-coloured shrine.
"How interesting. The design of the temple is very Greco-Roman, yet the runic inscriptions are undoubtedly Nordic in origin." An archaeologist commented.
"There's something up there. A sarcophagus of sorts." A scientist with a heavy German accent said.
"You said your men went insane and threw themselves off the cliff after touching the artefact?" Zinovy whispered in a low voice.
"Yes, I have sent everyone I had in the mine to retrieve that artefact. Aside from Pyotyr here and me myself, nobody I sent has returned back."
Zinovy waved his hands to make a stop sign, leaned forwards off the edge of the bridge's edge, and pressed his index finger to his lips.
Silence.
There was nothing much to hear aside from the continuous breeze that created a hollow noise from the chasm.
Zinovy nodded to Popovich, who signalled his at least twenty men to ready up their rifles, pointing them in all directions. They formed a tight wedge-shaped formation with both Andrei and the scientists at the centre.
"Dima." Popovich pointed forwards with all 5 fingers.
The soldier who had his name called nodded, implicitly understanding the order. The man with the AK-47 gripped his weapon tightly, making gains with each step he took.
There was mixed anticipation as everyone was focused on their tasks. They watched as Dima walked up the stairs of the shrine.
He got up to the top and stopped, as if expecting an enemy to appear out of nowhere.
"Dima, I'd like you to gently lift the artefact." Zinovy said.
Dima slung his Kalashnikov over his shoulders and with trepidation, put both hands at the base of a box-shaped container, lifting it up.
He took several deep breaths. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. As if waiting for something to happen.
Dima shrugged both shoulders and holding the artefact for everyone to see.
Dima was fine.
With confidence now, he wrapped the artefact around one arm and walked back down the stairs.
Come on Dima.
Your parents are waiting for you at home.
What are you doing here?
Who are these men?
Lost.
Lost.
Lost.
You are Lost. Come back child. Back back back.
Everyone watched in horror as Dima's eyes turned pitch black, as if he was possessed and walked back up the stairs. Popovich looked like he was ready to run, but Zinovy just put his palm forwards, urging everyone to stay still. Even the archaeologist nodded, his face now slightly pale.
Dima laid the artefact back at the shrine. Yet, his eyes did not return to normal.
With bated breaths, everyone watched as Dima carelessly walked down the steps, uncaring about his safety, before leaning backwards and falling headfirst to the chasm.
Then, there were the screams. The guttural moaning of some unnatural being. The shriek and cry that sounded like a monkey screaming madly. The laughter of someone admitted to a mental institute. All of that combined into a terrifying sound that sent chills down one's ears.
"Stay calm." Zinovy said. As they waited a minute, five minutes, ten minutes, standing still, sweating anxiously, the voices began to calm down.
Zinovy lowered his head, as everyone else did, regretting the loss of life that occurred right before their eyes.
"Any suggestions?" Zinovy asked.
"Well, I noticed that nothing happened to Dima until he tilted the container. Perhaps holding it with both hands, trying one's best to keep it oriented in the original position might help?" a scientist commented.
"Gravity. Yes, that makes sense." Another scientist nodded.
"No. There must be more to the ruins than we know about. I suggest we get send request for a team of archaeologists well versed in Old Norse."
"The mine is unstable." A quake rocked the mine and stopped almost as it happened, sending small rocks sliding downwards. "the quakes are quite a regular occurrence in these mines. We may not be lucky to discover such a route in or out in the next hour if we stay here."
"Andrei is right. I have never encountered such an object that induces such interesting changes in humans in my lifetime. This discovery may hold greater significance than Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution. It may be the key to reviving our scientific community, especially after the humiliation we experienced this month at the Apollo Moon landing."
"For the motherland." Zinovy said.
Everyone couldn't help but nod at his speech. What Zinovy said was right.
"Next person please." Zinovy said impatiently.
"Stepan." Popovich said, and silence once more regained the spotlight.