2. chapter: Highway 63

As I started walking, I looked up and saw the chimneys of the old reactor. Komarom became like this because of that building, an abandoned pile of radioactive treasure. And the base on the other side of the river Vag, the eastern side. I wanted to go on Highway 63, because there's less wild animals... most of the time. So I headed to the west, because from there I could get onto High 63 faster, and from there it will take only two hours to get home. The original name of this district was lost to time, but now everyone calls it the Western Neighborhood. I come here often, but it still creeps me when I walk on these streets. This is because of the nuclear reactor, they had to immediately abandon the city, and since then no one is living here, because the reactor is still leaking. And I don't think that anyone will live in Komarom in the near future. If I remember it correctly what I've read in a book, not even ten years after the bombs in 2086, a pipe started leaking in the reactor. Because back then the winters were very violent, and the leak started in January, the head reactor technician didn't allow to shut down the reactor, only to decrease its performance, because everyone heated with the electricity coming from the reactor. Unfortunately, they didn't find the leaking pipe, and the reactor had a core meltdown. As a result, out of the reactors, the first exploded, and the big amount of plutonium-240 started leaking. I don't know how they kept it running for so long, but since Komarom wasn't bombed, they probably had storage of plutonium rods that lasted for a few years. It is hard to determine how many has died or suffered something because of the reactor meltdown, but at least 14,000 died in the explosion, leaking, diseases or the evacuation of the city. But there are still people who drink from the water of the Vag, and well... they won't drink from it again, that's for sure. We're lucky that the KomReaktor is in north Komarom and High 63 is in the south, or maybe not even the base would have been created. But if we could somehow stop the leaking and clean the city, then maybe Komarom would be a city full of life, but no one is expecting that, at least not in the near future. There were already several expeditions to stop the leak, but all of them one way or another failed. And the city was evacuated so quickly, that almost everything is left where it was when they left. But I put these thoughts aside and continued on my way, now getting closer to the road junction. 'How much easier would it be if we would have more vehicles... Not more vehicles, but more fuel'- I thought. - Why did they have to blow up the oil refinery near Bratislava?- I asked, though no one was near. I looked around, but didn't hear anything except the constant quiet wind.
I'll shortly be on the highway, and from there, my way back to the base will be faster.
In front of one of the houses, I saw an interesting looking weapon, so I walked there.
As I was nearing it, I couldn't really make out what kind of rifle it was. It didn't really look like any rifles that I know.
I crouched down, so I can see it better, and that's when I noticed that it was an old soviet SVK 65 sniper rifle, and in pretty good condition.
I picked it up and started rotating it. Its stock was a bit damaged, like someone on purpose damaged it, but besides that, no problem. But then I noticed something.
Why would anyone leave here one of the best sniper rifles, with only a little damage to its stock, that could be replaced at any base. It doesn't worth just tossing it away, surely someone would still buy this.
But maybe the inside of the rifle is bad.
To see it, I started disassembling it.
It was easy to disassemble it, but I didn't find anything that doesn't belong there or anything broken, so I put it together.
I don't understand it then. Why would anyone just leave it here?
I'm sure it wasn't left here 200 years ago, because then the slightly radioactive rain would've corroded it.
Abandoning the making of theories of its origin, I put it on my back next to the guitar, and I carried on my way.
From here the junction was only a 100 meters away, and because the sun started to descend more and more, I quickened my pace.
A little later I reached the junction, and I headed left. Immediately as I started on High 63, I saw the university that was flooded with ghouls, although no one knows why.
I crouched down a little, so they didn't see me.
I heard that many ghouls loudly screeched. A little frightened that they started running towards me, I looked over the railing, and saw that a man went close to the university and ghouls attacked him.
Because I can't let them just kill someone, I took in my hands my newly acquired sniper rifle, putting its bipod on the railing, I looked into the scope.
I saw that the man was running, and that he already killed two ghouls, but he all by himself won't be able to kill of the at least ten ghouls that chased him.
Hoping that the scope of the rifle is calibrated, I targeted a ghouls head, and pulled the trigger.
It clicked... I forgot to put in it a magazine...
I hope no one saw that.
I quickly searched for a mag that fit in this, and actually found one, however only one, but it had 12 bullets in it, so if I wouldn't miss any shots, then maybe I could kill all ghouls.
Loading in the magazine I looked into the scope again, and I saw that the man was still running, but since then he hasn't killed any ghouls.
I targeted one of the ghouls again, I waited a little, and pulled the trigger.
The echo of the shot could be heard for a long time, and I saw that one other ghouls fell to the ground, without a head.
All the ghouls and the man stopped, and looked for the origin of the sound.
While they're busy and standing in one place, that's when it's best to shoot. So I targeted a ghoul again, and shot.
Another ghoul collapsed, and the man started backing away from the ghouls.
Another and then another ghoul collapsed, when the remaining six ghouls started running back towards the university. I quickly closed the rifle's bipod and put it on my back, and took in my hands my HKP.
Jumping through the short railing, I ran down the slope, and quietly started running towards the man, who now has already taken cover.
The mysterious person went into the supermarket that I was headed now too, and when I got there, I walked in.
In the building it was dark, and the many shelves that once stored newer and newer goods, were now laying on the floor, and their contents scattered around on the floor.
I heard the sound of a can in the quiet but big store, so avoiding the cans and other things, I headed towards the sound.
I found a few Nuka-Colas, that was very rare even before the war, but now it is even rarer. It was rare when the soviets let a small amount of American trade, because the soviets were self-sufficient and the foreign trade was low.
I put a few Nuka-Colas in my bag, but then I heard a clattering sound from the same direction, which means the man didn't move since then.
As I was getting closer, from behind one of the doors a weak light was visible.
With my rifle in my hands, I slowly looked in, but only saw a trembling man, who couldn't even hold his not so good-looking AK steadily.
"Calm down, I won't hurt you" I said to him as calmly as I could.
"Uhm... Well then com-... come in... with your hands up" He said with a shaking voice.
Because I didn't want to escalate the situation more, I hanged my rifle around my neck and, with my hands up, I went inside.
"Who ar-" he stopped and swallowed, then continued, "Who are you?" He asked.
"My name is Sandor Bator, the captain of the base here in Komarom. Don't worry, I won't hurt you" I said to him, to which he slowly lowered his rifle and taking a deep breath sat down.
"I'm sorry that I pointed a gun at you. How do I say... I kind of... got really terrified when those ghouls attacked me" It is understandable, since there's not a lot of people who don't get frightened when they face even seven or more ghouls.
"Yes I understand... Now I'm only curious about to know what were you doing even near the university," I asked, because everyone knows that the university is full of ghouls and no sane person would near it" and I would also like to know who are you"
"I've got an assignment, for which I've got to get a book that is somewhere inside the university. But I didn't know that it is so full of ghouls" He explained.
"Oh, I see..." I started to think if I could help him get inside, and I remembered that we already planned an expedition to search the university, but we canceled it. It was a long time ago and since then we've got better equipments, and the need to find way to stop the reactor leaking.
If we could find a book about the reactor or maybe even the blueprints, then it would definitely be worth to go. But if we would only find a book about the diseases caused by radioactivity and how to cure them would be enough too.
"Is it very serious? If yes then we can help you get inside, because we are also curious about what's inside that building" I offered.
" He promised me 700 pengo, so it would be pretty useful to complete it" He said, and 700 pengo for only a book is a big amount "But I don't know why is it so important"
"Did he tell you the title of the book?" I asked him.
"In fact yes. He said it is called 'The history of the Atom Era'"
"The history of the Atom Era, eh?... When we find it, we'll take a look at it if it contains anything that could be used for murdering or taking advantage of something. Just so they won't know me as the one that helped to get the weapon of a murderer" I explained to which he nodded.
"Sooo you'll help me?" He asked so he can be sure.
"Yes, because it would be really nice to get a few books about cures for diseases caused by radioactivity, as there are more cases lately" I said to him remembering the last time, when only two survived out of eight patient.
"Thank you very much. I don't know how can I make this ever up for you, I don't have money to giv-"
"You don't have to pay me, especially not money, we have enough of that. What we find there will be enough for us" I calmed him down.
"Thank you"
For ten seconds, it was silence, but then I remembered that he still didn't tell me his name.
"But I'm still curious about who are you"
"My name is Ivan Balog, I was born near Trnava in a small village, Spodok Hory. I always loved exploring, and sometimes I complete a few contracts for a little extra money" He told while I listened quietly.
"I never did anything illegal, if you're afraid of that"
"No, I'm not, but as a base captain, this information is useful"
For a little we stood silently, but when I looked at my watch I spoke up.
"It's getting late, and I would like to get back to the base before seven o'clock. So I would be happy if we could get going as soon as possible"
"That gadget on your hand shows even the time?" He asked amazed for some reason, "But anyway, we can go" He answered.
"Then pack your things and let's go"
He started packing, he put his two cans and a few magazines for his AK into his backpack. Then he put a few more cans into his backpack from the ground.
"I'm done, we can go" He said, I started towards the door without a word, and he followed.
At the door, I looked back at him, and said to him.
"Wait here a little while I look arou-... When we get back to the base remind me to give you a better gun, because this is not looking very good" I said to him as I noticed his AK rifle.
"You don't have to, this is perfect. It works perfectly for eight years now" He answered.
"That's the problem... Anyways, but I'll still give you a new pistol, or repair your rifle" I offered him.
"Than I'd rather choose to repair it, I wouldn't part with it easily" "Ok. But we're running out of time, so stay here until I look around" With that I stepped out through the door and looked around.
I didn't see anything, only around the university a few ghouls, but those were far.
"Alright... You can come, nothing is here"
He stepped out of the building too and started following me.

On the way, we didn't talk a lot because we didn't want to draw the attention of the ghouls or the wild life, but I still asked a few questions.
"And where do you come from?" I asked.
"I came here from Vienna through Bratislava on Highway 63. A lot happened along the way" He said.
"Like what?" I inquired.
"Like when I departed to the north from Vienna, and since it is close to the border, a raider band attacked me"
"And what did you do?"
"I shot two of the six with my AK rifle, and by some miracle a squad of the People's Defense and helped me kill the remaining raiders"
"Nice... And weren't you attacked by wild animals after Bratislava?" I asked him, because between Bratislava and the Upper Rye Island Base the local wild life multiplied many times in the last few years, and they attack everyone who goes there.
"I was... I was but only by a few foxes, which were easy to chase away" The foxes rarely attack people, but when they do then they do it probably because the wolves eat all of their preys "And in Upper Rye Island I was almost scammed and killed, but I realized the trap and reported him to the base captain"
"Wait, you're the one who made it possible to capture the 'peaceful murderer'?" I asked him curiously, after I remembered that a few days ago I received a message from Upper Rye Island, that I don't have to be afraid of the 'peaceful murderer' anymore.
"Yes" He exclaimed proudly.
"He tried to scam and kill you too?" I asked from him.
"Yes he tried, and almost succeeded in killing me, but fortunately I found out about his trap in time and then the soldiers captured him, who then turned him in to the SRDP" (Specialis Ramus Defensio Populi / Special Branch of the People's Defense)
"Well then, I thank you that you caught the most feared murde-"
I heard something from the distance and drew my weapon from reflex.
"Wait... Have you heard something?" I questioned Ivan.
Ivan looked like he was thinking and listened quietly if he hears something, but then he said.
"No, I haven't heard anything" He said.
Relieved, I lowered my rifle and sighed.
But after a few silent seconds a loud growl was heard in the distance right in front of us, and now even Ivan heard it.
I replaced my rifle with my recently acquired sniper rifle, and putting its bipod on one of the shorter cars, I looked into its scope.
I saw a killerfang around 300 meters ahead, that was chewing something.
The killerfangs are the most dangerous animals of Pannonia that evolved from the pre-war bears, and unlike its pre-war ancestor it immediately attacks humans. In almost all languages it's called killerfangs, only in America it is called yao guai.
"A killerfang... it's eating something, crouch down, so it won't see you" I ordered him, and he also took out his weapon.
Ivan did so and knelt down behind the car, then took out a binocular from his pocket and looked into it.
"Can you shoot it?" He asked.
"I don't have a lot of bullets left after the ghouls, maybe only seven or eight. But I think it is enough" I said, and after that I aimed at the head of the killerfang as it took a big bite out of maybe a sheep.
I pulled the trigger, and I was able to keep my rifle in one place enough to see where I hit the animal.
And a little later, an even louder growl sounded through the empty city.
"Uh oh..."
"What's the problem, you didn't hit it?" He asked worriedly.
"I hit it, but only its left front shoulder" I answered.
In the scope I saw that the killerfang started running towards us, so I shot at it again and hit its right leg, and the beast with a big momentum fell over and slid a few meters.
"Its right leg is useless, maybe enough to slow it down"
"What should we do now?" Ivan asked very worriedly.
I had to think about because I didn't know either.
"I don't know... do you grenades? If we get closer to it, you could throw it at it. It isn't 150 meters away now"
"I have two frag grenades, but wouldn't it get up by then?"
"No, because it is getting up right now" I said to him sarcastically, and again hopefully for the last time I aimed at it.
I shot two bullets, but both of them missed, because the killerfang moved very unpredictable with its aching leg.
"This is not good... Throw a grenade now" I ordered Ivan, who threw one of the grenades, and using the car as a cover we waited for the grenade to explode.
During this, I took out my rifle again, if the killerfang would survive the grenade.
The grenade exploded and the killerfang roared once again, and I slowly stood up to see what happened.
First I didn't see it, but after a little while I spotted the giant beast behind a car.
"I think it's dead" I exclaimed relived.
Ivan only sighed a big.
I looked at the killerfang for a little more and when I was sure that it was dead, I stood up fully and started walking towards it.
Keeping my rifle pointed at it, but when I stood next to it, I poked its leg, but it didn't do anything.
"You can come it is surely dead" I yelled back to Ivan, and he started to slowly come closer too, and I went back to the car for my sniper rifle.
"But now we really have to hurry to get back to the base, because it is half past six and I want to get back by seven o'clock, but from here it will take an hour" I said to Ivan.
"We can go" He said.
"Then let's go"

The rest of the route was uneventful, I told Ivan the story of the nuclear reactor, and in exchange he told me the story of the still functioning nuclear reactor in Trnava is having problems lately.
We successfully crossed the bridge, and from there the base was already visible.
When we got to the gate, I walked over to the intercom, I pressed a button and started talking.
"I'm Sandor Bator the base captain, open it" I said into the small microphone, then someone spoke back.
"The camera will start in a few seconds," a bit later a small green light lit up on the metal plate "alright, I'll open the gate right away"
The sound ended with a crack, and after that the 2.5 meters high metal door started to open in two directions, and the interior of the base became visible.
"Ivan, welcome to Base Jokai" I said to Ivan.
From a building three people came out who started walking towards us.
"And they're already here" I mumbled, so Ivan couldn't hear it.
And when they stopped in front of me, they started talking.
"We welcome you back to the base, captain"