“Oh!” Old man stretched his lips in a gap-toothed smile, flashing his few gold teeth. “Sasha, is that you?”
“Good morning, Pakhom!” I greeted him and waved my hand.
It's amazing how my name lasted in his moonshine-addicted head. This character right here is the main «celebrity» of our house. Once, he was a military man and, according to some rumors, participated in a war. He really behaved like a shell-shocked man, especially in the spring-time. Under the leadership of a few grannies, whole coalition was organized against him. For years they scribbled complaints and denunciations on him to various authorities. In response to their actions, he began to behave even more asocial: he left small «gifts» of a well-known substance under the doors and in mailboxes, broke light bulbs, flooded electric shields with water, spread African cockroaches and committed many other indecencies.
Only, no matter how he behaved, it was impossible to influence him. Therefore, the neighbors could only hiss and throw curses.
«Still, what an irony: even the zombie apocalypse had no effect on our deranged neighbor. »
“And this, who is there with you? Sonny?” His voice was friendly, but he was in no hurry to lower the rifle.
“What are you talking about, Pakhom? That's my daughter,” I decided to lie in order to quickly end contact with an old freak.
“Hello, uncle!” Quickly grasped Katya and decided to support my performance.
“Yeah, wow! Turns out, Liza was so young when she gave birth. Your mother probably been so worried becoming grandmother so early in her life?” As Pakhom spoke, his voice became harder.
«…ck, how does he even know about my mother? »
“I've been living here for thirty years already in this house; I know the name of the ferret that Alla Petrovna from the fourth floor has! Nothing could be further from the truth! Where did you steal the child from?” «Troll» coughed to the side and stared at me ferociously.
I took a deep breath - that moment I understood that we couldn't get rid of him quickly.
“She is my superior's granddaughter. It was a long way to go to my parents', I had to take her to my home.” I patiently answered his questions. My brain feverishly thought about how not to get a load of buckshot in the stomach.
“Wanted to shelter her, huh? And why is she dressed in such clothes? Well, girl, come over here and tell me: didn’t this uncle do anything inappropriate to you?” old psycho moved his gun from side to side.
“Have you gone completely crazy, Pakhom?! Or drunk too much of your moonshine again? Have you seen what's going on in the world?” Old freak's twisted narrative finally deprived me of the last drops of restraint.
The smile on Pakhom's face became even wider and crazier, there was something too sinister in it. Yes, and the guy himself seemed to have changed: back's straight, steely gaze, and hands that were no longer trembling.
“That's why I'm asking: the world is on fire; none knows for sure what might happen on the streets. And in these troubled times, bastards like you appear more frequently. You know, bitch, I'll make a hole in your manhood right now and you will then tell me what you did to the child!” He took a couple of steps back and aimed with a rifle at my lower abdomen.
Katya quickly came out from behind the «cover» and stood in front of me, spreading her arms to the sides.
“Wait! Sasha didn't do anything to me, he actually saved me!” Loud and commanding tone confused Pakhom. For a second there he was frozen, then quickly lowered the gun, his eyes darting.
I have no doubt that if it weren't for the girl's performance, this freak would have stuffed my belly with buckshot. Meeting my gaze, the neighbor shuddered.
“Oh, Sasha, then excuse the old one! Don't worry, the rifle isn't even loaded.” He put the weapon aside and smiled kindly-stupidly again. “By the way, do u have a cig?”
«Old bastard, oh how I want to punch your fake face»
“Gas has already spread up to the ninth floor. Let us two go, and then, you can smoke a couple of minutes later, ok?” I suggested to him.
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
“Are you for real?” He wrinkled his nose and sniffed the air. “Sasha, you are my savior! Thanks for the warning, I lost my sense of smell about ten years ago already.”
The old man's voice exuded courtesy, and his eyes were as gentle as it could be. It would be better if he played in the theater or in films instead of smearing his excrement.
«And this is just the beginning, soon Pakhom will show all of his «skills». We need to get rid of him as soon as possible. »
Pakhom hid, now apparently his, lighter, in the pocket of a battered leather jacket.
“And where are you going, surely you already have a plan of further action?” Pakhom asked with interest.
“Away from here.” I answered gloomily. “We’ll take someone's apartment, find other survivors, or leave the city altogether.”
He listened to me attentively, nodded his head, and then blurted:
“That is, there is no plan, and you want to kill the girl together with yourself?”
This goblin surely knows how to piss people off.
“Well, it's probably better to suffocate here, right? Without letting him say a word, I continued. “Come on, old man: good luck staying, we need to go.”
I tried to go around him, but he briskly jumped back, blocking my path again. He put out his dirty palms in front of him and chattered:
“Wait a bit, Sasha, don't go away yet, I just wanted to suggest something. In the morning I heard something interesting on the radio, even though I often listened to it before, it was about hunting and fishing. Of course, I don’t agree with them on many things, for example: the choice of bait for grass carp…” Pakhom seemed to feel that he would be beaten up now and moved on to the main course. “So, now, instead of false stories I wanted to tell you that there is a gathering of people at one of the buildings. I myself was going to go there, but it will be more convenient together, right? What do you say, Sasha?”
I looked skeptically at Pakhom.
“Let me guess: I have to take you with me, otherwise you won’t tell me anything?”
"Eh, why do you say that like I'm forcing you?" Pakhom spread his arms expressively. “You, it’s immediately obvious, are a good person, even though your face is somehow pale and scratched. Save the unfortunate old man or I'll be lost and die here alone, helpless.
He continued his exhortations, even squeezing out a tear at the appropriate time. It wasn’t enough for me to only have odd Katya, so now I will also have to endure that schizo?
“Sure, sure,” I said with a sad sigh.
“Then wait a bit, I'll be quick!” The old man instantly brushed away a bitter tear from his cheek.
And, slapping rubber slippers, very quickly got to his apartment. From out there a rumbling together with obscenities could be heard. I thought: why don't we dump him while he's busy, but quickly discarded this thought. I felt like my ideas of what to do and where to go weren't good enough. And the group of survivors in one place gives us better chances of surviving. Maybe the military will be there?
Katya pulled my hand, drawing attention to herself and asked in a low voice:
“Do we really need to take him with us? I don't like him.”
Before I could answer, Pakhom came out of the apartment. He was now flaunting an army uniform, ironed without folds or wrinkles, with a red star on his chest. It looked just right for him. Old goblin seemed to try it on every day, although I had never seen him in this uniform before. Behind him hung a uniform-matching backpack, obviously pre-packed, as if he had been preparing for something similar for a long time. Even his gray beard began to look neater or something.
“Everyone, let's move out!” With empty hands and a gallant gait, the neighbor went to the iron door.
“Wait,” anxious, I grabbed Pakhom by the shoulder. “And what will you fight with?”
“Ha? Then what are you here for?” Old ogre grinned. “If we meet someone, you have your sharp stick, and that's it.”
“...” I stared at the shameless old man in amazement.
“Okay, okay, I'm just joking! I'll look for something right now,” Pakhom came back literally a couple of seconds later. In his hands he tenderly held a long saber in a beautifully decorated scabbard - clearly an expensive weapon. Its pommel and guard gleamed with yellow metal.
«This old fart is mocking us, he clearly put it at the door to show off once again! »
“Look, Sasha, what a beauty! It was gifted to me by a good man,” he drew a long blade.
But what can I say - the blade was beautiful, but I did not show it with my face.
“Well, yes, not bad, cutting sausages will do.” This is for your «sharp stick».
“Sausages?” Grandpa rolled his eyes. “Alright, I'll cut YOU into deli platter!” snapped with resentment old warrior.
“You just have to remember, Pakhom, do not come close to the creatures, otherwise they will bite you once and that's it. You will then run with the same toothy mug. Although between you and these zombies, the differences aren't that big enough anyway.”
He frowned and, ignoring my joke, asked about the most important thing:
“Just a bite? What if it scratches?”
“Well, I am sure about the bites, but not sure about the rest. Therefore, you say right away: where do we have to go? Cause if they end up eating you, we two will be lost to unknown.”
Pakhom, arching an eyebrow, stared at me in disbelief and mumbled:
“I will be eaten? I'm more concerned about you, green snot! Okay, okay, don't be so angry with your grandfather, otherwise your hair will fall out. We have to go to the Hunter's store, it's about five minutes to go from here.”
Of course, I knew where the store was. In our small town, there aren’t many places where you can buy weapons, or rather there are only two of them. And, judging by its location, I seem to understand who yesterday gave us a chance and lured out all the altered ones from the area.
“No more questions? It already stinks of gas everywhere, let's leave, if you still want to live, of course!” Pakhom picked up his gun, securing it to the lower straps of the backpack, and gently opened the front door.
«I hope he gets bitten and, just to get rid of his excruciating suffering, I will have to annihilate that balding head»
“Let's go, Kate.”