“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“Oh, now I am working on a very serious order for one very influential person,” Roman said proudly, pointing his finger at a strange object lying on the table in front of him. It's a decoder! For breaking serious electronic locks.
– Probably cool. – I tried to understand how this strange electronic device with a green screen, lying in front of the house, works, but I did not understand anything. – What are you going to hack?
– But I can’t say this yet.
“I understand,” I nodded condescendingly, smiling at the talker. How did you become such a bear cub?
“Before all this bullshit with the epidemic, I made and sold locks. I had my own shop. “Safes and locks” was called, maybe you heard?
I shook my head.
– We have food here, you won’t find gasoline in the city, everything was looted a long time ago, they even poured it from cars. We have some reserves, of course, but mostly we trade gasoline with the miners for food. I just can’t give it like that, I myself must understand, we have our own mouths here for two thousand pieces. Don't want to earn?
– Want.
– Well, since you are with us for a short time, then I will give you a difficult and dangerous job. You'll manage, I'll equip you on the road, as it should be. Moreover, we keep in touch with Red. I can inquire about your loved ones, if everything is fine there. Good?
“It depends on what needs to be done,” I shifted in my chair.
“Well, I won’t tell you anything now. Move to Belovo, do you know where?
– Certainly. – I knew, since it was in this area that the subsidiary office of the organization in which I worked was located.
– There are warehouses on the outskirts, you will see signs – move there, they will already be waiting for you there, you will find Victor, you will say that it is from me. If you help him, consider that you have helped me, and it will not rust after me. At the same time, let's see what kind of test you are, – he stood up, making it clear that the conversation was coming to an end, I followed his example. – If you have any questions, talk to Osipov, he is here, on the floor below in the workshop – his name is Roman. And also, if you don’t know, don’t go to the city at night, such creatures crawl out there to hunt, you won’t dream in a nightmare.
I said goodbye to Trofimych, shaking his hand warmly, went out into the cool corridor and went down to the first floor. The spacious hall on the first floor of the administrative building met me with coolness and slight twilight, since only one weak light bulb provided lighting, and there were no windows here as planned. It smelled of construction dust and welding. Under the stairs leading to the second floor, there was a large workbench, behind which sat Roman – a young guy in contact glasses, he soldered something, as always, listening to music from a small tape recorder.
Roman looked up and waved to me in greeting, then went back to his business. Apparently, he was a local jack of all trades, and in the case when something needed to be repaired, soldered or sharpened, everyone went to him. I approached Roman and, after greeting, asked if he had a minute to answer my questions? Roman was a talkative person, and therefore he gladly put aside his tools, moved closer to the workbench and, gesturing me to sit opposite him, prepared to listen and broadcast, for some reason taking a heavy file in his hands.
