Chapter 17. Desertion (4)
* * * * *
Although I have become quite close to Leti, or rather Leticia, it is still difficult to meet her. She lives in the ‘safe zone’ in the Hamptons.
The safe zone is like the yolk in an egg pancake, and is a place surrounded by another barrier within Hampton City.
Of course, there are soldiers watching at every entrance, so even if you say, ‘Excuse me, I’m here to bake apple pie,’ there’s no way it will work.
– Caesar. Do you remember how we first met? That hotel is still there. Let’s do it the classic way. Then, if you get interrogated, you will have something to say.
The atmosphere inside Hampton had completely changed.
First of all, there are no people walking on the streets. Instead, they brought in containers and junk cars and laid iron plates on them to create a passageway.
When a zombie appeared somewhere, the iron plate was pushed to the ground. I’m not sure why, but they took advantage of the fact that zombies don’t jump. After that, each citizen can finish it off with a bang using the firearm they have.
Is it because of the fear of not knowing when and who might turn into a zombie? People kept a certain distance from each other. Even though it was summer, it was basic to cover one’s face and wear outerwear made of slippery material. So that even if you happen to be bitten by a zombie, you can quickly remove your clothes.
More soldiers were seen. At each intersection, containers or 1-ton trucks were brought up and ladders were placed to use them as temporary watchtowers. Everyone looked tired, but when they heard the sound, they aimed their rifles first.
At least the Continental Hotel was intact. However, Fernando was nowhere to be seen.
“That friend is dead.”
The person who came in instead was a man dressed quite neatly.
“He died?”
“A zombie appeared in the Continental cabin. The problem was that there wasn’t just one zombie. “His arm was bitten by another guy hiding in the hallway.”
A person who seemed like he would never die has died. As I was dazed, the man gently touched my shoulder as a way of consoling me.
“But when I went, I went as a person. “After blowing off all the zombies’ heads, he pulled the trigger on his own head while smoking a cigarette, saying that I would die as a human.”
“… “I see.”
Even though I couldn’t really understand his true feelings, he was still a person I was thankful for. The man gave me a box of cigars.
“This is what Fernando liked.”
I gratefully accepted.
* * * * *
It’s been a while since I sat down at the PC. This is a place where you can access the black market network, and in the past, the place was almost full.
But now, hardly anyone is sitting down. There are a couple of people sitting there, but they don’t seem to be operating computers, but rather just sitting down and taking a break.
It has been quite a while since a new post was posted on the bulletin board. There is no capacity to exchange materials. Or maybe Virginia has just as much control. Either way, it’s not a positive sign.
On the other hand, much more posts were posted on the bulletin board for VIPs. No, on the contrary, the number of articles has increased.
“The market price doesn’t make sense?”
Even though the price of high-quality whiskey has risen, who would trade it for a box of grenades? No, it wouldn’t be that easy to get a box of grenades.
If I hadn’t talked to Leticia in advance, I would have thought it was crazy. I sent a message in a dry tone saying ‘I would like an exchange.’
Then, Leticia also answered simply and said to meet at ‘District 2 Felician Apartment, Room 201’ and sent an image of the temporary pass. She added that if you print it out and place it on your car windshield, the military police will get out of the way.
* * * * *
It seems that Leticia has moved. The place she used to live was pretty neat, and this is closer to her downtown area. Seeing people walking around on the streets and armored vehicles and heavily armed soldiers standing guard, it seems like the level of security is different.
I rang the doorbell, and a moment later the door opened.
“Letty. Long time no see… ?”
A completely different person stood before her eyes. Her face is the same Leti I know, but the atmosphere is completely different.
“… It’s embarrassing to look at it so closely. Caesar.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
Letty quickly got out of the way of the door. I put down the box of Minsk wine and whiskey.
“You’ve grown your hair long?”
Before, I had an asymmetrical bob, but now it is braided to one side. Her bangs were also slightly wavy, flowing down the sides of her face and down to her chin. Considering that braiding your hair makes it shorter than it is, it looks like you grew it out quite diligently.
Even the clothes you are wearing. White polo shirt, jeans, brown shoes. Considering the photos Letty has sent so far, this is an outfit that has a completely different meaning that you can’t imagine. Even though she wears jeans like that, her butt actually stands out.
“Do I fit in?”
“The short hair was pretty, but it feels completely different now.”
“How? “I like specific things.”
She even turned her hands behind her back and fidgeted, feeling embarrassed. It really feels like a new wife. It’s completely different from the bright, exhibitionist perverts we’ve seen so far. Did her hardships change her?
“The atmosphere has become much calmer. “Is it so confident and cool that it makes you look back?”
“It’s a compliment, right?”
That’s what she said, but she turned her face and smiled shyly. Really like a ‘woman’. It was clear that some kind of trap had been dug. There is no other way to explain it.
“Oh, I’ll show you the items first. “Please come to this room.”
The house was very spacious. Four rooms and two bathrooms. Unfortunately, there seemed to be no electricity, but I could hear water flowing through the pipes. It was also cool that each room had candles covered with safety caps.
“I like the house.”
“Does it look like that?”
“It’s bigger and neater than my last house.”
“It’s too wide.”
It seems a bit spacious for one person to stay. But Leticia was standing against the wall, lowering her gaze and muttering.
“To the point where I feel lonely.”
“Just fill it up, okay?”
“I think Caesar can fill it for you.”
For a very brief moment, Leticia’s eyes sparkled. But she quickly threw up her hand and said, “Just kidding.” Joke. “She looks at things,” She laughed.
Reagents were placed in a box with cushioning material. There were many small but expensive-looking electrical appliances that seemed to be used for experiments.
“I brought you various things in addition to what I asked for.”
“What should I do? “I think it must have cost a lot of money.”
“Not really. Very few people find these items. Since there are no buyers, the price drops sharply. Whether it’s a bomb or something used for medical purposes, these experimental drugs can be obtained really cheaply. However, the shipping cost has gone up ridiculously.”
Leticia crossed her arms. I thought of the road.
“Is the situation very bad?”
“So much that I’m worried. I don’t know if the zombies have gotten smarter, or if only the ones that have gotten better have survived.
From Noble mtl dot com
They form a group, blocking the road and surrounding cars. I think he realized there was something to eat in there.
Also, the frequency of ordinary people turning into zombies is increasing. Even soldiers… Even people seem to be experiencing such symptoms. But the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency is still saying that there is no problem and that those people were infected somewhere else.”
Leticia opened the window. A gentle wind blew. Quietly, I stare out the window. Her carefully braided hair blows out on the side.
No matter how you look at it, it looks like you’ve been practicing quite a bit.
“Caesar.”
“Yes?”
“What about the world you are walking on? “The world beyond the city.”
Hmm. What. Zombies who don’t listen to the person who feeds them, Camilla, who is getting better and prettier every day, and Cassandra, who comes to visit and sneaks in without Camilla’s knowledge tonight, asking to conduct ‘research’ again.
“What… It’s normal. There is more freedom than in the city, but there are many things to take care of. “You have to protect your own body anyway.”
“But you said you were being threatened.”
“Well, it’s closer to a semi-coercive transaction. In fact. The same goes for this reagent errand. “What would you use something like this for?”
Leticia lightly approached. She quietly grabbed my arm and then hugged me lightly. Her chest lightly touched his chest.
But something feels strange. She didn’t wear this women’s underwear. Her clothes weren’t very tight, so she didn’t notice.
“You’re not pushing me away.”
Leticia, her face red, stepped behind her. There was something strange about her eyes. She feels like something is spinning round and round.
But that is only for a moment.
“Anyway, I guess I should sleep in today. I can’t go out of the city at this time anyway. “You all knew that, right?”
“Of course. “I brought my toothbrush and clothes.”
“Then let’s have dinner together. We’ve prepared all the ingredients, so all you have to do is bring your body. “You didn’t forget the meringue, right?”
* * * * *
Leticia seemed to have prepared quite well for today.
Even though flour was common, she had no way of knowing where she got fresh eggs. Even though she pretends that she doesn’t know about the ‘military symbol’ stamped on her egg carton because she cares about her honor.
“Brown or blue?”
I chose a blue apron. Leticia naturally wore brown. It matched surprisingly well with the clothes she was wearing. I guess it’s because she’s made of denim, like jeans.
“I’ll do the measuring, so please separate the yolks and whites onto these two plates.”
Polish apple pie ‘Charlotka.’ I knew it to some extent because it was a theme that often appeared in popular free-to-play games in the past. There is no Poland here, but Elsa instead.
I poured the yolks into a bowl containing all-purpose flour and sugar and added the margarine taken from the icebox. The icebox even contained ice. I didn’t bother to ask what kind of skill they had in making the ice.
While I kneaded the pie dough, Leticia grated her apples. These are the ingredients to fill the filling. His hand movements were very skillful.
“Are you doing well?”
“It’s a dish that her grandmother used to cook well. She learned over her shoulder. She said it was a recipe that had been passed down in our family for generations, and if times had been good, she would have been able to sell it in Minsk and Römer. “I wish she had lived longer.”
Even as she recalled her beautiful and sad memories, Leticia tried to smile brightly. Yet her hands did not rest. Perhaps because she didn’t have a lot of ingredients, she grinded them up quickly.
“Ah. Caesar. If you knead it like that, you’ll hurt your wrists. “Do it like this.”
Suddenly, Leticia clung to my back and grabbed my wrist. She put her hand on the back of my hand and pressed it as if to show me how to do it by holding it with her hand.
I didn’t use any force at all, so I couldn’t tell whether I was pressing the dough or the back of my hand.
“How do you feel? All right?”
“I think I understand.”
“I don’t think you know much. You’re just pressing the same button. Now, let’s do it like this.”
I won’t take the subway on my way to work because it’s so close. Still, the dough is somewhat finished.
“Well, it’s time. Time to make the meringue. First, roll up your sleeves. “You have to work hard to move your arms, but if your sleeves are down, it gets in the way.”
There was ice, fresh apples, and eggs in the icebox, but there was no automatic blender. There is just one whisk.
Pour the egg whites into a stainless steel bowl and stir. The egg whites should be stirred until they form a batter so that they do not fall out even when the bowl is turned upside down.
Of course, my arms were extremely numb.
“Ik… “
In the meantime, Leticia brought a small portable generator and connected it to the oven. When I took the exhaust hose out the window and started the engine, acrid smoke escaped.
Yet he often looked in my direction. I know those eyes. These are the eyes that Camilla and Cassandra often show off every night. Eyes that look hungry. Well, sometimes I say that too.
“Your arm hurts, right? “Just rest for a moment.”
A blush appears on his face and he is breathing heavily, and he sneaks closer to me again. Of course, an excuse is good. Because you have to divide the sugar and potato starch into the meringue.
Tap, thump, thud.
Then again she vigorously waves her arms up and down. Every time you shake your arm, white, sticky foam is created. Leticia swallowed her saliva and brought her legs together.
“Umm… “
She even moaned slightly and covered her mouth, sighing.
“Big. Greatness. “I think it’s done now?”
“Heh… hehehehe… “
I couldn’t even speak properly because my strength was gone and my arms were numb. As Leticia approached, the air around her became noticeably warmer. It looks like her temperature has risen quite a bit.
“It went well.”
Leticia boldly turned her bowl over. The white, hard egg white foam stuck together and did not fall off.
“It’s white and sticky. I want to try it. But, even though it’s sweet… “It must be corruption, right?”
“Hmm, maybe?”
“Of course, it would be better to grill it and eat it warm. Chideokchideok, spread it on the dough mold… “
What was so good about Leticia? She actually laughed. Of course she wasn’t just playing around either.
I put the dough I made earlier into the mold, filled it with filling, and scooped up the meringue and spread it gently.
It seemed a little too soft. Still, when I put it in the hot oven and waited, it smelled quite fragrant.
“Ah. “I can’t stand it.”
Leticia stretched out her arms forward.
“Can’t I just eat it now?”
“No. If you eat it now, it’s too hot and needs to cool down a bit. Therefore… “
Leticia lifted up the wine I brought.
“How about an aperitif?”
There was no reason to refuse.