East Bound - Russia x Germany

Unanswered Questions

I have had just about enough. Since the minute we left our train in Vorkuta, things haven't been going my way. At all. I hated that I was always the one that had the least respected opinion and I was pushed to the wall as soon as things got tougher. 'No Poland, we're fine,' 'Poland, calm down,' 'Poland this,' 'Poland that'. Shouldn't I get my voice heard too? I was, after all, part of the group and my way mattered. Apparently not. That's why I left. I was fed up with Russia's self-righteousness, stubbornness, and need for thrill. I was also angry that Germany was alright with all of his brash and quick decisions. I'll just go back home!

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Okay, going back home isn't an option. I just got fired from my job. I was sitting in the only internet-connected place in all of Sëyaha. I had to ask the military men for their router passcode and tell them what I had to do. Sitting in their small barn-like mess hall, I opened my laptop to find exactly seventy-eight messages from my boss, at first polite and politically correct, then nearing seventy came the profanity. Well, there goes my pay.

"Finished?" One of the soldiers said.

"Yeah," I sighed heavily, unplugging my laptop and placing it in my bag.

"Need help getting someplace?"

"How far till...Pevek?" I tried.

He stared at me for a full ten seconds before bursting into a howling laugh. "Pevek! Pevek? Oh you funny man, Pevek is literally on the other side of the territory. It'll take weeks, if you're lucky, in your state."

I didn't think that was any bit hilarious. "But I do! And fast."

"Here," he shuffled around and got me a map. "Show me how you want to go, and maybe I'll by all to my corporal to see what he says."

"Thank you." I took a pencil and traced a line from Dixon, through the Sakha Republic, and into the Kamchatka region. He looked worried at my route.

"Listen, you can't go here," he said sternly, pointing to the Dolgano-Nenetz okrug. "You must take a different path."

"Why not?" I challenged.

He gave me a grave look. "In a couple of days, a huge storm is to pass through there. Even the locals are saying it's going to be rough. I wouldn't want you to be trapped in such a bad position."

My stomach churned. "Like what kind of storm?"

"High winds of force you cannot imagine. Total whiteouts, the gales will break open ice chasms to fall through. It's highly dangerous, even on an all-terrain reinforced vehicle." He shook his head. "That region was always windy. But this is a new weather phenomenon we recently heard from the station there. They are stocking up and searching for travellers. It could mean death for the stranded."

Uh oh. Russia and Germany are headed straight toward that storm. I had no way to contact them or to give a warning. My only hope was that they knew about this. "What other routes can I take?"

"Up north. The only way. Through the Severnyue Ostrova, North Lands."

"I'll do that then. Anyway to get to Pevek."

He still looked a little apprehensive. "If you're sure..."

"Yes! I need this." I vigorously nodded, trying to convince him and myself. This was most definitely a suicide mission. The North Lands wasn't inhabited with many people, except for the lone observatory in the middle of a cold, desolate place. I didn't know if I'd even get to the island, much else to Pevek. He saw my maniacal stare and though not thoroughly convinced, he left to go talk to his superior. I was left in the cement building, sitting on one of the hardwood benches with so many eyes goggling at me without remorse. I despised their attention and buried myself deeper into my coat. Several more soldiers stopped wolfing down their meals to look at the foreigner who was crazy enough to go trekking across the unknown areas of the North Lands. Most of them had been eavesdropping earlier and were waiting to hear what's the next chapter of my gripping story was. The air was so thick in the expectancy that I had trouble breathing. The only thing I could hear past the open-mouthed breathing of the soldiers and the slight tick of the clock was the noise of the lorries delivering supplies outside. The lieutenant I had spoken to previously returned, and everyone turned their rapt gazes on him.