East Bound - Russia x Germany

A Climax and a Duel

It wasn't that I almost died or anything...but I almost died. If it weren't for another second to spare and the rubber sole of my boot, I wouldn't be in any condition to storytell. I would be at the bottom of a relatively shallow chasm, dying. It's probably best to start from the very beginning. The morning before the incident.

"This is it, right?" I couldn't hide my excitement. "The last day?"

"Yes, really." It was the thirty fourth time I had made Aytal and the rest of the army crew repeat their words. I couldn't believe it! We were almost at the eastern shore of Bolshevik Island. I would be able to get in contact with the world soon enough. Everyone enjoyed my mood, which was much more light than the through the whole trip altogether. I was surly and impatient due to the fact that I was always with Rybkin, who was like my anti matter. We probably would explode with one more day. Unfortunately, it would take Rybkin less than four hours to snap.

"Yeah, right." He hissed. "Let's get on with it, shall we?" After our canned herring and stale bread breakfast, he sat down into the driver's seat and wrenched the wheel. Most of the other men fell silent or started to fidget with their equipment. I looked outside of our plastic window, watching the hibernating scenery flash by. Glaciers, slowly dragging its weight with massive groans. Comparatively tiny mountains, dotting the landscape, making it interesting. A lone deer. A scraggly, dead bush. And snow. Everywhere, on everything and everyone. How I didn't realise how much of it was here. Don't people get sick of it? Granted, Bolshevik Island was practically deserted, save for the Army patrols and scientific research. Nothing much, but exhilarating. I've never seen such beauty. It was funny how, even though I looked through this window day in and day out, I never saw this breathtaking peisage. It was like a shroud was removed from my eyes, and I could see the world anew. I barely noticed Aytal speaking to Rybkin.

"Should we stop somewhere, or do you want to take over?" Rybkin yawned. "Personally, I wouldn't mind a cigarette."

"If you'd like." Aytal shrugged.

"I mean, only if it's comfortable for you," Rybkin shook his head. "I would rather this trip be over sooner than later."

An ironic smile graced Aytal's lips. "Cramped?"

"You could say so,"

"Eh, there's a nice little view over near our dock. We could potentially drop the caravan there and just walk around."

"If you wish," Rybkin smiled. He was much nicer and compliant when I wasn't around. Strategically out over view next to a bury fellow, I could watch without being noticed. Was it that he only hated me? That seemed unfair. How come the others like me and he doesn't?

"Because you behave the same," I almost yelped aloud when the stocky man I was hiding behind joked.

"Wh-what?" I stammered.

"You and Rybkin are too alike," he repeated. "You both think out loud, too."

"Oh great," I moaned, much to the delight of the surrounding men.

"Don't worry, we are almost there. Then you can forget about us,"

"As if," I replied.

"We'll never forget you, novelty Tourist," He grinned. "Too boring out here."

"What, you spend your whole life in half darkness?" I said. All the time, I could barely see past three men. The sun was too lazy to reach out to the edges of the earth. No sun, no precipitation, and a smothering silence, condemned in the dark. How can some voluntarily stand it? The only voice you have is the voice of the whispering, bubbling ocean and the howl of the wind, that unlike a mother searching for her child in the gloom. No, I've been to island's better than this.