The map on the back of Rubin's letter showed a small building in the warehouse district.
On the way there is the house where Kapella lives. I stopped by to ask her if she had any news. With the tanners district locked down, I hope the children are not sneaking in there to play. They don't seem to really understand the danger of the plague.
[yup]
Kapella: Do you want me to tell you the dangerous secret of the remedy for the Sand Plague?
Bachelor: You have my attention.
Kapella: Have you ever seen one of those boxes with white or blueish powder inside? They were made a long time ago. Do you want to know about them?
Bachelor: Please tell me. I want to hear this story from you.
Kapella: The powders are the secret remedies from the time of the First Outbreak. Before all that started, the children were playing a game about the epidemic. They were lead by this boy named Lutik. He's no longer around... They made the powders during those games.
Bachelor: Wait a minute... Did I hear that right? They were playing games about the epidemic even before it broke out for the first time?
Kapella: Yes... I have never thought about it until now. It's a really strange coincidence. I can't ask the children about it. Those who started the game are all in heaven now. But that wasn't the important part.
Bachelor: What was it, then?
Kapella: Some children stole different medicines to use in those games. I think they just picked the ones that had the prettiest colors. Then they crushed the tablets in a mortar and mixed them all up. They wrapped the powder in fresh leaves of the fragrant steppe Savjur to store them.
Bachelor: Why did they choose that herb?
Kapella: It's actually a healing herb. But that probably wasn't important. The Kruzkha brothers started the fashion of putting the powder in those boxes, and they worked just as well.
Bachelor: And where are the boxes of powder now?
Kapella: They are all kept in different places. Some of them are hidden away in the houses where they played hospital. They were hidden because they were very dangerous. But the children are thinking that if they worked during the First Outbreak, they'll surely work again this time.
Bachelor: What do you think about it?
Kapella: Some of them undoubtedly produce a curing effect. They poison the body but also kills the Sand Dirt. I do not know how they work. Maybe they included some strong antibiotics in the mix. But some of the powder mixes will kill you. And all of them, without exception, has a very bad influence on your health.
Bachelor: I don't doubt that.
Kapella: Recently, some of the kids found one of the hidden caches of powders. They opened it and are planning on testing those powders. A boy named Idler, who is a younger brother of Kruzhka, has already gone ahead to the infected district!
Bachelor: Do you know where exactly?
Kapella: I think he went to the Silent House. It's from there that the infection started spreading... There's also this terrible story about the cannibal, and the children are always attracted by horror stories. I think you will be able to stop them. If you forbid them to go there they will most likely obey you. You are a famous doctor, even for the kids.
Bachelor: So they have a whole stock of these powders?
Kapella: They probably only took a few with them, but they know where the rest are. They will get them and become poisoned again and again. It's like a lottery, no one remembers anymore exactly what mixture is in which box of powder. It will either cure or kill you.
Bachelor: All right. I'll get Idler out of there.
New Task: The boy went out to battle posted:
Kapella asked me to find a boy in the infected district and take the box of dangerous powder from him. Most likely, the kid can be found somewhere near the Silent House.
Although it may seem like there's a time limit for this, I don't think you need to hurry. It may seem a bit cruel to assume he'll be okay for a few hours, but if you always try to do the urgent tasks right away, you'll never have time for everything. That's Pathologic for you!
"While I'd like to help Kapella out right away, I have more important duties. I continued to Rubin's hideout. With the map it was much easier to find my way between the warehouses this time."
[...]
"There's a very odd smell coming from inside. It seems Rubin has been busy with something he didn't want the Kains to find out. This is a very small workspace and I'm amazed Rubin got it up and running within just a day."
[i would like a reuben]
Rubin: Colleague! We have an opportunity to make a vaccine! By a lucky chance I have got a sample of the pathogen. However, just one sample is not enough to produce enough serum, and we should only use it as a last resort. We need to find a sample of infected tissue to extract more.
Bachelor: And where is Simon?
Rubin: He's in a cold cellar nearby.
Bachelor: George is very angry. Why haven't you let him know where the body of his brother is?
Rubin: Because I'm not finished yet. Besides, I am working alone here. As soon as I had a chance to send a courier, I sent him to search for you. That was much more important than calming down the Kains. Will you help me?
Bachelor: What do you want to ask of me?
Rubin: I'd like you to collect a sample of infected tissue from the locked down district. Just be careful. Before you start, you should talk to the Commandant. Otherwise you may get into trouble. I would go instead of you, but I cannot leave yet.
Bachelor: That's a strange and dangerous request.
Rubin: The local people treat the dissecting of bodies like a very serious crime. For the steppe people a body is considered a sacred image of the universe. It can be cut open only by those who have the special rights to do so. Isidor Burakh, for example, was such a man.
Bachelor: Do all people here share such superstitions?
Rubin: Of course not. But even those who don't practice the rituals of the Order and have forgotten their meaning accept it as a sacred local tradition. Dissecting of a body by anyone who is not a hereditary menkhu is considered a blasphemy by almost everyone in our town.
Bachelor: What is a menkhu?
Rubin: It means "Parting", and it's the name of the butchers, surgeons, prophets... In general everyone who is entitled to cut open and work with the body.
Bachelor: Well, I am not considered a menkhu here. So what shall I do?
Rubin: Talk to one of the rulers. You better go to Alexander Saburov. Vlad will just involve you in his intrigues. And the Kains... I admit that I would not want to meet them today. I still need to work on the body of Simon. I'm afraid that if George Kain finds out, he'll take it away from me.
Bachelor: I will see what I can do.
Day Quest: Imperceptible enemy posted:
To strike at my enemy, I have to first study him. But it will be hard to catch him. We shall being with finding some contaminated tissue. We shall make a post-mortem examination of someone who has contracted the Sand Plague. First of all, it is necessary to secure the protection of Alexander Saburov, since we will break the local traditions and cause anger by working with dead bodies.
[blood cannisters]
"Hmm, those almost look like milk canisters, but they are filled with what seems to be blood. The people of this town has a very twisted sense of humor. I wouldn't be surprised if these came from the Abattoir, but I wonder what Rubin would use cow blood for? I better not touch them."
[MICROSCOPE UGUU~!]
"Ah, a proper microscope! It's a relatively new model too. With this we should be able to examine a sample of tissue or blood and see if there are any unusual microbes in it.
I will take Rubin's advice and talk to Alexander Saburov."
[repair]
These guys work at the factories in town, and can repair any weapons you have, for a relatively small sum in cash. I will keep one revolver in good shape, but the knives aren't worth repairing since you can easily get new ones by killing robbers.
[saburovs]
Alexander Saburov: Things are worse than ever. The infection is spreading!
Bachelor: In order to find a cure for the plague, I need to work with dead bodies. I was told that this demands your sanction. Is this so?
Alexander: I regret to tell you, but you will not find help here. An old superstition forbids cutting open bodies. In some places, it's almost like a cult. If they see you dissecting the dead, they will tear you into pieces. We've had trouble with that before.
Bachelor: Where would such a wild tradition come from?
Alexander: I'm not an expert on the Order. You would be best off asking them directly, but that isn't possible now and I doubt they would be very talkative even if you could. You should ask Big Vlad. He has promised to assist you in everything, the hypocrite!
Bachelor: Fine. But I don't want a dead body for my own entertainment. It's to find a cure for the disease!
Alexander: I understand, but I can do nothing. This is not a subject we should even speak about. Talk to your other friends. As far as I can judge, they are prepared to go quite far to help you.
Bachelor: I'll do that, and I hope they will see things differently.
Alexander: There are some people who could resolve this... I mean the butchers. They are, as you probably understand, allowed to cut up bodies. The tradition provides them with the hereditary right to this sacral action.
Bachelor: I had the pleasure to get acquainted with one earlier. He was a fugitive.
Alexander: That's right. Olgimskiy had them locked up in anticipation of the riots. However, some of the butchers weren't inside the Apiary the night they started the blockage. We think someone named Ospina is sheltering them but we don't have an clear evidence of that. Try your chance there.
Bachelor: Thank you for the advice.
Quest Update: Imperceptible enemy posted:
I shall try to talk to Ospina who lives nearby. She is sheltering the fugitive butchers that weren't locked up in the Apiary. I'll ask her about enlisting the help of the them in the search for and autopsy of an infected body.
"It seems like Ospina didn't succeed in getting the escaped butchers out of town. Or maybe they didn't want to leave? All this talk about the cult of the dead makes me reluctant to try my luck at dissecting a body on my own, and I understand why Rubin is hiding his experiments well. Would it be possible to get one of the fugitive butchers to do it for me? I'll have to go to Ospina in the old chapel and talk to her."
[ospina time]
Ospina: Can you check if my forehead is hot?
Bachelor: Your skin feels very odd, like it's pulled tight... Wait a minute, what's it actually made of? Wax?
Ospina: Stop joking! Why did you come here, anyway?
Bachelor: The fugitive butchers never left town. You are still hiding them, Ospina.
Ospina: Well, crucify me for this! Are you sent by the Olgimskiys again?
Bachelor: No. This time I have come for my own reasons. I need your help.
Ospina: I'll listen. What would you, such a wise snake, need help with?
Bachelor: I need some tissue of a man who has died of the sand plague.
Ospina: You can find plenty of the dead in the infected houses. You won't survive very long in there, now that the infection has spread so much. Five, maybe ten minutes. Then the infection of your body will be too much for you to handle.
Bachelor: Perhaps one of the butchers can help me get a sample? What will he ask for it?
Ospina: He'll demand more of you than if I asked him. I will need you to do a counter service. Will you agree to carry out my request?
Bachelor: It depends on what you will ask.
Ospina: You have an influence on Olgimskiy. Take advantage of your powers. Tell him to stop pursuing the fugitives. This is not the right situation to seek revenge, but he is very eager to do so. It takes a long time for him to cool down. If he will allow everyone who remained outside the Apiary to live, I shall persuade three butchers to risk their lives for you. They have nothing to lose anyway.
Bachelor: I shall try.
Quest Update: Imperceptible enemy posted:
The people of this town are desperate and a human life isn't worth too much. If I can convince Big Vlad Olgimskiy to stop the pursuit of the escaped butchers, three of them will take the risk and help me find and take a sample of an infected body.
[empty road]
The streets are strangely empty in this part of town. There was some activity near Alexander Saburov's house and of course the nearby bar, but it's like everyone is still scared of that clay-demon and are locking themselves indoors.
[to clot!]
Big Vlad: The tanner district... Yes, what a nasty day today, don't you think?
Bachelor: I want to offer you a bargain. It concerns your fugitives.
Big Vlad: Pardon, but the fugitives from the Apiary should in my opinion not be discussed. But I am always ready to discuss a good bargain. So?
Bachelor: I want you to stop pursuing them. What do you want in exchange for that?
Big Vlad: Why would you ask for that?
Bachelor: I cannot tell you exactly why they are important to me, but I need it to do my job.
Big Vlad: And what are you ready to give in exchange?
Bachelor: I'm prepared to listen to anything you require.
Big Vlad: Let me see... I know what I shall ask from you, as payment for my butchers. It's the unique capital which you have, and which I never will.
Bachelor: What would that be?
Big Vlad: Your influence on the Kains. I shall cease to pursue the butchers if the Kain family will cease pursuing the young Burakh. He has an absolute alibi. I can confirm that. Make them leave him alone. Do you agree?
Bachelor: And why does the son of Isidor have such value to you?
Big Vlad: We have... a mutual business.
Bachelor: I understand. Are you saying he's not guilty of anything?
Big Vlad: Exactly so... And at the same time, convince Rubin of that as well. I know you communicate with him, in fact. Young Burakh is not involved in the tragic death of Isidor. The thick-headed Rubin is the last person to accept this, but he will listen to you. The young man should not be claimed as the murderer of his father.
Bachelor: I shall tell your words to Rubin if I meet him.
Big Vlad: I have not finished yet... I also want them to stop torturing me about the Apiary. How many times shall I repeat that everything there is clean? That is why it was closed.
Bachelor: You keep asking me to do more and more things for you. How do you like this proposal instead... You stop the persecution of the butchers, and I shall not tell George Kain my opinion of what's going on inside the Apiary. You said they'll trust me if they hear it from my mouth, right?
Big Vlad: Hmm... If you put it that way... Well, certainly, certainly... I was going to... What's important now... Hmm, when the Tanners got infected, it was just like the first time, with the Damp district... Damn it. I will accept your, hmm, proposal. I give you the word of a merchant. I know you will uphold your end, as a man of honor.
Quest Update: Imperceptible enemy posted:
Olgimskiy is pliable. He seems to be concerned about the Apiary most of all. It's a true Achilles' heel of their respectable family. Curiously he asked me to clear the name of Young Burakh in front of the Kains. Is this another trick to cover up some shady business?
"Big Vlad likes to sound important and certainly think of himself as a great leader. He gets angry when you push him, but he certainly doesn't know how to handle defeat. I do not like having to make a threat like that, but if it's the only way to get him to stop demanding so much of me, it's worth it. I was worried that I'd have to run all over town just for him, but I managed to get him to agree to my demands without actually having to do anything."
"I can see why the ruling families don't get along very well. I think even Kapella would make a better leader than Big Vlad!"
[transit]
Ospina: You are back already?
Bachelor: Big Vlad agrees. He has sworn that his men will stop hunting the runaways.
Ospina: When will he act on his words?
Bachelor: He already has. The order is already given to Saburov's patrols and the servants of the house of Olgimskiy.
Ospina: ...Okay. I shall send three butchers to the infected Tanners district. There they will look for a dead body, cut it open and then wait for you. Go to them after an hour has passed. Do not hesitate. They are risking their lives for you.
Bachelor: Why shouldn't I go with them right away?
Ospina: Because dissection of the dead is not something to take lightly. Does it matter who holds the knife? It is more important who gives the order to cut. Or do you think that the people will not understand who really needed to desecrate the dead, if you stand next to the butchers and watch while they do it?
Bachelor: I guess you are right.
Ospina: I strongly advice you to prepare before visiting the infected district. The people say that to survive in there is not easier than in a meat grinder. The patrolmen who guard the infected areas and lock down the houses have consumed a lot of confiscated medicines.
Bachelor: Thanks, Ospina.
Quest Update: Imperceptible enemy posted:
Ospina sent three butchers to the infected Tanners district. One of them probably has a sample of tissue for me. Even though it is dangerous, I need to hurry there in the name of science.
Summary: We will have to venture into the infected area of town. Three of the escaped butchers will wait for us there, and they should have an infected corpse dissected and ready for sampling when we get there. If everything goes as planned we will all be out of there without any harm.
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