We now know that Young Vlad Olgimskiy locked up the Apiary despite knowing about the outbreak of the illness within. Instead of calling for help and try to save the sick, he just closed the gates. If we tell the Inquisitor about this he'll be in a ton of trouble. But I should try to squeeze some information out of him first.
: I don't have anything left to say to you.Bachelor: When you gave the order to lock the Apiary, you knew about the illness and you knew exactly what your actions would lead to. You turned the place into a grave! And you put the blame on some imaginary rioteers to cover it up for your father.
Young Vlad: Who told you that?
Bachelor: That's not important. What is important is whether or not I shall tell the Inquisitor about it. She wouldn't be happy.
Young Vlad: There's no point in denying it now... I knew that when the Apiary opened, the truth would emerge. I just needed some more time, but it seems like I have no luck today.
Bachelor: What would you need more time for?
Young Vlad: I have hidden my one real crime and you are right to blame me for that. I also think that this lethal plague came with something dug up from the ground. The only thing you've got wrong is that these two facts are not tied together.
Bachelor: So you knew that the bacteria was born from under the ground? Why didn't you tell me about it?
Young Vlad: I don't know for sure. I have found no evidence for this yet. The earth in my well is clean. And the deeper I dig the purer and denser the ground becomes. Far down there is a layer of thick white clay.
Bachelor: You really should have at least offered it as a possibility. I've been looking for information like this for almost a week now.
Young Vlad: Because I do not want this to be true. You would have no way to defeat the plague but to raze the entire town to the ground. To tell the army to wipe out everything that lies between the Tower and the Abattoir.
Bachelor: Why would I want to do that?
Young Vlad: Inside the town there are hundreds of wells and holes dug deep within the ground. I don't think any of them were deep enough, because it is hard to penetrate that thick layer of clay. But how can you be sure? Even if you think you've found the source, the plague could seep up again later from some other hole! And as long as people keep living here they will keep digging.
Bachelor: But destroying the whole town is too radical for dealing with that. I wouldn't want that to happen.
Young Vlad: I do not know what's going on in your mind. If it were up to you alone you probably wouldn't order something like that. But the General, who will bring the army and their guns here tomorrow, will do it without ceremony. Even if you stress that this is only a hypothesis and not verified yet, he would not hesitate.
Bachelor: Maybe you are right about the General. But even if you are sure you didn't find anything in your well, I need something to show to the Inquisitor.
Young Vlad: If you wish, take a test and analyze it yourself. There's just sand and clay. If you think it's necessary I can get some people together and dig it out again. However, I think you would need a much deeper well than this to find anything of interest.
Bachelor: That will not be necessary right now. I am pretty sure I'd find more luck in the Abattoir. The outbreak probably started there. How do I get inside?
Young Vlad: I've only been there about four times in my life. Every morning a crowd of workers leaves the Apiary and goes through the main passageway to the Abattoir. They call it the Gullet. The gates were always opened and closed by Tychik, the Keeper. But he is dead...
Bachelor: Yes, I know. I'm sure someone else has taken over that responsibility now.
I got this strange image in my head again. I wonder if this is how the architect brothers feel when they come up with their designs? I took out my other drawing and added some details to it.
It's time to enter the Apiary again. I'll take the safe route past the train station.
I always feel a bit melancholy when I take this path. There are never anyone around. Not even a bird in sight.
At least the stillness is prefered to the chaos that goes on in this town.
The air just outside the Apiary is now so heavy it's hard to even breath. I was getting lightheaded and stumbled as I ran toward the gates.
While I'm here, I should report the results of the blood test to Burakh.
: Welcome back.Bachelor: I have checked the sample of blood. Who did you get it from? It's very strange.
Burakh: What of the results? You know that I cannot tell you how I got hold of the blood. You should respect that.
Bachelor: I found two kinds of antibodies. Ones that stops the bacteria of spreading, and another that actually kills it. This is something unique.
Burakh: Then it is time for you to use my panacea on something. It should work well.
Bachelor: How much of this medicine can you make?
Burakh: Right now, just a few. Ten, maybe fifteen portions. Make sure you put all of it to good use.
Bachelor: Have you tried it yourself?
Burakh: No, I am not sick enough for that. But you saw for yourself that it works.
Bachelor: All right.
We get a sample of Panacea! This stuff actually works, and totally cures you of the plague, without any downsides!
As Burakh says, you don't want to use this yourself as long as you are healthy enough to run around.
[i]It took me a long while to find the right place. The Apiary isn't very big, but all the rooms look almost exactly the same. I ran down this hallway several times before I missed the rather plain-looking door.
This must be the Order's version of an office. I wonder what all the symbols mean. I think I recognize a few of them... Have I seen them on some paper or something?
: There he is! This is the doctor. He has come from the other side. Can you help me?Bachelor: What are you doing here? This is the wrong place for a little girl.
Keeper: I'm not just a little girl! I am Mother Keeper. My daddy used to be the most important one here. And now I am. Because daddy isn't here anymore... What difference does it make if I'm small or not?
Bachelor: I have heard about your father before. He used to run this place, right?
Keeper: My daddy was the Keeper of the butchers. He took care of everyone who lived here. Now he is dead, and all the people are ill...
Bachelor: So you try to protect everyone as well?
Keeper: Yes. I have to, because I am the Keeper now. But things have gone all wrong...
Bachelor: I need to enter the Abattoir. I need to know what happened in there. Is there anything I can do to make you unlock the gates for me?
Keeper: Can you bring the one who locked us all in here when we started to get ill?
Bachelor: ... What would happen to him?
Keeper: I just want to ask him why he locked the doors.
Bachelor: I'm sure that if I bring him here, he won't live for long.
Keeper: No, we shall not kill him. I'll hide him from all the angry people myself.
Bachelor: Are you sure you can? I have to think about this...
Summary: It's time for a rather important choice. We can gain access to the Abattoir by handing over Young Vlad to the butchers. However, they are mighty angry and we can't guarantee that he'd live through it. Our only assurance is this small girl. Can she calm them down enough?
If we refuse, then it might be tricky to get inside. The reason we want to get inside is that it's likely that the plague outbreak started in there. Did they dig too deep?
What should we do?
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