Time flew by unnoticed, and Gerda awoke. She was still lying under the debris, but it was difficult to call it debris. It was more like burnt remnants, leaving only a small cavity. Her grandfather's grip had weakened. The ground had cooled and become chilly.
Gerda slowly opened her eyes. A chill ran through her entire body. Her grandfather's body was also cold. They were in a small space where only their hands could move. Gerda pressed on the remaining piece of steel, and it easily bent and crumbled like sand. Bright light poured into the resulting gap, illuminating Gerda and her grandfather.
Before her stood a girl, holding a bright, glowing sphere that resembled a ball. She wore a tight black belt and bra, and beneath them, a bright clown uniform. A long rail and a large bag were visible on her back.
The girl wore rainbow-colored goggles around her eyes and a respirator on her face. In her hand, she held a glove with steel threads.
The girl directed the glowing sphere at Gerda's face, then at her grandfather's. Taking out a button near her neck, she spoke in a sly voice:
— One survivor here! Over.
The radio hissed and replied:
— She's not infected! Over.
— She's not infected! Over.
Gerda heard that they were talking about her in the singular and panicked.
— I, I, I'm not alone, I'm with Grandpa, Grandpa, do you hear, I'm with Grandpa!
The girl standing over the rubble crouched down. She held the radio in one hand and placed the other under Gerda's chin, replying with a smile:
— Your grandfather is dead, you can stop trying.
The word «dead» rang in Gerda's ears. She began to repeat: «No!».
The radio hissed again:
— Bring her to us! Over.
— Okay! We'll be there soon! Over.
— Waiting! Over.
The girl reached for Gerda, who was still repeating «no!». She saw that the burns on the girl's face were actively developing. Gerda stopped repeating «no!» and fidgeted, as if seized by a fever, wanting to escape into the void. The girl hesitated, grabbed Gerda by the scruff of her neck, squeezed the glowing sphere, and in the same instant, found herself in another place.