The sinister crackle of the Geiger Counter made Michel stop for a moment. He instantly felt his face go cold. Another crackle made the young man dash toward the source.
Nasor was holding one of the counters, its faded yellow surface contrasting with his calm demeanor, unlike Michel's.
— Are we in a radioactive area? — Michel whispered urgently.
— Don't worry, it's one of the Patches. And it's far enough away to not pose any danger.
Feeling his heart pounding in his ears, Michel nodded and managed to relax a bit. The Patches were places that the Ancients had tainted with nuclear energy, possibly a laboratory or even one of the bomb craters that wiped them out seven hundred years ago.
That's when the fence appeared. A long wall made of spaced-out iron pieces every ten meters, marked with yellow radiation signs. It served as the boundary, indicating how far they could go. Crossing it would be like signing a death certificate: death by radiation.
Once again, the meter let out a dry crackle. Michel ignored it, looking at the fence, and by its size, it wasn't a bomb that had caused the Patch.
Livya appeared beside him, breathless, having run from the end of the caravan.
— Is it a Patch? — she asked, with a mix of curiosity and dread in her voice.
— Yes. Is this the first time you've seen one?
— I only knew them from books and pictures, but nothing prepared me for this feeling.
Michel had to agree. The place exuded an oppressive energy, almost like a cornered animal, ready to defend itself. To his relief, the wagons veered onto a side path that ran alongside the makeshift fence.
Even the mosquitoes, which had plagued the entire journey, seemed to know this wasn't a good place; they had vanished. Occasionally, the counter made its characteristic sound, the only noise since no one was speaking. The cattle were restless.
— I've seen many of these, actually — Michel continued. — This one, given its size, must be from some laboratory or military installation.
— How can you tell?
— The size. If it were a bomb, you wouldn't be able to see the entire fence. And there's another thing: the nothingness. — Michel looked at the young woman, who was staring back at him. — It would be like a massive empty circle, where nothing grows or lives, with a crater at the center. It's something evil.
They kept a brisk pace, and even when the fence ended, they continued until it disappeared into the landscape.
At that moment, the mosquitoes, which had momentarily paused their attempts to bite the caravan's exposed parts, returned to their usual activity, but the bad feeling had passed.
A water spring appeared, bringing a cooler breeze. A crystal-clear stream flowed from it toward something that resembled a rock in the distance. The sound of water hitting stones became increasingly noticeable.
It was possible to see some people by the water's edge, children playing or washing their clothes, but their eyes were fixed on the bulls, their faces lit up.
— We're finally arriving — said Nasor.
Livya was stunned by what she saw. The Oasis was inside a cave over fifty meters high. The entire stone edge was covered in moss and plants, with even a few small trees daring to grow.
Waterfalls cascaded from the tops of the rocks in four places. It was like a gigantic bowl with an open top toward the sky.
— This reminds me a lot of… — Livya began, and Michel cut her off, finishing:
— The Bunker.
— Exactly.
Even from a distance, the houses built into the walls were visible, as if they were part of the stone. Naomi and Gabriel approached them.
— Well, it's time for us to part ways — said Nasor, taking a swig from his bottle of mead.
— Yes, it's been a peaceful journey — Naomi replied.
— Almost — Nahara interjected, coming between the wagons and giving Gabriel a pat on the shoulder. — Thanks for your help up to this point.
— I need to keep moving — Nasor said. — Goods to sell! Thank you for everything.
Ana was the last to appear, almost running from the end of the line.
— So, this is goodbye.
— For now — Michel said to the newcomer.
With a final farewell, the group watched the caravan enter the Oasis's opening, walking slower and falling behind. When the last wagon entered, the group quickened their pace.
They had finally reached the Oasis. Now, they needed to find Bia and Samuel.