The Bachelor's Route

The history of humanity witnessed a number of catastrophes that have demonstrated without a shadow of a doubt the pettiness of human achievement and the triumph of the invincible Evil. Outbreaks of infectious diseases that have from time to time wiped towns and cities off the map are undoubtedly among those. However smart and virtuous, the people caught up in these destructive events have repeatedly come to the conclusion that it's no use trying to fight these circumstances; the best you can do is bite the bullet and cope with your losses.

This is the story of a person who has managed to work a miracle and defeat a seemingly unvanquishable foe.

The Invisible Enemy
Daniil Dankovsky, a Bachelor of Medicine, was brought here by circumstances most unfortunate. Dankovsky's lifework, his theory challenging the existing notions of human mortality, is being harshly persecuted by the Powers that Be. Suddenly, a letter arrives from a colleague, suggesting that there is previously undiscovered evidence which may support Dankovsky's claims.

There is a settlement, the letter says, rule by an extraordinary man who may well be seen as objective proof of Dankovsky's daring hypothesis. Grasping at straws of hope, Dankovsky decides to follow what he believes to be a sign of divine providence. Without further ado, he sets off for the settlement.

Late at night, the Bachelor arrives in the Town. As he seeks room and board, he gets to know a girl called Eva Yan and stays at her place till dawn.

Day One
Day One, by the end of which the Bachelor finds himself battling a truly unvanquishable foe.

Mission
''As of today, my mission remains obscure. The examination of Simon Kain--who is rumoured to be a man of incredible longevity--may shake the very foundation of modern thanatology and challenge the existent notions of death itself.''

However, even if this undying leviathan proves to be more than a fairy tale, the mere confirmation of his existence won't suffice to prevent the powers that be from shutting our laboratory down.

''I need to figure out the most fruitful approach. Simon is a well respected man and if he mistakes my interest for effrontery it would be nigh impossible to convince him to help me break new ground in the field of human vitality.''

Today's Quest
To find out who killed the immortal Simon Kain? The dead man's family may not want it more than I do. I have an abiding desire to punish the murderer, to eradicate them, no matter if they were acting on their own account or at the behest of the Powers That Be. Whoever they were, they picked the moment far too well...

My gentle associate, my selfless advisor Isidor Burakh was the last person to see Simon Kain alive. If it wasn't for Burakh's guidance, I never would have come to this backwoods domain. All the more reason to start my pursuit with him.

Isidor Burakh was murdered. The local authorities have sealed off his house. Alexander Saburov, the head of the Saburov family, has taken control of all proceedings regarding law and order in the town. The Saburovs are one of the three families that govern the town and Alexander was the person to take immediate measures after the discovery of Isidor's body.

If this Yulia Lyuricheva is genuinely capable of rational thought, then she is more astute than the majority of her contemporaries in this town. There are those who would believe that if I am unable to pinpoint the murderer by nightfall, then I am destined to become the next victim. If my encounter with death is so inevitable, then I should prepare myself for it. As ludicrous as it may be, the thought sends a chill down my spine.

I am following in Isidor's wake, certain that the trail of his footsteps will lead me to the Crucible. There is little doubt in my mind that Isidor was well acquainted with each and every family in power, but it was Olgimsky that held Isidor's leash; a relationship rooted in unbreakable familial loyalty. It is with the Olgimskys that I must make my next destination.

A cunning lot, aren't they? The older Olgimsky does his best to avoid any mention of his household. When I asked him what his son was doing, the honourable stock-breeder momentarily lost his temper. I think that the son knows just as much as the father, and it will be easier to get him talking. But where can I find him?

The investigation of the double murder has introduced a few additional considerations. It is highly possible that Simon died to some unfamiliar disease. Stakh Rubin, the town medic, should be warned at once. If he touches the body he may contract whatever disease still remains there.

We have identified the killer, although we've yet to apprehend him. Rubin will collect the necessary equipment to protect him as he works with the bodies. In the meantime I should inform Georgiy Kain of what the primary investigation has shown.

Version: The Many-Legged Fugitive
What kind of games are the local children playing? Lara is worried about them. Or she is worried about the mysterious “shmowders” they seem to have discovered. It would put her mind at ease if I could get my hands on it and wrest it away from them. I know where they keep it. I can see the stash from my window in the Stillwater; in a house by the staircase ruin.

The children had already looted the cache. Now the poison itself is out on the streets; dozens of packages of it. I've got a sample of the 'shmowder'. Lara would be happy to take a look at it.

[*** I decided to keep the poisonous “shmowder” for myself. I have a strange feeling that it might be useful soon enough.]

[*** The 'shmowder' turned out to be a lethal mixture of powerful medicants. Lara was smart to burn it, but I can't help feeling like I should have kept it. The children were adamant that these shmowders are absolutely essential in some cases.]

Version: The Blood-Covered Fugitive
Could it be that the killer is hiding in the Willows, where the singer Anna Angel resides? After all, someone covered head to toe in fresh blood was recently offered shelter there.

[Everything in the house is suspicious. There is too much blood on the corpse—and hardly a drop of it belongs to the dead man. The vagrant thespian has an enormous mansion to herself and keeps averting her eyes when addressed directly... Victor Kain must be informed of these findings.

*** Victor believes that Anna Angel's guest has nothing to do with Simon's murder. Rather, we should be searching for someone cryptically referred to only as “she”; a particularly eerie specification if you ask me. True, it does halve the number of possible suspects, yet I can't say I relish the idea.]

[It is unlikely that Simon's murderer had broken into the thespian's house. Her gaze may be unkind but she isn't guilty of killing Simon either. If I am going to help her dispose of the body, I will have to come to a covert agreement with Grace, the cemetery caretaker, and hope that she is a child capable of keeping a secret.

These greedy gravediggers aim to make as much as they can by providing unwarranted burial services. Two thousand. And the rascals had the temerity to suggest I pawn some of my belongings to round up the cash.

*** It is done. The gravediggers will help Anna bury the corpse.]

Version: The Beastlike Fugitive
[The younger Olgimsky exhibits a genuinely tradition kind of filial piety. Or is he pursuing some projects of his own? One way or another, he is determined to get rid of the beastlike troublemaker. I wonder what the creature—whose death has no legal consequences—looks like?

*** I had to kill the butcher. Olgimsky's son, Vlad the Younger, will surely appreciate this turn of events.]

[It seems that reciprocal hatred is not in Eva's heart. My soft-mannered host wants to shelter a runaway serf from the punishment that the authorities would mete out on him if he is caught. It would appear I am not the only person chasing a criminal tonight...

*** She who gives shelter to runaway workmen will lead the butcher deep into the Steppe. May this be comforting enough for kind-hearted Eva.]

The Letter from the Powers That Be
Bachelor Dankovsky,

By what seems to be a very lucky coincidence, you have found yourself in a town that is wrought by some very worrying occurrences. Reportedly, there is an outbreak of dangerous disease in the vicinity. There is also an opinion that the outbreak is a falsification staged deliberately for the purpose of concealing a murder.

In consideration of your outstanding analytical capability, we delegate the investigation to you. If there is an epidemic, it must be halted by any means necessary.

You should l as much information as you can, we suppose, and then make a decision in line with our own professional ethics and moral beliefs. In order to implement your strategy, an Inquisitor endowed with unrestricted authority will shortly arrive to join you. In the event that you are unable to curb the outbreak before their arrival, all power over the situation will be reassigned to them.

P.S.

It has come to our attention that you have recently requested permission to continue with you own research. The decision of whether or not such permission will be granted depends on the results of this assignment. Your success, therefore, has a bearing on your scientific reputation and your further academic career.

Professor Telman

The Body is Isolated
Bachelor,

The body has been isolated, as far as I know. Rubin conducts the examination of it.

Nevertheless, keeping in mind your discovery, I would advise you to see me in the Rod first thing tomorrow morning. There is a matter of crucial importance that we need to discuss.

Alexander Saburov

A Letter From a Colleague in “Thanatica”
Daniil, I am writing this in a hurry, so do forgive the uncustomary brevity.

The Powers That Be are closing in on us. They persecuted us before, as you know, but now they are set to utterly exterminate us. We may yet be able to persevere, but you, my friend, are in grave danger.

It is almost as if your destination was chosen to be the place of your burial. They say there is some kind of disease in the town, of a most lethal variety; perhaps Plague itself.

I have little doubt that the Powers That Be have set up your whole journey. Telman, that vermin, wants to get rid of you more than he wants to cease the outbreak. I wouldn't be surprised if it transpires that there are no medical personnel whatsoever in the town. They will use it as pretext to delegate the whole mess of it to you. If this is the case, I urge you to keep out of trouble. Stay safe, Daniil; wait for the sanitary teams. They will arrive sooner or later.

Take care, my friend. If they tell you to engage the Plague by yourself, refuse it, even if your principles enjoin you to do otherwise. Our research is what matters the most and we will not be able to go on with it if you are dead...

Yours, A

Isidor Burakh's Message
My dear Bachelor Dankovsky.

It was most disconcerting to learn that the Powers That Be have the intention of shutting down the laboratory that owes its fame largely to your own research in the field of thanatology.

Is it true that your detractors have branded your studies “scientifically stillborn”? Rejoice, Bachelor, for there is an observable case that would quell the obscurants that reject the research of death, aging, and necrosis as a subject that lacks academic viability. This case, were you to document it, would go a long way towards restoring your reputation as a scholar.

The subject in question is Simon Kain, who has ruled the town where I live for as long as I can remember. This man's longevity transcends the boundaries of what is plausible. It is phenomenal, no less, and I struggled to give an explanation of it with what scientific means I have at my disposal. Make no delay. There is a sensational discovery to be made here, a breakthrough that will not only save your laboratory, but also revivify your studies and greatly increase your scientific renown.

Your humble servant and faithful colleague,

Isidor Burakh

P.S. I spoke to Simon on your behalf and he has kindly agreed to facilitate your effort. Daring ideas and far-fetched projects are traditionally very well respected in our neck of the woods.

Day Two
Day Two, in which the Bachelor gets to restructure authority as an equal and accept emergency powers.

Day Three
Day Three, in which the Bachelor is offered to hunt the elusive enemy and evaluate the chances of necrosis.

Day Four
Day Four, by the end of which the Bachelor realizes that the town is unprepared for an epidemic of this scale.

Day Five
Day Five, in which the Bachelor regrets his affection for the living and would very much prefer to like the dead.

Day Six
Day Six, in which the Bachelor is offered several possible sources of the infection to choose at his discretion.

Day Seven
Day Seven, in which the Bachelor gets a chance to uncover the truth and find an invaluable ally.

Day Eight
Day Eight, by the end of which the Bachelor can prove once again that the Earth is never up to any good.

Day Nine
Day Nine, in which the town is occupied and the worried children ask for the Bachelor's help for the first time ever.

Day Ten
Day Ten, in which the creators of the impossible take the stage to discuss captured miracles.

Day Eleven
Day Eleven, in which the Kains' mission reveals its new and quite unexpected aspects to the Bachelor.

Day Twelve
Day Twelve, in which it finally becomes apparent what it was all about.