The sun glistened overhead in the early September sky; the bright vibrant shine almost made the walk through the zone bearable, «Almost». Chris Manning, a local Stalker from a small town outside the zone, had recently embarked on an expedition to the center of the zone. At this point in his life, he had grown used to the nauseating stench of rotting flesh that accompanied his trips through the zone. The path below his feet was an old decadent road that connected to the «Zietsev Highway»; the last road before the old power plant. As he ventured on he came upon a tape recorder. Covered with a thin film of dirt, the recorder seemed to be in working order. Intrigued by his discovery, Chris tried playing the tape.
*Distorted Noise*
*A man begins to speak*
«The date is Thursday May 9th, 2010
This is Vasili Karpotsev, keeper of Outpost 1741
I don't sleep much anymore; life has become a twisted nightmare. Supplies are running low, and the next Stalker isn't supposed to pass by my outpost for another two weeks. In an attempt to save power I have jury rigged two solar panels to collect energy during the day so that I may keep my spotlights on all night. My only defense against the creatures is an
Saturday May 11th, 2010
It has now been 8 days since I have last slept. Yesterday, the creatures attacked my outpost. I was able to fend them off, but lost both solar panels and my rifle in the process, when a winged beast crashed into the outpost after being shot.
The creatures appear to be getting stronger. The prolonged exposure to the radiation must still be mutating their immune systems. It got to the point yesterday when it took nearly an entire clip from my rifle to bring down the winged beast.
DAMNIT, I must leave now, they are outside the outpost!»
Chris continues listening to the recording as he moves down the path.
«Sunday May 12th, 2010
The creatures attacks have become more frequent; I have taken to hiding deep within the outpost during attacks. I was told when I was posted here that the outpost was originally a military bunker. The walls of the bunker are many meters thick and protect me against the creatures attacks, * Vasili's voice becomes noticeably worried* but eventually they will give, and when they do, I have nothing to protect me. It is supper time now, I will talk again tomorrow.
*Vasili's voice is now quite frightened*
Monday May 13th, 2010
The creatures are outside the outpost. They have begun using themselves to hammer the entrance hatch. When I was outside fixing the generator after Saturdays attack, something must have got in to the outpost, because when I returned, my field rations were gone….all of them.
Now all I can do is wait for the end; my only hope is to hold out on water and wait for the next Stalker to bring supplies. I worry though, as the area has become overrun by the creatures, that a Stalker bringing supplies here would be suicide.
*Panic overtakes Vasili*
What is that? I can hear breathing……AHHHHH……"
*The recorder crackles*
Chilled by the eerie recording of the outpost keeper, Chris turns the recorder off and continues on his journey. As he puts the recorder away he notices a structure out of the corner of his eye. Turning to investigate, he finds himself standing in front of a cement structure, identified only by the engraved sign above the hatch. The sign reads «Outpost 1741».