Chapter 6

The deputy came close to Alexander and looked him in the eyes, trying to look taller and more solid. But since he was half a head shorter, it had no effect on Alexander.

- I will not be silent. We have to stay where we are. No one is looking for us, but we can't go anywhere in this formation and in this form. And most importantly, we don't know where we are or where we're going. The most important thing now is to build a fire, build shelter and find water.

- Well, about fire and water - I completely agree, but the shelter ... Well, what are you saying, - again raised his voice, - the man who came out with the woman, - We need water and fire, shelter is not. After all, then we need to decide where to go and start moving.

Alexander was a little embarrassed, but quickly pulled himself together.

- Yes, you're right, I guess.

- Let you two be quiet and listen to me, - Alexei Gennadyevich could not stand such a clear violation of his authority as a leader. - Here and now I am in charge, and you must listen to my instructions. Otherwise we won't be able to cope with this situation!

- Don't shut us up," said a woman standing next to the man, "We are all in the same conditions and no one chose you to be the boss. I understand perfectly well that you are used to leading, but there are other people here who know how to do it. Your idea of a general hike through the woods is really completely stupid and doesn't stand up to any criticism. You are no longer fit to be a leader! Your very first decision was wrong, even the young man was more astute.

- Woman! I beg you! No, I insist that there be silence! - Alexei Gennadyevich began to shout, but clearly not from an overabundance of feelings or emotions, and working on the crowd, - In emergency situations there should be only one leader, and it will be me, as about half of the people present here are my direct subordinates. And based on that fact, I demand obedience to my decisions.

- But your decision to go to an unknown place..., - the companion of the lady who spoke tried to insert a word.

- Let you tell Alexei Gennadyevich, - Olga Viktorovna interrupted the man, - Who are you to interfere and what do you allow yourself! You are shaking your household here...

The woman made a broad gesture with her hand, pointing at the groin area of her interlocutor.

- In case you haven't noticed, everyone here is naked. I apologize if my cock disturbs you, but I don't have any clothes to cover myself, - the man was clearly mocking, but Olga Viktorovna didn't even notice it.

- So cover yourself with your hands! Why should I, an unmarried woman, look at your balls? I'll file a police report on you! Let's see how you like it in jail!

The man completely ignored her words and defiantly scratched his groin. This action angered Olga Viktorovna even more and she began to shout something unintelligible, sputtering with drool.

- Stop this buffoonery. Now we should all go there together, - Alexei Gennadyevich raised his voice and gestured in the direction in which he thought everyone should go.

- If you haven't noticed, there are women and children here. How do you imagine their movement through the forest?

- We will move slowly!

- Have you ever walked through the woods?

Alexander is fed up with this squabble. Although in fact it had not even started yet, but it was already possible to foresee that the conversation would not end well and the quarrel would only grow. He sharply approached a tree, a pine with a trunk about twenty centimeters in diameter, and with all his might struck it with his fist.

What happened next probably scared him more than anyone else. The guy realized that the blow wouldn't be easy, but he wasn't prepared for the fact that his fist would knock a huge chunk of trunk out of the tree. Fortunately, he didn't break the trunk completely now, as had happened some time ago, and the tree was left standing on a small portion of the remaining trunk.

Quickly orienting himself, Alexander realized that if he didn't take decisive action, the tree would start falling right on the people. So, making a small jump on the spot, he pushed the trunk above the place where he had knocked out a piece of it, and thus made the tree fall in the given direction.