Escaping Chernobyl
A few friends journeying throughout Europe in the spring of 1986 (April 25th to be precise) stop for what they think will be, a short lunch and a leg stretch, in the industrial town of Chernobyl. The locals seem lovely and accommodating, asking the troupe where they've been, and where they intend to head next. All in all, its a rather standard day for those that have travelled in this fashion. The group decide that, after much persuasion by Olvar a local tavern owner, they should stay the night and drink heavily into the night with Olvar.
Yet what these young travellers don't realise, and what will definitely put a dampener on their day, is that on this rainy spring night, as their eye-lids are heavy, and their heads are light with sweet touch of alcohol, at around 1:30am a siren begins to sound. An announcement blares over a loud speaker, first Russian, then vulgar english "ALERT ALERT! A MELTDOWN, RUN RUN RUN". Olvar, realising the danger pulls the young troupe to the basement, throwing the blast-doors shut. "An old keep safe from the War, plus this is the USSR -Everyone hates us, ha ha ha ha". A banging commences, the sirens get louder "let us in, let us in" - "go away you damn fools, we're full here, find your own damn shelter" - there is still noticeable space. The banging gets louder and louder, and then, an explosion and a noise which can only be described in colours: First white, then grey, then Black followed by a rushing of wind and kaleidoscopic effects, and then silence.... A silence that seems to last a thousand years, but in reality, only a few minutes. It is a beautiful silence in many ways, as if peace were at last upon you, the soft ringing in your ears is the only other sound. BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG - no voice issuing this time - rips through your head, the doors are pulled at, opening just enough to see a dark figure, black and burnt, behind them.
