The Tiberian

“The Tiberian” — a science-fiction novel by Andrey Livadny, episode three. Main events take place in the year 3971, the cycle “The History of Universes.”

Gleb felt sick. Thoughts got tangled. He caught Nastya’s glance again, but saw only the deepest, repelling horror in it—she had seen how he used aspherian shunts.

Something in his soul broke. A dry, clear thought arrived: “There’s no going back for me now. Good deeds are never left unpunished.”

It became bitter. Very bitter, insulting, and lonely.

“See you…” he let her gaze go, slung the “ARG-8” behind his back, and without looking back he walked along the ancient Logrian road—past the torn bodies of ashangs, past a damaged bionic machine—toward loneliness, the unknown, fate…