Christine was starting to feel his weight. The cryostasis probably hadn't worn off completely and her muscles made her regret the considerable exertion it meant to support somebody who had trouble walking on his own. There was an itch in her throat and her stomach contracted, reminding her that she hadn't had any food or water since before she was put in the freezer.
A quarter mile wasn't much, at least it shouldn't be to her, but she was slowly getting aware of the fact that they really were out in the middle of nowhere and her equipment was considerably worse than the last time she'd been out here, especially considering she had no idea where she was or where she was headed. At least I'm not alone this time.
"Might I have the name of my saviour?"
The raspy voice and thick accent distracted her from her not-so-fond memories and she turned her face to see the man she was carrying smiling at her, a charm about him as if he wasn't injured or weak. She met his eyes - her own not glittering as pure gold, as he had hoped, but flecked with emerald - and there was a strength in them that was mesmerizing: The will of a man who had ruled a country and cheated death. It was blemished by his agony but she had watched people fall to pieces even at the mere prospect of physical injury and torture and while she hadn't experienced exactly what he was going through, seeing the bloody gauze at his cheek made her scars itch and she remembered all too well that her own pain, confusion and isolation had brought her within an inch of breaking.
"Christine", she said softly, giving him a weak, encouraging smile. "I've been called other things, flattering and not, but my name is Christine. I'm not the one who saved you from the wreck, though."
That was when one of the newer arrivals, an attractive man who looked like he was about her age, came within talking distance and engaged Makarid in a conversation. Christine noticed that he was careful not to come too close, well aware of the gun in her hand. In truth, she wasn't sure if she could have reacted quickly enough if one of the people around her decided to attack her now but she hoped that she had made enough of an impression on them that nobody would try. That, and she was assuming that the other blonde - her name was Laura, right? - was watching her back and looking out for the old man with the medicine.
"I had a government job..."
She listened to the exchange and, when it was over, chuckled to herself.
"'Government job', was it?", she whispered to the man at her shoulder. "You're selling yourself short, President Ristachev."
As she did, the cryochamber - what was left of it anyway - came into view. It had taken longer than it should have, 10, 15 minutes for what should be a five minute walk. Hopefully, Elmina found what she needed and could take care of the last wounds. If they moved this slowly, even a walk of 20 miles could take two days or more.