“Minister! Sorry to bother you so late and at home.” The voice of the President was so agitated. The President rarely, if ever, called the Minister home. Whatever it was, could wait until morning. After all, what could be that important in science? The Minister of Science could not even get an appointment with the President on short notice. The Ministry was in the second or the third place to anything else, and he just was not that important in the larger scheme of things. He was needed there only when he was needed there. Mostly, he was left alone to take care of his underbudgeted problems in the utmost innovative way. But, then, no one really cared. Science in Mongolia usually had no place at the Government table. So, this was very unusual. Something must have happened, and he was summoned to take care of it.
“Yes, Mr. President. This is quite all right. What can I do for you?” The Ministers voice was shaking. It could be anything. What if it was the bad news?
“I’ve been reading this book, this document, you gave me. The Batu Khan diary. What do we know of Batu Khan and Subutai? I mean, what do we really know. Give me everything we know but in a condensed form. Do we know how they looked like? Members of their families? I want to see that. When can I see all that, Minister?”
“I can have almost everything ready for you by the day after tomorrow. We know many things and have some drawings and paintings of them and some of the families. They were not very good considering when it was done and by whom and the age, of course. Still, it gives us some idea. Again, not much but some. I would say we have a good idea of what they were and how they looked like. We even have some artifacts that belonged to them, maybe. Do you want to see the originals or some good reproductions? I have a perfect reproduction at the national museum. Would you like to come over and see them or you want the copies to be made and delivered to you? If you come over, we could show you more, much more. You see, everything you want to see is right there, on the walls and in the storages. Definitely, we could show you more. Well, whatever is better for you, we can do. When were you in the National Museum the last time?”
“Yes, I want you to make the copies of everything and deliver them to me. The sooner, the better. If I decide to come over and see more, I’ll let you know. I like the museum. I went there maybe a year ago, and it was outstanding. They do an excellent job over there. Good people. What about the skeletons in the grave? What did you find there? Clothes, weapons, artifacts… When can I see that? Did you find anything interesting there? Unusual… There could be a trove of treasure in there. Artifacts and as such. Did you find any other documents? Paper, parchment, whatever else they used back then. They used to write on silk as well. Is it correct? Did you find any silk?”
“We are cleaning everything we found up and preserving it now. We have found a few exciting things. I would suggest you wait for a few months until we finish and then, see it as it should be. Yes, it should not take more than maybe three months of very intense work. We have the resources in place. We have some money and several outstanding people. We even got one scientist from America, Chicago of all places. He accepted a small salary just to work on our findings. I could not offer him more, but he can write and publish some articles after we approve it. This is hard work, but so rewarding. No questions, we can do it, but it will take some time. Give us three-four months, and you’ll see it all. Can you believe it? We have found Batu Khan and Subutai.” The Minister of Science was very excited now. If the President was so interested in this discovery, the National Museum could get some extra funds. They needed it so badly. The Minister was in a good position now to present the question. The moment was right.
“Mr. President. For a while already, I wanted to ask you a fundamental question. We need another million dollars a year for the museum, and I cannot get it into the budget and especially now, with the money shortage. Could you help me, please? You can see what we are doing and how hard it is. I just need to buy some new equipment and hire a few more good people. Science is so important to all of us.” It was a very bold move on the part of the Minister, but he needed help. He did not go to the President. The President came to him. It may work after all. The President was a good man, and he understood.
“I’ll tell you this, Minister. You get me a good face reconstruction on Batu Khan and Subutai, and I’ll give you the money for a few of your most important pet projects. How about that? I want to see their faces. Can you do that? How long will it take? Do you have to go to America for that? Can your people do that? What do you need for that?” Questions were popping like the popcorn — loud and crispy. The President wanted to see how those people looked like, really looked like and that should be better than the old drawings by the questionable painters. Oh, that was huge. The Minister could not fail that one. That could be the pinnacle of his career. If he did it right, he could write his own ticket. Just do not rush, use the opportunity, and do it right. Right now, the President was on your side.
“Mr. President. Our people cannot do that, but we could go to China or Russia for that. Americans and the British can probably do a better job, but they cost more, and we cannot afford it. Unless you want to do it that way and would authorize the expense. Do you? I think we can get it done and for the right price. After we get it done, we can set up a new exhibition in our National Museum. That would be so huge. The whole world would love to see it. Also, we can lend the exhibition to some other museums around the world, and that would bring us more recognition and, therefore, money. It is done all the time, and with our discovery, everyone would want it in their country. That could be a gold mine that could pay for all expenses and then some. For many, this is just a dream, and we are holding it in our hands. Something like that would boost our tourism to the height we could never imagine. That would bring hard currency, investments, trade. It would help our country all around. We would be back on the map again. I am certain of that. This is such a rare opportunity. What luck. Give me six months or so, and we will have the reconstructed faces. I think China would do a good enough job for us and for less. Russia… I hate Russia, and I know, you do too. Even if they are less expensive, we will end up paying more. That’s the Russians for you. I think China is better no matter how we look at it. They are just better people for us. In the meantime, we can start to publicize it using whatever means we can master. I have the media and the computer people working on it already. They are putting a new website together as we speak. We should see it completed by the end of the week. I am going to invite the National Geographic magazine from America and the Discovery TV Channel. It should give us a good start. They do not charge anything and may even pay us something. Also, we will publish the articles in the scientific publications of the world. Are you concerned with anything else in my area, Sir? Any questions, comments?” The Minister of Science was all ears. He wanted to please the President so much utilizing the good opening he had already on the table. His Ministry could become very important and quite influential. This was a chance of a lifetime many never had. Yes, because of all this, they may get some extra money. No, they probably will. The President was hooked with the diary and who would not. That was the voice from the past, a very distant past.