Hamlin continued to watch the miniature life forms swimming about. “I’m not sure. It’s very similar to the Phylum Mastigophora that you would find anywhere from a puddle to the middle of the ocean. But I think, maybe, this one is a little different. Yes, if I had to guess right at this moment, I would say we just found our first new species of protozoa. Here, have a look. Then I’ll photograph the little bugger and see what else is in this sample. I believe it’s the heavy tail that sets it apart. That is one unique flagella, no doubt about it.”
Konstantine took over the microscope eagerly. “So, is this the tiny dinosaur you had talked about?”
Hamlin laughed. “You remember that line, do you? I really need to come up with some new material. In a matter of speaking, yes. And who knows—perhaps millions of years ago a t-rex might have slurped up some of these while slaking his thirst. At any rate, we just took a giant stride toward a Nobel Prize, in my humble opinion. This is a moment likely to have profound long-term implications to the entire field of science. And this is just the beginning. How can we possibly imagine the changes that these miniature marvels will have on knowledge and subsequent technology? It’s like Neil Armstrong stepping on the surface of the moon. Now, if you’ll pardon me for a moment, I have to pee.”
Konstantine smiled at the sudden turn and contrast in the conversation. “Maybe I will assist you for the rest of the day, if you don’t mind. It makes me feels like I am part of this.”
“As long as you’re not referring to the peeing part,” Hamlin said over his shoulder. “You help me, then that way if I screw something up, I can blame you.”
“God bless America. I am learning so much from you.”
“Stick with me, kid. You’ll go places.”
“Not for the next four months,” Konstantine said with his own attempt at humor.
The kidding soon dissipated and the serious work resumed. Hamlin was starting to feel good about the decision to come here for the first time. These were extraordinary findings.
They all toasted the day’s success after supper, and Hamlin began to wonder what the effect of four months of excessive vodka consumption was going to have on his liver. He had discovered two other unknown species from the same sample. The potential importance left him almost breathless whenever he contemplated it. Sokolov joined them for the meal, offering no further explanation for his disappearance. What he did offer was lavish praise for the accomplishments they had made. He also announced that there was some ice cream available to add to the celebration. It was American, and unbeknownst to Francis, it had hitched a ride with him when he flew in, along with some other, as of yet, unrevealed treats. It was Chocolate-Chip Cookie Dough and was very well received. Burning off calories trying to keep warm gave people an appetite for sweets.
Hamlin marveled at the ecstatic expressions and audible moaning caused by the frozen indulgence.
“So tell me, Doctor,” Sokolov said, “why do you have such an interesting but cryptic expression on your face?”
“You don’t miss much,” he replied.
“My dear doctor, there isn’t all that much to miss. I’m afraid the only skill I can lay claim to is that I am conscious. Are you telling me that you weren’t thinking of anything special?”
“I was thinking that if I could have any one of these people in America for a week, they’d never want to return to Russia again. Just look at what that ice cream is doing to them.”
“Indeed. But it is not as if Russia has no appeal. The people are unique and interesting, the land is diverse and beautiful, and we make virtually everything that you do. And some of it is better. Don’t be too arrogant, Doctor Hamlin. We do very well on our own. Perhaps a better challenge would be for you to come to Russia for a week. Then you would be better suited to make a diagnosis about how desirable our country really is alongside yours or any other.”
Francis sensed that he had hit a nerve. “I’m sorry. Perhaps it is more this place than Russia that has put them in a frame of mind where they can be so easily and profoundly impressed by something as simple as ice cream.”
“I believe, as you Americans are prone to say, that you are onto something. Wait until you’ve been here two months. I daresay I could finagle you into running naked through the snow for a Big Mac meal and an evening of live streaming NFL football.”
“Hey, I’m there already.”
“Of course you are. And so, once again, I run headlong into your exuberant sense of humor. With regrets, I’m afraid I must return to my room. There are people in Moscow who are extremely interested in your progress and who I must keep appraised. You are all to be commended. Until tomorrow, then.” He made a partial bow and then walked out of the room.
Hamlin was surprised to find he couldn’t suppress a massive yawn. He pushed his chair back away from the table. It would be early to bed tonight. He was exhausted.
“Good night, boys and girls. See you all tomorrow.”
And with that, he shuffled off to his room.
He should have been asleep by now. But when his room door swung slowly open, he was wide-awake. Thinking about the discoveries he had made that day had so far kept him from being able to relax and disengage his mind. He was just at the point of being frustrated.
“Francis?” It was Lena’s husky voice. That was no surprise by this time. The surprise was that she wasn’t alone. A second, more robust figure was right behind her. He couldn’t see any great detail because of the low light.
Francis sat up, clutching his comforter. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t planning on entertaining any company.”
Lena moved into the room. “You don’t have to entertain us.” Her voice was dropping to a whisper. “We are here to entertain you.”
This was a little too much. Hamlin felt like he was on overload. “Look, it’s late. I need some sleep, and I don’t even know your friend. This is starting to feel weird. Very weird, actually.”
“Oh, you haven’t been introduced yet? This is Zoya Grekov.”
“How do you do,” she said formally, also whispering.
He had seen her around, but wasn’t sure what her specific job was. He thought she worked at one of the drilling outposts, but that was just a guess.
Hamlin wasn’t sure how to respond. “I’m fine, thank you. I’m just, um, feeling a little uncomfortable.”
He looked the other way and saw to his further discomfort that Lena was in the very final stages of undressing. She finished and unceremoniously climbed under the comforter.
“Are you crazy?”
She demurred with sleepy eyes and a soft voice. “I think not. But you can be the judge.”
He wasn’t sure what his options were in terms of opting out of what was already one of the weirdest nights of his life.
“At least I won’t be cold,” he conceded.
Lena kissed his ear. “No, you will not.”
Once again, breakfast seemed awesome to Francis. He must have been burning more calories than he realized, because he was absolutely starving. Everything smelled and tasted great. He sat beside Doctor Kuvayev and immediately started to dig in.
“Where’s Sokolov?” he asked with his mouth only partially empty.
Kuvayev was also busy with his fork. “He left early. I think he was going to the drilling site.”
“I see. Lots of excitement there, I suppose.”
“Too much, I think. The water apparently shot back through one of the boreholes and erupted like a geyser inside the shed. This was a surprise as it usually freezes quite quickly.”
“Did anyone get hurt?” Francis asked.
Kuvayev shook his head. He was the resident medical doctor, so he would know. “Just wet and cold. Everyone is fine. But now they have water frozen all over the drilling site, which somehow needs to be cleaned away. I think Sokolov is leading the charge to get the cleanup done. And then they have to figure out what went wrong so it won’t happen again.”