“Well, that’s just fine from my point of view. I can get caught up on the samples I already have waiting for me.” He resumed eating and contemplated the activities from the previous night. If Antarctica had any laws governing decency, he was confident that he had broken most of them. Now he had both excessive drinking and lewd and lascivious behavior on the list of bad habits he was picking up. What would Deborah think? His initial reluctance had been banished by gentle encouragement. He had accepted the invitation to participate in several acts that had never been on his agenda before. But they seemed like a good idea at the time. A very good idea, to be precise.
How had his standards been corrupted so quickly and easily? He needed a good rationalization, and quick. He settled upon categorizing the bad habits as coping methods for adjusting to the psychological and physical demands of being here. That seemed plausible enough. At this rate, he figured that he might as well take up smoking. Was it possible that any of these Russians had smuggled some pot in with them?
Konstantine strode over. “No Cat ride this morning, Doctor. Would you care to walk over to the lab with me instead?”
“Oh, yes. Of course. Just a moment.” He threw the last few forkfuls in his mouth, then stood and carried his plates to the sink. “Right. Let’s suit up. Discovery awaits.”
Putting on outside clothes in Antarctica was more of a process and took more time than in other less frigid climates. When they stepped outside, Hamlin was pleased to note there was virtually no wind. Their feet crunched loudly in the snow as they walked along. He looked up and saw a perfectly clear sky. There were so many layers of stars visible; it was as if there was no darkness in the sky whatsoever.
“Beautiful morning, is it not?” Konstantine observed, despite the fact that they were in absolute darkness.
“Wow. Indeed it is. Almost makes you wonder why nobody has put an observatory down here.”
“There is an excellent facility in Mauna Kea. Would you rather be in Hawaii or here?”
Francis laughed. He managed not to choke on the cold air and silently congratulated himself. “I guess that answers the question. Well put.”
They trudged along noisily.
“You know,” Konstantine said, “this is really the only place where we can talk openly.”
Hamlin raised an eyebrow. Where was he going with this?
“I’m not going to talk about last night, if that’s what you are interested in,” Hamlin said preemptively.
It was Konstantine’s turn to laugh. “I saw Lena and her friend go into your room. I have a good idea of what happened already.”
“I see. Apparently discretion is an unknown commodity down here. Then I’m afraid I’m fresh out of secrets or controversial information. Sorry.”
They both continued walking.
“Of course, you are right. We should continue to concentrate on our work.”
More crunching.
“There isn’t much point in being coy, Konstantine. If there’s something on your mind, spill it. Or is it that you’re not yet sure if you can trust me either?”
Again, only the sound of walking.
“No, no. I trust you. You were right. I...just, ah, want to hear about last night.”
“Envelope please. Ladies and gentlemen, the award for worst liar ever goes to…”
“What?” His confusion was genuine enough.
“Look,” Francis replied, “you’ve got nothing to worry about with me. This was a last second decision and I didn’t have any contacts with anybody here prior to stepping off the plane. I’m not part of any hidden agenda. If you want to get something off your chest, fine. If not, let’s enjoy the walk. Paranoid delusions aren’t really my cup of tea. And speaking of that, how about you make me one of those when we get to the lab?”
“Are you married?”
It was a sudden and unusual turn to the conversation.
“No.”
“Do you have a girlfriend?”
That one stung a little bit. “I used to.”
“Any children?”
“Again, no.”
“Are your parents alive?”
“They both passed away,” Hamlin said. “This is an uplifting line of conversation.”
“I could have correctly guessed the answers before posing the questions. You are like the rest of us, then. No close family members at home. Only Kuvayev, the medical doctor has children and a spouse.”
Francis thought he was starting to see the point of this. “Ah, conspiracy theorist, eh? Look, they probably like unattached people because we’re not pining for our loved ones back home. This is like spending a stint on the space station. If you’re not able to let go of your previous life while you’re here, you’ll be curled up in a corner drooling before this is all over. It makes perfect sense.”
“It makes it easier if we somehow don’t come back. Fewer people to ask questions.”
This was the first time anybody had been so morose about being here. Either Konstantine was losing his grip, or a subtle undercurrent of mistrust was showing itself for the first time.
“I see. So have you evidence of people disappearing down here, never to be seen again?” The question was asked mostly in jest.
“Yes.”
That was disconcerting. Hamlin could see the lab approaching in the distance. “Look, it’s too cold to finish this conversation before we get inside. This is all very interesting, yet terrifying. Perhaps we should plan to resume this dialogue during our next walk.”
Konstantine was silent in response. Hamlin couldn’t see his facial expression because of the huge hood that covered his head.
“And don’t forget that tea, right?” Francis added. He was relieved when Konstantine answered in his usual tone of voice.
“I could make you iced tea. We have lots of that.”
“No thank you,” Hamlin said. “Something hot would be more appropriate right now.” It would be a relief to get back inside. He needed shelter from the cold and the sinister insinuations. The research gave him enough to think about. He was glad to refocus.
CHAPTER FIVE
Sokolov didn’t appear until late afternoon. Francis had actually been thinking about packing it in for the day and facing the cold walk back. At least now there was a chance that they could hitch a ride.
“You look like you’ve had a long day,” Hamlin noted. It was the first time he had seen Sokolov look at all disheveled.
He simply nodded in agreement. “Yes, Doctor. It has indeed been a long day. But at the end of it all, we accomplished a great deal. We should be back to taking samples sometime tomorrow. And that, given the condition of the site just several hours ago, is quite an achievement. May I inquire as to whether or not you two are ready for a ride back to our quarters? I fear I am ready to bring the working portion of this day to an end.”
Hamlin gestured him over. “Before we go, let me show you something that might make you feel better.”
Sokolov was immediately interested. “Another discovery, Dr. Hamlin? Something exciting, perhaps?”
Francis smiled and waved Sokolov toward the microscope.
“Perhaps. Have a look and judge for yourself.”
Sokolov worked the focusing knob. It didn’t take long. “Oh my. Look at that robust little beast. He’s still rather frisky, I would say. Have you identified it yet?”
“Not certain, but I’d say crustacean and I’d also say new species.”
Sokolov pulled away. Hamlin was beaming.
“Excellent, Doctor. This is extraordinary. To think that there are some who speculate that this water has been isolated for over thirty million years. It makes you wonder about this little fellow and his family history. It is astonishing to contemplate the possibilities. Have you catalogued it yet?”