“It is safe enough. Trust me. I don’t want to have anything to do with it. Ever again.”
“Then why bring it with you?” He wasn’t completely convinced she was telling the truth.
She sighed. “It is still there, in the lake. Somebody will drill down and get it again. Me bringing it here doesn’t change that fact in any way.”
“You still didn’t answer my question. Why would you bring it with you?”
“For leverage.”
“Oh? Leverage for what?”
“To negotiate.”
“I would feel better about this if I knew where the virus was. I have a great concern about the safety of this station.”
“Then negotiate and I will tell you.”
He sighed. “What do you want?”
“I want to live in America.”
He narrowed his eyes. “How much money?”
“I just want to live in America. No money.”
That surprised him. “What you’re asking for falls outside of my jurisdiction. I can’t guarantee anything even if I wanted to.”
“No, but you could call someone who can.”
“You’re playing a dangerous game. What if I make a call and get told that we won’t negotiate with you? Then we both have a huge problem because you’ve already told me that you brought the virus here.”
She smiled. “A dangerous game? Compared to what we just went through at Vostok, this is like playing Crazy Eights with pre-schoolers.”
On the inside, he was a very unhappy man. He liked control and order. This had the potential to be a time bomb.
“Go out into the hallway. Turn right and have a seat there. Don’t go anywhere else. Can I trust you to do that?”
“Yes.” The answer was straight and firm.
“All right. Go. Shut the door as you exit. Let me make some calls.”
She nodded. “Thank you.”
For the second time, a soft knock came at the door. Hamlin had fallen asleep on the couch. He looked at the clock through blurry eyes. It was late.
It opened slowly. “Francis? Are you there?”
He pulled himself into a partial upright position. “Yeah. I’m here.”
Lena walked in. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think I would be so long.”
He waved her over. “Looks like grocery shopping didn’t go very well.”
She walked over and sat on the floor in front of him, her face now at his level as he lay there. “Never mind the shopping. I had another quest. And things went very well indeed.”
He grunted as he adjusted his position slightly. “I must be tired. I have no idea what you’re trying to say just now.”
She leaned in and kissed his forehead. Then she kissed the uninjured side of his face. Then she moved in and took possession of his lips. Gently, but firmly, she imposed her will. A full minute went by before they disengaged. His motor was definitely running by then.
“Francis, I love you. I want to come to America and live with you. Okay?”
His smile was a little lopsided as he favored the good side of his face. “Lena, it’s more than okay. I would love that more than anything. I wish we could find a way to overcome your issues.”
She was very close. Her lips sought and found his ear and pressed softly and sensuously against it. “I already have,” she said in the deep voice that drove Hamlin crazy.
“What? What do you mean?”
“I made a deal. With your government.”
He was absolutely baffled by what she was saying. “My government? How is that possible? You mean just now, in the last few hours?”
She went for his throat, her teeth and tongue alternating in an unusual partnership. He offered no resistance.
“I talked to the base commander. He made a call. A deal was made. I am going to go home with you, if you truly want me to.” She immediately resumed her assault on his exposed neck.
A shiver went up his spine. Her efforts were having good results. “How is that possible?”
“Negotiating. It works well if you do it right.”
His mind was starting to blur away from the conversation and more into what she was doing. “And you do it right.”
“Hmm. I try.”
“Yes,” he said, “you do.”
She wasn’t quite ready to let him lapse into a sex induced coma just yet. “Francis, I am serious. I can come. If you want me to. I will miss the Moscow flight and leave with you when you go. Is that what you want?”
His eyes softened. “Yes. Oh, God yes. Please come with me. At this point it would be a dream come true. I have so much to show you. You’ll love my country.”
That was, of course, the right answer.
“For that, Professor Hamlin, I think you deserve a reward. A little prevue of what awaits you when you get healed up back in America.”
Francis decided he was willing to risk a little facial pain. That kind of can-do attitude would make the remaining days in Antarctica go by in a much nicer fashion.
The house was perfectly silent. Sunlight fell in through the south facing windows and the warmth generated was readily noticeable. Earlier that day, the cleaning lady had been in. Everything was spotless, shiny, and straightened up. No plants had survived the hiatus, but that could be easily remedied. The sound of a key being inserted into the front door lock broke the silence of the past three months. Life was about to return to the spacious brick home.
A soft clicking sound announced the bolt retracting from the frame. The door swung open with a barely perceptible squeak.
“Oh my God!” Lena put a hand on each side of her face as if it was about to explode. “Francis, is this really your house? It’s gorgeous!”
He was power grinning, facial injury notwithstanding. “It’s your home now. You better take the tour and start getting accustomed to it.”
The wooden floors shone from the polishing done earlier. “Oh, so beautiful. How can you afford a castle? Do they pay you a million dollars at your job?”
“No, but I bet if I let you talk to the chancellor, he might consider it.”
She walked in, noting first the dining room on the left, then straight ahead to the kitchen.
“It’s like a palace. I can’t believe I get to cook in here.”
“Why, yes. I’m going to be benevolent and let you cook for me. In here. Just to show what an outstanding kind of guy I am.”
She walked into the den, noticing the patio doors and the deck beyond. “Oh! Is that a spa?”
“That is one fine, American-made hot tub. It has enough jets to place you temporarily at the gates of heaven itself. And check out that barbecue! Huh? Looks good, right?”
She nodded. “So it is true about American men and outdoor cooking.”
“Yeah, baby. You know it. So, what’s next? Basement or upstairs?”
“Francis, your house is as big as the barracks at Vostok. And we had fourteen people living there.”
“Don’t get any ideas.”
She giggled. “Okay, basement next.”
It impressed her as much as the main floor. It was half finished, with carpeting, sectional couch, and a big screen television on the good side. A small bar and a pool table finished it off. It was just as well that they saved the upstairs for last.
She ooed and awed her way through the four bedrooms. She walked through the master into the en-suite and her jaw dropped.
“Oh.” Her voice dropped to a reverent level. She walked in slowly, reaching out to softly touch various surfaces as she went. Finally she stopped, staring at the walk in shower.
“Oh, Francis. Look at this thing. It is amazing.”
“It has a steam feature. And I think it will almost accommodate the entire Dallas Cowboy’s cheerleading squad. How’s that for good clean fun?”
She gave him a look. “I think it will be you and I having fun in there.”