The Face of the Shadow

By Alexander Dobronravov

Returning to the base of archeological expedition, Paul met two men that ran away from the prison camp. They held him under the gun and once confessed to raping and killing a beautiful teenage girl. Later, Gene, Paul, and Lisa were searching traces of the ancient civilization along the shores of southern seas. A group of enemy criminals from the past was following them, ready to intercept the find.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jul 11, 2022
• ISBN: 9781662449505

Book preview

Flight

It was early night, and Paul turned the car off the central street to the local and dropped the speed. The doors of the small café on the right side opened wide, and a happy crowd walked out and flooded the street. The people smiled and laughed to the late jokes, and some went across the street to the taxi cabs that were parked in a small street extension on the opposite side. The young lady raised her hand and stepped off the pavement to attract Paul’s attention. Paul stopped the car, and she opened the car’s door and jumped in.

It’s not far. She looked back at the crowd.

Okay. Paul smiled.

Paul took a cigarette and held the pack, and she took a cigarette, too, and he pressed the car’s lighter.

What kind of celebration was it?

Wedding…what do you think it was?

People find reason to celebrate anything…start of spring, end of spring.

What do you celebrate?

Whatever comes up first…and the apple’s day. Paul chuckled.

What’s apple day?

When the apple trees start to blossom. I like apples. He smiled.

You’ve simple taste.

I’m a simple man.

It’s nice. I like peaches. She smiled. And coffee.

You’re a complex and sophisticated girl.

I know.

And I cook the best coffee you’d ever drink.

Cook? She smiled.

You won’t even believe. He chuckled lightly.

The lady was young, very attractive and slightly drunk, and she said that she did not like the wedding. She said that she was not going to rush herself into marriage and that she wanted to understand life first. She lived not far from his place, and he invited her for a cup of coffee, and she said that she felt secure with him because they lived close to each other.

She was elegant and tight and demanding, and she wanted to do it fast—she held his shoulders and flipped her legs around him, and he held her small buttocks, pumping her body fast. She was breathing slowly and kept her breath, and she was moaning softly.

The phone was ringing, and Paul did not want to wake up, and he lifted the tube and laid it back. She woke up and looked at him smiling, and then she stretched herself tightly.

You aren’t married, are you? She pulled aside the blanket and set on the bed.

Nope… I’m on rebound after divorce.

What did she miss?

She said she stopped growing with me…and that I was too contained and shy.

You weren’t that shy fucking me this night. She leaned over and pressed the lips to his cheek.

I know. There’s something very special about you.

Ha…are you sure that she stopped growing with you? She looked at him and chuckled lightly.

She put on his blue shirt, rolled the sleeves up, and went to the bathroom.

The phone started ringing again, and Paul picked up the tube and held for some time.

You didn’t pick it up intentionally, did you? the tube protested.

Who are you?

Oh, shut up, Bald One swore in the tube.

She came back, took a cigarette from a pack on the table, and lit it up. She held the cigarette and turned to see him, and he nodded, and she gave him the cigarette and took another one.

I thought we decided everything. What do you want now?

We still have time. The expedition will continue.

I don’t care. I have different plans already.

Cancel your plans.

I’m not going to cancel anything.

She turned and looked at Paul, and he mimicked and moved his face aside to show that it was nothing.

Gene met his war buddy, a major of the local airbase, the phone tube continued. The man promised to get us a ’copter.

How?

They’re supposed to do some military exercises soon, and Major said he could squeeze us in the military schedule and drop in the field.

In the mountains?

Yes.

So?

You have two days to get up here.

Two days? Paul looked at the young lady, and she smiled and moved her head from side to side.

Two days is very short notice, Paul objected. I need at least a week. I’m inside a very exciting project.

She smiled again, picked up the bottle and poured wine in the glass and sipped the wine.

I know all your exciting projects. You have four days to come up here, and this is final.

Why do you need me, anyway? You could finish it by yourself.

We worked together—we’ll finish it together. Besides, if something happens to the electronic equipment, I don’t even know where to start.

As simple as that?

I like you too. The voice smiled. Bye.

Paul laid the tube back and looked at the young lady for some time. She stepped closer and gave him the wine. Paul drank half of the glass and put it on the floor.

By the way…what’s your name? He wrapped his hand around her waist.

"What name do you like the most?

I’ll call you Celeste.

Does it mean something?

A girl from a star.

It’s nice. She sat on his knees and wrapped the hands around his neck. Are you sure you’re inside?

*****

The plane gathered speed on the tarmac and went up in the skies smoothly. The big city spread wide below, and the thin strip of river was crossing the city by the meandering loops. The sun was still low, and the buildings of different colors dropped long shades behind, and they all went in one direction and the streets and tramways and cars below looked like small toys.

The plane flew out of the city limits, and now it was the countryside; and there was another river, and this time it was thin and ran straight through woods, and there was small village and a local town. The toy train was moving along the narrow tracks, and the clouds of smoke were puffing up in the air, and they looked dirty and were dissipating fast.

The plane went up into the nice skies and changed course, heading to the east, and the night started coming up to the plane faster. And that was nice too—you slept the night, and the plane would bring you to another nice place, and there would be another nice morning.

The morning was dark, and heavy clouds were rolling around the plane, and they were bumping into each other, and the plane was plunging in the cloud ahead and shaking violently, and the heavy rain was pounding the plane. The lightnings were striking in all directions, and some were shooting very close, and then the sound was like a thunder, and it looked like that was why they called it the thunderstorm.

The stewardess walked along the isle and said that nobody should worry about the lightnings because the plane had special protection against them and that the captain decided to put the plane down in the intermediate airport and wait for the thunderstorms to go. She smiled and said that it was better to be safe than sorry.

The intermediate airport building was tall and empty and had a tall glass wall in front, and the people scattered over the lobby and slept on the benches and near walls on the floor. The rain outside the building was pouring down without interruption, and the square in front was covered by water, and there were standing pools and small rivers of water were running in all directions.

The intermediate thunderstorms lasted for two days and two nights, and people stayed in the intermediate lobby and slept on the benches, and the most impatient moved to the train station because the trains did not care about the heavy clouds and thunderstorms, and no train was coming in Paul’s direction.

It was some of the next afternoon, and Paul found a shower in the maintenance quarters and stood under the hot water, falling asleep slowly. The loudspeakers found the voice and announced the clear skies and that there was a plane to pick up people stranded from the previous flights, and Paul ran in a hurry so as not to miss the plane and still held a towel, drying his wet hair.

The plane was nice and quiet, and the stewardess walked along the aisle and said that late lunch would be soon. Then she took Paul’s wet towel and gave him the dry one.

It was late evening when the plane took the ground. The sun just went down, and the feel and residue of the day light was still hanging in the air. The airport building was old, and the city was old, too, and some time ago, it was the capital city of the whole region up to the Arctic Circle. Paul walked outside and looked around for a taxi cab. He took a cigarette from the pack and struck the lighter. Two men walked outside and stopped not far to get a smoke.

Basil borrowed a car and we go for fishing tomorrow, one man said. Will you come?

Where do you go?

In the mountains. The ice on the river stayed very long this year, and the fish still goes up for spawning.

Sounds good.

How’s Stella?

She’s incredible.

I don’t understand why your mother doesn’t like her.

Beats me. You won’t believe what my mother did a couple of days ago.

What?

She went on vacation and then came back a couple of days later and caught me in bed with Stella. She became furious and called the police. I’ve heard all by the intercom.

Officer, my mother said, my son brought some woman in my apartment, and now they are in bed.

How old is your son? the officer asked.

Forty years old.

Congratulations to you and to your son, ma’am.

The men chuckled and went across the square. The taxi cabs were leaving the airport square one after another, and there were two taxi cabs left. The driver of the cab was collecting passengers to fill up the space inside; two were already in the car, and Paul was the last one. The road ahead was long and narrow, and it connected the world with another small nowhere.

Paul leaned to the side window and watched the shades of the night sliding along the road. The cab passed the old cement plant on the left side, and there was an open field on the right side, and behind the field was the river. The river was fast and shallow, and it was running down to the Arctic Ocean but that was very far and behind the close imagination.

The driver stopped the cab near the bazaar of the old part of the town and joined the group of the taxi drivers, and Paul went across the night. The local middle school was at the limits of the town, and it was empty for the summer time and the geological expedition stayed there for a while.

The school had a yard, and it was surrounded by the small concrete wall, and the tables and teaching equipment were piled up at a side of the yard. There was light in the window at the right corner of the building, and it was opened, and the guitar played a nice melody, and a man’s voice sang the prison lyrics. The singing stopped, and the people inside started talking, and there were sounds of the glasses clicking each other.

The floor of the lobby was covered by the dust and cement powder, and the traces of footprints showed the way to go. A man and a woman stood in the dark corner of the lobby, hugging and kissing. The man turned and asked for a cigarette, and Paul gave him a cigarette and held the light.

The passageway was coming from one side of the building to the opposite one, and the classrooms were set one after another along. The singing room was on the right side, and Paul turned and walked to the left. There was light coming under the door of the last room on the left, and Paul opened it. A man stood in the middle of the room and held two bottles of vodka in one hand. The man’s nickname was Student, and Student turned and looked at Paul blankly.

Hi, Student. Paul walked in the room and dropped the backpack on the floor.

Hi. Student looked at Paul, thinking. Is Boss here too?

No…why? Paul smiled.

Good. Student sighed with relief. Did you bring a chopper?

Not yet.

Then why did you come?

Isn’t it nice? Paul smiled. I like you too, Student.

Sorry, I didn’t mean that.

Bald One called. Man asked to check electronics after transportation.

Bald One didn’t say anything to me.

He doesn’t want to bother you.

Yeah, right. Student chuckled skeptically.

Paul sat on the chair at the table and stretched himself.

What’s that celebration on the other side? Paul pulled his shoulders back.

This and that. Student smiled. Local beauties greet heroes of the famous expedition…local students.

What are you waiting for? Just go.

Why won’t you come with me? You won’t regret.

Thanks but no. I’m tired and want to sleep. Could you get me some bread or something?

Of course, of course. Why won’t we celebrate the occasion here?

What occasion?

Any occasion. Coming of Jesus Christ to the local people.

I don’t drink, Paul protested politely.

I don’t have enough vodka to call it a drink. Student chuckled.

Student opened a small stand near the bed and unloaded the bread, tomatoes, cucumbers, can of sardines in vegetable oil, and more cans in tomato juice. Student made the table and laid the snacks on the plates and held the bottle of vodka to the light and moved the face aside; the bluish shade inside the bottle was moving slowly.

The man held the bottle in one hand and hit it under the bottom by the palm of the other hand. The cork popped out of the bottle and flew away. Student filled the glasses to the half and waited for Paul to pick it up.

Don’t smell it. Student advanced Paul’s question. It’s from local distillation.

The man looked at the glass of vodka, breathing in and out fast, and the shade of struggle appeared in the Student’s face. Student gathered his lips together and drank the vodka slowly as if chewing it, closed his eyes, and waited for some time. Then Student opened the eyes and smiled; the man’s eyes were filled with the tears.

The first one passed well. Student brushed the tears away.

Call of the land. Paul smiled. What was that suffering about?

Get overboard last time.

Paul pushed the air out of the lungs, jammed the muscles that controlled the swallowing motion and poured the liquor in his throat, and it went down without a single splash. Once upon a time, a good geology man taught him how to do that. Their lives intersected inside of the river ship that was heading to the Arctic Ocean, and they traveled together for two days and two nights and played chess and drank vodka. Paul said that he did not like that local vodka and the geology man taught him how to like all vodkas equally. They never met since then, but the humanitarian and intellectual values they shared with each other made them friends forever.

So… Student pressed a piece of the rye bread to his nostrils, breathing through to suppress the smell. That equipment…could it be something serious?

I don’t think so. Sometimes they drop it and break something.

Could you fix it here?

Sure.

Why does Bald One care about it so much?

This expedition’s a goal of his life.

What about you?

He thinks that this is my goal too. Paul smiled.

Is it?

Nah… I don’t really care.

They ate more snacks and tomatoes and cucumbers and rye bread and were picking sardines from the flat cans. They finished one bottle, and the place became more friendly, and Student opened another bottle and poured vodka in the glasses.

The boss is your best friend. Student looked at Paul, waiting.

So?

It’s difficult to read the man. Does he like how I manage expedition?

Who cares, man? Bald One should be grateful to have you as the manager.

Thanks. Student smiled. You may tell him that.

I already did.

I like you, man. Student smiled more.

I like you too, Student.

And they did another round for liking each other. The tomatoes were still ripe, and cucumbers were still crushing on the teeth with the crisp sound, and the bread still smelled sweet.

Are you sure they’d get a chopper?

Pretty much. Otherwise, Bald One wouldn’t drag me down here.

How?

Gene met some major of the local military base. The war buddy… They’re supposed to have some military exercises soon, and they plan to squeeze our expedition in their military schedule.

The choppers must be big.

Yeah…a lot of vodka to run it.

Student talked more, and Paul got to know that the men of expedition became tired of waiting and that they could miss the field season and that the local town became not supportive and stopped selling vodka in credit.

The door scrapped and opened slightly, and the dog moved the muzzle in the opening and looked inside. The dog was gray and had smart eyes and loose manners. The dog looked at them for some time and then pulled the head back, and the door closed by itself.

That smart bitch. Student smiled. She always gets what she wants. She just came here and stayed.

The husky?

Yep. Why won’t you take care of her?

Why?

The men are busy, and the dog’s nice…and you’ve a shotgun. Student smiled.

So?

Why do you need the shotgun if not to hunt?

As a club for protection?

You’re very smart. I always knew that.

Some time ago, Michael was a promising university student, and in the scientific circles, people talked about the man’s big future. For the graduation, Michael programmed the simulation model of the future society and the program predicted something unpredictable. Michael did not like the results but the scientific community did not like them even more, and they kicked out Michael and his social model of the future for good. Since then, the man had been working in the field with the geo-type expeditions and got himself the nickname Student. In the field, Michael became well-recognized as the excellent manager, and that made him reasonable money to survive in the winter time.

Why did they fire you from the science, Michael?

You remember what time it was? Michael smiled. Feel of freedom…new ideas…new vision… Everything was allowed to everybody.

And it wasn’t?

And it was not. They said I was undermining moral fabric of our society. Student chuckled.

Were you?

I used same statistical analysis that everybody did.

Yeah. Paul poured more vodka in their glasses. But girls picked up new ideas fast. In all times and revolutions, the new vision was always about sex first.

I’m old fashioned. Student held the glass. I’m not a playboy.

I know what you mean. I’m not a playboy too.

They became drunk and sentimental, and they devoted the next round to the first loves.

My first love screwed me. Student chuckled.

It happens. Young ladies are very impatient to experience everything and fast. Paul chuckled too.

Once it was late night, we were in the park, and I decided to fuck her. Michael smiled reminiscently. I took off her panties and she said, ‘Don’t do it.’

As I said before. Paul tried to remember what he said before. Then what?

Someone else did that.

This is security of life, Paul said melancholically. There’s always somebody waiting to fuck up your new ideas.

We met later. She was pregnant and said that she’d hate me forever.

Everyone has bad memories, man. When my bad memories come, I just push them away.

And they never come back?

They still come…and I continue pushing them.

There was a knock in the door, and the young lady walked in. She looked upset, and Michael stood up to meet her.

I think I’d better go. The young lady made a small ultimatum and turned to the door.

I’m sorry, Gail. Michael held her hand. We were discussing a very important expedition project.

Drinking vodka? She chuckled.

You know how it goes. I’d like you to meet my good friend, Paul. His chief engineer of our expedition and just flew in from the capital city.

Isn’t that so? She paused and turned to Paul.

Yep. Michael smiled.

Nice to meet you. The young lady warmed up and smiled to Paul.

The pleasure is mine. Paul stood up to take her hand.

The girl was shapely and good looking, and Paul tried not to wobble.

And talking about pleasure, Student interfered, she’s my pleasure all.

Michael wrapped the hand around the girl’s waist and pulled her closer.

Michael, Gail giggled.

Why won’t you stay with us? Michael suggested.

I can’t leave Sasha alone there.

Then invite her too. Michael nodded.

Here? The young lady looked at Paul studying, and Paul smiled back nicely. Sure, why not?

She walked away, and Michael came back to the table and took the bottle. Paul moved his glass aside.

What? Michael did not understand.

Why did you invite the other girl?

Small local service for the high-ranking officers of expedition.

You could’ve warned me at least.

Trust me, you won’t regret it. The girl’s just a dream.

And I’m tired and drunk.

They got used to drunks. Besides, nobody expects you to beat the sex record.

What was that blubber about your first love?

That was my sensitive side. Michael smiled. Girls love stories about first loves.

The ladies came and organized new table and added soft wine and fruits and juices. The new young lady was very attractive. She had elegant neck and shoulders, small breasts, the slim waist of a girl, and the hips of a young woman.

They drank wine, and Michael sobered up and became smart and witty. Paul was drunk and tried to stay afloat and smiled to the jokes he understood. His smile was slightly late and a lot slow. Michael was telling anecdotes one after another, and girls remembered their anecdotes too and they all laughed and joked. The girls remembered something and turned to each other and talked, and Michael turned and looked at Paul and moved the eyebrows, inviting him to sober up.

The young lady by his side was very attractive, and Paul tried to establish emotional attachment to her beauty. To her beautiful thin face, to her elegant shoulders, to her small and tight breasts, and he imagined how it would feel to kiss her soft lips and hold her beautiful ass in his hands. The hot rush came over his body, and his face became covered by the perspiration. Paul took a handkerchief and brushed his face and forehead.

Are you okay? Sasha turned to Paul.

I’m fine. He smiled.

You look distant. What were you thinking about?

You’ll be surprised. Paul smiled.

Surprise me.

About you.

About me what?

You don’t have to be so specific, Michael interrupted Paul and raised his eyebrows. How are boys up there? Michael turned to Gail.

Very nice…and very gentlemen.

The guitarist is very good. Sasha smiled to Paul.

The guitarists are always good. Paul made his first participation.

Isn’t that so?

Yep. They go the easy way.

Were you the guitarist too? Sasha prodded Paul.

A little bit. What do they sing?

Prison lyrics…old romances… Some of them are very nice and touch your soul. Gail nodded.

I love the song about the lost town of childhood, ‘Somewhere is a town, quiet as dream.’ Sasha sang the melody of a song. A young man wants to buy a ticket to the lost childhood.

The song’s nice. Paul smiled.

Do you know it?

Sure…it’s a prison version of the original song.

What’s the original song? Michael supported the conversation and smiled to Paul.

In the original song, girl runs away and young man waits for her to come back.

It’s very nice too. Sasha smiled.

Sure.

Did she come back? Gail chuckled lightly.

Girls never come back. Paul shrugged. I couldn’t understand why he wanted her back?

Why not? She might come back. Sasha disagreed.

Michael and Gail smiled at each other, listening to the cultural disagreement.

Yeah. Gail smiled more. What would you do if she’d come back to you?

What was she doing after she ran away?

Does it matter?

At least for me… I wouldn’t take her back. Paul refused.

You’re very cruel. She wouldn’t come back to you, Sasha accused Paul.

I hope she wouldn’t. Paul smiled and called for support. Gail?

Come on, Sash. Give him a break. I’m sure he’s not that cruel when he’s sober.

He’s not, Michael supported Paul.

I’m not, Paul supported himself.

Would you take her back if sober? Gail smiled.

Nah… I’d run away myself.

They laughed and talked about song and drank more wine, and Paul still held his glass sipping wine out of it.

I’m sure you can play that song better. Sasha did not forgive Paul’s cruelty.

Not now. Right now, I can play only a drum. Paul smiled and held the smile from spreading.

Okay, play it like a drum.

There’s no guitar anyway.

Here it is…somebody left it. Michael came to the closet in the wall and brought back the guitar. There are six strings only.

Paganini could play even on one string left. Sasha smiled.

Why people always remind about Paganini?

He was genius.

And I’m not.

Difficult to argue. Sasha smiled to Paul nicely.

Michael turned to Gail, and Gail ducked her neck and smiled back.

Paul tuned the guitar and tried to play the best classical music he knew. It was nice Italian improvisation, and he kept the pace for some time, and then his fingers failed, and he stopped playing.

It wasn’t that bad, Sasha encouraged Paul. And much better than a drum.

Thanks.

Paul played melody of the old romance The Small Gate, and they made a small chorus. The ladies were choosing romances they liked, and Paul did the accompaniments and he sobered up more. Some time later, Michael and Gail walked away and left Sasha and Paul alone.

They did not talk and smiled to each other occasionally. She cleaned up the table, collected plates, and dropped them in the washing bowl. Paul was sitting behind the table and held a burning cigarette.

Are you okay? She came back from the kitchenette corner.

I’m good. Paul pressed the cigarette to the trash plate.

You’re very good with the guitar.

Thanks.

Did it help you to go the easy way? She smiled.

You tell me. He smiled at her.

She stepped closer, and he wrapped the hand around her waist. She pressed to his side and stroked his hair.

You’re drunk nicely.

How nicely?

Funny and good-natured.

It’s wine…wine makes me funny.

And vodka?

Vodka makes me horny.

Isn’t that so? She smiled.

Yep…and then it makes me drunk.

What are you now?

Pretty much drunk.

He moved the hand and brushed her back, and she waited. He pulled her closer, and she sat on his knees and pressed the face to his face.

You don’t smell like three days and two flights. She smiled. You smell fresh.

I never smell…and I took a nice shower before last flight.

That’s your secret?

This is very good secret.

He pulled her closer and kissed her lips, and she held them soft and he remembered his next move. He moved the tongue in her mouth, and she moaned and sucked on his tongue biting it. She held his shoulders and pressed to him tightly.

She pulled herself back, and he moved the hand and touched her face and brushed her open shoulder. He moved the hand down and covered her breast and held it, pressing gently.

What? Her chin was pressed down and the voice was low.

You’re beautiful. He smiled. And you’ve incredible breasts.

I’m not going to sleep with you. She smiled.

Of course not, he agreed. I’m too drunk anyway.

It’s not because that you’re drunk, she insisted.

I know.

What do you know?

You’re not such a girl.

I’m not such a girl.

That’s what I said…and I’m too drunk anyway.

Shut up. She smiled.

I may sober up. He chuckled lightly.

Will you?

You never know.

The bed was narrow and springy, and they tried to sleep side by side, and the bed pressed them to each other tightly. Paul lay on his back, and she leaned on his side and asked whether she was heavy, and he said that she was very light, and she leaned on him more. She pressed the lips to his face, kissing him softly, and he caressed her back and sides, and she started breathing hot, and he moved the hands down and held her small buttocks.

You’re strange. She pulled herself up slightly.

How strange?

You talk strangely…inventing nice words for me.

And?

And it makes my skin crawl. She moved her shoulders.

And this is good, isn’t it?

Shut up. She smiled.

She moved her hand, caressing his body, stomach, and hip. She held the hand on his hip and looked at him, smiling.

What?

Nothing…you did sober up. She wrapped the fingers around him.

Did I?

You certainly did.

You’re incredibly exciting girl.

Am I?

She kissed his lips, and she pulled her leg over his body and held him in her hand and moved in her body slowly. He held her sides and she was sliding up and down along his body, and she was moaning softly. He moved the hands down and covered her buttocks. Her eyes were closed, and her lips were open, and her quiet breathing was interrupting rhythmically.

She found his lips and held the kiss. Her body trembled lightly, and her lips became soft and loose. She stopped moving and lay on him, and she was quiet for some time.

You know what? She smiled.

What?

I’m done.

Are you surprised?

Pretty much.

Am I done too?

Still sober. She squeezed him in her body.

I told you I may sober up.

Do you want it more? She pressed the lips to the side of his lips.

Sure. He closed his eyes. The wood’s still there.

Wood? she giggled.

The Day One

The men gathered in the room and Michael was giving them the work orders and explained how to move the expedition stuff to the base camp on the river. Paul was waking up slowly. He tried to remember his last dream and it did not work, and he stopped trying and listened to the noises outside.

Be quiet, guys. Michael tried to quiet men. You wake up the man.

Who’s this guy? a man asked.

Our chief engineer. He flew in last night.

They all became chiefs of something, another man noticed. The more chief, the more money you get.

Okay, okay… I could make you a chief.

Just give me more money. The man chuckled.

The men talked in turn, and everyone had to say something, and it was collective thinking.

He’s a good man, another man noticed. He gave me cigarette last night.

Shut up and listen, Michael interrupted sentiments. There’s a horse and wagon outside. Load it up and go.

That engineer…did he fuck Sasha last night?

Man was drunk and tired. He slept behind the table.

What about dog, Student? Last time…

Okay, okay… I’ll think of something.

Give dog to the guy, man, a gift from us all. The man chuckled.

He’s not as bad as his electronic equipment. Michael smiled. Now get out and I’m serious this time.

There were scrapping noises on the floor, and men started leaving the room one by one.

Get me five bucks, Student.

Here’s two.

I’ll pay back later.

I know. I’ll cut it from your salary.

I knew some engineering guy, some man said.

Why?

He fucked my girlfriend.

Then you became an engineer too.

The men left, and Michael walked back in the room, dropped the mail on the table, and started sorting envelopes. Paul sat in the bed and wrapped the blanket around the hips.

My head’s still rolling, Paul complained. Do you have aspirin or something?

Of course.

Michael poured wine in the glasses and gave one to Paul. Paul drank the wine slowly.

Wine’s very good.

Wine’s great. They don’t have much taste for wines here.

If you keep it long, it becomes sour.

Sure. Want more? Michael held the bottle, and Paul held the glass.

Paul drank another glass, and the pain in his head stopped rolling. Michael opened next letter and tossed the envelope in the waste basket.

Did you bring any instructions?

What instructions?

Friendly advice to improve my work? Like man to man?

This is none of my business, Michael. The regular behavior would be just fine.

How regular?

Leave me alone.

Paul was going to stand up and remembered that he was naked under the blanket. Michael watched Paul smiling.

How was Sasha? Michael smiled.

I remember there was a girl…and that’s all that I remember.

I think she likes you.

It’s nice.

I wish I’d meet her before I met Gail.

Who’s she?

They are in medical college. Gail’s specializes in dental, and Sasha’s going to be a surgeon.

Quite serious girls. How come she’s still alone?

She’s quite touchy. She had a love affair and is still in post remission. Michael smiled.

Exploring the free world?

I didn’t know you were so good with the guitar.

Thanks.

Michael held the glass and drank the rest of wine.

Let me know if you need something.

I need bigger table. I’m going to set testing stand here.

Sure. Dress up, and we’ll get you a table.

They moved a chemistry table from the hall, and Paul put the signal imitator, receiver, and scanner and testing equipment. Michael warmed up the leftovers of the last night, and they had breakfast and drank light wine. After breakfast, Michael decided to go to the base camp, and Paul took a cigarette and moved the chair to the table.

I almost forgot. Michael stopped at the door.

What? Paul turned back.

Michael opened the door, and whistled and the husky dog walked inside. Her tail was short, and whatever left of it stood straight up. The dog raised the muzzle up, and Michael leaned down and stroked the dog’s head.

Men decided that you need a dog. Michael smiled at the dog.

I do not, Paul refused.

They saw your shotgun. They talked that the shotgun was very good and very expensive.

I don’t even know how to hold it.

It’s okay. If a bore would run on you, you’d get to know it fast.

A bore?

Or a bear. Take the dog, she’ll protect you against any bear. Michael patted the dog lightly.

How?

The huskies always run close to a bear and try to bite the bear’s ass. It’s very annoying when somebody tries to bite your ass.

Of course.

This is the gift from comrades of our expedition. The people’s sign of respect to you…you can’t spit on respect?

I can.

You can’t, trust me. Keep the dog, and you’ll thank me later. Michael chuckled and walked away.

Hey. Come back, Student.

Michael walked away, and Paul turned and looked at the husky dog for some time, and the dog looked at him back. The dog made a small sound and lay down on the floor in the middle of the room.

Paul plugged the power cord and connected the signal imitator to the receiving device and oscilloscope and the meter to the output. The signal of the imitator was clean and stable. The output of the signal analyzer was a mess of the intersecting lines and the whole electronic picture was drifting on the screen slowly. He hit the box, and the decoded signal appeared for a moment and then started drifting again. He took cigarette and opened the window.

Paul turned off the power supply and opened the box of receivers and pulled the main plate out of the slot and moved it to the light. The crack was at the right side of the plate, and the connection lines were broken, and a thin trace of cut was crossing them. He plugged the soldering iron and laid the plate on the table and marked the broken lines. Then he started scrapping the protective layer off connections.

He held a piece of wire over a cut and soldered it to secure connection. Then he soldered the other lines. Paul inserted the plate back in the slot and turned the power on. The received signal was stable, and he turned the power off and checked the other plates.

The morning was nice, and the day promised to be warm. He lighted up a cigarette and took a list of paper. He made preliminary sketches of the new design, and then he redrew the sketches as the schematics.

He drew a general view of the next experiment and placed the sensors around the central point, which was the source of the signal. He drew a half-circle behind the sensor and set the timing of scan. The results of scanning should be kept in memory or on disk, and it also could be displayed instantly. He finished the general schematic and took another list to draw sketches of scanner and timing diagrams.

He took another cigarette and looked out of the open window. A young lady walked around the school building, and she saw Paul in the window. Her cheeks were blushing, and she had long brown hair weaved as two braids.

Hi. She smiled softly.

Hi. Paul smiled.

I’m looking for Nick and nobody’s there.

Nick who?

He’s the chief miner of the expedition. He designs explosions.

Of course he designs. Why won’t you come in and we’ll talk about it?

Are you there alone?

Yes.

I’ll better stay here.

Okay. Paul smiled. Tell me about Nick more.

Before, he was a paratrooper and fought in two wars. She looked at Paul and nodded. And then he resigned and worked as a stunt man in the circus.

He’s very brave man.

He is. She smiled. In circus, he was doing high jumps under the dome without technical support.

I never loved the circus. Paul interrupted her sentiments.

All kids love the circus, she insisted.

I didn’t.

But you were a kid, weren’t you?

I was… I just didn’t like the circus.

Why?

I was always tired and wanted to sleep. The only thing I loved was an ice cream in intermissions.

Sure. She smiled. I loved the ice cream too.

She smiled, and he smiled too, and they found the common ground about the circus. The young lady was nice and slightly full and a lot local.

Could you pass him my letter? Just in case?

Of course. Paul smiled. Right now, they are at the base camp on the river. If you have a bike, it’s not that far.

I’ve a bike. She smiled. I left it at the front yard.

Very nice.

Your expedition is very popular here…and what you’re doing is so dangerous and exciting. She smiled and looked at Paul.

Of course, exciting. Paul smiled.

*****

The town was of the two parts: the old one was the two store yellow buildings, and the new part was filled up with tall and fragile buildings that were waiting for the next earthquake to take them down, which used to happen here from time to time.

After the war, the whole region of thousand-by-thousand kilometers of the Siberian taiga were filled up with small modern towns and fabrics and plants, and they brought a lot of retribution equipment from the Germany and some equipment they left on the ground and some equipment they moved under the ground. All that happened right after the western compatriots stole enough of the German nuclear stuff and aviation technology from Russia and right after the English Pig started shouting around that the Russia was no good.

The Russians understood the change of the western brothers by war finally and started building the small towns far and away so that the next enemy would have long way to go up there. The towns looked alike and were built by the same project: the buildings had two stores, the walls of the buildings were thick to protect against the cold Siberian winter, and all buildings were painted equally yellow.

There is a lot of folk wisdom about life and experiences. And that human wisdom became so well-known that no one expected it to work in real life. Like what comes around, goes around. The English Pig was in charge of the huge English empire still after the war, and when the man started shouting around the globe cursing Russia, Stalin did not waste time and hit the Pig right in the snorts and helped to destroy the big English empire and to free the China, India, Arabic peninsula, and whoever else. And the huge English Empire went around in flames and turned into a small half island again. Same as what happened to the huge Roman Empire time ago when it turned back into a single Rome.

And this example with the empire that did not happen reminds another human wisdom about not chirping around. The winter was cold, and the bird froze and fell down on the road. The cow passed by and dropped the shit on the bird, and the bird warmed up and started chirping happily. The cat heard the bird’s chirping and ate the bird. The moral of this wisdom was quite smelly—if you sit deep in shit, just sit and do not chirp. At the end of life, the English Pig mentioned to his secretary that all was in vain. It looked like the man talked about his life.

Paul crossed the local bazaar and went to the other side of the town. The new library building was tall and full of glassy windows and was painted nicely bluish and gray. He went up the steps to the entrance, and the dog decided to walk in the library too and Paul showed her the place to stay. The dog did not understand and looked up waiting for explanations, and he raised his foot and pressed the rear side of the dog to sit down. The dog looked up at him more, and he nodded approvingly.

The young lady was behind the desk, and she closed the book and put away the glasses. She watched Paul coming to the desk, and he misstepped.

Can I help you? she asked him.

As always, the question was unexpectedly fresh and new, and Paul looked at her more to understand how she could help him. Her face was of the oval shape and quite attractive, although it required time to appreciate her beauty.

Do you have books about the local nature? Paul smiled.

Couldn’t you be more specific?

Our expedition goes in the wild mountain area, and I’m curious how it looks like?

Looks what?

Mountains, rivers, trees…the ducks and moose…the bears, perhaps…how they socialize with each other…where to meet them more often.

Why?

People do weird things to survive. Paul smiled proudly.

They do it even now.

Under the cover of fashion, we all are quite same. Paul started developing a small local strategy.

You and bear?

More like you and me.

I see.

Surviving of the fittest. Paul smiled. Sometimes you have to fight for your own food to survive.

You’re very brave. Why won’t you take more food with you?

It wasn’t about real food. It was more like a logical supposition to give you an example.

But they may have the logical supposition about you too. She smiled.

They who? Paul did not understand.

The bears of the local nature. She looked at Paul innocently.

Why would they do that? Paul lamented.

Aren’t you same under the cover of fashion? she chuckled. With a bear point of view?

I didn’t mean the real bear. Paul started retreating.

How old are you? She looked at him straight.

So what? he protested. I’m younger than you think.

She looked him over from down and up, and he felt an invisible force called levitation lift him up slightly and then put him down softly. And Paul understood that he did not pass the reception test in this local college.

The books are on that stand. She lost interest in him.

Thanks. He nodded politely.

Could I give you an advice?

Of course. Paul waited politely.

Instead of hunting for a bear, I recommend you the vegetable diet. The young lady waited for Paul’s reaction.

Good advice. Paul nodded.

The books on berries and mushrooms are on the other side of the stand.

Isn’t it too early for the mushrooms?

I think you’d find them just in time.

It was the same sunny day outside, and Paul had just completed the crash course of surviving in the local wilderness. One popular book on the bear hunting recommended the method with the spear. The hunter should wait until a bear would come closer and stand up on the hind legs. Then the hunter should run forward and stick the spear into the bear and pry it to the ground and wait while the bear would stick himself onto that spear.

The picture of the bear hanging above