Part 7 (2/2)
”With the help of decelerated-neutron irradiation chambers, one can see through living cells without harming them,” explained Stretyakova. For the first time, therefore, high-speed neutrons were going to be used in biological research.
The group was spared the climb down the ladder; they were released through a door into the open. A blast of icy air struck them as they emerged. They went down the exterior steps to the foot of the reactor and walked beside frozen bulldozer tracks to the laboratory huts.
”I thank you for your attention, and I wish you a good trip home.” Stretyakova's lecture pa.s.sed so seamlessly into a farewell that even Adamek took a few seconds to understand that they were being dismissed.
”We thank the Comrade Doctor for her precious time,” he said, led the members of the delegation in a brief round of applause, and then signaled to them to bestir themselves. The bus driver had not been informed of their movements, so the little group had to make their way to the parking area over icy sand heaps and through defoliated undergrowth. During the ride back to the hotel, the atmosphere was tense; Popov's expression showed that he was ashamed of his team.
A message from Alexey was waiting for Anna at the front desk. He complained about having been stood up the previous evening and ordered her to come to lunch at his borrowed house. Anton had another errand to perform, he said, so she must come on foot. Anna was none too pleased at the prospect of this visit. Fl.u.s.tered and sleep-deprived, she hurried to her room, showered, and-without informing Popov-set off on her walk.
The way was unfamiliar in daylight; all the houses on the riverfront promenade looked alike. In the end, she found the villa only because Alexey was in the garden.
”I wanted to split some firewood,” he said as he pulled open the iron-barred gate. ”But there's not an ax to be found anywhere on the premises.”
She went ahead of him toward the house. He caught up with her on the shoveled path. ”Where were you?”
”I got no message at all from you.”
”Am I supposed to send you a love letter every evening?”
”I didn't see the car.” As she spoke, she hung up her coat.
”It's too bad the evening was spoiled.”
”Yes, it is,” she said, closing the subject.
”Wine?”
”I'd rather not.” She turned off the harsh ceiling lights and sought out a spot in the dimly lit alcove.
”You look pale.” He remained in front of the cold fireplace.
”We've got a pretty hard-drinking delegation, you know.”
”You were partying while I sat here bored?” He was obviously in a complaining mood, but after keeping it up for a bit, he eventually went into the kitchen. ”Would you like something to eat? Anton picked up some cold cuts.”
Anna greatly needed something warm. ”Do you have any eggs? Shall I fix us some eggs and sausage?”
”Will you do that?” he asked, suddenly the mildest of men, and showed her the pantry. Then he waited in silence while Anna rummaged around.
”I'm awfully tired, Alexey,” she said over her shoulder. ”These scientific lectures ... can we sleep a little?”
As though she'd spoken a magic word, he hugged her from behind and pressed his unshaven cheek against her ear. ”Yes, let's sleep, Annushka, I'm tired, too ... G.o.d, am I tired.”
”First we eat,” she said, pus.h.i.+ng him aside. The sausage had a strong smell.
When they were seated at the table, she asked, ”How much time do we have left?”
”My work in Dubna is done.”
”Our group still has to visit ...” She wiped the egg yolk from her plate. ”I have no idea what we're going to visit.”
Anna left half of her meal untouched and went into the bedroom. Alexey followed her, pulled his suspenders off his shoulders, and watched Anna slip into the bed in her underwear. ”Oh, this feels good,” she said. She turned on her side and drew up her legs.
”Shall I set the alarm clock?” Unable to bend over and untie his shoes, he sank down onto the edge of the bed.
”I don't care.”
”Some Pioneer Girl you are.” Still wearing his s.h.i.+rt and pants, he lay down, got under the covers, and stretched out his hand until it came to rest under Anna's thigh. Then everything grew still.
Even in her dozing state, Anna's sense of duty tormented her. Could she in good conscience waste her last hours in Dubna sleeping? She saw herself standing on the mighty reactor's cover plate, surrounded by scientists with masks covering their noses and mouths. The roof began to shake, then positively to rattle, but n.o.body seemed to take this state of affairs at all seriously. Don't you hear that? Anna cried. Can't you feel it, any of you? Everything's exploding! She opened her eyes and saw that Alexey was on his feet. ”But we haven't been in bed five minutes yet,” she whispered.
”Someone's here.” He stepped to the window and pushed the curtain aside.
No reason on earth could give her the strength to sit up. ”Is it Anton?”
”Good G.o.d,” Alexey growled. ”Him, of all people.”
She rolled over onto her back.
”You stay in bed,” the Deputy Minister ordered her. ”Don't make a sound. I'll get rid of him as fast as I can.”
”Who?”
”That madman Lyus.h.i.+n.”
The bedroom door had not yet closed when Anna sat bolt upright. Sleep filled her head and made her limbs heavy; nevertheless, she forced herself to think clearly. If she still had one chance left to tackle her a.s.signment, that chance had now come. Anna threw off the blanket. Her thighs, white and widely spread, lay on the sheet; her feet were covered by blue socks. By then, Alexey had admitted the visitor. She hurried into the bathroom to wash the sleep from her eyes. There was a broom leaning behind the door; she saw it too late. It slid along the door panel, crashed against the wainscoting, and made a bright, sharp sound when it struck the tiled floor. She stood stock-still; the conversation in the neighboring room had ceased. ”No listeners,” someone said, and the bedroom door was yanked open.
From close up, Nikolai Lyus.h.i.+n seemed smaller. He hadn't taken off his overcoat, under which he wore no jacket, only a white s.h.i.+rt. The hair on his temples was damp, as if he'd been running.
”Oh,” he said. ”Well. Good day, Comrade.” He turned back into the living room. ”I'm sorry, Bulyagkov, really. Don't be angry.”
Anna waited for Alexey to appear in the doorway-she was standing in the bathroom, and Lyus.h.i.+n just outside of it-but nothing stirred. She took the woolen blanket from the bed, wrapped it around her shoulders, and walked past the scientist into the living room.
Alexey was sitting in his armchair. ”As you see, we'll have to have this conversation another time,” he said.
”Please introduce me,” Lyus.h.i.+n said, stepping in behind Anna.
”The comrade is part of the group that's visiting from Moscow.”
”Nikolai Lyus.h.i.+n,” the blond man said.
”The quantum physicist?” she asked, looking at Alexey.
”You know who he is?” Bulyagkov seemed more curious than surprised.
”How do you know me?” Lyus.h.i.+n came so close to her that she could smell his aftershave lotion.
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