“We never discussed comfort , only safety.” And with that same clumsy strut I had first noticed a few hours earlier, he walks away.
“ Je suppose que vous voulez une bouteille de vodka pour vos ennuis! [6] ” I yell at his back end. This is useless, but I am getting the last word in edgewise no matter what.
“ Mne hvatit! ” he shouts with a hand thrown into the air. As for me getting the last word – maybe not. That I do not understand Korzhak’s response does not surprise me. That he appears to understand my outburst shocks every sense.
A Russian picking up random cables around us laughs madly as he does so. “Ha, ha – ‘Old Man’ – ha, ha, he tells you, how do you say – ‘I have enough’!” This one continuing to laugh, our dirty looks finally shut the stray Russian up and he wanders off.
“ Comment se fait-il qu’une telle brute peut parler Français? [7] ” I ask breathlessly more to myself than anyone else. “It is much too beautiful a language for so stubborn a mind to learn!”
“ Russians ,” Alistair chortles with a wink to Alfred. No matter how often or to whom I ask this again, Dr. Ravensdale’s answer will most likely be the best one I ever hear.
Within moments, Admiral Vanderbilt slides into me with a sweeping hug. More than once, he kisses me on my forehead and left cheek. “Nothing but minor flesh wounds, and here I thought something might be broken!” These joking words spoken, his quivering lip and red, puffy eyes tell me what he really wishes for my ears to hear. Of course, my heart already knows. More hugs only make this more obvious.
“The codex is already inside y’all!” Saddlebirch calls out. Quite a ways away, he stands about halfway between the entrance to the green dome and us. Aside from Antarctica, there are few places on this planet where a clear voice could carry so far. The question on the tip of my tongue answered brings a weak smile to my throbbing face. This pained grin as if an invitation, the three men lift me to my feet.
As we gingerly walk in the direction of the green dome, I catch a curious sight out of the corner of my eye. I stop and glance back toward the drill. The others, more carrying me than not, stop and look back too.
Dr. Korzhak stands at the drill’s base. His hands folded, he just stares at it. Next, he puts his hands on his head. After a few moments, he then starts to make hand gestures as if he and the drill now engage each other in conversation. Whether thanking the drill, saying goodbye to it, or something else, this appears to be a sad moment. As I believe it as such, I genuinely pity him. For the man who has just saved my life; despite his previous insults, this is the least I can do.
Chapter Six
THE FIFTH CODEX
A yellow snowmobile with a raised sled behind it pulls up alongside my limping self, Admiral Vanderbilt, Dr. Ravensdale, and Dr. Leitz. Saddlebirch having already made his way inside the green dome, Victor Korzhak still chats with his beloved drill to our south. After the driver drops us off after a quick ride, I hobble toward him.
“Dr. Korzhak – he is a very important part of our group.” I point over the driver’s shoulder and in the direction of the towering drill. “If you can, please give him a ride back as well.”
The driver nods. He then turns his snowmobile around and heads south toward the drill. The fifth codex safely inside, we enter the green dome. As I lean left, Admiral Vanderbilt firmly tugs me to the right.
“What – where – I am going to my barracks,” I protest in vain. “I need to get out of this ragged suit and into the CIC!”
More than anything, I want to get the gems out of my pockets and into vaults. Especially the newly found one.
“Infirmary,” the Admiral commands with an endearing coldness. He turns his eyes to the others. “Alistar, Alfred – grab some chow and then head to the CIC.
“ Je suppose que vous voulez une bouteille de vodka pour vos ennuis! [6] ” I yell at his back end. This is useless, but I am getting the last word in edgewise no matter what.
“ Mne hvatit! ” he shouts with a hand thrown into the air. As for me getting the last word – maybe not. That I do not understand Korzhak’s response does not surprise me. That he appears to understand my outburst shocks every sense.
A Russian picking up random cables around us laughs madly as he does so. “Ha, ha – ‘Old Man’ – ha, ha, he tells you, how do you say – ‘I have enough’!” This one continuing to laugh, our dirty looks finally shut the stray Russian up and he wanders off.
“ Comment se fait-il qu’une telle brute peut parler Français? [7] ” I ask breathlessly more to myself than anyone else. “It is much too beautiful a language for so stubborn a mind to learn!”
“ Russians ,” Alistair chortles with a wink to Alfred. No matter how often or to whom I ask this again, Dr. Ravensdale’s answer will most likely be the best one I ever hear.
Within moments, Admiral Vanderbilt slides into me with a sweeping hug. More than once, he kisses me on my forehead and left cheek. “Nothing but minor flesh wounds, and here I thought something might be broken!” These joking words spoken, his quivering lip and red, puffy eyes tell me what he really wishes for my ears to hear. Of course, my heart already knows. More hugs only make this more obvious.
“The codex is already inside y’all!” Saddlebirch calls out. Quite a ways away, he stands about halfway between the entrance to the green dome and us. Aside from Antarctica, there are few places on this planet where a clear voice could carry so far. The question on the tip of my tongue answered brings a weak smile to my throbbing face. This pained grin as if an invitation, the three men lift me to my feet.
As we gingerly walk in the direction of the green dome, I catch a curious sight out of the corner of my eye. I stop and glance back toward the drill. The others, more carrying me than not, stop and look back too.
Dr. Korzhak stands at the drill’s base. His hands folded, he just stares at it. Next, he puts his hands on his head. After a few moments, he then starts to make hand gestures as if he and the drill now engage each other in conversation. Whether thanking the drill, saying goodbye to it, or something else, this appears to be a sad moment. As I believe it as such, I genuinely pity him. For the man who has just saved my life; despite his previous insults, this is the least I can do.
Chapter Six
THE FIFTH CODEX
A yellow snowmobile with a raised sled behind it pulls up alongside my limping self, Admiral Vanderbilt, Dr. Ravensdale, and Dr. Leitz. Saddlebirch having already made his way inside the green dome, Victor Korzhak still chats with his beloved drill to our south. After the driver drops us off after a quick ride, I hobble toward him.
“Dr. Korzhak – he is a very important part of our group.” I point over the driver’s shoulder and in the direction of the towering drill. “If you can, please give him a ride back as well.”
The driver nods. He then turns his snowmobile around and heads south toward the drill. The fifth codex safely inside, we enter the green dome. As I lean left, Admiral Vanderbilt firmly tugs me to the right.
“What – where – I am going to my barracks,” I protest in vain. “I need to get out of this ragged suit and into the CIC!”
More than anything, I want to get the gems out of my pockets and into vaults. Especially the newly found one.
“Infirmary,” the Admiral commands with an endearing coldness. He turns his eyes to the others. “Alistar, Alfred – grab some chow and then head to the CIC.
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