such words Hector experienced a noticeable rush of blood to the brain. It was like an injection of adrenaline into the very heart, which was about to beat much harder. It seemed that Hector had finally woken up. It was as if he heard a bomb explode near his ear and went deaf, losing for some time the ability to hear at least some sounds. Instead of sounds a ringing thundered in his ears, and Frost’s lips moved silently for some time.
– … never had to before.
– And what is the purpose of the expedition?
– A complex of scientific research at the intersection of biology, ichthyology and paleontology.
Thinking a little, Hector tried to say something, but Frost interrupted:
– Are you interested in payment?
– No, no. How long is the work planned for?
– Two month. Maybe a little more.
– When do you intend to start?
– Possibly in the coming months. The time frame can vary from three to seven months. Now the question is about recruiting the expedition. At the moment we are interested in the ichthyologist.
Dr. Cage pondered in absolute silence, his gaze cast somewhere to the side.
– In any case, we do not require an urgent response. You have time to think.
Hector looked around his apartment, the scattered books, the countless educational and lecture materials that he had to grind a hundred times every day. He thought about what his life had become. Its colors remained as gloomy as his rented apartment.
But suddenly Hector came to his senses and decided that he needed to at least pretend to have doubts.
– Can I ask one question?
– Sure. Ask – Frost answered, taking a sip from his cup.
– Since you’re talking about payment, can you provide some clarity?
– Oh, of course. For two months of work you will be paid, well, let’s say, enough so that you can afford to quit teaching and not think about it for a very, very, very long time. To be more precise, it will be…
Frost took out a notepad with a pen from the inside pocket of his jacket, wrote down the amount and pushed the notebook across the table towards his interlocutor.
– But, just so you understand, Mr. Cage, this is the amount that you will receive regardless of the results of your work. – Frost began to drink coffee in large sips. – We understand perfectly well that this is largely a matter of luck and the number of individuals and species discovered does not depend on you. Therefore, the contract will provide for a fixed salary. The amount you see will be paid regardless of the results of the expedition. And if any discoveries are made, new species are discovered, then… well, you understand me.
Hector Cage actively scratched his nose, while Frost added:
– I’ll leave you my business card. Do not hurry. Think it over carefully.
– Sorry, – Hector interrupted, – Mr…
– Stephen.
– If such an offer had come a couple of years ago, I would have thought a thousand times. But under the current circumstances, such a vacancy creates too strong a contrast with my current job to think about anything. I agree.
– Glad to hear that. Oh, and I forgot to mention one more thing. If individuals of rare biological species are caught, you will be offered a job on a long-term basis. You will study or manage the progress of scientific work on the study of those individuals that will be at our disposal. And one last thing. How do you feel about greater depths?
– Excuse me? – Hector Cage said perplexedly, frowning his eyebrows.
– The expedition, that our company is planning, will take place near the ocean floor at a depth of about seven and a half to eight thousand meters.
– And do you have suitable equipment for this?
– Actually, we produced this device. There are no analogues. At least for now.
Cage thought even harder, and Frost had already finished his coffee by this time.
Gradually, a kind of thirst began to appear on Hector’s face. After some time he said:
– Where to sign?
Hearing these words, Frost burst into a wide smile. But as soon as that smile faded, he immediately spoke in a serious voice:
– Mr. Cage, I have one request for you.
– I’m listening.
– No one should know about my visit to you, as well as about this conversation. Is this possible?
– I don’t see a problem.
– I like it. And finally, so that you don’t get bored, I will leave one gift. Maybe you can come up with a few new theories.
Frost placed a piece of paper with the image on the coffee table and added:
– Take a look sometime. Thanks for the coffee. It was delicious. And I didn’t say this out of politeness.
They shook hands, after which Hector escorted his guest to the door.
Almost reaching the threshold, Frost turned around and asked:
– Mr. Cage, may I ask you one question?
Hector spread his arms.
– Why were you fired from your previous university with such success in science?
Hector felt a surge of energy. Now no bad memories could spoil his sharply increased enthusiasm. He straightened his back, put his hands in his pockets and answered in a confident tone:
– I knocked out eight teeth of a graduate student who was diving into my wife.
– I respect you – Frost said before leaving.
3. KAYLA FOX
In a lecture hall filled with students, with the lights off, the voice of thirty-five-year-old Kayla Fox, Doctor of Biological Sciences, sounded. She commented on the next image that came from the projector:
– Here is a sample of a human zygote – the result of the fusion of two different-sex gametes. In other words, this is what happens when you forget about contraception.
There was synchronized laughter in the lecture hall.
– In this image we can see how the tail of the sperm has already dissolved in the cytoplasm of the egg. The nuclei of both gametes of opposite-sex individuals begin the process of fusion, after which the diploid set of chromosomes is restored. Thus, in the cell of the
