GRADECKAYA
– As a linguist, I would like to meet intelligent beings on these planets and possibly come into contact with them. To look at their world, how they communicate and interact with each other and what their life is like.
TERRY TAYLOR
– Well, this is a good desire. The main thing is that they should be peaceful creatures and don’t gobble us up or dismember us for the experiments.
Terry grinned, Anastasia frowned at him. The captain continued to diagnose the operation of the shuttle systems. The girl carefully watched his actions.
ANASTASIA GRADECKAYA
– Sorry, you are busy, and I'm interrupting you with my questions.
Terry looked at Anastasia and smiled.
TERRY TAYLOR
– Yeah, a little. Though you can sit next to me at Igor’s place.
Anastasia was very surprised.
ANASTASIA GRADECKAYA
– No, please! I’m not sitting at Igor’s place. I had enough of his screams during the preparation for our journey.
Terry laughed heartily.
TERRY TAYLOR
– Yea-a-a-ah! Igor is a serious man.
ANASTASIA GRADECKAYA
– Now I’ll tell you how I first met him. I came all dressed up. I was wearing a pantsuit, did the styling in a beauty salon, light makeup, put on my favorite shoes from Jimmy Choo. After all, I was invited to «Roscosmos» and I wanted to make an impression. They met me and escorted to the office. The door opened, and in the office I saw a bunch of ragged men. Everyone's eyes were wild, all faces were red, rumpled, shirts worn out, ties loosened and the ashtrays were full of cigarette butts.
Terry looked at Anastasia in surprise.
ANASTASIA GRADECKAYA
– Then I realized: they were clearly discussing my nominee. Having noticed me, they calmed down, straightened their, so to speak, shirts and ties. Baranov Sergey Antonovich, the head of «Roscosmos», started introducing me and telling them who I was and that I was one of many candidates for the position of linguist and psychologist. The management wanted to have two Russian cosmonauts on board of the shuttle, as this would increase the prestige of our country. After a short meeting Sergei Antonovich led me to introduce Igor Vladimirovich. Then Igor came up to me and looked at me with an appraising look.
Anastasia Gradeckaya frowned and put on deep voice.
ANASTASIA GRADECKAYA
– Hi, my name is Igor Vladimirovich. I’m your mentor and will prepare you for the flight in orbit. From your personal files, I know that you are a professor of psychology and linguistics at Moscow State Technological University named after N.E. Bauman. Perhaps, these skills will be useful to you on the Earth, but not in space. So don’t expect pity from me. Neither I’m going to see your tears during the training! If you don’t like it, the four doors on the first floor are always open.
Terry turned to Anastasia.
TERRY TAYLOR
– Did he really say so? Don’t expect pity from me and don’t pour tears?
ANASTASIA GRADECKAYA
– Yes! Can you imagine? And then it started: eight months of hell, torment, cries and tears.
Terry laughed.
ANASTASIA GRADECKAYA
– He is a physical education coach – I'm in tears. Survival courses – I'm in tears. Fire training courses – I'm in tears. He is at the controls of an airplane – I am unconscious, but without tears.
Anastasia and Terry laughed.
TERRY TAYLOR
– I didn't know these stories.
ANASTASIA GRADECKAYA
– In general, it sucks. But I’m not what they think of me: they press me and I push harder in response.
TERRY TAYLOR
– Wow.
ANASTASIA GRADECKAYA
– But then, eight months later, after passing the tests, he came up to me with grades and congratulated me on being a member of the «New World» shuttle team. I had competed with 10 applicants from different countries, and even men were among them. But they chose me, a simple teacher from the university, because my indicators were better than others.
TERRY TAYLOR
– Since they chose you, it means that you are not so simple.
Terry confused Anastasia with his gaze and words.
ANASTASIA GRADECKAYA
– Igor Vladimirovich is a great fellow! I am very grateful to him for my training and for being here now.
Igor Vladimirovich flew up to Terry and Anastasia. The girl stood up, giving way to the second pilot Igor. Her mentor put his hand on her shoulder and thereby stopped his colleague.
IGOR VLADIMIROVICH
– Sit, sit. What about diagnostics?
TERRY TAYLOR
– I checked 8 out of 12 nodes, so there is work.
IGOR VLADIMIROVICH
– Will you manage it yourself?
TERRY TAYLOR
– Yes, of course.
IGOR VLADIMIROVICH
– Moreover, you have a great assistant, she is the future of the Russian space.
Anastasia with her head held high, looked at Igor, as she liked his words about her.
IGOR VLADIMIROVICH
– If you need me, I’m in the cabin.
TERRY TAYLOR
– Good.
Igor went on the first level again.
TERRY TAYLOR
– Well, you see, Nastya, he isn’t so scary.
She appreciated Terry's sarcasm. They continued the conversation and performed diagnostics of the orbital nodes. 20 minutes passed, and the team gathered again in the cockpit. Everyone took his or her place. Terry and Igor discussed further actions and possible contingencies. Igor nodded his head, and the captain opened a channel of communication with the FCC.
TERRY TAYLOR
– Rich, are you receiving me?
Rich
