“Stellar archeology–which is supposed to be your job–is one thing, and, granted, archeoastronomy is closer to what you should be doing, if we had the need for it, which we don’t, but suggesting an archeological dig based on astronomy is madness.”
“It makes perfect sense,” Fraya said excitedly. “Don’t you see? The number seventy-two is significant on both archeological and astronomical counts. Seventy-two is associated with the astronomical phenomenon known as precession, because seventy-two years is the length of time it takes for constellations to move one degree due to precession.”
“And your point is?”
“If the North Pole was in Yukon one hundred thousand years ago, the line connecting the ancient sites would have run around the equator at the time. It means that whoever built the sites, used astronomy to do so. It means that astronomy and archeology are not two separate sciences. For the first time in its history the SWO can use astronomy to uncover archeology.”
Saunders seemed to lose his patience. He moved his chair back. “Submit your theory to the Southern World Organization for Archeology and get on with your job.”
“You know what will happen if I do. They will jump on it, and if they make the discovery, they will claim it as their own.”
“You’ll get a mention in their paper, if anything ever comes of your farfetched claims.”
“But if the finding is ours, the claim will be too, and we’ll get the funding for pursuing an expedition in Peru. If not, all will be lost to us. The most we’ll be able to get is a fleeting honorary mention.”
Saunders got to his feet. “The answer is no. And I’m appalled at your hidden agenda. It makes me think that you didn’t want this job at all when there are hundreds of better qualified astronomers out there who would have given their balls for your position.”
Fraya sighed. She used her last trump card. “Welser was supportive of the idea.”
Saunders’s eyes widened. “You went over my head?”
Fraya instantly knew she had made a mistake of mentioning it.
“I was at head office and we discussed the idea,” she said defensively.
“You discussed the idea,” he repeated with disdain. “I tell you what, in future discuss your ideas with me, or find yourself another job, and another boss.”
There was nothing more to say. Fraya was defeated. For now. She got to her feet.
“Alright. Let’s leave it at that. For now. You of course realize that this information is explosive. It needs to be kept confidential.”
He sneered. “I have no intention of discussing your crazy ideas with anyone else. And this is no storybook tale in which I’m going to zip off and sell your information to some cowboy tomb hunter. Just get out of my office and do the job you’re supposed to do.”
Fraya turned for the door wordlessly. It had gone much worse than what she had imagined. She had hoped that Saunders would have taken the bait of international glory, but she should have known better. He was too task-driven to be sidetracked from the checklist, she thought grimly.
* * * *
The next few days Fraya spent sharpening her theory on dark matter, as aware of the seconds ticking on as the accelerated expansion of the universe. Precious time was being wasted, but she thought it wiser to oblige Saunders for the time being. Tim had pulled as much records as he could on star explosions and combustion rates, but sadly, it hadn’t been possible for all of them to be measured. The only viable solution was finding new explosions and putting her formula of measure into practice. Saunders wasn’t as opposed to the telescope time she had applied for now, his resistance maybe worn thin by her ‘crazy’ ambition, and it was in that same week that Fraya got a slot on all four of the AKMY telescopes.
It was 8 p.m. when Tim and Fraya walked into the AKMY main control room, armed with their maps and a list of the physical properties they would be looking for.
Gregory Smit, a stout Englishman in his late forties, was on the floor. He looked up when they entered. A sneer contorted his features.
“Greg, this is Dr. Fraya Riber,” Tim said, “the new junior astronomer.”
Smit leaned back in his chair, a bulging tummy peeking over the flashy silver buckle of his belt.
“I know who she is.”
Fraya propped her hands on her hips. “Then you’ll know I’m on the telescopes at nine and rather pressed for time.” She moved forward to step onto the control platform, but Greg pushed his legs forward and crossed one crocodile boot over the other, effectively blocking her way.
Tim’s stance became defensive. He looked like he was going to say something, but Fraya wasn’t going to let a man fight her battles. If she couldn’t stand up for herself the bullying would never cease. Before Tim could open his mouth, she walked up to Smit, who had to crane his neck from his chair to look up at her.
“I can see you have your balls in a knot,” Fraya said, “but you can go unknot them in your own sweet time. I have a job to do, and little time in which to get it done. Don’t force me to deduct lost telescope time from your pay slip, because believe me, it’ll be a pleasure to do so.”
Smit’s face turned red. “I’m a senior programmer. Who the hell–”
“Stop wasting my time, Mr. Smit. I’m a junior astronomer, but that still puts me way higher in the hierarchy than you. Move.” She added in a sweet voice, “Please.”
Smit looked like one of the combustible stars Fraya was hoping to encounter. She could see him weighing her words, but she knew he knew that she was right. If she laid as much as a complaint against him for obstruction of valuable telescope time, that cost the company millions of points per night, he could lose his job. Programmers were more easily replaceable than astronomers. Smit probably realized this too, because he slowly moved his legs to let Fraya pass.
As she stepped around him, he said, “You’re barking up the wrong tree, pretty face.”
She took a folder from Tim’s hands and dropped it in Smit’s lap. “The coordinates are in there. Tick them off as you complete them, one by one. You received them last week, so I expect everything is programmed to my expectation. If not,” she leaned closer to his chair, “you’re not going to like the consequences.”
Smit’s lip curled up. “You won’t last a month.”
“If you don’t get your act together, you won’t last another day.” She took the chair in front of the main monitor, leaving the copilot seat to Tim.
From the corner of her eye she saw Tim grinning. She started to do a system check and sighed silently. So far, her only ally was Tim. And he didn’t really have a choice. He was her assistant. As for the rest of the men, it wasn’t going to be easy to convince them that she was man enough to do the job. Earning their respect wasn’t going to be a joyride. She knew what they thought, that she had gotten to where she was because Emilio had donated the land for their new development. Proving herself was going to be as hard as defining dark matter.
Satisfied that the program was correctly set, she said to Tim, “Get us some coffee, please. It’s going to be a long night. An exciting one. I need to stay alert for this.”
Tim cleared his throat. “I thought you’re not allowed to drink coffee.”
“Tonight doesn’t count. It’s my first night on the telescopes. I think I deserve to celebrate with something other than water.”
As her finger hit the green button, Antu, Kueyen, Melipal and Yepun–sun, moon, southern cross and Venus–slowly started moving to take up their programmed positions. “Come on AKMY,” she said, “give me something.”
At dawn, Fraya collected a stack of computer printouts and handed them to Tim for capturing. The morning team came on duty, the men eyeing Fraya openly, some with hostility, others with curiosity. Fraya and Tim weren’t due back in the office until the afternoon, so Fraya headed back to her condo to feed and exercise Al. Being hungry herself, she opted to have breakfast first, then a shower.
A knock on her door made her glance up from where she was
dicing fruit.
Tracy entered with a big grin. “Welcome back. I heard you made quite an impression last night.”
Fraya wiped her hands on a dishcloth. “Already?”
“Talk was going around at dinner. Greg isn’t pleased.”
“He can get over himself.”
“The men are not happy.”
“I don’t care much if they’re thrilled or if their fragile male egos are bruised.”
“Good for you. It’s about time we had a woman around here who could stand her man.”
“I never realized the SWO was so chauvinistic.”
“It’s the Southern World, Fraya. These zones were hit hardest by the chemical genocide. With the female race almost wiped out, equality took on a different meaning. Women became more focused on mating and are sadly absent in the professional world. The men got used to it.”
“But that’s so old-word.”
“You’d be surprised at just how old-world some of these zones are. It’s as if the world crises of the last century has forced them several steps back into history. Many of the acclaimed tribes that formed in the last hundred years in Zone 78 have never been encountered. They’re evasive nomads that have fallen back on mythical religions and ancient gods.”
“No wonder they call it the revival of the Dark Age.” Fraya had finished preparing the fruit and pushed a bowl toward Tracy. “Want some breakfast?”
“No, thanks. But I’d love a quick cup of coffee before I have to clock in.”
“Sorry. No coffee. There’s herbal tea.”
“Oh, yes. Sorry. I shouldn’t have asked. How’s the treatment?”
“I’m good.” Fraya switched on the kettle. “Thanks for the food. You don’t have to stock up for me every time I come back from Santiago, you know.”
“Consider it a friendly gesture from a female collaborator. I’ll let you do your own shopping in future.”
Fraya poured boiling water into a cup over a chamomile teabag. “I sure miss my coffee.”
“And your mate, no doubt.”
“He took me on a honeymoon,” Fraya blurted out.
“He’s so sweet, and such a catch, too.”
Fraya remembered the women’s reaction to Emilio at the opening of the new hotel. “It’s a tricky situation,” she retorted.
“How come?”
Fraya simply shrugged and Tracy didn’t fish for information.
Tracy got up. “I can’t be late. Will I see you tonight?”
“I’ll come in after lunch. I need to catch up on some work.”
“A true workaholic, I see.”
Fraya smiled. “What else is there to do around here?”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
In the weeks that followed Fraya worked hard. She put in double time and found, to her dismay, that it didn’t bring her any closer to an answer to her theoretical questions. Every eight days she traveled back to Santiago, to Emilio and his family. His house was always busy and she grew fond of the people who slowly drew her into their lives. Fraya even went shopping with Ana, and found that she enjoyed it. She had that promised Pisco with Sofia, Emilio’s other cousin. She effectively warded off Ofelia’s attempts to redecorate Emilio’s house. By the end of every working week at the SWO, Fraya became listless and impatient, needing Emilio and dreading it at the same time. As far as she was concerned, there was no long-term solution to their physical dilemma. Emilio demanded sex when he wanted, and she obliged. They had formed a pattern between the pull of what their bodies commanded and their respective demanding careers, finding living arrangements that suited them both. She had to admit that Emilio was considerate. In fact, he was more than considerate. He was kind and patient.
Her thoughts still dwelled on Gene frequently, but he was growing to be a part of her past that seemed farther from reality every day. After his message about traveling to Zone 44 they had had no news, and could only speculate about his whereabouts. Fraya had contacted all the organizations and publishers that employed freelance writers in the zones Gene had been, at least the ones of which they had knowledge, but to no avail. Gene was obviously not ready to be confronted.
All of this played on Fraya’s mind as she entered the head office and walked to Welser’s office. He had summoned a meeting and Fraya felt edgy. Things had not been going well at the SWO, the men generally being opposed to her presence and making it difficult whenever they could. She could sense their resentment in their unfounded beliefs. Smit was a big instigator and Saunders didn’t help. Tim was caught in the middle and seemed permanently stressed.
Welser came down the hall just as she turned into the passage.
“Right on time,” he said, greeting her with a big smile. He ushered her into his office but instead of facing her from across his desk, he suggested the sofas in the coffee corner.
“How’s the job, Fraya?”
She didn’t answer, as she didn’t believe he really wanted to know.
“I’ve taken a personal interest in you work,” he said brightly.
That took her by surprise. She wasn’t sure what he was playing at.
“Your theory of attributing physical properties to dark matter based on combustion rates and reactions is ingenious. In fact, it seems too simple. I can’t understand why no one else has ever thought of it.”
“It’s often the simplest solutions, what’s right in front of us, that we don’t see.” She paused as the wisdom of her words struck a cord deep within herself. Was there a simple solution to her and Emilio’s dilemma, one she refused to see? Not now. Now wasn’t the time to think about Emilio. She added quickly, “It’s only a matter of measuring factors such as time and intensity.”
Welser tapped a finger on his chin. “It may alter the definition of gravity as we know it.”
“That’s not the purpose of my study.”
“Of course not, but it will give rise to the need to reevaluate what we know.”
Fraya drummed her nails on the armrest. She watched Welser closely. He didn’t call her here to discuss her theory. That was Saunders’s job. “Why did you want to see me?”
“I’m putting a team on the job.”
“A team?”
“A dedicated team will speed things up.”
“You’re giving me a team? Already?” She wasn’t sure how her colleagues were going to feel about this.
“Actually, no. I’m putting Saunders in charge.”
Fraya’s eyes widened. “You’re pulling me off the project?”
“I have something else in mind for you.”
“I thought this is what you wanted me to focus on. I know Mr. Saunders was opposed to me crossing over into the border of cosmology, but you’ve always been supportive of the project.”
“I’m interested in your proposal to locate the missing Atacama link in the ancient sites.”
Fraya moved to the edge of her chair. “You’re giving me permission to investigate?”
“Yes. With a team. You will be heading a team, but a different one altogether.”
Happiness coursed through her veins. It sounded too good to be true. Fraya felt like jumping up and down, clapping her hands, but she couldn’t suppress the trepidation that hovered over her elation. “How does Saunders feel about it?”
“Does it matter?”
“He could make life hard for me.”
“I trust you’ll find a way to cope.”
“Thank you.”
She didn’t know what else to say. Her heart was beating too fast.
* * * *
“I hope you’re happy now,” Saunders said, his voice tight as he discussed the changes with her a week later in his office.
There was no point in arguing their disagreement on the matter, so Fraya asked, “When do I hand over?”
“According to Welser you already have.”
“Alright. I’ll draw up a list of requirements so that I can get started as soon as possible.”
“Here’s your team.” Saunders
handed her a list. She was aware of his eyes resting on her as she studied the paper.
“Professor Andrews?” She looked up quickly. “Why does he need to be part of the project?”
“He’s the archeologist in charge. These are strange times. I never thought I’d live to see the day that astronomy is coupled to excavation in my ob.”
“I’m not sure it’s a good idea.”
“You’re not in a position to negotiate,” he said stiffly.
She got to her feet.
“You’ll still report to me,” Saunders said, his words a warning rather than a statement.
* * * *
Fraya sat at her desk, deep in thought. The team Saunders had assigned to her was as stable as a hand grenade with its pin pulled. Andrews was in charge of the excavation, Smit was their dedicated programmer, and Cramer was the site engineer. Saunders may as well have given her the devil himself to manage. At least she still had Tim. A knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts. Speak of the devil...
Tim cleared his throat. “Professor Andrews wants to see you.”
“Tell him I’ll come right over.”
She didn’t look forward to working with him, but the sooner they lay down the rules, the better.
“Actually, he’s here.”
Fraya sighed. “Alright. Thank you, Tim.”
Tim hesitated. “Are you alright?”
“Yes.” She should be ecstatic. Her dream was about to come true. The only spanner in the wheel was the team Saunders had chosen. “I’m heading a different project. I’ll discuss it with you as soon as I’m done with Professor Andrews.”
Tim nodded and disappeared. A second later Andrews walked into her office. He looked around as if it was the first time he saw the inside of one of the offices.
“Please, have a seat,” Fraya said. Her eyes were drawn to his neck and the tattoo. She had no reason for disliking the man, but he always made her skin crawl.
The Astronomer Page 28
