TOTAL ECLIPSE

CHAPTER 1 PART 2

"Perhaps her mouth is now clang with silver, wires and other hard ware but we forgive this because we know that when it is remove we will admire shining row of teeth. Above are yielding lips of young woman anxious to experience romance, below them dampness of tongue Small: perhaps Pink probably Healthy we hope so. Yes, all in all, an inviting, a seductive prospect, and we must hope that man who first hand this young woman gift of love is not high school senior but capable to enjoy pleasure of giving"

Yevgeny paused as the girl moved out of sight and then he, too, noticed Berlins and the woman and joined in the silence. She was reaching the mirror window and they could hear fragments of the professor's monologue: room reserved here for her when weather or work did not permit return home... not luxurious... privacy... friendly working atmosphere... scientific community...

The men, some of them standing now, rearranged themselves. A few took a step forward Lomax had long suspected that the signals that strangers displayed to their own image were exciting to some of the scientists. He had occasionally seen Yevgeny or Doberman position himself in the eyeline of visitors to experience the thrill of someone else's frank admiration. He felt alarmed now at the prospect of this woman gratifying the men. His stomach contracted. wanted to protect her but could only watch as she advanced innocently toward the window.

Luckily Berlins was walking on the near side, masking her with his waving hands Lomax already liked Berlins but now his affection swelled with gratitude. The old man had guessed who would be lining up at the window and was trying to shield the woman. But in one large, overdramatic flourish-friendly community spirit!"-he had dropped one of the bundles of paper he habitually and unnecessarily carried around the site Unnoticing, he strode on as the woman fell back to pick it up. She was revealed. There was some spontaneous, unspoken acknowledgment of her beauty among the men in the lounge, a rustle, a murmur perhaps a sigh. They leaned forward. The woman stooped. As she rose, paper in hand, she caught sight of her reflection. Lomax tensed. The mens faces stretched toward the window.

Her look was surprised. She did not bridle or simper or flirt with her own image but flickered, briefly, with bewilderment. It was only a moment, perhaps not even a full second, before she was handing the papers back to Berlins and he was thanking her and apologizing and holding open the door of the staff residence for her.

Someone was shouting.
"I think you are all disgustingーyes, each and every one of you,hungry and slobbering over each woman passing by like big ugly dogs! It was Jorgen, a Swedish astronomer who had scarely spoken since arriving on site Jorgen's words made Doberman look up from his corner Others began to study their cards or their book intently A few of the astronomers shuffled their feet Lomax noticed faces reddening and suspected his own was among them.

"There is data of a most exciting and extraordinary kind now emerging here! Most extraordinary But what I find in the scientific staff is bizarre because they spend their days not analyzing not discussing, not attempting to explain but staring at women! At women! That window is dangerous, it should be removed."

"Sure we're interested in her she's Berlins's new assistant," said McMahon his tone conciliatory He always knew everything He was so well-informed that Lomax occasionally suspected the observatory was bugged.

But the Swede was not to be deflected.

"So the new assistant is of more interest than the startling results produced last night I see I see. An assistant is more interesting I wake up, I have my breakfast I go to the lounge and I am disappointed to find men playing cards and watching women. I go to the labs. I come back. I am thinking to myself Aha, there is something highly irregular in our results, the team will be discussing them. There will be animated discussion. Many arguments, many opinions Debate of the highest quality. But what do I find?"

He gestured around the lounge at the half-played card game, the unfinished letters home, the dented cushions and the blinking Dober-man

"Good God, if I want a stimulating debate I will have to telephone home to my sixteen-year-old son Because here there is nothing but men with their brains in their pants."

At that moment, Jorgen glimpsed Kim. Lomax did not know how long she had been in the room. He wondered if Kim had seen the men's reaction, including his own, to the new assistant. He hoped not.

"And the lady, of course," added the Swede stiffly Kim grinned at him and sat down by Lomax.

"Come on now, Jorgen," Doberman said from his corner "I've just been analyzing the data and I've come to the conclusion that there's an equipment failure. That explains the results."

Lomax and Yevgeny exchanged glances. They had pointed out at least eight hours earlier that there was an equipment failure. Even now a small team of scientist and maintenance technician was analyzing the computers and the main telescope itself to pinpoint the fault.