Science Fiction and Adventure

When I wrote The Hive, I wanted to incorporate some aspects the story of finding my beautiful wife, Larisa, in Ukraine.  Believe me, it was an adventure that I will never forget and one that I have woven into the sub plot of my novel.

Chapter 5: Ukraine: Dnipropetrovs’k Airport

             The Antonov AN-72 touched down smoothly on the runway at the Dnipropetrovs’k commercial airport.  The aircraft was certainly comfortable to fly in despite its odd appearance.  Affectionately called the Cheberoshka after an incorrectly manufactured toy character from a Russian cartoon, Colin Hewette could see how it got this name.  While most jets the size of the AN-72 had their engines slung under the wings, the Cheberoshka had its two engines mounted on top, like two large ears, as if someone had assembled the aircraft’s wings upside down.  The hazy sunshine of a chilly late November afternoon shown through the cabin window accentuating the delicate features of Marina Asamova, seated next to him.  They had talked and held hands during the flight from Moscow. Colin felt that a real bond and a connection were growing between them.  This was a military flight and except for a few hundred kilos of computers and documents, they had the plane to themselves.  Colin’s thoughts were in conflict as to open the door to his heart or not.  Finally, he saw the path he should choose, and there would be no turning back.  He turned to look into Marina’s deep green eyes, into the depths of her soul.

                “I was almost married. It was six years ago…but I lost her, and now I feel like I have to say this to you. “

.              Marina searched his brown eyes before answering, “So, did she find another?  Is that the hurt I can see in you?”

              “No, it was a little before December about six years ago.  She wanted me to go down to San Diego with her for the weekend.  I decided to stay up in Burbank to work through a design problem on the Venus probe. I think she was upset with me that I had put my work first.  It was late, and she was driving back on the Pacific Coast Highway.  A truck crossed the divider; I guess the driver fell asleep.  I got a call from the hospital in Mission Viejo.  I got there as fast as I could but…she was already gone. The police said it was instantaneous.  The hardest part is the things you wish you had said…things you’ll never say…”   

           Marina could see the set of his jaw and the forced smile, but she could also see the single tear form and well up in his eye. She felt her own emotions forcing their way to the surface.

           “Oh Colin, I wish to say I share your pain.  Five years ago I was nevesta, it means fiancée. Ivan Siminov was to be my husband as soon as he completed cosmonaut training. He...he was flying a specially modified MIG-25 fitted with rocket packs. He had taken his aircraft to the threshold of space.  Something happened with the computer that balanced the thruster controls.  At that altitude there is almost no air and his ailerons were useless. The computer was to take those corrections and translate them into commands to fire the thrusters. Something went wrong. The thrusters over corrected, and his plane went completely out of control.  His MIG, it broke apart. He never had the chance to eject.”

            Her eyes grew red as she told the story and tears stained her cheeks. Colin reached across the seat and held her close to him letting her tears flow as she buried her head in his shoulder.

          Through tear streaked eyes, Marina continued, “He called me just before he took off.  He was so happy and said he would pluck a star from the sky for me… I never got say goodbye.”

             Colin knew they had more in common than their work in the field of space exploration; they had both been the survivor, left to carry on when the person that they loved had died.

            “Colin is that why you have not married either? Are you like me?  Can you not bare it, to be the one, the one left behind?  I couldn’t live through that again…ever.”

              He held Marina close and stroked her chestnut hair.  “No one knows what the future holds for us or for humanity.  We have less than three years to stop whatever is coming.  Maybe it’s time we both stopped dwelling in the past and start to live each day for what it is: A gift to the living.”

          A Mercedes limousine from the Yuzmash rocket manufacturing facility met them at the airport, and they drove off in the early winter chill of the late afternoon. The sun had become fully obscured by dark gray clouds that held a promise of snow later that evening.  Zhenya, the young driver was happy to try his somewhat limited English out on Colin Hewette, and they both discovered their common love of motorcycles.  On the way to the plant, with Marina’s help, they debated the merits of European bikes like BMW, Ducatti, and Triumph against their Japanese rivals like Suzuki and Honda. Soon, they had pulled in front of the main office entrance of the plant and were greeted by Director Boris Kovolchuk, a burly man with black curly hair and a wide grin.  He reminded Hewette of a large friendly bear.

         “Ah, greetings Doctor Hewette, welcome to Dnipropetrovs’k.  I was under the impression that you would be coming alone.  Who is your lovely companion?”

           Colin took hold of Boris’s large hand and shook it warmly, “This is Marina Asamova from the SETI project, ah… sorry the search for extra terrestrial intelligence.  She is coordinating Russian efforts with ours in the US.

           Boris Kovolchuk gave her a wide smile that revealed one gold tooth, “Well I am delighted to welcome such a beauty with such intelligence to Ukraine”

          Marina returned the smile, “Oh thank you so much, but I am home, well not Dnipropetrovs’k.  I was born in Kiev, actually.”

         Boris smiled at Colin and gave him a wink, “Ah… a Kiev girl! Now I must tell you that you are a lucky man. There is no woman on the face of the Earth more lovely than a Kiev girl!”  It was evident to the director of the Yuzmash plant from their body language that there seemed to be more than just a professional relationship between Colin Hewette and Marina Asamova.  Hewette was thinking, “Was it that obvious?  I’m really losing my heart to her,” and he hoped she felt the same.

 Marina Asamova