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Authors: Kevin George
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further – but both Yuri and the general wanted him to continue.
"Popov, right? What is it that Simonova does not want you telling me?"
"No, sir, it's not that I don't want him to tell you," Alexei stammered. "It's just –"
"Silence," the general said firmly. "I was speaking to Popov."
Alexei looked at Yuri, an expression of fear apparent in his eyes, but Yuri did not heed his unspoken warning.
"General, I think we – well I think it was actually I – discovered a black hole. We were just watched a comet collided with it."
Alexei watched as the general's face turned red, quickly changing from a look of interest to one of anger. Alexei prayed Yuri would stop talking, but the young man did not seem to notice the look on Reikoff's face.
"I've been studying this part of space for a few months now," Yuri continued. "I think this could be a very important astronomical discovery in –"
"One moment, Popov. I want to make sure I have this correct. You've been using the most expensive, most hi-tech equipment that the Russian government has bought for your own personal star gazing?"
"No, sir. It's not like that – "
Again, General Reikoff interrupted Yuri, but this time he did not do so as politely. The general grabbed a hold of Yuri's shirt and lifted him a few inches off his feet, as Alexei moved a step over. Alexei would have liked to come to his coworker’s defense, but the boy should have heeded his warning and kept his mouth shut. Some people had to learn the hard way that not following orders and trying to make a name for oneself at the expense of the government would not be tolerated.
"Now, you listen here, Popov," Reikoff began, his words seething between his clenched teeth. "This is not play time, you are not here to do what you want. You are here to follow the orders that I, or any other superior officer, give. You are not here to look for stars or comets or anything else you feel is necessary. What you think does not matter. You are here to study and keep track of US satellites."
"I understand, sir, but-"
"But? Don't you understand who I am? How dare you talk back to me in such a manner. How dare you think your side projects are more important than the national defense of our Mother Russia. You can be easily replaced, Popov, and I wonder if I should question your loyalty."
Alexei could see that Yuri was on the verge of tears and he finally decided that now was the best time to intercede.
"Sir, the boy is young and stupid. I must take responsibility for his actions. I suppose I have not shown him the correct way to go about this job."
General Reikoff's face turned back to its normal pasty shade and he lowered Yuri back to the ground. He turned to Alexei.
"Yes, you should have taught him better. You have been working here a long time, Simonova, and you should know by now how to teach your job to another person. Quite frankly you've been a major disappointment as well and I really should fire you both right now. But I won't. I am a reasonable man, I believe in second chances."
With this, the general turned and began to leave the room. Before he was even through the door, Alexei already started to maneuver the telescope into a new position, one to study the area just above Earth, where the US satellites were likely to be.
"But just remember this, Comrades," the general said, his last word spoken in a contemptuous tone of voice. "I do not believe in third chances, for you or your families."
When Yuri and Alexei were alone, they could both still feel the tension hanging ominously in the air. Yuri was clearly embarrassed by the whole situation and apologized to Alexei for getting him into trouble as well.
"It's okay, Comrade. I understand what you were trying to do, but I still should have explained things better to you, as the general said."
"Then you know I was right about the black hole and its importance?" Yuri asked, trying to look for some kind of reassurance that his discovery was, in fact,
"Popov, right? What is it that Simonova does not want you telling me?"
"No, sir, it's not that I don't want him to tell you," Alexei stammered. "It's just –"
"Silence," the general said firmly. "I was speaking to Popov."
Alexei looked at Yuri, an expression of fear apparent in his eyes, but Yuri did not heed his unspoken warning.
"General, I think we – well I think it was actually I – discovered a black hole. We were just watched a comet collided with it."
Alexei watched as the general's face turned red, quickly changing from a look of interest to one of anger. Alexei prayed Yuri would stop talking, but the young man did not seem to notice the look on Reikoff's face.
"I've been studying this part of space for a few months now," Yuri continued. "I think this could be a very important astronomical discovery in –"
"One moment, Popov. I want to make sure I have this correct. You've been using the most expensive, most hi-tech equipment that the Russian government has bought for your own personal star gazing?"
"No, sir. It's not like that – "
Again, General Reikoff interrupted Yuri, but this time he did not do so as politely. The general grabbed a hold of Yuri's shirt and lifted him a few inches off his feet, as Alexei moved a step over. Alexei would have liked to come to his coworker’s defense, but the boy should have heeded his warning and kept his mouth shut. Some people had to learn the hard way that not following orders and trying to make a name for oneself at the expense of the government would not be tolerated.
"Now, you listen here, Popov," Reikoff began, his words seething between his clenched teeth. "This is not play time, you are not here to do what you want. You are here to follow the orders that I, or any other superior officer, give. You are not here to look for stars or comets or anything else you feel is necessary. What you think does not matter. You are here to study and keep track of US satellites."
"I understand, sir, but-"
"But? Don't you understand who I am? How dare you talk back to me in such a manner. How dare you think your side projects are more important than the national defense of our Mother Russia. You can be easily replaced, Popov, and I wonder if I should question your loyalty."
Alexei could see that Yuri was on the verge of tears and he finally decided that now was the best time to intercede.
"Sir, the boy is young and stupid. I must take responsibility for his actions. I suppose I have not shown him the correct way to go about this job."
General Reikoff's face turned back to its normal pasty shade and he lowered Yuri back to the ground. He turned to Alexei.
"Yes, you should have taught him better. You have been working here a long time, Simonova, and you should know by now how to teach your job to another person. Quite frankly you've been a major disappointment as well and I really should fire you both right now. But I won't. I am a reasonable man, I believe in second chances."
With this, the general turned and began to leave the room. Before he was even through the door, Alexei already started to maneuver the telescope into a new position, one to study the area just above Earth, where the US satellites were likely to be.
"But just remember this, Comrades," the general said, his last word spoken in a contemptuous tone of voice. "I do not believe in third chances, for you or your families."
When Yuri and Alexei were alone, they could both still feel the tension hanging ominously in the air. Yuri was clearly embarrassed by the whole situation and apologized to Alexei for getting him into trouble as well.
"It's okay, Comrade. I understand what you were trying to do, but I still should have explained things better to you, as the general said."
"Then you know I was right about the black hole and its importance?" Yuri asked, trying to look for some kind of reassurance that his discovery was, in fact,
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