A First Breath

The Jeep pulls up in front of the Field Centre.

Must you head back to Constanta tonight? asks Cristian.

Not necessarily, says Gaius.

Rich and I are staying for a few days, says Cristian. So you're welcome to stay overnight. We dine in the cafeteria, and sleep in the living quarters. In the morning we'll show you the underground labs.

Very kind, says Gaius. And Arthur?

He's also welcome, says Cristian. As is the spider.

Considering that he is holding the spider, Proust wonders whether to take great offence at the implied insult from a person who has no reason on earth to insult him, unless on the grounds that he is a dilettante microbiologist, who has learned his microbiology from Google while lying in bed, eating coddled eggs on toast, which is difficult, but how this person could know any such details of his private life and eating habits is beyond him...

And of course, says Rich, you too will be welcome.

He is looking directly at Proust as he says this.

Proust is mollified.

Cristian takes Gaius to look at the living quarters.

Rich goes off to deliver the flagellate samples to the underground lab.

Arthur and Proust sit down on a low stone wall, conveniently placed to catch the late afternoon sun.

Cristian didn't ask you for the key, says Proust.

Gaius didn't ask you for the spider, says Arthur.

They look at the spider, in the bottle.

He'll die in that bottle, says Proust.

Not if we let him out, says Arthur.

He'll die if we let him out, says Proust.

How come? says Arthur.

He's used to breathing methane and sulphurous fumes, says Proust. And that's what's in the bottle. If he ever comes out, the fresh air will kill him.

It might make him stronger, says Arthur.

The spider is of Arthur's opinion.

I don't want to die in the bottle. What a prospect. Turning up in the Canary Islands, the relatives waiting to greet me, Hello Daniel! Welcome Daniel!  (No, not Daniel!)....and there I am, can't even get out of the bottle....

He tries to catch Arthur's attention. Tap, tap, on the bottle.

But Arthur and Proust are looking at the road now. They have seen Albertine.

She is riding a bicycle.

Hi, says Albertine. I came early. I knew you'd be back. What's that, a spider?

Yes, says Proust, A spider. I'm calling him Daniel.

Wham! A double surprise!

First of all for the spider. (So I'm Daniel again! What's up with these people?)

Secondly, for Proust. Albertine has evinced no reaction.

Arthur decides to assist him.

Daniel, says Arthur. Isn't that the name of your boyfriend?

No way, says Albertine. What makes you think so?

Hearsay, says Arthur.

Albertine shakes her head.

Everything set for tonight? asks Albertine.

Yes, says Arthur. I've still got the key.

What about any other stuff? asks Albertine. Torches?

No torches, says Proust. We have OTHER SENSES.

This will impress her.

Okay, says Albertine. It's your call. Hey, take a look at your spider! He wants to come out.

She takes the bottle from Proust and twists the lid off.

Foul smelling air rushes out, and is replaced by fresh air from the Black Sea coast of Romania.

Daniel takes a first breath.