They followed the path across the tundra to several buildings clustered near the river. The biggest structure, the size of a single-car garage, was surrounded by several windowless buildings that were a third as big. The roofs were constructed from rusty corrugated steel. Two large tents had been set off to the side. Karla walked up to the nearest building and ran her hand over the rough, gray surface of the outside wall.

“This is made almost entirely of bones and tusks,” she said in wonderment.

“The people who lived here made use of the most plentiful material on the island,” Maria said. “The fossils are bound in some sort of homemade concrete. It's quite sturdy, and fulfills its main function, which is to keep the cold wind out.”

The weathered wooden door in the side of the building swung open and a heavyset man with a beetling brow emerged. He shouldered Maria aside, hugged Karla like a long-lost uncle and kissed her wetly on both cheeks.

“I'm Sergei Arbatov,” he said. He gave Karla a gold-toothed smile. “I'm the leader of this project. It's so nice to have such a lovely creature working with us.”

Karla couldn't help but notice the shadow that crossed Maria's brow. She had done her homework on the expedition members and knew that while Sergei was the project leader, his wife was his senior in the number of academic degrees she had. Karla constantly had to butt heads against the male academic establishment, and didn't like the way he patronized her and ignored his wife. Karla stepped past Arbatov and put her arm around Maria's shoulders.

“And it will be nice working with someone of such scientific achievement,” she said.

Maria's frown disappeared and she beamed with pleasure. Arbatov's glower indicated that he didn't appreciate the snub. It's not certain what would have happened next if two more people had not stepped out of the building. Without hesitating, Karla stepped over and bowed slightly before one of the men.

“Dr. Sato, my name is Karla Janos. I'm pleased to meet you,” she said to the older of the two men. “I've heard so much about the Gifu Science and Technology Center and Kinki University.” She turned to the younger man. “And you must be Dr. Ito, the veterinarian, with Kagoshima University in southern Japan.”

The men's mouths widened in toothy smiles, and their heads bobbed, almost in unison, in polite bows.

“We hope you had a good trip,” Dr. Sato said. “We're very pleased you could join our expedition.”

“Thank you for allowing me to be here. I know you must be busy with your own work.”

Karla chatted with the two men about mutual scientific acquaintances, and then Maria came over and took her by the arm.