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“That’s right! I am even going to provide accommodation for you!”

Without waiting for an answer, Kelvin strode off. Steph turned to look at, who she assumed she now had to call, her two new colleagues. Daniel shook her hand warmly with calloused hands.

Martina nodded curtly and said, “Follow me.”

Steph watched Martina stalk off. Daniel looked apologetic before holding out a supinated hand in the direction of his senior. Chewing her lip, Steph followed.

TEN

Steph was glad to find herself being taken somewhere of real interest. Not that the house itself was not interesting, but now she was getting to the real substance of its existence. She found herself walking through a lab, although this lab seemed to be missing something. There were microscopes, machines, jars with what looked like animal foetuses inside, as well as other bits Steph would expect to see. However, apart from Martina, there were no other scientists.

“Where are the people who work here?” Steph asked.

“I’m here,” Martina replied curtly, not breaking her stride.

She ushered Steph through a door at the end of the lab that opened into a small office. Steph stepped inside, followed by Daniel. The young man seemed to take his cues from Martina and waited for her to sit down behind her desk before taking a seat himself. Steph followed his lead.

“Surely, you’re not the only one who works in here?”

“Why?” Martina asked. “You think I need help from others?”

“No, it’s just that… well, yes. Maybe you do need help as it seems a big operation and…”

Martina scowled until Steph felt her words shrink back down her throat.

“You don’t know the first thing about real science.”

Steph didn’t reply. A small part of her burned with embarrassment. The comment felt too close to home.

“Yes, I have people work for me. Just two – Kelvin likes to keep a small workforce for now.”

“Where are they?”

“One is attending a wedding, and the other has gone to see his dying grandparent,” Martina replied. “Not that it is really any of your business!”

Martina continued to glare. Steph gripped her hands together and rolled her thumbs over each other.

“So what exactly is going on and what is my job?”

It was best to get to the point. Martina was clearly not a conversationalist.

Martina leaned back in her chair and exhaled. She seemed to be studying Steph’s face with an intensity similar to Kelvin’s. Eventually she leant forward and rested her elbows on the table, her hands clasped under her chin.

“I will be blunt with you,” Martina began. “I don’t have time for games with words or whatever. I don’t like that you’re here. I think it is too early. I do not think you’re needed as it can be sorted in-house. I don’t know you so I cannot trust you and…”

Steph opened her mouth to interject but Martina held up a hand and raised her voice slightly.

“…I need trust. We need trust if this is all going to work. Maybe I will learn to trust you, maybe not. That is the way it is. Whatever the case, you are here now, so I will tell you what we are doing and what, I assume, Kelvin wants of you. If you have any questions after that, you can ask Daniel. He is much more… friendly.”

Steph had many questions. She looked at Daniel who smiled affably.

“I shall try to be… what’s the word again?” Martina said, looking at Daniel. “That one you say I am?”

“Succinct!” Daniel said.

“Yes, that! We are working on a large rewilding experiment. I am sure you have come across countless examples of this. Like when they put wolves back into Yellowstone, for example. Or how they are trying to bring back beavers in England. Anyway, we are trying to do that here by introducing animals that have been native to the land in the past and…”

“What kind of animals?” Steph asked.