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  “Not at all, Dixie. I value your input. Go ahead.”

  “Well,” she started, averting her eyes, “you might consider giving some of Li’s chores and responsibilities to someone else. Let him concentrate on the digging and the workers. Someone else can worry about the kitchen and the commissary. I think if you would do that, you’d find Li a much better foreman.”

  Harry looked at Dixie and smiled. “How can someone as young as you be so wise?” he said. “I don’t know why I didn’t think of it.”

  “You’ve got a lot to be concerned with, that’s all.”

  “I’ll tell Li of the change today. And thanks. This is a big undertaking, this project.” A figure appeared in the doorway of the command tent. Harry waved. “Ah, Sube. Dixie, this is my friend from the Mongolian Academy of Sciences.”

  Dixie nodded to the man who was dressed in jeans and a denim shirt.

  Harry picked up the coffee pot, beckoning the man inside. “Care for some coffee, Sube? We were just discussing the day’s work.”

  “No thanks, Harry. How is the work progressing? Does it look good?”

  “Yes, very. We know this region of Mongolia is promising for hominids,” Harry reminded him. “When the team of researchers from Germany, France, and the United States found that skull in the Republic of Georgia that dated 1.7 million years ago, it seemed to prove your hypothesis--that our early ancestors left Africa on their way to Asia. That skull showed clear signs of African ancestry and is probably Australopithecus. If early hominids crossed the Asian land bridge on their way to North America, it stands to reason that there should be hominid fossils here in Mongolia.” He paused to take a gulp of water.

  Dixie smiled at Sube. “And in addition, our colleague Ross and his team found some rudimentary stone tools in the Gobi Desert last year. Remember, Harry?”

  “Of course. Their paper in Anthropology made all the news outlets. Isotope analysis of the basalt places the age of the site at about 1.77 million years old, but the paleomagnetic signature of the sediment burrows themselves encompasses a period from 1.77 million to a little over a million years ago. So it is still far from conclusive.”

  “Interesting,” Sube mused. “Do you hope for similar finds here in the Altai Mountains?”

  “One never knows,” Harry confessed. “Those same researchers found and recorded nearly four dozen of the stone artifacts and rodent fossils known to have lived more than a million and a half years ago which were found with the tools confirming the age. So it’s a very good possibility.”

  Harry found another two bottles of water and offered one to Sube and one to Dixie. Then he got a bottle for himself. After taking a couple of big gulps, he continued. “Of course, these theories beg the question as to why the hominids left Africa. Most plausible would be they left to find food as the African savannas began to shrink in size.”

  Sube gazed at Harry and rubbed his chin for a moment. “I have heard that theory. But have you any plausible reasons for being in the Altai other than the Gobi Desert find?”

  Harry nodded. “Yes, there are rumors that Yves Montague has uncovered a frontal bone and possibly more from just over the border in Russia, but it is unconfirmed at present. From what I have heard, it supposedly came from a pit dug for gold mining. Then, a small fossil finger bone was found at the Denisova Cave in these Altai Mountains in southern Siberia. Nothing about the bone seemed unusual, and it was assumed to belong to one of the Neanderthals living there in that time period, between 30,000 and 48,000 years ago. When the mitochondrial DNA of the bone was sequenced, however, it belonged neither to a Neanderthal nor to a modern human. This could, quite conceivably, be a landmark discovery, changing the way we view Asian hominid history. The finger bone was nicknamed the X-Woman, X for unknown and woman because mitochondrial DNA is maternally inherited but, in fact, it didn’t necessarily belong to a female. As you know, males have mitochondrial DNA too--they just don’t pass it on to their children.”

  “I see,” Sube said. “So the Altai could be a potential source for early human remains?”

  “Absolutely,” Harry assured him. “And your government has been kind enough to grant us the necessary permits. We are very grateful.”

  “My field is geology,” Sube replied, “so I am in the dark when it comes to DNA. It seems quite complicated.”

  “Yes, it is,” Dixie said. “But it is an invaluable tool. With an upper molar tooth found at Denisova, which also had the mitochondrial DNA sequenced, that mitochondrial DNA sequence was very similar to that of the finger bone, indicating that both individuals probably belonged to the same population.”

  “It gets involved and complicated in a hurry,” Harry said, taking a gulp of water. “Where Neanderthals differ from modern humans by an average of 202 positions in the mitochondrial DNA genome, the Denisovan individual differs from modern humans by an average of 385 positions. This implies that the most recent common mitochondrial DNA ancestor of the Denisovan, Neanderthals and modern humans lived an estimated 1,000,000 years ago. This made them about twice as old as the most recent common mitochondrial DNA ancestor of Neanderthals and humans. There is speculation that the Denisovan might belong to a previously unknown species, but it is also possible that it belongs to a relic Homo erectus, or to a Neanderthal that had retained an archaic mitochondrial DNA sequence, or even to a modern human.”

  Sube shook his head. “An unknown species? I thought--”

  Harry Chuckled. “Archeologists are constantly finding new hominids that take years to sort out. So, the theory goes, the Denisovans then headed east. Some 50,000 years ago, they interbred with humans expanding from Africa along the coast of South Asia, bequeathing some of their DNA to them. Researchers have looked for evidence of interbreeding comparing the Denisovan genome to the complete genomes of five people, from South Africa, Nigeria, China, France and Papua New Guinea and much to the scientist’s astonishment, a sizable chunk of the Denisova genome resembles part of the New Guinea DNA.”

  Sube rubbed his eyes as if pushing away fatigue. “And from New Guinea?”

  Dixie patted his shoulder. “And they may have come out of the Caucasus and Pamir Mountains of central Asia, before crossing into the Altai Mountains here in southern Mongolia.”

  Harry smiled at Dixie, glad she had finally decided to come on the expedition. She was energetic and good-looking. Her left cheek sported a small dark beauty mark that turned darker when she became excited. When he had approached her with the idea, she was skeptical, not sure she wanted to spend time alone with an unmarried professor in a distant land.

  She told him that, when she had called her parents for their opinion, they quizzed her repeatedly about his background, who his parents were, and if he had ever made a pass at her. She answered all their questions, but they still were not sure if it was a good idea.

  But he convinced her that, as her major professor in charge of her doctoral thesis, he was not the least bit interested in her as a woman and only desired a competent colleague. He had no time for such doings right now. However, he had asked her to call him by his first name.

  She had proven him right, for she was as energetic as she was competent, always willing to listen while he bounced ideas and new theories around. As she sat across from him now, he realized she was as beautiful as she was intelligent. She smiled at him now then turned back to Sube. “We think Australopithecus became extinct somewhere around two million years ago so if Ross’s skull is indeed an Australopithecus it would cast an entirely different light on our current theories of hominid development. To find such an early fossil here in Mongolian Asia would not only be earth-shattering news for the scientific community it would cause most of us to rethink how we as Homo sapiens came to be.”

  “This has been most interesting. Thank you, Harry, and you too, Dixie.” Sube stood shook both their hands. “I can now report to my government that there is much hope for a successful excavation.”

  As Sube left, Harry noticed that Dixie was g
azing at the mountains. He exhaled a long, slow breath. “Beautiful up here, isn’t it?”

  She smiled and brushed a lock of hair from her face. “It is, indeed, Harry. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite as enchanting. Even our rustic living conditions haven’t dampened my enthusiasm.”

  Harry stood and stretched. “Well, I need a short nap before dinner. Still haven’t completely acclimated to the altitude yet. I will see you when the dinner bell rings.”

  With that, he walked out of the command tent and headed to the rear of the expedition compound and his personal tent. He zipped the mosquito netting shut, reclined on his cot, and closed his eyes. His thoughts drifted to Dixie. He was glad she was along for the ride. He made a mental note to apologize to Li for accosting him earlier. Li was a team member Harry couldn’t afford to lose.

  ***

  When Harry awoke, the sun was setting behind the peaks casting long purple shadows over the Altai Basin. He could hear music emanating from the mess tent, indicating that dinner was almost ready and everyone was congregating, socializing, and discussing the events of the day. The quiet hum of the camp generator pulsed in the background as Harry made his way to dinner.

  Soft yellow lights burned inside the large tent that served as both kitchen and dining hall. Entering, he found Dixie sitting at a long table, chatting with Li Chao, and sipping a soft drink. The young man frowned at Harry’s approach.

  “Li, I owe you an apology,” Harry said, sitting next to Dixie. “I was frustrated earlier today and I’m afraid I took it out on you. Unfairly. I’m sorry.”

  Li looked up from his folded hands and smiled. “Li accepts apology, Harry. All forgiven. When I was studying at Brandeis, I heard of this new professor at California Pacific University and his theories. I have wanted to work with you for quite a while and I am thankful for this opportunity. I understand and there is no reason to apologize.”

  Harry extended his open hand. “Nevertheless Li, I am sorry. I’m glad you’re with us. And I want you to appoint someone else to oversee the kitchen and commissary duties. It will free you up to devote your time to the dig and we can spend more time together going over everything.”

  Dixie tossed her head back and laughed. “Good, that’s settled. Now, let’s eat. I’m starved.”

  Over dinner of stewed chicken and boiled potatoes, Li continued a discussion he had started the previous evening. “This past week here in the Altai steppe has been like coming home for me. I remember this place from my teenage years. The major factors that make the Altai Mountains a recreational domain of great value for Mongols are the amazing natural diversity, along with a small population of people who are historically nomadic and who have a very natural way of life. Finally, remoteness from any industries. The people here live only for tourism and agriculture. All this has ensured that the Altai region stayed untouched by industrial development and remains a very special place.

  “During the Soviet times, Altai was a mecca for adventure tourism, especially rafting. Altai Mountains have a lot of rivers, Katun, Biya, and Chuya, being the longest of them. There are also dozens of smaller mountain rivers that are fed by Altai’s glaciers. Along all these rivers, there are a lot of places for recreation and fishing. As you have seen, you can easily put a tent anywhere you want.”

  Dixie nodded. “The vast expanse and remoteness of this area astounds me. Trekking to this site I didn’t see any other people except our group and we traveled for days.”

  Harry held up a hand in protest. “Oh, please, don’t remind me of that pack trip. My backside is still aching from being on that horse for days. And those camels. Whew.”

  “Camels and horses have been a way of life of my nomadic ancestors for generations. My grandfather used to tell stories of packing his family and possessions onto three camels and trekking for a week, searching for new grazing for his small herd of yaks. Fortunately, my father moved to the city so my sister and I grew up in a more conventional environment. But my close friend Bao, who tends our animals, grew up in this basin. The modern population is a mixture of indigenous Altai and Russian settlers, some of the latter still leading the life of Old Believers in their villages, with strict rules and very much isolated from civilization. There are a few remote villages in the Altai where you can see wool being spun on a hand loom and hear traditional Altai throat singing.”

  “You grew up in a city?” Harry said, pushing his plate of chicken bones away.

  “Yes, in the town of Kosh-Ut on the Katun River. Seems a long time ago.”

  “Your parents still living, Li?” asked Dixie.

  “No, they died several years ago. My sister moved to Beijing and is a nurse there. How about you, Dixie? You ever going to get your doctorate?”

  Dixie shot a glance at Harry, who took his plate and excused himself from the table.

  “If Harry--er--Dr. Olson ever approves the final draft of my dissertation, I could defend it this fall. I think he’s dragging his feet.”

  “Doesn’t want you to leave, eh? I don’t blame him. You have been a tremendous help to him already on this expedition.”

  “I don’t see how. We haven’t found anything of note yet. He just has me busy keeping a journal and making sure the sectors are dug properly. It’s getting pretty boring, actually.”

  “I guess you have to put in your time, as they say. I do hope we can find something of value before the weather closes us down for the year.”

  “Me too,” Dixie said with a long sigh.

  The pair left the mess tent as the cool evening dusk was settling over the camp.

  Chapter 2

  Harry had grown up in a poor neighborhood in the south side of Chicago. From an early age, he was frequently in trouble at home and at school. Being a quiet, introverted child--some called him shy--led to numerous fights with other children who confused his quiet ways with pretentiousness. At Phillips Academy High School, he grew tall and lanky with sandy blond hair. Steel-blue eyes held a natural curiosity of the world around him and for all forms of life. He kept a butterfly collection until he went off to college. His father, an obese man with a bulbous ruddy nose, was an alcoholic and abusive to his mother, a fact that caused Harry to lie awake at night, plotting the man’s demise. Once, he thought he had devised the perfect crime to rid the family of the man but was too scared to implement it.

  His father rarely worked, spent most of the family money on cheap beer, and sat drunk at night in his shorts, watching late-night movies. Many an evening Harry locked himself in his bedroom while he listened to his father scream and berate his mother until she ran, crying, to a neighbor’s house. To escape the cruelty, on Saturdays he would ride the bus to Lake Shore Drive and Lake Michigan and watch the planes take off and land at Meigs Field. Sitting on the rocks overlooking the lake, Harry plotted his escape from the insanity. But as he grew older, he realized there would be none--he was stuck. He became depressed and his marks in school suffered as a result.

  Harry’s brother, Max, was two years older. Max was his father’s favorite and, when the man was sober, he took the boy with him everywhere. His brother was fastidious, fearful, but due to his father’s loyalty, developed a sense of entitlement at an early age. As the years went by, Harry and Max drifted apart, only seeing each other or talking to each other at family holiday dinners.

  While at Phillips Academy, Harry made the basketball team and, by his senior year, had won all-city honors, his only note to fame. Not having many friends, he kept to himself, wondering what life had in store for his future. His father was noticeably absent at his graduation, a fact that troubled him not in the least. Mother was there, all decked out in her best ten-year-old dress. He was awarded a basketball scholarship to Perdue, where he majored in history. College was good to Harry, for it afforded him time away from his father. The day he left for Indiana, the old man grabbed him by the arm, predicted he would never make good, and told him to never return home. He didn’t want him around anymore.

 
Harry kept his mother informed of his progress by frequent letters he wrote and she, in turn, encouraged his every step in letters of her own.

  One semester during a course in anthropology, he attended a seminar on human evolution given by the distinguished professor at California Pacific University, Dr. Julius Kesler. The seminar changed Harry’s life. From that week onward, he only desired to study the human race and its development. After graduation from Perdue, he gained admittance to Dr. Kesler’s graduate program in anthropology and wrote his doctoral thesis on hominid evolution and their fossils. Following Harry’s doctorate, Dr. Kesler begged him to stay at California Pacific on the faculty. He accepted and began teaching a course in African hominids.

  Those first years on the faculty were spent in the lonely pursuit of an academic career, writing, and teaching. But he could not escape the vague notion that he was not good enough, not smart enough, to warrant Dr. Kesler’s confidence in him. It was made all the worse by the knowledge that, after two years of being the professor’s pride and joy, he had let the man down in a way that almost destroyed his career. Now, when Kesler looked at him, Harry saw the hurt in the man’s eyes. He had become a father to Harry and now, with no self-respect left, Harry thought about leaving the university.

  Then Kesler asked Harry to lead the expedition to the Altai Mountains in Mongolia to search for hominid fossils. Harry jumped at the chance. The professor, as his students and colleagues called him, gathered the necessary funds to finance such an outing and seemed pleased that Harry was heading it. It had taken six months for Harry to coordinate all the details, including finding Li Chao to guide the expedition. Purchasing and packing the scientific equipment involved countless hours of checking and rechecking. When Dixie signed on, things went smoother. She had a knack for details. The professor knew Li Chao from a meeting he attended and Harry convinced Li to take on the job as guide and foremen of the local workers they would use for the backbreaking labor.