When an astronaut was caught by a plant, the other saved him, but in return he was blamed of having attempted to kill his team member, instead of receiving appreciation.  

Ozod Moumin Hoja

Is there anybody

With a heart,

Not broken?

(From Uzbek traditional song)

In torrents, the rain is streaming down. The wind is ferocious. Raindrops are lashing my face, my clothes; I am soaking-wet and shivering, chilled to the bone. But I don’t care. My feet keep marching ahead. I know that striding like this is good for me. A little more effort – then here we go! My sweet home, and peace, with a cup of tea, are waiting for me. And, most important of all, there is someone very special here – who can heal my wounds. She is everything for me! She cured my broken heart and will keep on doing it…

I have become disillusioned with this planet. Unfortunately.

I don’t know why on earth I accepted this assignment. In fact, I didn’t really want it. But they said that I would make a pretty lot of money, enough for life; that there would be no need to work later, that I would have a life of luxury that would suit me down to the ground. In the end, I went giddy just thinking about what they’d said. After all, I’d seen some of those who, after taking part in just one exploration assignment on the unknown planet, were coming back home with mega-bucks. Sometimes I envied them; sometimes I felt jealous. I wished I would have been offered such a job as well.

But as we Uzbeks say, “A good intention is half of wealth”, so my thoughts materialized, and I was offered that dream job. After a long hesitation, I set off.

The air is fresh on this planet. Its flora is unfamiliar to both me and my team. No one knows which plant or tree is harmless and which is dangerous. Once I was told that a year before, a huge branch at the top of a tree pulled an explorer in with its branches and even after an hour of trying, his team couldn’t drag the poor man out of its grip. The tree branch was trying to seize anyone who came close. At last, two of the explorers went back to the laboratory to bring a powerful laser gun. Carefully they cut the stalk of the plant, avoiding hurting the botanist who was still trapped. Yet even after the plant had been parted from the ground, it wouldn’t relax its hold, although, thankfully, it lost the ability to seize any more members of the team, so the explorers were able to get closer and finally cut off the branches to free their team-mate. The saved botanist couldn’t say a word for almost two days, and his legs and arms didn’t stop shaking for a day after that. All of this led him to swear an oath never to travel in space again.

Both, me and my mate, Makhsoum Nazar, are armed with laser pistols and special long sticks. With these sticks we can touch any strange plant, then, if the plant doesn’t make any response, we can gather samples of its leaves and other parts. After studying them at the lab, we can make our conclusions on whether they can be used in pharmacy.

Our mission is to create a medicine for fragility of the spinal column. For the last three or four years, the disease, whose source is Africa, has spread all over the world. Anyone who suffers from this illness cannot straighten their backs. Their spines become so fragile that they bend and break, and can cause death. That’s why bed rest is required as soon as the symptoms appear. Nearly a quarter of Africa has already been wiped out because of this disaster. America immediately closed its borders to arrivals from Africa, suspending travel by both air and sea, soon as they began suffering losses. So did Europe. Uzbekistan, which is predominant in Asia, had already acted before the others realized.

Scientists across the globe have been pulling out all the stops to find a drug that cures this disease, but to no avail. Uzbek scientists, who are among the leaders in space exploration, shared their determination. They reached the conclusion that the greatly-needed medicine may be found on another planet and The World Pharmacy Council has promised us a brilliant salary if we can discover any such medicine, and if we succeed, our names will appear in the list of nominees for the Nobel Prize.

It is for all these reasons that I took up my position as a member of the third expedition for this mission.

“I think that’s enough for today, Polat Kamal. These five samples are amply sufficient to analyze for a night”, said Makhsoum Nazar as we took the next plant sample in turn.

“All right”, I said. “But I still think we should take a sample from that one over there. That tall ‘man’ seems very despicable to me.”

“Why do you find it unpleasant?”

“People have something like an instinct. It appears naturally and keeps you out of disaster”, I philosophized. “In any case, we’ll have to study this plant one day. Let’s do it today and be free of this troublesome matter.”

“Agreed! Your worry has infected me. We should handle it carefully.”

I was right. That was not an ordinary plant. This plant, with its thorny branches, tried to hold our sticks as soon as we stretched them out. Makhsoum Nazar could hardly pull his stick out and gave me a questioning look.

“We must cut its stem!” I said.

“How can we go closer? If it catches us, we’ll never get out of its grip!”

“You’re not going to use a cheese knife, I suppose. What are these laser pistols for?”

“To use in case we bump into wild animals.”

“What about wild plants?” I asked.

Makhsoum Nazar seemed not to be aware of the incident that happened last year. However, each astronaut specialist should have known about all extreme occasions. But it was not time to give him a lecture. I had to take immediate action. I drew my pistol out, aimed at the plant’s stem and fired. The plant fell down onto the ground.

“That’s it! It has died!” Makhsoum Nazar exclaimed and took a rapid step towards the plant.

“Stop!” I shouted. “We need to make sure it’s dead!”

Unfortunately, he had already reached the plant. The fierce plant that was knocked down, held out its twigs to the man coming straight to its embrace, grabbed him tightly, and began to suck his blood, sticking its thorns in his body. Makhsoum Nazar gave a loud groan.

“Polat Kamal! Help me…”

I was shocked. I didn’t know what to do. The plant was still alive. Still ferocious, even though it had been brought down. Like some people back on Earth, these plants can keep on doing harm even when they’re dead, by means of this or that, as they did when they were alive, sucking others’ blood.

If I go closer, I will immediately become its next prey. If I wait for even a moment, the plant will kill him. How can I save him? I thought in despair.

The first thing I did was to pull my radio out to inform the commander. I asked for help and advice. He didn’t suggest any sensible options though, except saying that he would send two rescuers straight away.

“When will they reach here? Will they arrive after Makhsoum Nazar has died of blood loss? And who will be responsible for his death? There will appear records that he died due to carelessness that his family should be compensated in the amount of something, but my mind can’t stop having pangs of conscience.”

Our wise people said not to miss the boat. My mind started to work at reckless speed. “I have three weapons – a laser pistol, a knife and a long special stick. The knife can’t help in this situation. I should use the pistol and the stick.”

I approached the plant at a safe distance and touched its twigs with the stick, which instantly saw itself in the grip of the plant. Now I had only a laser pistol. I pulled it out and fired, aiming at the twigs that were tightly holding the stick. I had to be extremely careful so as not to do any harm to Makhsoum Nazar. Ah, the twigs gave a light crackle when my laser hit them. “Good job!” I said and drew the stick out. Now time to aim at the branches that were gripping my team-mate.

Makhsoum Nazar! Don’t move! Don’t let the beam touch you!”

He was so feeble that he couldn’t even move his lips.

There was no other choice. I had to take the risk or my team-mate would die. I aimed at the thickest branch that held Makhsoum Nazar and pulled the trigger.

That brought back a memory from my days in the army. Our company had been taken to the shooting range for the first time, and I was issued with a Kalashnikov rifle and ordered to shoot the silhouette targets at different distances. Each time I succeeded with my first shot and won praise from our commander.

I succeeded this time as well. The branch snapped. “Well done, Polat Kamal!” I commended myself. The next branch in turn. Here was one more ‘Well done’. After four thick branches were broken, Makhsoum Nazar, reviving, began to move.

“Don’t move!” I shouted at him.

“Don’t shoot anymore! You’ll kill me!” he said with effort.

“If you stay still you won’t die! I will save you!”

“No! No… Don’t shoot…” He groaned.

There were only two branches left. If I got rid of them he would be freed from that wild creature. But he wouldn’t listen…

“You idiot! Just shut up!” I got angry at him.

At last he became still. Not to miss the chance, I did away with the two branches. Makhsoum Nazar began moving his hands and, having taken out the knife he was carrying on his belt, he cut off other small blood-thirsty twigs. He roared at me as soon as he unchained his legs.

“You maniac! You could’ve killed me! What have I ever done to you?!”

He could talk pretty well even though he couldn’t move. He kept telling me off, making digs at me. His body was all blackened. There were bloody marks from the thorns all over him. I felt terribly sorry for him. He would have died if I had been a bit later in acting. I took a gauze bandage and some adhesive plasters out of the first aid kit, rubbed the ointment on the marks and put the bandages over them. But still he was discontented.

A half an hour later the two rescuers arrived. They immediately took Makhsoum Nazar to the medical unit in the ship for treatment. I stayed to get samples from the plant, which by then was motionless. And I took some photographs of it and sat on a bump to have a little rest. I was happy and gratified by my success. Saving my mate from an inevitable death made me feel self-contented. Because of my good shooting ability, of course.

Unhurriedly, I set off towards the ship after relieving the anxiety that usually appears at critical moments when you feel uptight and have to take care of it quickly.

I didn’t know that irrelevant and slanderous comments were waiting for me in the ship. Instead of a commendation for doing a distinguished service and saving my team-mate from death, the commander cast me a scornful look.

“Now, tell me, Polat Kamal, why did you intentionally shove your mate into the wild plant?”

I was startled by his behavior.

“Why are you holding your tongue?”

I tried to make sense of what he was saying.

“I saved his life and this is my reward? Slander in return for good?”

“Do you mean I am a slanderer? You called Makhsoum Nazar an idiot – am I telling a tale again?”

“No. It is right. I did. But I wasn’t abusing him. He wouldn’t listen to me when I was trying to cut the branches with the laser beam.”

“Do you deny that you tried to kill him, pretending to be his rescuer?”

“But… How can you…? I saved him from death!”

“Makhsoum Nazar has lodged a complaint regarding your actions. Now it is under consideration. You are denying the charges. We are not able to find out what happened. Consequently, the Special Investigating Committee will investigate further. But the Committee is on Earth. So, you will be relieved of all your duties until we return home. You have no right to leave the ship from now on. You can only get out of your room with my permission. Any questions?”

“How is Makhsoum Nazar? He has lost a lot of blood.”

“He has been treated. The doctors gave him a plasma transfusion. Now he is better and sleeping.”

“We have taken samples from five plants. After Makhsoum Nazar was taken, I got samples from that wild animal too. Will you allow me to study them?”

The commander scratched his head. Then he answered, gazing into my face.

“No, Polat Kamal. Give the samples to the other researchers. They will do it for you. Stay in your room. You may go.”

Two weeks later our ship landed back on the Zarafshan Spaceport in my homeland. The Committee was waiting there for me. They got me to go into the car and took me to their office. Unfortunately, I had no evidence that I could use against the indictment of Makhsoum Nazar. My voice recorder, which was always on when I was on a trip, was also not with me because it had crashed that day. So, the Committee did not believe what I told them. And, at the end, I was banished from the affairs of the universe for life. I was helpless and disappointed. I never expected this outcome, as I had always been responsible and diligent in my duties, always doing my best for the people around me. And now what? I was not even paid. Let alone the award. No way…

The substance extracted from that savage and dangerous plant turned out to be a cure for fragility of the spinal column. The Nobel Committee for Physiology and Medicine found that Maxum Nazar deserved the award. The world press pages burst with his name and photos. He never got tired of telling the story of how he had overcome his mate’s evil intentions, and how he became a world hero, deftly escaping from the grips of the wild plant, using only his Chest knife. These Chest knives made a name for themselves, and the demand for them grew worldwide.

Anyone else would have felt oppressed at such a time. But not me! I knew that one day the Supreme Being would settle everything. I got a job in a completely different sphere. But still there was something in my heart, making me feel upset. The feeling of weakness in the face of the dirty trick that had been played on me wouldn’t stop gnawing at my heart. But yet, the Supreme Being wanted to console me, kindling a fervor in my heart. I fell in love. She is the fairest in the world. I was so captivated that I forgot everything that had happened. I couldn’t stop thinking of her. She was in my dreams while I was sleeping and when I wasn’t, her velvet voice caressed my ears. I wished I could speak only to her, always. Seeing her once a day or two was not enough for me, so I asked her to marry me.

She said “Yes”!

The Being rewarded me with a prize that was a million times greater than the Nobel. I was so happy, full of hopes and desire, again starting to plan for the future.

Then, one day I was called to the Special Investigating Committee. They said it was urgent. I was both surprised and frustrated. What else could they want from me? And why at the very time when I had just begun living in peace and joy?

I got there on time and at the entrance was received by a special office worker who led me to the room of the Chairman. He welcomed me with a smile. All his deputies and section managers were gathered there. The investigator who had fiercely questioned and slandered me was also present. He averted his gaze. The Chairman cleared his throat before he began to speak, facing me.

“Dear Polat Kamal, on the behalf of the entire Committee, I personally apologize to you for the error, committed in the investigation. We have found out that it was you who were the true hero, not Makhsoum Nazar. The absence of arguments misled us into making the wrong decision. I hope you will accept our sincere apologies.”

I was shocked.

In fact, I was as shocked at this sudden revelation of the truth as I had been at the slander all those years ago.

“How did you find it out?” was the only question I asked.

“During the investigating process, you couldn’t hand over your voice recorder that should have always been on while you were working. You said that it was broken. But the investigator didn’t ask Makhsoum Nazar for his recorder as he should have. When we finally got that recorder the mistake was discovered, and we learnt what had happened on that day. The investigator responsible has been severely reprimanded. And we thought you must know it.”

I said nothing. What could I say? I just wanted to shout, saying that they are all leeches and swindlers who were sucking the money of the country that it was better for them to rummage in the manure, like old hens. But it was of no use. The person who had destroyed my life up to the hilt, had been reprimanded and that’s all. He could keep on working as usual.

The Chairman went on talking.

“For your bravery in space you will be fully paid. Also, we have informed the Nobel Committee regarding this matter. They will cancel the prize given to Makhsoum Nazar, and reward the real hero shortly. Congratulations!

Again I said nothing. “I have already got my prize”, I thought.

“You are going to be interviewed tomorrow on the Central Channel. Be ready.” He turned to those around him. “Let’s applaud Polat Kamal!”

A storm of applause broke out.

“May I go now?” I asked.

“Certainly! I hope, tomorrow, you will be ready to speak in public!” He told one of his workers to see me off. “Tell my driver to take our hero home!”

When we went out, I told the worker that I wanted to go alone. I walked home even though it was raining. It was so strange that all the things that had happened a short time ago didn’t make me happy. It made me more upset instead.

In torrents, the rain is streaming down. The wind is ferocious. Raindrops are lashing my face, my clothes; I am soaking-wet and shivering, chilled to the bone. But I don’t care. My feet keep marching ahead. I know that striding like this is good for me. A little more effort – then here we go! My sweet home, and peace, with a cup of tea, are waiting for me. And, most important of all, there is someone very special here – who can heal my wounds. She is everything for me! She cured my broken heart and will keep on doing it…

_________________

Ozod Moumin Hoja was born in 1952 in Tashkent. He is the member of Writer’s Union in Uzbekistan.

(Translated from Uzbek by Munira Norova)