By now Apalkov is muttering a constant stream of what sounds like four or five of roughly the same words over and over. Either he's praying, which is understandable under the circumstances, or he's cursing, which is probably more likely. Either way, Tsybenko doesn't translate. He just nods. "Me," he says, "I think I invest in good steel-toed boots, and end the next fight before it begins."

Petliura murmurs something to Tsybenko and darts out of the reactor room. The cosmonaut says, "He goes to ensure the men are evacuated properly."