"So today we are going to discuss the cold adaption reaction of bacteria." Abhay started his lecture in one of the oldest rooms at King's College. A long row of genius researcher and scientist have been sitting on this chairs before looking down on their mentors. Frederick Gowland Hopkins
[1] sat there, in 1929 he won a nobel price, and to be honest that was Abhay Hepworth's goal too. One day he will be in line with all the great names coming from here, one day...
"By the way, does anyone know why cold stress is lethal to them?" he asked, while stopping and looking into the audience.
"Because the metabolism is down-regulated..." -
"...that is true Mister O'Reagon. But as you will have noticed we are talking about membran phenomena, right? With decreasing temperature the membran fluidity is decreased as well and exchange processes are significant slower." he began to walk slowly up and down again.
"And so everybody knows, we are talking about a stress response at 20°C when it comes to temperature, so it seems bacteria mostly behave like people from nothern africa. No offense intended Miss Besma." he grinned at a girl with a muslim headscarf in the first row.
"So I guess you haven't read the article on my webpage as I asked you to do then right?"While he continued speaking about the cold adaption of some special bacteria his glance alway stroke back to a person sitting in the last row, wearing a black suit, middle aged and looking disinterested. Abhay was sure that he had never saw this guy in any lecture he held before.
... and that is why there are good evidence, that there a two different adaption strategies in Bacillus subtilis...In his mind he tried to recall the last lecture and seminars he gave.
.
.
.
"... so we see next week, same time, same place." he ended his presentation while clicking through his last slide.
As he packed his laptop in his back the black suited man came down. The light from the ceiling reflecting on his bold head.
"Mister Hepworth can I speak with you?" -
"Of course, just follow the corridor in room 1.21 Miss Andrews will make an appointment for you. But you know that it is kind of late to wanted to sign in weeks after the semester started?"The man looked confused at Abhay, not sure how to reaction:
"No, I need to speak with you know, it is very important."Abhay took his backpack and left the room:
"Just follow me, I can spend a few minutes before my lab meeting starts. So what's the deal."After a few moments he reached his office, and closed the door behind him and his guest:
"Take a seat please." He offered the man, while he walked around his desk and took he seat himself. To the left and the right on his desk papers pile, looking like they are going to crash down and destroy everything, the indian man included, on their way down.
"Ahh, before I forget do you have black sunglasses?" Again the man glanzed confused at Abhay:
"Yes, why do you ask?" He grasped in his pocket and brought up a black sunglas.
"I was just wondering wether you are from the MI6 or the Men in Black[2], but with that sunglases it look like you are from the M.I.B. Could you greet Will Smith if you see him, he did a fantastic job." Abhay explained his question.