The Tale of the DogArkady stood in the cramped control room of Baikonur Cosmodrome, unable to pull his gaze from the flickering needle of the electrocardiogram. The dog's heart rate had dropped from its dangerous high of 240 bpm. Still, a weight of dread sat in Arkady's stomach. The thermometer readout showed the ambient temperature on the satellite remained over 40°C. She couldn't survive that for long. Something had gone terribly wrong up there in space.
“Come away, Arkady.” Dr. Raskolnikoff stood beside him. “We've worked miracles. There's nothing more we can do, now.”
Arkady glanced at her then back at the dials. “No,” he said. “We can watch. We can do that at least.”
Laika had been frantic at first judging by the readings, thrashing around as much as her chains allowed. Now she app
