Chapter 21 The Ural Mountains
As they sat waiting for supper, Jeffrey spoke, "They didn't think I wanted to learn very much," he admitted.
"I thought you were a bottomless pit when it comes to learning," Phineas said.
Jeff shrugged, "I guess I am with you."
There was silence.
"Teach me about the Volga and Ural Rivers," Jeff asked, and Phineas didn't have the heart to refuse.
Bogg laughed and shook his head, this kid, his kid, was amazing. "What do you know about the Ural Mountains?"
Jeff searched his mind as he settled in against Bogg's chest again. "Not much, they're in Europe, aren't they?"
"Basically, they separate Europe from Asia. They stretch from the Arctic Ocean in the north to almost the Caspian Sea in the south, and they're important to Voyagers so you should know a lot about them. Actually, you should know about the Caspian Sea too, but I'll save that for another day," Bogg answered with a smile.
"Why are they important? What should I know?"
"The Ural Mountains are unique on the earth. They have a very high concentration of certain metals and because of that, the omni won't function correctly in some of the river valleys in those mountains. The metals are concentrated in the sediment of the rivers. Remember we talked about that? So, no Voyager wants to be dropped into the Ural Mountains, especially near the Volga or Ural rivers."
"What metals?" Jeff asked interestedly.
"The Platinum Group metals. Six elements clustered together on the Periodic Table. Do you know what the Periodic Table is?"
"I read a book once called "Mendeleev and the Numbering of the Elements."
"Of course you did," Phineas commented.
Jeff continued with a smile, "it was about how Dmitri Mendeleev figured out how to put all the elements into the Periodic Table so it would make sense. But, I don't remember very much about platinum, other than it's a metal," Jeff admitted.
"Do you know that if metals are listed in the same area on the table, they have similar properties?"
"Yeah, I guess."
"Anyway, omnis don't function right if you get too close to the platinum group metals. So Voyagers would never willingly go to either the Volga or Ural rivers. It would be very unusual to get dropped there, and if we ever did, we'd hike away from the water, up into the mountains and get out as soon as we could."
"Wow!" Jeff exhaled. He'd been mesmerized by the story Bogg was telling. He was impressed with Bogg's knowledge. Every time he started to feel like he knew it all, it seemed Bogg would be able to teach him something else. "Now tell me about the Caspian Sea."
"I want to finished with the Urals first, so I'm sure you understand it," Phineas answered.
Jeff sighed, but smiled, "okay, what else is there?"
"Okay," he continued, "the six platinum group metals are ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium and platinum. So, let's see if we can find a pencil so you can write them down a few times."
Jeff immediately got up and began to search some nearby drawers until he found a pencil and a scrap of paper. Then he sat down at a desk close to Phineas and started to write, "what are they again?" he asked trying to stifle a yawn.
Phineas repeated the names so Jeffrey could write them down.
Supper was brought in before he finished and they ate together. Dr. Bradshaw stopped in briefly afterward. "Just wanted to finalize the diagnosis, just to be sure," he told them. "It looks like there's going to be some fireworks outside, so just stay in here. Jeffrey's my patient and he's still under treatment."
Just then they heard loud voices outside the door. "There it is, stay here," he said and walked out.
"Why is Voyager Bogg in there with him," it was Brindle's voice.
"I told you, they've manipulated the doctor," they heard Oliver say.
Bradshaw cleared his voice. "Jeffrey Jones is my patient and is undergoing treatment at the moment."
"And how long will this 'treatment' take?" Brindle asked.
"I'll re-evaluate him tomorrow," Bradshaw said firmly.
"You can't keep him here for homesickness, that's ridiculous," Oliver said.
Bradshaw picked up the chart outside the door and wrote something at the bottom. Oliver took it and read aloud, "Abdominal pain, ?gastroenteritis" what's that?" he asked.
"The diagnosis that's going to keep him overnight. Now, he needs rest and quiet, so why don't you folks go home and call me in the morning."
"Who's your supervisor?" Brindle asked, insensed.
Bradshaw handed her a card, "he's expecting your call," he said.
She took the card in frustration, realizing he'd already talked to his supervisor about the case. "On second thought, I'll call the Head of the Hospital," she said.
"I need you to clear this area, we never know when we'll be getting an emergency in," Bradshaw told them all, motioning to the door of the waiting room. He watched them leave with a satisfied expression. He hadn't talked to Hal Chamberlain, the Head of the Hospital, but he had been working there long enough to know that Chamberlain would never override a treatment decision, no matter who asked. He walked to the desk and addressed the evening manager, "I'll be here tonight. If anything happens with Jeffrey Jones, I want to know right away."
She nodded and he went for one last time to check-in with Jeff before retiring for the evening.
Author's Note: These facts about the Ural Mountains and the platinum group metals are true. The book about Mendeleev is a real book. That they disrupt the functioning of an omni is only the product of my imagination of course.