Chapter nine: remove the controllrods
30 April 1986. It is early morning and the sun is shining over the horizon. The weather is warm and the river next to Royal Woods has plenty of water. Six-year-old Rita and her father Albert are walking down the river with fishing rods. Albert has his fishing rod in his right hand and a newspaper in his left.
"Here's a good spot." said Albert.
"Do you think we're going to catch something?" asked Rita.
"We'll catch a fish for sure." said Albert. The two sat down on the bank. Rita gave her father the fishing rod and he cast it out. Albert gave them back to Rita and she started fishing. She looked at the water, hoping she would catch a fish. Rita noticed the newspaper lying next to her father. On the front page was a symbol of an atom, and another symbol that Rita recognized immediately. Crossed golden hammer and sickle. The symbol of the Communist Soviet Union. Rita read the headline.
"Accident in cher... chierni... Chiernilobyl." said Rita. Albert looked at Rita.
"Would you like me to read it to you?" asked Albert.
Rita nodded. Albert took the newspaper and read it.
"Four days ago, in the Ukrainian Soviet Republic, there was an accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant of unknown dimensions and reasons, in which a high level of radiation was released, which could be measured even in Sweden. In Germany and Austria, mothers are afraid their children no longer play outside. That's bad."
"What does that mean dad?" asked Rita.
"There was a bad accident at a nuclear power plant. When that happens, people get sick."
Rita hugged Albert's arm in fear.
"Does that happen to us too?" Rita asked anxiously, pointing to the nuclear power plant across the river.
"No. We're safe here."
Rita noticed a tug on her rod.
"I have a fish!" said Rita excitedly.
"Good. Get him." said Albert.
Rita drew in the fishing rod. However, there was no fish on the line, but a model ship.
"Hey. This is my ship." said a man.
He was in his early twenties, had brown hair and a mustache. He was wearing a shirt, a graphite gray tie, and jeans.
"Excuse me." said Rita.
"No problem little ones." said the man.
He went to the fishing rod Rita was holding and unhooked his model ship.
"I recommend fishing downstream from the nuclear power plant. The fish will be attracted to the warm water." said the man.
"Nice to know. Do you work at the nuclear power plant?" asked Albert.
"Yes. I'm Frank Rivera. and someday the boss of this nuclear power plant."
"Good luck. Thanks for the tip." said Albert.
"Good. Good luck and have a nice morning." said Frank Rivera, and left. Albert looked at Rita and laughed.
"Rita. We must catch fish, not ships."
"Okay. I'm going to cast the rod again now." said Rita.
"Good. But make sure the string doesn't get tangled."
Rita cast the line and waited. A few minutes later she felt a strong pull on the fishing rod. She tugged at the fishing rod and reeled in the line. Rita pulled a big fish out of the river. Rita was overwhelmed.
"Rita, that's a fine specimen of a pike." said Albert.
"Is that good?" asked Rita.
"Yes. That's very good." Albert said, and took the pike off the hook.
He put it in a bucket of water. He went to Rita and picked her up.
"Good job. I'm proud of you." Albert said.
Rita was very proud of her catch. So proud that she would still remember it 34 years later.
Lori and Natasha are walking down Franklin Avenue.
"Tasha, what kind of lab do we need?" asked Lori.
"We need equipment to analyze the gamma spectrum. With it we can precisely measure the composition and type of the isotopes. Then we need Geiger counters. Five of them for sure. Then comes the most important thing. To protect the environment we need filters and a huge amount of lead Plates. All to keep radiant particles from escaping." said Natasha.
"Good. And how much money does it all cost?"
"A lot of money. For one of the measuring devices we need, we could only afford a cheap one."
"Then we have a problem."
Lori and Natasha enter the Louds' house, and go to Lori's room. Lori gives Natasha a piece of paper and a pen. Natasha starts drawing.
"I had the idea of building a room within a room with the lead panels. And you need an exhaust chimney to pump air out through a filter in a controlled manner." said Natasha.
"Why is that? Nothing should get out. Oh right. That's what the filters are for." said Lori. Leni, Lola and Lana enter the room.
"Hi Lori. Hi Natasha. Lola asked me to brush her hair. Do you mind if we get here?" Leni asked.
"No. Take it easy. Why is Lana there?" asked Lori.
"I'm bored." said Lana.
Leni sat down on her bed with Lola and began to brush Lola's hair. Lana looked at the blueprint that Natasha drew.
"What's that Natasha?" asked Lana.
"Oh. That's chemistry homework. We're supposed to design a lab." said Natasha.
"I see." said Lana.
"Okay, done." said Leni.
Lola got off the bed.
"Thanks Leni." said Lola, and left the room with Lana and Leni.
Natasha took out her phone and looked at a website.
"3,190 Dollar for a mid-range device. And we only have 2,500 Dollar." said Natasha.
"We need more money." said Lori.
"Maybe my father can give me more money. But what we already have is a lot."
Natasha consideret.
"Lori, tomorrow we're going to see where we can get the gauges cheaply. Maybe we can find a used one." said Natasha.
"Is that good?" Lori asked.
"No. But that's all we'll get."
"Okay. I'll come to your house in the morning and then we'll get the device."
"Good. That's good. Then could you bring my assault rifle with you right now? I bought it and I want it to be with me." said Natasha.
"Should I bring my K31 too? You bought it with your money." said Lori.
"No. I never said it but that was a gift for you."
"Oh. Thanks. But it's an unusual gift."
Natasha looks at Lori and smiles.
"That's right. What friend gives another friend a rifle that was used by the Swiss army and is accurate to 300 meters?"
"A special but good friend." said Lori. "I'll go home then. Good night Lori."
"Good night Natasha."
Natasha left the Louds' house. Lori went to the closet and took out her K31. Natasha's gift to Lori. A thought circled in Lori's head that Lori had never expected. She thought the gun was beautiful. She looked at the wood, the bolt and the firing pin. A shield with the Swiss cross was attached to the top of the metal parts. She put the K31 back in the closet and sat on her bed. Natasha arrived at her home. She enters the house and goes into the living room. Mike sits at the table and looks at the measurement results that he made with the old measuring devices.
"Hi Dad. Are you looking at the inaccurate measurements again?" asked Natasha.
"Yes. Your mother could have fixed it and we wouldn't have the problem. Nobody fixes such an old device anymore." said Mike.
"I'm going to look for a gamma spectrum analyzer with Lori tomorrow. Maybe we can find a used one."
"I don't know if that's enough to convince the scientists. Tomorrow I have to work in block two."
Natasha walked up to her father and hugged him.
"Stop working with Mom's old gauges. I can feel it hurting you." said Natasha.
"Tasha, whoever loves someone can't forget." said Mike.
"Even without Mom, you were nice to be with. You gave me everything I needed."
"You are a wonderful daughter."
"Thanks dad."
Natasha let go of her father and went to her room. She changed clothes and went to sleep.
Lori walks down the street where the Stevensons' house is. She carries an oblong bag with Natasha's Assault Rifle 90 in it.
"I hope I can find the measuring device with Tasha. Then we can start researching and deciphering this mystery of the fuel elements." said Lori to herself.
Lori approaches the Stevensons' house. Natascha is waiting in front of the door.
"Hi Tascha. Did you sleep well?" asked Lori.
"Yes, and you?" asked Natasha.
"I think so. Do you have the money?"
"Yes."
Lori and Natasha go off.
"Lori, we don't have enough money for the gauges. I don't know if it works like that." said Natasha.
"I know. Wait, what do you mean, does it work like that?" asked Lori.
"Well, you know Jack could help us. And he's got things like drugs and guns. And I was like, well."
"What were you thinking?" Lori asked with a suspicious tone.
"If Jack can get hold of drugs, it won't be difficult for him to get hold of the lab equipment."
"Is there another way?"
"Even with ten thousand dollars, we still don't have enough money."
Mike's VW Golf speeds up and squeaks to a stop next to Lori and Natasha. Mike almost falls out of his car and runs towards Natasha. He is holding an envelope in his hand.
"Tasha. Here, take this." said Mike.
"What is that?" asked Natasha confused.
"That's the last money your mother earned. I haven't used it in fifteen years." Mike said, shoving the envelope into Natasha's hand.
"That's fourteen thousand dollars. Fourteen thousand. It's best if we spend it on the lab."
"Dad?" asked Natasha confused.
Mike hugs Natasha and whispers in her ear.
"I trust you. You have the same penchant for perfection as your mother." said Mike, and let go of Natasha.
"I will not disappoint you." said Natasha.
"You never have. I have to work. Good luck to you." said Mike.
Mike gets in his car and drives off. He drives towards Radium street and pulls into the parking lot of the nuclear power plant. He gets out and walks toward the buildings. Mike changes like Normal, but runs into the other building. block two. Block two's control room smelled of menthol cigarettes. There were some people there. At the control desk where Mike worked in block one was a very young woman. She had wavy red hair that was tied back down her back. She kept checking the reactor readouts. Mike walked towards her. The woman must have been about 21 years old. He looked at the reactor readouts.
"You're doing well. Are you an apprentice here?" asked Mike.
"Yes. For four months." said the young woman.
Mike held out his hand to her.
"I am Mike."
The young woman timidly reached out her hand to Mike and shook it.
"Claire."
"Fine Claire. I'm here to help out today. I'll watch and help if needed." said Mike.
"Thanks." said Claire.
The door opens and Celeste Chevalier enters the control room. Mike noticed that she was in a slightly bad mood.
"Well, did everyone have a good night's sleep and have their bellies full? Any special events?" asked Chevalier to a worker.
"No. Nothing special. However, the power distributors..." said the worker, but Chevalier interrupted him.
"Later, later! Don't annoy me!" said Chevalier.
Chevalier stepped into the center of the room.
"I trust my instructions will be followed! Claire, continue to throttle the reactor."
Claire pushed the buttons on the control panel. Then she leans over to Mike.
"What's that supposed to mean? We mustn't go under 2400 megawatts, that's completely impossible. Shall I tell her?" whispered Claire.
"I'll tell her." said Mike.
"You don't have to teach me anything at all." said Chevalier, suddenly standing behind Mike.
Chevalier turns to Claire.
"And you realize that thinking is not part of your job! I decide what to do here! Follow it, kindly!"
Chevalier goes to the rear control panel. Mike and Claire heard her swearing in French.
"What was that?" whispered Claire.
Mike started to grin slightly.
"Menopause."
Claire and Mike chuckled softly. Chevalier lit a cigarette. She watched Mike and Caire for a few minutes.
"Isn't there a faster way? I know ten people in the entire power plant who would have finished with it long ago." said Chevalier.
"We shut down the reactor power strictly according to regulations." said Mike. Chevalier got up.
"Jackson, tell me when those old women over there are done." said Chevalier.
"Yes." said the worker.
Chevalier left the control room. Mike continued to watch Claire's work. She began to retract the control rods further into the reactor. The display jumped from 2693 megawatts to 2647 megawatts.
"Hey hey hey. Slow down." said Mike.
"I hardly moved them." said Claire.
The display jumped to 2521 megawatts.
"I said slowly."
"I just didn't do anything." said Claire.
The display jumped to 2149 megawatts.
"Oh shit. Don't let it be poisoning." said Mike.
The display jumped to 1385 megawatts. Mike walked away from the console and left the control room. Claire glanced after him, and then back at the display, which now read 468 Megawatts. Then it read 234 megawatts, then 114, then very briefly to 29, and stopped at 30. Claire's heart was pounding. It was xenon poisoning. Mike walked down the aisle and saw Chevalier smoking. Mike recognized a look on her face that Mike recognized as mental pain. Chevalier heard him leave and walked past him into the control room. Mike followed her. Chevalier looked at the display. Mike sensed that she was about to get very angry and went to Claire. Chevalier went to a small monitor in the control panel. Now everyone noticed that she was really angry. She yelled at Claire.
"You just shut down the whole reactor, you idiot! Come on, start it up! And remove the control rods!" shouted Chevalier.
"No." said Claire.
"Remove the control rods immediately!"
"I can not." Claire said softly.
"You have to ramp up the power again immediately! I said take out the control rods! And quickly!"
"Sorry, but we shouldn't shut down the reactor first. At least that's what I was taught in training."
"She is right, Chevalier. This is far too dangerous. Removing the control rods entirely would only further limit our control over the reactor, which is already quite unstable." said Mike.
"Listen, I'm already restricted by enough morons and dilettantes like you! This reactor will be started up today, that's for sure!" said Chevalier to Mike, and turned to Claire.
"And now to you. If you continue to refuse or are unable to carry out my orders then you will never have to bother with it again, understand?"
"Yes." said Claire softly.
"Make way! Mike, help her!" said Chevalier.
Mike stood next to Claire. The two begin to power up the reactor again.
"Don't worry, we'll do this together." said Mike.
Half an hour later, the reactor is running again at 562 megawatts. Mike goes to Chevalier.
"Chevalier, I just wanted to tell you that Claire was not to blame for the poisoning. I was servicing the reactor and I made a mistake. Claire had nothing to do with it." said Mike.
"Is that so? Well, I think Mike that you want to take responsibility for this so that it doesn't affect Claire." said Chevalier.
"No. I asked if I could briefly control the reactor, and then I triggered the xenon poisoning. Claire tried to prevent this."
Chevalier considered.
"Mike! Claire! You two will be working on the circulating pumps for today. I don't know which of you poisoned my reactor. That's why you two are going." said Chevalier.
Chevalier went to the control panel, where Claire wrote a note. Mike and Claire left the control room and went to the circulating pumps. It was a bit noisy in this room. Claire looked at Mike.
"Thank you for standing up for me." said Claire.
"You made a mistake. That happened to me too. Chevalier is too strict with you." said Mike.
"Come with me. I'll show you something."
Claire led Mike under a flight of stairs where some boxes were, blocking view. Here Claire sat down on the floor.
"What is this?" asked Mike.
"This is my hiding place. If it's too much for me, or if I take a break, I come here." said Claire.
"Do others come here too?"
"No. You're the only one. Sit down." Claire said, pointing to the seat next to her.
Mike sat down. It was actually a quiet place, even if the circulating pumps made quite a noise. Mike noticed Claire moving towards him. Before Mike realized what was happening, Claire kissed him on the lips. Mike was now extremely confused. Claire sat down again and gave Mike a piece of paper. Mike wanted to ask what that was, but Claire answered his question before he could ask.
"It's my way of saying thank you, Mike." said Claire.
"It... It's been almost sixteen years since the last time anyone kissed me. I... You surprised me." said Mike, stuttering.
Claire's cheeks flushed and she looked down.
"Sorry."
"No. No you don't have to apologize. I was just surprised." said Mike.
Claire got up.
"We should take care of the circulation pumps." said Claire.
"Yes. Will you control pump five and six, and I'll pump seven and eight?" asked Mike.
Claire nodded. The two went to the circulation pumps. Mike noticed that they needed a coat of paint. Mike then also noticed the note in his hand. He unfolded the note and saw a message.
"Call me. Claire."
Below was a phone number. Mike folded the note and put it in his pocket so he wouldn't lose it.
Lori and Natasha knocked on the door of Jack's warehouse. Natasha had her assault rifle in her hands. Kenny opened the door and waved the two inside. They ran back into the warehouse. Jack was standing in the warehouse looking at a machine gun that was on his desk.
"Look who's back." said Kenny. Jack turned around.
"Again. What do you think of my new toy? An M60 machine gun." Jack said, pointing to his machine gun.
"Not bad. You find a lot of interesting things. Can you find something for me too?" said Natasha.
"Depends. How much do you pay?"
"I'll pay you seven thousand. For everything on this list." said Natashe, and gave Jack a document.
Jack read through the document.
"That's a lot of lead. And then radiation protection containers. University-level gauges, five geiger counters. That's quite a hassle to get all of that. It'll cost you about twelve thousand dollars." said Jack.
"That's fine. We'll pay at the handover." said Lori.
"I want three thousand up front first. And Jim Clarkson tell you when we have the stuff." said Jack.
"Good. Three thousand." said Natsha, reaching into her pocket.
Natasha took out the envelope, and took out three thousand dollars. She handed the bills to Jack, who counted them.
"Good. We'll get everything. You can go if you want." said Jack.
"We're waiting for it." said Natasha.
Lori and Natasha left the warehouse. Natasha put her gun back in the carrying case and the two walked home to Natasha's. The two said nothing. After a few minutes, Lori was the first to say something.
"Did we really just illegally order gauges from a gang?"
"First and foremost, it's a neo-Nazi gang. I thought my great-grandfather had told me that Nazis were evil."
"You knew your great-grandfather?" Lori asked.
"Yes. He fought the Nazis in Germany in World War II and liberated the Dachau concentration camp. He told me about it when I was seven. My father took it on camera. I can show you if you want."
"Okay. Do you want to do something else this afternoon?" asked Lori.
"Yes. Let's discuss it at my house." said Natasha.
Leni, Lola and Lana are playing badminton in the garden. The twins are almost invincible together.
"Hey, what do you think, are Lori and Tasha successful with their homework?" asked Lola.
"Who is Tasha?" Leni asked.
"Tasha is natasha's nickname." said Lana.
"Oh I see."
"I think so. Natasha doesn't have Lisa's talent, but she is highly intelligent. I think they can do it." said Lana.
"I don't know what I did wrong in chemistry, but the chemistry teacher only entrusts me with an experiment kit for children." said Leni.
"What did you do?" asked Lola.
"I mixed blue water with red water to make purple water. But it started to burn."
"Leni, even I, the queen of risk, know that one should be careful with chemicals." said Lana.
"As for Lori and Tasha's lab design, it would be great if the chemistry teacher built it like this." said Lola.
"I hope they both have enough filters. Lisa had to pay a five hundred dollar fine for not using filters." said Lana.
"You mean coffee filter?" Leni asked.
"Air filter." said Lola.
"I see."
Lori and Natasha sit in front of Natasha's Studio Display, which is connected to her MacBook Air.
"So I'll show you a video where I'm seven years old. And slim." said Natasha.
"You can certainly get slim again." said Lori.
"I hope so. The boys don't care about overweight girls like me."
"You already know Natasha that looks don't matter. Also, you have beautiful blonde wavy hair. I'm telling you, you don't have to be a top model to look good. Just don't listen to it."
Natasha presses the spacebar on the keyboard and a video recording begins. Seven-year-old Natasha was shown sitting on the lap of a ninety-year-old man. Natasha had fluffy, wavy blonde hair that was tied with a black ribbon. She was wearing a red t-shirt and a dark red skirt. The man was wearing a light blue and white checked shirt, and blue jeans. He hardly had any hair. A voice was heard coming from a man behind the camera. It was Mike's voice.
"Grandpa, can you tell the people of the future what you experienced. Please say your name first."
"I'm Daniel Stevenson. I liberated the Dachau concentration camp. It was the only time I came into contact with the crimes of the Nazis. I walked with the company next to the railroad tracks. And, there was a train with cattle cars. We have. We looked at the train. It was a steam engine. I went to the first car and opened it. There were dead people everywhere. They were so skinny you could see their bones."
"Did the Germans do that?" asked young Natasha.
"No. It wasn't the Germans. It was the Nazis. The Germans are normal people. But the Nazis are evil. We continued towards the concentration camp. The SS men put up almost no resistance. Some of our soldiers lost their temper, and started shooting the SS men. I stopped some, but some more people died that day."
"Why didn't you want the Nazis to be shot?" asked young Natasha.
"Because even if they are enemies, we have to be careful with prisoners of war. That's decency. Do you understand princess?"
Young Natasha nodded. She snuggled up to her great-grandfather.
"We went on. And the inmates of the concentration camp greeted us and were happy to see us. We arrested all the SS people. And that's where I got this from." said Daniel Stevenson, showing a black officer's cap with a silver skull and crossbones on it.
"What's that great grandfather?" asked young Natasha.
"That's the cap of one of the Nazi officers. Here, this skull showed that he belonged to the Skull units. They were the worst of the worst." said Daniel Stevenson, showing the cap to Natasha.
"And then we distributed food. I've never seen people eat so fast. And, I remember a little girl. She was malnourished, and her clothes were in tatters. She was Jewish. She wore this yellow star on her clothes , which said Jew. When I was about to eat, she approached me shyly. I ate bread with cheese. I tore off some of the bread, put cheese on it, and gave it to her. She ate it immediately. Then she sat down next to her me, and hugged my arm. We both ate together for the next few days. She got stronger and stronger."
"What was the girl's name?" asked young Natasha.
Daniel looked at Natasha in confusion.
"Who are you?" asked Daniel.
"She's your great-granddaughter. Natasha." said Mike's voice.
"I have a great-granddaughter?" asked Daniel.
"Of course you have." said Mike's voice.
"I love you great grandfather." said young Natasha.
"Oh. Now I remember. Natasha. My little princess." said Daniel, hugging young Natasha. Then the video stopped. It was over.
"Oh my god you were cute. And that fluffy hair." said Lori.
"My life was great then. I wasn't fat." said Natasha.
"Your life is still great."
"I don't know. I feel like a target."
"You're not a target."
"Still. I know it's not my fault, but I feel bad that I've gotten fat."
Natasha looks at her stomach and pinches it.
"I look forward to the day I get rid of this."
"It will take a few months. But it is possible." said Lori.
Mike came home from work. He parked his VW Golf in the driveway. He remained seated for a while. He looked at the note Claire had given him. Mike was still confused.
"I thought you were nice from the start. The way you operate this reactor is fabulous. Can it be that I like you more than that?" Mike said to himself.
He looked at the phone number.
"I don't know if it's too soon. But I want to hear your voice."
Mike folds the note and gets out. He goes into the house and sat down on the sofa in the living room. Mike keeps thinking about Claire. How could he tell her how he feels? Would Natasha accept Claire? Natasha. Now he remembered Natasha.
"Tasha! I'm home!" shouted Mike.
She entered the living room with Lori.
"Hi Dad. How was work?" said Natasha.
"Odd." said Mike.
"What do you mean by weird?" asked Lori.
"Chevalier ordered the control rods to be deployed from the reactor core during a xenon poisoning." said Mike.
"Say, is she crazy?" said Natasha loudly.
"I don't know. But she was in a completely different mood today." said Mike.
"Is it bad to pull the control rods out of the reactor when there is poisoning?" asked Lori.
"That's how the Chernobyl disaster began. A nuclear reactor has to be shut down for twenty-four hours before it can be put back into operation." said Natasha.
"Can this still have consequences?" asked Lori.
"No. When I was in the control room before going home, it was running at 2390 megawatts. And it's stable." said Mike.
"I should go home. Dinner will be soon." said Lori.
"Okay. Get home safe." said Natasha.
"Goodbye everyone." said Lori, and left the house.
"I'm going to my room. I have an update for the Mac that you want me to do." said Natasha.
"Good. Good luck." said Mike.
Natasha ran to her room. Mike wondered what to do about Claire. He got up and left the house. He looked around. Lori walked down the street and Mike ran after her.
"Lori! Wait a minute!" shouted Mike.
Lori turned around.
"Yes Mike?" asked Lori.
"I have a question for you. I don't know how Natasha would react to that, so I would like to ask your advice." said Mike.
"Sure. What is it about?" asked Lori. Mike showed Lori the note.
"Wow. Congratulations Mike." said Lori.
"She gave it to me. She only knew me for an hour. And then she kissed me."
"Is this the first time since Natasha's mother?" asked Lori.
"Yes. I'm completely out of practice."
"Firstly, follow your heart. Not your head. Secondly, Natasha will understand that for sure. Only, I don't think you should surprise her with that. Maybe Claire should just come over to you as a 'visitor'. Do you understand?"
"Yes. Yes I think so. Thanks Lori."
"You're welcome. Bye Mike."
"Bye Lori." said Mike.
Mike ran back to his house. He went to the phone. He dialed Claire's number. It rang. Mike's stomach tingled. Then the call was answered. Claire's voice rang out.
"Hello who is there?" asked Claire.
"Hi. It's me. Mike." said Mike, stuttering slightly.
"Oh. Mike. Nice to hear you." Claire said happily. "Hi, how are you?"
"Good. Thanks again for standing up for me."
"You're welcome. One question. Would you like to have lunch with me in the canteen tomorrow?"
"Yes! Yes, with pleasure."
"What are you doing tonight?"
"I do not know yet."
"I see."
Mike and Claire were silent for minutes. But it wasn't an uncomfortable silence. It was a beautiful silence. After a few minutes Mike said something again.
"It's getting late."
"Yes. I'm looking forward to tomorrow." said Claire.
"Bye, see you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow Mike."
The call ended.
"I want to be with you." said Mike softly.
Claire was no different. She said the exact same thing. Mike sat down on the sofa. He thought. About Natasha's mother. He looked at the small table next to the sofa. There was a frame with a picture on it. The picture showed a woman with light blonde hair that hung down to her neck. She held one-year-old Natasha in her arms. There was an inscription under the picture. Mike took the photo and looked at it.
"If you could see her now Kira." said Mike.
He thought about how he had first seen her. In the control room of Three Mile Island one. Now Mike recognized this parallel to Kira and Claire. But that was the only one. Kira was very direct. Show what she wanted and say what she thought. Claire was rather shy and reserved. Mike thought she was cute. Mike continued to look at the photo. He reflected that there was no sign of her. Even the police didn't know where she was. She went for a walk by the river every morning. Therefore, the official suspicion of the police is that she probably drowned in the river. But not even the water police found her body. She is therefore still considered missing. Mike also thought of her caring. Back when she was a baby, she had covered a blind with aluminum foil for Natasha's nursery in Middleton so that no light could disturb Natasha's afternoon nap. She had worked so hard for her family. Mike looked at his watch. It was very late. He had probably forgotten the time. He went to Natasha's room and looked inside. She was sleeping.
"Good night Natasha." he whispered, and went to his room. He got into bed and fell asleep.
End of Chapter nine