The Fallout

by Knox, J. C.

  ‘You did what you had too, to survive and keep your family safe.’

  ‘I was called in at the last minute to cover the night shift after my colleague had to go home sick. I’d only worked the night shift once before and was tired from working all day, but when I checked the readings, they were way off what they should be, I asked my colleague to double check. He told me that they must be wrong and got his boss who checked them and told us that we had to carry out a planned shutdown, it was a safety test, to see how the reactor would act in a blackout. But I didn’t want to do the test until the readings were stable, but I was told to carry out the test or I would be fired, and I wouldn’t get employed in a nuclear plant anywhere in Sweden. I chose to go home, something told me that the readings were too unstable to handle the test. We were two hours away when I felt the earth shake and saw the giant orange plume of smoke shoot up into the air.’

  ‘Do you think the reactor core exploded?’

  ‘Yes, I think all four cores exploded, the blast was extensive, I don’t know if anyone in the plant would have survived but if they have it won’t be for long. Kiruna where we’re from was built to house the workers from the plant, it’s unlikely that anyone there will survive, they’re all likely to die soon, if not from the blast but from the fallout, the town is in such close proximity to the plant. It’ll be a minimum of 20,000 years before humans will be able to occupy the area again and even then, there could be areas that are a no go.’

  ‘What about this distance away, how long do you think we will need to stay in the bunker for? Me and Sarah we’re in here for three years after the first explosion but I believe more than one plant exploded, I believe all four reactors at Chernobyl exploded which caused a ricochet effect causing the other nearby power plants to become unstable and eventually explode. I believe this is why we had a radio signal for a while, which gradually died off until there was nothing. It was only by chance that I found the Icelandic radio waves and discovered there were some areas that hadn’t been affected.’

  ‘You’re right, that is what I believe happened also, but no one will know until the area can be investigated properly, which could be never. If the reactor core has exploded, it would need to be encased in concrete to stop the nuclear ionised radiation from spewing into the air, also it’s likely that it’s infiltrated the rivers, the soil and is being rained and snowed down on people and they don’t even realise which is why so many across Europe have been wiped out.’

  ‘I was surprised at how much radiation was traced here in Blackcliff Island, when we left for Iceland there was only a trace amount. It gives you a strange feeling, the radiation… You can’t see it, but you can definitely feel it, also that metallic taste in your mouth. Have you noticed that?’ George asked.

  ‘Yes, the strange taste and sore throat, which is why the thyroid is so vulnerable. Also, my hair began falling out shortly after the Chernobyl blast, I wasn’t always bald,’ Oscar continues, rubbing his hairless head.

  ‘Yeah, my lungs have been hit, but I got treatment in Iceland, as long as I don’t get any more exposure, I should have a few more years in me, it’s taken a while, but I’ve stopped coughing up blood.’

  ‘We’re all likely to be affected in some way. We should give it at least three months before testing the air outside, at least then we’ll know better what we’re dealing with,’ Oscar said. ‘Listen George, I never met Sarah and I don’t know what happened, why she didn’t come with us, but I’m sorry for your loss.’

  ‘Thanks,’ George said, his voice breaking as his chest began heaving up and down for the first time since he heard that Sarah had passed away.

  He feels foolish, but he can’t stop the tears running freely down his cheeks in front of this relative stranger.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ he hiccups trying to catch a breath.

  ‘No, don’t be sorry, let it out or it will drive you insane,’ Oscar said, placing a hand on Georges shoulder.

  After five minutes of sobbing George sniffs, he feels lighter like someone took and scrubbed all the horrible feelings clean. ‘I actually do feel better,’ he said.

  ‘It’s better to get it out, death can tear a man apart and you need all the strength you can muster, living in this bunker will try us all.’

  ‘You’re a wise man Oscar, thanks.’

  ‘No worries, maybe we should have a drink? I found some whiskey… No scrap that! I found a shit load of whiskey earlier in the supplies area?’ he said, laughing.

  ‘Why not? It’s a good a time as any, come on let’s get everyone into the common area, we’ll all have a drink together. It beats watching videos that we’ve seen a hundred times before. I really wish I’d remembered to bring new stuff down here before we left for Iceland.’

  Chapter 18

  90 Days in the Bunker.

  George marks the calendar; it’s exactly 90 days since the group arrived in the bunker. Today, has been marked as the day when he, Seamus, Connor and Oscar venture out to check how much radiation is in the air. George desperately hopes that they will be able to leave even if they must live in the bunker, it would be nice to be able to get out for a short time each day, he misses the ocean.

  ‘Today's the day,’ Seamus calls when George walks into the common area.

  ‘It is! Indeed, we’ll get a bite to eat then suited up.’

  ‘It will be good to get out. I miss the ocean and the trees,’ Conner said.

  ‘That’s something we need to be aware of; the trees will hold radiation in their canopies. Even if the air is clear when we get out, we may need to take the trees down or every time the wind blows, we will be exposed,’ Oscar said.

  Lilly and the girls help the men get suited up after breakfast. George hopes this is the last time they must go through this, but he has a foreboding feeling that this will be the end of humanity. The only people that are going to survive will be living deep underground in concrete bunkers. But what sort of life is that? People need air, to roam, to be free, and there’s only so much food, water and medicine to go around, it will run out eventually. No, George is certain that this is the end of the world as we know it, maybe in billions of years life will begin again but there will be many deformed, broken humans before the land will be safe.

  Claustrophobic in the restrictive suit, George is relieved by the cool air, following Seamus into the outer chamber. He is stifled and begun sweating almost as soon as the suit was sealed. Seamus lights the lantern. George pulls the door closed and secures it before following the other men down the corridor towards the outer door. Reaching the outer door, George turns the Geiger-meter on, it shows normal levels inside the corridor. Oscar unlocks the outer door, pushing it open. George is thankful that the readings are still within normal levels as he stands where he is. The four men step outside and the Geiger-meter’s clicking increases, but the levels are not too bad as they walk down the precarious cliff-side toward the house. It takes ten minutes in the cumbersome suits to arrive at their destination, George tests everything, he doesn’t believe it, the levels are normal, there’s an odd area with high readings such as the top of a bush. But in the house the levels remain normal, grinning inside his mask, he pulls it off.

  ‘I don’t think we need these, men,’ he said, waiting as the others remove their masks as well.

  ‘Thank fuck, I thought I was going to pass out,’ Connor said, throwing his mask on the sofa George tested.

  ‘This means we can leave the bunker; we’ll have to sleep in there, but we can come out to explore,’ Oscar said, looking around.

  ‘Yes, there’s not enough room for everyone in the house here, but in time we can build homes for everyone, there’s plenty of room on the Island,’ George said. ‘Although I think we need to test more extensively to make sure it’s safe all over, especially for Toby, he will go places we won’t, and we don’t want him to get contaminated,’ George continues looking at Connor.

  ‘Yeah, I’m good with that, we’ve waited this long, he can wa
it a little longer.’

  ‘I wonder what it’s like across the water?’ Seamus said, looking in the direction of his old home.

  ‘Honestly Seamus, the ground will be contaminated for thousands of years. They were burning contaminated bodies,’ George tells Oscar.

  ‘No, the ground, vegetation and all the water sources are likely to be highly contaminated,’ Oscar confirms.

  ‘We should use the sea water to wash as much as we can down, focusing on dusty areas in particular. Then we can tell everyone that they can come out,’ Oscar said, looking at the others to see if they agree.

  ‘Yes, let’s get started. I’ve buckets in the shed,’ George said, walking them to his large shed where the boat is normally kept.

  The men spend three hours washing everything down. George uses the Geiger-meter to test the areas that have been washed; the readings are normal. ‘Excellent!’ he exclaims holding the meter up to show the others.

  ‘I was thinking about the trees holding radiation; For our own safety, I think we need to cut them down, wash them, and use them to build. If we cut down as many as we can now and wash them, that way, the wood can prime, and we will be able to start building sooner rather than later,’ Connor said.

  ‘I’d forgotten you’re a carpenter. I’ve got two chainsaws a small one and a large one, also manual saws,’ George said. ‘Let’s get started and get back, or the women will start worrying,’ he continues.

  Two trees are cut down and washed before the petrol in the saw runs out.

  ‘It’s a start,’ Oscar said, after hosing the second tree down.

  ‘There was plenty of fuel across the water, me and Connor can get suited up and fill as much as we can,’ he continues.

  ‘Maybe tomorrow, but for now I think we should head back to the bunker and tell everyone the good news,’ George said.

  He hasn’t said anything, but he’s concerned with Seamus’s need to go back to Ireland. He doesn’t want to mistrust his friend, but he’s sure he’s up to something.

  Chapter 19

  Iceland.

  A month after the icebreaker left for Blackcliff Island, Magnus stands in his office looking down at the town. His heart is heavy, George is right, he has let his people down and put them in danger. Sarah staggers towards the tavern from the house Magnus gave her and George when they arrived. He’s furious that George didn’t take his good-for-nothing wife when he left. Now Sarah is Magnus’s problem, and she’s causing difficulties every day; yelling abuse at people or passing out drunk in the street. Magnus is sick of it, he’s tempted to have her charged with a crime and locked up, but the committee see alcoholism as an illness no matter how much of a pain in the ass or trouble the person is causing. Without George and Oscar, Magnus is lost, he doesn’t know what to do to help the people? He hasn’t taken Georges advice to tell the town to stock up and start building themselves a shelter and wonders if he should? The readings are continuing to rise; he wanted to do a government televised ad to tell the people but Steingrimur denied his request. People are dying at an alarming rate in Norway, where up until recently they were able to live normal lives; if the wind comes from the east, Iceland is screwed. He knows he should warn his people and give them time to help themselves. There was another death related to radiation poisoning this morning, he instructed everything to be incinerated. He’s careful to make sure he isn’t outside for very long, grateful for the fact it’s winter and he can keep a scarf wrapped around his face.

  It’s been a long day and Magnus is ready to head home, when his secretary Kristin pops her head around the door to tell him that there’s been a call about a disturbance in the town outside the tavern. It will be Sarah, it’s the same shit every evening, he’s surprised her tiny body can take the amount of alcohol she is putting away. Lifting the handset on his phone, he calls his best officer.

  ‘Egill, can you take one of the officers and investigate what is happening in the town.’

  ‘Yes boss, it’s probably Sarah, we have to do something about her, she needs medical help.’

  ‘I know, but for now, can you find out what is happening.’

  After dispatching his officers, Magnus checks the weather; it’s been snowing on and off for the past couple of days and gives more heavy snow for the coming days. The weather report fills him with dread. George warned him the snow will contain radiation. Looking out of his large window he’s glad to see it’s a clear starry sky this evening, his officers cross the street towards the tavern. A ribbon of colour dances, green, orange and purple lights swirl across the sky. The Northern lights blaze in the silent sky, moving in great bands of swirling colour like a living organism. The lights were a major attraction for tourists in the town, and how many of the people used to make a living before the nuclear explosion in 86. He can’t let the people continue to go about their business without knowing the danger, he will give an announcement tonight whatever Steingrimur said, these are his people and he must protect them.

  ‘Kristin, can you organise a town announcement as soon as possible, this is urgent.’

  ‘Yes, I’ll do it now.’

  Magnus calls Steingrimur and leaves a message telling him what he is going to do. The weight he has been carrying these past few months is lifting now he is doing something to protect his people. He writes his speech and waits for Kristen to tell him what time the announcement will be, but before she gets back to him his radio signals an emergency. He answers the call with ‘Go ahead. Over.’

  ‘Magnus you need to get down here Sarah is causing uproar and the town people are calling for you to answer what she has accused you off. Over.’

  ‘What has she accused me off? Over.’

  ‘Just get down here, now. Over and out.’

  Magnus can tell by the urgency in his best officer’s voice that he needs to be worried and wonders what on earth Sarah is saying now? He is sick of having to deal with her and wishes not for the first time today that George had taken her with him. Unsettled by his officers’ tone, he uses the armoured police truck; dread creeps over him like an icy chill and has his stomach locked tight. He can see the commotion as he arrives. Sarah is in the middle of a mob and has them braying for his blood.

  ‘What is she saying?’ he thought, getting out of the vehicle, walking towards the crowd.

  As he nears the mob, he can hear what Sarah is saying; it sends a shiver down his spine. ‘They’re gonna kill me,’ he thought adrenalin flooding his system. He must face the music and try to make this right.

  ‘Magnus knows that we are in danger, George told him that radiation would snow down on us and that he had to build a shelter if the people were to be protected,’ Sarah shouts to the crowd.

  Magnus listens to the inebriated Sarah and decides to come clean. ‘Everybody listen to me,’ he calls, as loud as he can, but no one is listening. He turns around and gets into the truck and drives it at the crowd, who quickly disperse. In the middle of the crowd, he gets out and stands on the bonnet. People are yelling abuse and a bottle just misses his head.

  ‘My people, Sarah is right, George did warn me that radiation could hit Iceland after the latest explosion, but we’ve had no definite readings that there is radiation in the snow. But as of tomorrow morning, I want everyone who is able, involved in building a radiation shelter. I have plans in the office if anyone capable of building wants to help. Also do not drink the water from the tap until we have a chance to test it, do not eat any fresh food, including meat, vegetables that have been grown outside and if it is snowing, I would advise to use an umbrella until we know more,’ he tells the quietened crowd.

  ‘When were you planning on telling us that we may be in danger?’ someone yells.

  ‘I had arranged for an announcement this evening, but there’s no need now, it will be cancelled.’

  He watches as the town people struggle with what they’ve just been told.

  ‘Will there be enough bottled water to go around?’ someone calls.

 
‘Probably not…’

  ‘Then what are we supposed to do?’ a voice in the crowd calls before dashing off toward the shop.

  Magnus watches as the rest of the crowd take off, within a few moments, there is pandemonium as people scramble to get into the shop door. ‘Egill call the rest of the force, we need to stop this.’

  The police force, of Borg only consists of four permanent officers and several volunteers who are drafted in if someone has gone missing in the snow. Magnus doesn’t know what to do and grabs people, throwing them into the back of his truck. He waits for the rest of the police force to arrive with the large police truck and helps his officers load as many people as they can into the truck. The situation calms a little and Magnus drives the four he has in his truck back to the police station, before wrestling them into a holding cell. Magnus spots Egill and waits while he locks the last of the first batch of people in the holding cell.

  ‘Egill, come to my office. We need to find out what water supplies we have, I haven’t been able to get anything brought in since Chernobyl; everything being sold in the shops has been harvested here, including the bottled water. But that’s not an option now.’

  ‘We should use the Geiger-meter to test the water supplies, maybe they are okay.’

  ‘Maybe, but the radiation in the air has been increasing every time there has been an easterly wind. I should have acted sooner.’

  ‘No point worrying about what you should have done, tomorrow we’ll get started constructing the bunker, I’ve already called all the builders I know, and they are coming first thing. The problem will be the supplies, there’s only so much non-perishable food available.’

  ‘What about seeds, do you know anyone who harvests seeds?’

  ‘I don’t but I’ll ask around, some farms are bound to harvest seeds.’