The God Particle

by Daniel Danser

  ‘Put me through to the science desk at CNN.’

  The operator keyed in the request on her computer and was instantly connected to the switchboard at CNN. However, instead of the polite American operative she usually spoke to, asking which extension she required, the operator received a busy signal. She tried again, with the same result.

  ‘I’m sorry, but I’m getting an engaged tone. Do you want me to keep trying?’

  ‘No. Try the BBC,’ Deiter replied.

  This time she got through to the main switchboard. ‘Hi, I have a call from the research facility at CERN for the science editor. Can you put me through, please?’

  ‘I’m afraid I have several calls holding. Can you phone back later?’ came a clipped response from the BBC receptionist.

  The operator disconnected the call without answering. ‘The BBC seems to be very busy, also. Is there anybody else you would like me to try?’

  Puzzled, Dieter asked to be put through to the local news station.

  ‘Hello, I have a Dr Weiss, from CERN, on the line,’ said the operator. ‘Can you put me through to the producer, please?’

  ‘Hold the line please. I’ll try to connect you.’ There was a short pause, and then a different voice spoke.

  ‘Hello, Peter Lintz here. Thank you for returning my call.’

  ‘I think there’s been a misunderstanding,’ Deiter replied. ‘I’m not returning your call. I’m trying to organise a press conference.’

  ‘Oh, I thought you were calling to give CERN’s reaction to the earthquake?’ Lintz responded.

  ‘What earthquake?’ Deiter queried.

  ‘The one off the coast of Japan, measuring 8.9 on the Richter scale. Have you not seen the news?’

  Deiter put the phone down.

  ‘What’s the problem?’ Morantz asked.

  ‘Apparently, there’s been a massive earthquake off the coast of Japan,’ Deiter replied. ‘Can somebody switch the news on?’

  The television screens around the control room blinked and then came to life. Helicopter images of the devastation caused by the tsunami were being commentated on by a news anchorman in the studio.

  ‘We still don’t have a clear picture of the devastation caused by either the earthquake or the tsunami. From what we gather, the earthquake, which measured almost nine on the Richter scale, set off a tsunami, which hit the northeast shoreline of Japan, at three o’clock in the afternoon, local time. Officials say six hundred and fifty people are dead and about fifteen hundred missing, but it is feared the final death toll will be much higher.’

  Morantz shot Deiter an angry glance. ‘Give the order to shut down immediately and then I want to see you in my office!’

  Deiter joined Morantz in his office a few minutes later, closing the door behind him.

  ‘It’s just a coincidence,’ Deiter was the first to speak.

  ‘That’s what you said the last time,’ Morantz countered.

  ‘It’s Japan, they get earthquakes all the time.’

  ‘Yes, but not on this scale,’ Morantz said solemnly. ‘I can’t take the risk. What if it’s not a coincidence? What if the collider is causing these disasters? I have to let the Council know immediately and let them decide what to do.’

  Serena Mayer watched the television screen intently as the cameraman in the helicopter panned the devastated landscape. The news anchorman in the studio was now discussing the impact of the earthquake on the nuclear power plant at Fukushima, with a so-called ‘expert on these matters’.

  ‘What are the consequences if the nuclear reactors go into meltdown?’ the anchorman asked the expert.

  ‘Well, if we look at what happened at Chernobyl, for example,’ replied the expert, ‘an entire reactor exploded, sending up a massive fireball and radioactive plume that dispersed radiation over a wide area. People living near Chernobyl were killed instantly; but, as the radioactive cloud spread, several thousand more died within a few weeks from radiation poisoning. Over the long-term, tens of thousands more people were put at risk from cancer.’

  ‘Are you saying that we could be witnessing a disaster of this magnitude?’ the anchorman spoke slowly for dramatic effect.

  ‘We can only base our conclusions on what has happened historically...’

  Serena’s attention switched from the television screen to Morantz’s office, in the corner of the control room. She could see, through the window, the animated figure of Professor Morantz as he stood inches from Dr Weiss, waving his arms. She knew there was no love lost between these two, but they rarely argued and certainly never with this much ardour. Even though the door was closed and the voices muffled, if she strained her hearing she could make out snippets of the conversation between the two men.

  ‘...I can’t let you... responsibility... wait for another...’ was all she managed to decipher from what Deiter was saying.

  ‘...it’s too late... can’t stop me... this afternoon...’ was what she picked out from Morantz’s response.

  ‘...never... you have no idea what... it’s bigger than...’ came Deiter’s reply.

  Suddenly, the office door flew open and out stormed Deiter. He strode across the control room, head down, hands buried in the pockets of his white lab coat, and stormed out.

  Serena cautiously approached the open door of Morantz’s office. The professor was now sitting behind his desk, his head in his hands, staring down at the phone.

  ‘Can I help at all?’ Serena timidly enquired.

  Startled, Morantz looked up and then visibly relaxed as he recognised the stealth-like figure of his assistant, framed in the doorway.

  ‘Thank you, Serena, but I must do this myself. Did you get any anomalies from the data you extracted from the detectors?’

  ‘No, Professor. Everything seemed normal,’ Serena replied.

  ‘There is one thing you can do for me. Can you pull up the electromagnetic data readings before, during and after the experiment? I’m particularly interested in any surges or peaks that may have occurred, when the collider was at full operational capacity.’

  ‘Certainly, Professor. I’ll get onto it straight away.’

  CHAPTER 3

  Katashi’s prayers were answered by way of an electricity pylon and a red Toyota Corolla. The pylon was at the far end of the compound; its three legs had buckled under the weight of the flotsam that had gathered around its base, but it was still holding its own. The tree, on which Katashi was clinging, snagged one of the legs. The Toyota, which was floating behind, hammered home the branches and the tree held firm against the rushing tide. Katashi shivered uncontrollably as he saw the lifeless, bloated face of an older man staring blankly at him through the windscreen. He looked away.

  Now stationary, he relaxed enough to survey his surroundings. He took off his mask and breathing equipment to get a better view. The entire compound was flooded. Buildings were submerged up to their first floors and some of the flimsier structures had sustained considerable damage. The portacabins, which were being used as a temporary canteen whilst the main restaurant was being refurbished, had disappeared under the water altogether. One of the coaches ferrying personnel to safety was floating upside down, with only the air in its tyres stopping it from completely sinking.

  Katashi could now make out the bodies of some of his colleagues, bobbing along with the rest of the debris. Selfishly, he scoured the area for any of his own team who may have perished, clearly identifiable by their white protective overalls; he didn’t recognise anybody he knew and gave a sigh of relief, then instantly felt guilty for not mourning the loss of his other co-workers.

  The tsunami hadn’t destroyed the entire perimeter wall, at least not in this part of the compound, but it had washed away a section of about twenty feet, through which water gushed, carrying with it everything that the tidal surge had managed to scoop up, tear down or break apart. Occasionally, a large object would bridge the gap, creating a temporary dam, as smaller items built up behind; however, the force of the f
low was too strong and a breach would inevitably occur, crushing the obstructions to pulp.

  The Toyota, which had been so crucial in securing Katashi’s vantage point, freed itself from the tree, spinning off in the direction of the waterfall. Katashi was relieved to be free from the horror of its grey-faced passenger. However, this relief was short-lived; he could feel the trunk beneath him shift, as the current tried to dislodge him from the pylon. One by one, the branches anchoring him to the steel structure bent, then snapped, until finally it was impossible for it to maintain its hold and it, too, broke free.

  Katashi could see the roof of the Toyota some two hundred yards in front of him; somehow it was managing to stay afloat. As it neared the gap in the wall, it was joined by a small capsized boat, several trees and a slick of wooden planks, branches and household debris. The car slammed into the boat and they fused into one. Without faltering, they carried on their journey together.

  The hole in the wall was now partially blocked by the thick branches of one of the larger trees. Smaller items were being washed through, unimpeded, but larger items were being sifted out, adding to what was fast becoming a mega-dam.

  The car-boat careered into the wall, just to the left of the hole, with such force that Katashi was convinced it would punch its way through; but instead, the boat shattered, as if it were made of glass, breaking up into a thousand pieces, which were then dutifully carried through to the other side by the tidal flow.

  As Katashi neared the blockade, he could hear the crushing of metal as the Toyota was being squeezed through an ever-decreasing gap between the wall and the branches of the tree. He searched frantically for somewhere to escape to, but there was nowhere. He knew, if he tried to swim for safety, the current would pull him back into the carnage. He closed his eyes and braced himself for the impact.

  Several seconds passed, but there was no collision. Curious, he opened his eyes. The screeching noise, caused by the car scraping against the wall, had stopped abruptly. He expected to see the car to have either disappeared through the gap in the wall, or to have sunk; but as his eyes adjusted to the light, he could tell that neither had happened. The car, in fact, seemed to be coming towards him, the hideous apparition of the perished soul clearer than ever. Katashi looked around him and saw that all the wreckage had either slowed down, stopped or gone into reverse, depending on its momentum. The surge was receding.

  He dived off his makeshift raft and swam, with astounding strength, towards the control room, which was located in the centre of the compound. By the time he reached the building, he was able to touch the floor on tiptoes. Brushing aside the branches and twigs that had collected around the door, he made his way inside and up the stairs.

  ‘Katashi! You alright?’ It was Masumi Makoto, head of operations and Katashi’s boss. He looked up from the bank of monitors and gauges he was studying.

  ‘I’m fine, but I’m not sure where the rest of my team is,’ Katashi responded. ‘Have you heard from any of them?’

  ‘No, not since the tsunami hit.’

  ‘What exactly happened?’ Katashi queried.

  ‘We’re not a hundred per cent sure at the moment,’ Masumi replied. ‘But, what we can gather from news reports, is that the earthquake triggered a massive tsunami, which hit the northeast, deluging all towns along the coast and then sweeping inland.’

  ‘Which towns were affected the most?’ Katashi asked.

  ‘As far as we can tell, Sendai and Soma took the brunt of the force. It’s reported that most homes have been destroyed with estimated casualties...’ Masumi checked himself, as he realised that Katashi’s family lived in the area.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ said Masumi, resting his hand on Katashi’s shoulder. ‘You must be worried sick about your family. All landlines are down in the area, but you can try them on my satellite phone,’ and he handed his phone over to Katashi.

  Katashi sat down at one of the vacant desks and tapped in his wife’s cell number. His heart skipped a beat as a fuzzy connection was made. Thankfully, he thought, they’re safe. But his exhilaration turned to disappointment as the voicemail kicked in after the obligatory ten rings. He left a message for her to ring him back, trying to keep his voice as level as possible, but his anxiety was showing through.

  He handed the phone back to Masumi.

  ‘Let me know if my wife calls.’

  ‘Of course,’ Masumi replied.

  ‘What’s the situation here?’ Katashi asked.

  ‘Not good, I’m afraid,’ replied Masumi, gravely. ‘The surge knocked out the diesel generators and the core temperatures are rising. It’s not critical at the moment, but if we don’t get them back on-line quickly, it will be.’

  ‘Ok. I’ll round up the rest of my team and we’ll see if we can get them started.’ With that, Katashi left the control room and headed for Reactor 1, where he had last seen his team. By the time he had got back downstairs, the waterline had receded to waist height.

  He thought it ironic that there was not a cloud in the sky, yet the place was flooded. He waded through the silt-laden water, but it was difficult to avoid the hidden rubble that had been deposited on the compound’s floor. Twice he tripped on some unseen obstacle, falling face first, arms outstretched to break his fall.

  He reached the reactor building to find two out of the three-man team waiting for him there.

  ‘Where’s Tamotsu?’ Katashi enquired.

  ‘We thought he was with you,’ they replied, almost in unison.

  Katashi recalled the last time he had seen Tamotsu. ‘Have you checked inside?’

  Katashi didn’t wait for a reply, but instead headed for the closed door. With trepidation, he turned the handle and yanked as hard as he could, dislodging the sludge that had built up around the base of the door. It opened with some reluctance, revealing a pitch-black interior. The absence of noise from the diesel generators gave the room an empty presence.

  Turning on his flashlight, Katashi entered and swept the beam around the building. Apart from the two feet of water he was standing in, there didn’t appear to be much damage. He trained the light on what he first thought was a pile of rubble, halfway up the stairs; however, as he moved closer, he realised it was the crumpled body of Tamotsu. He knew straight away that he was dead; his head was turned at an impossible angle to his body, his eyes gazing, blankly, over his right shoulder. The force of the wave must have knocked him back into the building, breaking his neck instantly. It was a harrowing sight and, for a moment, Katashi felt the acid in the pit of his stomach lurch. He concentrated with all his might on not heaving.

  The other two team members were now at Katashi’s side, snapping him back to reality. They stood there a while in silence, staring down at their colleague’s limp remains.

  ‘At least he didn’t suffer,’ Katashi murmured in consolation, more to comfort himself than the others.

  His body then stiffened. ‘We’ve got a job to do, otherwise Tamotsu won’t be the last casualty. We need to restore power to the cooling pumps before we have a total meltdown on our hands.’ He looked around at his colleagues. ‘You two, take Tamotsu’s body into the containment chamber,’ he ordered. ‘We’ll pay our respects later, when we have more time!’ Then he turned and waded across the room to the generators.

  The enormous Lister diesel engines, which were the powerhouse of the generated backup electricity supply, sat in twelve inches of water; however, Katashi could tell, by the distinct tidemark on the wall, that they must have been fully submersed at some point. He knew it would be futile, but he tried to restart the engines anyway, using the automatic ignition.

  He pressed the red button and the turbines churned over, spluttered, and then died. He tried again, several times, but to no avail; saltwater had obviously got into the system. He knew he would have to strip the engines down, dry the individual parts, and reassemble them. But that would take time, and time was something the Fukushima power plant was fast running out of.

  The o
nly hope they had was to use the ‘third-line’ backup power, whilst Katashi worked to fix the diesel generators. The third-line backup supply was a bank of fifty batteries, in principle much the same as a standard car battery, except much larger and far more powerful. These were located in the containment chamber to protect them from the weather.

  ‘Switch over to the battery backup!’ Katashi shouted up to his two colleagues.

  Within seconds, the huge pumps began to whir into action. It was now a race against time to get the diesel engines working, before the batteries exhausted themselves.

  ***

  It had taken twelve hours to get the generators in Reactor 1 back on the grid, while those in Reactor 3 had only taken him just over eight; he’d worked quickly with knowledge gained from the previous one. Both reactors’ cores were now cooling down as they were designed to do.

  Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case in Reactor 5; the core temperature was rising to a critical level. Unless power to the pumps was restored, the temperature of the fuel rods would continue to rise until they melted, pooling at the bottom of the reactor vessel. It would then just be a matter of time before the pressure built up to such an extent that the containment chamber would explode, creating an atomic shockwave, four hundred times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

  The backup batteries powering the pumps had run out two hours previously, at which point Katashi had ordered the rest of his team and the skeleton staff left behind to operate the plant, to evacuate. Nobody had argued.

  The welfare of his family played heavily on Katashi’s mind, despite his efforts to block everything out in order to concentrate on completing the task as quickly as possible. Just before he left the plant, Masumi had informed him that he still hadn’t heard from his family. Images of his dead protégé, Tamotsu, mingled with pictures of his family, flooded into his subconscious. He knew Hikari had the commonsense to get to higher ground; it was just whether she had the time to pack his father in the car and collect his daughter from school, before the tsunami struck. There was nothing he could do about it while he was still in the power plant, so the sooner he could get the generators started the sooner he would be reunited with his family.