The Boy from Reactor 4

“That is the bone marrow of a primate that has been exposed to ionizing radiation,” he said. “Ionizing radiation is radiation with energy high enough to change an atom or molecule. Like X-rays or a nuclear reaction. As opposed to non-ionizing radiation, which is low energy. It excites the atom or molecule but doesn’t change its shape. Like radio or microwave. For our purposes, we are talking about ionizing radiation.”

Nadia kept her eye pressed to the lens. “What do the pink circles represent?”

“Red blood cells,” Karel said. “When a human being is exposed to radiation, the bone marrow is the most susceptible tissue, especially the stem cells that give rise to new blood cells.”

“There’s a lot of white here. Does that mean blood cells are not reproducing properly?”

“Correct. When stem cells die, blood counts drop. Two types of blood cells are especially crucial. The neutrophils, which fight infection and stimulate the immune system. And the platelets, which stimulate blood clots. When neutrophils and platelets drop, the risk of infection and hemorrhaging rises. At very high doses of radiation, the gastrointestinal and central nervous systems are also affected.”

Nadia pulled away from the microscope and batted her eyelid to straighten her lash. “If the body is already infected and hemorrhaging…”

“Treatments like blood transfusions and fluid management are basically comfort measures. Death is certain. Now, take a look at this one.”

Karel changed the slide in the microscope and stooped to adjust the focus. When he stepped aside, Nadia took his place and lowered her head.

A crash outside.

Nadia straightened herself. Glanced at Karel. He raised an index finger to his lips. They both looked at the front door, where the sound originated.

“Probably just a wild dog,” Karel said, motioning for her to take a look.

Nadia peered into the microscope. “I see clusters of pink horseshoes filling most of the white background.”

“Progenitors of neutrophils. New blood cells are being created despite exposure to radiation because the mouse was given an oral dose of five-androstenediol.”

Nadia stood up from the microscope. “What?”

“Five-androstenediol is a steroid that occurs naturally in the human body. Its benefits as a radioprotectant were first discovered by your Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute in 1996. It’s known as five-AED. Five-AED stimulates blood cell growth and improves survival rates. But it’s not a true countermeasure. A true radiation countermeasure would have to do one of three things: prevent initial injury, repair all molecular damage, or stimulate surviving stem cells so aggressively that they counter the original injury.”

Karel picked up a third slide. When he was done loading it, he stepped back. His eyes gleamed.

“Take a look at this,” he said, swallowing the last word.

Nadia peered in. “The entire slide is pink,” she said.

“Surviving cells have proliferated at an exponential pace. The five-AED has been modified. New enzymes have been introduced. Proteins have been added that result in the synergistic benefits of a true radiation countermeasure.”

Nadia looked at Karel. “You?”

“No, no. I’m just a zoologist.”

“Then who?”

“A biologist by the name of Arkady Shatan. He conducted the original experiments with wheat in the Caves Monastery to discover why the bodies of the saints did not decompose. It was he who discovered that they produced a protective field of radiation. After the explosion at Unit Four, he was sent to Clinic Number Six in Moscow, where the most serious work was done on radiation effects on humans.”

“Is he here? Is his laboratory in Chernobyl?”

“He retired in 1997. He came back here to do his own research, though. Which is how we met in the café one day. Just as you and I met today—”

Fists pounded on the front door.

“Station Security,” a man said. “I am armed. Open the door. Now.”

“Quick, you must hide,” Karel said. “You have no papers. They cannot find you here.”

Nadia looked around. “Hide where?” Then a new idea came to her. “Open the door. I’ll handle this.”

Karel blanched. “What?”

“Trust me. Let him in.”

Fists pounded on the door again.

In a panic, Karel gathered himself and opened the door.

A wiry young man in a camouflage uniform pointed his rifle at Karel and sneered. “Oh. It’s you. What are you doing here so late?”

“Working. Why are you bothering me?”

The guard looked over Karel’s shoulder toward Nadia and squinted in the darkness. “Who’s that over there? Is someone else here?”

Nadia had yanked her shirt out of her pants. Unbuttoned it quickly and unzipped her pants. Swept the papers off Karel’s desk with the outside of her arm and straddled the corner of the table.

“Who else is here?” the guard said. He pushed Karel aside with his rifle and marched into the light.

Nadia grasped the desk with both hands and thrust her shoulders back. She thought of Anton and channeled his memory into her facial expression.