Gravity Versus Gravity, page 13
Piers appeared within minutes. He checked Al’s program on the first computer and then Dr. Wardle’s on the third computer. He did this once more and said, “Dr. Wardle, you have added an extra zero in the radial position uncertainty of the ephemerides table.”
“I might have dictated the wrong figure,” Al said apologetically.
“Should I remove them and run the program?”
“Sure, go ahead,” Dr. Wardle said.
The results which came out made both Al and Dr. Wardle happy. Al quickly fed them into the first computer and felt relieved when everything matched.
“Job done,” Piers said.
Al’s face lit up. “Yes, that was nice. I had started doubting the effectiveness of my beloved program,” he said.
“Thank, Piers,” Dr. Wardle said, extending a hand to him.
“Anytime, Dr. Wardle. It’s always a pleasure to help with the programming.”
As soon as Piers closed the door behind him, Dr. Wardle said to Al, “In how many hours will the invisible travel of the comets begin?”
“In about six hours.”
“Then what?”
“Then we wait for the comets to come out so that we can once again visibly track them.”
“Are you confident about your velocity readings when the comets would appear again?”
“I’ve my calculations for every minute.”
“Okay, I’m not going to cross check them. I’m sure that your calculations must be correct. But I’ve a plan for you.”
“Plan?” Al asked inquisitively.
What plan could Dr. Wardle have? he thought. Is he going to get someone to supervise my work? Is he thinking that he is taking chances by leaving everything to Al, a middle-ranking astronomer?
All kinds of thoughts ran across Al’s mind in a flash between Dr. Wardle telling that he had a plan and his starting to explain about it.
“Wait a minute,” Dr. Wardle said. “I want to tell you about this plan in the presence of Samantha. Where is she?”
“She’ll be back soon,” Al replied.
Seeing the surprise in Al’s eyes, Dr. Wardle said, “Don’t worry. I don’t have any news that is going to increase your workload severely or make any drastic changes.”
“Okay,” Al said relieved.
“Why don’t you call Samantha?” Dr. Wardle said.
“Sure,” Al said and walked towards the phone. Just as he had picked up the receiver, the door opened, and Samantha came in. She looked delighted.
“Mission accomplished?” Dr. Wardle asked. He moved his eyebrows up and down. “I’m curious to know the reason of your joy.”
“Yes and no,” Samantha replied.
“That kind of answer doesn’t make much sense to space scientists,” Dr. Wardle said.
“For the mission for which I was sent, the answer is no, and for the mission that I accomplished there, the answer is yes.”
“I had requested her to see if I had left my papers in the ASD,” Al intervened.
“Could you not get any papers?” Dr. Wardle asked.
“There are plenty of papers in the ASD, but none left behind by Al.”
“And what was the other mission?”
“Not a mission really,” Samantha said with a twinkle in her eyes. “An event. A meeting to be precise.”
“Interesting,” Dr. Wardle said, not showing a great deal of anxiety. He was not someone who could be surprised or scared or moved easily. He was stoic, and this served him well as the Director of the Center.
On the other hand, Al was anxious to know what had transpired in the ASD with Samantha. He listened attentively to her.
Samantha continued, “Yesterday when I was in the ASD, we had an interesting conversation with David. Just as the conversation was getting more interesting, Al’s mission in the ASD got over, and we had to leave. Luckily, David was in the ASD today again. What a luck!”
Al’s face had lost its usual shine, and the eyebrows were getting closer. Samantha did not notice. Dr. Wardle said, “Looks like you are having a good time at the Center.”
“Yes, there are so many nice and friendly people around. Besides, there is little tension in the atmosphere. Everyone seems to be at ease with oneself.”
“All of us are scientists. We do what we know best to do. Science and not politics.”
“To continue,” Samantha said, “David was telling me about his trip to India three years ago. He had a long trip. I’ve been to several of the places that he has been to. Yesterday, he had mentioned to me about his visit to the Brogpa community in Ladakh. And then he had forgotten to tell me the story about the trip. I was able to corner him today, and he related me the story.”
“What an accomplishment!” Dr. Wardle said. He had a bit of sarcasm in his tone. He always had some difficulty understanding the very mundane things of live. Things that gave joy to many people were incomprehensible to him and the things that he enjoyed sometimes repulsed people.
“What is the story about?” Al asked.
“Interesting but now is not the time to tell. That’s a story I can do justice to only while relating when I’m relaxed, the evening is turning dark, the whole night lies ahead, and I’ve a wine glass in my hand.”
“Great!” Dr. Wardle said. “We’ll find the right time to hear your story. I mean the story of Brogpas as told by you.”
Al was not sure if it was only the story that had kept Samantha in David’s company for so long.
Dr. Wardle continued, “I was waiting for you since I thought it would be good if both of you hear my story together.”
“A day of stories,” Samantha said.
“Indeed. It is,” Dr. Wardle replied. He continued, “My story is quite straightforward. The setting is in the UK. Nothing exotic. And the main players are government bureaucrats. Nothing fascinating about that either.”
“Don’t tell me that you are sending me there now?” Samantha said. “I’m starting to love my work here.”
“Both yes and no to your answer. The yes part is that yes, I’m sending both of you to a government agency. The no part is that it is only for a few days. The binary comets would disappear for ten days. I want you to spend some time with DIMA. Coordination between our Center and DIMA is crucial for the success of our mission.”
“You know Dima is a pet form of a Russian name - Dmitry,” Samantha said.
“I did not know that, but I can assure that the British DIMA has no relation whatsoever with any person named Dima,” Dr. Wardle said.
“What will I do there? I know nothing of their work,” Al said.
“Once you go there, you’ll know how much they need you. As I said, we have to work closely with them, and there should be perfect cooperation.”
As instructed by Dr. Wardle, Al spent most of his next few days at DIMA in London. He sometimes came to the Center to scan the telescopic and satellite images on his computer. There was a likelihood that the comets could appear before ten days. However, the probability was only minimal. But Al did not want to take a chance. And all these days, Samantha was with him like his shadow.
At DIMA, Al started with a meeting with the Minister, Thomson. Like Dr. Wardle, Adam was young. After the meeting, Al said to Samantha, “Did you notice something?”
“That Thomson’s Secretary, Mel, had very long nails?”
“Did she?”
“Yes, she had. You couldn’t have missed them when she was pouring tea.”
“No, I’m not talking about the nails.”
“Her high heels?”
“Not that either.”
“What else could have been more striking than her nails or her heels?”
“I’m not talking about the Secretary at all.”
“Okay. I give up.”
“Thomson is as young as Dr. Wardle. You are young, and I’m not old either.”
“Then what?”
“None of the older folks seem to believe about the binary comets. Younger people have more appetite for them.”
“Got it. We shouldn’t be surprised if Foreign Secretary Bright turns out to be young.”
“You got it,” Al said, trying to avoid an impulse to pull his hair in desperation. He continued, “So who do we meet next?”
“Next in my list is Sandra Lawson. She leads the Response Coordination Team.”
“And then?”
“The next meeting is only tomorrow. Sandra has requested that she will need at least five hours with you. I’m sure you’ll be too exhausted by the end of it.”
“Okay. Let’s head towards her room.”
“Mel will take us there. She has gone to change her shoes since Sandra’s room is at some distance.”
When Mel came out, Al noticed that she was wearing heels at least four inches high.
Al whispered to Samantha, “So what was she wearing before?”
“See. I told you that her heels were interesting.”
They walked briskly to keep up the pace with Mel.
Sandra was waiting anxiously outside her office. When she saw Al and Samantha, she moved in their direction.
It was Samantha’s turn to whisper to Al, “Your young generation theory seems to be failing. She is at least sixty years old.”
Al stared at Samantha and said nothing. Mel covered her mouth with her hand to stop a smile.
“Hi, Al,” Sandra said, extending her hand. “I was worried if the Minister would keep you for long. I’m very excited to meet you.”
“It’s my pleasure, too,” Al said. He introduced Samantha, and in a short time, they were in the Sandra’s well-maintained office.
“What sort of meeting did you have with the Minister?” Sandra asked.
“A very general kind of meeting. Maybe he wanted that I discuss the details with the specialists.”
“That is how he is. He leaves the details to us so that the broader picture is not lost on him and so that he can remain focused.”
“Not a bad strategy,” Samantha said.
“How far have you gone on your forecast?” Sandra asked.
“Not further from where I left it in the US.”
“Dr. Wardle told me that the binary comets were yet to appear from their temporary phase of invisibility.”
“Otherwise I wouldn’t be sitting here,” Al said with a smile.
“I was also told that you don’t have any idea about the location.”
“Yes, I have,” Al said. “It’s going to be in London.”
“Yes, I know that. That is why you are here. But where exactly in London?”
“I don’t have a very good estimate of that.”
“But roughly where?”
“See, I’m not familiar with the geography of London. But I did some work with the help of Google Earth.”
“Good,” Sandra said, expecting to get more information.
“Do you have a place called Tendon?”
“Hendon, you mean?” Sandra asked.
“Yes, Hendon.”
Samantha broke into a laugh, “Tendon. Ha! Ha! Never thought of that. Rhymes good with Hendon. We could make a limerick.”
Sandra was wondering if Al could have found a more serious assistant.
“The area is roughly between Hendon and Chelsea,” Al continued.
“But that is a large area,” Sandra said in surprise.
“And what about the width?”
“About the same as the length.”
“Gosh!” Sandra said aloud. “If that is the area, we won’t ever be able to secure the entire place.”
“That is a very rough estimate. I would be able to get more precise figures immediately after the comets come out from behind the sun.”
“How long with that be?”
“After the invisible phase, which is for about ten days, the comets will take another forty-five days to begin their journey behind the sun. The journey behind the sun would be for another ten days. I can come with more precise coordinates after about two months.”
“How small can the area get?”
“It will be at least five times as large as the area in Thar Desert.”
“An area even ten times the area should not be a problem.”
“And what about the size of the objects that could go up into the air?”
“It could be even over several hundred kilograms at certain points. In most of the areas, it would be less than a hundred kilograms.”
“And how low can that figure go?”
“Well, I’m almost sure about that. The figure won’t be much lower. Perhaps eighty kilograms but not lower.”
“That would mean even an able-bodied man going up in the air.”
“Precisely. And that is where the concern is.”
“Our task doesn’t seem to be as easy as I would have anticipated.”
“Okay,” Samantha said. “I don’t think Al can be of any assistance on that front.”
Sandra did not look at Samantha.
Sandra said, “We have never handled a situation such as this. Our biggest operation has been handling floods when entire villages had to be evacuated.”
“Yes, I understand,” Al said. “If the second event were to take place in a remote place like Thar Desert, it would not have been so alarming. London is a different ballgame altogether.”
“How fast do things travel up?” Sandra asked.
“They go slowly, gaining speed as they go up. Then after going up for about one kilometer, they move in a near straight line inclined downwards at an angle of about five degrees. The sharp downward movement starts as the pull of the comets decreases. The objects start falling to the ground after they are free from the gravitational pull of the comets. The objects travel in a somewhat parabolic path during the ascent and the descent.”
“Where will the descent take place?”
“In Devon.”
“I don’t know what to say. I don’t have a clue how to handle the situation in London. How are we going to take care of Devon?”
“In London, you have to evacuate and secure the area to minimize the number of things going up in the air. In Devon, you have to only evacuate.”
“Simpler said than done,” Sandra said.
Al showed some slides to Sandra. Sandra was also interested in the scientific aspect of the phenomenon. Al spent almost an hour explaining it to her. Then, they made diagrams on the computer, charting out the areas in London and Devon.
Al worked closely with Sandra’s technical team to develop a simulation model. The diagrams and the model became more accurate as Al refined the data every day. Sandra said that her team could not wait for another two months to get the most accurate information. She ordered her team to start working on the largest area.
Al and Samantha traveled almost every day to London. On the tenth day, when Samantha came to Al’s office to accompany him to London, she saw him attentively gazing at his computer.
“Let’s go,” Samantha said.
Al did not reply.
“Sandra’s technical team is to demonstrate the simulation model today,” Samantha continued.
“We cannot go today,” Al replied.
“Why?” Samantha asked.
“Because the comets have reappeared,” Al said, pointing his finger at the computer.
“Wow!” Samantha said. “The countdown begins.”
Al did not reply. Samantha thought it proper to leave Al in the company of his computers and machinery.
9
At DIMA, Sandra formed a core team in addition to the technical team. The core team had seven people - evacuations; operations; liaison with Borough Councils and other Ministries; securing buildings, other manmade structures, and natural objects; equipment and machinery; collation and dissemination of information; and emergencies. Each member had long years of experience in his or her field. The core team met three times every day, sometimes, even more.
Louisa Weaver, Sandra’s Deputy, who had the responsibility of securing the buildings divided the area from Hendon to Chelsea into ten sections. She gave each section to one of her assistants - Amy, Boyle, Charles, Corwin, Diana, Elizabeth, George, Henry, Ingrid, and James. The assistants first prepared a detailed survey of the structures from the ground and then cross-verified with aerial surveys.
Louisa called her assistants after her first joint meeting with Al and Sandra. She said, “Guys, all of you are experts in the area. You are the best that the UK has. And this is the time to put your knowledge and experience to best use. I cannot assure you that you would be able to sleep even three hours in the next two weeks. But what I can assure you is that you’ll have a sense of satisfaction at having done your work after everything is over. I cannot even guarantee that we would be successful, but at least we can say that we did our best.”
“I’m already feeling nervous,” Elizabeth said.
“Liz, don’t get bogged down by thinking about the enormity of the task. Take one step at a time.”
“Well, it’s not that,” Elizabeth replied. “Whenever I think of my work, I start imagining the zero-gravity event. The whole event looks very weird. End of the world kind of thing.”
“Have you heard of Al?”
“Who doesn’t know him?”
“Have you ever met him?”
“Just once in the corridor. I said hello to him, and he replied. That’s all.”
“Well, I’ve met him several times. And we had a very long joint meeting today. This guy is the one on whom the whole burden of the zero-gravity event lies. He first discovered it. He has left the USA not knowing what future holds for him. He is responsible for determining the impact area. The Center relies on him. DIMA’s success depends on him. But this guy still has his head squarely on his shoulders. I’ve never seen him getting worried. Maybe he gets worried but never over the huge responsibility that has been bestowed on him. He never seems to get overwhelmed.”
The assistants listened to Louisa in complete silence.
“Given that we have such a person in the front of this challenging operation, we should do our very best and match up to him,” George said.
“That’s the spirit,” Louisa replied.
Everyone clapped.
Louisa continued, “All of you have your areas clearly earmarked. There is no overlap. At the same time, not a single house has been left. However, if you come across any discrepancy anytime, let me know immediately.”
