The Suitcase

by T V Scribner

  With everyone accounted for, Boone began to speak, recounting all that had transpired, since the physicists' analyzed the robot's findings. The men listened intently, while he announced procedures for the next phase. He ended by saying, "It's time for a lunch break. The food is arranged on the tables back by the trees, near the other bottled water tub. Be ready to go at thirteen hundred hours.” The group scattered for the tables.

  Cayuna Range The Cavern, At thirteen hundred hours, those involved with the actual retrieval of the suitcase bomb, assembled, wearing their protective gear and ready to go. Everyone who was to enter the mine shaft, was assembled at its entrance, including Paisley. Although assurances were given, as to the relative safety of the mission, according to the information revealed by the robot, there was still the possibility of unknowns, and thus it remained an extremely dangerous operation.

  Boone stepped towards the physicists and said in a somber tone, "I'll have my men follow a short distance behind you into the cavern, with Halogen lights, and once you get further in, they'll set them up to provide better illumination of the interior, closest to the bomb."

  "That will be fine," said Dr. Moto, "we will still be taking readings with the Radiacs as we go, and will relay any pertinent information to you." Dr. Steinhoff stood nodding.

  "Great!" Boone looked around at each person standing with him. He paused a moment, then with conviction he said, "Let's do this!"

  All, who were selected to enter the cavern, including Paisley and Boone, were dressed in protective gear, specifically made to block radiation. A tense feeling pervaded the retrieval contingent, as it became very real for each person, now that the moment had arrived. Entering the cavern was a step into the unknown, and whatever information they gleaned, could affect the suitcase extraction, while possibly exposing them to unknown dangers.

  Nevertheless, they hoisted their equipment and began traveling down the mineshaft's tunnel. The physicists were in the lead, keeping an eye on their Radiacs, as they cautiously moved forward. Each participant wore high-powered LED lights, on their protective hoods. The mood was somber.

  CHAPTER 39

  The group grew silent, moving cautiously forward, until halting at the cavern entrance. Poised at the opening, Paisley noticed a musty smell, but without the dankness that usually accompanied it. She involuntarily shivered, as she kept pace with the retrieval coterie, while they continued into the cavern. Their foot-falls on the gravely floor of the cavern, echoed throughout the subterranean area, as they progressed.

  The physicists moved ahead of the rest, until they were approximately fifty feet into the cavern's interior. Dr. Moto stopped and signaled that he’d spotted the suitcase bomb, barely visible next to a stony protuberance at the farthest end of the chamber. An adjacent rocky ledge, jutted out, on the cavern's back wall, sheltering the suitcase bomb. The physicists, having come to an abrupt halt, conferred for a moment or two, and concurred there was still, no measurable radioactivity detected.

  Boone, standing partway into the chamber, radioed Mitch to have the light crew move the portable Halogen light bar stands, through the tunnel and set them up, near the center of the cavern. After the light bars were placed, the small group proceeded further into the cavern. As Paisley traveled through the cavern, she gazed around the space, awed by the cathedral-like ceiling, which accorded a tomb-like feeling, as if primitive spirits had been protecting others buried here, in past ages.

  The LED lights caused a dark, eerie moving mural, to be displayed on the cavern walls, and the large grotesque, animated shadows moved forward, with their group. The air omitted other ancient odors, which spoke of dark secrets hidden over many decades, if not centuries. Paisley pondered this, realizing as she moved forward with the others, that she was spooked by her own thoughts. Instead she attempted to focus on the task at hand, until they came to a stop halfway, into the cavern.

  Boone called Mitch again, "Give my orders to the men outside the tunnel, to send in the bomb retrieval equipment for the physicists, then check on the CH-53 transport heli and its two companion choppers, to make sure they'll be arriving soon."

  "Copy that," Mitch said, "and what about the campsite?"

  Boone paced back and forth, and said, "Tell the men, I said it's time to strike camp."

  "Roger that!" Mitch said. Boone continued to pace, as Paisley watched him shift from foot to foot, looking as anxious, as he was, impatient.

  Several minutes later, they both spied what looked like a golf cart, making its way down the tunnel and into the cavern, stopping where they both stood.

  "Hop on," he said to her "here's your equipment, we'll ride forward to where you'll be stationed. All aboard!" he said.

  She wasn’t amused by his comment, but he didn't seem to notice her reaction, and hopped into the cart, as the driver took them slowly, further into the chamber, before stopping and allowing them, to disembark. The camera equipment was unloaded onto a small collapsible table, which was set up to provide a work surface.

  All she could think about, was how incongruous the golf cart's presence seemed, inside a cavern, under the present circumstances. The physicists stood near her table, patiently, waiting for their equipment, while she set up her video camera and tripod, adjusting its legs to level it, on the uneven cavern floor. She opened the computer and powered it on, then typed information into it, concerning the actions taking place, since the operation was now underway.

  Awed by the enormity of what was happening, she suddenly felt overly warm in the jumpsuit she wore for radiation protection, and began to sweat. Her anxiety level rose, as she watched the events taking place around her, and realized the possibility of catastrophic repercussions. Her legs began to shake and felt wobbly, so she put a hand on the table to steady herself. Boone glanced over, and saw her blank stare and ashen face, through her face plate. Everything began to spin, and it was as if, a black curtain began to engulf her, turning everything dark, and she began to crumple.

  Boone noticed, and immediately grabbed her around the waist, without drawing any attention from the others, and said quietly, "Are you okay?” She rallied, and nodded."You don't have to do this if you don't want to,” he said, “I just thought..."

  "No! I'm fine!" she whispered obstinately, "I just felt over heated, for a moment." She furtively glanced at the others to see if she'd said this a bit too loud, but no one seemed to hear over the noise of the golf cart returning to the entrance of the tunnel. Gaining her composure, she shoved down her fear and strengthened her resolve, "I'm not giving up now, Boone," she said softly, in a kinder voice.

  So, once again, she persevered, as always, by rising to the challenge. Whenever her parents or teachers told her, "You can't do that," she doubled down, with even greater determination. It was a trait her parents had difficulty dealing with at times. With a silent whisper of, "I'll show you,’’ she readied her cameras and computer, then made sure she had radio contact with Mitch. She looked Boone in the eyes, and said with a smile, "I'm ready!"

  He watched, as she began capturing the physicists with the video camera, while they began their approach to the bomb. She’s a feisty woman, Boone thought.

  She took many digital pictures of the physicists, knowing it would soon be time to move forward to capture pictures of the suitcase bomb. Her camera quietly clicked away, as if she were on just another ordinary photo shoot. Boone surmised there would be thousands of photos to examine, when this was finished.

  For the team closest to the suitcase bomb, which included Paisley, the physicists and their assistants, state-of-the-art, protective suits, were worn. The suits were made of a special fabric, infused with lead threads, designed to protect them from dangerous radiation, which ‘might’ be present, as they approached the bomb. Special goggles and breathing apparatuses, were worn by all four of the physicists, who would secure the bomb. It was necessary to take every precaution.

  The physicists ceased moving forward, a mere fifteen feet from the bomb, and conferre
d. Meanwhile, moving through the cavern's entrance, was another piece of equipment, making its way into the chamber, on a motorized cart, which rolled on caterpillar-type tracks. It was a large, lead sheet, approximately three feet by five feet.

  "What's this coming our way?" Paisley asked, as her camera captured the cart and its contents.

  Turning his head to see what she was looking at, Boone answered, "It's a lead sheet to be inserted between the physicists and the suitcase bomb…it’ll block radiation, yet still allow the physicists to reach around it, when they open the suitcase for examination."

  The cart stopped near the suitcase, and Boone, from his vantage point, proceeded to wave another smaller, heavy-duty tractor, with huge mechanical arms, into the chamber, slowly pulling, a large trailer behind it. The cart held a box, approximately five feet long, five feet high and four feet wide, that looked much like an oddly shaped, metal coffin.

  "What’s that?" she asked incredulously, as it lumbered into the cavern. "It must weigh a ton! This is the weirdest parade I've ever seen!"

  Her digital camera clicked away, then she changed to video. Clearly, the physicists were also waiting, for whatever-it-was, which was headed their way. She turned back to her view of the bomb, and with her camera lens set for close-ups, she took as many pictures of the suitcase bomb as she could, but the physicists weren't blocking her view of the bomb. She was curious to see what it looked like.

  "I have no idea what it weighs," Boone finally answered, as he walked up behind her. Leaning slightly towards her, he quietly added, "However, I do know it's made of thick lead, which is why tank treads are needed. They're aggressive enough to provide extra traction when transporting extra heavy equipment, over all sorts of terrain. The three suited men walking beside it, will help guide it as close to the bomb, as possible."

  The tractor and its container rumbled lethargically past Paisley and Boone, while she documented it with pictures and video. It ambled noisily towards the physicists, with Boone in its wake, to help with its final positioning. She took the opportunity to move forward also, to take as many pictures as she could, using the high-powered close-up lens. Still no pictures of the bomb yet—the physicists and equipment was always in the way.

  She returned to the table where the computer waited, and quickly typed in the time and actions, taking place, along with other relevant information, before returning to her position, which was within twenty feet of the action. Boone and the physicists conferred for a few minutes, then he walked back to where she stood.

  After calling Mitch on his SAT phone to tell him they were within ten minutes or so of beginning, he looked at her, "Are you ready? We have about five more minutes before they begin."

  "Yes, I'm fine now, it's still scary, but I am doing this!" She was quiet for a moment, just watching the odd tableau in front of her, then glancing at Boone she asked, "What’s that thing’s purpose?"

  "That," he responded, as he stood next to her with folded arms, "is intended to be the final resting place for the bomb. Its sides are of a special lead, antimony and steel alloy, which prevents radiation—especially deadly gamma rays—from passing through its wall, due to its density. I believe small lead containers used to carry radioactive material, are called lead pigs, so I guess this is the largest lead pig we'll ever see!" Boone said with a chuckle, shifting his weight to his other foot and giving her a sideways glance.

  "You joke about everything, don't you?" She lowered her camera, smiled and began taking more video with the camera perched on the tripod. She, smiled to herself and directed her camera at the cart, positioned near the back-left wall of the cavern.

  "So, you're telling me, that all they have to do, is stick the bomb in there, and voila’? Or, maybe an abracadabra, and the bomb is gone?"

  "Yep!" Boone stared at the scene in front of him. He also, was mesmerized by the sight, and said, "Will you look at that!"

  At that moment, Drs. Rollins and Kapoor, the two assistants, had redirected the bright Halogen lights towards a brown leather object. The suitcase bomb was now bathed in fulgent light, and as she took video, she was shocked to see the bomb. It looked nothing like what she’d imagined. She expected to see an actual suitcase—like you’d use to travel, but instead, what she was looking at took her by surprise.

  The suitcase bomb looked like an over-sized, worn-leather back pack, with a flap covering the top, fastened by two straps on the front, with buckles! Two thicker straps on the back, would enable it to be worn, like a backpack. It’s height was probably a little over three and a half feet, and probably two feet wide, and maybe a foot and a half deep. It did not look at all, like a suitcase! It was more like a large duffel bag!

  "Shocking!" Paisley whispered to Boone, almost in a reverent tone, “To think I'm standing here, taking pictures of a nuclear device, that for all I know, might explode—hard to wrap my mind around this! And, I was waiting to see an actual suitcase! I don’t understand? Oddly enough, I’m kind of disappointed—I expected something more exciting.

  Boone replied in a similar tone, adding, “They call it a suitcase bomb, because it can be carried in the same fashion as a backpack…although it probably weighs quite a bit more! Look, I think the show is about to start."

  She turned back to the action, “What are they going to do?”

  "The plan is to carefully open the bag and check the electronics and, if possible, disconnect any power source that may still be working, so there won't be an explosion. Our lives are in their hands!”

  "And then what," she said again, and readied her camera to take pictures of this next step.

  "The tractor will disconnect from the wagon," Boone replied, "and its two arms, will carefully lift the backpack and deposit it into the lead box, which they are moving closer to the bomb."

  Her cameras captured everything. "What's the purpose of the lead box, if the bomb is already disarmed? Why don't they just let the tractor roll it out?"

  "Because it doubles the protection, when its inside the lead box. Just because it's disarmed, doesn't mean the radioactive material inside is safe! So, to assure the fissile material can't cause harm, the bomb will be immersed in the lead box, which contains Grade 1 water, which will diffuse any other electronics, while also blocking radiation.”

  "Grade 1?" she queried?

  "Yes, also called UPW, which stands for Ultra-Purified Water."

  "Oh, my gosh!" she whispered inaudibly. She contemplated this new information, and once again, became aware of the immense danger of the operation, which she documented, on film and video.

  CHAPTER 40

  For a moment, she glanced around at the other men who were concentrated on their tasks, took a deep breath and refocused. Her video camera remained perched atop the tripod, at a perfect angle, and captured everything taking place.

  She turned to the computer, entered more, information, and communicated several times with Mitch, back at the COM tent, letting him know preparations were in place, to evacuate the bomb, and things were running smoothly, and it was time for the final phase of the retrieval.

  The physicists and assistants, with their protective gloves, reached around the lead shield, and carefully removed the debris from the top of the leather bag, which contained the bomb. It took a moment to accomplish, and then the bag sat in a circle of light where Moto and Steinhoff could examine it closely.

  Those present fell silent as the bomb was uncovered. The tension in the cave was palpable. Paisley stepped into the golf cart which had approached her again, driving her closer to the physicists, to get a better view of the procedure, with the camera. There was a moment of stasis in the cavern and everyone, including Boone and Paisley, held their breath. There was dead silence, except for the sound of the shutter, as the camera took a series of pictures, before the cart turned and re-deposited her by her work table.

  Safely back, she noticed a tangible reverence in the air, as everyone realized the danger this comparatively small object might be capable of un
leashing. According to the newspapers and other information she ‘d Googled two days ago, hypothetically the bomb could have up to a ten-megaton capability, should it ever be detonated!

  The bomb itself, was judged to weigh, in the vicinity, of fifty to sixty pounds, making it awkward to carry (but not impossible), it was portable, like a heavy suitcase, hence its name. However, it was possible that the fissile material contained within, had totally degraded, which could still cause huge problems with its extraction. The latter scenario didn't seem to be the case so far, as no leakage had been detected.

  With the lead sheet in place, the physicists worked as quickly as possible. First, the leather fastener was cut off the flap and away from one of the bag’s sides, with a small knife-like tool. Under the flap, there was a lid, which covered a larger rectangular shaped container. Once the leather was pulled back, the lid was carefully unscrewed and lifted so the wiring could be observed.

  All four physicists examined the wiring configuration, and stepped back behind the shield, where they conferred for several tense minutes, deciding which wires to cut. With the decision made, Dr. Moto wasted no time in severing a red wire on the left side, while Dr. Steinhoff, severed its mate on the right. The electrical circuit, which had been in hibernation, was severed.

  Those in the cave sat in silence during this time, praying each in his own way that the physicists, all tops in their fields, would be successful. As soon as they cut the last wire, Dr. Moto rolled his hand in the air to motion the small tractor, to move in closer. Straps were attached to the bomb and the two arms on the tractor, gently lifted it up and lowered it into the water in the lead container.

  The assistants replaced the lead container’s lid and locked it into place. An audible sigh of relief and a smattering of applause broke out, as the cart with its lead container, moved deliberately towards the entrance to the cavern. The cart sluggishly made its way through the tunnel, exiting into the clearing, to a partly cloudy afternoon.