Page 29 of Radar

Finley thrust forward, worry etched on his face. “What’s going on? What have you got?”

Chapter Eight

Elyssa

Thursday

Alexandria, Virginia

Elyssa answered her phone on the second ring. “Hey, Uncle Orest, did you find your hotel comfortable last night? The breakfast was up to your standards?”

“Lovely.” Uncle Orest said. “I have found that overnight flights from Europe are best when dealing with jet lag. And this will be much more difficult as we head on to Alaska.”

“I take melatonin and try to sync with the new clock,” Elyssa said. “Eddie, on the other hand, just finished brunch and is heading to bed. We’ll see on the flight tomorrow who had a better strategy.”

“My dear,” Uncle Orest’s voice was raspy with excitement as it came through her phone. “I have a delightful surprise for you. Big, big surprise.”

“Oh?” Elyssa, standing in her night shorts, tapped the speaker button and laid her cell phone beside her on the sink. Lifting the hamper lid, she began tossing in the dirty clothes from her suitcase.

“You are packing for Alaska?” Uncle Orest asked.

“I’m unpacking from Paris. I’ll run a few loads of laundry and then start packing again.”

“You must bring two bags. One bag with very warm clothes for Alaska and another for warm air of Singapore.’

Elyssa stalled. “Singapore? What’s Singapore about?”

“I am excited to tell you that we set up a prototype of your enclosed vertical farm. It now has its bones. Planting systems are in place. Fishes have been brought in and swim about. Orchards are planted with seven-year-old trees. Bees buzz in their hives. Even farmers and protein ranchers have moved into their quarters ready to plant and—”

“I’m sorry, protein ranchers?” Elyssa stood with a handful of worn socks and undies suspended mid-air.

“I coined this term to identify the people who handle all of the animals from crickets for flour and animal food, to fish, to ducks, and the bees.”

She tossed her things in the hamper. “It’s in Singapore?” Elyssa pulled up a mental map, and to her, Singapore seemed an unlikely place to test the prototype.

“No, no. Though urban centers like this are indeed tests that need trying eventually, this is not where we began. I wished to try this on a small island to test wave power systems as our energy source. For this, I turn to maternal side of our family, Zoric side, My cousin, he owns an island in the Indian Ocean with a volcanic chimney. We built your vertical farm inside chimney. Genius! Now, to my surprise, Zoric family recently decide to go to the island for a family retreat. This is a beautiful opportunity. You can meet your extended family, and they can finally meet you after many years of my telling them your stories. I wish you to inspect this setup and see how your ideas transitioned from blueprint to manifestation. You will see your creation almost to fruition.”

“That sounds amazing.” Joy blossomed in Elyssa’s chest. She just couldn’t believe her good fortune. This was everything. “Thank you. But I’m … say it again, when you asked me to pack two bags, did you mean for me to leave from Fairbanks to fly straight there?”

“Yes, Alaska, then down to San Francisco and over to Singapore. Then family has a ferry boat, and we will bring everyone over together. We have pleasure craft that will go, too. This will be an excellent time for fun, not just for work.”

Elyssa headed toward her home office to check the calendar on her computer. “How long will this family reunion go on?”

There was a brief stall before Uncle Orest replied, “Why do you ask this question?”

“Well, you might remember, when you invited me to Alaska, I was planning to accompany you out there and meet your dogs, but I can’t stay for the start of the race. I have to be back in D.C. by Wednesday night. My dear friend, Anita, we’ve spoken about Anita, she’s the one who is working on her PhD in nanotechnology?”

“Yes, I know this name.”

“She’s getting married. I’m in her bridal party. I’m not sure if you're familiar with that term. It means that I’m going to the church with her and stand beside her as she makes her vows to her soon-to-be husband.”

“I see. Well, this is a very important occasion. So, you go to Singapore, and I fly you right back.”

“Uncle, I am so sorry to say no to you, and it would be the opportunity of a lifetime not just to see my ideas in practice but also to meet my family. But I’ve made commitments that I simply cannot step away from. I’m flying home Wednesday night because there’s the bachelorette party on Thursday, rehearsal dinner Friday, the wedding Saturday, then there’s the send-off brunch as Anita and Tim leave on their honeymoon on Sunday. Now, if I fly out Sunday evening or Monday morning, I could be in Singapore by Tuesday. Surely, I can find some way to get over to your island from there. Hire a local boator something. Even if it’s a shorter time, it would still be very meaningful to me.”

Elyssa could hear her uncle breathing, and it sounded like he was processing stress, perhaps anger. These weren’t emotions she’d experienced from her gregarious and generous uncle, so Elyssa decided that she was simply distressed that she couldn’t say yes to his request, that she was making things up. “Uncle Orest, are you okay?” she asked softly.

“Excuse me, my dear. Please hold. I need to get a glass of water.”

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