Page 15 of Radar

“What does Paca study?” Eddie asked.

“Squirrel hibernation in Alaska.” Uncle Orest scratched his nose. “He tells me that China thinks they can get to Mars by 2033. And the United States is competitive country.”

“That’s true,” Eddie said. “NASA had its sights set on 2050, but much like the moonshot, the US wants to get there first. They’re pushing harder with scientists of all kinds. Some, like me, are looking into ways to produce food. Since the astronauts will be gone anywhere from months to years, for their psychological health, they occasionally need to have fresh food.”

“Elyssa consulted for NASA when she was doing her doctoral research.” Uncle Orest nodded toward Elyssa. “As I remember, that had to do with the International Space Station. I agree that fresh food contributes to well-being in ways that freeze-dried meals or pouch pastes cannot. Even if they are superior in nutrients, they are inferior in regulating stress and anxiety. I have seen powdered eggs, and I would rather die than subsist on them.”

“I was just reading,” Eddie said, “that NASA hired a team to work on social psychology. Of course, every group is unique with its own characteristics, but they have sent teams to places like Antarctica to test their capabilities in -60 °C cold, where no outside help can reach them for months. That must be a terrible anxiety in the back of your mind. Not only is no one coming, but you can’t run away.”

“Seems a brutal existence. I have no desire to experience any of that,” Elyssa said. “I’m not knocking it for those who enjoy the challenge. Though there’s that story about a scientist in Antarctica whose cabinmate would tell him the endings of his books before he could read them himself. The reader scientist snapped and stabbed the spoiler cabinmate to death.” Elyssa's face showed her horror at the idea. “Personally, I like to know the ending.”

“Are you one of those people who reads last chapter first?” Uncle Orest looked bemused.

“I read the last chapter second,” Elyssa said. “First chapter is first to know who I should care about, and the last chapter is second to make sure everyone is okay in the end, because I can’t handle the emotional pain of a beloved character not getting a happily ever after. Then, I read the middle to get the substance of their journey.”

“Aww. You’re so tender-hearted,” Eddie teased. “After all these years, I didn’t know that about your reading. Here’s something you probably didn’t know about me. I’m the opposite and can empathize with the man who did the stabbing.”

Laughing, Elyssa lifted her water and took a sip. “I’m not going camping with you.” She took another sip, then set it down on the same wet ring that the glass had left.

“I think we’d be fine,” Eddie replied. “We don’t read the same books.” He turned to Uncle Orest. “I’m curious as to why NASA hired the squirrel hibernation expert you mentioned earlier. And for that matter, why was the Carpathian Foundation interested in that work, sir?”

Uncle Orest pulled in a deep breath. “Things go very wrong. We push nature too far, and we stop the circulation of the oceans. Suddenly, we are living on a frozen planet. Or, a volcano blows, and the ash blocks the light for years, or there’s an asteroid.” He paused. “Events could even trigger nuclear war.And one must prepare. For survival, we must have systems in place in advance.” He reached over and tapped Elyssa’s hand. “My genius great niece has studied all of this with her many degrees and her brilliant—”

“Uncle,” Elyssa whispered, hoping he’d stop his effusive praise.

“Hush, I speak.” He turned to Eddie. “Her brilliant, creative mind is involved in averting catastrophe in case there are any of these events. For this, my family is grateful. Now, what does this have to do with NASA? Because my foundation foresaw a need, science was advanced, and now it will potentially be used by NASA. I’ll explain. NASA wants to hibernate Mars crew for eight months each year of their journey to reduce the requirements for food, water, and air, as well as the accumulation of human byproducts. They will rotate people who are awake. This possibility has been an area of interest for my foundation for years now. We attempted to answer the question: Under dire circumstances, until nature became survivable, could we rotate people in and out of hibernation to reduce their needs? If a community could support three hundred people who were awake, would it be able to support nine hundred if they were cycling through sleep? Or take Polar reader stabbing the cabinmate. What if you had bad apple causing disorder? Ostracism is death. Could you just let them have a time-out, sleep it off, and avert a Lord of the Flies situation? Even medically, we see use. What if cure for disease is right over horizon? Hibernate patient, wait for cure, cure patient, all is well. And so, while my guy will no longer be working on squirrels in Alaska, he is taking the knowledge that my foundation proudly invested in and applies it with NASA. We approved this. We agree with these new circumstances, Paca will be better able to advance our studies, especially as we weren’t clear on how to get the okay to hibernate live people.”

“I was going to ask how that was going to work,” Eddie said. “I mean, the FDA posed an enormous obstacle in even allowing people to taste our 3D meat.”

“You know Elyssa and I fly to America tomorrow.” Uncle Orest said.

Elyssa tipped her ear toward her friend. “Eddie is, too. He’s on our flight.”

“Very good,” Uncle Orest said. “I have some meetings in Washington on Thursday, and then Friday, I leave for Alaska.”

“That’s right, the Iditarod is coming up,” Elyssa smiled.

“It is, and my dog team is very strong. Very strong. We have good chance of winning this year.” Uncle Orest looked from Elyssa to Eddie and back. “You know, yes, this is very good idea.” He sat quietly for a moment. Then said, “Yes, this is what needs to be done under these circumstances. You both must clear your calendars this week and come with me.”

“To Alaska, sir?” Eddie pinked all the way up to his ears.

“Yes, just so.” Uncle Orest pulled his phone from his pocket and handed it to Eddie. “You put your contact information here. And also, please type out the name of your friend who grows the cheese and butter, and the name of friend’s lab, I wish to contact this person.”

The server brought a bottle of white wine, uncorked it, and poured three glasses while Eddie complied with Uncle Orest’s request.

Accepting his phone back and looking over the contact information, Uncle Orest said, “Yes, I will forward this to my secretary to make your arrangements. My foundation invites both of you. All expenses paid.” Uncle Orest took a sip of wine. “Delicious, just a slight citrus on tip of tongue to help butter taste rounder.” He nodded his approval to the server. “Lovely.”

The server bowed and went away.

Focusing on Eddie, Uncle Orest said. “In Alaska, I will introduce you both to my squirrel guy. And you get to meet my dogs and watch the Iditarod leave the starting gate. How many people can say they have seen such a famous thing as this race?” He held his wine glass out, “A toast to our adventure together!”

“Cheers,” Eddie and Elyssa said as they clinked glasses.

Uncle Orest smiled broadly. “Dr. Eddie Baylor, 3D meat scientist for NASA, this trip will be perfect time to better know a man who understands importance of a goodmeunière.”

Chapter Five

Xander

---