The weekend’s antinuclear rally was a smashing success, Ned’s highpoint as an environmentalist activist. He had penetrated the complex the previous night, leaving a fake bomb in the control room to prove how lax security was. Legislative hearings were scheduled and the plant opening was postponed six weeks.
During that time a routine diagnostic check detected a change in a computer program for the process control facility. If the plant had started operations before that change was reversed, the place would have blown sky-high. And without the delay caused by the rally, that’s what would have happened. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission report left an open verdict on who made the change and when. With no one to hold responsible, the incident was buried without making the news.
Ned conducted two more rallies that summer, but without Toby’s counsel they came off with less zing. He decided to rest on his laurels and work as a high-paid lobbyist in Washington.
Professor Threshmore did find relics manufactured using Viking techniques but with native materials, strong evidence to use in his articles published the next year.
Mary and Tarna’s interest in archaeology was suddenly reawakened, but they never discussed exactly what they were looking for.
The End