Regression (29 page)

“
Do you think they’ll
ever manage to merge computing and genetic sequencing?”

“
How so?”

“
Binary code is
base-2. Will the next development in computing be the jump to using
genetic code, which is base-4? Do you think it could ever
happen?”

“
I haven’t really
thought about it, I focus on the biological aspect rather than
computer language. I’m too busy trying to break the code of your
plasmid.”

“
Any luck with the
different preparation techniques?”

“
No, nothing. The
longest it’s remained intact was twenty seven minutes thirty three
seconds. After a period of time, it loses cohesion and virtually
melts in front of our eyes. I’ve been able to examine some of the
base pairings Wally and Fred recorded and I don’t think the plasmid
is manufactured. There are normally certain sequences of codons
used in manipulated plasmids making them easy to identify. The
coding is like a trademark, individual organizations will use a
particular sequence. Doesn’t code for anything, it’s located before
the start codon, simply identifies who holds the copyright. I
didn’t find a familiar signature. Of course, someone from the
future might not do it.”

“
The whole concept of
copyrighting genetic material seems wrong to me. How can you
copyright something inside an organism?”

“
There’s validity to
the argument for copyrighting the process for sequencing strands
and performing genetic modifications. For example, the method for
injecting DNA into plants to create the new organism was developed
and copyrighted by one company in the original timeline, who then
held all of the licenses allowing for the use of the
technique.”

“
Who developed it in
this timeline? Three Eleven?” Peter nodded. “So, does Three Eleven
hold the copyright, then?” Peter again nodded. “How is
authorization given, through fees?”

“
No, actually, use is
authorized for anyone so long as we get a sample of the end results
for our library. We agree not to use the sample and they don’t have
to pay anything for the use of our copyrighted process. Obviously,
if it comes to the point where we do use the sample, humanity will
have changed priorities and I don’t think we’ll face objections at
that time.”

“
Hmm, I suppose that’s
better than removing the process entirely from many of the possible
users who cannot afford the licensing fees, like what happened in
the original timeline.”

“
You seem to have a
good grasp of the concepts. Did your husband tell you about
concepts like genetic modification and DNA sequencing?”

“
No, I told him about
it.” Peter did not appear to catch the acid in Adya’s response as
they joined the crowd heading to the theatre. The venue was packed,
most residents of Sanctum coming out for what to them was a premier
movie. They selected treats and assumed seats in the centre of the
auditorium.

“
This part of the
facility is also going to be used for meetings, speakers,
debriefings, etcetera, so it serves a dual purpose. Right now, it’s
most frequently used as a theatre but will be a valuable resource
in the future if Sanctum gets populated.” The movie began and they
both watched intently although familiar with the show. She found it
entertaining observing the other inhabitants of the theatre,
especially during the good parts. Their enjoyment increased her
pleasure being there, making her feel a part of something for the
first time in a long while.

At the end of the film, they filed
out of the auditorium with the rest of the movie-goers. A few
people she had met in her week at Sanctum greeted her and Peter
introduced her to many more. She received numerous warm welcomes,
especially upon identification as the up and coming intern. Someone
asked her what area she would be specializing in and Adya was
unsure of an appropriate response. Peter covered for
her.

“
She’ll make that
decision after viewing all the current operations, including those
at Sanctum. Perhaps her experience in the underground city will be
so positive she’ll decide to return.” His pronouncement was met
with wide smiles and murmurs of assent.

They took the elevator back to
PN1, walking toward their quarters.

“
Your next week will
be spent with Henri Babin, our resident electrical energy
specialist. Please remember to drop by my level at lunchtime so I
can collect samples. I have a number of other tests I’ll run but
there is no point in having you remain in my lab for the whole day,
you may as well continue your orientation. I let Henri know and
he’s preparing an information package to familiarize you with the
geothermal system here at Sanctum. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
With a warm hand shake, he bid her goodbye at her door. She was
very tempted to ask him in for a drink, but decided against doing
so, worried it might be misconstrued. She returned his handshake
with a wide smile, and then closed the door. 

Adya reported to Henri’s level the next morning. They were
almost eye to eye, Henri’s slight build wiry but emanating an aura
of energy and activity. He led her to the elevators. “Do you know
how to operate the snow mobile?”

Puzzled, she nodded.

“
Bien. Come wit me.”
They rode the elevator to the uppermost level.

“
Do we have to go
through decontamination again?”

“
Non, only when you go
off site. We go inspect the Christmas Trees.” His sly smile told
her he was making fun of her. Playing the game, she expressed
confusion.

“
Oh,
really?”

“
Oui, here are the
machines. You will find the snow gear over there.” His heavy
French-Canadian accent reminded her of a summer spent in Montreal,
nostalgia making her smile. He motioned to a room where she
selected the smallest snow suit, gloves, footwear and helmet. The
machines were running, ready to go, when she returned from fitting
the suit.

“
Those are four
strokes.”

“
Oui, better for the
environment. They are used for all outside trips.” He slid his leg
over the seat and motioned her to do the same on the second sled
before gunning out the barely open doorway. She hopped on and
pinched the accelerator, catching up to him where he waited. In the
distance, the oddly shaped structures she had noticed at landing
were visible in the glinting snow. He accelerated again, in their
direction.

It was exhilarating being on the
snow machine. She revelled in the slight fishtailing as she held
down the throttle. Henri skillfully guided his machine through
gullies and banks, occasionally airborne. More cautious in her
driving, she still managing to keep close enough to see him looking
back for her. He stopped at the bottom of one of the conical
structures, much larger up close. She pulled up beside him and
removed her helmet.

She grinned, “You drive a mean
machine.”

“
Same to you, I must
admit I did not expect you to keep up.” His grin was apologetic
with some new respect.

“
I rode fairly often
and it’s something you don’t forget.” She looked up at the
equipment towering over them. “So, what are these? I don’t recall
anything similar in the original timeline.” The ‘Christmas Tree’
was three stories tall and conical, painted black. Openings
punctuated the sides and she glimpsed spinning blades inside.
“They’re horizontal turbines.”

“
Wind power is not my
forte but I got the responsibility for these. A prototype we test,
with the horizontal blades.” He reached into the opening and
grabbed a spinning blade. “The blade is super light plastic, at
high speed is not dangerous. Note the scoop shape to better capture
the wind on the upswing and not on the return.”

“
So how does it
generate electricity?”

“
All generators are
the magnets and copper wire. The magnets make electrons inside the
copper wire to jump with power. They pass this power to the next
electron down the line and so on. All the power generators you
remember from the original timeline moved the magnets or the wire.
You from Ontario?”

“
Yes.”

“
There nuclear was in
use. Nuclear reactors use the power from breaking apart the atoms
to heat the water into the steam which then go under high pressure
trew the pipe past the turbine. The turbine spins the copper wire
on the shaft inside the tunnel of magnets. There is more, but that
is enough for today.”

“
Okay.”

“
Every time energy
changes form there s a loss of energy. Wit traditional wind
turbines you start with wind energy.”

“
Yes.”

“
That gets changed
into the mechanical energy of moving the blades.”

“
Okay.”

“
Then the blades turn
the shaft for conversion of energy again.” Adya nodded. “We lose
the energy to the sound and the heat wit each transition. Zen the
reducing gear lose energy then the second shaft spin inside the
generator. The old wind turbines are inefficient even if the wind
is free.”

“
How do these
horizontal ones work then, and why are they inside a
tree?”

“
We call them wheel
turbines, they are like the old water wheels. The middle of the
wheel is magnets around the copper wire, spinning with each cycle
of the blades. Electrical current is made in one step, not many.
Wit no heavy shaft and gears, the light blades can be
used.”

He motioned she should reach into
the machine. She grimaced, squeezed her eyes shut, gritted her
teeth, and stuck in her hand. The blades felt like the plastic used
in bleach bottles, soft and flexible. Her eyes opened wide as she
exclaimed in surprise. “Wow, they are so soft. I thought there
would be a bit of a bite to it, like acrylic or something. What are
they made of?”

“
We recycle the
bottles and plastics to form them, it is PVC. We did the recycling
earlier this timeline, encouraged the waste reduction before it
became the popular ting to do.”

Adya paused, and then shook her
head. “I didn’t even think about it when I took the newspapers out
to be recycled…we didn’t do that when I was young the first time
around. All these clues I missed, which would have told me you guys
were busy saving the world.” Her warm smile was returned before
Henri pointed to the top of the tree structure.

“
The tree shape
directs the wind. The wind resistance on the return,” he motioned
toward the bottom of the wheel which moved against the prevailing
wind “would be same as the forward movement, cancel each other out.
So, we made the channel directing the wind, sheltering the return
side and make bigger the wind on the forward side. We generate more
power wit one tree than those massive turbines. Our best production
was seven megawatts. This set has work for two years and we make
final notes for production. During high winds you just close the
shutters.” Henri illustrated, securing the panel which guided the
wind into the blades. “When the storm is over again, you open it
up. We make those automated so wind speed cause shut
down.”

“
An impressive
project.”

“
We use in the third
world countries because materials so cheap. Plastic blades easy to
make and ship, these housings too.” He tapped the metal casing.
“These prototypes run without hitch for a long time.”

They continued to inspect the
remaining wind wheels, before he again showed his prowess with the
snowmobile on their return trip to the underground city late in the
afternoon.

Adya answered a knock at her door
at eight the next morning. Henri was standing there, earlier than
expected.

“
I was going to start
early today, you are ready?”

“
Just a
moment.”

Recently returned from working
out, she was still flushed with the warmth from the shower, water
glistening in her hair. Brushing it out, she tied it back in a low
pony tail and walked with him to the elevator bank. Entering one,
he selected the bottom level, talking non-stop about his projects.
Finally pausing for a breath, he was about to continue when the
elevator jerked to a halt.

“
What is this? Did you
press the stop button?”

“
No, I didn’t touch
anything. Does this happen often?”

“
Non, it has never
happened. Zut alors, this should not be stopped.” His eyes were
widening in fear, her own anxiety increasing
simultaneously.

“
I am sure they’ll
have it back in service very quickly. Can you tell me more about
the generator plant? I have never seen a geothermal power plant
although my house had geothermal heating and cooling.”

“
Non, non, non, I
cannot think in this small space. Allo…allo?” The last spoken into
the transceiver. A voice responded.

“
Hello, Doctor Babin.
We’re aware of the problem with the elevator but likely will not
have it running for another ten minutes. We need to shut all power
off to reset the operating equipment. That includes the lights. Do
you have any portable light sources?”