Chapter 15
“The Way”
Severodonetsk to Saint Paul-Lez-Durance
June 1, 2022
“I would like to see nuclear fusion become a practical power source. It would provide an inexhaustible supply of energy, without pollution or global warming. It is the scientific discovery I would most like to see in my lifetime.”
Stephen Hawking
Time Magazine 2010.
“Impressive disciple,” said Gregor to Tatiana as the unit they were embedded in gradually retreated through the streets of Severodonetsk.
As the soldiers in the rear provided cover, the soldiers in front fell back behind them to set up new positions.
“Block by block they are leaving the city but all the while they are picking off the new Russian conscripts that are being forced to advance.”
“You would think Russia would remember its own history when the Czar’s soldiers retreated and Napoleon’s army followed until it had outrun its supply lines. Starvation and winter did the rest.”
“You would think so. But our unit is just retreating to better positions in Lysychansk. Petrovich says they will dig in there and use the advantage of their hilltop position to inflect further damage on the Russian invaders.”
“Why Gregor, what happened to your objectivity?”
“Gone with the wind and the turning tide. I can’t take any more of this war. I have seen too many dying kids and maimed bodies.”
“But you have to keep telling our story.”
“I’m not sure I’m up to it any more. I need a rest from all this mayhem. Besides my stories are slipping off the front page as my country continues to be convulsed with mass shootings, surging Covid cases and out of control forest fires.”
“What will you do?”
“I’m thinking of slipping back into Southern France to cover what could be the biggest story of our lifetimes.”
“What’s that?”
“Nuclear Fusion. Do you want to come? I should be able to get the Globe to hire you as my fulltime translator.”
“But I speak French like a Spanish cow.”
“Tres idiomatique! You’re hired!"
Two weeks later Tatiana and Gregor were driving through the lavender fields and vineyards of Provence on their way to Saint Paul-lez-Durance.
Gregor read their travel brochure.
“Saint Paul-lez-Durance used to be the where they floated logs down from the calcareous cliffs of the tree-lined Gorge di Verdon.
Now the village of only 1,000 people is going to be home to La Centre du Atom in the most expensive building ever built.”
The director met them at the gate.
“Bonjour, je suis Claude Lambin. Welcome to The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor.”
“ITER?”
“Oui, it means ‘The Way’ in Latin.”
“Fitting.”
“Bien sur. We feel this is the way to solve the most serieuse problem that has ever faced mankind.”
“You mean humankind!”
“Ah oui, pardon Madame! We hope to prove that fusion can be used to provide a limitless supply of energy without carbon emissions or nuclear waste, in 30 years.”
“Haven’t engineers been saying nuclear fusion was 30 years off since the 1920’s?”
“Mais oui, because they were only investing a measly ten million dollars a year. Now countries and your Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos are putting billions of dollars into the research.”
“How do you plan to do it?”
“Down there we are building our own Tokamak.”
“It looks like something out of Star Wars!”
“The first one was built by the Soviet Union.”
“Russians again. I thought we could escape them.”
“Here at ITER we welcome Russia. Her scientists were the first to be able to generate plasmas hot enough so fusion could happen.
She is still one of our main funders. In fact we are waiting for them to deliver a magnet for the top of our Tokamak. It sits in St. Petersburg waiting to be shipped. So far Russia’s involvement with us hasn’t changed in any way.”
“So it’s like the cooperation between Russia and the United States for the International Space Station until that became politicized.”
“Yes we hope to stay under the radar so we can continue to be a project for peace.”
“That will not be a small feat!”
“All of the 35 countries who are part of this project are fully aware that dropping the ball could easily mean the demise of the entire project. They realize it is a huge responsibility.”
“In other words if politicians can just hold the planet together for another 30 years, scientists should be able to solve the energy problem.”
“We like to think so. There are already 150 Tokamaks in the world. They are mostly in universities and research facilities. If all of them could be retrofitted to produce electricity commercially our energy problem would be largely solved.”
That evening Gregor and Tatiana discussed their day over two large platters of Fruit de Mer and a carafe of Villa Beaulieu de Cassis.
“I will have to tell Ericka about “The Way” I saw my first Tokamak with her at the Swiss Plasma center in Lausanne.
“Tell me about this Ericka.”
“Nothing to tell really. She broke my heart. I’m still trying to recover.”
“I would like to help if you will let me.”
“Always the healer, aren’t you?”
“ I suppose.”
“I would like that very much.”