6. Prelude to Catastrophe

2 days later a further meeting was called.

“Even if the Mr. Kohei’s theory is correct, according to my calculation the scale of Parallel Universe could be far smaller than that of our Universe. Its provability would be less than 0.1 percent. That means the pair annihilation will stop sooner or later and Black Hole will evaporate　as expected. Therefore we had better wait without any action.”

Dr. Michel asserted his conclusion.

“Any opinion?”

Dr. Holmstein questioned. Nobody raised a hand. That means there is no effective countermeasure other than just waiting and watching.

But Kohei raised his hand respectfully.

“I’m sorry but it would be a little optimistic. The problem is the fluidity. The earth is not a lump of rocks. Atmosphere, ocean, magma…. If Black Hole break through the shield wall, at first it will start absorbing atmosphere, the most fluid part in the earth. And the next will be water. Even if the Parallel Universe is small enough, for example same as a baseball, if the density is high, it would be possible that pair annihilation will not cease until the whole atmosphere will be absorbed. I think its probability could be more than 30 percent.”

All of a sudden the meeting became chaotic and noisy. Even if the earth itself can be saved, no lifeform will be able to survive without atmosphere which means the extinction of human race.

Thereafter arguments had continued until the next morning. Someone agreed to Dr. Michel, the others were for Kohei, but the meeting could not reach any decisive conclusion.

“Ok, understood. I will request the emergency meeting of the EU Government.”

Dr. Holmstein finally settled the argument which meant the situation had already shifted from Physics to Politics.

3 days later. At medical room of Kate.

Meeting was permitted because there was no risk for second exposure.

“Kate, are you all right?”

“Thanks to your care.”

Kohei had a seat by her bed. Kate was not so much changed other than a little haggard face because of the meal restrictions.

“What happened? Black Hole.”

“No change. Maybe it’s still growing in D Factory at this moment. The Committee will request the emergency meeting of the EU Government. Our role was over. From now on politicians will consider the treatment. I have no idea about our future and fate.”

“I see.”

Kate murmured sadly.

“I want to sit up. I have a little pain in my back.”

When Kohei tried to help her, suddenly a bunch of her blond hair fell off on the bed.

“Oh, my God. What is this?”

Kate lost her self-control and screamed.

“Kate, calm down, calm…”

“Get out of here. Don’t look at me. Please…”

Kate excited and began scattering hairs everywhere around the bed. A doctor rushed in the room with a syringe of sedative. Soon after Kate fell asleep with tears on her eye corners.

“I think it is the side effect of massive radiation exposure.”

“Please save her. Is there anything to do?”

The doctor shook his head without any word.

At about the same time, the EU Headquarter in Brussels, Belgium.

The emergency summit was secretly called. If it is as usual, more than 100 delegations including government staffs, journalists from each country will participate in the conference. But it was too special and emergent to open the issue in this occasion. Of course all the mass communications were shut out and no agenda had been announced in advance. Only the fact that a serious accident had occurred at CERN was noticed. While waiting, most of presidents and prime ministers of member countries were grumbling about this situation.

Soon later the Chairman, Dr. Holmstein, declared the opening and began the explanation. During his speech, the atmosphere was getting worse and worse.

“What’s do you mean by that?”

“I haven’t heard anything about that.”

Before conclusion, the conference had already been mixed up. Some stood up and the other tapped a table. It became too loud to hear any voice.

“Everyone. Please be quiet. Please…”

Dr. Holmstein tried to continue with sweat on his brow.

“We supposed several phases and considered possible countermeasures for each phase.

Firstly Phase One. This is the case Black Hole will disappear soon. We will announce there was an accident in CERN and the laboratory will be closed for a while. That’s all. You don’t need anything to do.

Secondly Phase Two. The case is that Black Hole will burst out and the radioactive contamination will occur. You should announce the emergency evacuation for all the citizens living within a 100 miles radius from CERN. It would be almost same as the case of meltdown of the nuclear power plant.”

Again Dr. Holmstein’s explanation was cut off due to mixed up loud voices. He sighed and waited for calming down.

“I feel very sorry but I should still talk about Phase Three, the worst case.”

Dr. Holmstein a little hesitated remembering the Kohei’s words which meant the global catastrophe.

“What? Phase Three?”

“Yes, it is the case Black Hole will continue to grow and absorb the global atmosphere. In this case, some of us, probably very few selected people should be isolated in the nuclear shelter until the storm will go away. And…”

At this point his explanation was interrupted.

“W, wait. What does it mean? Doomsday, isn’t it?”

“Is that a bad joke? Are you sure your assumption?”

“Even if it is true, what shall we do? In our country we have no nuclear shelter.”

A few prime ministers had already kicked their chairs and got out of the room. Some looked up the ceiling with absent-minds and others lay down on the table. The meeting was suspended with tumbling confusion.

“Everybody, please, please attention. When you choose members going into shelters, I strongly recommend to choose persons who have some scientific knowledge. Medicine, physics, biology, zoology, chemistry…. Anyhow we should survive and pass our civilization to the next generations. I would like to finish my explanation. I wish the God Mercy on all of you.”

Dr. Holmstein concluded his speech. Only the long silence had been in the room.