CHAPTER 1

Friday, April 25th, 1986 5:45pm Oakville, Canada

They sat in her car outside The Queen's Head. It was a clear evening, with the evening sun still in the sky. Vicky looked lovely with her blond hair held back with a clip, and her make-up just at the right level to show off her beautiful blue eyes. Ed was always impressed with Vicky's ability to make the most of an awkward situation, and he needed her to lead the way now. It was his personal circumstances that had led them to where they were today, and he didn't want to seem rushed. Both were nervous and unsure how to get their required roles in motion. Finally Vicky closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and opening her eyes wide turned to Ed.

"A few comments before we proceed, if I may?"

Ed nodded and took her hands in his to help her begin the plan they had agreed upon eight weeks earlier.

"So, Edwin William, my favorite bloke, here are a few comments about our relationship that we are about to end; blow into the air; toss into the wind or any other flippant expression you might suggest."

"Reluctantly accept as inevitable," Ed quickly added.

"That's nice," Vicky smiled. "Thank you. I appreciate that. But we must! So here I go." She leaned across and kissed him gently on his cheek. "In the two months we've been boyfriend/girlfriend, we have cruised the Caribbean; visited both New York and San Francisco; been bird-watching several times; eaten at some lovely restaurants; spent some time getting to know each others' strengths and weaknesses, and made love twelve times. A wonderful time, bloke, and one I will never forget. Now please start the process and let's get this over and done with."

Ed raised his index finger.

Vicky nodded. "Okay, just the one comment please."

"Every time I said I loved you, Vicky, I meant it."

Vicky gulped to hold back a tear. "You can be so nice, bloke. Now go!"

Ed leaned across, gave her a quick kiss on her lips, got out of the car and walked into the pub. Vicky looked at her watch. Five minutes was their agreed-upon time.

Ed entered the pub and walked to his regular spot at the bar. Seana was working the bar and waved hello to him. Seana had worked at The Queen's Head for several years, and was a friend of Vicky's. Like Vicky she was five-eight and slim, but with long dark hair, tied up in a pony-tail tonight. It was always a pleasure to be served by her. Ed nodded for his regular pint of Double Diamond, and said his hellos to his fellow regulars.

Seana delivered his pint. "Is Vicky joining us today?"

"I'm not sure," Ed replied with a shrug. "She said she might."

Several minutes later Vicky walked into the pub and headed for Ed. Her tall slim figure always attracted attention, but this was a different Vicky from just a few minutes earlier. Her hair was hanging loose around her shoulders, her lipstick was gone and her eye make-up was smeared. There was no smile on her now serious looking face. Seana couldn't believe her eyes.

"Ed, outside!" was all Vicky said, and turned back toward the exit. No wave to Seana, no recognition of friends she knew. Ed followed quickly.

Outside Vicky turned to Ed and immediately started waving her finger at him. "This makes me feel pretty stupid," she said, but her actions were not related to her words. She continued pointing, waving and gesturing to Ed and motioned as if she was shouting. "Okay, I'm going to jab you now, and then I'm gone." She jabbed Ed in the chest, threw up her hands in frustration, turned and left.

Ed motioned as if he was calling to Vicky to return. "Speak to you later," he said. Looking down at the ground, he turned and walked back to the pub entrance.

Those watching through a window from inside the pub quickly returned to their places and went back to their own conversations. They would discuss what had just happened later.

He walked back to the bar, ran his hands through his dark too-long hair as if searching for answers, picked up his drink and took a long swig of beer. Putting his nearly empty glass back on the bar, he looked at Seana and motioned for a second pint. Seana pulled his pint but didn't rush to deliver it. She could see he was upset.

"What was that all about?" she asked, sliding his beer across the bar.

Ed shrugged and frowned. "I think it could be said that Vicky just dumped me. In no uncertain terms, I might add."

Seana leaned closer and spoke softly. "Vicky? Dump you? She's crazy about you. She told me so last week."

"Things change, I guess. Whatever happened to that shy, unassuming Vicky you were always telling me about?"

Seana nodded her understanding. "When her ex-fiancé dumped her and she met you, that changed everything – and mostly for the good. I can't believe she would do it right here and right now. Yikes!"

Ed finished his first beer, took a mouthful of his second beer and shook his head. "I think I'll finish my beer and go home," he said. "I don't want her to come back and finish me off."

Seana nodded. "I understand. The beers are on me. Go home and relax."

Ed did as he was told and was home by six-thirty.

* * *

Seven-thousand-four-hundred-and-eighty-seven kilometers to the east, just outside the town of Pripyat in the northern area of Ukraine SSR, at 01:23 local time, Saturday, April 26th, the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, Reactor Unit 4, reached 33,000 MW thermal and exploded. The 2000 ton upper plate of the reactor was blown up and through the roof of the building. Several seconds later a second explosion, the equivalent of ten tons of TNT occurred. This explosion released super heated lumps of graphite, reactor fuel and fission products that resulted in unprotected workers receiving fatal levels of radiation in less than a minute.

* * *

At exactly eight-forty-five Ed's phone rang and he picked it up immediately. "How are you doing?" he asked.

"Not bad for a broken-hearted ex-girlfriend. The tears have stopped flowing." Vicky paused. "Just kidding, I'm doing fine. Seana phoned to say you left early and heart-broken." She laughed. "We agreed it was because you had only two pints instead of your regular three."

"Thanks, I'm sure," Ed replied. "So when did you take acting lessons? Everyone seemed impressed, and most likely felt quite sorry for me."

"I'm not just a pretty face," Vicky said proudly.

"No you're not for sure. But you are most certainly pretty."

"Okay quit that nice-bloke stuff. It's going to be sad enough not spending my Friday nights with you watching 'Heartbeat', and then having you seduce me into your bed."

"Me seduce you? That'll be the day."

She thought for a second before she replied. "Not now it won't, not now."

He cringed at his poor wording. "Sorry. I wasn't thinking. Bad choice of words."

Vicky responded quickly and firmly. "Hey, I knew the rules of the game when we started all of this. In fact I made most of them up. Next weekend after Pat and Roy's wedding in England, you're going to ask your lady-friend to marry you. We'll always be friends, as they say, and that's fine with me."

Ed closed his eyes, not quite sure how things had happened as they had. He was sad but happy at the same time. His main goal had been to ensure Vicky's feelings were not hurt, which had not been the case when her ex-fiancé had ended their...