Opening Moves

Emilia Perlo, also known as Alkonost, had been enjoying the constant companionship of a reserved yet handsome Lieutenant Colonel of US Military Intelligence since lunchtime  on Friday. They had excitedly discussed the upcoming test and agreed to take the early morning drive down to see the ‘rainbow’ in all its glory. Setting off while it was still dark, they had travelled in his staff car to a beautiful spot roughly fifteen miles southeast of Socorro and parked on high ground about twenty miles north-west of the device. The driver, she hadn’t expected a driver when the idea was first ventured, had parked up almost oblivious to the pair of them and they had carried their picnic hamper to a vantage point, smoked cigarettes, drunk soda and waited for the show.

This officer was new to the camp and Emilia had noticed him looking at her so the play had been made. He wanted to look round the camp so Emmy had been his guide for the whole weekend and now here they were. He was too much of a gentleman to accept her barely concealed offer to join her in her bed on the previous evening, but she hoped that he would lose his reserve for tonight.

In any case, they were both here to witness history being made and so she put aside her earthy thoughts for now and concentrated looking westwards. His constant attention had meant that she had delayed her plans to sabotage some of the project but, in any case, once the test was successfully out of the way Emilia was sure access to the accommodation block she intended to destroy would be easier in the euphoria.

At approx 0530 hrs, the gadget was detonated.

Or rather it wasn’t, or actually it was but didn’t. Either way, there was no spectacular demonstration of fission. What transpired was colloquially known as a fizzle. Those paying close attention would see something but not the anticipated spectral rainbow and vast explosion. The device did explode but mainly spread its plutonium around the local site, which brought its own problems for the team who had to decide what went wrong.

It would be some weeks before a proper investigation would begin. Until then the scientists struggled with their figures and calculations and progress was virtually halted.

Gamayun knew immediately that something had gone wrong and celebrated inwardly that another agent had managed somehow to tamper with the device.

Alkonost knew only that the expected show had not arrived on the allotted hour and started to wonder the same, but she and the officer stayed where they were for some time anyway, just in case it was merely delayed.

All over the Manhattan Project, there was disbelief and immense disappointment for months, possibly years of wasted work.

2013 hrs Monday, 16th July 1945, Scientists Accomodation Block, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA.

Disappointingly, Emilia had been forced to drink alone, as her handsome escort had cried off at the doorway to her block early in the evening, pleading tiredness as an excuse for his swift departure.

After a couple of bourbon’s, Emmy decided that she had best stop drinking for the moment, as she obviously needed to compile a report for her cousin.

Out came the necessary items and she steadily went to work putting together a nice letter to Victoria, talking about the weather and the handsome young officer who clearly wanted her so badly.

Letter finished, she sealed it in an envelope, addressed it, and placed it on the small table by her door.

The knock on that door took her totally by surprise, more so because she heard the voice of her newest potential lover calling her name. The evening may not be so bad after all, she thought, as she placated him with a reply and rushed to secrete her book and make sure no clues lay open to scrutiny.

She opened the door having quickly checked her hair and lips. That she was in her underwear was of no concern to her.

“Well hello Karl. Changed your mind honey?”

As wonderful as Emilia looked in her stockings and lacy bra, Lieutenant Colonel Karl Da Silva was there for another purpose. In fact, he had been rushed to the facility on Friday morning purely for that single purpose.

All of Emilia’s senses lit off in one second as Da Silva walked wordlessly into the room followed by a civilian whom she knew was an FBI agent based on site. She had even tried to bed him once but his preference for other pursuits had terminated her attempt.

‘Military Intelligence’ was ringing loudly in her mind and she inwardly screamed at herself. ‘He is Military Intelligence you stupid fucking useless bitch!’ The thought cut to the heart of her. She had just accepted that because MI officers were in and out of the area all the time, sniffing around the scientists. How could she have been so stupid?

“Please sit down Miss Perlo.”

She did as she was told and reached for the bourbon. Da Silva neatly fended her hand away from it, took it up and placed it away from her reach.