The Boy from Reactor 4

CHAPTER 81

AT 11:05 A.M., Adam walked into a bar called the Underground below a doctor’s office at 33 East Seventh Street. The inside of the bar was dark and smelled of dried booze, like the coach’s kitchen in Korosten. A babushka was wiping down the bar. Adam was amazed to see a babushka in New York. He’d assumed all women in New York were glamorous, like the Victoria’s Secret models. The babushka stopped work when she saw him.

“Is Yuri here?” Adam said in Ukrainian.

“Who’s asking?”

“Adam. Adam Tesla.”

An old man appeared in front of a curtain in the back of the bar. He looked as though he could slip through closed doors at will. The creases in his face deepened.

“Adam? Is it really you? Praise be to God. You’ve made it.” He smiled, limped forward, and pumped Adam’s hand with both of his.

“You’re my father’s friend?” Adam said.

“I knew your father since we were this tall,” Yuri said, holding his hand at his waist. “Welcome. Welcome, my boy. You’ve done it.” Yuri looked over Adam’s shoulder. “But why are you alone? Where is your cousin? Where is Nadia? Is she not with you?”

“We got separated. At the airport. Police and government men were there, waiting to send me back.”

“The police were waiting for you?”

“Yes.”

“They approached you? You ran away from them?”

“No. They didn’t recognize me. My clothes. My hair. I slipped away. But now I feel bad I left Nadia behind.”

“Don’t worry about your cousin. She’ll find us. Worst case, we have her number.”

“You do?”

“Yes. The important thing is you’re here and you’re safe. Maria, bring the boy a glass of water. And something to eat.”

“Thank you. But I don’t want to eat. I promised my father I’d call him as soon as I got here. My father said you would have a cell phone and a calling card for me. I must call Karel. Karel will go to my father, and I will speak with him to let him know I’m here.”

Yuri’s face fell. “I’m sorry, son. I have bad news. Your father… Your father is dead.”

“What?”

“He died five days ago. Karel called to tell me. I’m sorry.” Yuri patted his shoulder. “He’s at peace now. He was suffering for a long time. It’s for the best. You know that.”

All the joy seeped out of Adam. He had known his father was going to die soon. There was never any doubt about that. But it had never occurred to him he’d die before Adam would be able to call him from New York City.

“He was supposed to see it through,” Adam said.

“He did see it through. That was your father’s gift. He knew what people would do before they did it. He knew you would succeed, Adam.”

Adam perked up a bit upon hearing someone call him a success. “I have a new name now. An American name. From now on, people will call me Bobby. Like Bobby Kennedy.”

“Really? Well, sit down, Senator, and have a glass of water and something to eat, even if you’re not hungry, and let’s see if we can locate Nadia for you. You know, it wouldn’t surprise me if she was on her way here right now.”