“We’re in the Ukraine,” said Maya.
Mr. C nodded. “That’s right, in the Ukrainian town of Pripyat. That was the site of the Chernobyl nuclear plant. In the Eighties, Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. You know. The U.S.S.R.—‘Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.”
“Okay, that’s all interesting and everything,” cried Cooper, “but do you know what’s really important right now? The fact that none of us should even be standing this close to a nuclear power plant! Radiation can be deadly!” cried Cooper.
“Well, that’s not totally true,” said Simon. “Radiation is deadly, but the reactors are inside sealed buildings so it doesn’t get out.”
“Then why does Mr. C. look so concerned?” asked Maya.
“It’s because there was a terrible disaster right here on April 26, 1986,” Mr. C replied.
“Oh wow,” Chelsea said. “That’s why the name ‘Chernobyl’ sounds so familiar. I remember learning about it….” The color drained from her face. “The technicians at Chernobyl were testing the backup cooling system right here, in Reactor Number Four. But something went wrong. There was a terrible explosion and a fire!”
Simon was nodding. “That’s right—the radiation spread all the way into Europe. It was the worst nuclear power plant disaster in history. People died from radiation poisoning, and many others got really sick.”
“Back in our time, no one is even living in this area anymore,” Mr. C added. “It’s like a ghost town. Everyone had to be evacuated. It won’t be safe to live here for a very long time.”
The group went silent once again. This was too awful to imagine.
