When Senior Rodriguez responded the scepticism in his voice was obvious. “And how would you do that, Ms. Ojanen?”

Eila gathered her thoughts before she spoke. “By constructing an electro-magnetic coil gun beside this plant and using the power from the plant, only for a fraction of a second around noon each day, to send capsules full of waste material to the Sun.”

Senior Rodriguez frowned. “And you think that is possible?”

“Yes Senior, I do. I used to operate a small coil gun back at my school in Oslo. I am related to the man who invented them.”

Senior Rodriguez picked up the telephone and called one of his senior engineers. Within a few minutes Eila and the two men were engaged in an animated discussion about flux forces, inertia, super-conductors, and ablation. Senior Rodriguez was impressed enough with the way the conversation was going to assign two additional engineers to help investigate the idea.

By the end of the following week the team, including Eila who had been seconded from her guide duties, had a proposal ready to present to the Global Science Federation. A coil gun (or mass driver as the engineers preferred to call it) 100 m long and equipped with a super-conductive electro-magnetic coil, would be used to launch hardened steel capsules two meters long and containing 50 kg of nuclear waste each. Most of the air in the launch tube would be removed just prior to launch to reduce friction as the capsule was accelerated. Launches were estimated to take just .12 seconds.

Upon reviewing this proposal the project was given the highest priority by the Global Science Federation complete with almost unlimited resources. Within 8 months test launches were being made. With a few rather minor refinements, such as the addition of a meter long extra finely tapered point to the capsules to reduce ablation and accommodate an emergency parachute in case of a failure to achieve earth escape velocity, the concept became a reality.

After a week of successful launches with radioactive payloads Eila received a visit from the Chairman of the Global Science Federation.

“Ms. Ojanen, I don’t think I need to tell you how important your idea is going to be for human civilization. It will buy us the time we need to continue moving towards completely renewable energy sources.”

“We are going to name the devices after you which is only proper. And, of course, you can remain on the Global Science Federation payroll for as long as you like – and I hope that is a very long time indeed.”

“So now I must ask you; is there anything else that we can do to show you our appreciation?”

Eila closed her eyes and thought about what she would like to do next in her life. She began to smile.

“Mr. Chairman, there is one thing that I would like you to do for me. It’s a little bit complicated but I hope you can accommodate me.”

“I will do my very best. Of that you can be sure.”

It took about six weeks to make the arrangements but finally Eila was picked up at her apartment and taken to the local train station where she boarded the express to Copenhagen. Upon her arrival she was transferred to a helicopter, a very exotic means of transportation and one that she had never experienced before.

She was dropped off about 1 km from the barricade that sealed off Oslo from the outside world. The light breeze stung her cheeks and she pulled her scarf up so that only her eyes were uncovered. That did not bother her. In fact, she found comfort in the crispness of the air and the silence that engulfed her, disturbed only by the crunching of the snow beneath her feet.

She took the well-worn footpath around the barricade and headed towards her old neighbourhood. After about an hour of brisk walking, the familiar façade of the house came into view.

As she walked up the recently shovelled walkway a warm, amber glow from the living room greeted her. She decided to peek into the window and saw Matt sitting on a couch in front of a roaring fire playing his guitar and singing.

She put her ear against the window so that she could hear more clearly. The skill with which he was playing surprised her as did the beauty of his voice. She couldn’t make out every word that he sang but it seemed to be a song about her.

Eila stood back from the window and considered what she had just observed. In all the years that she had known Matt he had only occasionally played his guitar and had never demonstrated much talent with it. Yet here he was, comfortable and warm, obviously enjoying his life although he just as obviously still missed her.