Page 72 of Radar

“Both scenarios could be happenstance,” Hiro finished. “The airlines have rerouted a plane out of Oregon to take over the grounded Canadian flight. Elyssa’s flight is delayed by two hours. There’s nothing about the Chicago flight yet. The airports are probably hoping for a quick resolution. With both flights affected, you should beat her in.”

“Yeah, I’m rethinking the situation. Do I want to beat her in?” Xander asked as Radar homed in on a squirrel. “Radar,” he called, “leave it.”

Radar sent him a look that said, “You’re no fun.”

“You got your fun this morning when you bit the bad guy. Leave it.”

And Radar went back to sniffing the tree trunks.

“Hiro, listen, if the bomb threat was meant to stop the plane and strand Elyssa, and possibly keep her in Fairbanks, that means she could be here without any support. She’s got POTS.”

“And possibly muscles on her trail. You’re right, we can’t risk it,” Hiro acknowledged.

“We have contacts with the airlines. Are there seats on my flight? Could someone from the airlines message her with information about the delays and offer to reticket her at no expense?”

“That would be easiest. Finley has a desk that manages that kind of thing. I’ll call him now. I’ll text you when I have something. In the meantime?” Hiro asked.

“In the meantime, I’m going to find a dark corner to stand in and guard her.”

“You know Elyssa,” Hiro said, “wander over and sit. Pick her brain.”

“I think I’d frighten her if I suddenly showed up. And if I’m sitting next to her, I can’t surveil the area. Better to be a shadow.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Xander

Sunday

Fairbanks, Alaska

Xander had settled into his seat on the transcontinental flight. They’d be here for the next nine hours. Luckily, the elder sitting on the aisle seat was small, and she liked dogs.

The overhead pinged, and the flight attendant began her spiel about trays and seat backs in the upright position.

To learn a bit more about Elyssa’s specialization, Xander was pulling up a book on tape about the future of food production in a warming world when a message dropped.

Hiro –As discussed, Elyssa took advantage of the offer to switch to a different airline. She’s boarded. Seat is in first class. Did you see her get on?

Xander –Negative. I saw her get on the electric cart from her original boarding area. I hightailed it over here. Radar and I were first to board. I didn’t want Radar crushed in the crowd. Took advantage of loading with special needs.

Xander –I can’t see forward because they pulled the curtain between us plebes and the upper class. Her boarding was visually confirmed?

Hiro –Confirmed. Chicago's flight, BTW, was further delayed due to the Ottawa threat.

Hiro –Attaching an article for background.

Xander opened the link to find a newspaper article.

Global Times Register

Alexandria, VA.

When Doctor Elyssa Kalinsky walked across the stage in New York City to accept the prestigious Hastings Award for Innovation in Agricultural Technology, she brought a tin spoon with her to show the audience. Holding it aloft, Kalinsky explained, “This was my great-grandfather, Heinrich Kalinsky’s spoon. He carried it with him in his pocket the day he and his mother fled what is now known as Kalin Slovakia (the Slovak Republic during World War II). He was only five years old, but the stories of his early days of intense hunger stayed with him for the rest of his life.

That spoon inspired a different kind of journey, a journey of intellect and curiosity that caught the world’s attention. Dr. Kalinsky, 27, while pursuing her doctoral degree, engineered Spoons of Hope, a modular, self-sustaining food production system capable of growing fresh produce year-round with minimal water usage and no soil. It is also animal- and disaster-resistant.

Her innovation is up and running as a WorldCares pilot program in five East African food deserts, which were caused by changing weather conditions, overgrazing, political unrest, and an influx of refugees.