detail from: KRK Art dizajn

BUTTERFLY LOVE IN SPACE

 

 

CHAPTER 12

That summer Daniella finished her third year at the faculty, while Daniel had already got affirmation in the research and among his colleagues. In the winter time, while days were cold he used to go to work by city buses, as well as when there were rainy days in spring. Otherwise, on any nice day he used to walk, since the NRC was not far from his apartment, and he preferred to stretch his legs after sitting most of the day working at his cubicle. Even then, he didn’t use a car often. He was driving only when he was expecting to go on visits to other companies.

While going on foot he knew exactly how many minutes he would need to get on time to the NRC, so he was always walking at the same time on the same street. He never realized that he was followed by someone. But it suddenly happened, while crossing the street at the street light, that two men grabbed him and pulled him into their car and ran away. Fortunately, the driver who followed the car in which Daniel was thrown saw the car plate and phoned the police immediately about what happened. The police reacted immediately informing every police car to follow. While two men grabbed Daniel on the street, his brief-case fell down, so the first passenger who was crossing the street picked-it-up and called the police to give it to him. In the brief-case Daniel had his documents, which confirmed who he was and where he lived. So, it was easy for the police to announce on the TV what had happened and to whom. The police followed the car with Daniel in it and were able to see that the robbers went to the private airport, but weren’t on time to prevent them to take-off.

Soon it had been confirmed that robbers were those whom Daniel had stopped when they tried to rob the bank, since his picture was shown in the News at that time a few times. They had expected that he had got money from the bank, and wanted to blackmail him.

Following the flight which kidnapped Daniel, the police saw that such a plane was flying north. They informed all police stations on that route, so at every airport they were already expecting it to land. While following the plane, soon police realized that more likely it might land in Uranium City. And it was a good prediction. They did not have more gas so they had to land there. Police were already waiting and surrounded the whole airport, as well as stopped all trafficking in-and-out. When the plane landed it didn’t approach to where it should be, but left about four hundred meters further, calling for the gas supply. Police reacted efficiently, so robbers had to come out with Daniel with hand-cuffs and tape over the mouth. Robbers were captured and Daniel was released. In about fifteen minutes the News was on the TV that Daniel had been freed. The case lasted about four-and-a-half hours, so Daniel’s parents haven’t even been informed yet, and they happened to learn it from the news when he was released. Police only had informed his worker, the NRC, asking not to call parents before it was done.

When Daniel was released, robbers had been informed that he didn’t get the money that they were expecting, so they had captured the wrong person. The robbers were jailed, the pilot whom they forced to fly released, and Daniel interviewed. After his recovery, a military plane was reserved to fly him back to Ottawa the next day. Meanwhile, while waiting for his return, Daniel wanted to learn something about Uranium City, believing that he would never have a chance to visit it again in the near future.

Uranium City is a northern settlement in northern Saskatchewan, Canada. The city is located on the northern shores of Lake Athabasca near the border of the Northwest Territories. The settlement is 760 km northwest of Prince Albert, 760 km northeast of Edmonton and 48 km south of the Northwest Territories-Saskatchewan boundary.

In 1949 Athabascaite was discovered by S. Kaiman while he was researching radioactive materials around Lake Athabasca near Uranium City. The population of Uranium City started to grow significantly only once Eldorado Resources made a deliberate initiative in 1960 to see staff housed in Uranium City instead of the Eldorado campsite.

Transportation to Uranium City is by air with a gravel runway of 1,199 m long only at the local airport. Uranium City has only a bit over 200 habitants.

Uranium City is part of the Taiga Shield Ecozone and experiences a subarctic climate with long, cold, snowy winters, brief transitional periods, and short, cool, and humid summers. The temperature range is typically large due to frigidly cold winter temperatures that often plunge below −30°C. The highest temperature ever recorded in the settlement was 34.7°C on 27 July 1984. Wind chill factors are prominent as well in the winter months, making the cold temperatures seem to be much colder than they actually are. Uranium City has recorded one of the coldest wind chill factors of any Canadian location, with −74°C wind chill readings being recorded on 28 January 2002.

Two days later Daniel was back to his work, with an exciting experience, being kidnapped. Meanwhile he was called by his parents, and Daniella and her parents too. They all have been excited, but finally happy after everything had finished without tragedy. Daniella was crying after hearing the first news, but when she heard him alive she screamed of joy, telling him: -I have to see you soon, so, I will come!

The morning was sunny and quite warm, fruit trees were blooming and new fruits had already formed. Flowers flourished at the side of sidewalks and its smells were all around. Nature was completely woken-up. It was pleasant to walk the street and watch the birds. Children were on the way to their schools, loudly discussing sports events of the previous night. One boy was loudest and looked like he was leading the conversation. Girls were quiet, walking slowly and speaking among themselves. Daniel passed them all without paying attention to what they were talking about. He rushed to his research institution, his mind occupied with his research project, and recent events, which was shown again last night on the local TV News. Daniel wasn’t satisfied with the news; he heard how people were speaking to each other about what happened to him. When he first arrived, the security mentioned to him that he saw him on TV, at which Daniel only nodded his head, and passed.

When Daniel met his director he wanted to apologize for being absent from the work, to which Dr Cook answered:

-Don’t you worry about that. That was not your fault. We all were concerned when we heard it on the news, but happily it ended fast and good. There is good news for you and us Daniel. –What’s that? asked Daniel. – This Government has accepted our project that you have proposed. It’s about forest protection from fires. So, we will sit and make a plan, with other of our co-workers, but I was thinking of putting you in the position of the project leader for it. Think about it and let me know what you think. –Dr Cook you have surprised me very much, I can’t answer you right now, but I’ll do my best to make this a success, Daniel concluded before leaving Dr Cook’s cabinet. When he met most of his colleagues in the cantina at lunch-time they all loudly screamed –Welcome back! They were interested in what happened to him, how he was kidnapped, and asked how he had been saved. One, who was carrying his meal to the table said:

-How else would you visit Uranium City? The others started to laugh.

At home on the home-telephone he found a message from Daniella, informing him about her coming to Ottawa, and apologizing that she wasn’t able to phone him to the mobile telephone, while he happened to be meeting Dr Cook.

Daniella arrived the first Friday evening, after Daniel’s liberation from kidnapers. She hung around his neck, and hardly let him go, after they met at the airport. At home they spoke about their next plans. Daniel said to her:

-This summer you are finishing third year, and I will have my first vacation. How about if we travel together to Western Canada or to the North? If you prefer Western Canada, then I will recommend Vancouver and Victoria; or if you would prefer the North, then I recommend Yellowknife. You know me. I love traveling and enjoy visiting different Canadian regions. You select it! We will visit them all, later, whenever.

Daniella had listened carefully and then answered: -My preference for this trip would be the North. You have already been to the north once, I haven’t, so let us go to Vancouver and Victoria this time first, as you say, and next year we will go to Yellowknife. I would also like to see Whistler, but I think we have to go there in winter time.

-I totally agree with you, my darling, said Daniel, and continued: When you go home tell your parents about our plan, and if they agree I will arrange for tickets and let you know. I am expecting you to pass all your exams perfectly well, and after you finish fourth year I will try to employ you at my institution, National Research Council of Canada. It is a good research institution, with prosperity, but you also have to be good, I would say the best. If so, we together can make a good future, and have a good life.

They hugged and kissed, and after that made supper for two of them.

When Daniel received positive confirmation from Daniella for their trip, he went to the tourist office to make a reservation for a flight and hotels. They first flew to Vancouver and from Vancouver airport they took a rental car, went to the hotel and in the evening had dinner in Japanese restaurant “Miku”, dining with the bay view to Vancouver Harbor and Stanley Park. The evening was so nice with a sunset with an orange sky and a lot of flowers in the restaurant’s garden. Pleasant smells were coming from the sea and from the garden. As dusk was turning into the night more and more guests were coming-in. From a distance, light Japanese music was heard. Waitresses, young girls, were dressed in Japanese traditional costumes, with flowers in their hair. Even all dishes and cutlery were originally Japanese. Food, of course, was delicate. Daniella enjoyed it very much, and was happy. They didn’t drink any alcohol, so Daniel was able to drive a rental car and sightseeing the city at night. While sitting in the restaurant and watching Stanley Park at night, they decided to visit it the next day.

Stanley Park is huge and wonderfully nice. As once Daniel’s grandpa asked his friend who lived at that time in Vancouver, how big Stanley Park was, he answered: -It’s as big as Slovenia! But mind you, Slovenia is a state between Austria, Italy, Croatia and Hungary. Entering into Stanley Park, they first drove through it, looking all around, and then parked and enjoyed the look and smell of huge flower gardens, while sitting on the bench with the view to the ocean bays, crowded with hundreds of small and big yachts and boats. In the park there were many walkers, runners, cyclists, and roller skaters. Stanley Park is a 1001 acre urban park, bordering the city. It is 10% bigger than New York City’s Central Park. Vancouver's Stanley Park is one of Vancouver's greatest treasures and is the 405-hectares. It Is conveniently located on the west side of the downtown area. Situated on a peninsula, the park is surrounded by the ocean and home to huge red cedar and Douglas fir trees. From the seawall, there are some lovely views of the city and mountains. Within the park are the Vancouver Aquarium, scenic Beaver Lake, and the Stanley Park Pavilion and Rose Garden. They had spent about four hours in the Park, until they got hungry, and then returned to the town to look for food. After a brief rest in the hotel, in the afternoon they went to the museum, to learn more about the city and its surroundings. In the museum they learned a lot about the city.

The City of Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland. Population was about 800.000 in the city. Vancouver is one of the most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities in Canada; over 52% of its residents have a first language other than English. The City of Vancouver encompasses a land area of about 120 square kilometers. Vancouver is the most densely populated Canadian municipality, and the fourth most densely populated city in North America, behind New York City, San Francisco, and Mexico City. Archaeological records indicate the presence of Aboriginal people in the Vancouver area from 8,000 to 10,000 years ago. The climate is the mildest in Canada, with temperatures on the coast even in January being usually above 0 °C. In summer, the warmest days usually achieve a maximum of 28–33°C. The west coast is considerably wetter than the east coast. Average annual precipitation ranges from 6,650 millimeters at Henderson Lake on the west coast to only 640 millimeters at the driest recording station in the provincial capital of Victoria. Snow is rare at low altitudes but is common on the island's mountaintops in winter.

Vancouver is named after Captain Vancouver. In 1971, Greenpeacewas born in Vancouver. Vancouver ranks third in the world as the best cityto live in for quality of life. Vancouver is tied with Montreal as the 10th cleanest cityin the world. Calgary came in first place. Vancouver has the fourth largest cruise ship terminal in the world. Most of the cruises head for Alaska. Over 35% of Vancouver’s population is foreign born. It has the highest proportion of Asians in any North American city. There are three ski hills within a short drive of downtown Vancouver – Grouse Mountain, Cypress Mountain and Mount Seymour. Vancouver’s Kitsilano salt water pool holds the title of Canada’s longest pool, measuring 137.5 meters, almost the equivalent of 3 Olympic regulation size pools. This outdoor pool maintains a constant temperature of 25°C. Dolphins and whales are occasionally sighted in the waters close to the city. Vancouver has played host to the 2010 Winter Olympics and the Expo’86 World Fair. Also of special interest are numerous totem poles.

Vancouver Island is located in the southwestern corner of the province of British Columbia. Within the island's largest city, Victoria, there is a significant IT and technology industry. These companies range from light aircraft manufacturing, computer software, electronic hardware, to biotechnology, engineering, construction, etc, all well known to Daniella and Daniel.

Having spent three days in Vancouver Daniel and Daniella went to Victoria City, just for enjoyment in Victoria they arrived to spend ten days of their vacation. They already knew enough before coming about Victoria. They wished to enjoy swimming in the Pacific Ocean too. Daniel had already heard a story about the beauty of Alaska from his grand-pa, but before going on that trip he decided first to explore his own country in some more detail.

Few Canadian cities have done such a beautiful job of developing their waterfront area as Victoria and its Inner Harbor. This is a great place for strolling, relaxing, shopping, dining, and watching street performers all against the backdrop of the harbor. The centerpiece of this area is the historic Empress Hotel, one of the city's most lovely buildings. Over the years, the Empress has welcomed kings and queens. While the harbor area is popular year round, it is particularly lively during the summer months.

Reaching the end of the Canadian west, to the town of Long Beach, they visited the city of Victoria, British Columbia Administrative Center, which is located in the southern part of Vancouver Island. With pleasure they stayed in Chinatown, which is the second largest on the American continent, immediately after San Francisco. Victoria is considered the “City of Gardens”, because it is rich in flowers and greenery on all sides. It is very popular as a tourist destination. Well, that, and the two of them set up their trip, which gave them a chance to enjoy, and learn about their country Canada, which for sure remains in their memories. They enjoyed the extraordinary natural beauty of such a wonderful country.

Victoria is the capital city of the province of British Columbia, and a gateway to the Pacific Rim. With the mildest climate in Canada, Victoria is known for its gardens and is a clean and charming city. Victoria is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. The area has a population of about 100 + thousands. Victoria is internationally renowned as the "City of Gardens". Over 1,500 hanging baskets adorn lamp posts throughout the City of Victoria each summer. There are 2,855 farms on Vancouver Island. National Geographic Magazine recognizes Vancouver Island as one of the best cold-water diving destinations in the world and the renowned Jacques Cousteau Society rates the area as only second to the Red Sea for diversity of marine life and water clarity. The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria has the second best and most comprehensive collection of Asian art in Canada. The Butchart Gardens receive more than a million visitors each year and have been designated a National Historic Site of Canada due to their international renown. Founded in 1886, the Royal BC Museum is one of the foremost cultural institutions in the world. Victoria was named one of the top 15 Friendliest Cities in the World by MSN.ca Travel, 2013. Victoria was named the #1 Most Romantic City in Canada by Amazon.ca, 2013. Victoria has hundreds of kilometers of bicycle paths, bike lanes and bike routes in the city. The world’s tallest free-standing totem pole is located in Victoria’s Beacon Hill Park. The city is named after Queen Victoria and was established as a Hudson’s Bay fort in 1843. These days the area consists of 13 different municipalities.

Average maximum temperatures in the summer are 25°C and in winter 0°C. Victoria is the second sunniest place in BC and its rainfall is the lowest on the BC coastline. Each February residents count their flower blooms, pointedly reminding snow-bound Canada about their climate. The record is 21 billion blooms.

Daniel and Daniella resided in the Oak Bay Beach Hotel, and used Beach Drive to walk to the Willow Beach, daily, and during late afternoon hours visited Victoria Downtown, Museum, Gallery, Beacon Hill Park, Elk Lake and Victoria West. One day they also visited the University of Victoria. The days were sunny and warm, with no rain at all during their vacation. After breakfast they walked to the beach, swam, and rowed a boat. After lunch and a short rest in the garden full of flowers, when the sun approached the sunset they visited different parts of the town. At night they enjoyed their love. They had a wonderful vacation.

Reaching to the end of the Canadian west, to the town of Long Beach, they enjoyed its beauty in every aspect. With pleasure they visited Chinatown, and bought some souvenirs. As Victoria is considered the “City of Gardens”, because it is rich in flowers and greenery on all sides, it remains in memories forever. They enjoyed its extraordinary natural beauty.

On the way back, they flew directly to Toronto, as Daniel wanted to visit his parents and Daniella’s as well. They spent an additional three days in Toronto, in both houses, before he returned to Ottawa, to work. Daniella left at her home getting ready for the last year at the university.

While being with Daniella’s parents her father Dennis spoke to Daniel saying that he was planning to build them a house when they got married and Daniella was employed. Daniel also mentioned to him that he was planning to ask the NRC to employ her too. Daniel’s parents were happy to hear about that kind of conversation, and his father Michael said that he would participate, when the time comes. So, a lot of attention had been concentrated on Daniella, to finish her studies.

CHAPTER 13

That summer when they returned from Victoria Daniella had finished her third year at the Faculty of Biochemistry, and Daniel got a promotion at his work. That year had passed quietly, without unexpected interruptions. Erika and Una, two mothers of a young couple, started to prepare different things for the wedding, as they knew it would come soon after Daniella finishes her studies. They were right. A year later, Daniella had finished it successfully, with the best grade of 100 percent. When a celebration was organized at the university both families, together with Daniel were present. After the official ceremony they celebrated it at the Royal Hotel restaurant, where waiters served them with the best food and drinks. Father Dennis had a great reason to be remembered as the greatest host, as his only daughter became an Academic Citizen (Biochemical Engineer). He did not care how much it cost him. He was paying the musicians too. Their cheerfulness lasted until dawn. When they separated, Daniella and Daniel remained a bit longer in front of her door.

Before leaving to Ottawa Daniel said to Daniella:

-Now, You rest a few more days, stay with your parents as long as they want, they love you and wish you to spend some time with them, for their enjoyment, and whenever you are ready come to me. Then, we will start preparing your resume for employment. Meanwhile I will speak to my people at the NRC, and we will find the best solution. After that is settled you know what will follow.

She smiled and kissed him.

Daniel had spent two more days with his parents and brother, and returned to Ottawa.

In Ottawa his first duty was to get all the information from the National Research Council about biochemical research and possibilities for Daniella’s employment. First he mentioned it to his director Dr Edward Cook. Dr Cook said:

-I don’t think it will be difficult for that. I will take a look with Biochemistry department director Dr Stefan, Stefan Raymond. NRC has an Institute for Biology Services (NRC-IBS) where they primarily focus on the fundamental research in the domain of new technologies regarding medical research. They are always looking for good young and prosperous researchers, so I certainly hope it will come out. When will she be ready? He asked.

-Any time after the New Year, I hope. I will ask her precisely, although that would be the time for sure, if not even before.

After that, Daniel found information about the NRC Medical research, where they mostly covered the support for devices to companies in the quest for new sources in providing customized research innovation and commercialization of new patents and products. They are also starting to investigate biological and medical behavior of people under different conditions in space, as well as the production of medications in space, under absolutely sterile conditions, which might be very interesting, as well.

The Institute for Biology Services was also located at the same compasses where Daniel’s Chemistry Department was. So all in all, everything looked prosperous. They had to do everything to get that position. Daniel phoned Daniella that and told her what he was able to find out, and he asked her:

-When are you planning to come?

-I think the beginning of October will be fine. I still have something to do with mom, and October is a nice month to start a new life in Ottawa, don’t you think so? –I agree totally, no problem at all. I have even mentioned to my director that we might look for your employment from the beginning of the coming New Year. I am waiting for you. Welcome to our new life!

Almost every year in the last week of September and first half of October months in Ottawa are almost every year the most beautiful. Days are usually sunny, relatively warm, with temperature still above twenty degrees, grass still green, but most of all trees are almost completely red. In forests and parks wild animals are very active. Birds creep and get their nests ready for winter, squirrels are collecting corn and other fruits, even ants are busy carrying food into their ant-hillocks. Parks are full of life, older people either walk or sit on benches, some walk their pets, while children are in schools. In Ottawa there are lots of crows and those are bothersome with their cackling. There are also too many wild geese.

As arranged, Daniel was at the railway station parking his car, since Daniella was arriving with three big suitcases full of her clothes and cosmetics.

-As I can see, you my darling are coming for good, said Daniel.

-Yes, I am. Here I amyours from now on.

Daniel hugged her firmly and she embraced him around the waist, showing her face up to him to be kissed.

Arriving home, they left the suitcases and went to the nearest restaurant to have a diner, as it was already starting dark. The restaurant was still half empty, but full of different flowers, which smelled nice and they had good food. As it was close to Daniel’s apartment they went on foot, since it was necessary for both of them to stretch their legs. Evening was warm and pleasant for a walk. Stars were appearing in the sky, and an air even smelled. When they arrived home, they first arranged Daniella’s wardrobe, then took showers and enjoyed their love.

Day after they went to the NRC campuses, where Daniel wanted to show her the place where he works, as well as to see where the departments for Bio-Medical and Biochemistry are located. The weather was exceptionally nice, so they enjoyed walking, hugging and talking. They started planning their future.

-Tell me how is everyone at home? How are yours and my parents? And what else is new?

-They are all OK, so far. My dad is always busy, he has too many houses to build, and consequently mom needs to follow-up with the finance. When I left them they had a feeling that they were losing me, but at the same time they were looking forward to us both being happy. Your parents were OK also. I visited them a day before I left. Your brother was busy. He was doing some computer programs, which will be good for children's education. That’s what he said. They all have sent you their warm regards, and wish us all the best, expecting me to get employment.

-My dad has an idea of building us a home after we get married. That’s what he was talking about with mom. They are expecting it to be in a year or two. He had mentioned to me that we might start looking for the location, where there are lots for sale.

-Oh, that’s very nice of him. He is thinking about us in advance. So, we can walk around different areas and figure out where it will be best to settle-down. How about if we start looking for the model of a house at the same time too? –Concluded, confirmed Daniella.

The next few days they both sat together and started to get her resume ready for the employment application. Daniel already had his experience, which was important to express, and how to write it as short as possible. When it was done, Daniel decided to show it to some of his colleagues, just for somebody else’s opinion. In November Daniel’s director had informed him that the Biomedical department will look for young people, so he recommended him to get ready. Daniel had already told Daniella how to obey at the interview, so they were ready, expecting the advertisement. By the middle of November it came out, and Daniella had applied a couple of days later. Two weeks after she had been invited for an interview. Daniel took her to the place and asked her to come to his work place after it was done. Her interview was with her future boss, who had informed her that she will be informed after other candidates are interviewed, and possibly that she might have one more interview with the general manager of the department.

While interviewed, Daniella had been introduced to what her duties will be, as well as about employee benefits. Her future manager asked her common questions, such as: How old was she, as well as about her marks at the university, and about her particular interest in research. Her impressions were that everything went well, although those who interviewed never showed any positive or negative sign. She had to wait until calling for a second interview, or no reply at all. Daniel said to her:

-Do not worry, wait and be quiet, I believe you will get the position. You have no reason to worry, you were a very good student, you are young, healthy, and what else can one expect from you at this age? She listened while sitting at Daniel’s cubicle, waiting for him to finish his work and go home together. On the way home they walked, as the weather was good, parks still full of green plants, and squirrels were running around. Daniel kept her right hand over her shoulder, they felt happy.

In the evening Daniella spoke to her mother, informing her about the interview and all other things about herself and Daniel. She also asked for Daniel’s family, and they spoke about the coming Christmas and New Year holidays. Daniella had mentioned to her mom about Ottawa, about the autumn, how nice it looked.

On the weekends they used to visit different areas of Ottawa, showing Daniella how the city looks and at the same time they were thinking where would be best to look for a lot for a house. Anyhow, they didn’t want to look for areas, already overcrowded, with traffic problems. Their preference was somewhere closer to the river or parks, regardless if it’s a bit further from downtown. Every time they found some area of interest they used to refer it to Dennis, Daniella’s father, as he was a contractor and he knew what was the best.

When two of them made their general decision for the area, they asked Dennis to visit them and go to see it. Dennis replied them:

-We will be coming to your place for Christmas, anyway, so we will go to see the area. Meanwhile, you can try to get information about purchasing the lot, where, for how much, etc. We, both, together with Una and Michael, are planning to be your guests for holidays. So, be ready for us, we will spend a few days in Ottawa this time.

Meanwhile, a reply from the NRCto Daniella arrived. They were calling her for the second interview, which was a good sign for her future. This time she had an interview with the director of the Biomedical Department, Professor Dr Stefan Raymond. The interview was mainly about some details of research, through which the director wanted to hear her interest and how much she had a base in that field of knowledge. Since she was an excellent student, she showed good background and her readiness to the start. It hadn’t been more than two weeks when she was called to sign the invitation and start work. Daniella was so happy, she immediately phoned Daniel at his office, and then to her parents. The next day she went to the NRC, accepted all conditions and signed the contract. A secretary had informed her about benefits and starting salary too. Daniella was so happy she almost wanted to kiss the secretary, they both laughed. She agreed to start at the beginning of the New Year, just after holidays. In reality there was a good reason for both parents Daniella and Daniel to celebrate Christmas and New Year holidays together at their place. Celebration was mainly done for Daniella’s success. So, the young couple had proved to their parents that they are successful and honest, expecting their bright future.

It will be continued

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