Assassin’s Revenge–A David Slaton Novel
Chapter 60: Sixty
by Larsen, WardThe chapter “Sixty” opens with a clandestine delivery mission to Rongelap Airport in the Marshall Islands. A Colt aircraft, low on fuel, lands on the remote airstrip, where the captain finds minimal infrastructure and no welcoming party. After securing the plane, he heads to a small cluster of buildings to arrange refueling. The island’s desolation is underscored by its history: for decades, nothing grown there has been safe to consume due to lingering radiation from past nuclear tests. The captain’s meticulous preparation hints at the mission’s significance, though the exact purpose remains shrouded in mystery.
The narrative then shifts to the island’s tragic backstory, centered on the catastrophic 1954 Castle Bravo nuclear test. The U.S. miscalculated the bomb’s yield, resulting in a blast far more powerful than anticipated. Radiation spread across the region, rendering Rongelap uninhabitable and forcing evacuations. The fallout sparked international outrage and led to stricter nuclear testing limits. This historical context contrasts sharply with the present mission, as General Park exploits the island’s isolation to stage a covert uranium delivery. The irony is palpable: a site scarred by nuclear devastation becomes a waypoint for transporting weapons-grade material.
The operation involves a second Colt aircraft, deployed as a decoy to mislead surveillance. Piloted by unwitting North Korean airmen, it follows a scripted flight plan to create an alibi. Meanwhile, the primary Colt refuels at Rongelap, with the captain bribing the local administrator to avoid scrutiny. The exchange of cash and pirated DVDs ensures cooperation, while the administrator’s gift of dried copra—tainted by radiation—is discreetly discarded mid-flight. The meticulous choreography of the mission highlights its high stakes and the lengths taken to avoid detection.
In the final leg, the laden Colt departs Rongelap, its pilots reflecting on the symbolic weight of their journey. As they fly past Bikini Atoll, another site of U.S. nuclear tests, the chapter closes with a poignant contrast: the silent aftermath of America’s nuclear legacy juxtaposed with the undetected delivery of what may become its greatest defeat. The chapter masterfully blends historical tragedy with contemporary intrigue, leaving the reader to ponder the cyclical nature of conflict and secrecy.
FAQs
1. What was the significance of the Castle Bravo nuclear test, and how did it impact Rongelap Island?
Answer:
Castle Bravo was the largest U.S. nuclear test, accidentally yielding 15 megatons—over twice the predicted 6.5 megatons due to a miscalculation in the lithium deuteride boost. The resulting radiation contaminated Rongelap and surrounding islands, rendering local crops unsafe for consumption for generations. The fallout sparked international outrage, leading to stricter nuclear testing limits. The chapter highlights the long-term consequences, as Rongelap’s 22 residents still rely on imported food 70 years later, underscoring the test’s devastating and enduring environmental impact.2. How did General Park exploit Rongelap’s logistical and geopolitical context for his mission?
Answer:
Park chose Rongelap as a waypoint due to its remote location, operational airport, and lack of customs scrutiny for “domestic” flights from Majuro. The island’s history of neglect and isolation made it ideal for discreetly refueling the Colt carrying weapons-grade uranium. By using a second decoy aircraft with an altered registration to create a false flight record, Park ensured the actual delivery went undetected. The chapter emphasizes how he leveraged Rongelap’s obscurity and the Marshall Islands’ geopolitical ambiguity to evade surveillance.3. Analyze the symbolic contrast between the Colt’s mission and the history of the Marshall Islands.
Answer:
The Colt’s clandestine delivery of uranium—a tool for modern nuclear threats—overflies Bikini and Rongelap, sites of America’s Cold War nuclear tests. This irony underscores a shift in global power dynamics: while the U.S. once dominated nuclear theater, its oversight now fails to detect a smaller adversary’s strategic move. The “topographical coma” of the islands mirrors the world’s complacency toward lingering radiation and emerging threats, framing Park’s mission as a quiet usurpation of the very nuclear legacy the U.S. initiated.4. Why did the pilots discard the copra strips, and what does this detail reveal about the mission’s broader implications?
Answer:
The copra, allegedly grown on Rongelap, was likely radioactive due to persistent soil contamination. By jettisoning it, the pilots avoided exposure, subtly confirming the island’s ongoing ecological hazards. This act also reflects the mission’s calculated precision: even minor risks (like trace radiation) were mitigated to ensure operational secrecy. The detail reinforces the chapter’s theme of invisible threats—both historical (radiation) and imminent (the undetected uranium transport)—while highlighting the crew’s disciplined adherence to Park’s plan.5. Evaluate the effectiveness of Park’s deception strategy involving the two aircraft.
Answer:
Park’s plan was highly effective. The decoy Colt’s flight from Majuro to Rongelap (with a staged delay) created a false paper trail, while the actual uranium transport used the same registration to avoid suspicion. By exploiting Rongelap’s lax administration and the Marshall Islands’ sparse air traffic, the team ensured no authorities questioned the fuel load or route. The strategy capitalized on institutional blind spots—geographic remoteness, bureaucratic inertia, and the assumption of compliance—to execute a high-stakes operation undetected.
Quotes
1. “For three generations, life on Rongelap had been governed by a unique series of events—and so it would remain for another thousand years.”
This quote powerfully encapsulates the lasting consequences of nuclear testing on Rongelap Island, highlighting how a single historical event can irreversibly alter human existence and the environment for millennia.
2. “Planned for a yield of 6.5 megatons, the bomb’s experimental lithium deuteride boost proved disconcertingly effective, driving the yield to an unexpected 15 megatons—two and a half times the predicted energy.”
This describes the catastrophic miscalculation of the Castle Bravo nuclear test, illustrating the dangerous unpredictability of nuclear technology and the profound consequences of scientific errors in weapons development.
3. “The chain of islands seemed still in the heavy air, as if remaining in some kind of topographical coma after the traumas of long ago.”
This poetic description of the Bikini atoll creates a haunting image of the lasting environmental damage from nuclear testing, personifying the landscape as permanently scarred by historical events.
4. “This was the theater of America’s nuclear genesis. And in the sky above: the delivery of what would soon be its greatest defeat passed completely unnoticed.”
This concluding statement powerfully juxtaposes the historical significance of the Marshall Islands for nuclear testing with the stealthy transportation of nuclear materials, suggesting an ironic reversal of fortunes regarding nuclear capabilities.