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  QUANTUM

  RADIO

  BYA.G. RIDDLE

  The Atlantis Trilogy

  The Atlantis Gene

  The Atlantis Plague

  The Atlantis World

  The Extinction Files

  Pandemic

  Genome

  The Long Winter Trilogy

  Winter World

  The Solar War

  The Lost Colony

  Other novels

  The Extinction Trials

  Lost in Time

  Quantum Radio

  A.G.

  RIDDLE

  QUANTUM

  RADIO

  www.headofzeus.com

  First published in the United Kingdom in 2023 by Head of Zeus Ltd,

  part of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

  Copyright © A.G. Riddle, 2023

  The moral right of A.G. Riddle to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act of 1988.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

  This is a work of fiction. All characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

  ISBN (HB): 9781803281698

  ISBN (XTPB): 9781803281704

  ISBN (E): 9781804549872

  Illustration copyright © A.G. Riddle

  Head of Zeus Ltd

  First Floor East

  5–8 Hardwick Street

  London EC1R 4RG

  WWW.HEADOFZEUS.COM

  To my in-laws, who watched the kids and helped me write during the pandemic.

  Contents

  By A.G. Riddle

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  PART I: THE ORIGIN PROJECT

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  PART II: THE WORLD AFTER

  Chapter 51

  Chapter 52

  Chapter 53

  Chapter 54

  Chapter 55

  Chapter 56

  Chapter 57

  Chapter 58

  Chapter 59

  Chapter 60

  Chapter 61

  Chapter 62

  Chapter 63

  Chapter 64

  Chapter 65

  Chapter 66

  Chapter 67

  Chapter 68

  Chapter 69

  Chapter 70

  Chapter 71

  Chapter 72

  Chapter 73

  Chapter 74

  Chapter 75

  Chapter 76

  Chapter 77

  Chapter 78

  Chapter 79

  Chapter 80

  Chapter 81

  Chapter 82

  Chapter 83

  Chapter 84

  Chapter 85

  Chapter 86

  Chapter 87

  Chapter 88

  Chapter 89

  Chapter 90

  Chapter 91

  Chapter 92

  Chapter 93

  Chapter 94

  Chapter 95

  Chapter 96

  Chapter 97

  Chapter 98

  Chapter 99

  Chapter 100

  Chapter 101

  Chapter 102

  Chapter 103

  PART III: THE LOOKING GLASS WORLD

  Chapter 104

  Chapter 105

  Chapter 106

  Chapter 107

  Chapter 108

  Chapter 109

  Chapter 110

  Chapter 111

  Chapter 112

  Chapter 113

  Author’s Note

  About the Author

  An Invitation from the Publisher

  Note:

  Much of the science and history in this novel is real.

  Visit agriddle.com to separate fact from fiction (and browse other bonus material).

  PART I

  THE ORIGIN PROJECT

  1

  In an auditorium at CERN, Tyson Klein stood behind a wooden podium, watching his colleagues arrive. It was the end of the workday, and most seemed tired. They shuffled in and plopped down in the folding seats, stowing their messenger bags and backpacks at their feet, weary eyes staring at him, silently saying, this better be worth getting home late for.

  It would be.

  This talk would be the most important of his entire career. And possibly theirs.

  The slides—and the discovery they detailed—were the culmination of twelve years of research into his life’s work, The Theory of Everything. The data he was about to reveal was, he believed, the key to discovering a master theory that would unite the opposing branches of modern physics. If he was right, this breakthrough would resolve scientific mysteries that had haunted the world’s greatest minds, from Albert Einstein to Stephen Hawking. More than that, Ty believed that his discovery might answer the deepest questions of human existence:

  Why do we seem to be alone in the universe?

  Where did we come from?

  And what is the future of the human race?

  What is our destiny?

  Ty had spent his entire life pursuing those questions. Now the answers were within reach. He simply needed what all scientists eventually require: time and money.

  He was about to ask for it.

  If his audience said no, Ty wasn’t sure what he would do. It was entirely possible that the whole of human history might turn on what was about to occur in this auditorium.

  As a child, that sort of pressure would have made him nervous. In fact, in middle school, he had once faked sickness to avoid giving a presentation in class. Luckily, he had a mother who could see through such a ruse. And, even more luckily for him, he had a mother who knew how to speak to him in a language he appreciated: science.

  Even at a young age, science was Ty’s true north, and his mother wielded it to his benefit—even when arguing against him.

  “Everyone is scared of public speaking, Ty. At least at first,” she had said, peering down at him as he sat on his bed.

  Like any angst-filled twelve-year-old, he had hung his head and muttered, “Great. How does that help me?”

  “Practice—that’s the only way to get better. The more you do it, the more comfortable you’ll feel.”

  “I don’t want to practice. Or get better. There’s no point. When I grow up, I’m going to get a job where I never have to talk. I’ll be a mute.”

  “You can’t simply not talk when you grow up, Ty.”

  “You watch me.”

  “Let’s look at this a different way, shall we? Let’s apply science.”

  Ty looked up. “I like science.”

  “So do I. It’s why I became an evolutionary biologist, and it’s why I can tell you exactly—from an evolutionary biological perspective—why you’re afraid of public speaking.”

  He squinted at her, still not believing.

  “A long time ago, humans spent most of their lives hunting and gathering food. Do you know what the most dangerous thing was for our ancestors?”

  Ty shook his head.

  “Predators. In particular, a surprise attack. For thousands and thousands of years, the most terrifying moment of a human’s life was realizing that a set of eyes was watching them. Especially when those eyes belonged to a predator. Do you know what happened to our ancestors after they realized a predator’s eyes were watching them?”

  “They ran.”

  “That’s half right. They either ran, or they fought. But one thing we know for certain is that all humans alive today are descended from the survivors of those encounters—humans who either ran and lived or fought and won. In both cases, do you know what saved them?”

  “Being strong. Or fast.”

  “No. Many of the strong perished. And the fast. Do you know why?”

  “No.”

  “They weren’t afraid, Ty. They didn’t run—or prepare t
o fight—the second they felt those eyes upon them. Their minds didn’t ring the alarm bells that enabled them to react fast enough. The predators pounced. From an evolutionary standpoint, those prehistoric humans who weren’t afraid when they realized that eyes were watching them didn’t live long enough to pass on their genes. Being unafraid was a bad thing. It was deadly. And an evolutionary dead end. Being afraid was good. It conveyed a survival advantage. Selective pressure favored the fearful. Thus, the entire human race became populated with people like all of us—humans with genes that biologically program us to be afraid of eyes watching us. What does that tell you?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “It tells you that it’s okay to be afraid of giving your presentation. It’s natural, Ty. It’s science. Our entire species evolved to feel that way. Part of life is knowing that our bodies are biologically programmed to certain reactions. That’s what being human is. And I’ll tell you another thing: being brave isn’t about not feeling fear. It’s about feeling fear and overcoming it. You can choose to recognize that the fear you feel when you stand up in front of the class is not warranted. You’re in no danger.”

  “You just don’t get it, Mom. I’m totally different from the other kids. It’s like I’m from a completely different planet.”

  His mother looked away. “Actually, I do know what that feels like, Ty. But trust me on this: being different will help you a great deal when you get older. People like you—who are different—will be very valuable in this world. You’ll see.”

  “Well, the waiting is killing me. And so is this presentation.”

  “There’s a simple trick to controlling your fear of public speaking. It uses psychology and neuroscience. Would you like to hear it?”

  “Very much. And please start with this part next time.”

  His mother smiled. “Noted. The thing is, there’s a way to essentially dampen that innate fear response in your amygdala. And luckily, it comes naturally to you: kindness and generosity. When we’re kind and helpful to others, it calms the fight-or-flight response in our brains. Kindness is a natural stress reliever. It puts our minds in a different place. When we change our attitude, it changes how our brain reacts. We’re not on the defensive. We’re on the offense—and we’re doing the offense to help others. That’s a deep well of strength.”

  She studied him for a moment. “Kindness is the fear killer.”

  Ty considered that for a moment. “Interesting.”

  “It is. To me, that’s the power of science: it reveals the mysteries of life. It helps us understand ourselves and the world around us. And in your case, later today, I want you to approach your presentation with a sense of kindness and generosity. If you’re coming from the right place, it makes everything easier. You have to see your presentation as helping others.”

  “Mom, my report on the War of 1812 isn’t helping anyone. Trust me on that.”

  “Not true.”

  “Absolutely true.”

  “Did you enjoy learning about the War of 1812?”

  “Mom, I’m a geek.”

  “Did you?”

  “Yes,” he muttered.

  “So will others. Aren’t there other smart people in your class?”

  “Yes.”

  “It gets easier, Ty. In time, you’ll realize that your kind heart will be the wind at your back in this life. You’ll see. It’s painful now, but eventually, you’ll figure out your strengths and what you’re really interested in. There, at the intersection of what you love and what you’re good at, is a magical place of success and happiness. It’s just hard to find.”

  His mother had been right. It had been hard to find. Figuring himself out had been the biggest challenge of all for Ty. And life had dealt him a few setbacks, a few he was still overcoming. But he had found his passion: quantum physics. His mind was uniquely tuned to solving those scientific mysteries. Since college, he had dedicated his life to that work, and now it was finally all coming together.

  Ty realized someone was calling his name.

  He looked up to find his boss, Mary, sitting in the front row, nodding at him, prompting him to begin.

  The auditorium was filled now. Forty of his colleagues sat in the rows of seats, their eyes in the semi-darkness triggering that ancient instinct: fear. Ty’s nerves rose as the silence stretched out in the auditorium.

  As he’d done so many times since that talk with his mother, Ty focused on centering his mind on a place of kindness and generosity. What he was about to share could help the organization—everyone at CERN—and the entire human race. It was important. It was worth their time. He was here to help.

  He focused on that feeling, that serene place in his mind.

  A calm came over him as he stepped to the lectern.

  “Thank you for coming on short notice. You’ve probably had a long day, and you’re ready to get home. As such, I’ll be as brief as I can.”

  He clicked the pointer, and his first slide appeared.

  “I’ve made a discovery that I believe is of historical significance. One that could change the world. You all are here for the obvious reason: I need help. I need help with some of the science. And I need finance to sign off on the work. What I’m proposing is an experiment on a scale the human race has never seen before, one that I believe will solve the greatest mystery of all time.”

  2

  Ty clicked a button and the next slide appeared on the massive screen behind him. The only sound in the auditorium was the air conditioning vents vibrating overhead.

  “Since we have an audience drawn from different departments, I’m going to give some background that I know will bore some of you, but please bear with me. It’s necessary and will be well worth it.”

  Ty motioned to the map on the screen. It showed an area at the border of France and Switzerland, just west of Lake Geneva. A red circle stretched across the two nations.

  “As you know, the Large Hadron Collider, or LHC, was completed in September 2008. The first collisions occurred in 2010. It’s the latest particle accelerator here at CERN and the largest in the world. The ring itself is twenty-seven kilometers long. In fact, the LHC is the largest machine in the world today. And the largest ever built.”

  Ty could see some of his audience tuning out, but he pressed on. “The LHC is a complex machine, but in its simplest form, it’s like a racetrack for particles. The track has two tubes that are kept at ultrahigh vacuum. Inside those tubes, it’s as empty as outer space. The ultrahigh vacuum reduces friction, enabling us to accelerate particles to almost the speed of light. Then, like two cars racing around a track in opposite directions, we crash those particles together. The real work here at CERN—besides the monumental task of building the collider and operating it—is examining what happens after particles collide. What we do, essentially, is examine what’s produced from these particle collisions. When you smash particles together, what comes out, at its basic form, are the building blocks of the universe: subatomic particles. Some of these subatomic particles are things we have only theorized—like the Higgs boson. Now, at CERN, with the LHC, we can finally detect particles we have long believed existed. What we’re doing, frankly, is peeling back the curtain and finally discovering what the universe is made of. I believe that’s the key to understanding how our universe works on a fundamental level, which is the focus of my research.”

  Ty debated whether to share some of his personal history. He sensed that he was losing some of the audience’s attention, but he opted to trust his gut and go for it.

  “The LHC is actually what brought me to Geneva and CERN. The promise of what the collider can do for physics and our understanding of the universe—of the very nature of our existence—is simply impossible to exaggerate. My hope was that the LHC would answer some of the greatest unresolved questions in physics: the deep structure of space and time, the relationship between quantum mechanics and general relativity, and the details of how the elementary particles in the universe work.”

  Ty pointed to the screen, which showed the timeline of the Large Hadron Collider construction and upgrades.

  “As most of you know, the LHC was shut down at the end of 2018 after the second run. The reason is simple: after running for a few years, the collisions generally deliver fewer discoveries because we’ve seen everything we can detect—or everything we can produce from those collisions. There’s really only one solution: upgrade the machine. Better equipment gives the LHC more collision energy, more luminosity, and better detectors to see the results. The collider recently came back online for run three, this time with more power and better hardware than ever before. The upgrade to the LHC is what enabled me to make my discovery.”