Straight from the Library: Straight Browsing from the Library: Nuclear Power Nuclear Game by Helen Huang

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The year is 1950. Zoe and John, two young nuclear scientists from Berkeley, seem to have the perfect life, with promising careers and marriage plans. But their innocence is soon shattered when the Chinese Communist Party seizes power. Choosing to postpone the wedding and return back to her home country, Zoe finds herself locked in a political cage and separated from John indefinitely.

Caught in a complex web of revolutionary propaganda and forced to participate in dangerous research, Zoe must confront the looming question of where her true loyalties lie: with her country or with John back in America?

Set during China's march towards nuclear power amidst the political turmoil of the Cold War, Nuclear Power Nuclear Game spans multiple decades and countries across the globe to tell the story of two nuclear scientists' fight for world peace and a love torn apart by conflicting ideologies.

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“Comrade Meng, welcome to the No. 221 Plant,” greeted Commissar Zhu, shaking her hand politely as he moved down the line. His refined voice and manner belied the crisp army uniform he wore. He motioned to his right. “This is Major Liu, Chief Commander of Security.”

Major Liu flashed a quick, cold smile, taking one brisk step forward to offer a curt nod to the group.

“You have arrived here at the most exciting moment in our history. On 15 October 1957, the Soviet Union agreed to provide China with a prototype bomb and all manufacturing data. Per the Russian experts’ instruction, we have started building dozens of factories to manufacture a variety of equipment,” said Commissar Zhu, his chest almost puffing out with pride.

“A nuclear bomb?” Zoe asked. She glanced at the other two scientists, who also looked shocked, and then turned to Commissar Zhu. “We’ll be making nuclear bombs here?” He nodded solemnly but couldn’t hide his enthusiasm.

“That’s the only thing America is afraid of, so, consequently, that’s the only thing that will bring us up to their level.”

Zoe stood wordlessly. Her mind flashed to a distant memory when she and John had signed a petition at a nuclear disarmament rally. The petition signing had happened after a lengthy argument between them. She had insisted the bomb was necessary to end World War II and avoid more casualties. John had maintained that the war was already nearly over at that point, and the bombs had only brought more misery to the world. The argument had been so intense that they couldn’t even bear to stay in one room. It wasn’t until John had broken the ice with a note—We cannot rewind history. Let’s look forward—that they had reached an agreement that, in future, they would only work on non-military nuclear research. And she had succeeded in keeping her promise since, although Zoe sensed she would have no choice but to be forced into breaking it now.

“Do we truly need nuclear weapons? We did win the Korean War without it,” she asked, despite her fear of questioning these powerful men. “It’s too powerful.”

“Yes, we won the war, but don’t forget that Truman threatened us with his nuclear bombs. If we’d had nuclear bombs then, they wouldn’t have dared to start the war in the first place. Then they would have sat down to talk peace with us much earlier. And who knows when and where they’ll start the next war? Once we have nuclear weapons, we won’t be afraid of them, and they won’t dare provoke us again. Comrades, we all share in the duty and privilege of making our motherland safe.” Commissar Zhu paused and looked at each of the scientists in turn, as if to discern their political attitude. “You have been chosen to come here because the Party trusts that you have both the ability and the determination to complete this historic task. The Party trusts your high political integrity.”

The other two scientists seemed to have recovered from the momentary shock. One scientist said, “Commissar Zhu, thank you for your trust. We won’t let the Party down.”

The other scientist also made his pledge excitedly. “We will certainly live up to the Party’s trust.”

Zoe could only nod, displaying the bare minimum of political conscience. If she wanted to live here unscathed, she would have to betray her promise to John. What other choice did she have?

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