“In other words, their mines have played out,” Pitt suggested.
“Yes, that is correct. There have been no significant discoveries made in the region in over forty years.”
“That still leaves the Russians,” Yaeger said.
Max shook her head. “The Russian ruthenium came from just two small mines adjacent to each other in the Vissim Valley. Their production had actually peaked back in the 1950s. A severe landslide destroyed and buried both mining operations several years ago. The Russians have abandoned both sites, stating it would take many years to return either mine to operation.”
“No wonder the price is so steep,” Yaeger said. “What’s your interest in the mineral, Dirk?”
Pitt described Lisa Lane’s artificial photosynthesis discovery and the role of ruthenium as a catalyst, along with the explosion in the lab. Yaeger let out a low whistle after digesting the implications.
“That’s going to make an unsuspecting mine owner a rich man,” he said.
“Only if the stuff can be found,” Pitt replied. “Which makes me wonder, Max, where would I go to purchase a bulk quantity of ruthenium?”
Max looked up toward the ceiling. “Let’s see . . . there are one or two Wall Street precious-commodities brokers that would be able to sell you some for investment purposes, but the quantities available are quite small. I’m only finding a small platinum mine in South America that has trace by-product quantities for sale, which would require further processing. The present known stocks of the mineral appear to be quite meager. The only other publicized source is the Ontario Miners Co-op, which lists a limited quantity of high-grade ruthenium available by the troy ounce.”
“The
Co-op is where Lisa obtained her sample,” Pitt stated. “What more can you tell me about it?”
“The Miners Co-op represents independently owned mines across Canada, acting as wholesale outlet for mined ore. Their headquarters is in the town of Blind River, Ontario.”
“Thank you, Max. You’ve been a great help, as always,” Pitt said. He had long ago transcended his uneasiness at speaking to the computerized image and, like Yaeger, almost felt like Max was a real person.
“A pleasure anytime,” Max replied with a nod. Turning to Yaeger, she admonished, “Now, don’t you forget about my advice for your wife.”
“Good-bye, Max,” Yaeger replied, tapping at a keyboard. In an instant, Max disappeared from view. Yaeger turned to Pitt.
“A shame your friend’s discovery may be for naught if there’s no ruthenium around to power the process.”
“As important as the ramifications are, a source will be found,” Pitt said confidently.
“If your hunch about the lab explosion is correct, then somebody else already knows about the scarcity of the mineral.”
Pitt nodded. “My fear as well. If they are willing to kill to halt the research, then they are probably willing to try and monopolize the remaining supplies.”
“So where do you go from here?”
“There’s only one place to go,” he said. “The Ontario Miners Co-op, to see how much ruthenium really is left on the planet.”
PART II
BLACK KOBLUNA
35
SUMMER WAS WAITING AT THE DOCK WHEN SHE spotted Trevor’s boat motoring across the harbor. She wore a tight-fitting saffron-colored sweater, which accentuated the radiant red hair that dangled loose beneath her shoulders. Her gray eyes softened as the boat approached the dock and Trevor leaned out of the wheelhouse and waved.
“Going my way, sailor?” she asked with a grin.
“If I wasn’t before, I am now,” he replied with an approving look. He reached up and gave Summer a hand as she climbed onto the boat.
“Where’s Dirk?” he asked.
“His head was still pounding this morning, so he took some aspirin and went back to bed.”
Trevor shoved the boat away from the pier and motored past the municipal dock before turning into the harbor. Had he glanced at the dock’s small dirt parking lot, he might have noticed a sharp-dressed man sitting in a brown Jeep observing their departure.