nuclear tan.
Medvedev, G. "Chernobylskaya Tetrad," 1989, pp. 98-99.
In Z. Medvedev, The Legacy of Chernobyl, 1990, p. 168.
T ? t's only temporary, but it pays well," the employment agency H counselor told him.
?*-ril say it does, Clark thought, a whole lot more than I ever made as an elevator repairman, even after 23 years. "How come? What are they doing, digging gold or something?"
"No, they're cleaning the nuclear power plant reactors. They do it once every 30 years. You'll get full personal protective equipment and a radiation badge. The job lasts three months or until your badge registers maximum exposure, whichever comes first."
It sounded good to Clark. He'd been laid off for eight months now and needed the money. He'd never thought much about radiation one way or the other, but it couldn't be so bad, could it? It sounded safe enough. Then he met Mr. Stoner. The plant personnel manager looked like a poster boy for some radical antinuclear group. His head was large, out of all proportion to his body, and his face was a reddish color with patches of skin that looked about to fall off. I wonder how many radiation badges he's used up? Clark thought.
At the interview, they never talked about Clark's qualifications or the job itself. Mr. Stoner was more interested in general intelligence. He liked the fact that Clark was used to working alone in confined spaces. They were through in 15 minutes.
The next day, Clark refused the job when it was offered. "Why?" the surprised agency counselor asked. "I thought you wanted that job." "Well, the money sure was tempting. But I got to thinking, and that guy Stoner, the way he looked. What caused that? And he works in the office, not even in the plant. No, I don't think I want to change it." Clark finally did get a job repairing elevators in the Metro, the sub way system serving the Washington, D.C. area.
If hazards are an inherent part of a job, and being a hero is not your style, decline the offer.
