Is it Still Chemistry

By Mary S. Sheppard

The world is getting smaller. Multi-national corporations know how to play the game to their advantage, but sometimes actions in one country can have far reaching and dangerous consequences. Sam and Matt are finding that trying to make the world a better place, can be hard on love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mary S. Sheppard
• Release date: Jul 13, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215872512

Mary S. Sheppard

I try to write stories where women are smart and independent, where men are considerate and thoughtful and where situations are intriguing and based on 'some' reality. I love science and technology and my latest series The Anzu series has to do with space travel, but unlike Star Trek of old, the humans on board are not in the majority or in charge. This series is written in short episodes. Previous series are: - A Where is Now Story is a series set in the 2060s with time travel to the past with the purpose of recovery long extinct plants that can be used for medicinal purposes. - The Feelings Are the Same is a series that has alien abductions, space travel but the aliens may be the ones with more "human" feelings.

Book preview

Is it Still Chemistry?

Mary S. Sheppard

Copyright © 2022 Mary S. Sheppard

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either a product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

You can also visit my website for more information at http://www.maryssheppard.com

Dedication:

I would like to thank my friends and relatives that continue to read my work and who offer to be the first to give me constructive opinions. For this book I want to especially thank Najoo W. Rosa D. and Melanie S., and to one of my most loyal fans Mary Clark.

Lastly and still, to Greg, for his insight, patience with the whole process, and for keeping me focused on what really matters.

Main Characters

Sam Keene - energy analyst

Matt - MI5 agent

Ahmad Youssef -

Becca Keene - sister of Sam

Sarah & Peter Keene - parents of Sam and Becca

Trevor Basel- Matt’s boss

Jeff Beckel- Matt’s work colleague

Pedro Morales - Sam’s boss at Global Energy Research

Degan Troph, representative Multi Metals

Harry - Matt’s friend and colleague

Luca Nicols - CEO of Energy Markets

Sakim - Operations manager at Ghermez mine

Jazmine - Sakim’s wife

Jadu - Sakim’s brother-in-law

Jack Altavera - Mining engineer

Carlo Alsaigh- owner of catering company in Dubai

Miran - worker at the mine

Chapter 1

Ghermez Mine

It was dark. Of course, it would be dark in the depths of the earth, but there had been some light from the string of light bulbs hanging above and they had gone off. He turned on the light on his helmet.

What’s wrong with the lights? Why aren’t they working? he shouted. He had to shout to be heard over the noise, but the noise quieted just then, and his last words echoed through the mine.

We don’t know, said the young man next to him. He had been introduced as Miran and was the official tour guide but was also the office assistant. We have been investigating the reason, but … they’ll come on soon, they always do.

This is dangerous, muttered Sakim.

The lights came back on, and they resumed the tour of the mine. Sakim had just started his new job as Operations Manager and was being given the tour. They reached a fork in the path and Miran took the path on the right.

Mr. Altavera is working on the equipment just up ahead, said Miran.

Where does the other path go? asked Sakim.

We had started to excavate there, but the vein has disappeared. This side has better chances of finding zinc, Miran paused, they say.

Zinc and lead were the main products of the mine, but there was always a chance of finding silver in such deposits. Sakim knew who ‘they’ were, it was the geologists he had met earlier. They had been very positive about the future of the project.

As they walked, they heard someone shouting obscenities in English. Finally, a few minutes later, Sakim was able to see the man who was responsible for the foul language. The man saw them, and the volume went down but the words continued a bit longer. Then he paused his tirade, You must be the new manager?

Yes, said Sakim introducing himself. He put out his hand to shake the hand of Jack Altavera.

My hands are kind of busy. Jack showed him his hands which were blackened by dirt. They were holding wires that appeared to have come from the machine next to him. What do you think Sakim?

About?

About this operation here.

Well, everything I’ve seen shows it is a well-run operation on the other hand it looks like you took out the guts of the machine.

Jack smiled. Guts. I like your analogy. Once I ‘operate’ on this machine it should run well, but I can’t say the same for the rest of the equipment. Not everything you see is what it is.

I am a concerned about the lights going out randomly, said Sakim.

Yes, the lack of lighting while you’re excavating in a mine can be troubling, but so is the subpar equipment we have to use. You should look into that.

Sakim nodded. Everyone had told him that Jack was the expert, and that he should pay attention to him.

What about the refinery? Seen that? asked Jack.

Sakim shook his head. I’ll see that next.

Jack laughed. It won’t take you long. There’s not much to see yet. Some days I wonder, why do I bother…

Sakim wondered the same. Why would Jack, someone who was so highly qualified, work here if things were that bad?

Well, I have to get back to sorting this excavator, see you around. Jack turned back to the equipment next to him.

As they walked out of the mine, Sakim asked Miran about the age of that excavator. It looked worn and old to him.

We got it after I started here, said Miran, so two months ago.

Two months? Why does it need fixing so soon and why is it not covered under a warranty?

I think it was purchased second hand? The tour guide didn’t sound sure. Do you want to see the refinery?

Yes.

Jack was right. The refinery was not ready to start. Some of the process equipment was there, the furnace, and some auxiliary equipment, but the bulk of the refining electrolysis equipment was missing.

Maybe the company owners were waiting for more raw material to be mined or maybe there was delay in the delivery of the equipment. Hopefully it had been ordered, Sakim made a mental note to check that. Lead times on some equipment can be many months.

It made him think of his predecessor and the real reason for his departure. He had been told the previous manager left for family reasons.

That evening when he got back to his apartment, he called his wife. It was a company owned one-bedroom apartment and it was very comfortable.

Finding housing near the mine was difficult and this was a way for the company to keep him close to the mine. He didn’t mind especially as it was a welcome addition to his pay.

It sounds like there is a lot of work, said Jazmine.

Yes, there is, and since I’m still learning it takes a little longer.

My brother is available to help you.

I thought your brother has a job.

He does, but it doesn’t pay as well as working for an international mining company.

That could be true, but this is very hard work. Sakim didn’t think his brother-in-law could handle it.

You don’t think he can handle it?

It is very physical work. And you have to show up regularly, he thought.

Well, I was not thinking he would work in the mine. He would be better in an office job, like you.

I sometimes have to go in the mine, said Sakim.

Perfect. You can go, and he can stay and do other stuff that you do in the office.

I need to check to see what positions are open. I am not supposed to have an assistant.

Oh. I thought you were a manager. Don’t managers have assistants?

Sometimes Jazmine.

In any case, can he stay with you when he comes for the interview?

It’s a one-bedroom Jazmine, but he can sleep in the living room.

I’m sure that will be fine with him. I will miss him if he goes, but I think it is best for his future prospects, she sighed.

She was going to miss her brother, but he hadn’t heard her say the same for him. It made him ask, Do you miss me?

Of course, I do, she said right away. You know I do.

She said it, but it sounded like she was trying to convince both of them. He hung up and thought about his life. Everything had been set for him early on. Once he got his degree in management, the bride was picked for him. He had not met anyone else that he was interested in, and Jazmine looked pretty and seemed nice.

They had married six months ago and then his parents and his in-laws had determined the course of his life. He would work at the Ghermez Mine and that was a good way to advance his career. They had shown him the ad in the newspaper.

It looks like a good opportunity, said his father. It will pay better than anything here, and it gives you good experience.

You don’t have children yet, so it’s a good time to be away, said his father-in-law.

There will be plenty of time for children later, said his father.

I think you should go, said his new wife.

You probably don’t have to stay away too long, said his mother. She was the only one that didn’t seem as convinced.

Working as a manager, the pay was good, and the fact the company included housing made it even better. The plan was to work here a few years, pad his bank account, add to his resume, and then go back home to start a family. He would be more worthy then; his wife had implied.

Chapter 2

Two months had gone by and Sakim knew things were not going well. The worse part was that none of it was easily fixed.

Sakim had found that it wasn’t only his predecessor that had left recently. Many others, hired initially, had left for one reason or another.

In part, he understood it. Most of the men working for the company were away from their families and while some pointed to that reason for leaving, others pointed to the low wages considering the risks.

Mining Is always risky, said Jack Altavera when Sakim brought up his concern.

Jack was one of the few old timers remaining and one of the few with so much experience. Jack and Sakim had hit it off right away and spent much of their free time together. Both also liked to have lunch early, before the rush, and would meet at the company cafeteria most days. They picked up their trays and started selecting their food as they talked.

But would you say this mine is more risky than other mines? asked Sakim.

Jack took a deep breath. It shouldn’t be.

"It looks like the company is