Deception Point Page 28

Should I consult Sexton? She quickly decided against it. He was in a viewing. Besides, if she told him ab let out this e-mail, shed take over to tell him about the others. She decided her informants offer to meet in public in broad day clean must be to make Gabrielle feel safe. After all, this person had done nothing further help her for the last two weeks. He or she was obviously a friend.Reading the e-mail one last time, Gabrielle checked the clock. She had an hour.30The NASA decision maker was feeling less edgy straightway that the meteorite was successfully out of the ice. Everything is fall into place, he told himself as he headed across the dome to the work field of force of Michael Tolland. Nothing can stop us instantly.Hows it coming? Ekstrom asked, striding up rotter the television scientist.Tolland glanced up from his computer, scenting tired but enthusiastic. Editing is closely done. Im save overlaying some of the extraction footage your people shot. Should be done momentarily.Good. The electric chair had asked Ekstrom to upload Tollands documentary to the White House as in short as possible.Although Ekstrom had been cynical about the Presidents desire to use Michael Tolland on this project, seeing the pettish cuts of Tollands documentary had changed Ekstroms mind. The television stars spirited narrative, combined with his interviews of the civilian scientists, had been brilliantly fused into a thrilling and comprehensible fifteen minutes of scientific programming. Tolland had achieved effortlessly what NASA so often failed to do-describe a scientific discovery at the direct of the average American intellect without being patronizing.When youre done editing, Ekstrom said, bring the completed product over to the press area. Ill have soulfulness upload a digital copy to the White House.Yes, sir. Tolland went back to work.Ekstrom moved on. When he arrived at the compass north wall, he was encouraged to find the habispheres press area had jazz together nicely. A large blue carpet had been rolled out on the ice. Centered on the rug sat a extensive symposium table with some(prenominal) microphones, a NASA drape, and an enormous American flag as a backdrop. To complete the visual drama, the meteorite had been transported on a palette sledge to its position of honor, directly in front of the symposium table.Ekstrom was pleased to see the sense modality in the press area was one of celebration. Much of his staff was now crowded virtually the meteorite, holding their hands out over its still-warm m roll in the hayes comparable campers around a campfire.Ekstrom decided that this was the moment. He walked over to several cardboard boxes sitting on the ice behind the press area. Hed had the boxes flown in from Greenland this morning.Drinks are on me he yelled, handing out cans of beer to his cavorting staff.Hey, boss someone yelled. thank Its even coldEkstrom gave a rare smile. Ive been keeping it on ice.Everyone l aughed. reckon a minute someone else yelled, scowling even-temperedly at his can. This stuffs Canadian Wheres your patriotism?Were on a budget, here, folks. Cheapest stuff I could find.More laughter. assist shoppers, one of the NASA television crew yelled into a megaphone. Were about to overcome to media lighting. You may experience temporary blindness.And no kissing in the dark, someone yelled. This is a family programEkstrom chuckled, enjoying the raillery as his crew made utmost adjustments to the spotlights and accent lighting.Switching to media lighting in five, four, three, two The domes interior dimmed rapidly as the halogen lamps shut down(a). Within seconds, all the lights were off. An impenetrable vileness engulfed the dome.Someone let out a mock scream.Who pinched my ass? someone yelled, laughing.The blackness lasted only a moment in advance it was pierced by the intense glare of media spotlights. Everyone squinted. The transformation was now complete the north qua drant of the NASA habisphere had become a television studio. The remainder of the dome now looked like a gaping barn at night. The only light in the other sections was the muted reflection of the media lights reflecting off the arched chapiter and throwing long shadows across the now deserted work stations.Ekstrom stepped back into the shadows, satisfy to see his team carousing around the illuminated meteorite. He matt-up like a father at Christmas, watching his kids enjoy themselves around the tree.God knows they deserve it, Ekstrom thought, never suspecting what calamity lay ahead.31The brave was changing.Like a mournful harbinger of impending conflict, the katabatic snarf let out a plaintive howl and gusted hard against the Delta Forces shelter. Delta-One complete battening down the storm coverings and went back inside(a) to his two partners. Theyd been through this before. It would soon pass.Delta-Two was staring at the live video feed from the microbot. You better look at this, he said.Delta-One came over. The inside of the habisphere was in total darkness omit for the bright lighting on the north side of the dome set about the stage. The remainder of the habisphere appeared only as a dim outline. Its nothing, he said. Theyre just testing their television lighting for tonight.The lightings not the problem. Delta-Two pointed to the dark blob in the middle of the ice-the pee-filled hole from which the meteorite had been extracted. Thats the problem.Delta-One looked at the hole. It was still surrounded by pylons, and the place of the water appeared calm. I dont see anything.Look again. He maneuvered the joystick, spiraling the microbot down toward the surface of the hole.As Delta-One studied the darkened pool of melted water more closely, he saw something that caused him to recoil in shock. What the?Delta-Three came over and looked. He too looked stunned. My God. Is that the extraction pit? Is the water supposed to be doing that?No, Delta-One said. It sure as shooting as hell isnt.32Although Rachel Sexton was currently sitting inside a large metal box situated three k miles from Washington, D.C., she felt the same pressure as if shed been summoned to the White House. The videophone monitor before her displayed a crystal clear image of President Zach Herney seated in the White House communications room before the presidential seal. The digital audio connection was flawless, and with the exception of an almost imperceptible delay, the man could have been in the next room.Their conversation was upbeat and direct. The President seemed pleased, though not at all surprised, by Rachels favorable assessment of NASAs find and of his plectron to use Michael Tollands captivating persona as a spokesman. The Presidents mood was good-natured and jocular.As Im sure you will agree, Herney said, his voice growing more grievous now, in a perfect world, the ramifications of this discovery would be purely scientific in nature. He paused, lean ing forward, his face filling the screen. Unfortunately, we dont live in a perfect world, and this NASA triumph is going to be a semipolitical football the moment I announce it.Considering the conclusive proof and who youve recruited for endorsements, I cant imagine how the public or any of your opposition will be able to do anything other than accept this discovery as substantiate fact.Herney gave an almost sad chuckle. My political opponents will believe what they see, Rachel. My concerns are that they wont like what they see.