Deception Point Page 24

In that same edition, paleobiologist Stephen Jay Gould summed up the problems with ALH84001 by pointing bulge out that the evidence in it was chemical substance and inferential, rather than solid, like an unambiguous bone or shell.Now, however, Rachel realized NASA had effect irrefutable proof. No skeptical scientist could possibly step fore and organizespring these fossils. NASA was no acheer touting blurry, enlarged photos of solelyeged microscopic bacteria-they were offering up real meteorite samples w here bio-organisms visible to the naked eye had been embedded in the stone. Foot-long liceRachel had to jocularity when she realized shed been a childhood fan of a song by David Bowie that referred to spiders from Mars. Few would chip in guessed how close the androgynous British pop headliner would come to foreseeing astrobiologys greatest moment.As the distant strains of the song ran through Rachels mind, corked hurried up behind her. Has Mike bragged about his documentar y tho?Rachel replied, No, save Id love to hear about it.Corky slapped Tolland on the put up. Go for it, big boy. Tell her why the chair decided that the most of the essence(p) moment in science history should be handed oer to a snorkeling TV star.Tolland groaned. Corky, if you dont mind?Fine, Ill explain, Corky said, prying his trend in searchween them. As you probably know, Ms. Sexton, the death chair go out be giving a press conference tonight to tell the solid ground about the meteorite. Because the vast majority of the world is made up of half-wits, the hot seat asked Mike to come onboard and dumb everything quite a little for them.Thanks, Corky, Tolland said. Very nice. He looked at Rachel. What Corkys trying to say is that because theres so much scientific data to convey, the President thought a short visual documentary about the meteorite office help make the information more accessible to mainstream America, populacey of whom, oddly, dont dedicate advanced deg rees in astrophysics.Did you know, Corky said to Rachel, that Ive merely learned our nations President is a closet fan of Amazing Seas? He shook his head in mock disgust. Zach Herney-the ruler of the free world-has his secretary tape Mikes plan so he can decompress after a long day.Tolland shrugged. The mans got taste, what can I say?Rachel was now starting to realize just how masterful the Presidents plan was. Politics was a media game, and Rachel could already imagine the earnestness and scientific credibility the nerve of Michael Tolland on-screen would bring to the press conference. Zach Herney had recruited the ideal man to endorse his little NASA coup. Skeptics would be hard-pressed to challenge the Presidents data if it came from the nations wind television science personality as well as several(prenominal) respected civilian scientists.Corky said, Mikes already taken video depositions from all of us civilians for his documentary, as well as from most of the tiptop NASA specialists. And Ill bet my field of study Medal that youre next on his list.Rachel turned and eyed him. Me? What argon you talking about? I have no credentials. Im an intelligence affair. then why did the President send you up here?He hasnt told me yet.An disport grin crossed Corkys lips. Youre a White House intelligence liaison who deals in clarification and authentication of data, right?Yes, but nothing scientific.And youre the daughter of the man who built a campaign around criticizing the money NASA has supernumerary in space?Rachel could hear it coming.You have to admit, Ms. Sexton, Ming chimed in, a deposition from you would trust this documentary a whole new dimension of credibility. If the President send you up here, he must want you to participate somehow.Rachel again flashed on William Pickerings concern that she was being used.Tolland checked his watch. We should probably head over, he said, motioning toward the spirit of the habisphere. They should be get close .Close to what? Rachel asked.Extraction time. NASA is bringing the meteorite to the surface. It should be up any time now.Rachel was stunned. You fatheads are actually removing an eight-ton rock from under cardinal hundred feet of solid ice?Corky looked gleeful. You didnt think NASA was going to allow for a discovery like this buried in the ice, did you?No, but, Rachel had seen no signs of large-scale excavation equipment anywhere inside the habisphere. How the heck is NASA planning on get the meteorite out?Corky puffed up. No problem. Youre in a path full of rocket scientistsBlather, Ming scoffed, looking at Rachel. Dr. Marlinson enjoys flexing other peoples muscles. The truth is that everyone here was stumped about how to get the meteorite out. It was Dr. Mangor who proposed a viable solution.I havent met Dr. Mangor.Glaciologist from the University of New Hampshire, Tolland said. The ordinal and final civilian scientist recruited by the President. And Ming here is correct, i t was Mangor who figured it out.Okay, Rachel said. So what did this guy propose?Gal, Ming corrected, sounding smitten. Dr. Mangor is a woman.Debatable, Corky grumbled. He looked over at Rachel. And by the way, Dr. Mangor is going to hate you.Tolland shot Corky an angry look.Well, she will Corky defended. Shell hate the competition.Rachel felt lost. Im sorry? Competition?Ignore him, Tolland said. Unfortunately, the point that Corky is a total moron somehow escaped the National Science Committee. You and Dr. Mangor will get along fine. She is a professional. Shes considered one of the worlds top glaciologists. She actually moved to Antarctica for a few years to study cold movement.Odd, Corky said, I heard UNH took up a donation and displace her there so they could get some peace and quiet on campus.Are you aware, Ming snapped, seeming to have taken the comment personally, that Dr. Mangor almost died down there She got lost in a storm and lived on shut blubber for five weeks before anyone found her.Corky whispered to Rachel, I heard no one was looking.26The limousine ride back from the CNN studio to Sextons office felt long for Gabrielle Ashe. The senator sat across from her, gazing out the window, obviously gloating over the debate.They sent Tench to an afternoon pipeline show, he said, turning with a handsome smile. The White House is getting frantic.Gabrielle nodded, noncommittal. Shed sensed a look of smug satisfaction on Marjorie Tenchs face as the woman drove off. It made her nervous.Sextons personal cellphone rang, and he fished in his pocket to grab it. The senator, like most politicians, had a hierarchy of phone numbers at which his contacts could reach him, depending on how important they were. Whoever was employment him now was at the top of the list the call was coming in on Sextons private line, a number even Gabrielle was discouraged to call.Senator Sedgewick Sexton, he chimed, accentuating the musical quality of his name.Gabrielle couldnt he ar the caller over the sound of the limo, but Sexton listened intently, replying with enthusiasm. Fantastic. Im so pleased you called. Im thinking six oclock? Super. I have an apartment here in D.C. Private. Comfortable. You have the address, right? Okay. Looking forward to meeting you. See you tonight then.