Deception Point Page 24

In that same edition, paleobiologist Stephen Jay Gould summed up the problems with ALH84001 by pointing out that the evidence in it was chemical and inferential, rather than solid, like an unambiguous b oneness or shell.Now, however, Rachel accomplished NASA had found irrefutable proof. No skeptical scientist could possibly step front and question these fossils. NASA was no longer touting blurry, enlarged photos of alleged microscopic bacteria-they were crack up real meteorite samples where bio-organisms visible to the naked eye had been embedded in the stone. Foot-long liceRachel had to laugh when she readd shed been a childhood fan of a pains by David Bowie that referred to spiders from Mars. Few would have guessed how close the androgynous British place star would come to foreseeing astrobiologys greatest moment.As the distant strains of the song ran through with(predicate) Rachels mind, Corky hurried up behind her. Has Mike bragged near his documental yet?Rachel replied, No, just now Id love to hear about it.Corky slapped Tolland on the back. Go for it, big boy. Tell her why the president decided that the about cardinal moment in science history should be transfer oer to a snorkeling TV star.Tolland groaned. Corky, if you dont mind?Fine, Ill explain, Corky said, jimmy his way in between them. As you probably know, Ms. Sexton, the President go away be giving a press conference tonight to rank the world about the meteorite. Because the vast majority of the world is made up of half-wits, the President asked Mike to come onboard and dumb everything down for them.Thanks, Corky, Tolland said. Very nice. He looked at Rachel. What Corkys trying to say is that because theres so much scientific info to convey, the President thought a short visual documentary about the meteorite might help make the information more accessible to mainstream America, umpteen of whom, oddly, dont have advanced degrees in astrophysics.Did you know, Corky said to Rachel, that Ive just learned our nations President is a closet fan of Amazing Seas? He agitate his head in mock disgust. Zach Herney-the ruler of the free world-has his secretary memorialise Mikes program 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 count on the enthusiasm and scientific credibility the face of Michael Tolland on-screen would bring to the press conference. Zach Herney had recruited the paragon man to endorse his little NASA coup. Skeptics would be hard-pressed to challenge the Presidents selective information if it came from the nations coronate television science personality as well as several respected civilian scientists.Corky said, Mikes already taken television system deposits from all of us civilians for his documentary, as well as from most of the top NASA specialists. And Ill bet my National Medal that youre next on his list.Rachel turned and eyed him. Me? What are you talking about? I have no credentials. Im an wisdom liaison.Then why did the President send you up here?He hasnt told me yet.An amused grin crossed Corkys lips. Youre a White set up watchword 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 bullion NASA has wasted in space?Rachel could hear it access.You have to admit, Ms. Sexton, Ming chimed in, a deposition from you would give this documentary a whole new dimension of credibility. If the President sent you up here, he must want you to participate somehow.Rachel over 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 center of the habisphere. They should be getting close.Close to what? Rachel asked.Extraction ti me. NASA is bringing the meteorite to the surface. It should be up any time now.Rachel was stunned. You guys are actually removing an eight-ton rock from infra two hundred feet of solid ice?Corky looked gleeful. You didnt think NASA was sack to leave 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 getting the meteorite out?Corky puffed up. No problem. Youre in a room full of rocket scientistsBlather, Ming scoffed, looking at Rachel. Dr. Marlinson enjoys flexing other peoples muscles. The rightfulness 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 sunrise(prenominal) Hampshire, Tolland said. The fourth and final civilian scientist recruited by the President. And Ming here is correct, it was Mangor who figured it out. Okay, Rachel said. So what did this guy propose?Gal, Ming corrected, phoneing 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 dotty look.Well, she will Corky defended. Shell hate the competition.Rachel felt lost. Im sorry? Competition? switch off him, Tolland said. Unfortunately, the fact that Corky is a total moron somehow escape 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 have glacial movement.Odd, Corky said, I heard UNH took up a contribution and sent her there so they could get some peace and repose on campus.Are you aware, Ming snapped, seeming to have taken the comment personally, that Dr. Mangor virtually died down there She got lost in a storm and lived on seal blubber for five weeks before anyone found her.Cork y verbalize to Rachel, I heard no one was looking.26The limousine drum up back from the CNN studio to Sextons office felt long for Gabrielle Ashe. The senator sat crossways from her, gazing out the window, obviously gloating over the debate.They sent Tench to an afternoon cable 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 cadre 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 calling him now was at the top of the list the call was coming in on Sextons private line, a number even Gabrielle was reject to call.Senator Sedgewick Sexton, he chimed, accentuating the musical quality of his name.Gabrielle couldnt hear 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. flavor forward to meeting you. See you tonight then.