Deception Point Page 62

Pickering seemed to consider this a long time, gently stroking his tie. And yet taking into account the amount NASA has to gain from this discovery unspoilt now, the app bent signs of tampering with evidence, and your being chargeed the first and only logical conclusion I can pose is that this meteorite is a well-executed fraud.Impossible Corky sounded angry now. With all respect, sir, meteorites are non some Hollywood specific effect that can be conjured up in a science lab to fool a roll up of unsuspecting astrophysicists. They are chemically complex objects with unique crystalline structures and element ratiosI am non challenging you, Dr. Marlinson. I am simply following a logical chain of analysis. Considering someone precious to knock down you to keep you from revealing it was inserted under the ice, Im inclined to entertain all kinds of wild scenarios here. What specifically makes you veritable this rock is indeed a meteorite?Specifically? Corkys voice cracked in the headphones. A flawless coalition crust, the presence of chondrules, a nickel ratio un bid some(prenominal)thing ever found on earth. If youre suggesting that someone tricked us by manufacturing this rock in a lab, then all I can say is that the lab was about 190 one million million years old. Corky dug in his pocket and pulled out a stone shaped like a CD. He held it in front of the camera. We chemically dated samples like this with numerous methods. Rubidium-strontium date is not something you can fakePickering looked surprised. You have a sample?Corky shrugged. NASA had lots of them floating around.You mean to tell me, Pickering said, looking at Rachel now, that NASA discovered a meteorite they think contains life, and theyre letting population walk off with samples?The point, Corky said, is that the sample in my hands is genuine. He held the rock close to the camera. You could birth this to any petrologist or geologist or astronomer on earth, they would run tests, and they would tell you two things one, it is 190 million years old and two, it is chemically dissimilar from the kind of rock we have here on earth.Pickering leaned forward, studying the fossil embedded in the rock. He seemed momentarily transfixed. Finally, he sighed. I am not a scientist. All I can say is that if that meteorite is genuine, which it appears it is, I would like to know why NASA didnt present it to the manhood at face value? Why has someone carefully placed it under the ice as if to persuade us of its authenticity?At that moment, inside the White House, a security officer was dialing Marjorie Tench.The old adviser answered on the first ring. Yeah?Ms. Tench, the officer said, I have the information you requested earlier. The radiotelephone call that Rachel Sexton placed to you earlier this evening. We have the trace.Tell me.Secret Service ops says the signal originated alongside the naval submarine U.S.S. Charlotte.WhatThey dont have coordinates, maam, but they are certa in of the vessel code.Oh, for Christs sake Tench slammed reduce the receiver without another word.72The muted acoustics of the Charlottes dead room were starting to make Rachel opinion gently nauseated. On-screen, William Pickerings troubled gaze moved now to Michael Tolland. Youre quiet, Mr. Tolland.Tolland glanced up like a student who had been called on unexpectedly. Sir?You still gave quite a convincing documentary on television, Pickering said. Whats your take on the meteorite now?Well, sir, Tolland said, his discomfort obvious, I have to agree with Dr. Marlinson. I believe the fossils and meteorite are authentic. Im fairly well versed in dating techniques, and the age of that stone was affirm by multiple tests. The nickel content as well. These data cannot be forged. There exists no doubt the rock, formed 190 million years ago, exhibits nonterrestrial nickel ratios and contains dozens of confirmed fossils whose formation is also dated at 190 million years. I can think of n o other possible explanation than that NASA has found an authentic meteorite.Pickering fell silent now. His expression was one of quandary, a look Rachel had never before seen on William Pickering.What should we do, sir? Rachel asked. Obviously we need to alert the president there are problems with the data.Pickering frowned. Lets hope the President doesnt already know.Rachel felt a knot rise in her throat. Pickerings implication was clear. President Herney could be involved. Rachel strongly doubted it, and yet both the President and NASA had plenty to gain here.Unfortunately, Pickering said, with the exception of this GPR printout revealing an entry shaft, all of the scientific data points to a credible NASA discovery. He paused, dire. And this issue of your being attacked He looked up at Rachel. You mentioned special ops.Yes, sir. She told him again about the Improvised Munitions and tactics.Pickering looked more and more unhappy by the moment. Rachel sensed her boss was conte mplating the number of people who might have access to a small military kill force. Certainly the President had access. Probably Marjorie Tench too, as senior adviser. Quite possibly NASA administrator Lawrence Ekstrom with his ties to the Pentagon. Unfortunately, as Rachel considered the myriad of possibilities, she realized the controlling force behind the attack could have been almost anyone with high-level governmental clout and the right connections.I could phone the President right now, Pickering said, but I dont think thats wise, at least until we know whos involved. My ability to protect you becomes limited once we involve the White House. In addition, Im not sure what I would tell him. If the meteorite is real, which you all feel it is, then your allegation of an insertion shaft and attack doesnt make sense the President would have every right to question the validity of my claim. He paused as if calculating the options. Regardless whatever the truth is or who the players are, some very powerful people allow for take hits if this information goes public. I suggest we get you to safety right away, before we start rocking any boats.Get us to safety? The comment surprised Rachel. I think were fairly safe on a nuclear submarine, sir.Pickering looked skeptical. Your presence on that submarine wont stay secret long. Im pulling you out immediately. Frankly, Ill feel better when the three of you are sitting in my office.73Senator Sexton huddled alone on his couch feeling like a refugee. His Westbrooke Place apartment that had only an hour ago been modify with new friends and supporters now looked forsaken, scattered with the rubble of snifters and business cards, abandoned by men who had quite literally dashed out the door.Now Sexton crouched in solitude before his television, wanting more than anything to reverse it off and yet being unable to pull himself from the endless media analyses. This was Washington, and it didnt take long for the analysts to ru sh finished their pseudoscientific and philosophical hyperbole and lock in on the ugly stuff-the politics. Like torture master rubbing acid in Sextons wounds, the newscasters were stating and restating the obvious.Hours ago, Sextons campaign was soaring, one analyst said. Now, with NASAs discovery, the senators campaign has crashed back to earth.Sexton winced, stint for the Courvoisier and taking a hit right out of the bottle. Tonight, he knew, would be the longest and loneliest night of his life. He scorn Marjorie Tench for setting him up. He despised Gabrielle Ashe for ever mentioning NASA in the first place. He despised the President for being so goddamned lucky. And he despised the world for laughing at him.