danbrown.deceptionpoint-第22部分

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eared　only　as　a　dim　outline。　〃It's　nothing；〃　he　said。　〃They're　just　testing　their　television　lighting　for　tonight。〃
　〃The　lighting's　not　the　problem。〃　Delta…Two　pointed　to　the　dark　blob　in　the　middle　of　the　ice…the　water…filled　hole　from　which　the　meteorite　had　been　extracted。　〃That's　the　problem。〃
　Delta…One　looked　at　the　hole。　It　was　still　surrounded　by　pylons；　and　the　surface　of　the　water　appeared　calm。　〃I　don't　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　hell　isn't。〃
　
　　
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　Although　Rachel　Sexton　was　currently　sitting　inside　a　large　metal　box　situated　three　thousand　miles　from　Washington；　D。C。；　she　felt　the　same　pressure　as　if　she'd　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　munications　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　Rachel's　favorable　assessment　of　NASA's　find　and　of　his　choice　to　use　Michael　Tolland's　captivating　persona　as　a　spokesman。　The　President's　mood　was　good…natured　and　jocular。
　〃As　I'm　sure　you　will　agree；〃　Herney　said；　his　voice　growing　more　serious　now；　〃in　a　perfect　world；　the　ramifications　of　this　discovery　would　be　purely　scientific　in　nature。〃　He　paused；　leaning　forward；　his　face　filling　the　screen。　〃Unfortunately；　we　don't　live　in　a　perfect　world；　and　this　NASA　triumph　is　going　to　be　a　political　football　the　moment　I　announce　it。〃
　〃Considering　the　conclusive　proof　and　who　you've　recruited　for　endorsements；　I　can't　imagine　how　the　public　or　any　of　your　opposition　will　be　able　to　do　anything　other　than　accept　this　discovery　as　confirmed　fact。〃
　Herney　gave　an　almost　sad　chuckle。　〃My　political　opponents　will　believe　what　they　see；　Rachel。　My　concerns　are　that　they　won't　like　what　they　see。〃
　Rachel　noted　how　careful　the　President　was　being　not　to　mention　her　father。　He　spoke　only　in　terms　of　〃the　opposition〃　or　〃political　opponents。〃　〃And　you　think　your　opposition　will　cry　conspiracy　simply　for　political　reasons？〃　she　asked。
　〃That　is　the　nature　of　the　game。　All　anyone　needs　to　do　is　cast　a　faint　doubt；　saying　that　this　discovery　is　some　kind　of　political　fraud　concocted　by　NASA　and　the　White　House；　and　all　of　a　sudden；　I'm　facing　an　inquiry。　The　newspapers　forget　NASA　has　found　proof　of　extraterrestrial　life；　and　the　media　starts　focusing　on　uncovering　evidence　of　a　conspiracy。　Sadly；　any　innuendo　of　conspiracy　with　respect　to　this　discovery　will　be　bad　for　science；　bad　for　the　White　House；　bad　for　NASA；　and；　quite　frankly；　bad　for　the　country。〃
　〃Which　is　why　you　postponed　announcing　until　you　had　full　confirmation　and　some　reputable　civilian　endorsements。〃
　〃My　goal　is　to　present　this　data　in　so　incontrovertible　a　way　that　any　cynicism　is　nipped　in　the　bud。　I　want　this　discovery　celebrated　with　the　untainted　dignity　it　deserves。　NASA　merits　no　less。〃
　Rachel's　intuition　was　tingling　now。　What　does　he　want　from　me？
　〃Obviously；〃　he　continued；　〃you're　in　a　unique　position　to　help　me。　Your　experience　as　an　analyst　as　well　as　your　obvious　ties　to　my　opponent　give　you　enormous　credibility　with　respect　to　this　discovery。〃
　Rachel　felt　a　growing　disillusionment。　He　wants　to　use　me。。。　just　like　Pickering　said　he　would！
　〃That　said；〃　Herney　continued；　〃I　would　like　to　ask　that　you　endorse　this　discovery　personally；　for　the　record；　as　my　White　House　intelligence　liaison。。。　and　as　the　daughter　of　my　opponent。〃
　There　it　was。　On　the　table。
　Herney　wants　me　to　endorse。
　Rachel　really　had　thought　Zach　Herney　was　above　this　kind　of　spiteful　politics。　A　public　endorsement　from　Rachel　would　immediately　make　the　meteorite　a　personal　issue　for　her　father；　leaving　the　senator　unable　to　attack　the　discovery's　credibility　without　attacking　the　credibility　of　his　own　daughter…a　death　sentence　for　a　〃families　first〃　candidate。
　〃Frankly；　sir；〃　Rachel　said；　looking　into　the　monitor；　〃I'm　stunned　you　would　ask　me　to　do　that。〃
　The　President　looked　taken　aback。　〃I　thought　you　would　be　excited　to　help　out。〃
　〃Excited？　Sir；　my　differences　with　my　father　aside；　this　request　puts　me　in　an　impossible　position。　I　have　enough　problems　with　my　father　without　going　head…to…head　with　him　in　some　kind　of　public　death　match。　Despite　my　admitted　dislike　of　the　man；　he　is　my　father；　and　pitting　me　against　him　in　a　public　forum　frankly　seems　beneath　you。〃
　〃Hold　on！〃　Herney　waved　his　hands　in　surrender。
　〃Who　said　anything　about　a　public　forum？〃
　Rachel　paused。　〃I　assume　you'd　like　me　to　join　the　administrator　of　NASA　on　the　podium　for　the　eight　o'clock　press　conference。〃
　Herney's　guffaw　boomed　in　the　audio　speakers。　〃Rachel；　what　kind　of　man　do　you　think　I　am？　Do　you　really　imagine　I'd　ask　someone　to　stab　her　father　in　the　back　on　national　television？〃
　〃But；　you　said…〃
　〃And　do　you　think　I　would　make　the　NASA　administrator　share　the　limelight　with　the　daughter　of　his　arch　enemy？　Not　to　burst　your　bubble；　Rachel；　but　this　press　conference　is　a　scientific　presentation。　I'm　not　sure　your　knowledge　of　meteorites；　fossils；　or　ice　structures　would　lend　the　event　much　credibility。〃
　Rachel　felt　herself　flush。　〃But　then。。。　what　endorsement　did　you　have　in　mind？〃
　〃One　more　appropriate　to　your　position。〃
　〃Sir？〃
　〃You　are　my　White　House　intelligence　liaison。　You　brief　my　staff　on　issues　of　national　importance。〃
　〃You　want　me　to　endorse　this　for　your　staff？〃
　Herney　still　looked　amused　by　the　misunderstanding。　〃Yes；　I　do。　The　skepticism　I'll　face　outside　the　White　House　is　nothing　pared　to　what　I'm　facing　from　my　staff　right　now。　We're　in　the　midst　of　a　full…scale　mutiny　here。　My　credibility　in…house　is　shot。　My　staff　has　begged　me　to　cut　back　NASA　funding。　I've　ignored　them；　and　it's　been　political　suicide。〃
　〃Until　now。〃
　〃Exactly。　As　we　discussed　this　morning；　this　discovery's　timing　will　seem　suspect　to　political　cynics；　and　nobody's　as　cynical　as　my　staff　is　at　the　moment。　Therefore；　when　they　hear　this　information　for　the　first　time；　I　want　it　to　e　from…〃
　〃You　haven't　told　your　staff　about　the　meteorite？〃
　〃Only　a　few　top　advisers。　Keeping　this　discovery　a　secret　has　been　a　top　priority。〃
　Rachel　was　stunned。　No　wonder　he's　facing　a　mutiny。　〃But　this　is　not　my　usual　area。　A　meteorite　could　hardly　be　considered　an　intelligence…related　gist。〃
　〃Not　in　the　traditional　sense；　but　it　certainly　has　all　the　elements　of　your　usual　work…plex　data　that　needs　to　be　distilled；　substantial　political　ramifications…〃
　〃I　am　not　a　meteorite　specialist；　sir。　Shouldn't　your　staff　be　briefed　by　the　administrator　of　NASA？〃
　〃Are　you　kidding？　Everyone　here　hates　him。　As　far　as　my　staff　is　concerned；　Ekstrom　is　the　snake…oil　salesman　who　has　lured　me　into　bad　deal　after　bad　deal。〃
　Rachel　could　see　the　point。　〃How　about　Corky　Marlinson？　The　National　Medal　in　Astrophysics？　He's　got　far　more　credibility　than　I　do。〃
　〃My　staff　is　made　up　of　politicians；　Rachel；　not　scientists。　You've　met　Dr。　Marlinson。　I　think　he's　terrific；　but　if　I　let　an　astrophysicist　loose　on　my　team　of　left…brain；　think…inside…the…box　intellectuals；　I'll　end　up　with　a　herd　of　deer　in　the　headlights。　I　need　someone　accessible。　You're　the　one；　Rachel。　My　staff　knows　your　work；　and　considering　your　family　name；　you're　about　as　unbiased　a　spokesperson　as　my　staff　could　hope　to　hear　from。〃
　Rachel　felt　herself　being　pulled　in　by　the　President's　affable　style。　〃At　least　you　admit　my　being　the　daughter　of　your　opponent　has　something　to　do　with　your　request。〃
　The　President　gave　a　sheepish　chuckle。　〃Of　course　it　does。　But；　as　you　can　imagine；　my　staff　will　be　briefed　one　way　or　another；　no　matter　what　you　decide。　You　are　not　the　cake；　Rachel；　you　are　simply　the　icing。　You　are　the　individual　most　qualified　to　do　this　briefing；　and　you　also　happen　to　be　a　close　relative　of　the　man　who　wants　to　kick　my　staff　out　of　the　White　House　next　term。　You've　got　credibility　on　two　accounts。〃
　〃You　should　be　in　sales。〃
　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　am。　As　is　your　father。　And　to　be　honest；　I'd　like　to　close　a　deal　for　a　change。〃　The　President　removed　his　glasses　and　looked　into　Rachel's　eyes。　She　felt　a　touch　of　her　father's　power　in　him。　〃I　am　asking　you　as　a　favor；　Rachel；　and　also　because　I　believe　it　is　part　of　your　job。　So　which　is　it？　Yes　or　no？　Will　you　brief　my　staff　on　this　matter？〃
　Rachel　felt　trapped　inside　the　tiny　PSC　trailer。　Nothing　like　the　hard　sell。　Even　from　three　thousand　miles　away；　Rachel　could　feel　the　strength　of　his　will　pressing　through　the　video　screen。　She　also　knew　this　was　a　perfectly　reasonable　request；　whether　she　liked　it　or　not。
　〃I'd　have　conditions；〃　Rachel　said。
　Herney　arched　his　eyebrows。　〃Being？〃
　〃I　meet　your　staff　in　private。　No　reporters。　This　is　a　private　briefing；　not　a　public　endorsement。〃
　〃You　have　my　word。　Your　meeting　is　already　slated　for　a　very　private　location。〃
　Rachel　sighed。　〃All　right　then。〃
　The　President　beamed。　〃Excellent。〃
　Rachel　checked　her　watch；　surprised　to　see　it　was　already　a　little　past　four　o'clock。　〃Hold　on；〃　she　said；　puzzled；　〃if　you're　going　live　at　eight　P。M。；　we　don't　have　time。　Even　in　that　vile　contraption　you　sent　me　up　here　in；　I　couldn't　get　back　to　the　White　House　for　another　couple　of　hours　at　the　very　fastest。　I'd　have　to　prepare　my　remarks　and…〃
　The　President　shook　his　head。　〃I'm　afraid　I　didn't　make　myself　clear。　You'll　be　doing　the　briefing　from　where　you　are　via　video　conference。〃
　〃Oh。〃　Rachel　hesitated。　〃What　time　did　you　have　in　mind？〃
　〃Actually；〃　Herney　said；　grinning。　〃How　about　right　now？　Everyone　is　already　assembled；　and　they're　staring　at　a　big　blank　television　set。　They're　waiting