danbrown.deceptionpoint-第23部分

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　〃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　for　you。〃
　Rachel's　body　tensed。　〃Sir；　I'm　totally　unprepared。　I　can't　possibly…〃
　〃Just　tell　them　the　truth。　How　hard　is　that？〃
　〃But…〃
　〃Rachel；〃　the　President　said；　leaning　toward　the　screen。　〃Remember；　you　pile　and　relay　data　for　a　living。　It's　what　you　do。　Just　talk　about　what's　going　on　up　there。〃　He　reached　up　to　flick　a　switch　on　his　video　transmission　gear；　but　paused。　〃And　I　think　you'll　be　pleased　to　find　I've　set　you　up　in　a　position　of　power。〃
　Rachel　didn't　understand　what　he　meant；　but　it　was　too　late　to　ask。　The　President　threw　the　switch。
　The　screen　in　front　of　Rachel　went　blank　for　a　moment。　When　it　refreshed；　Rachel　was　staring　at　one　of　the　most　unnerving　images　she　had　ever　seen。　Directly　in　front　of　her　was　the　White　House　Oval　Office。　It　was　packed。　Standing　room　only。　The　entire　White　House　staff　appeared　to　be　there。　And　every　one　of　them　was　staring　at　her。　Rachel　now　realized　her　view　was　from　atop　the　President's　desk。
　Speaking　from　a　position　of　power。　Rachel　was　sweating　already。
　From　the　looks　on　the　faces　of　the　White　House　staffers；　they　were　as　surprised　to　see　Rachel　as　she　was　to　see　them。
　〃Ms。　Sexton？〃　a　raspy　voice　called　out。
　Rachel　searched　the　sea　of　faces　and　found　who　had　spoken。　It　was　a　lanky　woman　just　now　taking　a　seat　in　the　front　row。　Marjorie　Tench。　The　woman's　distinctive　appearance　was　unmistakable；　even　in　a　crowd。
　〃Thank　you　for　joining　us；　Ms。　Sexton；〃　Marjorie　Tench　said；　sounding　smug。　〃The　President　tells　us　you　have　some　news？〃
　
　　
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　Enjoying　the　darkness；　paleontologist　Wailee　Ming　sat　alone　in　quiet　reflection　at　his　private　work　area。　His　senses　were　alive　with　anticipation　for　tonight's　event。　Soon　I　will　be　the　most　famous　paleontologist　in　the　world。　He　hoped　Michael　Tolland　had　been　generous　and　featured　Ming's　ments　in　the　documentary。
　As　Ming　savored　his　impending　fame；　a　faint　vibration　shuddered　through　the　ice　beneath　his　feet；　causing　him　to　jump　up。　His　earthquake　instinct　from　living　in　Los　Angeles　made　him　hypersensitive　to　even　the　faintest　palpitations　of　the　ground。　At　the　moment；　though；　Ming　felt　foolish　to　realize　the　vibration　was　perfectly　normal。　It's　just　ice　calving；　he　reminded　himself；　exhaling。　He　still　hadn't　gotten　used　to　it。　Every　few　hours；　a　distant　explosion　rumbled　through　the　night　as　somewhere　along　the　glacial　frontier　a　huge　block　of　ice　cracked　off　and　fell　into　the　sea。　Norah　Mangor　had　a　nice　way　of　putting　it。　New　icebergs　being　born。。。　
　On　his　feet　now；　Ming　stretched　his　arms。　He　looked　across　the　habisphere；　and　off　in　the　distance　beneath　the　blaze　of　television　spotlights；　he　could　see　a　celebration　was　getting　underway。　Ming　was　not　much　for　parties　and　headed　in　the　opposite　direction　across　the　habisphere。
　The　labyrinth　of　deserted　work　areas　now　felt　like　a　ghost　town；　the　entire　dome　taking　on　an　almost　sepulchral　feel。　A　chill　seemed　to　have　settled　inside；　and　Ming　buttoned　up　his　long；　camel…hair　coat。
　Up　ahead　he　saw　the　extraction　shaft…the　point　from　which　the　most　magnificent　fossils　in　all　of　human　history　had　been　taken。　The　giant　metal　tripod　had　now　been　stowed　and　the　pool　sat　alone；　surrounded　by　pylons　like　some　kind　of　shunned　pothole　on　a　vast　parking　lot　of　ice。　Ming　wandered　over　to　the　pit；　standing　a　safe　distance　back；　peering　into　the　two…hundred…foot…deep　pool　of　frigid　water。　Soon　it　would　refreeze；　erasing　all　traces　that　anyone　had　ever　been　here。
　The　pool　of　water　was　a　beautiful　sight；　Ming　thought。　Even　in　the　dark。
　Especially　in　the　dark。
　Ming　hesitated　at　the　thought。　Then　it　registered。
　There's　something　wrong。
　As　Ming　focused　more　closely　on　the　water；　he　felt　his　previous　contentedness　give　way　to　a　sudden　whirlwind　of　confusion。　He　blinked　his　eyes；　stared　again；　and　then　quickly　turned　his　gaze　across　the　dome。。。　fifty　yards　away　toward　the　mass　of　people　celebrating　in　the　press　area。　He　knew　they　could　not　see　him　way　over　here　in　the　dark。
　I　should　tell　someone　about　this；　shouldn't　I？
　Ming　looked　again　at　the　water；　wondering　what　he　would　tell　them。　Was　he　seeing　an　optical　illusion？　Some　kind　of　strange　reflection？
　Uncertain；　Ming　stepped　beyond　the　pylons　and　squatted　down　at　the　edge　of　the　pit。　The　water　level　was　four　feet　below　the　ice　level；　and　he　leaned　down　to　get　a　better　look。　Yes；　something　was　definitely　strange。　It　was　impossible　to　miss；　and　yet　it　had　not　bee　visible　until　the　lights　in　the　dome　had　gone　out。
　Ming　stood　up。　Somebody　definitely　needed　to　hear　about　this。　He　started　off　at　a　hurried　pace　toward　the　press　area。　pleting　only　a　few　steps；　Ming　slammed　on　the　brakes。　Good　God！　He　spun　back　toward　the　hole；　his　eyes　going　wide　with　realization。　It　had　just　dawned　on　him。
　〃Impossible！〃　he　blurted　aloud。
　And　yet　Ming　knew　that　was　the　only　explanation。　Think；　carefully；　he　cautioned。　There　must　be　a　more　reasonable　rationale。　But　the　harder　Ming　thought；　the　more　convinced　he　was　of　what　he　was　seeing。　There　is　no　other　explanation！　He　could　not　believe　that　NASA　and　Corky　Marlinson　had　somehow　missed　something　this　incredible；　but　Ming　wasn't　plaining。
　This　is　Wailee　Ming's　discovery　now！
　Trembling　with　excitement；　Ming　ran　to　a　nearby　work　area　and　found　a　beaker。　All　he　needed　was　a　little　water　sample。　Nobody　was　going　to　believe　this！
　
　　
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　〃As　intelligence　liaison　to　the　White　House；〃　Rachel　Sexton　was　saying；　trying　to　keep　her　voice　from　shaking　as　she　addressed　the　crowd　on　the　screen　before　her；　〃my　duties　include　traveling　to　political　hot　spots　around　the　globe；　analyzing　volatile　situations；　and　reporting　to　the　President　and　White　House　staff。〃
　A　bead　of　sweat　formed　just　below　her　hairline　and　Rachel　dabbed　it　away；　silently　cursing　the　President　for　dropping　this　briefing　into　her　lap　with　zero　warning。
　〃Never　before　have　my　travels　taken　me　to　quite　this　exotic　a　spot。〃　Rachel　motioned　stiffly　to　the　cramped　trailer　around　her。　〃Believe　it　or　not；　I　am　addressing　you　right　now　from　above　the　Arctic　Circle　on　a　sheet　of　ice　that　is　over　three　hundred　feet　thick。〃
　Rachel　sensed　a　bewildered　anticipation　in　the　faces　on　the　screen　before　her。　They　obviously　knew　they　had　been　packed　into　the　Oval　Office　for　a　reason；　but　certainly　none　of　them　imagined　it　would　have　anything　to　do　with　a　development　above　the　Arctic　Circle。
　The　sweat　was　beading　again。　Get　it　together；　Rachel。　This　is　what　you　do。　〃I　sit　before　you　tonight　with　great　honor；　pride；　and。。。　above　all；　excitement。〃
　Blank　looks。
　Screw　it；　she　thought；　angrily　wiping　the　sweat　away。　I　didn't　sign　up　for　this。　Rachel　knew　what　her　mother　would　say　if　she　were　here　now：　When　in　doubt；　just　spit　it　out！　The　old　Yankee　proverb　embodied　one　of　her　mom's　basic　beliefs…that　all　challenges　can　be　overe　by　speaking　the　truth；　no　matter　how　it　es　out。
　Taking　a　deep　breath；　Rachel　sat　up　tall　and　looked　straight　into　the　camera。　〃Sorry；　folks；　if　you're　wondering　how　I　could　be　sweating　my　butt　off　above　the　Arctic　Circle。。。　I'm　a　little　nervous。〃
　The　faces　before　her　seemed　to　jolt　back　a　moment。　Some　uneasy　laughter。
　〃In　addition；〃　Rachel　said；　〃your　boss　gave　me　about　ten　seconds'　warning　before　telling　me　I　would　be　facing　his　entire　staff。　This　baptism　by　fire　is　not　exactly　what　I　had　in　mind　for　my　first　visit　to　the　Oval　Office。〃
　More　laughter　this　time。
　〃And；〃　she　said；　glancing　down　at　the　bottom　of　the　screen；　〃I　had　certainly　not　imagined　I　would　be　sitting　at　the　President's　desk。。。　much　less　on　it！〃
　This　brought　a　hearty　laugh　and　some　broad　smiles。　Rachel　felt　her　muscles　starting　to　relax。　Just　give　it　to　them　straight。
　〃Here's　the　situation。〃　Rachel's　voice　now　sounded　like　her　own。　Easy　and　clear。　〃President　Herney　has　been　absent　from　the　media　spotlight　this　past　week　not　because　of　his　lack　of　interest　in　his　campaign；　but　rather　because　he　has　been　engrossed　in　another　matter。　One　he　felt　was　far　more　important。〃
　Rachel　paused；　her　eyes　making　contact　now　with　her　audience。
　〃There　has　been　a　scientific　discovery　made　in　a　location　called　the　Milne　Ice　Shelf　in　the　high　Arctic。　The　President　will　be　informing　the　world　about　it　in　a　press　conference　tonight　at　eight　o'clock。　The　find　was　made　by　a　group　of　hardworking　Americans　who　have　endured　a　string　of　tough　luck　lately　and　deserve　a　break。　I'm　talking　about　NASA。　You　can　be　proud　to　know　that　your　President；　with　apparent　clairvoyant　confidence；　has　made　a　point　of　standing　beside　NASA　lately　through　thick　and　thin。　Now；　it　appears　his　loyalty　is　going　to　be　rewarded。〃
　It　was　not　until　that　very　instant　that　Rachel　realized　how　historically　momentous　this　was。　A　tightness　rose　in　her　throat；　and　she　fought　it　off；　plowing　onward。
　〃As　an　intelligence　officer　who　specializes　in　the　analysis　and　verification　of　data；　I　am　one　of　several　people　the　President　has　called　upon　to　examine　the　NASA　data。　I　have　examined　it　personally　as　well　as　conferring　with　several　specialists…both　government　and　civilian…men　and　women　whose　credentials　are　beyond　reproach　and　whose　stature　is　beyond　political　influence。　It　is　my　professional　opinion　that　the　data　I　am　about　to　present　to　you　is　factual　in　its　origins　and　unbiased　in　its　presentation。　Moreover；　it　is　my　personal　opinion　that　the　President；　in　good　faith　to　his　office　and　the　American　people；　has　shown　admirable　care　and　restraint　in　delaying　an　announcement　I　know　he　would　have　loved　to　have　made　last　week。〃
　Rachel　watched　the　crowd　before　her　exchanging　puzzled　looks。　They　all　returned　their　gaze　to　her；　and　she　knew　she　had　their　undivided　attention。
　〃Ladies　and　gentlemen；　you　are　about　to　hear　what　I'm　sure　you　will　agree　is　one　of　the　most　exciting　pieces　of　information　ever　revealed　in　this　office。〃
　
　　
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　The　aerial　view　currently　being　transmitted　to　the　Delta　Force　by　the　microbot　circling　inside　the　habisphere　looked　like　something　that　would　win　an　avant…garde　film　contest…the　dim　lighting；　the　glistening　extraction　hole；　and　the　well…dressed　Asian　l