danbrown.deceptionpoint-第51部分

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　Now；　as　she　passed　beside　Corky；　she　gazed　down　at　the　astrophysicist；　battered　from　his　ordeal　on　the　ice。　The　swelling　on　his　cheek　was　going　down　now；　and　the　stitches　looked　good。　He　was　asleep；　snoring；　his　pudgy　hands　clutching　the　disk…shaped　meteorite　sample　like　some　kind　of　security　blanket。
　Rachel　reached　down　and　gently　slipped　the　meteorite　sample　away　from　him。　She　held　it　up；　studying　the　fossils　again。　Remove　all　assumptions；　she　told　herself；　forcing　herself　to　reorganize　her　thoughts。　Reestablish　the　chain　of　substantiation。　It　was　an　old　NRO　trick。　Rebuilding　a　proof　from　scratch　was　a　process　known　as　a　〃null　start〃…something　all　data　analysts　practiced　when　the　pieces　didn't　quite　fit。
　Reassemble　the　proof。
　She　began　pacing　again。
　Does　this　stone　represent　proof　of　extraterrestrial　life？
　Proof；　she　knew；　was　a　conclusion　built　on　a　pyramid　of　facts；　a　broad　base　of　accepted　information　on　which　more　specific　assertions　were　made。
　Remove　all　the　base　assumptions。　Start　again。
　What　do　we　have？
　A　rock。
　She　pondered　that　for　a　moment。　A　rock。　A　rock　with　fossilized　creatures。　Walking　back　toward　the　front　of　the　plane；　she　took　her　seat　beside　Michael　Tolland。
　〃Mike；　let's　play　a　game。〃
　Tolland　turned　from　the　window；　looking　distant；　apparently　deep　in　his　own　thoughts。　〃A　game？〃
　She　handed　him　the　meteorite　sample。　〃Let's　pretend　you're　seeing　this　fossilized　rock　for　the　first　time。　I've　told　you　nothing　about　where　it　came　from　or　how　it　was　found。　What　would　you　tell　me　it　is？〃
　Tolland　heaved　a　disconsolate　sigh。　〃Funny　you　should　ask。　I　just　had　the　strangest　thought。。。　〃
　　
　Hundreds　of　miles　behind　Rachel　and　Tolland；　a　strange…looking　aircraft　stayed　low　as　it　tore　south　above　a　deserted　ocean。　Onboard；　the　Delta　Force　was　silent。　They　had　been　pulled　out　of　locations　in　a　hurry；　but　never　like　this。
　Their　controller　was　furious。
　Earlier；　Delta…One　had　informed　the　controller　that　unexpected　events　on　the　ice　shelf　had　left　his　team　with　no　option　but　to　exercise　force…force　that　had　included　killing　four　civilians；　including　Rachel　Sexton　and　Michael　Tolland。
　The　controller　reacted　with　shock。　Killing；　although　an　authorized　last　resort；　obviously　never　had　been　part　of　the　controller's　plan。
　Later；　the　controller's　displeasure　over　the　killings　turned　to　outright　rage　when　he　learned　the　assassinations　had　not　gone　as　planned。
　〃Your　team　failed！〃　the　controller　seethed；　the　androgynous　tone　hardly　masking　the　person's　rage。　〃Three　of　your　four　targets　are　still　alive！〃
　Impossible！　Delta…One　had　thought。　〃But　we　witnessed…〃
　〃They　made　contact　with　a　submarine　and　are　now　en　route　to　Washington。〃
　〃What！〃
　The　controller's　tone　turned　lethal。　〃Listen　carefully。　I　am　about　to　give　you　new　orders。　And　this　time　you　will　not　fail。〃
　
　　
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　Senator　Sexton　was　actually　feeling　a　flicker　of　hope　as　he　walked　his　unexpected　visitor　back　out　to　the　elevator。　The　head　of　the　SFF；　as　it　turned　out；　had　not　e　to　chastise　Sexton；　but　rather　to　give　him　a　pep　talk　and　tell　him　the　battle　was　not　yet　over。
　A　possible　chink　in　NASA's　armor。
　The　videotape　of　the　bizarre　NASA　press　conference　had　convinced　Sexton　that　the　old　man　was　right…PODS　mission　director　Chris　Harper　was　lying。　But　why？　And　if　NASA　never　fixed　the　PODS　software；　how　did　NASA　find　the　meteorite？
　As　they　walked　to　the　elevator；　the　old　man　said；　〃Sometimes　all　it　takes　to　unravel　something　is　a　single　strand。　Perhaps　we　can　find　a　way　to　eat　away　at　NASA's　victory　from　within。　Cast　a　shadow　of　distrust。　Who　knows　where　it　will　lead？〃　The　old　man　locked　his　tired　eyes　on　Sexton。　〃I　am　not　ready　to　lay　down　and　die；　senator。　And　I　trust　nor　are　you。〃
　〃Of　course　not；〃　Sexton　said；　mustering　resolve　in　his　voice。　〃We've　e　too　far。〃
　〃Chris　Harper　lied　about　fixing　PODS；〃　the　man　said　as　he　boarded　the　elevator。　〃And　we　need　to　know　why。〃
　〃I　will　get　that　information　as　fast　as　I　can；〃　Sexton　replied。　I　have　just　the　person。
　〃Good。　Your　future　depends　on　it。〃
　As　Sexton　headed　back　toward　his　apartment；　his　step　was　a　little　lighter；　his　head　a　little　clearer。　NASA　lied　about　PODS。　The　only　question　was　how　Sexton　could　prove　it。
　His　thoughts　had　already　turned　to　Gabrielle　Ashe。　Wherever　she　was　at　the　moment；　she　had　to　be　feeling　like　shit。　Gabrielle　had　no　doubt　seen　the　press　conference　and　was　now　standing　on　a　ledge　somewhere　getting　ready　to　jump。　Her　proposition　of　making　NASA　a　major　issue　in　Sexton's　campaign　had　turned　out　to　be　the　biggest　mistake　of　Sexton's　career。
　She　owes　me；　Sexton　thought。　And　she　knows　it。
　Gabrielle　already　had　proven　she　had　a　knack　for　obtaining　NASA　secrets。　She　has　a　contact；　Sexton　thought。　She'd　been　scoring　insider　information　for　weeks　now。　Gabrielle　had　connections　she　was　not　sharing。　Connections　she　could　pump　for　information　on　PODS。　Moreover；　tonight　Gabrielle　would　be　motivated。　She　had　a　debt　to　repay；　and　Sexton　suspected　she　would　do　anything　to　regain　his　favor。
　As　Sexton　arrived　back　at　his　apartment　door；　his　bodyguard　nodded。　〃Evening；　senator。　I　trust　I　did　the　right　thing　by　letting　Gabrielle　in　earlier？　She　said　it　was　critical　she　talk　to　you。〃
　Sexton　paused。　〃I'm　sorry？〃
　〃Ms。　Ashe？　She　had　important　information　for　you　earlier　tonight。　That's　why　I　let　her　in。〃
　Sexton　felt　his　body　stiffen。　He　looked　at　his　apartment　door。　What　the　hell　is　this　guy　talking　about？
　The　guard's　expression　changed　to　one　of　confusion　and　concern。　〃Senator；　are　you　okay？　You　remember；　right？　Gabrielle　arrived　during　your　meeting。　She　talked　to　you；　right？　She　must　have。　She　was　in　there　quite　a　while。〃
　Sexton　stared　a　long　moment；　feeling　his　pulse　skyrocket。　This　moron　let　Gabrielle　into　my　apartment　during　a　private　SFF　meeting？　She　stuck　around　inside　and　then　departed　without　a　word？　Sexton　could　only　imagine　what　Gabrielle　might　have　overheard。　Swallowing　his　anger；　he　forced　a　smile　to　his　guard。　〃Oh；　yes！　I'm　sorry。　I'm　exhausted。　Had　a　couple　of　drinks；　too。　Ms。　Ashe　and　I　did　indeed　speak。　You　did　the　right　thing。〃
　The　guard　looked　relieved。
　〃Did　she　say　where　she　went　when　she　left？〃
　The　guard　shook　his　head。　〃She　was　in　a　big　hurry。〃
　〃Okay；　thanks。〃
　Sexton　entered　his　apartment　fuming。　How　plicated　were　my　goddamn　directions？　No　visitors！　He　had　to　assume　if　Gabrielle　had　been　inside　for　any　length　of　time　and　then　snuck　out　without　a　word；　she　must　have　heard　things　she　was　not　meant　to　hear。　Tonight　of　all　nights。
　Senator　Sexton　knew　above　all　he　could　not　afford　to　lose　Gabrielle　Ashe's　trust；　women　could　bee　vengeful　and　stupid　when　they　felt　deceived。　Sexton　needed　to　bring　her　back。　Tonight　more　than　ever；　he　needed　her　in　his　camp。
　
　　
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　On　the　fourth　floor　of　the　ABC　television　studios；　Gabrielle　Ashe　sat　alone　in　Yolanda's　glass…walled　office　and　stared　at　the　fraying　carpet。　She　had　always　prided　herself　on　good　instincts　and　knowing　whom　she　could　trust。　Now；　for　the　first　time　in　years；　Gabrielle　felt　alone；　uncertain　which　way　to　turn。
　The　sound　of　her　cellphone　lifted　her　gaze　from　the　carpet。　Reluctant；　she　picked　up。　〃Gabrielle　Ashe。〃
　〃Gabrielle；　it's　me。〃
　She　recognized　the　timbre　of　Senator　Sexton's　voice　immediately；　although　he　sounded　surprisingly　calm　considering　what　had　just　transpired。
　〃It's　been　one　hell　of　a　night　over　here；〃　he　said；　〃so　just　let　me　talk。　I'm　sure　you　saw　the　President's　conference。　Christ；　did　we　play　the　wrong　cards。　I'm　sick　over　it。　You're　probably　blaming　yourself。　Don't。　Who　the　hell　would　have　guessed？　Not　your　fault。　Anyhow；　listen　up。　I　think　there　may　be　a　way　to　get　our　feet　back　under　us。〃
　Gabrielle　stood　up；　unable　to　imagine　what　Sexton　could　be　talking　about。　This　was　hardly　the　reaction　she　had　expected。
　〃I　had　a　meeting　tonight；〃　Sexton　said；　〃with　representatives　from　private　space　industries；　and…〃
　〃You　did？〃　Gabrielle　blurted；　stunned　to　hear　him　admit　it。　〃I　mean。。。　I　had　no　idea。〃
　〃Yeah；　nothing　major。　I　would　have　asked　you　to　sit　in；　but　these　guys　are　touchy　about　privacy。　Some　of　them　are　donating　money　to　my　campaign。　It's　not　something　they　like　to　advertise。〃
　Gabrielle　felt　totally　disarmed。　〃But。。。　isn't　that　illegal？〃
　〃Illegal？　Hell　no！　All　the　donations　are　under　the　two…thousand…dollar　cap。　Small　potatoes。　These　guys　barely　make　a　dent；　but　I　listen　to　their　gripes　anyway。　Call　it　an　investment　in　the　future。　I'm　quiet　about　it　because；　frankly；　the　appearances　aren't　so　great。　If　the　White　House　caught　wind；　they'd　spin　the　hell　out　of　it。　Anyhow；　look；　that's　not　the　point。　I　called　to　tell　you　that　after　tonight's　meeting；　I　was　talking　to　the　head　of　the　SFF。。。　〃
　For　several　seconds；　although　Sexton　was　still　talking；　all　Gabrielle　could　hear　was　the　blood　rushing　in　shame　to　her　face。　Without　the　slightest　challenge　from　her；　the　senator　had　calmly　admitted　tonight's　meeting　with　private　space　panies。　Perfectly　legal。　And　to　think　what　Gabrielle　had　almost　considered　doing！　Thank　God　Yolanda　had　stopped　her。　I　almost　jumped　ship　to　Marjorie　Tench！
　〃。。。　and　so　I　told　the　head　of　the　SFF；〃　the　senator　was　saying；　〃that　you　might　be　able　to　get　that　information　for　us。〃
　Gabrielle　tuned　back　in。　〃Okay。〃
　〃The　contact　from　whom　you've　been　getting　all　your　inside　NASA　information　these　past　few　months？　I　assume　you　still　have　access？〃
　Marjorie　Tench。　Gabrielle　cringed　knowing　she　could　never　tell　the　senator　that　the　informant　had　been　manipulating　her　all　along。　〃Um。。。　I　think　so；〃　Gabrielle　lied。
　〃Good。　There's　some　information　I　need　from　you。　Right　away。〃
　As　she　listened；　Gabrielle　realized　just　how　badly　she　had　been　underestimating　Senator　Sedgewick　Sexton　lately。　Some　of　the　man's　luster　had　worn　off　since　she'd　first　begun　following　his　career。　But　tonight；　it　was　back。　In　the　face　of　what　appeared　to　be　the　ultimate　death　blow　to　his　campaign；　Sexton　was　plotting　a　counterattack。　And　although　it　had　been　Gabrielle　who　led　him　down　this　inauspicious　path；　he　was　not　punishing　her。　Instead；　he　was　giving　her　a　chance　to　redeem　herself。
　And　redeem　herself　she　would。
　Whatever　it　took。
　
　　
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　William　Pickering　gaz