danbrown.deceptionpoint-第56部分

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　〃I'm　all　ears；〃　Rachel　said。
　〃There　was　surplus　ionized　hydrogen；〃　Corky　said；　〃because　the　meteorite　passed　through　the　atmosphere　near　the　North　Pole；　where　the　earth's　magnetic　field　causes　an　abnormally　high　concentration　of　hydrogen　ions。〃
　Rachel　frowned。　〃Unfortunately；　I　have　another　explanation。〃
　
　　
　87
　The　fourth　floor　of　NASA　headquarters　was　less　impressive　than　the　lobby…long　sterile　corridors　with　office　doors　equally　spaced　along　the　walls。　The　corridor　was　deserted。　Laminated　signs　pointed　in　all　directions。
　←　LANDSAT　7
　TERRA　→
　←　ACRIMSAT
　←　JASON　1
　AQUA　→
　PODS　→
　Gabrielle　followed　the　signs　for　PODS。　Winding　her　way　down　a　series　of　long　corridors　and　intersections；　she　came　to　a　set　of　heavy　steel　doors。　The　stencil　read：
　POLAR　ORBITING　DENSITY　SCANNER　（PODS）
Section　Manager；　Chris　Harper
　The　doors　were　locked；　secured　both　by　key　card　and　a　PIN　pad　access。　Gabrielle　put　her　ear　to　the　cold　metal　door。　For　a　moment；　she　thought　she　heard　talking。　Arguing。　Maybe　not。　She　wondered　if　she　should　just　bang　on　the　door　until　someone　inside　let　her　in。　Unfortunately；　her　plan　for　dealing　with　Chris　Harper　required　a　bit　more　subtlety　than　banging　on　doors。　She　looked　around　for　another　entrance　but　saw　none。　A　custodial　alcove　stood　adjacent　to　the　door；　and　Gabrielle　stepped　in；　searching　the　dimly　lit　niche　for　a　janitor's　key　ring　or　key　card。　Nothing。　Just　brooms　and　mops。
　Returning　to　the　door；　she　put　her　ear　to　the　metal　again。　This　time　she　definitely　heard　voices。　Getting　louder。　And　footsteps。　The　latch　engaged　from　inside。
　Gabrielle　had　no　time　to　hide　as　the　metal　door　burst　open。　She　jumped　to　the　side；　plastering　herself　against　the　wall　behind　the　door　as　a　group　of　people　hurried　through；　talking　loudly。　They　sounded　angry。
　〃What　the　hell　is　Harper's　problem？　I　thought　he'd　be　on　cloud　nine！〃
　〃On　a　night　like　tonight；〃　another　said　as　the　group　passed　by；　〃he　wants　to　be　alone？　He　should　be　celebrating！〃
　As　the　group　moved　away　from　Gabrielle；　the　heavy　door　started　swinging　closed　on　pneumatic　hinges；　revealing　her　location。　She　remained　rigid　as　the　men　continued　down　the　hall。　Waiting　as　long　as　she　possibly　could；　until　the　door　was　only　inches　from　closing；　Gabrielle　lunged　forward　and　caught　the　door　handle　with　just　inches　to　spare。　She　stood　motionless　as　the　men　turned　the　corner　down　the　hall；　too　engaged　in　their　conversation　to　look　back。
　Heart　pounding；　Gabrielle　pulled　open　the　door　and　stepped　into　the　dimly　lit　area　beyond。　She　quietly　closed　the　door。
　The　space　was　a　wide　open　work　area　that　reminded　her　of　a　college　physics　laboratory：　puters；　work　islands；　electronic　gear。　As　her　eyes　became　accustomed　to　the　darkness；　Gabrielle　could　see　blueprints　and　sheets　of　calculations　scattered　around。　The　entire　area　was　dark　except　for　an　office　on　the　far　side　of　the　lab；　where　a　light　shone　under　the　door。　Gabrielle　walked　over　quietly。　The　door　was　closed；　but　through　the　window　she　could　see　a　man　sitting　at　a　puter。　She　recognized　the　man　from　the　NASA　press　conference。　The　nameplate　on　the　door　read：
　Chris　Harper
Section　Manager；　PODS
　Having　e　this　far；　Gabrielle　suddenly　felt　apprehensive；　wondering　if　she　could　actually　pull　this　off。　She　reminded　herself　how　certain　Sexton　was　that　Chris　Harper　had　lied。　I　would　bet　my　campaign　on　it；　Sexton　had　said。　Apparently　there　were　others　who　felt　the　same；　others　who　were　waiting　for　Gabrielle　to　uncover　the　truth　so　they　could　close　in　on　NASA；　attempting　to　gain　even　a　tiny　foothold　after　tonight's　devastating　developments。　After　the　way　Tench　and　the　Herney　administration　had　played　Gabrielle　this　afternoon；　she　was　eager　to　help。
　Gabrielle　raised　her　hand　to　knock　on　the　door　but　paused；　Yolanda's　voice　running　through　her　mind。　If　Chris　Harper　lied　to　the　world　about　PODS；　what　makes　you　think　he'll　tell　YOU　the　truth？
　Fear；　Gabrielle　told　herself；　having　almost　fallen　victim　to　it　herself　today。　She　had　a　plan。　It　involved　a　tactic　she'd　seen　the　senator　use　on　occasion　to　scare　information　out　of　political　opponents。　Gabrielle　had　absorbed　a　lot　under　Sexton's　tutelage；　and　not　all　of　it　attractive　or　ethical。　But　tonight　she　needed　every　advantage。　If　she　could　persuade　Chris　Harper　to　admit　he　had　lied…for　whatever　reason…Gabrielle　would　open　a　small　door　of　opportunity　for　the　senator's　campaign。　Beyond　that；　Sexton　was　a　man　who；　if　given　an　inch　to　maneuver；　could　wriggle　his　way　out　of　almost　any　jam。
　Gabrielle's　plan　for　dealing　with　Harper　was　something　Sexton　called　〃overshooting〃…an　interrogation　technique　invented　by　the　early　Roman　authorities　to　coax　confessions　from　criminals　they　suspected　were　lying。　The　method　was　deceptively　simple：
　Assert　the　information　you　want　confessed。
　Then　allege　something　far　worse。
　The　object　was　to　give　the　opponent　a　chance　to　choose　the　lesser　of　two　evils…in　this　case；　the　truth。
　The　trick　was　exuding　confidence；　something　Gabrielle　was　not　feeling　at　the　moment。　Taking　a　deep　breath；　Gabrielle　ran　through　the　script　in　her　mind；　and　then　knocked　firmly　on　the　office　door。
　〃I　told　you　I'm　busy！〃　Harper　called　out；　his　English　accent　familiar。
　She　knocked　again。　Louder。
　〃I　told　you　I'm　not　interested　in　ing　down！〃
　This　time　she　banged　on　the　door　with　her　fist。
　Chris　Harper　came　over　and　yanked　open　the　door。　〃Bloody　hell；　do　you…〃　He　stopped　short；　clearly　surprised　to　see　Gabrielle。
　〃Dr。　Harper；〃　she　said；　infusing　her　voice　with　intensity。
　〃How　did　you　get　up　here？〃
　Gabrielle's　face　was　stern。　〃Do　you　know　who　I　am？〃
　〃Of　course。　Your　boss　has　been　slamming　my　project　for　months。　How　did　you　get　in？〃
　〃Senator　Sexton　sent　me。〃
　Harper's　eyes　scanned　the　lab　behind　Gabrielle。　〃Where　is　your　staff　escort？〃
　〃That's　not　your　concern。　The　senator　has　influential　connections。〃
　〃In　this　building？〃　Harper　looked　dubious。
　〃You've　been　dishonest；　Dr。　Harper。　And　I'm　afraid　the　senator　has　called　a　special　senatorial　justice　board　to　look　into　your　lies。〃
　A　pall　crossed　Harper's　face。　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃
　〃Smart　people　like　yourself　don't　have　the　luxury　of　playing　stupid；　Dr。　Harper。　You're　in　trouble；　and　the　senator　sent　me　up　here　to　offer　you　a　deal。　The　senator's　campaign　took　a　huge　hit　tonight。　He's　got　nothing　left　to　lose；　and　he's　ready　to　take　you　down　with　him　if　he　needs　to。〃
　〃What　the　devil　are　you　talking　about？〃
　Gabrielle　took　a　deep　breath　and　made　her　play。　〃You　lied　in　your　press　conference　about　the　PODS　anomaly…detection　software。　We　know　that。　A　lot　of　people　know　that。　That's　not　the　issue。〃　Before　Harper　could　open　his　mouth　to　argue；　Gabrielle　steamed　onward。　〃The　senator　could　blow　the　whistle　on　your　lies　right　now；　but　he's　not　interested。　He's　interested　in　the　bigger　story。　I　think　you　know　what　I'm　talking　about。〃
　〃No；　I…〃
　〃Here's　the　senator's　offer。　He'll　keep　his　mouth　shut　about　your　software　lies　if　you　give　him　the　name　of　the　top　NASA　executive　with　whom　you're　embezzling　funds。〃
　Chris　Harper's　eyes　seemed　to　cross　for　a　moment。　〃What？　I'm　not　embezzling！〃
　〃I　suggest　you　watch　what　you　say；　sir。　The　senatorial　mittee　has　been　collecting　documentation　for　months　now。　Did　you　really　think　you　two　would　slip　by　undetected？　Doctoring　PODS　paperwork　and　redirecting　allocated　NASA　funds　to　private　accounts？　Lying　and　embezzling　can　put　you　in　jail；　Dr。　Harper。〃
　〃I　did　no　such　thing！〃
　〃You're　saying　you　didn't　lie　about　PODS？〃
　〃No；　I'm　saying　I　bloody　well　didn't　embezzle　money！〃
　〃So；　you're　saying　you　did　lie　about　PODS。〃
　Harper　stared；　clearly　at　a　loss　for　words。
　〃Forget　about　the　lying；〃　Gabrielle　said；　waving　it　off。　〃Senator　Sexton　is　not　interested　in　the　issue　of　your　lying　in　a　press　conference。　We're　used　to　that。　You　guys　found　a　meteorite；　nobody　cares　how　you　did　it。　The　issue　for　him　is　the　embezzlement。　He　needs　to　take　down　someone　high　in　NASA。　Just　tell　him　who　you're　working　with；　and　he'll　steer　the　investigation　clear　of　you　entirely。　You　can　make　it　easy　and　tell　us　who　the　other　person　is；　or　the　senator　will　make　it　ugly　and　start　talking　about　anomaly…detection　software　and　phony　work…arounds。〃
　〃You're　bluffing。　There　are　no　embezzled　funds。〃
　〃You're　an　awful　liar；　Dr。　Harper。　I've　seen　the　documentation。　Your　name　is　on　all　the　incriminating　paperwork。　Over　and　over。〃
　〃I　swear　I　know　nothing　about　any　embezzlement！〃
　Gabrielle　let　out　a　disappointed　sigh。　〃Put　yourself　in　my　position；　Dr。　Harper。　I　can　only　draw　two　conclusions　here。　Either　you're　lying　to　me；　the　same　way　you　lied　in　that　press　conference。　Or　you're　telling　the　truth；　and　someone　powerful　in　the　agency　is　setting　you　up　as　a　fall　guy　for　his　own　misdealings。〃
　The　proposition　seemed　to　give　Harper　pause。
　Gabrielle　checked　her　watch。　〃The　senator's　deal　is　on　the　table　for　an　hour。　You　can　save　yourself　by　giving　him　the　name　of　the　NASA　exec　with　whom　you're　embezzling　taxpayers'　money。　He　doesn't　care　about　you。　He　wants　the　big　fish。　Obviously　the　individual　in　question　has　some　power　here　at　NASA；　he　or　she　has　managed　to　keep　his　or　her　identity　off　the　paper　trail；　allowing　you　to　be　the　fall　guy。〃
　Harper　shook　his　head。　〃You're　lying。〃
　〃Would　you　like　to　tell　that　to　a　court？〃
　〃Sure。　I'll　deny　the　whole　thing。〃
　〃Under　oath？〃　Gabrielle　grunted　in　disgust。　〃Suppose　you'll　also　deny　you　lied　about　fixing　the　PODS　software？〃　Gabrielle's　heart　was　pounding　as　she　stared　straight　into　the　man's　eyes。　〃Think　carefully　about　your　options　here；　Dr。　Harper。　American　prisons　can　be　most　unpleasant。〃
　Harper　glared　back；　and　Gabrielle　willed　him　to　fold。　For　a　moment　she　thought　she　saw　a　glimmer　of　surrender；　but　when　Harper　spoke；　his　voice　was　like　steel。
　〃Ms。　Ashe；〃　he　declared；　anger　simmering　in　his　eyes；　〃you　are　clutching　at　thin　air。　You　and　I　both　know　there　is　no　embezzlement　going　on　at　NASA。　The　only　liar　in　this　room　is　you。〃
　Gabrielle　felt　her　muscles　go　rigid。　The　man's　gaze　was　angry　and　sharp。　She　wanted　to　turn　and　run。　You　tried　to　bluff　a　rocket　scientist。　What　the　hell　did　you　expect？　She　forced　herself　to　hold　her　head　high。　〃All　I　know；〃　she　s