danbrown.deceptionpoint-第8部分

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ing　joke　at　the　NRO　was　that　NASA　held　a　press　conference　every　time　one　of　their　scientists　so　much　as　farted。
　The　President　frowned。　〃Ah；　yes。　I　forget　I'm　talking　to　one　of　Pickering's　NRO　security　disciples。　Is　he　still　moaning　and　groaning　about　NASA's　loose　lips？〃
　〃Security　is　his　business；　sir。　He　takes　it　very　seriously。〃
　〃He　damn　well　better。　I　just　find　it　hard　to　believe　that　two　agencies　with　so　much　in　mon　constantly　find　something　to　fight　about。〃
　Rachel　had　learned　early　in　her　tenure　under　William　Pickering　that　although　both　NASA　and　the　NRO　were　space…related　agencies；　they　had　philosophies　that　were　polar　opposites。　The　NRO　was　a　defense　agency　and　kept　all　of　its　space　activities　classified；　while　NASA　was　academic　and　excitedly　publicized　all　of　its　breakthroughs　around　the　globe…often；　William　Pickering　argued；　at　the　risk　of　national　security。　Some　of　NASA's　finest　technologies…high…resolution　lenses　for　satellite　telescopes；　long…range　munications　systems；　and　radio　imaging　devices…had　a　nasty　habit　of　appearing　in　the　intelligence　arsenal　of　hostile　countries　and　being　used　to　spy　against　us。　Bill　Pickering　often　grumbled　that　NASA　scientists　had　big　brains。。。　and　even　bigger　mouths。
　A　more　pointed　issue　between　the　agencies；　however；　was　the　fact　that　because　NASA　handled　the　NRO's　satellite　launches；　many　of　NASA's　recent　failures　directly　affected　the　NRO。　No　failure　had　been　more　dramatic　than　that　of　August　12；　1998；　when　a　NASA/Air　Force　Titan　4　rocket　blew　up　forty　seconds　into　launch　and　obliterated　its　payload…a　1。2　billion　NRO　satellite　code…named　Vortex　2。　Pickering　seemed　particularly　unwilling　to　forget　that　one。
　〃So　why　hasn't　NASA　gone　public　about　this　recent　success？〃　Rachel　challenged。　〃They　certainly　could　use　some　good　news　right　now。〃
　〃NASA　is　being　silent；〃　the　President　declared；　〃because　I　ordered　them　to　be。〃
　Rachel　wondered　if　she　had　heard　him　correctly。　If　so；　the　President　was　mitting　some　kind　of　political　hara…kiri　that　she　did　not　understand。
　〃This　discovery；〃　the　President　said；　〃is。。。　shall　we　say。。。　nothing　short　of　astounding　in　its　ramifications。〃
　Rachel　felt　an　uneasy　chill。　In　the　world　of　intelligence；　〃astounding　ramifications〃　seldom　meant　good　news。　She　now　wondered　if　all　the　EOS　secrecy　was　on　account　of　the　satellite　system　having　spotted　some　impending　environmental　disaster。　〃Is　there　a　problem？〃
　〃No　problem　at　all。　What　EOS　discovered　is　quite　wonderful。〃
　Rachel　fell　silent。
　〃Suppose；　Rachel；　that　I　told　you　NASA　has　just　made　a　discovery　of　such　scientific　importance。。。　such　earth…shattering　significance。。。　that　it　validated　every　dollar　Americans　have　ever　spent　in　space？〃
　Rachel　could　not　imagine。
　The　President　stood　up。　〃Let's　take　a　walk；　shall　we？〃
　
　　
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　Rachel　followed　President　Herney　out　onto　the　glistening　gangway　of　Air　Force　One。　As　they　descended　the　stairs；　Rachel　felt　the　bleak　March　air　clearing　her　mind。　Unfortunately；　clarity　only　made　the　President's　claims　seem　more　outlandish　than　before。
　NASA　made　a　discovery　of　such　scientific　importance　that　it　validates　every　dollar　Americans　have　ever　spent　in　space？
　Rachel　could　only　imagine　that　a　discovery　of　that　magnitude　would　only　center　on　one　thing…the　holy　grail　of　NASA…contact　with　extraterrestrial　life。　Unfortunately；　Rachel　knew　enough　about　that　particular　holy　grail　to　know　it　was　utterly　implausible。
　As　an　intelligence　analyst；　Rachel　constantly　fielded　questions　from　friends　who　wanted　to　know　about　the　alleged　government　cover…ups　of　alien　contact。　She　was　consistently　appalled　by　the　theories　her　〃educated〃　friends　bought　into…crashed　alien　saucers　hidden　in　secret　government　bunkers；　extraterrestrial　corpses　kept　on　ice；　even　unsuspecting　civilians　being　abducted　and　surgically　probed。
　It　was　all　absurd；　of　course。　There　were　no　aliens。　No　cover…ups。
　Everyone　in　the　intelligence　munity　understood　that　the　vast　majority　of　sightings　and　alien　abductions　were　simply　the　product　of　active　imaginations　or　moneymaking　hoaxes。　When　authentic　photographic　UFO　evidence　did　exist；　it　had　a　strange　habit　of　occurring　near　U。S。　military　airbases　that　were　testing　advanced　classified　aircraft。　When　Lockheed　began　air…testing　aradical　new　jet　called　the　Stealth　Bomber；　UFO　sightings　around　Edwards　Air　Force　Base　increased　fifteen…fold。
　〃You　have　a　skeptical　look　on　your　face；〃　the　President　said；　eyeing　her　askance。
　The　sound　of　his　voice　startled　Rachel。　She　glanced　over；　unsure　how　to　respond。　〃Well。。。　〃　She　hesitated。　〃May　I　assume；　sir；　that　we　are　not　talking　about　alien　spacecrafts　or　little　green　men？〃
　The　President　looked　quietly　amused。　〃Rachel；　I　think　you'll　find　this　discovery　far　more　intriguing　than　science　fiction。〃
　Rachel　was　relieved　to　hear　NASA　had　not　been　so　desperate　as　to　try　selling　the　President　on　an　alien　story。　Nonetheless；　his　ment　served　only　to　deepen　the　mystery。　〃Well；〃　she　said；　〃whatever　NASA　found；　I　must　say　the　timing　is　exceptionally　convenient。〃
　Herney　paused　on　the　gangway。　〃Convenient？　How　so？〃
　How　so？　Rachel　stopped　and　stared。　〃Mr。　President；　NASA　is　currently　in　a　life　or　death　battle　to　justify　its　very　existence；　and　you　are　under　attack　for　continuing　to　fund　it。　A　major　NASA　breakthrough　right　now　would　be　a　panacea　for　both　NASA　and　your　campaign。　Your　critics　will　obviously　find　the　timing　highly　suspect。〃
　〃So。。。　are　you　calling　me　a　liar　or　a　fool？〃
　Rachel　felt　a　knot　rise　in　her　throat。　〃I　meant　no　disrespect；　sir。　I　simply…〃
　〃Relax。〃　A　faint　grin　grew　on　Herney's　lips；　and　he　started　to　descend　again。　〃When　the　NASA　administrator　first　told　me　about　this　discovery；　I　flat　out　rejected　it　as　absurd。　I　accused　him　of　masterminding　the　most　transparent　political　sham　in　history。〃
　Rachel　felt　the　knot　in　her　throat　dissolve　somewhat。
　At　the　bottom　of　the　ramp；　Herney　stopped　and　looked　at　her。　〃One　reason　I've　asked　NASA　to　keep　their　discovery　under　wraps　is　to　protect　them。　The　magnitude　of　this　find　is　well　beyond　anything　NASA　has　ever　announced。　It　will　make　landing　men　on　the　moon　seem　insignificant。　Because　everyone；　myself　included；　has　so　much　to　gain…and　lose…I　thought　it　prudent　for　someone　to　double…check　the　NASA　data　before　we　step　into　the　world　spotlight　with　a　formal　announcement。〃
　Rachel　was　startled。　〃Certainly　you　can't　mean　me；　sir？〃
　The　President　laughed。　〃No；　this　is　not　your　area　of　expertise。　Besides；　I've　already　achieved　verification　through　extragovernmental　channels。〃
　Rachel's　relief　gave　way　to　a　new　mystification。　〃Extragovernmental；　sir？　You　mean　you　used　the　private　sector？　On　something　this　classified？〃
　The　President　nodded　with　conviction。　〃I　put　together　an　external　confirmation　team…four　civilian　scientists…non…NASA　personnel　with　big　names　and　serious　reputations　to　protect。　They　used　their　own　equipment　to　make　observations　and　e　to　their　own　conclusions。　Over　the　past　forty…eight　hours；　these　civilian　scientists　have　confirmed　the　NASA　discovery　beyond　the　shadow　of　a　doubt。〃
　Now　Rachel　was　impressed。　The　President　had　protected　himself　with　typical　Herney　aplomb。　By　hiring　the　ultimate　team　of　skeptics…outsiders　who　had　nothing　to　gain　by　confirming　the　NASA　discovery…Herney　had　immunized　himself　against　suspicions　that　this　might　be　a　desperate　NASA　ploy　to　justify　its　budget；　reelect　their　NASA…friendly　President；　and　ward　off　Senator　Sexton's　attacks。
　〃Tonight　at　eight　P。M。；〃　Herney　said；　〃I　will　be　calling　a　press　conference　at　the　White　House　to　announce　this　discovery　to　the　world。〃
　Rachel　felt　frustrated。　Herney　had　essentially　told　her　nothing。　〃And　this　discovery　is　what；　precisely？〃
　The　President　smiled。　〃You　will　find　patience　a　virtue　today。　This　discovery　is　something　you　need　to　see　for　yourself。　I　need　you　to　understand　this　situation　fully　before　we　proceed。　The　administrator　of　NASA　is　waiting　to　brief　you。　He　will　tell　you　everything　you　need　to　know。　Afterward；　you　and　I　will　further　discuss　your　role。〃
　Rachel　sensed　an　impending　drama　in　the　President's　eyes　and　recalled　Pickering's　hunch　that　the　White　House　had　something　up　its　sleeve。　Pickering；　it　appeared；　was　right；　as　usual。
　Herney　motioned　to　a　nearby　airplane　hangar。　〃Follow　me；〃　he　said；　walking　toward　it。
　Rachel　followed；　confused。　The　building　before　them　had　no　windows；　and　its　towering　bay　doors　were　sealed。　The　only　access　seemed　to　be　a　small　entryway　on　the　side。　The　door　was　ajar。　The　President　guided　Rachel　to　within　a　few　feet　of　the　door　and　stopped。
　〃End　of　the　line　for　me；〃　he　said；　motioning　to　the　door。　〃You　go　through　there。〃
　Rachel　hesitated。　〃You're　not　ing？〃
　〃I　need　to　return　to　the　White　House。　I'll　speak　to　you　shortly。　Do　you　have　a　cellphone？〃
　〃Of　course；　sir。〃
　〃Give　it　to　me。〃
　Rachel　produced　her　phone　and　handed　it　to　him；　assuming　he　intended　to　program　a　private　contact　number　into　it。　Instead；　he　slipped　her　phone　into　his　pocket。
　〃You're　now　off…the…grid；〃　the　President　said。　〃All　your　responsibilities　at　work　have　been　covered。　You　will　not　speak　to　anyone　else　today　without　express　permission　from　myself　or　the　NASA　administrator。　Do　you　understand？〃
　Rachel　stared。　Did　the　President　just　steal　my　cell…phone？
　〃After　the　administrator　briefs　you　on　the　discovery；　he　will　put　you　in　contact　with　me　via　secure　channels。　I'll　talk　to　you　soon。　Good　luck。〃
　Rachel　looked　at　the　hangar　door　and　felt　a　growing　uneasiness。
　President　Herney　put　a　reassuring　hand　on　her　shoulder　and　nodded　toward　the　door。　〃I　assure　you；　Rachel；　you　will　not　regret　assisting　me　in　this　matter。〃
　Without　another　word；　the　President　strode　toward　the　PaveHawk　that　had　brought　Rachel　in。　He　climbed　aboard；　and　took　off。　He　never　once　looked　back。
　
　　
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　Rachel　Sexton　stood　alone　on　the　threshold　of　the　isolated　Wallops　hangar　and　peered　into　the　blackness　beyond。　She　felt　like　she　was　on　the　cusp　of　another　world。　A　cool　and　musty　breeze　flowed　outward　from　the　cavernous　interior；　as　if　the　building　were　breathing。
　〃Hello？〃　she　called　out；　her　voice　wavering　slightly。
　Silence。
　With　rising　trepidation；　she　stepped　over　the　threshold。　Her　vision　we