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Despite the latterly hour, Gabrielle was not at exclusively surprised to put with the buildings residence filling with mass, an apparent convergence of frenzied media crews and even more excited NASA personnel. Gabrielle locomote inside. The entry instruction resembled a museum, dominated dramatically by full-size replicas of famous missionary control capsules and satellites suspended over orchestrate. Television crews were staking claims on the idealistic marble base of operations, seizing wide-eyed NASA employees who came by means of the door.Gabrielle scanned the crowd, save did not see anyone who waited care PODS mission director Chris Harper. Half the people in the lobby had consider passes and half(prenominal) had NASA video IDs around their necks. Gabrielle had neither. She spotted a schoolgirlish fair sex with a NASA ID and zip over to her.Hi. Im expression for Chris Harper?The muliebrity eyed Gabrielle strangely, as if she recognized her from nearw here(predicate) and couldnt quite place it. I motto Dr. Harper go by dint of a while ago. I sound off he headed upstairs. Do I k straight you?I dont think so, Gabrielle said, turning away. How do I get upstairs?Do you work for NASA?No, I dont.Then you cant get upstairs.Oh. Is in that respect a phone I ability use to-Hey, the wo hu gentle hu creation beingss gentle earthly concern being said, aspect on the spur of the moment angry. I know who you are. Ive seen you on goggle box with Senator sacristan. I cant believe you would have the nerve-Gabrielle was already gone, disappearing into the crowd. Behind her, she could hear the woman angrily telling others Gabrielle was here.Terrific. Two seconds through the door, and Im already on the Most cherished List.Gabrielle kept her head down as she hurried to the far side of the lobby. A building directory was mounted on the wall. She scanned the listings, looking for Chris Harper. Nothing. The directory showed no names at all. It was set by department.PODS? she wondered, scanning the list for anything that had to do with the Polar Orbiting Density Scanner. She saw nothing. She was agoraphobic to glance over her shoulder, half expecting to see a crew of angry NASA employees culmination to s tactile property her. All she saw on the list that looked even remotely promise was on the fourth floor reason SCIENCE ENTERPRISE, PHASE II hu human beings Observing System (EOS)Keeping her head turned away from the crowd, Gabrielle made her way toward an alcove that housed a bank of raises and a water green. She searched for the elevator call how evertons, but saw only slits. Damn. The elevators were security controlled-key mental capacity ID access for employees only.A group of young men came hotfooting toward the elevators, talking exuberantly. They wore NASA photo IDs around their necks. Gabrielle straightawayly bent over the fountain, watching behind her. A pimple-faced man inserted his ID into the slot and op ened the elevator. He was laughing, chill his head in amazement.The guys in SETI mustiness be going away nuts he said as everyone boarded the elevator. Their schnozzle carts traced aim fields under twain ascorbic acid milliJanskys for twenty years, and the physical check was inhumed in the ice here on earth the whole seasonThe elevator doors closed, and the men disappeared.Gabrielle stood up, wiping her mouth, wondering what to do. She looked around for an interoffice phone. Nothing. She wondered if she could in some manner steal a key notice, but something told her that was probably unwise. Whatever she did, she knew she had to do it fast. She could now see the woman shed first mouth to out in the lobby, moving through the crowd with a NASA security officer.A trim, bald man came around the corner, hustling toward the elevators. Gabrielle once more bent over the fountain. The man did not seem to notice her. Gabrielle watched in calm as the man leaned forward and insert ed his ID card into the slit. Another set of elevator doors slid open, and the man stepped on.Screw it, Gabrielle thought, devising up her mind. promptly or never.As the elevator slid closed, Gabrielle spun from the fountain and ran over, sticking her hand out and catching the door. The doors bounced back open, and she stepped in, her face bright with excitement. You ever seen it like this? she gushed to the startled bald man. My God. Its kookyThe man gave her an odd look.The guys at SETI must be going nuts Gabrielle said. Their horn carts traced drift fields under two hundred milliJanskys for twenty years, and the physical proof was buried in the ice here on earth the whole cadenceThe man looked surprised. Well yes, its quite He glanced at her neck, apparently troubled not to see an ID. Im sorry, do you-Fourth floor please. Came in such a hurry I barely remembered to put on my underwear She laughed, stealing a quick look at the guys ID JAMES THEISEN, pay Administration.Do yo u work here? The man looked uncomfortable. Miss?Gabrielle let her mouth free fall slack. Jim Im hurt Nothing like making a woman feel forgettableThe man went pale for a moment, looking uneasy, and running an gangrenous hand across his head. Im sorry. All this excitement, you know. I admit, you do look very familiar. What program are you work on?Shit. Gabrielle flashed a confident smile. EOS.The man pointed to the illuminated fourth floor button. Obviously. I mean specifically, which project?Gabrielle felt her heart rate quicken. She could only think of one. PODS.The man looked surprised. authentically? I thought Id met everyone on Dr. Harpers team.She gave an embarrassed nod. Chris keeps me hidden away. Im the idiot programmer who screwed up voxel index on the anomaly software. in a flash it was the bald man whose jaw dropped. That was you?Gabrielle frowned. I havent slept in weeks.But Dr. Harper took all the heat for thatI know. Chris is that kind of guy. At least he got it straightened out. What an announcement tonight, though, isnt it? This meteorite. Im besides in shockThe elevator stop on the fourth floor. Gabrielle jumped out. Great see you, Jim. Give my best to the boys in budgetingSure, the man stammered as the doors slid shut. Nice seeing you again.84Zach Herney, like most presidents before him, survived on four or five hours of sleep a night. Over the last few weeks, however, he had survived on far less. As the excitement of the evenings events slowly began to ebb, Herney felt the late hour settling in his limbs.He and some of his upper level ply were in the Roosevelt fashion enjoying celebratory bubbly and watching the endless loop of press conference replays, Tolland documentary excerpts, and pundit recaps on profit television. On-screen at the moment, an exuberant network correspondent stood in front of the unclouded House gripping her microphone.Beyond the mind-numbing repercussions for mankind as a species, she announced, this NAS A discovery has some harsh political repercussions here in Washington. The unearthing of these meteoric fossils could not have add together at a better time for the embattled President. Her voice grew somber. Nor at a worse time for Senator Sexton. The broadcast sheer to a replay of the now ill-famed CNN debate from earlier in the day. later thirty-five years, Sexton declared, I think its pretty obvious were not going to find extraterrestrial lifeAnd if youre price? Marjorie Tench replied.Sexton rolled his eyes. Oh, for vault of heaven sake, Ms. Tench, if Im wrong Ill eat my hat.Everyone in the Roosevelt Room laughed. Tenchs cornering of the senator could have played as rude and heavy-handed in retrospect, and yet viewers didnt seem to notice the haughty tone of the senators response was so smug that Sexton appeared to be getting exactly what he deserved.