按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
c Ocean's newest tabular iceberg。 Although he saw no bodies in the water； he was not surprised。 The ocean was dark； and his quarry's weather suits and skullcaps were black。
As he passed his gaze across the surface of the enormous floating sheet of ice； he had a hard time keeping it in focus。 It was receding quickly； already heading out to sea in the strong offshore currents。 He was about to turn his gaze back to the sea when he saw something unexpected。 Three specks of black on the ice。 Are those bodies？ Delta…One tried to bring them into focus。
〃See something？〃 Delta…Two asked。
Delta…One said nothing； focusing in with his magnifier。 In the pale tint of the iceberg； he was stunned to see three human forms huddled motionless on the island of ice。 Whether they were alive or dead； Delta…One had no idea。 It hardly mattered。 If they were alive； even in weather suits； they'd be dead within the hour； they were wet； a storm was ing in； and they were drifting seaward into one of the most deadly oceans on the planet。 Their bodies would never be found。
〃Just shadows；〃 Delta…One said； turning from the cliff。 〃Let's get back to base。〃
57
Senator Sedgewick Sexton set his snifter of Courvoisier on the mantelpiece of his Westbrook apartment and stoked the fire for several moments； gathering his thoughts。 The six men in the den with him sat in silence now。。。 waiting。 The small talk was over。 It was time for Senator Sexton to make his pitch。 They knew it。 He knew it。
Politics was sales。
Establish trust。 Let them know you understand their problems。
〃As you may know；〃 Sexton said； turning toward them； 〃over the past months； I have met with many men in your same position。〃 He smiled and sat down； joining them on their level。 〃You are the only ones I have ever brought into my home。 You are extraordinary men； and I am honored to meet you。〃
Sexton folded his hands and let his eyes circle the room； making personal contact with each of his guests。 Then he focused in on his first mark…the heavyset man in the cowboy hat。
〃Space Industries of Houston；〃 Sexton said。 〃I'm glad you came。〃
The Texan grunted。 〃I hate this town。〃
〃I don't blame you。 Washington has been unfair to you。〃
The Texan stared out from beneath the rim of his hat but said nothing。
〃Twelve years back；〃 Sexton began； 〃you made an offer to the U。S。 government。 You proposed to build them a U。S。 space station for a mere five billion dollars。〃
〃Yeah； I did。 I still have the blueprints。〃
〃And yet NASA convinced the government that a U。S。 space station should be a NASA project。〃
〃Right。 NASA started building almost a decade ago。〃
〃A decade。 And not only is the NASA space station not yet fully operational； but the project so far has cost twenty times your bid。 As an American taxpayer； I am sickened。〃
A grumble of agreement circled the room。 Sexton let his eyes move； reconnecting with the group。
〃I am well aware；〃 the senator said； addressing everyone now； 〃that several of your panies have offered to launch private space shuttles for as little as fifty million dollars per flight。〃
More nods。
〃And yet NASA undercuts you by charging only thirty…eight million dollars per flight。。。 even though their actual per flight cost is over one hundred and fifty million dollars！〃
〃It's how they keep us out of space；〃 one of the men said。 〃The private sector cannot possibly pete with a pany that can afford to run shuttle flights at a four hundred percent loss and still stay in business。〃
〃Nor should you have to；〃 Sexton said。
Nods all around。
Sexton turned now to the austere entrepreneur beside him； a man whose file Sexton had read with interest。 Like many of the entrepreneurs funding Sexton's campaign； this man was a former military engineer who had bee disillusioned with low wages and government bureaucracy and had abandoned his military post to seek his fortune in aerospace。
〃Kistler Aerospace；〃 Sexton said； shaking his head in despair。 〃Your pany has designed and manufactured a rocket that can launch payloads for as little as two thousand dollars per pound pared to NASA's costs of ten thousand dollars per pound。〃 Sexton paused for effect。 〃And yet you have no clients。〃
〃Why would I have any clients？〃 the man replied。 〃Last week NASA undercut us by charging Motorola only eight hundred and twelve dollars per pound to launch a telem satellite。 The government launched that satellite at a nine hundred percent loss！〃
Sexton nodded。 Taxpayers were unwittingly subsidizing an agency that was ten times less efficient than its petition。 〃It has bee painfully clear；〃 he said； his voice darkening； 〃that NASA is working very hard to stifle petition in space。 They crowd out private aerospace businesses by pricing services below market value。〃
〃It's the Wal…Marting of space；〃 the Texan said。
Damn good analogy； Sexton thought。 I'll have to remember that。 Wal…Mart was notorious for moving into a new territory； selling products below market value； and driving all local petition out of business。
〃I'm goddamned sick and tired；〃 the Texan said； 〃of having to pay millions in business taxes so Uncle Sam can use that money to steal my clients！〃
〃I hear you；〃 Sexton said。 〃I understand。〃
〃It's the lack of corporate sponsorships that's killing Rotary Rocket；〃 a sharply dressed man said。 〃The laws against sponsorship are criminal！〃
〃I couldn't agree more。〃 Sexton had been shocked to learn that another way NASA entrenched its monopoly of space was by passing federal mandates banning advertisements on space vehicles。 Instead of allowing private panies to secure funding through corporate sponsorships and advertising logos…the way； for example； professional race car drivers did…space vehicles could only display the words USA and the pany name。 In a country that spent 185 billion a year on advertising； not one advertising dollar ever found its way into the coffers of private space panies。
〃It's robbery；〃 one of the men snapped。 〃My pany hopes to stay in business long enough to launch the country's first tourist…shuttle prototype next May。 We expect enormous press coverage。 The Nike Corporation just offered us seven million in sponsorship dollars to paint the Nike swoosh and 'Just do it！' on the side of the shuttle。 Pepsi offered us twice that for 'Pepsi： The choice of a new generation。' But according to federal law； if our shuttle displays advertising； we are prohibited from launching it！〃
〃That's right；〃 Senator Sexton said。 〃And if elected； I will work to abolish that antisponsorship legislation。 That is a promise。 Space should be open for advertising the way every square inch of earth is open to advertising。〃
Sexton gazed out now at his audience； his eyes locking in； his voice growing solemn。 〃We all need to be aware； however； that the biggest obstacle to privatization of NASA is not laws； but rather； it is public perception。 Most Americans still hold a romanticized view of the American space program。 They still believe NASA is a necessary government agency。〃
〃It's those goddamned Hollywood movies！〃 one man said。 〃How many NASA…saves…the…world…from…a…killer…asteroid movies can Hollywood make； for Christ's sake？ It'