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Harper was feeling ill just talking about it。 〃So。。。 I did it。 Following the administrator's orders； I held a press conference announcing that I'd found a work…around for my anomaly…detection software； I waited a few days； and then I repositioned PODS over the administrator's meteorite coordinates。 Then； following the proper chain of mand； I phoned the EOS director and reported that PODS had located a hard density anomaly in the Milne Ice Shelf。 I gave him the coordinates and told him the anomaly appeared to be dense enough to be a meteorite。 Excitedly； NASA sent a small team up to Milne to take some drill cores。 That's when the operation got very hush…hush。〃
〃So； you had no idea the meteorite had fossils until tonight？〃
〃Nobody here did。 We're all in shock。 Now everyone is calling me a hero for finding proof of extraterrestrial bioforms； and I don't know what to say。〃
Gabrielle was silent a long moment； studying Harper with firm black eyes。 〃But if PODS didn't locate the meteorite in the ice； how did the administrator know the meteorite was there？〃
〃Someone else found it first。〃
〃Someone else？ Who？〃
Harper sighed。 〃A Canadian geologist named Charles Brophy…a researcher on Ellesmere Island。 Apparently he was doing geologic ice soundings on the Milne Ice Shelf when he by chance discovered the presence of what appeared to be a huge meteorite in the ice。 He radioed it in； and NASA happened to intercept the transmission。〃
Gabrielle stared。 〃But isn't this Canadian furious that NASA is taking all the credit for the find？〃
〃No；〃 Harper said； feeling a chill。 〃Conveniently； he's dead。〃
91
Michael Tolland closed his eyes and listened to the drone of the G4 jet engine。 He had given up trying to think anymore about the meteorite until they got back to Washington。 The chondrules； according to Corky； were conclusive； the rock in the Milne Ice Shelf could only be a meteorite。 Rachel had hoped to have a conclusive answer for William Pickering by the time they landed； but her thought experiments had run into a dead end with the chondrules。 As suspicious as the meteorite evidence was； the meteorite appeared to be authentic。
So be it。
Rachel had obviously been shaken by the trauma in the ocean。 Tolland was amazed； though； by her resilience。 She was focused now on the issue at hand…trying to find a way to debunk or authenticate the meteorite； and trying to assess who had tried to kill them。
For most of the trip； Rachel had been in the seat beside Tolland。 He'd enjoyed talking to her； despite the trying circumstances。 Several minutes ago； she'd headed back to the restroom； and now Tolland was surprised to find himself missing her beside him。 He wondered how long it had been since he'd missed a woman's presence…a woman other than Celia。
〃Mr。 Tolland？〃
Tolland glanced up。
The pilot was sticking his head into the cabin。 〃You asked me to tell you when we were in telephone range of your ship？ I can get you that connection if you want。〃
〃Thanks。〃 Tolland made his way up the aisle。
Inside the cockpit； Tolland placed a call to his crew。 He wanted to let them know he would not be back for another day or two。 Of course； he had no intention of telling them what trouble he'd run into。
The phone rang several times； and Tolland was surprised to hear the ship's SHIN 2100 munications system pick up。 The outgoing message was not the usual professional…sounding greeting but rather the rowdy voice of one of Tolland's crew； the onboard joker。
〃Hiya； hiya； this is the Goya；〃 the voice announced。 〃We're sorry nobody's here right now； but we've all been abducted by very large lice！ Actually； we've taken temporary shore leave to celebrate Mike's huge night。 Gosh； are we proud！ You can leave your name and number； and maybe we'll be back tomorrow when we're sober。 Ciao！ Go； ET！〃
Tolland laughed； missing his crew already。 Obviously they'd seen the press conference。 He was glad they'd gone ashore； he'd abandoned them rather abruptly when the President called； and their sitting idle at sea was crazy。 Although the message said everyone had gone ashore； Tolland had to assume they would not have left his ship unattended； particularly in the strong currents where it was now anchored。
Tolland pressed the numeric code to play any internal voice mail messages they'd left for him。 The line beeped once。 One message。 The voice was the same rowdy crewmember。
〃Hi Mike； hell of a show！ If you're hearing this； you're probably checking your messages from some swanky White House party and wondering where the hell we are。 Sorry we abandoned ship； buddy； but this was not a dry…celebration kind of night。 Don't worry； we anchored her really good and left the porch light on。 We're secretly hoping she gets pirated so you'll let NBC buy you that new boat！ Just kidding； man。 Don't worry； Xavia agreed to stay onboard and mind the fort。 She said she preferred time alone to partying with a bunch of drunken fishmongers？ Can you believe that？〃
Tolland chuckled； relieved to hear someone was aboard watching the ship。 Xavia was responsible； definitely not the partying type。 A respected marine geologist； Xavia had the reputation for speaking her mind with a caustic honesty。
〃Anyhow； Mike；〃 the message went on； 〃tonight was incredible。 Kind of makes you proud to be a scientist； doesn't it？ Everyone's talking about how good this looks for NASA。 Screw NASA； I say！ This looks even better for us！ Amazing Seas ratings must have gone up a few million points tonight。 You're a star； man。 A real one。 Congrats。 Excellent job。〃
There was hushed talking on the line； and the voice came back。 〃Oh； yeah； and speaking of Xavia； just so you don't get too big a head； she wants to razz you about something。 Here she is。〃
Xavia's razor voice came on the machine。 〃Mike； Xavia； you're a God； yada yada。 And because I love you so much； I've agreed to baby…sit this antediluvian wreck of yours。 Frankly； it will be nice to be away from these hoodlums you call scientists。 Anyhow； in addition to baby…sitting the ship； the crew has asked me； in my role as onboard bitch； to do everything in my power to keep you from turning into a conceited bastard； which after tonight I realize is going to be difficult； but I had to be the first to tell you that you made a boo…boo in your documentary。 Yes； you heard me。 A rare Michael Tolland brain fart。 Don't worry； there are only about three people on earth who will notice； and they're all anal…retentive marine geologists with no sense of humor。 A lot like me。 But you know what they say about us geologists…always looking for faults！〃 She laughed。 〃Anyhow； it's nothing； a minuscule point about meteorite petrology。 I only mention it to ruin your night。 You might get a call or two about it； so I thought I'd give you the heads…up so you don't end up sounding like the moron we all know you really are。〃 She laughed again。 〃Anyhow； I'm not much of a party animal； so I'm staying onboard。 Don't bother calling me； I had to turn on the machine because the goddamned press have been calling all night。 You're a real star tonight； despite your screwup。 Anyhow； I'll fill you in on it when you get back。 Ciao。〃
The line went dead。