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Species： Unknown。 10％ randomized genetic matches with known species。
Genus： Unknown
Family： Unknown
Order： Unknown
Class： Unknown
Phylum： Unknown
Kingdom： Unknown
Cripes； Margo！ What did you put in here？ I don't even know if this is an animal or plant。 And you won't believe how much CPU time it took to figure that out！
Margo had to smile。 So this was how Kawakita's sophisticated experiment in artificial intelligence municated with the outside world。 And the results were ridiculous。 Kingdom unknown？ The damn program couldn't even tell if it were a plant or an animal。 Margo suddenly felt she knew why Kawakita had been reluctant to show her the program in the first place； why it took a call from Frock to get things in motion。 Once you strayed out of its known provinces； the program grew flaky。
She scanned the printout。 The puter had identified very few genes from the specimen。 There were the usual ones mon to almost all life： a few respiration cycle proteins； cytochrome Z； various other universal genes。 And there were also some genes linked to cellulose； chlorophylls； and sugars； which Margo knew were specific plant genes。
At the waiting prompt； she typed：
How e you don't even know if it is an animal or plant？ I see lots of plant genes in here。
There was a pause。
Didn't you notice the animal genes in there； too？ Run the data through GenLab。
Good point； thought Margo。 She dialed up GenLab on the modem and soon the familiar blue logo popped up on the screen。 She uploaded the DNA data from the fibers and ran it against their botanical sub…bank。 Same results： almost nothing。 A few matches with mon sugars and chlorophylls。
On an impulse she ran the DNA data through the entire databank。
There was a long pause； and then a flood of information filled the screen。 Margo quickly hit a series of keys； instructing the terminal to capture the data。 There were numerous matches with a variety of genes she had never heard of。
Logging off GenLab； she fed the data she'd captured into Kawakita's program； instructing it to tell her what proteins the genes coded for。
A plicated list of the specific proteins created by each gene started to scroll down the screen。
Glycotetraglycine collagenoid
Suckno's thyrotropic hormone； 2；6 adenosine positive
1；2；3； oxytocin 4…monoxytocin supressin hormone
2；4 diglyceride diethylglobulin ring…alanine
Gammaglobulin A； x…y； left positive
Hypothalamic corticotropic hormone； left negative
1…1…1 sulphagen （2；3 murine） connective keratinoid； III…IV involution
Hexagonal ambyloid reovirus protein coat
Reverse transcriptase enzyme
The list went on and on。 A lot of these seem to be hormones； she thought。 But what kind of hormones？
She located a copy of Encyclopedia of Biochemistry that was busily gathering dust on a shelf； dragged it down and looked up glycotetraglycine collagenoid：
A protein mon to most vertebrate life。 It is the protein that bonds muscle tissue to cartilage。
She flipped through to Suckno's thyrotropic hormone。
A hypothalamic hormone present in mammals which acts on the pituitary gland。
A terrible thought began to form inside her head。 She looked up the next； 1；2；3 oxytocin 4…monoxytocin supressin hormone：
A hormone secreted by the human hypothalamus gland。 Its function is not clearly understood。 Recent studies have shown that it might regulate levels of testosterone in the bloodstream during periods of high stress。 （Bouchard； 1992； Dennison； 1991）。
Margo sat back with a start； the book dropping to the floor with a hollow thud。 As she picked up the phone； she glanced at the clock。 It was three…thirty。
= 38 =
When the Buick's driver had pulled away； Pendergast mounted the steps to a Museum side entrance； juggling two long cardboard tubes beneath one arm as he showed his identification to the waiting security guard。
At the temporary mand post； he shut the door to his office and extracted several yellowed blueprints from the tubes； which he spread across his desk。
For the next hour； he remained nearly motionless； head resting on tented hands； studying。 Occasionally he jotted a few words in a notebook； or referred to typewritten sheets that lay on one corner of the desk。
Suddenly； he stood up。 He took a final look at the curling blueprints； and slowly ran his finger from one point to another； pursing his lips。 Then he gathered up most of the sheets； returned them carefully to the cardboard tubes； and stowed them in his coat closet。 The rest he folded carefully and placed in a two…handled cloth bag that lay open on his desk。 Opening a drawer； he removed a double…action Colt 。45 Anaconda； narrow and long and evil…looking。 The weapon fit snugly into the holster under his left arm： not exactly standard FBI issue； but a forting panion nonetheless。 A handful of ammunition went into his pocket。 From the drawer he also removed a large； bulky yellow object； which he placed in the cloth bag。 Then； smoothing his black suit and straightening his tie； he slipped his notebook into the breast pocket of his jacket； picked up the cloth bag； and left his office。
New York City had a short memory for violence； and in the vast public spaces of the Museum streams of visitors could be seen once again。 Groups of children crowded around exhibits； pressing noses against the glass； pointing and laughing。 Parents hovered nearby； maps and cameras in hand。 Tour guides walked along； reciting litanies； guards stood warily in doorways。 Through it all； Pendergast glided unnoticed。
He walked slowly into the Hall of the Heavens。 Potted palms lined two sides of the enormous room； and a small army of workers made last…minute preparations。 The speaking platform on the podium was being sound…checked by two technicians； and imitation native fetishes were being placed on a hundred white linen tablecloths。 A hum of activity floated up past the Corinthian columns into the vast circular dome。
Pendergast checked his watch： four o'clock precisely。 All the agents would be at Coffey's briefing。 He walked briskly across the Hall toward the sealed entrance of Superstition。 A few brief words were exchanged； and a uniformed officer on duty unlocked the door。
Several minutes later； Pendergast emerged from the exhibition。 He stood for a moment； thinking。 Then he walked back across the Hall and out into the corridors beyond。
Pendergast moved into the quieter backwaters of the Museum； out of the public spaces。 Now he was in the storage areas and laboratories where no tourist was permitted。 The high ceilings and vast decorative galleries gave way to drab cinder…block corridors lined with cabinets。 Steam pipes rumbled and hissed overhead。 Pendergast stopped once at the top of a metal staircase； to look around for a moment； consult his notebook； and load his weapon。 Then he moved downward into the narrow labyrinths of the Museum's dark heart。
= 39 =
The door to the lab banged open； then eased back slowly。 Margo looked up to see Frock backing himself inside； his wheelchair creaking。 She quickly stood up and helped wheel him over to the puter terminal。 She noticed he was