Deception Point Page 11

Now Rachel was impressed. The President had protected himself with representative 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 energy be a desperate NASA ploy to justify its budget, reelect their NASA-friendly President, and ward off Senator Sextons attacks.Tonight at eight P.M., Herney said, I will be calling a press conference at the washcloth 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 picture patience a virtue today. This discovery is something you need to see for yourself. I need you to understand this smudge 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 Presidents eyes and recalled Pickerings hunch that the colour House had something up its sleeve. Pickering, it appeared, was right, as usual.Herney moti unrivalledd 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 doorsills were sealed. The only access seemed to be a small ingress on the side. The door was ajar. The President guided Rachel to within a few feet of the door and stopped.End of the pull for me, he said, motioning to the door. You go through there.Rachel hesitated. Youre not coming?I need to return to the White House. Ill discourse 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 intend to program a private contact number into it. Instead, he slipped her phone into his pocket.Youre now off-the-grid, the President said. wholly your responsibilities at work have been c overed. 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. Ill 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 joint 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.12Rachel Sexton stood alone on the threshold of the isolated Wallops hangar and peered into the total darkness beyond. She felt the like she was on the cusp of another world. A cool and musty breeze flowed outbound from the cavernous interior, as if the building were breathing.Hello? she c alled out, her voice wavering slightly.Silence.With rising trepidation, she stepped over the threshold. Her vision went sporty for an instant as her eyes became accustomed to the dimness.Ms. Sexton, I presume? a populaces voice said, only yards away.Rachel jumped, rotate toward the sound. Yes, sir.The hazy shape of a human race approached.As Rachels vision cleared, she found herself standing present to face with a young, stone-jawed buck in a NASA flight lawsuit. His body was fit and muscle-bound, his chest bedecked with patches.Commander Wayne Loosigian, the man said. Sorry if I startled you, maam. Its bonny dark in here. I havent had a chance to sacrifice the bay doors yet. Before Rachel could respond, the man added, It will be my honor to be your original this morning.Pilot? Rachel stared at the man. I just had a pilot. Im here to see the administrator.Yes, maam. My orders are to transport you to him immediately.It took a moment for the bid to sink in. When it hit her , she felt a stab of deceit. Apparently, her travels were not over. Where is the administrator? Rachel demanded, wary now.I do not have that information, the pilot replied. I will receive his coordinates after we are airborne.Rachel sensed that the man was telling the truth. Apparently she and Director Pickering were not the only two people being kept in the dark this morning. The President was taking the issue of security very seriously, and Rachel felt embarrassed by how quick and effortlessly the President had taken her off-the-grid. Half an hour in the field, and Im already stripped of all communication, and my handler has no idea where I am.Standing now before her stiff-backed NASA pilot, Rachel had little doubt her morning plans were cast in stone. This carnival ride was leaving with Rachel onboard whether she liked it or not. The only question was where it was headed.The pilot strode over to the wall and pressed a button. The far side of the hangar began sliding loudly to o ne side. Light poured in from the outside, silhouetting a large object in the center of the hangar.Rachels mouth fell open. immortal help me.There in the middle of the hangar stood a ferocious-looking black fighter jet. It was the most streamlined aircraft Rachel had ever seen.You are joking, she said.Common starting time reaction, maam, but the F-14 Tomcat Split-tail is a highly proven craft.Its a missile with wings.The pilot led Rachel toward his craft. He motioned to the dual cockpit. Youll be riding in back.Really? She gave him a tight smile. And here I thought you wanted me to drive.After donning a thermal flight suit over her clothes, Rachel found herself climbing into the cockpit. Awkwardly, she wedged her hips into the narrow seat.NASA obviously has no fat-assed pilots, she said.The pilot gave a smiling as he helped Rachel buckle herself in. Then he slid a helmet over her head.Well be flying pretty high, he said. Youll want oxygen. He pulled an oxygen mask from the side dash and began snapping it onto her helmet.I can manage, Rachel said, reach up and taking over.Of course, maam.Rachel fumbled with the molded mouthpiece and wherefore finally snapped it onto her helmet. The masks fit was surprisingly awkward and uncomfortable.The air force officer stared at her for a long moment, looking vaguely amused.Is something wrong? she demanded.Not at all, maam. He seemed to be hiding a smirk. Hack sacks are under your seat. Most people get sick their first time in a split-tail.I should be fine, Rachel assured him, her voice muffled by the smother fit of the mask. Im not prone to motion sickness.The pilot shrugged. A lot of Navy Seals say the corresponding thing, and Ive cleaned plenty of Seal puke out of my cockpit.She nodded weakly. Lovely.Any questions before we go?Rachel hesitated a moment and then tapped on the mouthpiece cutting into her chin. Its cutting off my circulation. How do you wear these things on long flights?The pilot smiled patiently. Wel l, maam, we dont usually wear them upside down.Poised at the end of the raceway, engines throbbing beneath her, Rachel felt like a bullet in a gun waiting for someone to pull the trigger. When the pilot pushed the gun forward, the Tomcats twin Lockheed 345 engines roared to life, and the entire world shook. The brakes released, and Rachel slammed backward in her seat. The jet tore down the runway and lifted off within a matter of seconds. Outside, the earth dropped away at a dizzying rate.