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Tuesday–Pasadena
Rick wakes early. The previous night’s meteor shower was magnificent. Thousands of shooting stars lit up the night sky. Rick wishes he still had access to the EELT (European Extremely Large Telescope Array) in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. He’d like to get a better look at that group of asteroids and find out where they’re headed.
He didn’t sleep well. Questions tormented his dreams. Should he alert his colleagues? Should he check again before calling an alert? He would hate to look stupid, jumping to conclusions.
Rick stands by the bed, watching Courtney curled in blankets sleeping. He considers crawling back in bed to snuggle with her but lets her dream.
Instead, he works on his VUE lens looking for news of new asteroid discoveries. There is nothing. No news. No warnings. All is quiet. Everything is fine. But Rick feels that something is off.
He checks his e-mail scanning through newsletters, promotions from retailers—and an e-mail from Homeland Security. The e-mail is not just from Homeland Security, but from the Assistant Director of the Science and Technology Special Programs Division.
Dr. Munday,
The National Science Foundation forwarded your grant proposal to Homeland Security and our research department brought to my attention. I believe the subject of your submission is very intriguing.
The Science and Technology Division has a seminar scheduled for tomorrow.
A key speaker has cancelled at the last moment. I hope you can fill this important slot in the schedule. I apologize for the short notice, but I believe the seminar participants will be very interested in learning about your area of study.
Prepare to give your presentation to an audience of your peers. Please confirm your willingness to take part in this exciting seminar. Since this is a last-minute request, we will send you an electronic flight ticket and hotel accommodations (see vouchers attached).
Sincerely,
Jordan Musgrove, Ph.D.
Assistant Director of Science and Technology
Special Programs Division
A window pops up at the top of the e-mail asking Rick to confirm receipt. Rick clicks accept.
Rick then reviews the e-mail attachments. The plane ticket is from Los Angeles to Dulles International Airport in Washington, DC, and he’s booked for the evening flight.
Rick reads the e-mail a second and third time. It doesn’t say they approved his grant, but they want him to present at the seminar. What an opportunity! In this environment of budget cuts and cutbacks, the government sent a plane ticket and hotel voucher.
Rick doesn’t care if he’s a fill-in or a last-minute replacement. Someone read his proposal, was interested, and forwarded it Homeland’s Science and Technology Division. This could be the opportunity of a lifetime.
His band vibrates. He doesn’t recognize the caller, but he answers. “Hello?”
“Dr. Richard Munday?” asks a voice.
“Yes.”
“This is Darby Caledero. I work with the office of the Director of Homeland Security Science and Technology Division. I received notification you read the e-mail sent to you.”
“Yes, I did. It’s quite a shock. I mean a privilege to be invited.”
“Then we will expect you in Washington in the morning?”
“Yes, well... I’d like to discuss it with my wife. This is so sudden. Can I call you back?”
“Time is of the essence, Dr. Munday. We must fill the schedule. If you do not confirm participation, we will initiate other contingencies. I’m sure you understand.”
“Hang on a minute. I am pleased to be invited. I want to accept. It’s just — I owe my wife the courtesy of letting her know, before I run off to Washington, DC. If you’re married, you’ll understand. I’ll call back or e-mail.”
“One hour. We’ll hold your spot for one hour, Dr. Munday.”
“I never knew the government to be so efficient. I’ll call back soon.”
“One hour, Dr. Munday.” The call ends.
The portly man listens in on the call. If Munday does not come to Washington, DC, then he’ll send a visitor to Dr. Munday. Information must be controlled. Dr. Munday cannot be out in public, available to speak with the press.
The man touches the air in front of his glasses. “Captain Kobalt.”
“Here.”
“The colonel may have one more mission for you. Stand at the ready if we need you.”
“As always.”
Rick runs to the bedroom, launching himself on the bed, where he left his wife dreaming. He hugs her. He clutches her tightly, rolling around in bed, her body with his. She wakes sweetly. Some wives would not be torn from their dreams so calmly, but Courtney love’s Rick’s playful nature. She rolls with him. They roll across the bed until they lie face-to-face. He kisses her. She kisses him back. Her eyes, freshly woken, are bright. Her skin soft and glowing in the morning light. “I have news.”
“What news do you bring, my prince?”
“My presence has been requested at a seminar in Washington, DC, where I am to give a presentation to members of the Science and Technology Division.”
“That’s wonderful. I am so proud of you! I knew they would recognize you for your hard work. When is the seminar?”
“Tomorrow. I fly at ten tonight!”
“Tonight?”
“They sent plane tickets and a hotel voucher. Everything’s arranged. A man even called to confirm it. I told him I want to discuss it with you.”
“You were hoping for news on your grant, but I didn’t expect this.”
“I know. This is unusual, but I’m excited. The letter said another speaker canceled, and they need to fill the spot.”
“Maybe your grant is being approved, and someone recommended you.”
“It would give me exposure in the scientific community. I guess that can’t hurt. So, you think I should accept?”
“Someone read my brilliant husband’s grant proposal, invited him to present at a seminar full of leading scientists, and they’re paying for the trip. How can you say no?”
“I’ll call to confirm, and I’d better call Professor Heinrich to share the good news.”
“This should impress him.”
“I hope so. This is good news for the entire department. It’s about time I gave him something to be happy about.”
Rick calls Darby Caledero. “Dr. Munday. I’m pleased to hear from you. Tick-tock. Can I include you in tomorrow’s program?”
“Yes, count me in.”
“I have confirmed you for the eleven-a.m. slot. You will have time to rest and get something to eat at your hotel. A car will pick you up at ten tomorrow.”
Rick straightens in his chair, feeling important. “Wow, you sure are well organized.”
“Have a good flight, Dr. Munday.” The call ends.
Rick stands proudly. Dr. Richard Munday is flying to Washington, DC, to present his theory to members of the Science and Technology Division.
Rick calls Professor Heinrich. A recording plays. The professor is out of town on business without access to e-mail.
The portly man smiles. It will be good to have you with us, Dr. Munday. Much better for you than the alternative.
He touches the air in front of his glasses. “Kobalt.”
“At the ready.”
“No need. Stand down.”
Kobalt grunts. The call ends.
Rick is excited as he leaves home for the Cal Tech lab with an edge of confidence later that morning. He had hoped to share the news with his colleagues, but when he arrived at the lab, he found it very quiet.
Rick works in his office, double-checking his simulations and makes last-minute edits to his presentation. There is no lecture today. If there was, he’d dump it on a graduate student. He blocks out his calendar for the rest of the week.
Rick watches an animated model of the solar system as it orbits the Milky Way galaxy. It travels in a bobbing and weaving motion above and below the galactic plane, gliding through clouds and passing rocky bodies. He created the animation and watched it hundreds of times. He thinks about the nonreflective group of asteroids moving through the asteroid belt and whispers, “Turbulence?”
