CHAPTER 23

Brooke sat at her console, examining the results of the latest hypothetical run regarding the methanogens from Mars. Damn! If only we still had a sample. There’s only so much you can do this way.

She got up and headed for Frank’s office. She stepped past his secretary and went straight to his open door. Peeking in, she saw him at his desk. “Frank, can I have a minute?”

He bolted upright in his seat. “Uh, oh hi, Brooke. Sure, come on in. What’s on your mind?”

I must have startled him. But he seems real nervous. I wonder what the matter is. “Listen, I’ve been thinking about those Martian methanogens Drumdat took. I’d like you to have a sit down with them and see if you can iron out some kind of joint venture to work on the stuff. My research has me thinking there might actually be a big use for the things. How about it?”

Frank folded his arms across his chest. “That’s beyond my scope. I’ll have to talk to Bart. See whether he can finagle it, but aren’t you busy enough?”

“Busy enough? Are you kidding? That’s exactly why I need those microbes. I’m at the limit of what I can work with.” I’m sensing something here. Something’s bothering him.

Frank turned to his computer. “Yes, busy. You’re logging twelve hours a day in the lab. Sometimes more. If not for your visits to the doctor’s office, I’d bet you’d be here twenty-four, seven. Go home. Get some rest and get healthy.”

“What’s Doc been telling you? I’m fine. I don’t get tired. If anything, I find it hard to sleep, so I’d rather be working than lying around doing squat.”

“Doc? Oh…nothing. He’s told me nothing. I just assumed there might be a problem, considering how often you go.”

“Frank, you’re hiding something from me. Now what is it?” She stared at him and concentrated. In her mind, she heard his thoughts. The doc says you’re a freak. A freak? She stepped back, the surprise of what had just happened hitting her.

“Listen Brooke, maybe you better go talk to Bart. I’m…I’m not the guy you need. Go see him now. I’ll call and tell him you’re on the way.”

“Yeah, yeah, maybe I’d better.” She left Frank’s office, dazed. I read his mind. His mind! I could see what he was thinking. And more. He’s afraid of me. What the hell is going on?

When she entered the senior administrator’s outer office, she found him waiting for her.

“Brooke, come on in. Frank called and told me to expect you.”

“Thanks Bart, if it’s not too much of an inconvenience.”

He led the way into his personal office. “No problem at all. Clear off a chair. Sit. Tell me what’s on your mind.”

She moved the files off the chair closest to the desk then sat and stared at him for a moment.

Bart sat down, picked up a pencil, and began to tap it. “I got an idea from Frank what you want, but why don’t you tell me in your own words.”

She hesitated and concentrated. Nothing.

He tilted his head. “Brooke? Speak up. Tell me your plan.”

Nothing still. Maybe it was my imagination. “Sorry. I was just concentrating on how best to put it. But now that I’m here, I’ll lay it on the line. You’ve got to get those samples back. Or at least get me working on them at Drumdat. I’m on the verge of a breakthrough.”

“A breakthrough, you say? Seriously? Tell me about it.”

“I think I can unlock how these microbes defend against cosmic radiation. Think. Mankind could travel the stars without fear. For Drumdat, it means their workers on the moon would be free to spend limitless hours scouring for Helium 3. And not just cosmic rays. Deadly exposure to uranium and the like would be a thing of the past. But I need live Martian methanogens to test with. Not computer simulations.”

“Yes, I’ve heard of your successes in the lab from Frank. Quite astounding, I must say.”

She bit her lower lip, contemplating. “You know, that’s another thing I wanted to talk to you about. I get the impression Frank knows more about my visits with the doctor than he’s supposed to.”

Bart dropped the pencil on the desk. “I’m afraid that’s my fault. I owe you an apology. I might have spilt the beans to Frank after I met with Doc.”

Whatever happened to doctor-patient privilege? “So you know, too?”

My dear, there is nothing that goes on at this base that I don’t know about. Or at the very least, find out about. And your unusual good health is an important concern. Very important.”

“But it’s my”

“It’s what? It’s something private between you and the doctor? Surely you must understand that whatever the secret is to your amazing recovery, it could help future astronauts, or even past ones—if you catch my drift.”

She did. And after her moment of defiance, she shrank down in the chair. He’s talking about Robert. If there is anything I can do, I need to do it. “I’m sorry. I guess I got a little offended. I should have known better.”

The administrator picked up his pencil and started his incessant tapping again. “That’s better. Nothing like a little humility now and then to make you a better person. Now let’s see what we can do to get you teamed up with Drumdat.”

She perked up. “Really? You think you can do it?”

“Ha! They didn’t call me the Maneuver Master for nothing.”

“They did?”

“No. I just made that up now. But have no fear, I’ll get it done.”

She got up and grabbed his hand with both of hers, causing him to drop his pencil. “Thank you, Bart. You won’t be sorry. I know I can do it.”

“I have no doubt you can.”