¡¡
¡¡CHAPTER¡¡TWENTY
¡¡¡¡
¡¡Beneath¡¡the¡¡blaze¡¡of¡¡lights£»¡¡she¡¡looked¡¡like¡¡a¡¡sculpture¡¡heralding¡¡in¡¡the¡¡new¡¡millennium¡£¡¡From¡¡her¡¡vantage¡¡point¡¡three¡¡miles¡¡away£»¡¡Megan¡¡Olson¡¡stared¡¡in¡¡awe¡¡at¡¡the¡¡space¡¡shuttle£»¡¡mated¡¡to¡¡the¡¡giant¡¡external¡¡tank¡¡and¡¡the¡¡two¡¡slightly¡¡smaller¡¡solid¡¡rocket¡¡boosters¡£
¡¡It¡¡was¡¡two¡¡o'clock¡¡in¡¡the¡¡morning¡¡on¡¡a¡¡windless£»¡¡moonlit¡¡night¡¡at¡¡Cape¡¡Canaveral¡£¡¡Megan's¡¡nose¡¡tingled¡¡from¡¡the¡¡briny¡¡air¡¡and¡¡her¡¡nerves¡¡trilled¡¡with¡¡anticipation¡£¡¡Usually£»¡¡the¡¡crew¡¡was¡¡up¡¡and¡¡about¡¡by¡¡three¡¡o'clock£»¡¡but¡¡Megan¡¡had¡¡been¡¡unable¡¡to¡¡sleep¡¡much¡¡past¡¡midnight¡£¡¡The¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡in¡¡fewer¡¡than¡¡eight¡¡hours¡¡she¡¡would¡¡be¡¡onboard¡¡the¡¡shuttle£»¡¡boring¡¡into¡¡space£»¡¡left¡¡her¡¡breathless¡£
¡¡Megan¡¡turned¡¡and¡¡walked¡¡the¡¡length¡¡of¡¡the¡¡path¡¡that¡¡ran¡¡by¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡floor¡¡of¡¡the¡¡building¡¡where¡¡the¡¡crew¡¡was¡¡quartered¡£¡¡A¡¡hundred¡¡yards¡¡away£»¡¡razor¡¡wire¡¡glittered¡¡atop¡¡the¡¡Cyclone¡¡fence¡¡surrounding¡¡the¡¡pound¡£¡¡She¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡distant¡¡cough¡¡of¡¡a¡¡security¡¡Jeep¡¡as¡¡it¡¡ground¡¡its¡¡way¡¡around¡¡the¡¡perimeter¡£¡¡The¡¡security¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Cape¡¡was¡¡both¡¡impressive¡¡and¡¡unobtrusive¡£¡¡The¡¡uniformed¡¡air¡¡police¡¡were¡¡the¡¡most¡¡visible£»¡¡always¡¡a¡¡magnet¡¡for¡¡the¡¡television¡¡cameras¡£¡¡But¡¡beyond¡¡them¡¡were¡¡the¡¡plainclothes¡¡detachments¡¡that¡¡roved¡¡the¡¡entire¡¡facility¡¡twenty¡four¡¡hours¡¡a¡¡day£»¡¡making¡¡sure¡¡that¡¡no¡¡one¡¡and¡¡nothing¡¡interfered¡¡with¡¡the¡¡launch¡£
¡¡Megan¡¡was¡¡about¡¡to¡¡head¡¡back¡¡to¡¡her¡¡room¡¡when¡¡she¡¡heard¡¡footsteps¡¡nearby¡£¡¡Turning£»¡¡she¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡figure¡¡move¡¡from¡¡the¡¡shadows¡¡of¡¡the¡¡building¡¡into¡¡the¡¡light¡£
¡¡Dylan¡¡Reed£¿
¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡standing¡¡joke¡¡that¡¡not¡¡only¡¡did¡¡Reed¡¡not¡¡hear¡¡his¡¡alarm¡¡clock£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡he¡¡could¡¡sleep¡¡through¡¡liftoff¡¡if¡¡allowed¡¡to¡¡do¡¡so¡£¡¡So¡¡what¡¡was¡¡he¡¡doing¡¡up¡¡and¡¡about¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡before¡¡roll¡¡call£¿
¡¡Raising¡¡her¡¡arm£»¡¡Megan¡¡was¡¡about¡¡to¡¡call¡¡out¡¡to¡¡him¡¡when¡¡a¡¡bright¡¡headlight¡¡appeared¡¡around¡¡the¡¡corner¡£¡¡Instinctively£»¡¡she¡¡drew¡¡back¡¡as¡¡a¡¡sedan¡¡with¡¡the¡¡NASA¡¡logo¡¡on¡¡the¡¡door¡¡slipped¡¡close¡¡to¡¡where¡¡Reed¡¡was¡¡standing¡£¡¡Staying¡¡in¡¡the¡¡shadows£»¡¡Megan¡¡watched¡¡an¡¡older¡¡man¡¡get¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡car¡¡and¡¡approach¡¡Reed¡£
¡¡Someone¡¡he¡¡was¡¡expecting¡£¡¡Who£¿¡¡And¡¡why¡¡break¡¡the¡¡quarantine£¿
¡¡Quarantine¡¡was¡¡a¡¡vital¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡launch¡¡process£»¡¡although¡¡this¡¡time¡¡its¡¡duration¡¡had¡¡been¡¡reduced£»¡¡of¡¡necessity£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡usual¡¡seven¡¡days¡£¡¡Allowing¡¡an¡¡outsider¡¡to¡¡e¡¡into¡¡direct¡¡contact¡¡with¡¡a¡¡crew¡¡member¡¡at¡¡this¡¡late¡¡stage¡¡was¡¡unheard¡¡of¡£
¡¡As¡¡the¡¡visitor¡¡and¡¡Reed¡¡moved¡¡away¡¡from¡¡her¡¡and¡¡into¡¡a¡¡pool¡¡of¡¡light£»¡¡Megan¡¡saw¡¡something¡¡around¡¡the¡¡man's¡¡neck£º¡¡a¡¡health¡¡stabilization¡¡card£»¡¡indicating¡¡that¡¡whoever¡¡he¡¡was£»¡¡the¡¡visitor¡¡had¡¡been¡¡given¡¡a¡¡clean¡¡bill¡¡of¡¡health¡¡by¡¡NASA¡¡doctors¡£
¡¡Satisfied¡¡that¡¡Reed's¡¡guest¡¡was¡¡cleared¡¡to¡¡be¡¡in¡¡a¡¡restricted¡¡area£»¡¡Megan¡¡started¡¡to¡¡move¡¡away¡£¡¡But¡¡something¡¡in¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡her¡¡mind¡¡resisted¡£¡¡She'd¡¡always¡¡relied¡¡on¡¡her¡¡intuition¡¡and¡¡instinct£»¡¡listening¡¡to¡¡both¡¡had¡¡saved¡¡her¡¡life¡¡more¡¡than¡¡once¡£¡¡They¡¡whispered¡¡to¡¡her¡¡now¡¡that¡¡she¡¡should¡¡not¡¡do¡¡the¡¡polite¡¡thing¡¡and¡¡walk¡¡away£»¡¡giving¡¡Reed¡¡his¡¡privacy¡£
¡¡Megan¡¡hung¡¡back¡£¡¡Because¡¡the¡¡two¡¡men¡¡stood¡¡facing¡¡each¡¡other£»¡¡she¡¡couldn't¡¡hear¡¡what¡¡they¡¡were¡¡saying¡£¡¡But¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡mistaking¡¡that¡¡something¡¡passed¡¡from¡¡the¡¡visitor¡¡to¡¡Reed£º¡¡a¡¡shiny£»¡¡metallic¡¡cylinder¡¡about¡¡four¡¡inches¡¡long¡£¡¡Megan¡¡saw¡¡it¡¡only¡¡for¡¡a¡¡split¡¡second¡¡before¡¡it¡¡disappeared¡¡into¡¡the¡¡pocket¡¡of¡¡Reed's¡¡overalls¡£
¡¡Megan¡¡watched¡¡the¡¡visitor¡¡grip¡¡Reed's¡¡shoulder£»¡¡then¡¡get¡¡back¡¡into¡¡his¡¡car¡¡and¡¡drive¡¡away¡£¡¡Reed¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡gaze¡¡after¡¡the¡¡taillights¡¡until¡¡they¡¡were¡¡reduced¡¡to¡¡two¡¡pinpricks£»¡¡then¡¡he¡¡turned¡¡and¡¡began¡¡walking¡¡toward¡¡his¡¡quarters¡£
¡¡He¡¡has¡¡preflight¡¡jitters£»¡¡just¡¡like¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡us¡£¡¡Someone¡¡close¡¡to¡¡him¡¡came¡¡out¡¡to¡¡see¡¡him¡¡off¡£
¡¡But¡¡the¡¡explanation¡¡rang¡¡hollow¡£¡¡Reed¡¡was¡¡a¡¡veteran¡¡of¡¡six¡¡shuttle¡¡missions£»¡¡almost¡¡nonchalant¡¡about¡¡the¡¡process¡£¡¡Nor¡¡could¡¡it¡¡have¡¡been¡¡a¡¡relative¡£¡¡Once¡¡the¡¡quarantine¡¡was¡¡in¡¡effect£»¡¡family¡¡members¡¡had¡¡no¡¡contact¡¡with¡¡the¡¡crew¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡relegated¡¡to¡¡a¡¡special¡¡viewing¡¡area¡¡three¡¡miles¡¡from¡¡the¡¡launch¡£
¡¡Someone¡¡in¡¡the¡¡program¡£¡¡Someone¡¡I¡¡never¡¡met¡£
¡¡Before¡¡heading¡¡for¡¡the¡¡mess¡¡hall¡¡where¡¡the¡¡crew¡¡would¡¡have¡¡their¡¡last¡¡real¡¡meal¡¡until¡¡they¡¡returned£»¡¡Megan¡¡stopped¡¡off¡¡at¡¡her¡¡room¡£¡¡She¡¡considered¡¡her¡¡options£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡which¡¡was¡¡to¡¡casually¡¡broach¡¡the¡¡subject¡¡with¡¡Reed¡£¡¡After¡¡all£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡her¡¡supporter¡¡ever¡¡since¡¡she¡¡had¡¡arrived¡¡at¡¡NASA£»¡¡over¡¡time£»¡¡she'd¡¡e¡¡to¡¡think¡¡of¡¡him¡¡as¡¡a¡¡friend¡£¡¡Then¡¡she¡¡remembered¡¡Adam¡¡Treloar£»¡¡the¡¡missing¡¡smallpox£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡desperate¡¡search¡¡that¡¡was¡¡secretly¡¡under¡¡way¡£¡¡Klein's¡¡directive¡¡had¡¡been¡¡unequivocal£º¡¡she¡¡was¡¡to¡¡report¡¡anything¡¡suspicious¡£¡¡Although¡¡Megan¡¡was¡¡certain¡¡that¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡perfectly¡¡innocent¡¡explanation¡¡for¡¡Reed's¡¡behavior£»¡¡she¡¡nonetheless¡¡reached¡¡for¡¡the¡¡phone¡£
¡¡
¡¡At¡¡six¡thirty£»¡¡the¡¡crew¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡clean¡¡room¡¡to¡¡suit¡¡up¡£¡¡Since¡¡Megan¡¡was¡¡the¡¡only¡¡woman¡¡on¡¡the¡¡mission£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡a¡¡cubicle¡¡to¡¡herself¡£¡¡Closing¡¡the¡¡door£»¡¡she¡¡cast¡¡a¡¡critical¡¡eye¡¡over¡¡her¡¡launch/entry¡¡suit¡¡or¡¡LES¡£¡¡Made¡¡to¡¡measure¡¡and¡¡weighing¡¡a¡¡hefty¡¡ninety¡¡pounds£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡prised¡¡of¡¡more¡¡than¡¡fifteen¡¡individual¡¡pieces£»¡¡including¡¡a¡¡flotation¡¡device£»¡¡gravity¡¡pants£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡diaper¡£¡¡Megan¡¡had¡¡questioned¡¡the¡¡need¡¡for¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡until¡¡Reed¡¡had¡¡explained¡¡to¡¡her¡¡exactly¡¡how¡¡much¡¡pressure¡¡was¡¡exerted¡¡on¡¡the¡¡body¡¡during¡¡the¡¡entry¡¡into¡¡orbit¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡virtually¡¡impossible¡¡for¡¡the¡¡bladder¡¡not¡¡to¡¡void¡£
¡¡¡¨Looking¡¡very¡¡stylish£»¡¡Megan£»¡¨¡¡Frank¡¡Stone£»¡¡the¡¡mission¡¡pilot£»¡¡mented¡¡when¡¡she¡¡stepped¡¡into¡¡the¡¡men's¡¡changing¡¡area¡£
¡¡¡¨I¡¡like¡¡the¡¡patches¡¡best£»¡¨¡¡Megan¡¡replied¡£
¡¡¡¨Tell¡¡my¡¡wife¡¡that£»¡¨¡¡Bill¡¡Karol£»¡¡the¡¡mander¡¡piped¡¡up¡£¡¡¡¨She¡¡designed¡¡them¡£¡¨
¡¡Each¡¡mission¡¡had¡¡a¡¡unique¡¡patch£»¡¡designed¡¡either¡¡by¡¡the¡¡crewmembers¡¡or¡¡their¡¡relatives¡£¡¡This¡¡one¡¡depicted¡¡the¡¡shuttle¡¡racing¡¡into¡¡space¡£¡¡Inside¡¡the¡¡round¡¡borders¡¡were¡¡stitched¡¡the¡¡names¡¡of¡¡the¡¡crew¡£
¡¡The¡¡crew¡¡paired¡¡off¡¡to¡¡check¡¡each¡¡other's¡¡suits£»¡¡making¡¡sure¡¡that¡¡every¡¡piece¡¡was¡¡snug¡¡and¡¡secure¡£¡¡Then¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mission¡¡specialists£»¡¡David¡¡Carter£»¡¡led¡¡the¡¡group¡¡in¡¡a¡¡brief¡¡prayer¡£¡¡The¡¡moment¡¡helped¡¡lift¡¡the¡¡pall¡¡created¡¡by¡¡Adam¡¡Treloar's¡¡untimely¡¡death¡£
¡¡With¡¡a¡¡little¡¡over¡¡three¡¡hours¡¡to¡¡liftoff£»¡¡they¡¡trooped¡¡out¡¡of¡¡their¡¡quarters¡¡and¡¡into¡¡a¡¡blaze¡¡of¡¡camera¡¡lights¡£¡¡The¡¡walkout¡¡was¡¡the¡¡last¡¡chance¡¡for¡¡outside¡¡observers£»¡¡all¡¡carefully¡¡screened¡¡and¡¡wearing¡¡special¡¡passes£»¡¡to¡¡see¡¡the¡¡astronauts¡£¡¡Passing¡¡through¡¡the¡¡gauntlet£»¡¡Megan¡¡waved¡¡briefly¡¡for¡¡the¡¡media¡£¡¡When¡¡she¡¡smiled£»¡¡a¡¡reporter¡¡called¡¡out£»¡¡¡¨One¡¡more£¡¡¡Just¡¡like¡¡that¡£¡¨
¡¡The¡¡ride¡¡to¡¡the¡¡gantry¡¡in¡¡the¡¡UPS¡style¡¡van¡¡took¡¡only¡¡a¡¡few¡¡minutes¡£¡¡Once¡¡there£»¡¡the¡¡crew¡¡boarded¡¡an¡¡elevator¡¡that¡¡took¡¡them¡¡up¡¡195¡¡feet¡¡to¡¡the¡¡white¡¡room£»¡¡the¡¡final¡¡staging¡¡area¡¡where¡¡they¡¡put¡¡on¡¡their¡¡parachutes£»¡¡harnesses£»¡¡munications¡¡hats£»¡¡helmets£»¡¡and¡¡gloves¡£
¡¡¡¨How¡¡are¡¡you¡¡holding¡¡up£¿¡¨
¡¡Megan¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡see¡¡Reed¡¡beside¡¡her£»¡¡dressed¡¡and¡¡ready¡£
¡¡¡¨Okay£»¡¡I¡¡guess¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Preflight¡¡butterflies£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨Is¡¡that¡¡what's¡¡going¡¡on¡¡inside¡¡my¡¡stomach£¿¡¨
¡¡He¡¡leaned¡¡closer¡£¡¡¡¨Don't¡¡go¡¡spreading¡¡this£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡get¡¡them¡¡too¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Not¡¡you£¡¡¨
¡¡¡¨Especially¡¡me¡£¡¨
¡¡Maybe¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡way¡¡she¡¡was¡¡looking¡¡at¡¡him¡¡that¡¡brought¡¡out¡¡his¡¡next¡¡words£º¡¡¡¨Is¡¡anything¡¡wrong£¿¡¡You¡¡look¡¡like¡¡you¡¡want¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡me¡¡something¡£¡¨
¡¡Megan¡¡brushed¡¡the¡¡air¡¡with¡¡her¡¡hand¡£¡¡¡¨It's¡¡the¡¡moment£»¡¡I¡¡guess¡£¡¡You¡¡dream¡¡and¡¡train¡¡and¡¡work¡¡for¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡one¡¡day£»¡¡it's¡¡there¡£¡¨
¡¡Reed¡¡patted¡¡her¡¡shoulder¡£¡¡¡¨You'll¡¡do¡¡fine¡£¡¡Just¡¡remember¡¡what¡¡Allenby¡¡said£º¡¡we're¡¡all¡¡counting¡¡on¡¡those¡¡experiments¡¡you¡¡have¡¡scheduled¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Ladies¡¡and¡¡gentlemen£»¡¡it's¡¡that¡¡time£»¡¨¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡prep¡¡crew¡¡called¡¡out¡£
¡¡Megan¡¡breathed¡¡a¡¡sigh¡¡of¡¡relief¡¡as¡¡Reed¡¡turned¡¡away¡£¡¡During¡¡her¡¡telephone¡¡conversation¡¡with¡¡Klein£»¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡Covert¡One¡¡said¡¡that¡¡he¡¡would¡¡immediately¡¡check¡¡on¡¡Reed's¡¡mysterious¡¡visitor£»¡¡try¡¡to¡¡establish¡¡a¡¡solid¡¡ID£»¡¡and¡¡get¡¡back¡¡to¡¡her¡£¡¡Since¡¡she¡¡hadn't¡¡heard¡¡from¡¡him£»¡¡Megan¡¡assumed¡¡that¡¡Klein¡¡was¡¡either¡¡still¡¡checking¡¡or¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡e¡¡up¡¡with¡¡a¡¡perfectly¡¡satisfactory¡¡answer¡¡that¡¡he¡¡hadn't¡¡been¡¡able¡¡to¡¡relay¡¡to¡¡her¡£
¡¡¡¨Showtime£»¡¨¡¡Reed¡¡announced¡£¡¡He¡¡gestured¡¡at¡¡Megan¡£¡¡¡¨After¡¡you£»¡¡ma'am¡£¡¨
¡¡Megan¡¡took¡¡a¡¡deep¡¡breath£»¡¡crouched£»¡¡and¡¡ducked¡¡through¡¡the¡¡flight¡deck¡¡hatch¡£¡¡Making¡¡her¡¡way¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ladder£»¡¡she¡¡descended¡¡to¡¡the¡¡mid¡deck¡¡where£»¡¡in¡¡addition¡¡to¡¡the¡¡sleep¡¡stations£»¡¡food¡¡and¡¡storage¡¡lockers£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡bathroom£»¡¡were¡¡three¡¡special¡¡liftoff¡¡chairs¡¡for¡¡her£»¡¡Randall¡¡Wallace£»¡¡another¡¡mission¡¡specialist£»¡¡and¡¡David¡¡Carter£»¡¡the¡¡payload¡¡specialist¡£
¡¡Settling¡¡herself¡¡in¡¡the¡¡take¡down¡¡chair£»¡¡which¡¡would¡¡be¡¡folded¡¡and¡¡stored¡¡after¡¡liftoff£»¡¡Megan¡¡found¡¡herself¡¡on¡¡her¡¡back£»¡¡