Craig Kreident #2 Fallout by Doug Beason Kevin J Anderson Read Free Book Online Page B

required by regulations and established NTS procedures.
    On the wall behind his desk hung a diploma from Cornell, an NTS Excellence in Service award, a photo of the OSIA inspection team in which he had participated two years earlier in Russia; no family photos.   He and Aunt Genny had had no children, but Paige was his god-daughter.
    Paige cleared her throat and turned from the memories.   “We’re supposed to continue the inspection process as if nothing had happened, get the Russians on today’s scheduled tour of the explosive bunkers and Frenchman Flat — just as Ursov requested.   They’re not going to let this stop the president from showing up at the airport to thank the disarmament team, and they certainly won’t cancel the summit plans.”
    Uncle Mike shook his head in disbelief.   “I was supposed to take the Russians to see David Copperfield at Caesar’s Palace tonight.”
    “My guess is they’ll want to go.   Might keep them in a cooperative mood for the last few days.”   She took a deep breath.   “We’ve got to hold on by our fingernails until Friday’s over.”
    Uncle Mike nodded soberly.   “We’d open ourselves to accusations of noncompliance if we didn’t show them everything on the schedule.”   He snapped his glance up, as if he had just realized something.   “Uh, PK Dirks was supposed to lead the tour today — should we change that, in light of his misconduct last night?”
    Paige shook her head, tossing her blond hair.   She fixed the barrette, clipping her hair back.   “No, any change might look like we’re admitting to some wrongdoing.   Send Dirks along with me, same as on the printed schedule.   We can’t do anything here until we get a preliminary report from the Medical Examiner and the safety team looking at the accident site.”
    Uncle Mike stood up, all business.   “I’ve already placed the forklift driver, Carl Jorgenson, on administrative leave.   In an accident such as this, we’re required to keep him out of the workplace pending a full OSHA investigation.   He feels terrible about the whole mess — but Nevsky shouldn’t have been wandering around in a restricted area.   He’s as much at fault.”
    A knock came at the door, and Sally Montry poked her ash-blond head into the room.   “PK’s here, Mr. Waterloo.”   Sally wasn’t beautiful, but the statuesque attractiveness made people think of her as a ‘handsome’ fortyish woman.   Uncle Mike had often commented on her impeccable competence.
    “Thanks.   Send him in.”
    PK Dirks stood uneasily outside the door.   He looked at Sally with a strange expression, but the secretary walked coolly past him.   Dirks flicked his eyes, then stepped into the administrative office.   “The rest of the inspection team is here,” he said with forced good humor, scratching his reddish beard, “whenever Ms. Mitchell is ready to head out.”
    Uncle Mike looked at Paige wearily.   “Want me to go along?”
    “I can handle it,” said Paige.   “I’ve given my cell phone number to the ME, but I need you here to field general calls.   Half the State Department will want to fly into town within the next few days, so anything you can do to satisfy them will help me.”
    “Sally can let them know it’s all under control — she’s good at that.”
    Paige nodded to PK Dirks, following the chubby, bearded technician out of the offices.   “Let’s round up the Russians and go sightseeing.”
     
    The white government van hummed along on the two-lane road, heading south and then west.   While Paige drove, PK Dirks sat in the front passenger seat, turning his head to speak to the seven Russians in back.
    “NTS is a big place, roughly the size of our state of Rhode Island,” Dirks said.   “I don’t know how that compares to the size of old Soviet installations.”
    The area was dry and desolate, some parts as flat as glass.   In the midday sun occasional streaks of paler tan splashed