Reconception: The Fall by Deborah Greenspan Read Free Book Online Page A

eloquent computational terms. His dreams were of
geometric forms and spatial relationships rather than people. Words
bothered him. He thought of words as deceptive and misleading, thus
he was a quiet man who lived in his laboratory and spoke only when
spoken to. His relationships were only with those who could
communicate on his terms.
    What could a man like that want or need, Morgan
wondered? How could he be recruited and convinced to help launch
the missile. The more he puzzled over it, the more Morgan thought
he should find someone else. Jersey was immune to most forms of
coercion. He needed nothing except to continue his research. A
lightbulb flashed at the idea, and Morgan realized he'd found the
handle he'd been looking for.
    "Jersey," he said, entering the man's laboratory,
"I'm sorry to interrupt you, but there's a problem."
    Jersey looked up from an intricate mass of wires and
coils that sprouted from the banks of machinery lining the walls,
and studied Morgan with complete abstraction. Morgan felt that he
might as well be a table for all the emotional content that Jersey
expressed. The seconds passed and then the minutes. The physicist
turned back to his work, having decided that the intruder was of no
apparent consequence.
    "I said there's a problem," Morgan repeated. "We're
going to have to close down this lab." That would get his
attention.
    "What?" Jersey said, "This is my lab."
    "Not any more. Atmospherics needs the space. We've
got priority over ... what is it you're working on?"
    "It's pure research. I haven't any results to publish
yet."
    "I guess that's why we have priority. Anyway, you'll
have to move."
    Jersey knew that he didn't stand a chance against
Morgan. The man had a reputation. "Where am I being moved to?" he
asked.
    Morgan smiled to himself. This was going to be easier
than he had supposed. "I don't know," he shrugged, casually walking
through the lab and fingering first this piece of equipment and
then that.
    The physicist's anxiety rose in direct proportion to
Morgan's nonchalant handling of his life's work. "I don't think
there is any other space. That's why we're taking over this
one."
    "But I have to continue my work!" Jersey cried. "I
can't stop now. I'm so close!"
    Knowing the impact his offhand manner was having and
timing his response for maximum emphasis, Morgan waited. He
marveled at the passion residing just under the surface, which his
actions were so accurately eliciting, and watched, elated, as
Jersey began to emotionally unravel. When the physicist's anguish
reached exquisite heights, Morgan stepped in to save him.
    "Calm down man," he said, "if it's that important
maybe there's something we can do."
    From there it was an easy matter to gain Jersey
Lipton's undying devotion.
     
    Mountain People: 2128
     
    Evie and Garret drove their vehicle slowly and
carefully over the rutted road. Ahead of them, Eye of Eagle stopped
and gestured for them to go to the left. Garret couldn't see any
road but he followed the directions of the big man and turned. He
and Evie had hardly spoken since their meeting with the three
mountain people just two hours ago. They'd agreed to go with them
to their village and had gotten the van turned around and had
driven off the road. From then on there'd been little to do but
drive and watch the scenery. They had a million questions and
nothing to say.
    The countryside was not as barren
as it looked from a distance. Many small plants and grasses hugged
the ground, holding the remaining soil together. It was not quite
desert but close enough to make Evie wonder how the mountain people
were able to survive. Obviously their bodies had adapted to the
ozone and CO 2 in the air, but what
about food, the ultraviolet radiation, water, heavy metals? Relax,
she told herself for the third time in as many minutes, her
excitement nearly beyond control. All questions will be answered in
time.
    Rounding a knoll, the van moved ponderously over the
rocky ground. The sight which