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."Mr.Boone is at the door, General.He said you wanted to see him.""Yes, of course.Send him in right away."Kennard Nash knew that if he had been sitting in the Truth Room, the left sideof his cortex would have glowed a deceitful red color.He disliked NathanBoone and felt nervous when the man was around.Boone had been hired by Nash'spredecessor, and he knew a great deal about the inner workings of theBrethren.During the last few years, Boone had established his own separaterelationships with the other members of the executive board.Most of theBrethren thought Mr.Boone was brave and resourceful:the perfect head of security.It bothered Nash that he wasn't in completecontrol of Boone's activities.He recently discovered that the head ofsecurity had disobeyed a direct order.Ramón escorted Boone into the gallery, and then left the two men alone."Youwanted to see me?" Boone asked.He stood with his legs spread slightly, hishands behind his back.Nash was supposed to be the leader, the man in charge, yet both men knew thatBoone could walk across the room and break the general's neck in a fewseconds."Sit down, Mr.Boone.Have a glass of Chardonnay.""Not right now." Boone strolled over to the window and gazed down at thesurgical table.The anesthesiologist was adjusting a heart sensor on Michael'schest."How's it going?""Michael is in a trance state.Weak pulse.Limited breathing.I'm hoping thathe's become a Traveler.""Or maybe he's half dead.The 3B3 could have fried his brain." "Neural energyhas left his body.Our computers seem to be tracking the movement fairlywell."Both men were silent for moment, staring out the window."Let's assume that hereally is a Traveler," Boone said."Can he die at this moment?""The person lying on the examination table can cease to be biologicallyalive.""But what would happen to his Light?""I don't know," Nash said."But it couldn't return to his body." "Can he diein another realm?""Yes.We believe that if you're killed in another realm, you're trapped thereforever."Boone turned away from the window."I hope this works.""We need to anticipate all possibilities.That's why it's crucial that we findGabrielCorrigan.If Michael dies, we'll need an immediate substitute."Page 149ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html"I understand."General Nash lowered his wineglass."According to my sources, you pulled backour field agents in California.This was the team looking for Gabriel."Boone didn't seem disturbed by the accusation."Electronic surveillancecontinues.Ialso have a team searching for the Harlequin mercenary who placed a false cluein MichaelCorrigan's apartment.I think it's a martial arts instructor who used to beaffiliated with theChurch of Isaac Jones.""But no one is actually looking for Gabriel," Nash said."You've disobeyed adirect command.""It is my responsibility to protect our organization and help us achieve ourgoals.""At this point, the Crossover Project is our primary goal, Mr.Boone.There'snothing more important."Boone stepped closer to the table like a police officer about to confront asuspect."Perhaps this issue should be discussed by the executive board."General Nash looked down at the table and considered his options.He hadavoided giving Boone all the facts about the quantum computer, but it hadbecome impossible to keep the secret."As you know, we now have a working quantum computer.This isn't the time todiscuss the technological aspects of this device, but it involves suspendingsubatomic particles in an energy field.For an extremely brief period of timethese particles disappear from the force field and then they return.And wheredo they go, Mr.Boone? Our scientists tell me that they travel to anotherdimension another realm."Boone looked amused."They travel with the Travelers.""These particles have returned to our computer with messages from an advancedcivilization.At first, we received simple binary codes and then informationof increasing complexity.This civilization has given our scientists newdiscoveries in physics and computers.They've shown us how to make geneticmodifications in animals and create the splicers.If we can learn more of thisadvanced technology, we'll be able to establish thePanopticon in our lifetime.The Brethren will finally have the power to watchand control an immense group of people.""And what does this civilization want in exchange?" Boone asked."No one givesanything for free.""They want to come into our world and meet us.And that's what we needTravelers for to show them the way.The quantum computer is tracking MichaelCorrigan as he moves between the different realms.Do you understand, Mr.Boone? Is it all quite clear?"For once, Boone looked impressed.Nash allowed himself to enjoy the moment ashe refilled his glass."That's why I asked you to find Gabriel Corrigan.AndI'm not happy about your refusal to follow orders.""I pulled back the field agents for one reason," Boone said."I think there'sa traitor in this organization [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]