She waited only about three minutes before she was ushered into a connecting office. Zhang sat behind a desk. Family pictures were all over the walls. He looked up at her and flipped a hand in the direction of a chair. Then he dismissed the assistant and produced the chip.

“Hutchins,” he said, “I wish I could trust you.”

“You can trust me to do the right thing, Director.”

“I can trust you to assume you know better than anyone else.” He dropped the chip on his desk. “Have you any idea at all how much damage this thing could cause? You’re lucky the security guys found it. If this had gotten out, I’d have had no choice but to prosecute you. You were defying the instructions of your superiors. And even acting against the intentions of your president.”

He looked at her and took a deep breath. “You would have ruined Derek’s career, too. You understand that, I hope. And I should inform you if you go out and start blabbering about this, I’ll have no choice but to have you arrested. Is that clear? And I can guarantee, if that happens, you’ll never set foot on an interstellar in any capacity again.”

Zhang looked utterly frustrated. He rubbed the back of his hand against his lips and took a deep breath. “Priscilla,” he said, “I’m sorry. I understand what you’re going through. But I need you to be aware of what’s at stake. You want us to construct what, twenty Evening Star liners? I’m sure you’re aware who would have to pay for them. We are already underwater in debt. But that’s not the issue.” His voice hardened. “Once we have them, once your aliens have been rescued, there’ll be no stopping an expansion into deep space. Inevitably, one of those vehicles will bring home something lethal. Aliens, maybe, who aren’t quite as friendly as your buddies. Or maybe a disease that will take everyone down because we have no defense against it. That possibility is now a prime concern in the medical community.”

Hutch broke in: “The medical people have been saying for years that a disease that evolved elsewhere would almost certainly have no effect on us.”

“That’s pure theory.”

“So’s gravity. You want to go up on a rooftop somewhere and test it?”

Zhang cleared his throat. “Recent research has brought about a change in perspective. There is serious concern. Your first obligation is to humanity. But you really don’t give a damn about that, do you? You’re putting a lot of lives at risk, and I have to wonder what makes you think you have the right to do that.” He got up and pointed at the door. “Please leave. You disgust me.”

NEWSDESK

Thursday, October 9, 2256

HOLLANDER BILL DEFEATED IN HOUSE

Proposal to Provide Govt Funding for Elections Fails

Contributions to Politicians Would

Have Been Illegal