BooksBarbecue
Back The Long Sunset
Chapters (51)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Acknowledgments
  4. Prologue
  5. 1.
  6. 2.
  7. 3.
  8. 4.
  9. 5.
  10. 6.
  11. 7.
  12. 8.
  13. 9.
  14. 10.
  15. 11.
  16. 12.
  17. 13.
  18. 14.
  19. 15.
  20. 16.
  21. 17.
  22. 18.
  23. 19.
  24. 20.
  25. 21.
  26. 22.
  27. 23.
  28. 24.
  29. 25.
  30. 26.
  31. 27.
  32. 28.
  33. 29.
  34. 30.
  35. 31.
  36. 32.
  37. 33.
  38. 34.
  39. 35.
  40. 36.
  41. 37.
  42. 38.
  43. 39.
  44. 40.
  45. 41.
  46. 42.
  47. 43.
  48. 44.
  49. Epilogue
  50. About the Author
  51. Copyright

“I don’t think you give her enough credit, Derek. Her attitude has nothing to do with politics. She thinks we’re the ones who are deranged. We’re the ones who are putting the human future at risk. I’m just not sure she’s wrong. In any case, I want you—both of you—to exercise caution. Take no chances. Bring everybody back. And let’s not have any bad news. Is that clear?”

It was. Zhang cautioned them on their relations with the press, primarily that they be careful not to say anything that could be used as ammunition against the project. He assured them of his confidence in their ability to log a successful effort and wished them well. The meeting ended and they all shook hands and said how they were looking forward to working together. But when Derek and Hutch had reached the lobby, she stopped him. “He put a lot of brakes on the mission, Derek. All that caution.”

“You think I didn’t notice?”

“So what’s the mission really about? I can’t believe we’re going all the way out there to take a quick look for whoever sent the waterfall signal, and then we’re going to turn around and come back home.”

“Well, think what you like. That’s the plan.”

“Yeah.” Of course it was. “Derek, I’d love to find out who’s there, then sit down and talk with them. Maybe take them to lunch.”

“I understand, Priscilla. I feel exactly the same way.”

“But we don’t get to do it. Why are we so scared, Derek?”

“I don’t know. Maybe it’s political. Maybe they’re right and it’s simply too dangerous. Zhang’s rational. He feels the same way we do. But he doesn’t want to take a chance. He doesn’t want to support a project that could get everyone on the planet killed. Now, I know that’s over the top, but a lot of people feel that way. Including a good many in the media. He’s hoping everything will go quietly. And that attitudes might change while we’re away. Possibly if we go out there and find a peaceful society with great music and good food.” He grinned. “Maybe then they’ll put together another mission and actually go out to say hello. Let’s see if we can find something that would encourage that.”

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