Read Online Amazonia by James Rollins - Free Book Online
Authors: James Rollins
Tags: Sci-fi thriller
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shrugged. "What's one more?" He faced Nathan. "Is this acceptable to you?"
Nathan glanced to his right and left. "Of course."
Frank nodded and raised his voice. "Let's all get back to work then. Discovering Dr. Rand here in the city has accelerated our schedule. We've a lot to accomplish in order to be under way at the crack of dawn tomorrow." As the others began to disperse, Frank turned to Nathan. "Now let's see if we can't get a few more of your questions answered."
He and his sister led the way toward one of the back offices.
Nate and his two friends followed.
Manny glanced over his shoulder to the bustling room. "Just what the hell have we volunteered for?"
"Something amazing," Kelly answered from ahead, holding open the office door. "Step inside and I'll show you."
Nathan clutched the photos of Agent Clark and passed them around to the others. "And you're telling me this man actually grew his arm back?"
Frank stepped around the desk and took a seat. "So it would seem. It's been verified by fingerprints. The man's body was shipped today from the morgue in Manaus back to the States. His remains are due to be examined tomorrow at a private research facility sponsored by MEDEA."
"MEDEA?" Manny asked. "Why does that name sound familiar?"
Kelly answered from where she was studying topographic maps tacked on the wall. "MEDEA's been active in rain forest conservation since its inception back in 1992."
"What is MEDEA?" Nathan asked, placing the photos on the desk.
"Back in 1989, there were congressional hearings on whether or not the classified data gathered by the CIA through its satellite surveillance systems might be useful in studying and monitoring global environmental changes. As a result, MEDEA was formed in 1992. The CIA recruited more than sixty researchers in various environmental-related fields into a single organization to analyze classified data in regard to environmental concerns."
"I see," Nathan said.
Frank spoke up, "Our mother was one of the original MEDEA founders, with a background in medicine and hazardous-waste risks. She was hired by my father when he was deputy director of the CIA. She'll be overseeing the autopsy of Agent Clark."
Manny frowned. "Your father is the deputy director of the CIA?"
"Was," Frank said bitterly.
Kelly turned from the maps. "He's now director of the CIA's Environmental Center. A division that was founded by Al Gore in 1997 at the behest of MEDEA. Frank works in this division, as well."
"And you?" Nathan asked. "Are you CIA, too?"
Kelly waved away his question.
"She's the youngest member of MEDEA," Frank said with a bit of pride in his voice. "Quite the distinguished honor. It was why we were chosen to head this operation. I represent the CIA. She represents MEDEA."
"Nothing like keeping it all in the family," Kouwe said with a snort.
"The fewer who know about the mission the better," Frank added.
"Then how does Tellux Pharmaceuticals play a role in all this?" Nathan asked.
Kouwe answered before either of the O'Brien siblings. "Isn't it obvious? Your father's expedition was financed by Eco-tek and Tellux, which are now one and the same. They own any proprietary intelligence gained from the expedition. If the team discovered some compound out there with regenerative properties, Tellux owns the majority rights to it."
Nathan glanced to Kelly, who stared at her toes.
Frank simply nodded. "He's right. But even at Tellux, only a handful of people know the true purpose of our mission here."
Nate shook his head. "Great, just great." Kouwe placed a sympathetic hand on his shoulder.
"All that aside," Manny said, "what's our first step?"
"Let me show you." Kelly turned once again to the maps on the back wall. She pointed to the centermost one. "I'm sure Dr. Rand is familiar with this map."
He stared at it and did indeed recognize it like the lines on his own palm. "It's the recorded route my father's team took four years
Nathan glanced to his right and left. "Of course."
Frank nodded and raised his voice. "Let's all get back to work then. Discovering Dr. Rand here in the city has accelerated our schedule. We've a lot to accomplish in order to be under way at the crack of dawn tomorrow." As the others began to disperse, Frank turned to Nathan. "Now let's see if we can't get a few more of your questions answered."
He and his sister led the way toward one of the back offices.
Nate and his two friends followed.
Manny glanced over his shoulder to the bustling room. "Just what the hell have we volunteered for?"
"Something amazing," Kelly answered from ahead, holding open the office door. "Step inside and I'll show you."
Nathan clutched the photos of Agent Clark and passed them around to the others. "And you're telling me this man actually grew his arm back?"
Frank stepped around the desk and took a seat. "So it would seem. It's been verified by fingerprints. The man's body was shipped today from the morgue in Manaus back to the States. His remains are due to be examined tomorrow at a private research facility sponsored by MEDEA."
"MEDEA?" Manny asked. "Why does that name sound familiar?"
Kelly answered from where she was studying topographic maps tacked on the wall. "MEDEA's been active in rain forest conservation since its inception back in 1992."
"What is MEDEA?" Nathan asked, placing the photos on the desk.
"Back in 1989, there were congressional hearings on whether or not the classified data gathered by the CIA through its satellite surveillance systems might be useful in studying and monitoring global environmental changes. As a result, MEDEA was formed in 1992. The CIA recruited more than sixty researchers in various environmental-related fields into a single organization to analyze classified data in regard to environmental concerns."
"I see," Nathan said.
Frank spoke up, "Our mother was one of the original MEDEA founders, with a background in medicine and hazardous-waste risks. She was hired by my father when he was deputy director of the CIA. She'll be overseeing the autopsy of Agent Clark."
Manny frowned. "Your father is the deputy director of the CIA?"
"Was," Frank said bitterly.
Kelly turned from the maps. "He's now director of the CIA's Environmental Center. A division that was founded by Al Gore in 1997 at the behest of MEDEA. Frank works in this division, as well."
"And you?" Nathan asked. "Are you CIA, too?"
Kelly waved away his question.
"She's the youngest member of MEDEA," Frank said with a bit of pride in his voice. "Quite the distinguished honor. It was why we were chosen to head this operation. I represent the CIA. She represents MEDEA."
"Nothing like keeping it all in the family," Kouwe said with a snort.
"The fewer who know about the mission the better," Frank added.
"Then how does Tellux Pharmaceuticals play a role in all this?" Nathan asked.
Kouwe answered before either of the O'Brien siblings. "Isn't it obvious? Your father's expedition was financed by Eco-tek and Tellux, which are now one and the same. They own any proprietary intelligence gained from the expedition. If the team discovered some compound out there with regenerative properties, Tellux owns the majority rights to it."
Nathan glanced to Kelly, who stared at her toes.
Frank simply nodded. "He's right. But even at Tellux, only a handful of people know the true purpose of our mission here."
Nate shook his head. "Great, just great." Kouwe placed a sympathetic hand on his shoulder.
"All that aside," Manny said, "what's our first step?"
"Let me show you." Kelly turned once again to the maps on the back wall. She pointed to the centermost one. "I'm sure Dr. Rand is familiar with this map."
He stared at it and did indeed recognize it like the lines on his own palm. "It's the recorded route my father's team took four years
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