Read Online Dark Star Rising Second Edition (Pebbles in The Sky) by Jeffery Bagley - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jeffery Bagley
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hugged him. She stood back up and exclaimed, “That is the first time I have ever hugged a famous person, it feels rather nice!” Then, a sad expression came over her. “This means you will probably travel around and met all sorts of important people. There will be lots of pretty girls around and you will forget all about me.”
“I could never forget you, Susan. Nobody can wait tables with the grace that you can,” Peter grinned.
She grabbed both his ears and twisted them hard until he yelled, then she sat on his knee. “You better not forget about me, Peter Rockwell!”
Peter thought for a moment and then said, “You know, this could really help me in my job search. It will really get my name out there. What a resume. I could just write that I was the dude who discovered the Brown Dwarf and anybody that is somebody will probably know me. I could even do talk shows. I may have no trouble getting a job at all now,” he beamed.
Eric interrupted his day-dreaming. “Quit dreaming of Hollywood , Peter. You already have a job right here at Cal Tech.”
Peter frowned and said, “No offence Eric, but you know by now that teaching is not for me. I would not be happy being an instructor for the rest of my life. I want to be involved in some new project. I want something challenging and exciting.”
Eric just looked at him with amusement. “I am appalled that you do not think that teaching is an exciting challenge, but that is not the job I am talking about. Mike Banscott from JPL called me this morning. He is the one that I talked to about your discovery. He has talked to David Honstein, the chief administrator of NASA, regarding your findings. It seems like your little discovery has gotten some people in high places very excited. Mike has been placed in charge of forming a team to study this Brown Dwarf interloper as it gets closer. He informed me that you are now hired as his assistant, if you want the position, that is. You will be setting up shop right across campus at JPL. So, you may not going anywhere after all it seems. Susan will still be able to keep a very close eye on you.”
Susan gave a squeal of delight and hugged Peter so hard that his chair flipped over backwards spilling them both laughing onto the patio. Peter exclaimed, “JPL, I cannot believe it. That has been my dream since the day I was given my first telescope by my grandfather.”
“I am very happy for you Peter,” said Eric. “However, I am afraid I am going to have to dampen your celebration just a little bit. Mike said that David Honstein wants to keep this under wraps until a little more information can be gathered. He is afraid all the end of the world nuts and religious lunatics will whip everybody into a frenzy if word was to leak out before we have more updated data on the object. The President would have David’s ass for causing her problems with the press and the last thing NASA needs right now is negative publicity.
I believe that David and Mike are already working on getting some additional up to date data on your newly discovered visitor. Hopefully, within a week or so they, will be able to release the news to the press. I think that they will have to work fast though, because just as you accidently stumbled on this, it may not be long before someone else does the same. So, the condition of your employment is to keep mum for the time being on this. Since you will be working for Uncle Sam, they can sort of put a muzzle on you regarding things like that.”
He glanced down at Susan. “And you young lady, will have to keep this quiet also if you want Peter to have this job and stay close to you here.”
Susan looked at Peter and put a faked starry eyed expression on her face. “What girl would not want a famous astrophysicist as a boyfriend? All my friends will be so jealous.” She planted a big kiss on Peter’s lips.
Eric looked at her
“I could never forget you, Susan. Nobody can wait tables with the grace that you can,” Peter grinned.
She grabbed both his ears and twisted them hard until he yelled, then she sat on his knee. “You better not forget about me, Peter Rockwell!”
Peter thought for a moment and then said, “You know, this could really help me in my job search. It will really get my name out there. What a resume. I could just write that I was the dude who discovered the Brown Dwarf and anybody that is somebody will probably know me. I could even do talk shows. I may have no trouble getting a job at all now,” he beamed.
Eric interrupted his day-dreaming. “Quit dreaming of Hollywood , Peter. You already have a job right here at Cal Tech.”
Peter frowned and said, “No offence Eric, but you know by now that teaching is not for me. I would not be happy being an instructor for the rest of my life. I want to be involved in some new project. I want something challenging and exciting.”
Eric just looked at him with amusement. “I am appalled that you do not think that teaching is an exciting challenge, but that is not the job I am talking about. Mike Banscott from JPL called me this morning. He is the one that I talked to about your discovery. He has talked to David Honstein, the chief administrator of NASA, regarding your findings. It seems like your little discovery has gotten some people in high places very excited. Mike has been placed in charge of forming a team to study this Brown Dwarf interloper as it gets closer. He informed me that you are now hired as his assistant, if you want the position, that is. You will be setting up shop right across campus at JPL. So, you may not going anywhere after all it seems. Susan will still be able to keep a very close eye on you.”
Susan gave a squeal of delight and hugged Peter so hard that his chair flipped over backwards spilling them both laughing onto the patio. Peter exclaimed, “JPL, I cannot believe it. That has been my dream since the day I was given my first telescope by my grandfather.”
“I am very happy for you Peter,” said Eric. “However, I am afraid I am going to have to dampen your celebration just a little bit. Mike said that David Honstein wants to keep this under wraps until a little more information can be gathered. He is afraid all the end of the world nuts and religious lunatics will whip everybody into a frenzy if word was to leak out before we have more updated data on the object. The President would have David’s ass for causing her problems with the press and the last thing NASA needs right now is negative publicity.
I believe that David and Mike are already working on getting some additional up to date data on your newly discovered visitor. Hopefully, within a week or so they, will be able to release the news to the press. I think that they will have to work fast though, because just as you accidently stumbled on this, it may not be long before someone else does the same. So, the condition of your employment is to keep mum for the time being on this. Since you will be working for Uncle Sam, they can sort of put a muzzle on you regarding things like that.”
He glanced down at Susan. “And you young lady, will have to keep this quiet also if you want Peter to have this job and stay close to you here.”
Susan looked at Peter and put a faked starry eyed expression on her face. “What girl would not want a famous astrophysicist as a boyfriend? All my friends will be so jealous.” She planted a big kiss on Peter’s lips.
Eric looked at her
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