Read Online He Without Sin by Ed Hyde - Free Book Online Page A

to link anyway,” she adds.
    “The request and instructions went out to everyone at the same time,” I counter, adding, “but I will be happy to re-send to you three.” I resist the temptation to add anything else. I know damn well everyone received my verbal and my electronic requests. The instructions are crystal clear and in any case, mission directives make compliance a requirement.
    David begins to speak just as Brachus returns to the meeting, sitting again next to his two teammates. “Wes, do you have any issues with Jason’s request for his communication data linkup? He’s still looking for a few responses.”
    “Not at all,” he responds. “Is this a mandatory hookup?”
    “Yes,” I say.
    “Why do you ask? Is there a problem?” asks David.
    “Not at all. There’s a lot to do and the window for preparation is now short, that’s all,” Brachus responds as he grins genially.
    David accepts this and closes the discussion by saying, “Ok, I will leave it to you to look into it and make it happen.”
    “Most certainly,” agrees Brachus. His interest is now on another topic, judging from his expression. I look at him for any sort of connection or closure, maybe just a smile or nod, but get nothing.
    David finishes up with a few more comments—nothing major. He says all hands must appear at a follow-up meeting, time TBA shortly.
    Push the damn button you ape. Wait, I can’t let this clown get to me. Requests re-sent. If no response, bingo—it’s David’s problem.
    Ha, the above comment I added via hand-held during the last part of the meeting, but it accurately reflects my mood at the time. No response yet, from any of the delinquents, and I am not surprised.
    I took some time to go over my responsibility checklist and reviewed each item one at a time carefully. I don’t want to find out later, and especially not in a meeting, that I have failed to do my part.
    I enjoyed Mark’s presentation, even the corny stuff. At least he has a personality. I’ve seen way too many presenters that don’t have a clue about how to hold an audience’s interest. For my part, some research is in order about the “expected” distribution, as he called it, of elements in a planetary system around this type of star and at this distance from it. He’s right of course but a refresher won’t hurt.
    My thoughts have been turning more and more to the near future and what it will hold. Carol has given me some scope time and the view is just spectacular. It’s a new world all right—bright and shiny. Crust tectonics are at work and the atmosphere supports some very active weather both of which explain the bewildering variety of landforms.
    At the next meeting there is again nothing on the agenda for me to present—nice!
     

     

Findings
    David stands up and addresses the group first by looking around the meeting room until there is silence, then by saying, “I have reviewed the image recognition hits gathered during the surface scan Mark alluded to earlier.”
    Again, he slowly examines our faces before continuing. “There is without question at least one intelligent population down there.”
    There are more than a few sideways glances during David’s pause. Mark on the other hand is smiling a little and slightly nodding to no one in particular. He knew it already.
    “There are small but clear patterns in the images, widely scattered in the more temperate zones. Obviously, at this stage, we don’t have an idea of the total population or even the number and distribution of intelligent species, but the evidence we see is convincing. We are quite sure their development is primitive and limited.”
    “David, what is the evidence? Can we have a look?” asks Dylan.
    “Sure. Mark, do we have those images right now to show?”

    Mark answers, “Not immediately, but I can make them ready if you want to wait. Better would be to come and see me individually or have a quick follow-up meeting later when I’ve had a