Read Online Thunderbird by Jack McDevitt - Free Book Online Page A

what they would do to the horseshoe industry?
    As far as money was concerned, the worst that could happen was that the Sioux would have to settle for transporting tourists to the space station. Or Eden. That process wouldn’t produce three hundred million dollars overnight. But he suspected that profits would be enough to provide a pretty decent living for everyone on the Rez.
    He sat staring out the window at the snow-covered trees.
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    B RAD HAD BEEN under pressure to bring Lasker in as a guest. It was too late now. But he’d had a better idea. He went after Michael Fossel, the neurologist who’d been on the most recent Eden mission. Fossel accepted. He hadn’t left the area yet, so he was able to come in the day after the invitation was issued. Brad had seen him on TV, but nevertheless he looked younger in person, with intense blue eyes and the jawline of a TV police detective. He was casually dressed, with an open brown leather jacket revealing a gray rugby shirt.
    Brad shook his hand, got him some coffee, introduced him to a couple of the staff, and took him back to the studio. “Professor,” he said, “I see you’ve written a book on life extension.”
    The visitor delivered a friendly smile. “Call me Michael, Brad. And yes, I have. We’re not live already, are we?”
    â€œNo, we have a few minutes yet. The title is
Reversing Human Aging
. Do I have that right?”
    â€œYes. You’ve done your homework.”
    â€œPart of the job, Michael. You’re also a member of the Gerontological Society?”
    â€œThat’s correct.”
    They sat down at a table with two microphones. Brad looked up at the large clock over the bookcase. It was 7:03 A.M. The news was running. “Tell me,” he said, “are we actually going to be able to do that?”
    â€œReverse aging?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œIn all probability.”
    â€œHow long before we figure out how to make it happen?”
    Michael leaned back in his chair. Brad could see he was tired of skeptics. “It’s getting close,” he said. “Probably in our lifetime.”
    â€œAre you serious?”
    â€œOf course.”
    â€œMaybe that’s what we should be talking about today. That would be a bigger story than just traveling around in space.”
    Michael shrugged. “Your call, Brad.”
    â€œDo you think you could come back in a few days? Maybe Monday?”
    â€œI think I can arrange that if you want.”
    Brad asked a few more questions, kept an eye on the time, and finally pulled his headphones down over his ears. They were running commercials. He activated the mikes and leaned over his.
    His screener, Cary Elder, took her seat behind the glass in the control room. “One minute, Brad,” she said.
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    T HE SHOW WENT live. “So, Michael,” Brad said after doing the introduction, “you’ve actually walked on another planet?”
    The neurologist grinned. He was obviously enjoying himself. “That’s what they’re telling me.”
    â€œBut it’s hard to believe? Even for a guy who’s been there?”
    â€œSure. Monkey brain at work, right? Teleportation seems like a scam.”
    â€œHow did it feel?”
    â€œIt doesn’t hit home right away. When the transporter grabs hold of you, everything tends to freeze. You’re just sort of bundled up and carried off. Then I was at the other station, the one on Eden that they call the Cupola. You walk outside, and it feels just like being on the ground here, except that it isn’t so cold. By the way, I should add that I lost about fifteen pounds in the process.”
    â€œAre you saying the gravity is less?”
    â€œIt is. It’s hard to be sure just from how you feel. But they’ve checked it. That place is a little different from Earth.”
    â€œI guess