A Simple Truth Read Online Free PDF

meeting beforehand but soon realised he had no reason to fear this man.  His open objective manner soon put Lincoln at his ease and the two had chatted over plans and possibilities for some considerable time.  Dent's enthusiasm was infectious.  Lincoln had left his company fired with a determination that he had retained ever since.
    "George," gasped Lincoln, remembering an earlier rebuke for referring to him as 'Mr Dent', "I didn't expect to see you here in person, yes, thanks, the trip was fine."
    "I must apologise for all the rush, and I know you would like some time with your family , but we must discuss our immediate plans right away.  There is a conference room available in the terminal.  I have arranged for several people to meet us there.  Shall we go?"  And turning to Lincoln's wife added , "I'm afraid I have to steal your husband for a while Mrs Lincoln, I'll try not to take up too much time.  My driver will take you over to see the research labs.  I'm sure the boys will enjoy a tour and as a historian I think you'll find our background and early development fascinating . "
    A kiss for his wife, a hug for his boys and Lincoln was off again.  He looked round to see his family disappearing into the sunshine, Dent's driver carrying Lincoln's bag and already being swamped with questions from the two boys about the surprise visit.
    For a relatively small man George Dent could walk surprisingly quickly.  Lincoln could keep up but found it difficult to hold a conversation at the same time.
    "The flight rearrangements have caused uproar ," said Dent with a wry smile.  "I'm already in trouble with two governments over bringing forward the departure time and the passengers that managed to get aboard are unhappy about having the only ferry land in Queensland."
    "I must confess that I don't see how my presence here can possibly be worth such expense or trouble."   Lincoln felt the need to prepare him for the inevitable disappointment.
    "You'll see, you'll see ," was all Dent would say in reply.  "I've arranged a meeting with Freda Withers, Ranjit Khan, Philippe Heymann, Margaret Trip and Kumar Elango.  I think you know them all don't you?" 
    "I know them by reputation but I've only met Mr Khan."  The level of this meeting was only just beginning to dawn on Lincoln.  Freda Withers was Chief Consultant to the United States Department of Communications; Ranjit Khan was Dent's second - in - command and a leading astropsychologist; Kumar Elango was a retired general and now senior military adviser to the Indian government; Philippe Heymann was Chief Arbiter at the International Conciliation Council and Margaret Trip was Science Editor of a prominent news agency.
    "If we seven can reach agreement on the way to deal with this contact then we can sway world reaction.  There'll be plenty of pressure groups trying to whip up support for panic measures and feeding on fear when the main communications start.  You are the world's most competent xenothologist.  You have written more sensible papers on the subject of human-alien communication than anyone except Hon Chow Kwan and he's dead."
    "But this co ntact is not the sort envisaged.  M y work is in the field of communication with aliens in the absence of any common ground.  These aliens already know our primary language and probably all about us, so ninety - nine percent of my work is useless."
    Dent remained unperturbed.  "Maybe so, but your one percent is more than anyone else can offer and your opinion will be respected."
    The plan was beginning to clear a little in Lincoln's mind.  He was beginning to suspect that his own presence was not particularly important in itself.  Perhaps it was necessary only to convince the world of his importance.  To make a great show of bringing him down from the moon , the greater the cost and trouble the better , so that his value was unlikely to be questioned.  He looked across at Dent striding along confidently and smiled