Incarnate: Mars Origin "I" Series Book III Read Online Free PDF Page A

in close and whispered, “ Through
this holy unction may the Lord pardon thee whatever sins or faults thou hast
committed . . .” Then he crossed himself.

Chapter Six
    NASA Langley Research Center
    Hampton, Virginia
     
    He chuckled and
glanced up at Mark Phillips. “It does look like a thigh bone. You think those
little green Martians have an anatomy that similar to ours?” He flipped through
the next few photos.
    Much to the
chagrin of Dr. Mark Phillips, the MastCam from the Curiosity rover NASA sent to
Mars had sent back a picture that a UFO blogger got hold of. He had posted it
on his blog claiming that the image in the picture was a human femur. Dr. Frank
Williams, whom he had asked to come by his lab to have a look at the photo,
wasn’t making things better.
    Both were well-respected
NASA scientists. Mark Phillips had been in charge of the Mars’ Space Mission
programs for more than twenty years and team leader of the Mission Mars space
team. Frank was a well-seasoned biologist, who thought out of the box and had a
wealth of knowledge from which to draw.
     “I don’t
believe that there is such a thing as a Martian, Frank. And that’s not why I
asked you to take a look at these pictures.” Dr. Phillips reached out his hand
to retrieve the pictures.
    Frank, leaning
across the table, stood up and pivoted away from Dr. Phillips, keeping him from
getting the photos. “I mean look, you can see it here.” He ran his finger over
the tip of the object in the picture. “It does resemble t he head of the femur right where it articulates with the acetabulum
in the pelvic bone. It looks a little deformed, but. . .”
    “You sound like
that crackpot blogger and his readers. We’ve already had to get a handle on
this - release some of our photos and put out an official explanation. We can’t
have one of our own on board with the UFO nut jobs.” Mark looked at Frank and
shook his head.
    Frank’s face
showed the amusement he got from the conversation. “I think “enthusiasts” would
be a better term to describe them. ‘Crackpot’ is a little harsh, don’t you
think? What’s our official statement?”
    “Quote. ‘NASA’s
Mission Mars science team members believe that the shape of the object in the
image is likely sculpted by erosion - either wind or water. And although the
rock does resemble a thigh bone it is unequivocally not.’ End quote.” Mark
raised his eyebrow as if asking for approval.
    “That sounds
official, and believable enough to me.” Frank handed the pictures over. “So why
did you want to show me the pictures?”
    “Well, I’m sure
in time, these images would have gotten to your department, but I just wanted
to get a leg up on what you think this thing could be.” Mark grinned. “No pun
intended.”
    “No pun taken.
Your explanation sounds good. Rock that’s been eroded. What’s wrong with going
with that?”
    “I don’t mean
an explanation for the public. I mean one for me. One for science. We do have
to look at the probability that it could be something else. Something other
than rock. Especially with some of the observations we’re getting back from the
soil analyses.”
    “I don’t get
it. You have a problem with life on other planets? NASA is on board with the
possibility. How can you not be?”
    “NASA’s stance
is that in the next fifteen to twenty years we will find evidence of life on
other planets. In other solar systems.” He looked hard at Frank. “And I’m down
with that. I believe that there is life out there somewhere. But not in this
solar system. Not on Mars.”
    Frank laughed.
“Oh. Just not this close to home.”
    “Exactly. Think
of the ramifications. Mars is only a billion years ahead of us. If in that time
it could have spawned life, evolved to the level of hosting intelligent beings
and then become the desolate, lifeless planet we know today, what will happened
to Earth? How long do we have? I don’t want to think like that. But to explain