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

that
to the people on this planet – that would undoubtedly create a mass panic. And
I definitely don’t want to be responsible for anything like that.”
    “I see your
point.” Frank stuck out his hand. “Let me see those pictures again.” Holding
them close to his face, turning the pictures at different angles, he squinted
his eyes and studied each one.
    Mark pulled up
a chair with wheels, sat down and crossed his arms while he waited for Frank to
take a second look at the images. Clad in a white lab coat, pants shiny from
years of washing and pressing and rubber soled shoes, he spun around in the
chair and surveyed his lab to keep his mind occupied. He didn’t want to let on
to Frank his anxiety over the photos.
    The lab was
large. It had high walls with large vents along the top. There were charts and
maps of Mars’ surface stacked on metal shelves. In the center of the lab were
prototypes and models of Mars’ vehicles –past and present. And covering
practically every inch of wall space were pictures taken by rovers from the
Mars program spanning the last seventeen years. Other than sharing office space
with two assistants, the lab belonged to Mark. He was good at what he did and
he didn’t often need validation. And while there was always a possibility of
finding some life form on the planet, human life had always seemed far-fetched.
At least he hoped it was.
     “What
kind of data have you got from the soil surrounding it?” Frank asked while
studying the picture under a magnifying glass.
    “Inconclusive.”
    “Inconclusive?”
He looked up at Mark. “What does that mean?”
    “It means I
need to double check that ‘eroded rock’ is really what it is.”
    “Tell me about
the soil analysis.”
    Mark took in a
deep breath and let it out through his nostrils. “ Soil carbon and
some other stuff.”
    “Stuff.”
Frank chuckled. He laid the pictures on the counter top and looked at Mark.
“Was it animal decaying stuff like phosphorus?”
    Mark
nodded his head.
    “Potassium?”
    Mark
lowered his eyes and nodded again.
    “Calcium,
maybe some magnesium?”
    “Look,
Frank. I just want some ideas on what this could be other than an eroded rock.”
    “And
other than a femur.” Frank said in acknowledgment. He picked the pictures back
up and glanced over them again.
    “Right.
And I don’t want the increase in soil carbon and nitrogen or any of the other
‘stuff’ that was found to be used as a basis for what it could be.”
    Frank
frowned. “You don’t want to use the scientific evidence you have to
determine what it is? That sounds a bit off.”
    “Well,
I’m feeling a bit off. I’d rather get some ideas on what else it could be and
then work backwards from there to see if that’s what it is.”
    “That
is the most unscientific thing I have ever heard.” Frank laughed hard. “You
sound like a ten year old with a new chemistry set rather than a NASA Ph.D. scientist.”
    “Yeah.
Well.”
    “Not
much to say on that, huh, Mark?” Mark didn’t answer. “You know, the more I
listen to you, the more I think it is a thigh bone.” Frank laid the photos back
down on the counter.
    “I’m
sorry I asked for your help.” Mark gathered up the pictures and stuck them back
in the brown folder.
    “Don’t
be. Send me a copy of the pictures and the soil analysis for the surrounding
area I’ll play your little unscientific game. I’ll see what I can come up
with.”
    “Thanks,
Frank.”
    “Don’t
thank me yet. If we’re ruling eroded rock out, I’m still leaning toward a thigh
bone.” He patted Mark on the shoulder. “I’ll stop by around one-one thirty and
pick you up for lunch. Maybe I’ll have some ideas for you then.”
    “Sounds
good. I’ll see you then.”
    Mark watched
Frank leave the room, then took the brown folder with the pictures and walked
over to a file cabinet in his office.
    “Why didn’t you
tell him how the makeup of elements in the soil not only shows animal