Panspermia Deorum Read Online Free PDF Page A

the only evidence that constituted my defence, proving that
the data I was supposed to deliver was incomplete at best, but in
reality, quite manipulative with the truth. Perhaps I’ve saved his
career, and that grates with me, however, it’s now up to your board
as to what will be done. Waverly may have got away with this if his
security people in Osaka hadn’t been so keen to strip search me.
The memory stick they took from me at Osaka airport is the
original, the one I surrendered here is a duplicate. I never
thought I’d be thankful for a NERO protocol which had to be
enforced. The strip search team seemed pleased with themselves when
they took the original but didn’t even ask about the copy, which
was just nestling in a pocket of my jacket which they supposedly
searched. I’m totally perplexed as to how they weren’t told about
the copy, Waverly must have known about it, he wrote the bloody
protocol. It was only when I was aboard the aircraft that I found
it was still in my jacket. I could have exploited the information
which is on that stick. Take a look for yourself. I guess you’ll be
in touch about the severance.”
    “Indeed. It may
take another day to get it ready for you to sign. I’ll call
you.”
    Fellowes walked
to the waiting company car, shaking his head as he threw his
briefcase into the back seat. Julien reversed his own car from the
garage and set off to see his family.
    *
    The air was
thick with speculation when Julien rang the doorbell of Geraldine’s
house, and it hadn’t been dislodged by the mandatory hugging and a
few tears.
    “Can you all
sit down and hear me out before bombarding me with questions. By
all means hit me with them once I’ve finished covering all aspects
of the last two days. I’d appreciate the chance to do this my
way.”
    Geraldine
nodded but asked if he’d like a hot cup of coffee before getting
started. It was declined with an anxious smile.
    “I assume
you’ve all seen my exit speech from the conference and Ian
Waverly’s public termination of my contract with NERO, so I don’t
need to dwell on the details involved with either of those events,
they can wait. I want to cover what can and cannot happen next,
because the family comes first. I could probably have fought my
dismissal but I chose not to. It wasn’t about money, as I’m close
to pensionable age and don’t need to work if I don’t want to. I
have already been offered a new position, and it is one which is
very worthwhile. But, you, the family should have some input before
I reply to the company. You should probably take into account that
NERO may try to whitewash their errors and divert media
inquisitions to me. This could disrupt your lives and I don’t want
that to happen. On the other hand, I don’t want to run away from
the implications which caused me to abort the conference.
    “You heard me
say, in Osaka, that if nothing was done immediately about tackling
this asteroid it would very probably impact our planet in 2039. The
new position I’ve been offered would require me to do just that.
Eugene, you and Sophie are just beginning your lives, and I hope
that maybe someday I’ll be able to play with my grandchildren. But,
I also have to think about billions of living souls being
extinguished if nobody is willing to acknowledge the clear danger
we face in the future. It’s what we do now that will count in
twelve years’ time. Eugene, you have to complete your studies, and
Sophie, your talent must not be wasted; you should both follow your
passion, wherever that takes you. Elise, I know how much you enjoy
our life here in Lyon, and especially being so close to Geraldine.
To all of you, I have to confess, it will be difficult for me to
sit back and let the asteroid threat be someone else’s problem.
That’s simply because I’m arrogant enough to believe I’m the best
qualified person to meet this challenge from the skies. You may all
have gathered then, that the position I’ve been