Heiser-The-Facade - Sparkling Eyes

CHAPTER 6"Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; theindifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justicewhen it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph."—Heile SelassieBRIAN WAS RELIEVED to get the initial briefing out of the way. The rest of themorning had been taken up with a discussion of the tasks each member of the team wouldhave in the project. They would all have one week to prepare their research forpresentation. The scientists on the project would be working primarily in conjunctionwith a military exobiologist in permanent residence at the Facility, a specialist inextraterrestrial minerals and possible evidence for life beyond earth. Their goal wouldnaturally be to attempt to halt the virus's ability to replicate. They had all been escorted tosome other part of the Facility as soon as the morning session had ended, presumably tomeet their new colleague. Malcolm and Kevin appeared eager to get started, but MarkChadwick had been noticeably unenthused. Brian couldn't help wondering what wasbothering him.Deidre Harper's work would focus on the psycho-social impact of the truth ofextraterrestrial life, while Melissa Kelley would be required to report on how such newswould be interpreted among apocalyptic cults. Father Benedict's task would be to applyhis back-ground in ecclesiastical ethics and interfaith dialogue to fashion a rationale forecumenical cooperation among organized religions in the face of the crisis. Brian hadbeen informed that his own contribution to the project would also concentrate on theeffect that the rev-elation of the reality of extraterrestrial life in the universe would haveon organized religion. The team had been excused for lunch and had the afternoon free toform preliminary research plans that each would present to the others for questioningduring a late afternoon session. For now, he and Andrew planned to keep their lunch date."Anything interesting we could talk about?" Brian asked teasingly, placing hisglass under the ice dispenser."Please," the priest beseeched him in a hushed tone. "Let's wait until we'reseated.""Sure," he smiled , and pushed the button for iced tea. The ice cracked as thebeverage hued the glass to the brim. Brian glanced curiously at his lunch companion. Heliked Father Benedict, but didn't know what to make of his sometimes secretive,sometimes skittish demeanor. It was obvious tha t the two of them were part of somethingof enormous consequence, but instead of the air of apprehension exuded by the old cleric,he found his inclusion in the project exhilarating. His academic career had beenextinguished before it had even begun, and he longed for the respect of professionalpeople with whom he crossed paths outside the coterie of his graduate-student peergroup. He wanted to feel as though he was part of some-thing significant, rather thanspectating before a clique of stuffy, self-absorbed scholars.The two of them picked up their trays and headed to an isolated corner of the59