Heiser-The-Facade - Sparkling Eyes

"I'll bet you have quite a history."Father Benedict smiled, but made no effort to entertain the question. "So you see,Brian," he said, steering the discussion back to its origin, "we can't rule out a governmentproject. That would surely explain why it is they don't want us to know the real truth.""And if it's someone else, it would be very frustrating—even frightening—for ourown military to admit they can't do anything about it, at least not yet.""That's possible the idea that it's someone else—but it seems too radical even fordomestic terrorists.""Why is that`?" asked Brian."Because they'd be killing themselves ultimately--they couldn't control anenvironmental catastrophe.""They don't seem to mind killing themselves now.""You're missing what I'm saying, Brian. I know they are willing to sacrificethemselves, but in this scenario, they'd be sacrificing their countrymen and theirhomelands—the very object that drives their behavior.""Yeah . . . it doesn't seem to make sense, does it? And to be honest, neither doesmy suggestion that someone on the outside was the guilty party—why not just admit theyhad a terrorist nutcase on their hands.""Deliberate introduction of the virus is only one option,"Father Andrew noted contemplatively. "What if it was an accident?""You mean ... what if the infection was due to human error?""Exactly.""And that would have to mean that we brought it here. Maybe it was a shuttlemission. Somehow, one of our own was contaminated and brought it back. From the verybeginning of the space program NASA had exobiological precautions in place to combatthe threat of extraterrestrial viruses. They had no idea what was up there, and they alwaystake steps to detoxify the astronauts and equipment. Maybe their precautions didn'twork.""You may have pegged it, Brian. They know where the virus comes from, butcan't admit it. There's no doubt in my mind that our government would attempt to concealthis. The truth would be more damnable than the cover story.""There's something that just doesn't fit in with our suspicions of the team'sleadership, though," remarked Brian."What's that?""What advantage does it give them to say the virus is extra-terrestrial? If it's theirfault, the fact that it's from space doesn't excuse them.""I agree. It is more plausible that our government is at fault, whether introductionof the virus was a deliberate act or an accident on their part, and, as you say, it makeslittle sense for them to concoct the extraterrestrial angle since it doesn't absolve them ineither case.""Well, then," continued Brian, "that would mean we really do have anextraterrestrial virus on our hands.""Which, if correct and I'm assuming Mark has considered all the things wehave—means that we've misinterpreted his cryptogram. His doubts about the virus stemnot from the evidence the Colonel and your friend have extended to us, but from aquestion of who infected the cattle."83