Sleeping Giants (Themis Files #1)(45)
I would never tell him, because it would only make things worse, but I can’t stomach what they’ve done to him. I understand the appeal, there’s even a reasonably sound logic behind it, but we must draw the line somewhere if we’re to remain human.
He hasn’t tried reversing his knees yet. He wants to, but I don’t. If I understand correctly, it’s going to rip apart whatever muscle he has left on the back of his legs. They’re just too short. It’ll take months for him to build muscles that fit his new anatomy.
I realize that won’t happen if he doesn’t try his knees, but he’s already in pain twenty-four hours a day. I’m not going to put him through even more. And it’s not in anyone’s interest to push Vincent to do something he’s not ready for. It’ll break him physically, and mentally. It will bring resentment, mistrust, and will put every member of my team at unnecessary risk.
I know he’ll have to try them at some point. I don’t think it’ll be easier, or any less painful, if he does it a month from now. In fact, it’ll probably be more painful because he’ll have gained some muscle mass. But I’m hoping he’ll have gained some strength as well, physically and mentally.
All that said, I can’t wait to see her walk.
So, what’s that simple truth I’ve been hiding from? It’s not that I’m building a weapon. It’s not even that it’ll kill people. That’s just a matter of time. What I’ve been trying so hard to deny is that I’m loving every minute of it. As much as I’d like to be principled enough to walk away from this, I’m having the time of my life. I’m a scientist, and this is what I breathe for. If I can learn to live with that, I might be able to sleep again.
I tried to find out what Oppenheimer’s thoughts were while it was all happening. He had this to say in 1945:
“But when you come right down to it the reason that we did this job is because it was an organic necessity. If you are a scientist you cannot stop such a thing. If you are a scientist you believe that it is good to find out how the world works; that it is good to find out what the realities are; that it is good to turn over to mankind at large the greatest possible power to control the world and to deal with it according to its lights and its values.”
FILE NO. 188
PRELIMINARY REPORT—DISAPPEARANCE OF FLIGHT ICELANDAIR 670
FAA Office of Accident Investigation and Prevention Flight Icelandair 670 (FI670), scheduled for a nonstop flight from Denver International Airport (DEN) to Keflavik, Reykjavik (KEF), disappeared from Air Traffic Control instruments at approximately 10:31 on the morning of August 10. The Boeing 757-200 called ready for taxi from Gate A-43 of Denver International Airport at 10:16. Following instructions from Denver Ground, the plane taxied to Runway 17L through taxiways M and ED, holding short of the runway before contacting the tower. Flight 670 was cleared for takeoff immediately after assuming position on the runway. The entire communication between the tower and FI670 is reproduced below. Prior communication with ATC shows nothing out of the ordinary.
FI670: Tower, this is ICEAIR 670 holding on Echo Delta for Runway 17 Left.
ATC: Good morning ICEAIR 670. She’s all yours, into position on Runway 17 Left.
FI670: Roger that.
In position, 670.
ATC: ICEAIR 670, you are clear to takeoff, Runway 17 Left, contact departure 1-2-6-1 in the air.
670, you’re clear to go…
ICEAIR 670, I lost you on my screen. Can you read back?
FI670: Where the hell is that light coming from?
ATC: Can you repeat that 670?
ICEAIR 670, this is the tower, please respond.
670, please respond…
Investigators were on-site around 12:15 P.M. and FAA personnel were denied access to the site. However, the abundant news footage of the incident showed that only the southernmost section (estimate: two hundred feet) of Runway 17L/35R remained intact. A large crater, approximately fifteen hundred feet across, three hundred feet deep, covered the remaining part of the runway and the surrounding taxiways. The examined footage shows no sign of wreckage, no debris of any kind.
The complete absence of evidence, coupled with the extraordinary nature of the circumstances, strongly suggests that neither mechanical failure nor pilot error are responsible for the disappearance of flight 670 and that the aircraft could not be responsible for the destruction of Runway 17L/35R. The circumstances of the incident, while currently unexplained, clearly fall beyond the expertise of the FAA and no further investigation is warranted at this point.
FILE NO. 189
INTERVIEW WITH VINCENT COUTURE, SENIOR INTELLIGENCE ADVISOR (DCIPS) Location: Fort Carson Army Base, near Colorado Springs, CO
—I don’t wanna start at the beginning. Can we just stop? I…I don’t wanna talk…I just need a few minutes to think. Where’s Rose? I didn’t see her. Where’s Kara? I wanna see Kara.
—Take a deep breath. You need to relax. I only want to help you remember.
—Remember what? Where’s…
—No. Do not try to get up.
—Where are my boots?
—Let us start with something simple. Tell me the first thing you did this morning.
—Someone took my boots. What’s this? Is it a hospital gown? I can’t find any of my clothes.