Russians time to put this project together. They're going to have to strip other programs, train people, rearrange budgets, all kinds of things. They'll be moving fast, but with any luck we'll have time to set up."
The waitress came back with drinks and salads and Sam continued outlining his plan of action. "If we're going to be taken seriously, we'll have to have evidence, lots of it. We'll need an impressive array of experts." Before Ciano could start his obvious outburst, Sam said: "I know what you're about to say, so keep it to yourself. We have to have them. Here's my plan for getting them: The top people are mostly so busy they're not going to be willing to just drop everything and hop on the first flight to Washington, right?" Ugo and Laine nodded agreement. "But Caldwell didn't say that the panel had to be locked up in one place to debate the matter. The answer is, we go to them. You two get to pick the names for the panel. They'll have to be nationally known, at least within the scientific community," With a pointed look at Ciano he added: "With good reputations among their peers." Ciano just sat and glared, while simultaneously wolfing down salad like a starving vegetarian. "We'll visit each one individually," Sam continued, "and try to persuade them of the gravity and urgency of the situation.
"Once we have them talked around, we'll ask them to come to Washington for a presentation to the Agency chief and maybe to the National Security Council. I figure we can swing it in about a month. We've got to do it in that time, because once this business gets in front of the NSC, things will start moving really slow."
"How can we be sure we will persuade them all?" Laine asked.
Ciano chuckled. "Relax. If I been reading this fella right, he's gonna load the dice in our favor."
"I beg your pardon, Dr. Ciano?" Laine said.
"Make it Ugo," Ciano insisted.
"What he means," Sam explained, "is that I'll only invite those experts whom we've persuaded. If we move quickly enough, we'll be able to set up the meeting for the Agency chief before the ones we don't persuade have time to yak to their friends in Washington. Remember, some of these people are likely to be pretty committed to the disarmament process. They're going to see us as alarmist freaks out to wreck the rapprochement and drag us all back into nuclear confrontation. So, when you make your list, make it a long one. We probably won't convince a third of them that this is for real.
"Of course, we'll try to forestall them as well as we can. We'll tell them before the interview that our little conference must be held in strictest confidence for at least five years. We'll scare them a bit by invoking the National Security Act or some such. That ought to keep them quiet for a while. I hope."
"I wouldn't count on that," Ciano told him. "You're dealing with the scientific community. Some of those people are real blabbermouths."
"You don't say," Sam said. A large steak had been placed before Ciano, and it was disappearing at an amazing rate. Sam wondered how such a diminutive man could support such an appetite. He decided that it must all go to sustain Ciano's hyperactive imagination, temperament and mouth. "Could you suggest some good names, Ugo? I think a panel of about six would be close to ideal: enough to be impressive, but not so many that everybody's bored before the last one's said his piece."
Ugo considered for a while, polishing off the steak and working on the french fries in the process. "Lessee, a panel of six means about eighteen to start with. There must be at least eighteen good scientists in astronomy and astrophysics who ain't altogether dumb. We oughta have a coupla comet specialists, maybe an astronomer or two, at least one good generalist. Of course, we already got one of them, but it looks like I don't qualify for the panel. Lemme make a few phone calls and I'll have the list for you tomorrow."
"What's a generalist?" Sam asked.
"A generalist is the
The waitress came back with drinks and salads and Sam continued outlining his plan of action. "If we're going to be taken seriously, we'll have to have evidence, lots of it. We'll need an impressive array of experts." Before Ciano could start his obvious outburst, Sam said: "I know what you're about to say, so keep it to yourself. We have to have them. Here's my plan for getting them: The top people are mostly so busy they're not going to be willing to just drop everything and hop on the first flight to Washington, right?" Ugo and Laine nodded agreement. "But Caldwell didn't say that the panel had to be locked up in one place to debate the matter. The answer is, we go to them. You two get to pick the names for the panel. They'll have to be nationally known, at least within the scientific community," With a pointed look at Ciano he added: "With good reputations among their peers." Ciano just sat and glared, while simultaneously wolfing down salad like a starving vegetarian. "We'll visit each one individually," Sam continued, "and try to persuade them of the gravity and urgency of the situation.
"Once we have them talked around, we'll ask them to come to Washington for a presentation to the Agency chief and maybe to the National Security Council. I figure we can swing it in about a month. We've got to do it in that time, because once this business gets in front of the NSC, things will start moving really slow."
"How can we be sure we will persuade them all?" Laine asked.
Ciano chuckled. "Relax. If I been reading this fella right, he's gonna load the dice in our favor."
"I beg your pardon, Dr. Ciano?" Laine said.
"Make it Ugo," Ciano insisted.
"What he means," Sam explained, "is that I'll only invite those experts whom we've persuaded. If we move quickly enough, we'll be able to set up the meeting for the Agency chief before the ones we don't persuade have time to yak to their friends in Washington. Remember, some of these people are likely to be pretty committed to the disarmament process. They're going to see us as alarmist freaks out to wreck the rapprochement and drag us all back into nuclear confrontation. So, when you make your list, make it a long one. We probably won't convince a third of them that this is for real.
"Of course, we'll try to forestall them as well as we can. We'll tell them before the interview that our little conference must be held in strictest confidence for at least five years. We'll scare them a bit by invoking the National Security Act or some such. That ought to keep them quiet for a while. I hope."
"I wouldn't count on that," Ciano told him. "You're dealing with the scientific community. Some of those people are real blabbermouths."
"You don't say," Sam said. A large steak had been placed before Ciano, and it was disappearing at an amazing rate. Sam wondered how such a diminutive man could support such an appetite. He decided that it must all go to sustain Ciano's hyperactive imagination, temperament and mouth. "Could you suggest some good names, Ugo? I think a panel of about six would be close to ideal: enough to be impressive, but not so many that everybody's bored before the last one's said his piece."
Ugo considered for a while, polishing off the steak and working on the french fries in the process. "Lessee, a panel of six means about eighteen to start with. There must be at least eighteen good scientists in astronomy and astrophysics who ain't altogether dumb. We oughta have a coupla comet specialists, maybe an astronomer or two, at least one good generalist. Of course, we already got one of them, but it looks like I don't qualify for the panel. Lemme make a few phone calls and I'll have the list for you tomorrow."
"What's a generalist?" Sam asked.
"A generalist is the
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