LET Project Chapter, MGS novel
Dr. Clark quietly reentered the Visiting Chamber, stood still behind the U.S. President and General Jim Houseman, and listened to them whisper. The two men were transfixed in front of the observation window that overlooked the operating theater.
"Is she in pain?" the president asked.
"I thought she was supposed to be sedated," the general replied. "Now they're blocking our view, damn it."
"What's happening?" the president asked. "Can you see?"
"Do not be alarmed, Mister President." Dr. Clark's seductive and eloquent voice echoed in the chamber.
"Oh! You gave me a start, Doctor," the gray-haired politician said. It had always struck Clark that the president was a very nervous type when he wasn't in front of a camera. She rather enjoyed scaring the poor man; that was ironic because she was a woman, albeit a woman with a commanding presence and powerful charisma.
Clark stepped closer, out of the shadows, and addressed them. "I apologize, Mister President. I thought you were aware I was behind you."
The president laughed nervously. "It must be because we're down here so far underground. I guess I'm a little claustrophobic."
General Houseman said, "We'll get you back up to the surface as soon as you want to go, Mister President." Clark noted the general didn't look too pleased to be there either.
"Is she giving birth?" the president asked.
"She's been in labor for a long time," Clark answered. "It'll be very soon, I'm sure."
The president squeamishly turned away from the window and waved his hand around the chamber, indicating the hundreds of stalactites on the limestone ceiling. "Do any of those things ever fall?"
"They're thousands of years, Mister President," Clark replied. "They won't fall on their own, I can assure you of that. And the likelihood of an earthquake occuring in the southeastern corner of New Mexico is quite remote." Her voice reverberated with upper-class sophistication and the timbre of a Shakespearean actress.
The president nodded. "I know. It's just amazing to think that on the other side of that cavern wall is one of America's most popular national parks. Hundreds of tourists pour through it every day."
"The Carlsbad area was perfect for the project. I'm in debt to your predecessor for backing it."
The president tilted his head and said, "You know, Doctor, I inherited this project. Tell me how you got established in this facility."
Clark smiled. "Ever since the caverns were discovered, there were many caves not open to the public. Caves just sitting here, available to the government. I believe the first time this cavern was used by the government was during World War II. The Roosevelt administration built a safe house here in case America was attacked. Since then, it's been used for a number of research projects." Clark glanced at the general. "A number of them military in nature."
"I see."
"We took it over in the mid-sixties."
The president turned back to the window. "Well, is the project finally going to succeed?" he asked. "This is, what, the ninth try?"
"Have faith, Mister President," Dr. Clark said. "I corrected the genetic code in the last batch. I also made sure the surrogate mother possessed certain genetic latches, if you will, that could connect to those of Big Boss."
The president shook his head in amazement. "I still can't believe you have so many samples of his cells. What did he think you were going to do with them?"
"The man knew only that he was sterile and unable to produce children. He was unaware of our undertaking here," Dr. Clark said.
"The Les Enfants Terribles project."
"Correct. We extracted the cells when Big Boss was in surgery, when he was wounded in the last war. The Pentagon gave strict orders that he was not to know"
"Is she in pain?" the president asked.
"I thought she was supposed to be sedated," the general replied. "Now they're blocking our view, damn it."
"What's happening?" the president asked. "Can you see?"
"Do not be alarmed, Mister President." Dr. Clark's seductive and eloquent voice echoed in the chamber.
"Oh! You gave me a start, Doctor," the gray-haired politician said. It had always struck Clark that the president was a very nervous type when he wasn't in front of a camera. She rather enjoyed scaring the poor man; that was ironic because she was a woman, albeit a woman with a commanding presence and powerful charisma.
Clark stepped closer, out of the shadows, and addressed them. "I apologize, Mister President. I thought you were aware I was behind you."
The president laughed nervously. "It must be because we're down here so far underground. I guess I'm a little claustrophobic."
General Houseman said, "We'll get you back up to the surface as soon as you want to go, Mister President." Clark noted the general didn't look too pleased to be there either.
"Is she giving birth?" the president asked.
"She's been in labor for a long time," Clark answered. "It'll be very soon, I'm sure."
The president squeamishly turned away from the window and waved his hand around the chamber, indicating the hundreds of stalactites on the limestone ceiling. "Do any of those things ever fall?"
"They're thousands of years, Mister President," Clark replied. "They won't fall on their own, I can assure you of that. And the likelihood of an earthquake occuring in the southeastern corner of New Mexico is quite remote." Her voice reverberated with upper-class sophistication and the timbre of a Shakespearean actress.
The president nodded. "I know. It's just amazing to think that on the other side of that cavern wall is one of America's most popular national parks. Hundreds of tourists pour through it every day."
"The Carlsbad area was perfect for the project. I'm in debt to your predecessor for backing it."
The president tilted his head and said, "You know, Doctor, I inherited this project. Tell me how you got established in this facility."
Clark smiled. "Ever since the caverns were discovered, there were many caves not open to the public. Caves just sitting here, available to the government. I believe the first time this cavern was used by the government was during World War II. The Roosevelt administration built a safe house here in case America was attacked. Since then, it's been used for a number of research projects." Clark glanced at the general. "A number of them military in nature."
"I see."
"We took it over in the mid-sixties."
The president turned back to the window. "Well, is the project finally going to succeed?" he asked. "This is, what, the ninth try?"
"Have faith, Mister President," Dr. Clark said. "I corrected the genetic code in the last batch. I also made sure the surrogate mother possessed certain genetic latches, if you will, that could connect to those of Big Boss."
The president shook his head in amazement. "I still can't believe you have so many samples of his cells. What did he think you were going to do with them?"
"The man knew only that he was sterile and unable to produce children. He was unaware of our undertaking here," Dr. Clark said.
"The Les Enfants Terribles project."
"Correct. We extracted the cells when Big Boss was in surgery, when he was wounded in the last war. The Pentagon gave strict orders that he was not to know"