Contact - Carl Sagan [35]
Der Heer was radiating something again. What was he trying to tell her? That he liked that elementary analogy, but ease up on Kitz?
"In any case," she continued, "it's too late. Everybody knows now that there's some kind of intelligent life in the Vega system."
"I'm not sure it's too late, Dr. Arroway. You seem to think there'll be some information-rich transmission, a message, still to come. Dr. der Heer here"-he paused to listen to the unexpected assonance-"Dr. der Heer says you think these prime numbers are an announcement, something to make us pay attention. If there is a message and it's subtle-something those other countries wouldn't pick up right away-I want it kept quiet until we can talk about it."
"Many of us have wants, Mr. Kitz, she found herself saying sweetly, ignoring der Heer's raised eyebrows. There was something irritating, almost provocative, about Kitz's manner. And probably hers as well. "I, for example, have a want to understand what the meaning of this signal is, and what's happening on Vega, and what it means for the Earth. It's possible that scientists in other nations are the key to that understanding. Maybe we'll need their data. Maybe we'll need their brains. I could imagine this might be a problem too big for one country to handle all by itself."
Der Heer now appeared faintly alarmed. "Uh, Dr. Arroway. Secretary Kitz's suggestion isn't all that unreasonable. It's very possible we'd bring other nations in. All he's asking is to talk about it with us first. And that's only if there's a new message."
His tone was calming but not unctuous. She looked at him closely again. Der Heer was not a patently handsome man, but he had a kind and intelligent face. He was wearing a blue suit and a crisp oxford shirt. His seriousness and air of self-possession were moderated by the warmth of his smile. Why, then, was he shilling for this jerk? Part of his job? Could it be that Kitz was talking sense?
"It's a remote contingency anyway." Kitz sighed as he got to his feet. "The Secretary of Defense would appreciate your cooperation." He was trying to be winning. "Agreed?"
"Let me think about it," she replied, taking his proffered hand as if it were a dead fish.
"I'll be along in a few minutes, Mike," der Heer said cheerfully.
His hand on the lintel of the door, Kitz had an apparent afterthought, removed a document from his inside breast pocket, returned, and placed it gingerly on the corner of her desk. "Oh yes, I forgot. Here's a copy of the Hadden Decision. You probably know it. It's about the government's right to classify material vital to the security of the United States. Even if it didn't originate in a classified facility."
"You want to classify the prime numbers?" she asked, her eyes wide in mock incredulity.
"See you outside, Ken."
She began talking the moment Kitz left her office. "What's he after? Vegan death rays? World blower-uppers? What's this really about?"
"He's just being prudent, Ellie. I can see you don't think that's the whole story. Okay. Suppose there's some message-you know, with real content-and in it there's something offensive to Muslims, say, or to Methodists. Shouldn't we release it carefully, so the United States doesn't get a black eye?"
"Ken, don't bullshit me. That man is an Assistant Secretary of Defense. If they're worried about Muslims and Methodists, they would have sent me an Assistant Secretary of State, or-I don't know-one of those religious fanatics who preside at presidential prayer breakfasts. You're the President's Science Adviser. What did you advise her?"
"I haven't advised her anything. Since I've been here, I've only talked to her once, briefly, on the phone. And I'll be frank with you, she didn't give me any instructions about classification. I thought what Kitz said was way off base. I think he's acting on his own."
"Who is he?"
"As far as I know, he's a lawyer. He was a top executive in the electronics industry before joining the Administration. He really knows C3I, but that doesn't make