“Not for me,” Cardenas snapped. “Not for a half a dozen of the Martian explorers, either. They’ve accepted nanomachines. They have no intention of returning to Earth.”
Surprised, Dan said, “I didn’t know that.”
“There hasn’t been much publicity about it. The New Morality and their ilk have a pretty tight grip on the news media.”
Dan studied her face for a long, silent moment. Dr. Cardenas was physically youthful, quite attractive, a Nobel laureate, the leader in her chosen field of study. Yet she seemed so indignant.
“Well, anyway,” he said, “I’m grateful that you’ve taken the time to see me. I know you’re busy.”
She broke into a pleased smile. “Your message seemed kind of…” she fished for a word,”… mysterious. It made me wonder why you wanted to see me in person, rather than by phone.”
Dan grinned back at her. “I’ve found that it’s always easier to discuss matters face-to-face. Phones, mail, even VR meetings, they can’t replace person-to-person contact.”
Cardenas’s smile turned knowing. “It’s more difficult for someone to say ‘no’ to your face.”
“You got me,” Dan replied, raising his hands in mock surrender. “I need your help and I didn’t want to tell you about it long-distance.”
She seemed to relax somewhat. Easing back in her chair, she asked, “So what’s so important that you came up here to see me?”
“Down here. I came in from Selene.”
“What’s your problem? I’ve been so wrapped up with this Mars work that I haven’t been keeping up with current events.”
Dan took in a breath, then started, “You know I’m the head of Astro Manufacturing.”
Cardenas nodded.
“I’ve got a small team ready to build a prototype fusion rocket, using nanomachines.”
“A fusion rocket?”
“We’ve tested small models. The system works. Now we need to build a full-scale prototype and test it. We’re planning a mission to the Asteroid Belt, and—”
“Spacecraft have gone to the Belt on ordinary rockets. Why do you need a fusion system?”
“Those were unmanned vehicles. This mission will carry a crew of four, maybe six.”
“To the Asteroid Belt? Why?”
“To start prospecting for the metals and minerals that the people of Earth need,” Dan said.
Cardenas’s face turned stony. Coldly, she asked, “What are you trying to accomplish, Mr. Randolph?”
“I’m trying to save the Earth. I know that sounds pompous, but if we don’t—”
“I see no reason to save the Earth,” Cardenas said flatly.
Dan gaped at her.
“They got themselves into this greenhouse mess. They were warned, but they paid no attention. The politicians, the business leaders, the news media… none of them lifted a finger until it was too late.”
“That’s not entirely true,” Dan said softly, remembering his own struggles to get the world’s leaders to recognize the looming greenhouse cliff before it struck.
“True enough,” Cardenas replied. “And then there’s the New Morality and all those other ultraconservative cults. Why do you want to save them?”
“They’re people,” Dan blurted. “Human beings.”
“Let them sink in their own filth,” Cardenas said, her words dripping acid. “They’ve earned whatever they get.”
“But…” Dan felt completely at sea. “I don’t understand…”
“They exiled me.” She almost snarled the words. “Because I injected nanomachines into my body, they prevented me from returning to Earth. Their fanatics assassinated anyone who spoke in favor of nanotechnology, did you know that?”
Dan shook his head mutely.
“They attacked Moonbase, back before it became Selene. One of their suicide killers blew up Professor Zimmerman in his own lab. And you want me to help them?”
Shocked by her vehemence, Dan mumbled, “But that was years ago…”
“I was there, Mr. Randolph. I saw the mangled bodies. And then, when we won and even the old United Nations had to recognize our independence, those hypocritical ignoramuses passed laws exiling anyone who had accepted nanomachines into her body.”
“I understand that, but—”
“I had a husband,” she went on, blue eyes snapping. “I had two daughters. I have four grandchildren in college that I’ve never touched! Never held them as babies. Never sat down at the same table with them.”
Another woman might have burst into tears, Dan thought. But Cardenas was too furious for that. How the hell can I reach her? he wondered.