The Pyramid Builders Read Online Free Page A

shrugged and leaned back in the chair, “I received a patent on it yesterday and yes, it is capable of viewing past events. However, there’ll be no way to trial it until someone develops a faster-than-light ship.”
    Chen looked at President Carlyle and turned back to Chris, “If such a ship was developed, how far back in the past could you view events?”
    Chris just stared at Chen and wondered what was going on. The woman said, “You were asked a question!”
    Chris looked at her and said, “I don’t know if that scowl is your normal feature, but he asked it; not you. I’ve been trying to make a quick determination and without a calculator it takes a few moments to figure out. Why don’t you behave yourself and not show such discourtesy to the President by interrupting our conversation. He was talking to me.”
    Jillian turned red and Chris saw her anger. Good. She didn’t know who she was fooling with.
    Chen looked at Jillian with a stern expression and she sat back fuming. “Do you need us to bring you a calculator, Doctor Connor?”
    “No, Mr. President. I find that question difficult to answer.”
    “Why?”
    “Well, it depends on which direction you chose to take to view the light that left Earth. There are stars, planets, quasar dust, and other objects that could block it out if you chose the wrong path to follow.”
    Chen smiled, “Just a rough guess would be fine. Could you see a hundred years ago?”
    Chris smiled, “Well, if you went took a path out into empty space to view it, you could go back more than a million years. I’ve theoretically proven that the absolute limit is about a billion years.”
    Even the woman was stunned. All three looked at each other and Chen continued, “Tell me, Doctor Connor, how you would be able to capture only the reflected light that came from our planet? Surely there would be much more than just the light from Earth?”
    “Yes there would be, however, the light leaving Earth is reflected through an atmosphere composed of eighty percent nitrogen and twenty percent oxygen. Of course there are other trace gasses, and taken as a whole they would make that light different from other light sources. The frequency of that reflected light would fall into a very specific range, and only Earth’s light reflection would be on that frequency. The sensors of the system would scan for and capture only light on that waveband.”
    President Carlyle said, “You say you can focus that light such that you can see individuals on the planet’s surface?”
    Chris furrowed his brow and looked at the three intently staring at him, “Yes, but why are you so interested in the device? It’s worthless unless you can travel faster-than-light.” Chris paused, looked at the woman, and then he knew, “You’ve discovered a way to do it?”
    Chen smiled, “Yes, we have, Dr. Connor, and we need you to trial your device.”
    “Does that mean leaving Earth and going out into space?”
    Chen and James looked at each other and Chen said, “Yes, it does.”
    “Well count me out. I have no desire to leave the planet. Have you trialed this stardrive?”
    Chen stared at Chris and said, “Yes, for a short jump out to Neptune.”
    Chris began shaking his head, “I have absolutely no desire to jump on board a ship made with brand new technology and give it a trial. I’ll teach someone else how to use my device and they can go trial it.”
    “Is it simple to use?”
    “Well, no. But give me a year and I can bring someone up to speed on how to make the adjustments and calibrations.”
    Chen said, “What if we pay you to make the trip?”
    “Sorry, you can’t spend money if you’re dead. I’m quite comfortable with my life exactly as it is.”
    Jillian looked at Chris and said, “You just haven’t run out of Dollys to exploit yet, have you?”
    Chris felt his temper flare. He looked angrily at the black haired woman and said, “You can say what you want about me, but the next time you