Artifact by Gregory Benford

Author:Gregory Benford
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
ISBN: 9780061762512
Publisher: HarperCollins

“I suppose you all understand,” Donald Hampton said gravely, “the seriousness of this.”

He stood with hands judicially clasped behind his back, studying the artifact. His three-piece suit of blue wool was spattered by the rain storm that had settled on Boston like a sodden pall. His face was red from the chill outside and he puffed, the knot of his plaid tie bulging. There had been only a few minutes’ wait until he appeared, scowling distrustfully at the messy array of diagnostics.

“This is an incredible breach of elementary professional standards. I can perhaps understand the motives of Dr. Bishop and Dr. Sprangle, but you, Claire, a trained archeologist—!”

John said mildly, “You haven’t heard what led to this.”

“I needn’t know every detail.” Hampton scowled at John. “Professor Kontos was right about you, that is all I need to know. And to think how you deceived our committee hearing, sitting there and lying—”

“I never lied,” John said with sudden sharpness. “It’s not my fault if you don’t ask the right questions.”

Hampton snorted. “So you hold that theft is permissible if undetected?”

“We got it back from where Kontos had hidden it,” John said.

“I am sure Professor Kontos had no intention of doing anything—”

“He stuck it back in a hole, to keep it from being shipped with the rest of the gear, to Athens,” John said. “He was going to claim it as his own discovery.”

“Fantastic,” Hampton said dismissively. “How could he? You and Claire had evidence, pictures.”

“Only because Claire went back to get her notes and records. It was while we were there, in the tomb, that we saw what Kontos was trying.”

“I simply do not believe such a wild, ad hoc story. If it was true, why did you not bring it up during our committee hearing?”

Claire said, “You wouldn’t have bought it.”

Hampton stared at Claire, then John, then Abe. “You should all be ashamed at such a deception. Your failure to argue your case merely underlines your duplicity. Abe, you in particular should know this undermines all that our joint program stands for.”

“I did the research. I didn’t ask about the details of getting it here.”

Hampton reddened further. “What you call details concerns the theft of Greek national treasure.”

Abe said calmly, “From what I’ve heard, there were mitigating circumstances.”

“I am afraid you understand nothing of the international standards of respect for a nation’s past, for its heritage—”

“I am a scientist,” Abe said simply. “I have research to do, I do it. This is one fabulous artifact, Donald.”

Hampton sniffed. Claire realized that since he had come into the bay he had not taken a close look at the cube. He saw it as a pawn in a larger game. His curiosity as an archeologist had atrophied. “I can see it is unusual,” Hampton declared. “A beautiful amber, yes. Fine artwork. But the exact nature of the piece is immaterial; we deal with principle.”

Claire had deliberately said little since his appearance. Now she murmured, “I want a hearing to make my case.”

Hampton chuckled sardonically, “Oh, a hearing you shall get.

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