however, that its accomplishments often became the stuff of urban legend. It was said, for example, that DARPA had recently perfected the J'-7—the mythical A-frame rocket pack that would ultimately replace the parachute but this had never been proved.
The Tactical Technology Office, however, was the spearhead of DARPA's arsenal, the jewel in its crown. It was the division in charge of developing the big stuff—high-risk/high-return strategic weaponry.
Race wondered what DARPA's Tactical Technology Office could possibly want with the Ancient Languages Department at NYU.
'You want our help?' he asked, looking up from Nash's photo-ID card.
'Well, actually, we came here specifically seeking your help.“
'Some help', Race thought. He lectured in ancient languages - classical and medieval Latin—with a little Spanish and German on the side. He couldn't think of a single thing that he could help DARPA with.
'What sort of help?' he asked.
'Translating a manuscript. A four-hundred Latin manuscript.'
'A manuscript…' Race said. Such a request wasn't unusual.
He was often asked to translate medieval manuscripts. It was unusual, however, when it was asked in the presence of armed commandos.
'Professor Race,' Nash said, 'the translation of the document in question is a matter of extreme urgency. In fact, the document itself is not even in the United States yet. It is ... What we would require of you is to meet document at Newark and translate it in transit to our...'
'In transit?' Race said. 'To where?'
'I'm afraid that is something I am unable tell you at this moment...'
Race was about to argue when suddenly the door to the office opened and another Green Beret entered. He carried a pack on his back and he walked quickly over to Nash, whispered softly in his ear. Race caught the words: '—been ordered to mobilise.'
'When?' Nash said.
'Ten minutes ago, sir,' the soldier whispered back.
Nash looked down quickly at his watch. 'Damn it.'
He swung back to face Race.
'Professor Race, we don't have much time, so I'm going to give this to you straight. This is a very important mission, a mission that seriously affects the national security of the United States. But it is a mission that has a very short window of opportunity. We must act now. But in order to do that, I need a translator. A medieval Latin translator.
You.'
'How soon?'
'I have a car waiting out front.'
Race swallowed. 'I don't know…'
He could feel everyone's eyes on him. He felt suddenly nervous at the prospect of travelling to destination unknown with Frank Nash and a team of fully armed Green Berets. He felt like he was being railroaded.
'What about Ed Devereux at Harvard?' he said. 'He's a lot better at med-Latin than I am. He'd be faster.'
Nash said, 'I don't need the best and I don't have the time to travel up to Boston. Your brother mentioned your name to us. He said you were good and that you were in New York and quite frankly, that's all I need. I need someone close who can do the job now.'
Race bit his lip.
Nash said, 'You'll have a bodyguard assigned to you for the entire mission. We'll pick up the manuscript at Newark in about thirty minutes and get on the plane a few minutes after that. If all goes well, you'll have the document translated by the time we land. You won't even have to get off the plane. And if you do, you'll have a team of Green Berets looking after you.'
Race frowned at that.
'Professor Race, you won't be the only academic on this mission. Walter Chambers from Stanford will be there; Gabriela Lopez from Princeton; and also Lauren O'Connor from—'
Lauren O'Connor, Race thought.
He hadn't heard that name in years.
Race had known Lauren back in his college days at USE.
While he had studied languages, she had majored in science-theoretical physics. They'd dated, but it had ended badly. Last he heard, she'd been working at the Livermore Labs in their nuclear physics department.
Race looked at Nash. He wondered just how much Frank Nash knew about Lauren and himself—wondered if he had dropped her name deliberately.
The thing was, if he had, then it worked.
If Lauren was anything, she was street-smart. She wouldn't go on a mission like this without a good reason.
In fact that she had agreed to be a part of Nash's adventure - gave it instant credibility.
