For this Savvy Saturday we have two very intelligent, and secretive, guests. For the purposes of safety, I have been told that what you read here you read at your own risk. For, if the enemies of Alan
Joshua and Dr. Slezak find out you know this information, nowhere will be safe.
Alan Joshua is the author of the ever popular book, The SHIVA Syndrome, available now on Amazon.
Hello Mr. Joshua!
A pleasure, Kylee. Thanks for the
invitation.
You brought a very distinguished-looking gentleman with you. And he is…
Dr. Karlik Slezak, Chief of
Operations in Bioengineering at the National Science Foundation—NSF.
Before I interview Dr. Slezak, would you give us a little background
about his book?
You must have heard by now that
part of the Russian city of Podol’sk, a suburb of Moscow, was mysteriously
destroyed—obliterated—leaving a crater two miles wide and a mile deep.
No, I hadn’t heard. You would think something of that magnitude would
be spread all over the media.
The information’s been blacked out;
the whole matter’s classified. Even Putin hasn’t made an official statement
yet. There are at least ten thousand dead.
NSF’s upper echelon began to worry
that, because the Russian research at the Anokhin Institute was so similar to
what NSF is doing, there could be a connection. Dr. Slezak assembled a topnotch US-Russian investigative team, including
Beau Walker, a research psychologist. The team will enter the crater and to try
to discover what caused the catastrophe.
How tragic. You said the crater is a mile deep? That sounds dangerous.
That’s an understatement, Kylee.
The little data that’s been gathered so far sounds otherworldly, almost
extraterrestrial. Lukasha Ibatov, a xenogeologist, will be heading the
expedition. But that’s how The SHIVA Syndrome begins.
(Slezak
clears his throat loudly, interrupting them.) You can stop right there, Mr.
Joshua. That’s as far as you go. This is classified above Top Secret…and you’re
aware of the consequences.
Yes, Dr. Slezak. I’m aware.
If Podol’sk can’t be discussed, Dr. Slezak, can you at least tell us
something about your bioengineering research at NSF?
(Slezak
smiles, but his gray eyes are cold and dead-looking) The advancement of science,
of course. We serve humanity and protect our great nation. Safeguarding our
nation’s security—you, your lovely family, those things we hold so dear in
these troubled times—is of the utmost importance to us. It’s the guiding
principle in my life’s work.
You really haven’t answered my question, Sir. How can your project accomplish
that? What, exactly, is the nature of your research?
It’s pioneering. It involves mind
research used to—
That’s
quite enough Mr. Joshua! Ms. Howells, I’m here as a favor that’s been abused
already. Normally, I’m very uncomfortable being interviewed. I’ll just say that
security issues prohibit disclosure. National security. That’s about the best
answer I can give at this time, my dear.
Very well. Then let’s just jump into this interview shall we?
As
you wish. I have pressing matters in
Washington requiring my attention. So please be brief.
All right. First question: What is your greatest extravagance?
(Slezak
grins) I’m not a man prone to extravagances or nonessentials. You might call me
rather spartan. I deal only with necessities—including how I spend my time.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Two
I think: transparency and the relative value of truth. The idea of transparency
is vastly overrated—even dangerous. It invites others to exploit your
vulnerabilities, to weaken your resolve. My employees know full well that the
less said, the better. The public at large should not have all the information.
They simply can’t handle it. They’re more comfortable with the predictable and
familiar. Leave the complexities of life to the government and its agencies.
When and where were you happiest?
When
I received the National Medal of Science from the President for achievement in
bioengineering. It led to the nomination for my present position in NSF.
What was the achievement that won the award?
Ah,
that was for a new engineering device and technique for more effective and
rapid genetic resequencing.
Where would you most like to live?
I’m
perfectly content to stay where I am, in Washington, D.C. For me, it’s the
center of the world.
I notice you keep looking at your watch, Dr. Slezak.
I’m
sorry, but the research team will be leaving for Russia and I must see them
before their departure.
My final question: what is your most treasured possession?
That,
I think, is yet to come, more as a success than a possession. The catastrophe
in Russia that Mr. Joshua unfortunately leaked is the NSF’s greatest challenge
yet. Please understand that my need for vagueness is for the public’s
protection. The problems the investigative team faces are filled with
unknowns—and dangers I cannot even hint at. If I—I mean we—are able to resolve
this enigmatic disaster, I would have to consider that my most treasured
accomplishment.
Thank you Mr. Joshua and Dr. Slezak for being here today.
Thank you for having us, Kylee.
Yes,
Ms. Howells. I hope you were able to meet your needs. However, the information
Mr. Joshua told you is an official secret. Private citizens like you can be
prosecuted under the Espionage Act for sharing classified information. I
suggest—strongly—that you censor your recording and do not disclose anything
related to the Russian event. If you do, it will be at your own risk.
Menagerie à Trois
