“Okay,” the minister nodded. “What else do we know? Please, Monsieur Dordain.”
The head of the space agency began to talk:
“The recording itself is no different from the Voyager recording. We tend to assume that this is the original, not the recordings that are in the NASA archives and public sources, this is exactly the original from the Voyager record.”
“How did you figure that out?” Bernard Bajolet asked.
“The quality of the signal.”
“I thought it was just an attached disk on the Voyager plating. Is it possible that the signal is being broadcast?” asked one of the generals.
“No,” replied the minister for the head of the ESA, “so we need to get to the bottom of this situation.”
That ended the meeting, several generals began to call their teams to find out more about the situation. The minister asked all the heads of departments to stay in Paris and attend an extended meeting on the situation tomorrow. Bernard Bajolet went out into the corridor and checked his mail and his work calendar.
He dialed the number of his assistant.
“Listening,” Jean-Pierre’s voice was heard.
“Jean-Pierre, I received the documents. Very good. I want to ask you…” said Bernard tiredly. “You will have to go to Tokyo instead of me. I have informed the minister that you will make a report on our proposals.”
“It will be done, monsieur. Thank you.”
“Oh, and one more thing,” Bernard Bajolet breathed in his chest, “forgive me for not giving you a rest. Tomorrow you can take the day off. I have to stay in Paris.”
“Okay.”
Jean-Pierre, rested and in the mood for a long flight, stood in the aisle of the plane. There were several passengers in front of him. The stewardess smiled at him and greeted him.
“Good evening, monsieur.”
Jean-Pierre walked to the back of the plane. He had to change the ticket of the boss, and there was only a free seat in the tail of the plane. He walked down the narrow aisle, holding a small suitcase on wheels in front of him. A young Japanese man with headphones was sitting at the window, Jean-Pierre put the suitcase on the luggage shelf and sat on the seat in the center of the row. People were seated in their seats and preparing for the flight. A girl sat down next to them. Jean-Pierre began to repeat to himself the theses of the report, which he would have to present tomorrow. The plane began to roll out for takeoff.