Michael Crichton: The Andromeda Strain

Q: Jack, when does this postponement go into effect?

A: Immediately. Right as I talk to you, we are shutting down. Q: How long do you anticipate this delay will last?

A: I'm afraid that's impossible to say. Q: Could it be a matter of months? A: It could. Q: Jack, could it be as long as a year9

A: It's just impossible for me to say. We must wait for the findings of the investigative committee.

Q: Does this postponement have anything to do with the Russian decision to curtail their space program after the crash of Zond 19?

A: You'd have to ask the Russians about that.

Q: I see that Jeremy Stone is on the list of the investigative committee. How did you happen to include a bacteriologist?

A: Professor Stone has served on many scientific advisory councils in the past. We value his opinion on a broad range of subjects.

Q: What will this delay do to the Mars-landing target date?

A: It will certainly set the scheduling back.

Q: Jack, how far?

A: I'll tell you frankly, it's something that all of us here would like to know. We regard the failure of Andros V as a scientific error, a breakdown in systems technology, and not as a specifically human error. The scientists are going over the problem now, and we'll have to wait for their findings. The decision is really out of our hands.

Q: Jack, would you repeat that?

A: The decision is out of our hands.