Abduction (5 page)
Authors: Robin Cook
Tags: #Fiction, #Suspense, #Onbekend, #Unabridged Audio - Fiction, #Suspense & Thriller
other. Still believing there had to be a dating instrument malfunction involved, Suzanne had Tad
Messenger, the head lab tech, recalibrate it. When she ran the sample again, the result was within a few million years of the previous one. Still in doubt, Suzanne reconciled herself to waiting until she got back to L.A. so she could use the university lab's equipment. Meanwhile the results were hidden away in her ship's locker. She tried to reserve judgment, but her interest in Sea Mount Olympus soared. "We have hot coffee in a Thermos aft if you'd like some," Suzanne said. "I'd be happy to get it for you." "I think I'd be happier if you stay at the controls," Perry said. "Donald, how about turning on the outside lights for a moment," Suzanne suggested. "We're only passing through five hundred feet," Donald said. "There's nothing to see." "It's Mr. Bergman's first open ocean dive," Suzanne said. "He should see the plankton." "Call me Perry," Perry said. "I mean, why be formal while we're packed in here together like so many sardines in a can?"
Suzanne acknowledged Perry's offer of informality with a smile. She was only sorry he so clearly was not enjoying the trip.
"Donald, as a favor to me, turn on the lights," Suzanne said. Donald complied without further comment. He reached forward and snapped on the external halogen lamps on the port side. Perry turned his head and glanced out. "Looks like snow," he said.
"It's trillions of individual plankton organisms," Suzanne explained. "Since we're still in an epipelagic zone, it's probably mostly phytoplankton, or plant plankton that can carry on photosynthesis. Along with the blue-green algae, those are the guys who are at the bottom of the entire oceanic food chain." "I'm glad," Perry said.
Donald switched the lights off. "No sense in using up valuable battery power with that type of reaction," he explained to Suzanne sotto voce.
In the ensuing darkness, Perry witnessed twinkling bursts of muted neon green and yellow sparkles. He asked Suzanne what it was.
"That's bioluminescence," Suzanne said. "Is it the plankton?" Perry asked.
"It could be," Suzanne said. "If so, it would probably be dinoflagellates. Of course, it could also be tiny crustaceans or even fish. I've put a yellow bookmark in the marine life book marking the bioluminescence section."
Perry nodded but made no attempt to pick up the text.
Messenger, the head lab tech, recalibrate it. When she ran the sample again, the result was within a few million years of the previous one. Still in doubt, Suzanne reconciled herself to waiting until she got back to L.A. so she could use the university lab's equipment. Meanwhile the results were hidden away in her ship's locker. She tried to reserve judgment, but her interest in Sea Mount Olympus soared. "We have hot coffee in a Thermos aft if you'd like some," Suzanne said. "I'd be happy to get it for you." "I think I'd be happier if you stay at the controls," Perry said. "Donald, how about turning on the outside lights for a moment," Suzanne suggested. "We're only passing through five hundred feet," Donald said. "There's nothing to see." "It's Mr. Bergman's first open ocean dive," Suzanne said. "He should see the plankton." "Call me Perry," Perry said. "I mean, why be formal while we're packed in here together like so many sardines in a can?"
Suzanne acknowledged Perry's offer of informality with a smile. She was only sorry he so clearly was not enjoying the trip.
"Donald, as a favor to me, turn on the lights," Suzanne said. Donald complied without further comment. He reached forward and snapped on the external halogen lamps on the port side. Perry turned his head and glanced out. "Looks like snow," he said.
"It's trillions of individual plankton organisms," Suzanne explained. "Since we're still in an epipelagic zone, it's probably mostly phytoplankton, or plant plankton that can carry on photosynthesis. Along with the blue-green algae, those are the guys who are at the bottom of the entire oceanic food chain." "I'm glad," Perry said.
Donald switched the lights off. "No sense in using up valuable battery power with that type of reaction," he explained to Suzanne sotto voce.
In the ensuing darkness, Perry witnessed twinkling bursts of muted neon green and yellow sparkles. He asked Suzanne what it was.
"That's bioluminescence," Suzanne said. "Is it the plankton?" Perry asked.
"It could be," Suzanne said. "If so, it would probably be dinoflagellates. Of course, it could also be tiny crustaceans or even fish. I've put a yellow bookmark in the marine life book marking the bioluminescence section."
Perry nodded but made no attempt to pick up the text.
Nice try,
Suzanne thought glumly. Her optimism about ensuring Perry's enjoyment sagged appreciably.
"
Oceanus,
this is
Benthic Explorer,
" Larry's voice sounded in the acoustic phone speaker. "Suggest a course two hundred and seventy degrees at fifty amps for two minutes." "Roger," Donald said. He quickly made the course adjustment with the joysticks and changed the power output to the propeller to the suggested fifty amps. He then noted the changes on his clipboard. "Larry has plotted our position by tracking our pinger and relating it to the bottom hydrophones," Suzanne explained. "By powering forward while descending we'll reach bottom directly at the well head. It's like we're gliding to the target."
"What will we do until the divers arrive?" Perry asked. "Just sit and twiddle our thumbs?" "Hardly," Suzanne said. She forced another smile along with a shallow laugh. "We'll unload the drill bit from the tray along with the tools we're carrying. Then we'll back off. At that point we'll have about twenty to thirty minutes to explore around the site. That's the part I think you are going to truly enjoy." "I can't wait," Perry said with the kind of sarcasm Suzanne was beginning to dread. "But I don't want you doing anything out of the ordinary on my behalf. I mean, don't try to impress me. I'm already impressed enough."
Suddenly the monotonous pinging of the sonar changed. The sub was nearing the bottom, and the forward short-range sonar had a solid contact. The tiny screen showed the well head and the pipe snaking down from above. Donald jettisoned several of the descent weights and the craft's gliding plunge slowed. He then began a careful adjustment of the variable ballast system to achieve neutral buoyancy. While Donald was busy pumping oil, Suzanne reached behind her and turned on a small CD player. It was part of her master plan. All at once the sound of Igor Stravinsky's
Rite of Spring
filled the sub's interior. Taking the music as a cue, Donald leaned forward and switched on the outside lights. Perry's eyes widened as he glanced out the view port. The planktonic snow had all but disappeared, and the clarity of the icy water was more than he imagined. He was able to see for several hundred feet, and what he saw left him flabbergasted. He'd expected a flat, featureless plain similar to what the bottom looked like on his dive off Santa Catalina Island. At most he thought he might see a few sea cucumbers. Instead he was gazing at a misty tableau the likes of which he'd never imagined: huge, dark gray, columnar forms with flat tops dotted the landscape, jutting up in a stepwise fashion like the frozen pistons of an enormous engine. The haunting shapes extended out as far as Perry could see. A few long-tailed, big-eyed fish lazily darted in and around them. On some of the rock ledges sea fans and sea whips waved sinuously in the current.
"Good God!" Perry exclaimed. He was mesmerized, especially with the dramatic music in the background.
"Rather exceptional, eh?" Suzanne said. She was encouraged. Perry's reaction to the scenery was his first auspicious response.
"It looks like some ancient temple area," Perry exclaimed. "Like Atlantis," Suzanne suggested. She was intent on milking the situation for all it was worth.
Suzanne thought glumly. Her optimism about ensuring Perry's enjoyment sagged appreciably.
"
Oceanus,
this is
Benthic Explorer,
" Larry's voice sounded in the acoustic phone speaker. "Suggest a course two hundred and seventy degrees at fifty amps for two minutes." "Roger," Donald said. He quickly made the course adjustment with the joysticks and changed the power output to the propeller to the suggested fifty amps. He then noted the changes on his clipboard. "Larry has plotted our position by tracking our pinger and relating it to the bottom hydrophones," Suzanne explained. "By powering forward while descending we'll reach bottom directly at the well head. It's like we're gliding to the target."
"What will we do until the divers arrive?" Perry asked. "Just sit and twiddle our thumbs?" "Hardly," Suzanne said. She forced another smile along with a shallow laugh. "We'll unload the drill bit from the tray along with the tools we're carrying. Then we'll back off. At that point we'll have about twenty to thirty minutes to explore around the site. That's the part I think you are going to truly enjoy." "I can't wait," Perry said with the kind of sarcasm Suzanne was beginning to dread. "But I don't want you doing anything out of the ordinary on my behalf. I mean, don't try to impress me. I'm already impressed enough."
Suddenly the monotonous pinging of the sonar changed. The sub was nearing the bottom, and the forward short-range sonar had a solid contact. The tiny screen showed the well head and the pipe snaking down from above. Donald jettisoned several of the descent weights and the craft's gliding plunge slowed. He then began a careful adjustment of the variable ballast system to achieve neutral buoyancy. While Donald was busy pumping oil, Suzanne reached behind her and turned on a small CD player. It was part of her master plan. All at once the sound of Igor Stravinsky's
Rite of Spring
filled the sub's interior. Taking the music as a cue, Donald leaned forward and switched on the outside lights. Perry's eyes widened as he glanced out the view port. The planktonic snow had all but disappeared, and the clarity of the icy water was more than he imagined. He was able to see for several hundred feet, and what he saw left him flabbergasted. He'd expected a flat, featureless plain similar to what the bottom looked like on his dive off Santa Catalina Island. At most he thought he might see a few sea cucumbers. Instead he was gazing at a misty tableau the likes of which he'd never imagined: huge, dark gray, columnar forms with flat tops dotted the landscape, jutting up in a stepwise fashion like the frozen pistons of an enormous engine. The haunting shapes extended out as far as Perry could see. A few long-tailed, big-eyed fish lazily darted in and around them. On some of the rock ledges sea fans and sea whips waved sinuously in the current.
"Good God!" Perry exclaimed. He was mesmerized, especially with the dramatic music in the background.
"Rather exceptional, eh?" Suzanne said. She was encouraged. Perry's reaction to the scenery was his first auspicious response.
"It looks like some ancient temple area," Perry exclaimed. "Like Atlantis," Suzanne suggested. She was intent on milking the situation for all it was worth.
"Yeah!" Perry blurted. "Like Atlantis! Jeez! Can you imagine bringing tourists down here and telling
them that it was Atlantis? What a freaking gold mine this could be." Suzanne cleared her throat. Bringing tourists down to her precious seamount was the last thing she wanted to see happen, but she appreciated Perry's enthusiasm. At least he was engaged. "Current is less than an eighth of a knot," Donald said. "Coming up on the well head. Prepare to off-load the drill bit."
Suzanne swung around to attend to her duties as copilot. She powered up the servos for the manipulator arms. Meanwhile Donald set the
Oceanus
down expertly on the rock floor. While Suzanne prepared to lift the drill bit and tools from the submersible's tray, Donald used the UQC phone. "On the bottom," Donald said. "Off-loading the payload." "Roger," Larry said in reply over the speaker. "I guessed as much when I heard Suzanne's music. Is that the only freaking CD she has?"
"It's the best one for the scenery down here," Suzanne interjected. "If we make any more dives I'll loan you some New Age CDs," Larry answered. "I can't stand that classical stuff."
"Am I looking at basaltic dikes out here?" Perry questioned. "That's my guess," Suzanne said. "Have you ever heard of the Giant's Causeway?" "Can't say that I have," Perry said.
"It's a natural rock formation on the northern coast of Ireland," Suzanne said. "It looks something like what you're seeing here."
"How big is the top of this seamount?" Perry questioned. "I'd estimate about four football fields," Suzanne said. "But, unfortunately, that's nothing but a guess. The problem is we haven't had enough bottom time to explore the whole thing." "Well, I think we ought to," Perry said.
Right on!
Suzanne said to herself. She had to resist the temptation to yell out to ask if Larry and Mark
had heard Perry's comment over the UQC.
"Does the whole top of the mountain look just the same as it does here?" Perry asked. "No, not entirely," Suzanne said. "On the limited amount we've seen there are some areas of more typical undersea lava formations. On the last dive, though, we caught a glimpse of what might be a transverse fault, but we were called back before we could check it out. The mount remains largely unexplored."
"Where was the fault in relation to the well head?" Perry asked.
them that it was Atlantis? What a freaking gold mine this could be." Suzanne cleared her throat. Bringing tourists down to her precious seamount was the last thing she wanted to see happen, but she appreciated Perry's enthusiasm. At least he was engaged. "Current is less than an eighth of a knot," Donald said. "Coming up on the well head. Prepare to off-load the drill bit."
Suzanne swung around to attend to her duties as copilot. She powered up the servos for the manipulator arms. Meanwhile Donald set the
Oceanus
down expertly on the rock floor. While Suzanne prepared to lift the drill bit and tools from the submersible's tray, Donald used the UQC phone. "On the bottom," Donald said. "Off-loading the payload." "Roger," Larry said in reply over the speaker. "I guessed as much when I heard Suzanne's music. Is that the only freaking CD she has?"
"It's the best one for the scenery down here," Suzanne interjected. "If we make any more dives I'll loan you some New Age CDs," Larry answered. "I can't stand that classical stuff."
"Am I looking at basaltic dikes out here?" Perry questioned. "That's my guess," Suzanne said. "Have you ever heard of the Giant's Causeway?" "Can't say that I have," Perry said.
"It's a natural rock formation on the northern coast of Ireland," Suzanne said. "It looks something like what you're seeing here."
"How big is the top of this seamount?" Perry questioned. "I'd estimate about four football fields," Suzanne said. "But, unfortunately, that's nothing but a guess. The problem is we haven't had enough bottom time to explore the whole thing." "Well, I think we ought to," Perry said.
Right on!
Suzanne said to herself. She had to resist the temptation to yell out to ask if Larry and Mark
had heard Perry's comment over the UQC.
"Does the whole top of the mountain look just the same as it does here?" Perry asked. "No, not entirely," Suzanne said. "On the limited amount we've seen there are some areas of more typical undersea lava formations. On the last dive, though, we caught a glimpse of what might be a transverse fault, but we were called back before we could check it out. The mount remains largely unexplored."
"Where was the fault in relation to the well head?" Perry asked.
"Due west from here," Suzanne said. "Just about in the direction you're looking right now. Can you see
a particularly high row of columns?"
"I think so," Perry said. He pushed his face against the Plexiglas to try to look slightly behind the sub. There was a row of columns at the edge of his visibility. "Would finding a transverse fault be significant?" he asked.
"It would be astounding," Suzanne responded. "They occur up and down the Mid-Atlantic Ridge system, but finding one at such a distance from the ridge, and through the middle of what we assume is an old volcano, would be quite unique."
"Let's go take a look," Perry suggested. "This place is fascinating." Suzanne grinned in triumph. She glanced at Donald. Even he couldn't suppress a smile. He'd been sympathetic to Suzanne's plan but had not been optimistic. It took Suzanne only a few minutes to unload everything that Mark had stowed in the submersible's tray. Once the material was lined up next to the well head, she folded the manipulating arms into their retracted position.
"So much for that job," Suzanne said. She turned off the power to the servo links. "
Oceanus
to surface control," Donald said into the UQC mike. "The payload has been off-loaded. What's the status of the divers?"
"Compression is nearing depth," Larry's voice reported over the speaker. "The bell should be starting its descent shortly. ETA on the bottom, thirty minutes give or take five." "Roger!" Donald said. "Keep us informed. We are going to move due west to investigate a scarp we caught sight of on the last dive."
"Ten-four," Larry said. "We'll let you know when the bell is lifted off the DDC. We'll also let you know when it is passing through five hundred feet so you can take up an appropriate position." "Roger!" Donald repeated. He hung up the UQC mike. With his hands resting gently on the joysticks he jacked up the power to the propulsion system to fifty amps. He expertly guided the submersible away from the well head, careful to avoid the vertical run of pipe. A few moments later the
Oceanus
was slowly flying over the strange topography of the guyot's top. "What I believe we're looking at here is a pristine section of the mantle's crust," Suzanne said. "But how and why the lava cooled to form these polygonal shapes is beyond me. It's almost like they're gigantic crystals."
"I like the idea of it being Atlantis," Perry said. His face remained glued to the view port. "We're coming up to the place where we glimpsed that fault," Donald said. "It should be just over that ridge of columns coming up," Suzanne said for Perry's benefit. Donald cut back on the power. The submersible slowed as they cleared the ridge.
a particularly high row of columns?"
"I think so," Perry said. He pushed his face against the Plexiglas to try to look slightly behind the sub. There was a row of columns at the edge of his visibility. "Would finding a transverse fault be significant?" he asked.
"It would be astounding," Suzanne responded. "They occur up and down the Mid-Atlantic Ridge system, but finding one at such a distance from the ridge, and through the middle of what we assume is an old volcano, would be quite unique."
"Let's go take a look," Perry suggested. "This place is fascinating." Suzanne grinned in triumph. She glanced at Donald. Even he couldn't suppress a smile. He'd been sympathetic to Suzanne's plan but had not been optimistic. It took Suzanne only a few minutes to unload everything that Mark had stowed in the submersible's tray. Once the material was lined up next to the well head, she folded the manipulating arms into their retracted position.
"So much for that job," Suzanne said. She turned off the power to the servo links. "
Oceanus
to surface control," Donald said into the UQC mike. "The payload has been off-loaded. What's the status of the divers?"
"Compression is nearing depth," Larry's voice reported over the speaker. "The bell should be starting its descent shortly. ETA on the bottom, thirty minutes give or take five." "Roger!" Donald said. "Keep us informed. We are going to move due west to investigate a scarp we caught sight of on the last dive."
"Ten-four," Larry said. "We'll let you know when the bell is lifted off the DDC. We'll also let you know when it is passing through five hundred feet so you can take up an appropriate position." "Roger!" Donald repeated. He hung up the UQC mike. With his hands resting gently on the joysticks he jacked up the power to the propulsion system to fifty amps. He expertly guided the submersible away from the well head, careful to avoid the vertical run of pipe. A few moments later the
Oceanus
was slowly flying over the strange topography of the guyot's top. "What I believe we're looking at here is a pristine section of the mantle's crust," Suzanne said. "But how and why the lava cooled to form these polygonal shapes is beyond me. It's almost like they're gigantic crystals."
"I like the idea of it being Atlantis," Perry said. His face remained glued to the view port. "We're coming up to the place where we glimpsed that fault," Donald said. "It should be just over that ridge of columns coming up," Suzanne said for Perry's benefit. Donald cut back on the power. The submersible slowed as they cleared the ridge.
"Wow!" Perry commented. "It certainly drops off quickly."
"Well, it's not a transverse fault," Suzanne said as she got a full view of the formation. "In fact, if it were a fault at all it would have to be a graben. The other side is just as steep." "What the hell is a graben?" Perry asked. "It's when a fault block falls in relation to the rock on either side," Suzanne explained. "But something like that doesn't happen on the top of a seamount." "It looks like a huge rectangular hole to me," Perry said. "What would you say? About a hundred and fifty feet long and fifty wide?"
"I'd say that's about right," Suzanne said. "It's incredible!" Perry commented. "It's like some giant took a knife and cut out a chunk of rock just the way you'd take a plug out of a watermelon." Donald powered the
Oceanus
out over the hole, and they all looked down. "I can't see the bottom," Perry said.
"Neither can I," Suzanne said.
"Neither can our sonar," Donald said. He pointed to the echo sounder monitor. It wasn't getting a return signal. It was as if the
Oceanus
were poised over a bottomless pit. "My word!" Suzanne said. She was dumbfounded. Donald gave the monitor a tap, but there was still no readout. "That's very strange," Suzanne said. "Do you think it's malfunctioning?" "I can't tell," Donald reported. He tried changing the adjustments. "Wait a sec," Perry voiced tensely. "Are you two pulling my leg?" "Try the side-scan sonar," Suzanne suggested, ignoring Perry for the moment. "It's just as weird," Donald said. "The signal is aberrant unless we want to accept the pit's only six or seven feet deep. That's what the side-scan monitor is suggesting." "Clearly the hole is a lot deeper than six or seven feet," Suzanne said. "Obviously," Donald agreed.
"Hey, come on, you guys," Perry said. "You're starting to scare me." Suzanne turned briefly to face Perry. "We're not trying to scare you," she said. "We're just mystified by our instruments."
"Well, it's not a transverse fault," Suzanne said as she got a full view of the formation. "In fact, if it were a fault at all it would have to be a graben. The other side is just as steep." "What the hell is a graben?" Perry asked. "It's when a fault block falls in relation to the rock on either side," Suzanne explained. "But something like that doesn't happen on the top of a seamount." "It looks like a huge rectangular hole to me," Perry said. "What would you say? About a hundred and fifty feet long and fifty wide?"
"I'd say that's about right," Suzanne said. "It's incredible!" Perry commented. "It's like some giant took a knife and cut out a chunk of rock just the way you'd take a plug out of a watermelon." Donald powered the
Oceanus
out over the hole, and they all looked down. "I can't see the bottom," Perry said.
"Neither can I," Suzanne said.
"Neither can our sonar," Donald said. He pointed to the echo sounder monitor. It wasn't getting a return signal. It was as if the
Oceanus
were poised over a bottomless pit. "My word!" Suzanne said. She was dumbfounded. Donald gave the monitor a tap, but there was still no readout. "That's very strange," Suzanne said. "Do you think it's malfunctioning?" "I can't tell," Donald reported. He tried changing the adjustments. "Wait a sec," Perry voiced tensely. "Are you two pulling my leg?" "Try the side-scan sonar," Suzanne suggested, ignoring Perry for the moment. "It's just as weird," Donald said. "The signal is aberrant unless we want to accept the pit's only six or seven feet deep. That's what the side-scan monitor is suggesting." "Clearly the hole is a lot deeper than six or seven feet," Suzanne said. "Obviously," Donald agreed.
"Hey, come on, you guys," Perry said. "You're starting to scare me." Suzanne turned briefly to face Perry. "We're not trying to scare you," she said. "We're just mystified by our instruments."
"My guess is there's one hell of a thermocline just within the rim of this formation," Donald said. "The
sonar has to be bouncing off something." "Would you mind translating that?" Perry said. "Sound waves bounce off sharp temperature gradients," Suzanne said. "We think that's what we have here."
"In order to get a depth readout we have to descend ten or fifteen feet into the pit," Donald said. "I'll do that by decreasing our buoyancy, but first I want to change our orientation." With short bursts Donald used the starboard front thruster to turn the submersible until it became parallel with the long axis of the hole. Then he manipulated the variable ballast system to make the sub negatively buoyant. Gradually the submersible started down. "Maybe this isn't such a good idea," Perry said. He was nervously looking back and forth between the side-scan sonar monitor and his view port. The UQC speaker cracked to life: "Surface control to
Oceanus.
The bell is lifting off the DDC as I'm speaking. The divers will be passing through five hundred feet in about ten minutes." "Roger, surface control," Donald said into the mike. "We're about one hundred feet west of the well head. We're going to check out an apparent marked thermocline in a rock formation. Communications might be interrupted momentarily, but we'll be on station for the divers." "Ten-four," Larry's voice said.
"Look at the luster of the walls," Suzanne remarked as the submersible sank below the tip of the huge hole. "They're perfectly smooth. It almost looks like obsidian!" "Let's head back to the well head," Perry suggested. "Could this be an opening into an extinct volcano?" Donald asked. A slight smile flitted across his otherwise rigid face.
"That's a thought," Suzanne said with a laugh. "Although I have to say I've never heard of a perfectly rectilinear caldera." She laughed again. "Our dropping down in here like this reminds me of Jules Verne's
Journey to the Center of the Earth.
"
"How so?" Donald asked.
"Have you read it?"
"I don't read novels," Donald said.
"That's right, I forgot," Suzanne said. "Anyway, in the story the protagonists entered a kind of pristine netherworld via an extinct volcano."
Donald shook his head. His eyes stayed glued to the thermistor readout. "What a waste of time reading such rubbish," he said. "That's why I don't read novels. Not with all the technical journals I can't get to."
sonar has to be bouncing off something." "Would you mind translating that?" Perry said. "Sound waves bounce off sharp temperature gradients," Suzanne said. "We think that's what we have here."
"In order to get a depth readout we have to descend ten or fifteen feet into the pit," Donald said. "I'll do that by decreasing our buoyancy, but first I want to change our orientation." With short bursts Donald used the starboard front thruster to turn the submersible until it became parallel with the long axis of the hole. Then he manipulated the variable ballast system to make the sub negatively buoyant. Gradually the submersible started down. "Maybe this isn't such a good idea," Perry said. He was nervously looking back and forth between the side-scan sonar monitor and his view port. The UQC speaker cracked to life: "Surface control to
Oceanus.
The bell is lifting off the DDC as I'm speaking. The divers will be passing through five hundred feet in about ten minutes." "Roger, surface control," Donald said into the mike. "We're about one hundred feet west of the well head. We're going to check out an apparent marked thermocline in a rock formation. Communications might be interrupted momentarily, but we'll be on station for the divers." "Ten-four," Larry's voice said.
"Look at the luster of the walls," Suzanne remarked as the submersible sank below the tip of the huge hole. "They're perfectly smooth. It almost looks like obsidian!" "Let's head back to the well head," Perry suggested. "Could this be an opening into an extinct volcano?" Donald asked. A slight smile flitted across his otherwise rigid face.
"That's a thought," Suzanne said with a laugh. "Although I have to say I've never heard of a perfectly rectilinear caldera." She laughed again. "Our dropping down in here like this reminds me of Jules Verne's
Journey to the Center of the Earth.
"
"How so?" Donald asked.
"Have you read it?"
"I don't read novels," Donald said.
"That's right, I forgot," Suzanne said. "Anyway, in the story the protagonists entered a kind of pristine netherworld via an extinct volcano."
Donald shook his head. His eyes stayed glued to the thermistor readout. "What a waste of time reading such rubbish," he said. "That's why I don't read novels. Not with all the technical journals I can't get to."
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