"James Rollins - Sandstorm" - читать интересную книгу автора (Romeyn Henry)

The source of the glow became clear. Near the center of the domed chamber, a half-meter globe of blue
light floated lazily across the room. It shimmered, and its surface seemed to run with a flame of prismatic
blue oil.

As Harry watched, the globe sailed through a glass cabinet as if it were made of air. He stood stunned.
A sulfurous smell reached his nostrils, issuing forth from the ball of cerulean light.

The globe rolled over one of the crimson-glowing security lamps, shorting it out with a sizzlingpop. The
noise startled Harry back a step. The same fate must have been dealt to camera five in the room behind
him. He glanced to the camera in this room. A red light glowed above it. Still working.

As if noting his attention, Johnson came back on his radio. For some reason, there was no static.тАЬHarry,
maybe youтАЩd better get out of there!тАЭ

He remained transfixed, half out of fear, half out of wonder. Besides, the phenomenon was floatingaway
from him, toward the darkened corner of the room.

The globeтАЩs glow illuminated a lump of metal within a glass cube. It was a chunk of red iron as large as a
calf, akneeling calf. The display card described it as a camel. Such a resemblance was dodgy at best, but
Harry understood the supposed depiction. The item had been discovered in the desert.

The glow hovered over the iron camel.

Harry backed a cautious step and raised his radio. тАЬChrist!тАЭ

The shimmering ball of light fell through the glass and landed upon the camel. Its glow winked out as
quickly as a snuffed candle.

The sudden darkness blinded Harry for a breath. He lifted his torch. The iron camel still rested within its
glass cube, undisturbed. тАЬItтАЩs goneтАжтАЭ

тАЬAre you safe?тАЭ

тАЬYeah. What the hell was that?тАЭ

Johnson answered, awe in his voice,тАЬA sodding lightning ball, I think! I heard stories from mates aboard
warplanes as they flew through thunderclaps. Storm must have spit it out. But bloody hell if that wasnтАЩt
brilliant!тАЭ
 ItтАЩs notbrilliant anymore, Harry thought with a sigh, and shook his head. Whatever the hell it was, it at
least saved him from an embarrassing ribbing from his fellow guards.

He lowered his torch. But as the light fell away, the iron camel continued to glow in the darkness. A
deep ruddy color.

тАЬWhat the hell now?тАЭ Harry mumbled, and grabbed his radio. A severe static shock bit his fingers.
Swearing, he shook it off. He raised his radio. тАЬSomethingтАЩs odd. I donтАЩt thinkтАФтАЭ

The glow in the iron flared brighter. Harry fell back. The iron flowed across the camelтАЩs surface, melting
as if exposed to a wash of acid rain. He was not the only one to note the change.