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

had found herself squished between Jason and Ben. Linda, unencumbered by a son, had nabbed the seat
next to the driver. The other members followed in a second vehicle.

The tunnel opening loomed ahead. It was originally a natural fissure that sliced deep into the side of
Mount Erebus. Explosives and mining equipment had widened the fissure and smoothed a passageway
into the volcanic mountain. She held her breath as their vehicle bounced over the lip into the cavernous
tunnel, wide enough for two trucks. A regular two-lane highway into the heart of a volcano.

The walls, rough-hewn from blasting and drilling, were lighted by halogen lamps strung along the ceiling.
As the Cat ground around a curve, daylight vanished; the lamps remained the only illumination. The driver
clicked on the headlights, spearing the darkness ahead.

Though it seemed as if they were traveling on level ground, she knew from the briefing that they were
heading at a downward angle; the tunnel, four miles long, would descend almost four thousand feet.

But it was slow progress. Even traveling at a snail's pace, the bumpy roadway kept jarring her into Ben's
side. "Sorry," she said, pushing herself off his shoulder.

"No worries. I was sort of enjoying it."

She smirked at him. Did he ever stop?

Linda turned to face them. "Do you mind if I open my window a crack? I'd like to . . . well . . . it's kind
of stuffy."

Ashley's eyebrows pulled together. Linda's complexion blanched, her lips dry and caked. Probably
hadn't liked the helicopter ride either. She could definitely sympathize, but it was damned cold outside. "I
don't know. I don't want Jason to catch a chill. PerhapsтАФ

"A little fresh air sounds good," Ben said. He reached and squeezed Ashley's hand. "Jason, do you
mind?"

Ashley stared down at Ben's hand. He kept squeezing as though trying to communicate to her. She bit
back a retort.

Her son, glued to the tunnel ahead, mouth open, waved a hand at them. "I don't mind."
"Fine," Ashley said, "go ahead, Linda. But Jason, you stay bundled up."

Linda grinned weakly and turned forward once more. A gush of icy wind swirled into the compartment
as she lowered her window an inch. With her nose to the window, Linda inhaled deeply, visibly relaxing.

Ben released Ashley's hand. She burrowed deeper into her parka, clutching the hood around her face.
She turned to question Ben, but he continued to study Linda, his brow tight with concern.

Resigned, Ashley leaned back and watched the overhead lamps wink by as they passed under them.

Down the white rabbit's hole went Alice.

Blakely sat next to the driver, staring at the taillights of the Sno-Cat up ahead. He had been studying the
passing tunnel walls, eyeing the electrical and communications cables. All was in order. As long as the