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

military researchers hadn't corrupted the dig. So many times in the past, key clues to an ancient society's
history had been trampled on by the incompetent.

Within moments, the generator coughed, sputtered, then settled into an even rumbling sound. Floodlights
ignited, blinding after the dark ride. The north wall lit up like a huge stage.

"Wow," Ben said as he climbed out next to her.

A scaffolding of metal frames and warped boards covered the honeycombed wall of the cavern.
Dwellings extended up the wall in five distinct levels, she estimated a total of about forty yards in height.
The levels connected to one another by either a series of handholds or sets of crude stairs. She squinted
to the left; the excavated dwellings even extended over the lake, with plateaus of rock jutting over the
water like porches.

"What do you think, Ashley?" Ben stood to her left.

"I could spend years here."

Ben nodded. "Who do you think built this place?"

She pointed at the wall. "One thing I know. This was not built byHomo sapiens ."

"Then who did it?"

"An earlier species of man, I suspect. Look at the size of the caves. None over four feet in height. Too
small for modern man. PerhapsHomo erectus , but I doubt even that." She found herself thinking out
loud. "A Neanderthal tribe? I don't know. I've never seen evidence of a Neanderthal tribe building this
extensively. And how did they get here?" She shrugged. "I've got to get a closer look."

"Shouldn't we wait for Dr. Symski?"

"I don't think that'll be necessary." She strode toward the wall, placing a mining helmet on her head.

She heard the scuff of Ben's boots as he followed her.

Dr. Symski called to her. "Careful where you step. There are many crevasses, some quite deep."

She waved at him in acknowledgment, but shook her head. What did he think, that she was some
damned novice? She marched faster.

Suddenly something grabbed her from behind. Instinctively, she rammed her elbow backward.

"Ouch!" Ben said, releasing her and stepping back. "I was just trying to stop you from stepping in a
hole." He pointed in front of her, rubbing at his solar plexus. "What do you do, sharpen that thing?"

She cupped her elbow, as if trying to hide it. "Sorry." Even pointed out, the black hole was barely
discernible from the black rock. She stepped around it. "I didn't see it."

"You could have twisted an ankle."