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

The stone-faced guard checked their identification cards. "You're clear." He turned to the other guard by
the bridge and gave him a thumbs-up sign. "Sorry for the scare, but we're tightening security."

"Why?" she asked.

"Sorry, ma'am. That's classified information." He turned and proceeded toward the bridge.

Ashley turned to Ben. "What do you make of that?"

He shrugged. "Who can figure the military? Bunch of buffoons."

"I know. I wouldn't mind pushing the lot of them into that damned chasm."

"Hey, what do you know? We do have something in common." He spun on a heel, very militarylike, to
head back to the dormitory. He offered his arm.

This time she took him up on his offer.

Blakely stretched, leaning away from the console. He glanced at a clock on the wall. A few minutes after
midnight. Now, that was cutting it down to the wire. The team would be leaving in nine hours.

"All green lights," said a voice behind him. "Finally."

He turned to the head of communications, Lieutenant Brian Flattery. "I knew those new circuit boards
would do the trick," the doctor said. "With the communications net intact, we'll be able to communicate
to my team anywhere on the planet."

"That's good," said Flattery. "But still . . ."

"Don't fret. This time it'll be different."

Flattery glanced at the floor. "We never found Wombley's body. Only that splat of blood."

"I know, I know."

"And there's still no word from the other team. It's been four months. And what about the recent
disappearance of the guard by the chasm?"

Blakely held up a hand. He had heard similar rumblings across the camp. "We're prepared this time.
We'll be in regular communication."

"Shouldn't this group be forewarned of the risk they're taking?"
 Blakely shrugged. "Major Michaelson and his two men know. That's what's important. I guess I'm going
to have to give the rest of the team some details, but they don't need to know everything. This time we're
proceeding with foreknowledge of the risks. We're properly armed."

"We don't really know that."

Blakely squinted at the line of green lights on the communications console. He tapped one light that
fluttered. It stabilized to a steady green. "Nothing to worry about."