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

"Specifically designed for these chutes. Here, let me show you." He picked up another of the seven
fluorescent-colored boards. He slapped the surface of the board with the flat of his hand. "We already
devised aluminum motorized sleds, but they are too bulky to carry. These, on the other hand, are
high-impact plastic, both the board and the wheels. The ball bearings are composed of a
corrosion-resistant titanium. Perfect for the terrain and the dampness. Just release this latch. Like so. And
the board expands to the length of your upper torso, supporting chest and pelvis, and allowing the rider
to ride belly down, using gloved hands and feet for propulsion and braking."

"Sort of like a surfboard," Ben said, "but on land."

"Well, yes, I guess that analogy is accurate. Once through a chute, the board can be collapsed back to
its original size and stored in a pack. Each board has been fitted to the individual. Names are stenciled on
the back of each. And each is a different color to make it easier to tell them apart."

Ashley practiced releasing and collapsing the board. Easy, and mercifully lightweight. All this preparation
just to slide through these tubes.

"Dr. Blakely," asked Linda, "where did these worm-holes come from? Are they lava tubes?"

"Yes and no," said Blakely. "True, this area is honeycombed with lava tubes, some no bigger than a fist
and others as large as a man. Lava tubes are usually rough and irregular, as are most of the ordinary
tubes around here. But tubes of this diameter"тАФhe pointed at the wormholeтАФ"are exceptions. They're
uniform in size and polished to a remarkable smoothness. How and why?" He shrugged. "Yet another
mystery to solve."

"How far have you explored up to now?" Ashley asked. Obviously many other chutes had already been
studied.

"These wormholes extend from this central cavern like spokes on a wheel. Some just dead-end. But
most, like this one, connect to a series of interconnecting caverns that extend deeper and deeper below
the surface. Seismic readings suggest this system may extend several hundred miles."

"And you explored no farther?" Ashley raised her eyebrows. "But you've been down here for months."

Blakely just stared at her for several heartbeats, taking off his glasses. He pinched the bridge of his nose.
The others stopped what they were doing and turned to them, attracted by the silence.

Ben put down one of the skateboards he had been examining and crossed over to Ashley's side.
Michaelson stepped up. "Tell them," he said, his eyes glued on Blakely. "They deserve to know more."

Blakely lifted a hand up, palm toward the major. "I was just getting to that."

Ashley had a sudden sinking feeling in her gut.

"Professor Carter," Blakely said, "I'm not proud of what I'm about to reveal. But certain expediencies
dictated this course. We've had to keep certain secrets."

"No kidding," Ben said.

Ashley hushed him with a glare, then turned an even harsher eye on Blakely. "Go on. What secret?"