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

"You asked me if we've explored farther. Well, we have." He pointed to the wormhole. "You're not the
first team to explore this route. A joint team of five researchers and one Marine entered this chute over
four months ago."

Ashley shook her head. "Then why drag all of us here, if it's already been explored?"

"The other team has yet to return."

"What?" Ben said, stepping closer. "You mean they're still down there?"

"Without radios, we had no means of tracking the team. They were scheduled to return after two weeks
of exploring. Three weeks passed with no word from them, so we sent in a search party. A cursory
search revealed a massive maze of tunnels, shafts, and caverns. No trace of the men was found."

"Why the hell didn't you expand the search?" Ben was red-faced by now.

"Without adequate means of radio contact, the search parties were at risk. They could meet the same
fate as the original team. So the search was called off. The team was declared lost."

"Great," Ashley said. "What if we get in trouble? Do you just walk away from us too?"

"This is bullshit," added Ben. "Downright cowardice."

Blakely's fist clenched, a tightness narrowing his eyelids. "That team was under my supervision. I took
their loss personally. I could not risk losing any others. We lost the first team because we were excited
and proceeded without proper caution. I refused to allow any others to search farther until an adequate
communications system could be installed." He shoved a finger toward the radio. "Now it is!"

Ben didn't back down. "Sorry, but I still think a small teamтАФ"

Michaelson interrupted. "It was my decision too."

Ashley turned toward the major, who stood by the packs. "Well, then why the hell didn'tyou do
something?"

Michaelson met Ashley's stare squarely. "As head of the Marine contingent here, it was my call whether
to proceed blindly or to take Dr. Blakely's advice and wait until he completed his radio net. I chose to
proceed cautiously."
 "Just like the military," Ben said sourly, a sneer frozen on his lips. "Personnel are just pawns, to be
thrown away as needed. Who cares if this other team was comprised of real men with real lives? Just
throw them to the wind."

Michaelson, his jaw clenched, spun away on a heel. Ben had an angry frown on his lips. An ugly
expression for him, Ashley thought.

Ashley stepped after the major, meaning to confront him further, but Blakley reached and touched her
elbow as she tried to pass by the doctor. He whispered in her ear, "The major's brother was on that
other team."