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

decisions from here are yours. Everything from how often to set up camp to the number of days you
choose to explore before returning. Your word is law."

The eyes of the others fixed on her. The magnitude of the search threatened to overwhelm her. "Well,"
said Ashley, "we're never going to get anywhere just sitting here. Let's head out. Halloway, take the lead.
Everyone else follow, and we'll meet up in the next cave."

The team checked their gear and collected their packs, strapping them over their shoulders. Ashley
watched the others fumble with their transport sleds.

Halloway wasn't waiting around for any further discussion. He adjusted his helmet and dove down the
chute on his board. The others waited in line to follow.

Satisfied that they were finally under way, Ashley pulled on her gloves and strapped the Velcro bands.
She reached for her pack and slipped it over her shoulder. As Blakely stepped beside her, she faced the
doctor as the others slipped into the wormhole. With ice in her voice, she said, "Take good care of my
son."

"Of course. Roland will make sure the boy is at the radio each morning so you can check yourself."

She nodded, noting the others had by now all entered the wormhole. Kneeling down, she positioned the
skateboard under her body. She lit her helmet's carbide lamp and grabbed the walls on either side to
propel herself into the tube. Shoving off, she entered the chute.

Damn thing still looked like a sewer drain.


ELEVEN
ASHLEY PUSHED HER BOARD INTO HER PACK ANDcrossed over to the group clustered by a
grove of stalagmites. Beams of hand lanterns and helmet lamps criss-crossed the blackness like fireflies in
a jar. The cavern was about the size of a football stadium, infinitely smaller than Alpha Cavern's Grand
Canyon scale.

A firm breeze, balmy and moist, blew through the cavern. Linda held a handkerchief up, and it flapped
like a flag in the breeze.

"Caverns breathe in and out," Ben was explaining to Linda as Ashley walked up. "A response to
changes in barometric pressure. I've even flown a kite in a cavern in Belize."
Linda lowered her arm. "I love this wind. It's so . . . so refreshing."

"All right, team," Ashley said as she stepped next to Ben. "The next kilometer of this system has already
been mapped, so we can proceed at a fast clip."

Ben raised a hand. "I'd like to make a suggestion."

Ashley nodded. "By all means, I want everyone to feel free to offer input and suggestions. We are a
team."

"Before we get to the unexplored areas ahead, I think we should buddy up. Caving involves more
climbing up and down than walking on flat surfaces. In pairs, we can assist each other over the rough