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Connors； his partner； paused； a forkful of dripping steak inches from his toothy mouth。 〃Do you think she's here to shut us down？〃
Quinn sneered。 〃She can't shut us down。 Weyland is our employer。 Ms。 Woods and her farm team of environmentalist Beakers don't have the clout to stop Weyland。〃
〃Well she sure did shut us down in Alaska。 Her and that foundation of hers。 。。。〃
Quinn ignored his partner and continued to stare across the room。
〃I think I've run through all my damn unemployment insurance；〃 Connors continued。 〃I'm on welfare if this job falls through。〃
〃Blow it out your ass； Connors。〃
Connors chuckled and poured wine into Quinn's glass。 〃I think you need another drink； boss。〃
Quinn slammed the flat of his hands on the table。
〃Damn right I do；〃 he roared。 〃But no more of this fancy French grape juice。 Get on down to the hold and grab us a case of Coronas。 Hell； make it two。 Let's all get whup…ass drunk。〃
〃Who is that guy？〃 Sebastian asked； noticing the open glare being sent in their general direction。
Lex sipped her wine before answering。
〃I ran into Quinn in Alaska。 He and his boys were pushing for more oil exploration。 Had a lot of Alaska natives on his side； too。 But we shut him down…the environmental group I work for。 Guess he carried a grudge。〃
〃I would；〃 said Miller。 〃If someone put me out of a job； I mean。〃
〃This pyramid；〃 said Lex； changing the subject。 〃You really think it could be under the ice？〃
〃I would like to think so；〃 Sebastian replied。 〃It would be the discovery of the century。 In fact； it would validate some of my own theories。 I believe that four thousand years ago 。。。〃
Sebastian's voice trailed off。 Lex was no longer paying attention to him。 Instead； she was gazing at something over his shoulder。
〃Am 1 boring you？〃
Lex pushed her chair away from the table and touched Miller's and Sebastian's arms。 〃e outside 。。。 all of you。 You too； Thomas。〃
〃What is it？〃
But she was already up and out the door。 Sebastian rose and followed； Thomas on his heels。 Miller swallowed the last bit of his filet； washed it down with Chateau Lafite '77； and hurried to catch up to them。
Lex led the others through a thick waterproof bulkhead； then onto the deck。 A stab of icy wind cut through them； stealing their warmth。 But any disfort was forgotten when they saw the spectacle in the firmament。
〃My God！〃 Thomas exclaimed。
The entire night had bee a waterfall of shimmering radiance。 Vertical ribbons of light snaked across the southern sky； a colored profusion of visual chaos。 Successive bands of brighter colors flamed while darker patches pulsated rhythmically。 The vast curtain of reds； greens and blues seemed to move as though ruffled by an interstellar wind。
Lex threw her arms wide； as if embracing the panorama。 〃It's an X…class flare acpanied by a halo coronal mass ejection。 Otherwise known as aurora australis 。。。 the southern lights。〃
Sebastian was transfixed。 〃I don't think I've ever seen anything so beautiful。〃
Miller adjusted his glasses； then pulled the digital camera out of his jacket pocket。
〃It's in the upper atmosphere；〃 he explained。 〃Streams of protons and electrons from the sun are being deflected by the earth's magnetic Field； causing a solar radiation storm。〃
〃Whatever。 。。。 It's beautiful；〃 Sebastian replied； 〃even the way you describe it； Doctor。〃
〃Thanks；〃 Miller replied。 Then he snapped a picture。 〃And I agree。〃
Lex leaned on the rail and gazed up at the sky。 〃Shackleton called Antarctica the 'last great journey left to man。' It's the one place left in the world that no one owns； that's pletely free 。。。〃 Then she grinned。 〃Me？ I'm kind of partial to the penguins。〃
〃I wish you'd reconsider ing with us；〃 said Miller。
Lex looked at him and smiled。 But she shook her head。
〃Not for me。 Obviously；〃 said Miller。 〃But I think a lot of the other guys really need you。〃 He poked her arm。 〃C'mon； don't make me pull out pictures of my kids again。〃
〃Your kids aren't that cute。〃
Sebastian chimed in。 〃What if we got pictures of other people's kids？ Would that do it？〃
Lex looked at them both。 〃Want my advice？ Stay on the boat。〃
It was Sebastian who bristled。 〃We're not staying on the boat。〃
〃Guys； the first rule of this job is to not take people to places they're not ready to go。〃
〃Listen；〃 Sebastian replied。 〃I was on the next plane to Mexico。 My team's waiting。 But if Weyland's even half right； this find could change history。〃
〃Weyland is more concerned with making another billion than with anything else；〃 Lex replied。 〃Including your safety。〃
Sebastian stepped up to her。 〃Let me ask you something。 You're here。 You know this place。 Do we stand a better chance of surviving with you than with the number two choice？〃
Lex did not reply； but her face gave the answer away。
〃Because if we do and you don't go with us； and something goes wrong； are you going to be able to live with that？〃
Lex opened her mouth to reply； but no answer came。 Suddenly a tall； blond woman strode onto the deck。
〃Ms。 Woods？ Your helicopter is refueled and ready。 They're waiting for you。〃
CHAPTER 7
Two Thousand Miles Above the Sea of Tranquility
Just beyond the reach of the moon's gravitational pull； an enormous vessel dropped out of hyper…space。 Gracefully following the curvature of the moon； the craft passed across the sun； casting an ominous shadow along the lunar surface。
Nearly a kilometer in length； the ship's sleek； organic form more resembled an oceangoing manta ray or predatory bird than an interstellar vessel。 As the craft plunged silently through the void； the warp engines disengaged and a thin stream of charged ions began to spew from the engine nacelles； propelling the ship on the final leg of its journey to the cloud…wreathed； blue…green orb still over 238；000 miles away。
Inside the ship； energy and life…support systems self…activated。 Mazelike corridors and domed chambers were flooded with the hot； muggy； oxygen…rich atmosphere of the tropics。 One by one； decks were illuminated by a green reptilian glow。 The architecture was primitive； and many sections of the craft could pass for the interior of a samurai warlord's fortress or the grim torture chamber of a medieval castle。
In the half…light； shadows danced along walls etched with sharp…edged hieroglyphics。 High； vaulted ceilings resembled those in a Gothic cathedral； but here they gleamed with the blood…red hue of the abattoir。
Other sections of the ship were more organic in appearance。 The armory mimicked the fleshy interior of some vast monster's belly。 Curved terra…cotta rib bones festooned the space。 Between those faux…ribs； the walls were frescoed with pictographs and were hung with an array of fierce； techno…medieval weaponry： spears with retractable shafts； curved blades carved from yellow bone and bundled together like the fasces of ancient Rome； double…bladed ceremonial knives with serrated edges and ornate handles； metal clubs studded with raked white teeth； hubcap…sized shuriken edged with needle…thin blades； sharp…finned throwing darts larger than rail spikes。
The bloodstained trophies of previous hunts were also mounted in