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around the monster's lower abdomen； where； directly below the tapered pelvis； a bulging； segmented； near translucent tail merged pletely with the machine in a bizarre； biotechnological symbiosis。
As more of the creature was raised above the shifting vapor； additional shackles were revealed…restraints were bound to every extremity。 As the chains drew tighter； the alien's arms were forcibly outstretched until the elongated head lifted into a strangely regal pose and the creature's bony crest radiated outward like an obscene halo。
With a final clank； the chains locked。 Splayed in midair over the pool like a great dragon caught in flight； the Alien Queen floated； motionless。 Icicles of frozen drool hung from her toothy jaws； and a sheen of frost covered her black hide； making it difficult to discern where inhuman flesh ended and biomechanical device began。
With a sudden； sharp crack the ice around the creature's muzzle shattered。 Spears of ice fell away； then huge chunks followed as the crack widened into a rift； dropping more and more ice into the swirling vapors below。
With a bestial hiss； the Queen's great jaws opened wide to reveal a secondary mouth inside the first。 Gnashing its teeth； the Alien's fangs chewed empty air。 Almost immediately； the Queen launched into a paroxysm of rage； struggling against the unbreakable chains that held it captive。 Limbs were thrashing； teeth were grinding； and chains were clanking as the creature tossed her head from side to side in a futile effort to escape。
The struggles continued for long minutes； sending ice and hot spittle splashing in every direction。 But soon the creature surrendered； sagging limply on her own chains。 The Alien Queen discovered that despite her immense size and preternatural strength； inside of this chamber she was nothing more than a prisoner and a slave； serving a cruel； as of yet unnamed master。
Inside of the biomechanical contrivance； energies were generated and pumps began to churn。 Electrical and chemical impulses were transmitted through the myriad tubes and wires buried deep in the Alien Queen's body； to activate specific portions of the monster's anatomy。
The Queen's lower abdomen began to quiver。 Red ooze churned and bubbled beneath the surface of the tail's clear skin。 The armored flesh above the pelvis convulsed； and gouts of clotted bile gushed onto a long metal slide that connected the mechanism to a long conveyor belt。
The first birth was painful。
The Queen thrashed； rattling her chains。 Then； with tremendous effort； she lifted her head； strained against the hooks that grasped her crown； and emitted a high…pitched screech as she opened the fleshy flap on the underside of her tail and released a leathery sack。 Coated with ooze； the egg literally slid down the incline； ing to a rest in a shallow stone cavity。
The block of stone carrying the egg slid along a recessed track cut into a ledge that ran along the wall until it reached another machine。 Here robotic arms looking more like an abstract sculpture than functioning machinery emerged from a crevice in the wall。
A powerful laser light bathed the egg to reveal its contents…a motionless malformation。 With a metallic hum； the machine rejected the egg； and it continued its journey along the ledge until it approached a stone door that slid open with a grating sound。
Beyond that door a furnace roared； its burning light filling the chamber with a hellish； unnatural glow。 The stone carried the egg to the threshold of the furnace； then dumped it in。
When the Alien Queen saw her egg being destroyed； she again exploded into action…straining against the chains in an effort to rescue her doomed progeny。 Minutes later； another egg rolled down the conveyor； to be rejected and immolated too； as was a third egg。
But when the fourth egg was scanned； the form floating inside reacted by thrashing its whiplike tail about。 Another pair of robotic arms emerged from a trapdoor in the wall； seized the fertile egg and carried it off。
The Alien Queen strained once more against the chains and let out her anger and frustration by howling loud enough for her cries to reverberate throughout the massive pyramid。
CHAPTER 16
Lex paused in the pyramid's entranceway； listening。 She could swear she'd heard something…a disturbing howl like the shriek of a wild beast。 She looked around at her panions； but no one else seemed to have noticed。
After a moment； Lex shrugged； deciding it was her imagination。
〃It's perfectly preserved；〃 Thomas marveled。 〃These carvings are as pristine as they were the day they were etched into the stone。〃
〃I've never seen anything like it；〃 Sebastian murmured。 〃The hieroglyphics look to be some kind of hybrid language containing both Aztec and Egyptian characteristics。 Perhaps an Ur…language…a lost and forgotten tongue that was the mother to all human languages。〃
Miller had his spectral analysis kit out and was already working。 He blinked at the digital readout that appeared on his tablet PC。
〃This reading says these stones are at least ten thousand years old。〃
Sebastian shook his head。 〃That's impossible。 Check it again。〃
〃I already did。〃
〃Amazing；〃 saidWeyland。
〃If you like that； you're going to love this；〃 Lex called； waving her flashlight to get their attention。 She was standing on the threshold of a pitch…black corridor that led even deeper into the massive pyramid。
Weyland hobbled forward； his pole clicking on the tiled floor。 Sebastian and Thomas raced up to Lex； their expressions eager。 But before they could enter the tunnel； she waved them back。 The rest watched as Lex placed a small strobe light on the floor behind her and another on top of a carved stone shelf。
〃They'll burn for six hours。 We'll be able to find our way back。〃
Then she led them forward； into a short passage ornamented with carved stone lintels and lined with elaborate pictographs。 At the end of the passage； there was another door…more impressive than even the en…tranceway。 The doorjambs were engraved with thousands of hieroglyphic characters and framed by stout bas…relief columns。
〃This is obviously the central ritual chamber；〃 Sebastian whispered； his tone reverential。 〃The reason this structure was built。〃
Probing the darkness； their flashlights illuminated a mammoth circular stone chamber with a high ceiling that arched into the shadows。 The walls were covered with terra…cotta columns etched with the same hieroglyphics； the floor dominated by seven raised stone slabs； each the size of a large man and each occupied by a mummified corpse。 The slabs were arranged head to head in a circular shape like the petals of a flower。 In the center of the circle was a carved stone grille。 Beneath that grille； all was dark。
Weyland touched a cold stone slab。 〃These are 。。。 ？〃
〃Sacrificial slabs；〃 said Sebastian。
〃Just like the Aztecs and the ancient Egyptians。 Whoever built this pyramid believed in ritual sacrifice；〃 Thomas explained。
Lex directed her flashlight beam toward the far wall； at a mound of human skulls six feet high。 〃You can say that again。〃
〃My God；〃 Max Stafford whispered softly。
Miller leaned over a cadaver。 〃It's almost pe