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There was a silence。 Rochefort； the engineer； began tapping his pencil on the table in an irritated tattoo。 The door opened； and a waiter began serving sandwiches and coffee。
〃They belligerently patrol the coastal waters；〃 McFarlane went on； 〃especially in the south； along the border with Argentina。 The two countries have a long…running border dispute； as you probably know。〃
〃Can you add anything to what I've said about the climate？〃
〃I once spent time in Punta Arenas in late fall。 Blizzards； sleet storms； and fog are mon。 Not to mention williwaws。〃
〃Williwaws？〃 Rochefort asked in a tremulous； reed…thin voice。
〃Basically a microburst of wind。 It lasts only a minute or two； but it can peak at about a hundred and fifty knots。〃
〃What about decent anchorages？〃 Garza asked。
〃I've been told there are no decent anchorages。 In fact； from what I've heard； there's no good holding ground for a ship anywhere in the Cape Horn islands。〃
〃We like a challenge；〃 said Garza。
Glinn collected the papers； folded them carefully； and returned them to his jacket pocket。 Somehow； McFarlane felt the man had already known the answers to his own questions。
〃Clearly；〃 Glinn said； 〃we have a plex problem； even without considering the meteorite。 But let's consider it now。 Rachel； I believe you have some questions about the data？〃
〃I have a ment about the data。〃 Amira's eyes glanced at a folder before her； then hovered on McFarlane with faint amusement。 She had a superior attitude that McFarlane found annoying。
〃Yes？〃 said McFarlane。
〃I don't believe a word of it。〃
〃What exactly don't you believe？〃
She waved her hand over his portfolio。 〃You're the meteorite expert； right？ Then you know why no one has ever found a meteorite larger than sixty tons。 Any larger； and the force of impact causes the meteorite to shatter。 Above two hundred tons； meteorites vaporize from the impact。 So how could a monster like this still be intact？〃
〃I can't … 〃 McFarlane began。
But Amira interrupted。 〃The second thing is that iron meteorites rust。 It only takes about five thousand years to rust even the biggest one into a pile of scale。 So if it somehow did survive the impact； why is it still there？ How do you explain this geological report that says it fell thirty million years ago； was buried in sediment； and is only now being exposed through erosion？〃
McFarlane settled back in his chair。 She waited； raising her eyebrows quizzically。
〃Have you ever read Sherlock Holmes？〃 McFarlane asked with a smile of his own。
Amira rolled her eyes。 〃You're not going to quote that old saw about how once you've eliminated the impossible； whatever remains； no matter how improbable； must be the truth … are you？〃
McFarlane shot a surprised glance at her。 〃Well； isn't it true？〃
Amira smirked her triumph； while Rochefort shook his head。
〃So； Dr。 McFarlane；〃 Amira said brightly； 〃is that your source of scientific authority？ Sir Arthur Conan Doyle？〃
McFarlane exhaled slowly。 〃Someone else collected the base data。 I can't vouch for it。 All I can say is； if that data's accurate； there's no other explanation： it's a meteorite。〃
There was a silence。 〃Someone else's data；〃 Amira said； cracking another shell and popping the nuts into her mouth。 〃Would that be a Dr。 Masangkay； by chance？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃You knew each other； I believe？〃
〃We were partners。〃
〃Ah。〃 Amira nodded； as if hearing this for the first time。 〃And so； if Dr。 Masangkay collected this data； you have a high degree of confidence in it？ You trust him？〃
〃Absolutely。〃
〃I wonder if he'd say the same about you；〃 Rochefort said in his quiet； high； clipped voice。
McFarlane turned his head and looked steadily at the engineer。
〃Let's proceed；〃 Glinn said。
McFarlane looked away from Rochefort and tapped his portfolio with the back of one hand。 〃There's an enormous circular deposit of shocked and fused coesite on that island。 Right in the center is a dense mass of ferromagnetic material。〃
〃A natural deposit of iron ore；〃 said Rochefort。
〃The flyover indicates a reversal of the sedimentary strata around the site。〃
Amira looked puzzled。 〃A what？〃
〃Flipped sedimentary layers。〃
Rochefort sighed heavily。 〃Signifying。。。 ？〃
〃When a large meteorite strikes sedimentary layers； the layers get reversed。〃
Rochefort continued tapping his pencil。 〃How？ By magic？〃
McFarlane looked at him again； longer this time。 〃Perhaps Mr。 Rochefort would like a demonstration？〃
〃I would；〃 said Rochefort。
McFarlane picked up his sandwich。 He examined it； smelled it。 〃Peanut butter and jelly？〃 He made a face。
〃May we just have the demonstration； please？〃 Rochefort asked in a tight； exasperated voice。
〃Of course。〃 McFarlane placed the sandwich on the table between himself and Rochefort。 Then he tilted his coffee cup and carefully poured liquid over it。
〃What is he doing？〃 said Rochefort； turning to Glinn； his voice high。 〃I knew this was a mistake。 We should have required one of the principals to e in。〃
McFarlane held up his hand。 〃Bear with me。 We're just preparing our sedimentary deposit here。〃 He reached for another sandwich and placed it on top； then tipped on more coffee until it was saturated。 〃There。 This sandwich is the sedimentary deposit： bread； peanut butter； jelly； more bread； in layers。 And my fist〃 … he raised his hand above his head … 〃is the meteorite。〃
He brought his fist down on the sandwich with a jarring crash。
〃For Christ's sake！〃 Rochefort cried； jumping back； his shirt splattered with peanut butter。 He stood up； flicking bits of sodden bread from his arms。
At the far end of the table； Garza sat with an astonished look on his face。 Glinn was expressionless。
〃Now； let us examine the remains of the sandwich on the table；〃 McFarlane continued as calmly as if he were giving a college lecture。 〃Please note that all the pieces have been flipped over。 The bottom layer of bread is now on the top； the peanut butter and jelly have reversed places； and the top layer of bread is now on the bottom。 It's what a meteorite does when it hits sedimentary rock： it pulverizes the layers； flips them over； and lays them back down in reversed sequence。〃 He glanced at Rochefort。 〃Any further questions or ments？〃
〃This is outrageous；〃 said Rochefort； wiping his glasses with a handkerchief。
〃Sit down； please； Mr。 Rochefort；〃 said Glinn quietly。 To McFarlane's surprise； Amira began to laugh： a deep； smooth laugh。 〃That was very good； Dr。 McFarlane。 Very entertaining。 We need a little excitement in our meetings。〃 She turned to Rochefort。 〃If you had ordered club sandwiches like I suggested； this wouldn't have happened。〃
Rochefort scowled as he returned to his seat。
〃Anyway；〃 said McFarlane； sitting back and wiping his hand with a napkin； 〃strata reversal means only one thing： a massive impact crater。 Taken together； everything points to a meteorite strike。 Now if you have a better explanation for what is down there； I'd like to hear it。〃
He waited。
〃Perhaps it's an alien spaceship？〃 Garza asked hopefully。
〃We considered that； Manuel；〃 Amira replied dryly。
〃And？〃
〃Occam's razor。 It seemed unlikely。〃
Rochefort was still