Part 4 (2/2)

'The mud's not that dense. It's not like blasting through rock. I should know, I've been wading about in it.'

Klasvik smiled humourlessly. 'So we can see.'

But Bernice had seen Krayn thinking. He wasn't muttering inane comments now he had something to contribute. 'What do you suggest?'

'Phason bursts will blow your relics to bits, you're right. There's no way we could keep the impact to a low level in that lot and still make an impression. It's viscous, not solid.'

'So it wouldn't work anyway, is that what you're saying?'

'That's about it, yes. But you could use the water cannon to tunnel your way in.'

They were silent for a moment.

'Just a thought.' Krayn shrugged and turned away.

'Wait.' Lannic was on her feet. 'Would that actually work?'

'I don't see why not.'

'We'd need some way of shoring up the tunnel,' said Klasvik, 'to stop the mud just running back in again.'

'We've got loads of that prefab plastic sheeting. It seems solid enough. We should be able to slide that in as we wash the mud away.'

'How long would it take?' Lannic asked.

Krayn shrugged. 'Getting it sh.o.r.ed up is the longest job. Using the cannon should be quick enough. And it's not like we're short of water out there to spray.'

'Ahem,' Gilmanuk coughed quietly. But it was enough: He had everyone's attention. 'A couple of points, if I may?'

'Of course.' Benny beat Lannic to it, and smiled an unfelt apology.

'First, I don't believe that we will need to sh.o.r.e up the tunnel for long. The surface is very fluid, but I imagine the mud gets quite densely packed very soon once you burrow through it. It will support itself, at least for a while. And we shan't be here for long.'

'That's probably right,' admitted Krayn. 'Might make the tunnelling slower as we get deeper, though.'

'Well, we can't have everything.' Lannic turned back to Gilmanuk. 'And the second thing?'

'Well, you are concerned about possible damage as you break through into the main theatre.' He was talking Bernice. She nodded as he went on. 'I agree. And I think the water cannon may cause damage too.'

Lannic gritted her teeth, but Gilmanuk continued before she could interject. 'However, I think there is least chance of damage if we aim to break in to the area immediately behind behind the main theatre, beside the back stage area here.' He pointed at the map spread out on the crates in front of them. the main theatre, beside the back stage area here.' He pointed at the map spread out on the crates in front of them.

Benny nodded slowly. 'Yes, I agree. There's not likely to be much there. In the backstage area itself, yes prompt lists, props, even remnants of costumes have been found in previous excavations, but never anything of consequence between backstage and the auditorium.' She crossed her fingers behind her back, hoping she was right.

'And damage to the structure?'

'Would, I believe, be minimal, Lannic. There may be construction around the area that we need to get through but it is not an integral part of the theatre. It's not mark on the De Witte sketch, so it cannot be of the origin structure. I believe we can and should risk it.'

Lannic looked round the a.s.sembled group. There was an enthusiasm in everyone's eyes now no one seemed to doubt that they should at least try it. 'Very well,' she said, and there was a general laugh as the tension was expelled. Gilmanuk reached across and actually shook her hand, Krayn slapped Klasvik on the back (much to the archaeologist's surprise) and even Tashman smiled across at them as he drove past on his way back for more crates.

'So,' Klasvik had recovered his composure and glared briefly at Krayn, 'what now?'

Lannic was already decided. 'We establish base camp outside the lander. Gilmanuk, will you work out a route for the tunnel with Krayn, and then he can get the cannon set up? The rest of us can help Cambri and Tashman get everything we need unloaded and organized.'

'Yo!' Tashman shouted across to her. 'About time too. The other loader's at the far end of the hold there's a ma.s.s of crates to be unpacked and sorted. And you'd better work out how you want the living quarters set up and let Cambri know she's drinking hot blood out there.'

They had been excavating for what seemed like forever. Most of it involved spraying a high*pressure jet of water into the tunnel to hose out the mud, then scooping it into the front*bucket of a loader and driving it the ever*increasing distance up the sloping tunnel to dump it outside in the rain.

Krayn had been doing most of the drilling, most of the driving and most of the complaining. Tashman was responsible for shoring up the tunnel as they progressed, and the archaeologists were taking it in turns to sit on the water cannon and aim its hose. They had all had at least one break to get some sleep, although Krayn complained his had been shorter than everyone else's.

Bannahilk was permanently on the lander's flight deck where he and Fortalexa were monitoring every broadcast the com*net could find and plotting the Rippearean advance across a dedicated screen which had previously been an important part of the survey computer.

Fortalexa brought the others irregular reports, all of them delivered in his usual sardonic style and none of them optimistic. It was wet, cold, miserable, discouraging and they had nothing to show for it. Until they found the monolith.

Cambri was on the cannon and Krayn was drilling the loosened mud from the tunnel wall. Tashman had given up his shoring work as expected, the mud was now packed hard enough for the tunnel to support itself so Krayn was feeling more than ever that he had got the poorer deal. As a result he was setting about the mudface with an aggressive abandon that meant he was leaning quite heavily on the drill when it sheared away down the wall, taking a large chunk of mud.

Krayn swore as he released his hold on the power b.u.t.ton and collided with the lamp which Cambri had left wedged into the mud floor. The lamp went out as it fell and Krayn had to scrabble about for it.

'What the h.e.l.l are you doing? Are you all right?' Cambri turned off the cannon and leaped down to the ground, skidding down the slope to where Krayn was pulling himself to his feet.

'I hit something that's not just mud.'

'Well I hope you haven't damaged it. Here, s.h.i.+ne the lamp over so we can see what it is.'

Krayn directed the light at the far wall, and Cambri peered at the slab of stone that had been uncovered. 'See if you can clear any more of it,' she said. 'I'll get Lannic.'

Krayn nodded and moved the light for a better view. It was only after she was beyond earshot that he realized he had neglected to argue about it.

Lannic, Klasvik and Bernice had been discussing progress against the timetable Bannahilk was imposing as a result of his projections of the enemy advance. They did not wait for Cambri to give them details: any find was important at this stage. They needed something to convince them they were getting somewhere, it hardly mattered what.

But what? what? was a good question. Krayn had freed the edges of the huge slab of stone so that it stood out against the mud behind it. It was almost the size of the tunnel, and was jutting across it at an angle. Actually, Klasvik pointed out, it was almost vertical, but the angle of the tunnel was such that it seemed to loom over them, precariously top*heavy. was a good question. Krayn had freed the edges of the huge slab of stone so that it stood out against the mud behind it. It was almost the size of the tunnel, and was jutting across it at an angle. Actually, Klasvik pointed out, it was almost vertical, but the angle of the tunnel was such that it seemed to loom over them, precariously top*heavy.

'What do you make of it?' Bernice asked them.

'It's natural. A native type of igneous stone.' Klasvik ran his hand across the muddy surface. 'And rough it's got indentations in it.'

Lannic leaned past him and wiped at an area with her sleeve, dislodging slivers of mud. They fell away to reveal dark shadows beneath.

'They look like cuts.' Krayn turned the lamp slightly so that the light caught the edges of the indentations.

'They are are cuts.' Lannic wiped a bigger area. 'They're deliberate, Maybe letters even. Can we clean it up?' cuts.' Lannic wiped a bigger area. 'They're deliberate, Maybe letters even. Can we clean it up?'

Krayn nodded. 'Stand back a bit, I'll hose it down for you.'

It only took a few seconds for the jet of water to wash the mud from the front of the monolith. Then they gathered round it again, the water was.h.i.+ng up against their feet as the pumps began to pipe it back up to the surface.

<script>