“Dmitry… he shot Yegor.” Abby groaned, reaching up to feel a lump on her forehead. “He ordered me out, but made Mr Mironov stay.”

Cate’s heart sunk as she watched the retreating submarine. “Going, going….”

The water finally closed over the top of the submersible. There was a tiny whirlpool spinning on the dark surface, and just below it a soft red glow that soon also vanished.

“Gone.” Cate slumped.

Jack went and crouched in front of Abby. “What happened in there? Why did Dmitry go crazy?”

Abby shook her head. “He wasn’t crazy. They spoke in Russian, argued, and then Yegor tried to stop him. Dmitry shot him dead, and then made me get out.” she looked up. “But he made Valery stay.”

“He wanted the submersible? Why?” Greg was still wide eyed.

“No, I don’t think so. I think he wanted Valery.” Abby wiped her nose.

Jack rubbed his face, hard. He looked up at Cate. “The explosions, this…” he waved an arm at the communication silo. “It’s probably all sabotage. I think they’ve been after Mironov all along.” He gave her a tight smile. “I think he had some powerful enemies, and we saps are just friendly fire.”

Cate groaned and lay down on the slick rock.

Greg started to laugh. “Friendly fire; I like that.”

“Be thankful we’re not dead,” Jack said getting to his feet.

“Not yet, but it’s still early,” Greg shot back.

“Shut up, Greg. Jack’s right.” Cate sat back up. “You could have been shot and dumped into the water as well.”

“Might have been more humane…” He walked away continuing to mutter.

Jack walked to the edge of the rock shelf, and stared down into the stygian water. He shined his flashlight over its top that was once again as smooth as glass. There were wisps of vapor dancing on its warm surface.

Cate joined him, her voice low. “It’s bad isn’t it?”

He turned and gave her a tight smile. “It certainly could be better. But, for now we have water, oxygen, we’re dry, and that’ll do for a few days. After that, then we can start to worry. So…” he turned, and looked over her shoulder, back towards the cliff face. “Two things – Greg, Abby, go see what else they dropped down for us.” He turned back to the cliff wall. “And you and I need to check something out.”

Greg and Abby crossed to the pods, and Jack led Cate back along the ledge to where the impossibly-high wall rose up before them.

“I knew it.” He lifted his light. “This is a good sign… seems the Nantouk, or someone like them, were here as well.”

Cate stepped forward, seeing the same cave drawings they had seen high up above when they had first flown the miniature drone copter into the rock crevice.