“Older, much older,” she said as she walked sideways along the wall, lifting her light to the images. “These almost look Neanderthal, if that’s even possible.” There were warriors in canoe-like boats, some standing on rock edges, perhaps this very one, and either hauling on nets or throwing spears.

“Why fish in a freezing ocean, when you can come down here to your own private tropical sea.”

“Friend of yours?” Jack stepped back, holding his light on a particular group of images.

Cate came closer. It was an image of a shark, crudely drawn, but the dorsal fin, curved tail, and massive jaws were unmistakable. There looked to be spears sticking from it, and underneath it were drawn dozens and dozens of images of warriors. All of them lying down with their eyes closed.

“They tried to catch it, or kill it,” she said, following the images along the wall.

“Or at least they tried.” He pointed. “Look at the size – the figures are about one tenth of the shark; that would be fairly accurate for a Megalodon.” He moved his light-beam. “See the warrior’s eyes – all shut. I don’t think all of these warriors below it are sleeping. More like these guys were eaten trying to capture it.” Jack turned to her. “Maybe their own private tropical sea had a drawback or two.”

She snorted in wonder, and focused her beam on the giant shark. “They were always here – the Megalodons – right under our noses. We just didn’t know where to look.” She turned and gave him a crooked smile. “I don’t know whether I should be thrilled, or even more shit-scared, right now.”

Jack put his arm around her shoulder. She let it stay. “Right now? Right now, we go and see what else Valery’s team sent us.”

*   *   *

Jack and Cate joined Greg and Abby and chose another of the buoys to investigate. The three-foot pods each had an indented locking mechanism that when turned and slid across caused a door to pop open. Inside his, Greg found some luxury foods, meant as a treat and perhaps a surprise for Valery Mironov from his support team – tinned caviar and pate, biscuits and salmon – nibbles for a fun afternoon, and far from the life-sustaining supplies they now desperately needed. There was even a well-packed half-bottle of champagne.

The other two pod contents were more practical: water bottles, first aid materials, a pair of new hunting knives and a small compass. The final one was the real score – a four-person raft, and the best of all, a dozen spare flashlight batteries.

“God love you, Valery,” Cate said holding them up. “I can take hungry, and I can deal with thirsty until it kills me, but being trapped in darkness, now that’s a nightmare I don’t want to live through.”

Jack was strapping on one of the hunting knives. “My guess is that each of the communication stations might have similar items, but…”