Lessard led the way out of the control room and they walked along a tunnel for several minutes. The omnipresent hum of the turbine was overpowered by another sound like a strong wind blowing through the trees. They climbed a flight of metal stairs on the other side of a steel door to an observation platform protected by a watertight plastic-and-metal canopy. Lessard explained that they were in one of several off-site control rooms. The rushing noise had become a roar.

Lessard flicked a wall switch and a floodlight illuminated a section of tunnel where a torrent raged. The foaming water level almost reached the observation bubble. Austin stared at the white water, sensing its vast power.

“This time of year water melts from huge pockets in the ice,” Lessard shouted over the racket. “They add to the normal flow. It's like the floods you get in swollen rivers when the mountain snow melts too quickly in the spring.” Lessard had a pained expression on his narrow face. “I'm sorry we can't help you or the people trapped inside.”

“You've helped me a great deal already, but I'll need to see a detailed diagram of the research tunnel.”

“Of course.” As Lessard led the way back to the control room, he

decided he liked this American. Austin was thorough and methodical, qualities Lessard prized above all others.

Back in the main nerve center, Austin glanced at the wall clock and saw that precious minutes had gone by since the tour began. Lessard went over to a metal cabinet, slid open a wide shallow drawer and pulled out a set of blueprints.

“Here is the main entrance to the research tunnel. It's not much more than a culvert. These rectangles are the living quarters for the scientists. The lab is about a mile from the main entrance. As you can see in this side view, there are stairs that run up through the ceiling to another level, where there is a passage that leads to the subglacial observatory itself.”

“Do we know how many people could be trapped?”

“There were three in the scientific team most recently. Sometimes, when they get sick of being underground, we get together to drink a few glasses of wine. Then there is the woman from your ship. A float plane brought some people in before the accident, but I don't know how many it had aboard when it took off a short while ago.”

Austin leaned over the diagram, his eyes taking in every detail. “Suppose the people under the glacier made it to the observatory. The air trapped in this passageway would keep the water from inundating the observatory area.”

“That's true,” Lessard said with little enthusiasm.

“If there is air, they could still be alive.”

“Also true, but their supply of air is limited. This may be a case of the living envying the dead.”