Austin opened the pack and lined up several jars, cans and bottles. “Courtesy of Captain Ivanov. Mosliak mushroom appetizer, beef tushonka and red caviar on rye bread for dessert. All washed down with a good Georgian red wine.”

“How did you get here?” she said.

“I heard that Captain Ivanov was bringing in a batch of scientists, including some from NUMA. I hitched a ride with them on the Kotelny. Austin opened the jars and cans, and poured two glasses of wine. ”Now that you've had a chance to study things, what's your take on the crystal city?"

“It will be decades of study before we know the whole story, but I think the city was built during the Stone Age in the magma chamber after the volcano had been long dead.”

“Why go underground?”

“The usual reasons.For defense, or because of climate changes. They used mammoths for beasts of burden, which allowed them to move the cyclopean blocks.”

“What happened to the inhabitants?”

“Climate changes could have dried up their ability to grow food. A polar shift could have caused a flood or earthquake that created the partial collapse of the chamber roof, giving the caldera its odd shape. That road up the side of the mountain indicates that the usual city access might have been blocked for one reason or another.”

“Have you figured out how the mammoths managed to survive?”

“Sheer adaptability. As the food source diminished, they became smaller to adjust to the change in environment. They seem to have the capability to hibernate during the coldest part of the year.”

“What about the city's inhabitants? Who were they?”

“An enigma. It could take decades of research before we figure out who they were and what happened to them.”

“How are the little woollies doing?”

“The mammoths?Just fine. They seem content in the corral we built for them as long as we feed them. Maria Arbatov is in charge. The hardest part will be protecting them from the outside world. We're getting lots of press attention as you can imagine, and we're trying to control it.”

He swept the island with his eyes. “I hope this all survives our aggressive inquiry.”

“I think it will. These seem to be purer research endeavors than trying to clone mammoths.”

“What next?”

“I'll spend a few weeks here, and then head back to see Uncle Karl in Montana. I'll be coming to Washington next month to give a speech at the Smithsonian.”

“That's good news. When you get to Washington, how about getting together for cocktails, dinner and whatever?”

The smoky gray eyes gazed over the glass. "I'm particularly intrigued over the whatever!''

“Then it's a date. I think it's time to propose a toast. Ladies first.”

She only had to think about it for a second.

“To Uncle Karl. If he hadn't saved my grandfather, none of this would have been possible.”

“I'll drink to that. Without Uncle Karl, you would not have been possible.”