be learned that the cave stretched nearly a mile into the mountain and

the temperature increased as the cavern ran downward. A large pool with

freshwater was located deep inside, with stalactites descending from the

ceiling and stalagmites rising from the floor.

Groups were sent to the coast to locate long poles of driftwood to

construct a series of ladders up and down the passages, while others

carved steps into the rock. Intricate doors were fashioned from slabs of

12 CLIVE CUSSLER

rock that pivoted on balanced hinges to hide the object from others who

might seek her power. Runic carvings and statues were hewn from the

rock, and light was reflected from the few openings where fresh air entered

the cave. Eric supervised the work from the settlement on the

coast. He visited the site rarely, letting the vision in his mind be his

guide.

Men came, worked, became sick and died, only to be replaced by

others.

By the time the cavern was finished, Eric the Red had decimated his

population base and the settlement would never recover. Only once did

his son, Leif, see the glorious monument.

Eric ordered the entrance sealed, and the object was left for those yet

to come.

1

LIEUTENANT CHRIS HUNT rarely talked about his past, but the men

he served with had gathered a few clues from his demeanor. The first

was that Hunt had not grown up in some backwoods hillbilly haven and

used the army to see the world. He was from Southern California. And,

if pressed, Hunt would volunteer he was raised in the Los Angeles area,

not wanting to disclose that he grew up in Beverly Hills. The second

thing the men noticed was that Hunt was a natural leader-he was neither

patronizing nor put on an air of superiority, but neither did he try to

hide the fact that he was competent and smart.

The third thing the men found out today.

A chill wind was blowing down from the mountains into the

Afghanistan valley where the platoon under Hunt's command was breaking

camp. Hunt and three other soldiers were wrestling with a tent they

were folding for storage. While the men were bringing the ends together

longways, Sergeant Tom Agnes decided to ask about the rumor he had

heard. Hunt handed him the side of the tent so Agnes could fold it into

halves.

16 CLIVE CUSSLER

"Sir," Agnes said, "rumor has it you graduated from Yale Universitythat

true?"

All the men were wearing tinted ski goggles but Agnes was close

enough to see Hunt's eyes. A flicker of surprise, followed by resignation,

flashed quickly. Then Hunt smiled.

"Ah," he said quietly, "you've found out my terrible secret."

Agnes nodded and folded the tent in half. "Not exactly a hotbed for

military recruiting."

"George Bush went there," Hunt said. "He was a navy pilot."

"I thought he was in the National Guard," Specialist Jesus Herrara,

who was taking the tent from Agnes, said.