“Mr. MacDonald? My name is Ashlynn Archer, and I’m here to brief you.”

“I’ve already been briefed, lass,” says I, “but do it all again if ye think it’ll help.”

“I’m not an engineer,” she says. “I’m an animal behaviorist.”

25 SEPTEMBER 05:02 HOURS

Sorry, Brandy, must’ve dozed off. Standing inside the SAM suit in this coffin is nae tha’ bad. Sorta like bein’ in a grinding, lurching down-elevator. However, there’s lights and snacks and water inside my SAM suit, and a video monitor that plays movies. I fell asleep watching Caddyshack.

There’s a window above my head. All’s I can see is meltwater and ice and darkness. My helmet is off, held loosely and tilted so I can see the depth gauge, which reads 3,682 meters. Guess I’m nearly—

—ahhh… ! Bloody hell! I jist went intae freefall oot the ass-end of the bloody ice sheet. Cable must’ve caught. Now we’re swaying and lowering through whit looks like a gray fog.

Thankfully, my left knee caught the helmet. I’m puttin’ it on now. I’ll record my internal communications and replay them for ye on the return trip, God willing.

25 SEPTEMBER 05:13 HOURS (Internal Recording)

“Mr. MacDonald, how was the ride?”

“Tha’ last drop near give me a heart attack. How’s aboot ye call me True, and I’ll call ye Ashlynn.”

“Mister—True—we’re lowering you to the surface. Let us know the moment you touch down, and we’ll do our best to keep your pod upright to make it easier to exit. When you’re ready to exit, let us know and we’ll open the pod’s bay doors.”

“Understood. Okay, I’m doon, but I’m leaning. Ashlynn, darlin’, have yer team take up a meter of slack before I fall oot and cannae get up.”

“Stand by. How is that?”

“Better. Thank ye, darlin’. Ye can open the doors now. Activating my night vision. Looks like I landed in a gully… shite.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I think ye dropped me intae the river bed. I jist sank knee-deep in mud and sand. Where’s the bloody sub?”

“Eleven meters on heading two-six-three. Before you head out, be sure to bring the air tanks with you.”

“I’m opening the storage container now. Six air tanks on a sled. Ye NASA folk think of everything.”

“True, don’t forget the fiber-optic cable. The adapter plug is attached to the back of the Valkyrie.”

“Got it. I’m proceeding on heading two-six-three. Stand by.”

“True, you’re breathing very hard. Your heart rate is over one-seventy.”

“Try… walking… through sand… up tae yer knees… in a metal suit.”

“Can you see the sub? It should be right in front of you.”