Free Valhalla by Robert J. Mrazek

operations tent, where she found Hancock, Cabot, and Macaulay standing in front of the now-dark communications array. The tent’s space heaters were as cold as the one in her tent. Two small gas lanterns provided minimal illumination.
    â€œSomeone sabotaged the main generator,” said Macaulay. “We’re trying to patch in power from two of the smaller backups.”
    Hancock’s manner remained calm and assured.
    â€œRight now, heat and communications are the top priority, even if we have to suspend the recovery operation. If we can’t get the heat restored, Steve, you’ll have to ferry the team back to Kulusuk in the transport chopper.”
    â€œWhat the hell is going on here?” said Cabot as he left to find the cause of the problem.
    â€œI don’t know,” said Hancock, “but I’d say we need reinforcements.”
    â€œObviously, there is someone here attempting to sabotage what we’re doing,” said Macaulay. “The question is who.”
    Lexy quickly told them about Falconer’s visit to her tent, and how she had caught him trying to steal her journal.
    â€œWhat time was that?” asked Macaulay.
    â€œAbout three hours ago.”
    â€œWhy didn’t you wake one of us up?”
    â€œI’m sorry. . . . I didn’t think it was all that important.”
    â€œIt was,” said Hancock. “If he was the one who wrecked the satellite phone, he could have used it to arrange a rendezvous. He might even be on his way to the coast right now.”
    Macaulay sent Doc Callaghan over to search Falconer’s tent. He returned a few minutes later to say that the archaeologist’s personal gear was gone.
    â€œOne of the snowmobiles is also missing,” he added.
    â€œThis has to be related to the Viking discovery,” said Hancock. “Someone needs to go down there—one of the people who’s seen everything.”
    Looking at Lexy, Macaulay said, “I’ll do it.”
    â€œI need you here, Steve. You may be flying people out soon, and the transport chopper will have to be checked for more sabotage. As for the others . . .”
    â€œI’ll go,” said Lexy, hoping the first jolt of fear she had just felt wasn’t registering on her face.

FOURTEEN
    22 November
Base Hancock One
Greenland Ice Cap
    â€œMaybe we could send Doc Callaghan down with her,” said Macaulay, knowing John Lee wasn’t aware of her claustrophobia.
    â€œI’ll be all right,” she said.
    â€œGood,” said Hancock, turning to a member of his communications team. “As soon as we get power back, I want you to get Dallas on the horn. Tell them I want a fully equipped security team up here in the next twelve hours. I don’t care how they have to do it.”
    â€œUse the walkie-talkie if you get into trouble,” Macaulay whispered to Lexy. “I’ll come right down.”
    â€œAye, aye, General,” she said with a mock salute.
    â€œWrong branch,” he said to her departing back.
    She rode down the bigger of the two shafts with George Cabot. When they reached the first cavern, he used his security code to activate power to the secondwinch and then attached a set of metal stirrups to the cable for her next descent.
    Staring down into the small black hole, Lexy realized she was no longer afraid of the descent. Maybe it was because she had already been down there, or because she was so excited to see more of the discovery. Whatever the reason, she was grateful for the emotional reprieve.
    She was about to step into the stirrups when she looked up and noticed an oily substance dripping from the power winch onto the cable.
    â€œNot to worry,” said Cabot, following her eyes. “These things leak oil all the time.
    As the cable slowly began cranking her downward through the shaft, Lexy kept her flashlight beam trained on the ice wall in front of her. She began to notice a