Revelation Space
Chapter One
Mantell Sector, North Nekhebet, Resurgam, Delta Pavonis system, 2551
There was a razorstorm coming in.
Sylveste sood on the edge of the excavation and wondered if any of his labours would survive the night. The
archeological dig was an array of deep square shafts separated by baulks of sheer-sided soil: the classical Wheeler
box-grid. The shafts went down tens of metres, walled by transparent cofferdams spun from hyperdiamond. A million years
of stratified geological history pressed against the sheets. But it would take only one good dustfall-one good
razorstorm-to fill the shafts almost to the surface.
"Confirmation, sir," said one of his team, emerging from the crouched form of the first crawler. The man's voice was
muffled behind his breather mask. "Cuvier's just issued a severe weather advisory for the whole North Nekhebet
landmass. They're advising all surface teams to return to the nearest base."
"You're saying we should pack up and drive back to Mantell?"
"It's going to be a hard one, sir." The man fidgeted, drawing the collar of his jacket tighter around his neck. "Shall
I issue the gene ... read full excerpt from: Revelation SpAce ebook
