Ten minutes later the readings from both Scout teams matched the road stations, and nothing was left of the storm except the snow already lying on the ground.
Marianne looked at the terrain picture again. The interior valley was quiet, the slopes around it ordinary from a distance, and the bare patch Seeker One-One had marked sat above it.
"Crystal Three, Crystal Four. Move to the bare ground on the north slope and see what's there."
Both teams acknowledged and started up the valley.
The ground changed before they reached the patch. Snow thinned along a narrow strip, then gave way to wet rock, and meltwater ran from the edge of the snow in thin lines.
"Crystal Three to Northern Command. Ground temperature's nine above at forty meters from the steam. It's coming out of a seam in the slope."
