Three figures clambered over the fence surrounding the partly-excavated ruins.
"Looks like it's been gone over pretty throughly," said Ard. "Are you sure no one could have stumbled across it? It's been a while since you were working here."
"Of course I'm sure. Such a find would have made the news, never mind the scientific literature. It's quite impossible that Professor Nishyoika-"
"Good. Let's get on and get it out," said Vanderdecker. "Which way?"
They picked their way across trenches to the far side of the site where the forest was encroaching on the ruins. Gates crawled into the undergrowth. The other two waited. After a few minutes he emerged, somewhat scratched.
"The entrance is still as I left it but there seems to have been some, erm, subsidence,"
"How bad?" asked Vanderdecker.
"It won't simply be a case of lifting them out; excavation will be required. We'll need equipment, and sensing devices. It'll be a big job. I don't suppose any of you are trained in excavation?"
Ard and Vanderdecker exchanged glances.
"I'll see about hiring a digger," said Ard.
"What? You're insane!" said Gates. "These are delicate artefacts! You'll be destroying vital scientific data!"
"What do you care?" said Vanderdecker.
"I don't think you quite understand. They are unique- irreplaceable!"
"You'd better get something that can hack through these trees too," said Vanderdecker to Ard.
Gates sighed. "The data is likely to be valuable in a commercial as well as in a scientific sense."
"How valuable?"
"Do you read the papers? If it's similar to the McEvily find, we could name our price for the content!"
"And if it isn't?"
"Just give me two days and I'll tell you if it is or not."
"Not a minute more. Hold the digger, Ard."