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"If I remember my junior college astronomy," said Pat, "the vernal equinox is where the sun intersects the celestial equator from south to north during the spring equinox, making it a reference direction for angular distances as measured from the equator."
"Very good," Max complimented her. "Spoken like a college professor putting her class to sleep.
Anyway, before Christ, the vernal equinox passed through the constellation Aries. Because of precession, the vernal equinox is now in Pisces and is advancing toward Aquarius."
"What I think you're telling us," said Pat, elation beginning to grow in her chest, "is that the starlike symbols in the ceiling in the chamber display coordinates of the star system from the past."
"That's how I read it," Max said impassively.
"Did the ancients have the scientific knowledge to make such accurate projections?"
"I'm finding that whoever carved that celestial map in the ceiling of the chamber was superior to the astronomers of only a few hundred years ago. They calculated correctly that the celestial galaxy is fixed and that the sun, the moon, and the planets revolve. The map shows the orbits of the planets, including Pluto, which was discovered only in the last century. They discovered that the stars Betelgeuse, Sirius, and Procyon remain in permanent positions, while other constellations move imperceptibly over thousands of years. Believe me, these ancient people knew their stuff when it came to stargazing."
Pat looked at Yaeger. "If Max can decipher the star coordinates as engraved in the chamber when it was built, we might be able to date its construction."
"It's worth a try."
"I deciphered a small part of the numbering system," said Pat. "Would that help you, Max?"
"You shouldn't have bothered. I have already interpreted the numbering system. I find it quite ingenious for its simplicity. I can't wait to dig my bytes into the inscriptions that spell out words."
"Max?"
"Yes, Hiram."
"Concentrate on deciphering the star symbols and put aside the alphabetic inscriptions for now."
"You'd like me to analyze the celestial map?"
"Do the best you can."
"Can you give me until five o'clock? I should be able to get a handle on it by then."
"The time is yours," Yeager responded.
"Max only requires a few hours for a project that should take months, even years?" Pat asked incredulously.
"Never underestimate Max," said Yaeger, swinging around in his chair and sipping from a cup of cold coffee. "I spent the better part of my prime years putting Max together. There isn't another computer system like her in the world. Not that she won't be obsolete in five years. But for the present, there is very little she can't do. She is unique, and she belongs heart and soul to me and NUMA."
"What about patents? Surely you must turn your rights over to the government."
"Admiral Sandecker is not your average bureaucrat. We have a verbal contract. I trust him, and he trusts me. Fifty percent of any revenue that we make on patent royalties or charges for the use of our accumulated data to private corporations or government agencies is turned over to NUMA. The other fifty percent comes to me."
"You certainly work for a fair-minded man. Any other employer would have given you a bonus, a gold watch, and a pat on the back, and taken your profits to the bank."
"I'm lucky to be surrounded by fair-minded men," said Yaeger solemnly. "The admiral, Rudi Gunn, Al Giordino, and Dirk Pitt, they're all men I'm proud to call my friends."
"You've known them for a long time."
"Close to fifteen years. We've had some wild times together and solved any number of ocean riddles."
"While we're waiting for Max to get back to us, why don't we begin analyzing the wall symbols.
Perhaps we can find a clue to their meaning."
Yaeger nodded. "Sure thing."
"Can you reproduce the holographic image of the chamber?"
