Chapter 49, Shrine Summary

Dr. van der Berg sets up scientific equipment and talks with Chris Floyd about how the news of the diamond mountain will impact the stock market. Dr. van der Berg stands to make good money from the results. Upon arriving at the wreck of the Tsien, they notice that an artificial lake had been constructed around it and that the wreck had been picked clean in some kind of salvage effort. They land and lay the wreath near the artificial lake, and then fly onward to the Great Wall.

Chapter 49, Shrine Analysis

Intelligent life that recognizes the value of metal must exist on Europa, as evidenced by the artificial lake and picked clean carcass of Tsien. The life must also require water in some way, possibly for transporting the metal scavenged from the spaceship. Dr. van der Berg and Chris Floyd...