2. Who are the people Sam McFarlane has hired to help him search for meteorites in the Kalahari Desert? How does he win their trust? How does he lose it?

3. Why is a guard posted at the camp where the meteorite is sitting? What happens on the first night of guard duty?

4. Why does McFarlane take the broken drill bit to the ship? What does he find on it? What does he decide to do next?

5. What report does McFarlane find in Amira's quarters in Chapter 37? What does this report say? How does McFarlane feel about this report?

6. What does Lloyd do when he first sees the meteorite? Who warns against this action? Why?

7. What story of the Ice Limit does Britton tell the people at her table during the first dinner on board the Rolvaag? What famous writer wrote a story about this incident? How is this incident related to Captain Britton? What is important about this story?

8. What does Dr. Brambell say caused Masangkay's death? How does this impact the expedition at this point?

9. What proof in Chapter 30 do McFarlane and Amira get from Glinn that supports their theory that the meteorite is interstellar rather than having come from our solar system?

10. What does Glinn's company, Effective Engineering Solutions, Inc., do? What is their success record? Why does Lloyd hire them?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following themes in detail citing examples from the novel:

1) Greed

2) Desire to succeed

3) Family

4) Danger.

Essay Topic 2

Why does Glinn force Britton to remain at Isla Desolacion when the proximity of Vallenar's ship makes her nervous? How does he force her to remain? Why does Britton allow Glinn to take control of the Rolvaag on several occasions, most often when Vallenar's ship is in pursuit of the Rolvaag? Is Glinn's advice to Britton good advice? What happens to the Rolvaag in the end? Whose fault is it? How might this result have been prevented?