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e。　He　remembered　going　into　the　room；　seeing　the　flames　lick　up　the　side　of　the　walls。　。。。　After　that；　he　wasn't　sure。
Where　were　the　others？
For　an　awful　moment　he　thought　he　was　the　only　survivor；　but　then　he　heard　a　cough　in　C　Cyl。　He　moved　toward　the　sound。　He　didn't　see　anybody　so　he　went　to　B　Cyl。
Fletcher　wasn't　there。　There　was　a　large　streak　of　blood　on　the　metal　pipes；　and　one　of　her　shoes　on　the　carpet。　That　was　all。
Another　cough；　from　among　the　pipes。
〃Fletcher？〃
〃Just　a　minute　。。。〃
Beth　emerged；　grease…streaked；　from　the　pipes。　〃Good；　you're　up。　I've　got　most　of　the　systems　going；　I　think。　Thank　God　the　Navy　has　instructions　printed　on　the　housings。　Anyway；　the　smoke's　clearing　and　the　air　quality　is　reading　all　right…not　great；　but　all　right…and　all　the　vital　stuff　seems　to　be　intact。　We　have　air　and　water　and　heat　and　power。　I'm　trying　to　find　out　how　much　power　and　air　we　have　left。〃
〃Where's　Fletcher？〃
〃I　can't　find　her　anywhere。〃　Beth　pointed　to　the　shoe　on　the　carpet；　and　the　streak　of　blood。
〃Tina？〃　Norman　asked。　He　was　alarmed　at　the　prospect　of　being　trapped　down　here　without　any　Navy　people　at　all。　〃Tina　was　with　you；〃　Beth　said；　frowning。
〃I　don't　seem　to　remember；〃　Norman　said。
〃You　probably　got　a　jolt　of　current；〃　Beth　said。　〃That　would　give　you　retrograde　amnesia。　You　won't　remember　the　last　few　minutes　before　the　shock。　I　can't　find　Tina；　either；　but　according　to　the　status　sensors　E　Cyl　is　flooded　and　shut　down。　You　were　with　her　in　E。　I　don't　know　why　it　flooded。〃
〃What　about　Harry？〃
〃He　got　a　jolt；　too；　I　think。　You're　lucky　the　amperage　＇＇232＇＇　wasn't　higher　or　you'd　both　be　fried。　Anyway；　he's　lying　on　the　floor　in　C；　either　sleeping　or　unconscious。　You　might　want　to　take　a　look　at　him。　I　didn't　want　to　risk　moving　him；　so　I　just　left　him　there。〃
〃Did　he　wake　up？　Talk　to　you？〃
〃No；　but　he　seems　to　be　breathing　fortably。　Color's　good；　all　that。　Anyway；　I　thought　I　better　get　the　life…support　systems　going。〃　She　wiped　grease　on　her　cheek。　〃I　mean；　it's　just　the　three　of　us　now；　Norman。〃
〃You；　me；　and　Harry？〃
〃That's　right。　You；　me；　and　Harry。〃


Harry　was　sleeping　peacefully　on　the　floor　between　the　bunks。　Norman　bent　down；　lifted　one　eyelid；　shone　a　light　in　Harry's　pupil。　The　pupil　contracted。
〃This　can't　be　heaven；〃　Harry　said。
〃Why　not？〃　Norman　said。　He　shone　the　light　in　the　other　pupil；　it　contracted。
〃Because　you're　here。　They　don't　let　psychologists　into　heaven。〃　He　gave　a　weak　smile。
〃Can　you　move　your　toes？　Your　hands？〃
〃I　can　move　everything。　I　walked　up　here；　Norman；　from　down　in　C。　I'm　okay。〃
Norman　sat　back。　〃I'm　glad　you're　okay；　Harry。〃　He　meant　it：　he　had　been　dreading　the　thought　of　an　injury　to　Harry。　From　the　beginning　of　the　expedition；　they　had　all　relied　on　Harry。　At　every　critical　juncture；　he　had　supplied　the　breakthrough；　the　necessary　understanding。　And　even　now；　Norman　took　fort　in　the　thought　that；　if　Beth　couldn't　figure　out　the　life…support　systems；　Harry　could。
〃Yeah；　I'm　okay。〃　He　closed　his　eyes　again；　sighed。　〃Who's　left？〃
〃Beth。　Me。　You。〃
〃Jesus。〃
〃Yeah。　You　want　to　get　up？〃
〃Yeah；　I'll　get　in　the　bunk。　I'm　real　tired；　Norman。　I　could　sleep　for　a　year。〃
＇＇233＇＇　Norman　helped　him　to　his　feet。　Harry　dropped　quickly　onto　the　nearest　bunk。
〃Okay　if　I　sleep　for　a　while？〃
〃Sure。〃
〃That's　good。　I'm　real　tired；　Norman。　I　could　sleep　for　a　year。〃
〃Yes；　you　said　that…〃
He　broke　off。　Harry　was　snoring。　Norman　reached　over　to　remove　something　crumpled　on　the　pillow　beneath　Harry's　head。
It　was　Ted　Fielding's　notebook。
Norman　suddenly　felt　overwhelmed。　He　sat　on　his　bunk；　holding　the　notebook　in　his　hands。　Finally　he　looked　at　a　couple　of　pages；　filled　with　Ted's　large；　enthusiastic　scrawl。　A　photograph　fell　onto　his　lap。　He　turned　it　over。　It　was　a　photo　of　a　red　Corvette。　And　the　feelings　just　overwhelmed　him。　Norman　didn't　know　if　he　was　crying　for　Ted；　or　crying　for　himself；　because　it　was　clear　to　him　that　one　by　one；　they　were　all　dying　down　here。　He　was　very　sad；　and　very　afraid。


Beth　was　in　D　Cyl；　at　the　munications　console；　turning　on　all　the　monitors。
〃They　did　a　pretty　good　job　with　this　place；〃　she　said。　〃Everything　is　marked；　everything　has　instructions；　there're　puter　help　files。　An　idiot　could　figure　it　out。　There's　just　one　problem　that　I　can　see。〃
〃What's　that？〃
〃The　galley　was　in　E　Cyl；　and　E　Cyl　is　flooded。　We've　got　no　food；　Norman。〃
〃None　at　all？〃
〃I　don't　think　so。〃
〃Water？〃
〃Yes；　plenty　of　water；　but　no　food。〃
〃Well；　we　can　make　it　without　food。　How　much　longer　have　we　got　down　here？〃
〃It　looks　like　two　more　days。〃
〃We　can　make　it；〃　Norman　said；　thinking：　Two　days；　Jesus。　Two　more　days　in　this　place。
＇＇234＇＇　〃That's　assuming　the　storm　clears　on　schedule；〃　Beth　added。　〃I've　been　trying　to　figure　out　how　to　release　a　surface　balloon；　and　see　what　it's　like　up　there。　Tina　used　to　punch　some　special　code　to　release　a　balloon。〃
〃We　can　make　it；〃　Norman　said　again。
〃Oh　sure。　If　worse　es　to　worst；　we　can　always　get　food　from　the　spaceship。　There's　plenty　over　there。〃
〃You　think　we　can　risk　going　outside？〃
〃We'll　have　to；〃　she　said；　glancing　at　the　screens；　〃sometime　in　the　next　three　hours。〃
〃Why？〃
〃The　minisub。　It　has　that　automatic　surfacing　timer；　unless　someone　goes　over　and　punches　the　button。〃
〃The　hell　with　the　sub；〃　Norman　said。　〃Let　the　sub　go。〃　〃Well；　don't　be　too　hasty；〃　Beth　said。　〃That　sub　can　hold　three　people。〃
〃You　mean　we　could　all　get　out　of　here　in　it？〃
〃Yeah。　That's　what　I　mean。〃
〃Christ；〃　Norman　said。　〃Let's　go　now。〃
〃There　are　two　problems　with　that；〃　Beth　said。　She　pointed　to　the　screens。　〃I've　been　going　over　the　specs。　First；　the　sub　is　unstable　on　the　surface。　If　there　are　big　waves　on　the　surface；　it'll　bounce　us　around　worse　than　anything　we've　had　down　here。　And　the　second　thing　is　that　we　have　to　link　up　with　a　depression　chamber　on　the　surface。　Don't　forget；　we　still　have　ninety…six　hours　of　depression　ahead　of　us。〃
〃And　if　we　don't　depress？〃　Norman　said。　He　was　thinking；　Let's　just　go　to　the　surface　in　the　sub　and　throw　open　the　hatch　and　see　the　clouds　and　the　sky　and　breathe　some　normal　earth　air。
〃We　have　to　depress；〃　Beth　said。　〃Your　bloodstream　is　saturated　with　helium　gas　in　solution。　Right　now　you're　under　pressure；　so　everything　is　fine。　But　if　you　release　that　pressure　suddenly；　it's　just　the　same　as　when　you　pop　the　top　off　a　soda　bottle。　The　helium　will　bubble　explosively　out　of　your　system。　You'll　die　instantly。〃
〃Oh；〃　Norman　said。
＇＇235＇＇　〃Ninety…six　hours；〃　Beth　said。　〃That's　how　long　it　takes　to　get　the　helium　out　of　you。〃
〃Oh。〃
Norman　went　to　the　porthole　and　looked　across　at　DH…7；　and　the　minisub。　It　was　a　hundred　yards　away。　〃You　think　the　squid　will　e　back？〃
She　shrugged。　〃Ask　Jerry。〃
Norman　thought；　No　more　of　that　Geraldine　stuff　now。　Or　did　she　prefer　to　think　of　this　malevolent　entity　as　masculine？
〃Which　monitor　is　it？〃
〃This　one。〃　She　flicked　it　on。　The　screen　glowed。
Norman　said；　〃Jerry？　Are　you　there？〃
No　answer。
He　typed；　JERRY？　ARE　YOU　THERE？　
There　was　no　response。
〃I'll　tell　you　something　about　Jerry；〃　Beth　said。　〃He　can't　really　read　minds。　When　we　were　talking　to　him　before；　I　sent　him　a　thought　and　he　didn't　respond。〃
〃I　did；　too；〃　Norman　said。　〃I　sent　both　messages　and　images。　He　never　responded。〃
〃If　we　speak；　he　answers；　but　if　we　just　think；　he　doesn't　answer；〃　Beth　said。　〃So　he's　not　all…powerful。　He　actually　behaves　as　if　he　hears　us。〃
〃That's　right；〃　Norman　said。　〃Although　he　doesn't　seem　to　be　hearing　us　now。〃
〃No。　I　tried　earlier；　too。〃
〃I　wonder　why　he　isn't　answering。〃
〃You　said　he　was　emotional。　Maybe　he's　sulking。〃
Norman　didn't　think　so。　Child　kings　didn't　sulk。　They　were　vindictive　and　whimsical；　but　they　didn't　sulk。
〃By　the　way；〃　she　said；　〃you　might　want　to　look　at　these。〃　She　handed　him　a　stack　of　printouts。　〃They're　the　record　of　all　the　interactions　we've　had　with　him。〃
〃They　may　give　us　a　clue；〃　Norman　said；　thumbing　through　the　sheets　without　any　real　enthusiasm。　He　felt　suddenly　tired。
〃Anyway；　it'll　occupy　your　mind。〃
〃True。〃
〃Personally；〃　Beth　said；　〃I'd　like　to　go　back　to　the　ship。〃
＇＇236＇＇　〃What　for？〃
〃I'm　not　convinced　we've　found　everything　that's　there。〃
〃It's　a　long　way　to　the　ship；〃　Norman　said。
〃I　know。　But　if　we　get　a　clear　time　without　the　squid；　I　might　try　it。〃
〃Just　to　occupy　your　mind？〃
〃I　guess　you　could　say　that。〃　She　glanced　at　her　watch。　〃Norman；　I'm　going　to　get　a　couple　of　hours　of　sleep；〃　she　said。　〃Then　we　can　draw　straws　to　see　who　goes　to　the　submarine。〃
〃Okay。〃
〃You　seem　depressed；　Norman。〃
〃I　am。〃
〃Me；　too；〃　she　said。　〃This　place　feels　like　a　tomb…and　I've　been　prematurely　buried。〃
She　climbed　the　ladder　to　her　laboratory；　but　apparently　she　didn't　go　to　sleep；　because　after　a　few　moments；　he　heard　Tina's　recorded　voice　on　videotape　saying；　〃Do　you　think　they'll　ever　get　the　sphere　open？〃
And　Beth　replied；　〃Maybe。　I　don't　know。〃
〃It　scares　me。〃
The　whirr　of　rewinding　and　a　short　delay；　then：　〃Do　you　think　they'll　ever　get　the　sphere　open？〃
〃Maybe。　I　don't　know。〃
〃It　scares　me。〃
The　tape　was　being　an　obsession　with　Beth。
He　stared　at　the　printouts　on　his　lap；　and　then　he　looked　at　the　screen。　〃Jerry？〃　he　said。　〃Are　you　there？〃
Jerry　did　not　answer。

THE　SUB

She　was　shaking　his　shoulder　gently。　Norman　opened　his　eyes。
〃It's　time；〃　Beth　said。
〃Okay。〃　He　yawned。　God；　he　was　tired。　〃How　much　time　is　left？〃
〃Half　an　hour。〃
Beth　switched　on　the　sensory　array　at　the　munications　console；　adjusted　the　settings。
〃You　know　how　to　work　all　that　stuff？〃　Norman　said。　〃The　sensors？〃
〃Pretty　well。　I've　been　learning　it。〃
〃Then　I　should　go　to　the　sub；〃　he　said。　He　knew　Beth　would　never　agree；　that　she　would　insist　on　doing　the　active　thing；　but　he　wanted　to　make　the　effort。
〃Okay；〃　she　said。　〃You　go。　That　makes　sense。〃
He　covered　his　surprise。　〃I　think　so；　too。〃
〃Somebody　has　to　watch　the　array；〃　she　said。　〃And　I　can　give　you　warning　if　the　squid　is　ing。〃
〃Right；〃　he　said。　Thinking；　Hell；　she's　serious。　〃I　don't　think　this　is　one　for　Harry；〃　Norman　said。
〃No；　Harry's　not　very　physical。　And　he's　still　asleep。　I　say；　let　him　sleep。〃
〃Right；〃　Norman　said。
〃You'll　need　help　with　your　suit；〃　Beth　said。
〃Oh；　that's　right；　my　suit；〃　Norman　said。　〃The　fan　is　broken　in　my　suit。〃
〃Fletcher　fixed　it　for　you；〃　Beth　said。
〃I　hope　she　did　it　right。〃
〃Maybe　I　should　go　instead；〃　Beth　said。
〃No；　no。　You　watch　the　consoles。　I'll　go。　It's　only　a　hundred　yards　or　so；　anyway。　It　can't　be　a　big　deal。〃
〃All　clear　now；〃　she　said；　glancing　at　the　monitors。
〃Right；〃　Norman　said。


＇＇238＇＇　His　helmet　clicked　in　place；　and　beth　tapped　his　faceplate；　gave　him　a　questioning　look：　was　everything　all　right？
Norman　nodded；　and　she　opened　the　floor　hatch　for　him。　He　waved　goodbye　and　jumped　into　the　chilly　black　water。　On　the　sea　floor；　he　stood　beneath　the　hatch　for　a　moment　and　waited　to　make　sure　he　could　hear　his　circulating　fan。　Then　he　moved　out　from　beneath　the　habitat。
There　were　only　a　few　lights　on　in　the　habitat；　and　he　could　see　many　thin　lines　of　bubbles　streaming　upward；　from　the　leaking　cylinders。
〃How　are　you？〃　Beth　said；　over　the　inter。　〃Okay。　You　know　the　place　is　leaking？〃
〃It　looks　worse　than　it　is；〃　Beth　said。　〃Trust　me。〃　Norman　came　to　the　edge　of　the　habitat　and　looked　across　the　hundred　yards　of　open　sea　floor　that　separated　him　from　DH…7。　〃How　does　it　look？　Still　clear？〃
〃Still　clear；〃　Beth　said。
Norman　set　out。　He　walked　as　quickly　as　he　could；　but　he　felt　as　if　his　feet　were　moving　in　slow　motion。　He　was　soon　short　of　breath；　he　swore。
〃What's　the　matter？〃
〃I　can't　go　fast。〃　He　kept　looking　north；　expecting　at　any　moment　to　see　the　greenish　glow　of　the　approaching　squid；　but　the　horizon　remained　dark。
〃You're　doing　fine；　Norman。　Still　clear。〃
He　was　now　fifty　yards　from　the　habitat…halfway　there。　He　could　see　DH…7；　much　smaller　than　their　own　habitat；　a　single　cylinder　forty　feet　high；　with　very　few　portholes。　Alongside　it　was　the　inverted　dome；　and　the　minisub。
〃You're　almost　there；〃　Beth　said。　〃Good　work。〃
Norman　began　to　feel　dizzy。　He　slowed　his　pace。　He　could　now　see　markings　on　the　gray　surface　of　the　habitat。　There　were　all　sorts　of　block…printed　Navy　stencils。
〃Coast　is　still　clear；〃　Beth　said。　〃Congratulations。　Looks　like　you　m