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　screen　as　he　stared　at　the　sphere　on　the　monitor。
That　sphere。
With　Harry　unconscious；　he　wondered　if　they　would　ever　know　exactly　what　had　happened；　exactly　what　it　had　been　like。　He　remembered　the　lights；　like　fireflies。　And　what　had　Harry　said？　Something　about　foam。　The　foam。　Norman　heard　a　whirring　sound；　and　looked　out　the　porthole。
The　sub　was　moving。
Freed　of　its　tethers；　the　yellow　minisub　glided　across　the　bottom；　its　lights　shining　on　the　ocean　floor。　Norman　pushed　the　inter　button：　〃Beth？　Beth！〃
〃I'm　here；　Norman。〃
〃What're　you　doing？〃
〃Just　take　it　easy；　Norman。〃
〃What're　you　doing　in　the　sub；　Beth？〃
〃Just　a　precaution；　Norman。〃
〃Are　you　leaving？〃
She　laughed　over　the　inter。　A　light；　relaxed　laugh。　〃No；　Norman。　Just　take　it　easy。〃
〃Tell　me　what　you're　doing。〃
〃It's　a　secret。〃
〃e　on；　Beth。〃　This　was　all　he　needed；　he　thought；　to　have　Beth　crack　up　now。　He　thought　again　of　her　impulsiveness；　which　moments　before　he　had　admired。　He　did　not　admire　it　any　more。　〃Beth？〃
〃Talk　to　you　later；〃　she　said。
The　sub　turned　in　profile；　and　he　saw　red　boxes　in　its　claw　arms。　He　could　not　read　the　lettering　on　the　boxes；　but　they　looked　vaguely　familiar。　As　he　watched；　the　sub　moved　past　the　high　fin　of　the　spacecraft；　and　then　settled　to　the　bottom。　One　of　the　boxes　was　released；　plumping　softly　on　the　muddy　floor。　The　sub　started　up　again；　churning　sediment；　and　glided　forward　a　hundred　yards。　Then　it　stopped　again；　and　released　another　box。　It　continued　this　way　along　the　length　of　the　spacecraft。
＇＇294＇＇　〃Beth？〃
No　answer。　Norman　squinted　at　the　boxes。　There　was　lettering　on　them；　but　he　could　not　read　them　at　this　distance。　The　sub　had　turned　now；　and　was　ing　directly　toward　DH…8。　The　lights　shone　at　him。　It　moved　closer　and　the　sensor　alarms　went　off；　clanging　and　flashing　red　lights。　He　hated　these　alarms；　he　thought；　going　over　to　the　console；　looking　at　the　buttons。　How　the　hell　did　you　turn　them　off？　He　glanced　at　Harry；　but　Harry　remained　unconscious。
〃Beth？　Are　you　there？　You　set　off　the　damn　alarms。〃
〃Push　F8。〃
What　the　hell　was　F8？　He　looked　around；　finally　saw　a　row　of　keys　on　the　keyboard；　numbered　F1　to　F20。　He　pushed　F8　and　the　alarms　stopped。　The　sub　was　now　very　close；　lights　shining　into　the　porthole　windows。　In　the　high　bubble；　Beth　was　clearly　visible；　instrument　lights　shining　up　on　her　face。　Then　the　sub　descended　out　of　view。
He　went　to　the　porthole　and　looked　out。　Deepstar　III　was　resting　on　the　bottom；　depositing　more　boxes　from　its　claw　hands。　Now　he　could　read　the　lettering　on　the　boxes：

CAUTION　NO　SMOKING　NO　ELECTRONICS　TEVAC　EXPLOSIVES

〃Beth？　What　the　hell　are　you　doing？〃
〃Later；　Norman。〃
He　listened　to　her　voice。　She　sounded　okay。　Was　she　cracking　up？　No；　he　thought。　She's　not　cracking　up。　She　sounds　okay。　I'm　sure　she's　okay。
But　he　wasn't　sure。
The　sub　was　moving　again；　its　lights　blurred　by　the　cloud　of　sediment　churned　up　by　the　propellors。　The　cloud　drifted　up　past　the　porthole；　obscuring　his　vision。
〃Beth？〃
〃Everything's　fine；　Norman。　Back　in　a　minute。〃
As　the　sediment　drifted　down　to　the　bottom　again；　he　saw　the　sub；　heading　back　to　DH…7。　Moments　later；　it　docked　beneath　the　dome。　Then　he　saw　Beth　climb　out；　and　tether　the　sub　fore　and　aft。

1100　HOURS

〃It's　very　simple；〃　Beth　said。
〃Explosives？〃　He　pointed　to　the　screen。　〃It　says　here；　'Tevacs　are；　weight　for　weight；　the　most　powerful　conventional　explosives　known。'　What　the　hell　are　you　doing　putting　them　around　the　habitat？〃
〃Norman；　take　it　easy。〃　She　rested　her　hand　on　his　shoulder。　Her　touch　was　soft　and　reassuring。　He　relaxed　a　little；　feeling　her　body　so　close。
〃We　should　have　discussed　this　together　first。〃
〃Norman；　I'm　not　taking　any　chances。　Not　any　more。〃
〃But　Harry　is　unconscious。〃
〃He　might　wake　up。〃
〃He　won't；　Beth。〃
〃I'm　not　taking　any　chances；〃　she　said。　〃This　way；　if　something　starts　to　e　out　of　that　sphere；　we　can　blow　the　hell　out　of　the　whole　ship。　I've　put　explosives　along　the　whole　length　of　it。〃
〃But　why　around　the　habitat？〃
〃Defense。〃
〃How　is　it　defense？〃
〃Believe　me；　it　is。〃
〃Beth；　it's　dangerous　to　have　that　stuff　so　close　to　us。〃
〃It's　not　wired　up；　Norman。　In　fact；　it's　not　wired　up　around　the　ship；　either。　I　have　to　go　out　and　do　that　by　hand。〃　She　glanced　at　the　screens。　〃I　thought　I'd　wait　a　while　first；　maybe　take　a　nap。　Are　you　tired？〃
〃No；〃　Norman　said。
〃You　haven't　slept　in　a　long　time；　Norman。〃
〃I'm　not　tired。〃
She　gave　him　an　appraising　look。　〃I'll　keep　an　eye　on　Harry；　if　that's　what　you're　worried　about。〃
〃I'm　just　not　tired；　Beth。〃
〃Okay；〃　she　said；　〃suit　yourself。〃　She　brushed　her　luxuriant　hair　back　from　her　face　with　her　fingers。　〃Personally；　I'm　exhausted。　I'm　going　to　get　a　few　hours。〃　She　started　up　the　＇＇296＇＇　stairs　to　her　lab；　then　looked　down　at　him。　〃Want　to　join　me？〃
〃What？〃　he　said。
She　smiled　at　him　directly；　knowingly。　〃You　heard　me；　Norman。〃
〃Maybe　later；　Beth。〃
〃Okay。　Sure。〃
She　ascended　the　staircase；　her　body　swinging　smoothly；　sensuously　in　the　tight　jumpsuit。　She　looked　good　in　that　jumpsuit。　He　had　to　admit　it。　She　was　a　good…looking　woman。
Across　the　room；　Harry　snored　in　a　regular　rhythm。　Norman　checked　Harry's　icepack；　and　thought　about　Beth。　He　heard　her　moving　around　in　the　lab　upstairs。
〃Hey；　Norm？〃
〃Yes　。。。〃　He　moved　to　the　bottom　of　the　stairs；　looked　up。
〃Is　there　another　one　of　these　down　there？　A　clean　one？〃　Something　blue　dropped　into　his　hands。　It　was　her　jumpsuit。　〃Yes。　I　think　they're　in　storage　in　B。〃
〃Bring　me　one；　would　you；　Norm？〃
〃Okay；〃　he　said。
Going　to　B　Cyl；　he　found　himself　inexplicably　nervous。　What　was　going　on？　Of　course；　he　thought；　he　knew　exactly　what　was　going　on；　but　why　now？　Beth　was　exerting　a　powerful　attraction；　and　he　mistrusted　it。　In　her　dealings　with　men；　Beth　was　confrontational；　energetic；　direct；　and　angry。　Seduction　wasn't　her　method　at　all。
It　is　now；　he　thought；　fishing　a　new　jumpsuit　out　of　the　storage　locker。　He　took　it　back　to　D　Cyl　and　climbed　the　ladder。　From　above；　he　saw　a　strange　bluish　light。
〃Beth？〃
〃I'm　here；　Norm。〃
He　came　up　and　saw　her　lying　naked　on　her　back；　beneath　a　bank　of　ultraviolet　sunlamps　hinged　out　from　the　wall。　She　wore　opaque　cups　over　her　eyes。　She　twisted　her　body　seductively。
〃Did　you　bring　the　suit？〃
〃Yes；〃　he　said。
＇＇297＇＇　　〃Thanks　a　lot。　Just　put　it　anywhere；　by　the　lab　bench。〃
〃Okay。〃　He　draped　it　over　her　chair。
She　rolled　back　to　face　the　glowing　lamps；　sighed。　〃I　thought　I'd　better　get　a　little　vitamin　D；　Norm。〃
〃Yes　。。。〃
〃You　probably　should；　too。〃
〃Yeah；　probably。〃　But　Norman　was　thinking　that　he　didn't　remember　a　bank　of　sunlamps　in　the　lab。　In　fact；　he　was　sure　that　there　wasn't　one。　He　had　spent　a　lot　of　time　in　that　room；　he　would　have　remembered。　He　went　back　down　the　stairs　quickly。
In　fact；　the　staircase　was　new；　too。　It　was　black　anodized　metal。　It　hadn't　been　that　way　before。　This　was　a　new　descending　staircase。
〃Norm？〃
〃In　a　minute；　Beth。〃
He　went　to　the　console　and　started　punching　buttons。　He　had　seen　a　file　before；　on　habitat　parameters　or　something　like　that。　He　finally　found　it：

DEEPHAB…8　MIPPR　DESIGN　PARAMETERS

5。024A　Cylinder　A　
5。024B　Cylinder　B　
5。024C　Cylinder　C　
5。024D　Cylinder　D　
5。024E　Cylinder　E

Choose　one：

He　chose　Cyl　D；　and　another　screen　appeared。　He　chose　design　plans。　He　got　page　after　page　of　architectural　drawings。　He　flicked　through　them；　stabbing　at　the　keys；　until　he　came　to　the　detail　plans　for　the　biological　laboratory　at　the　top　of　D　Cyl。
Clearly　shown　in　the　drawings　was　a　large　sunlamp　bank；　hinged　to　fold　back　against　the　wall。　It　must　have　been　there　all　the　time；　he　just　hadn't　ever　noticed　it。　There　were　lots　of　other　details　he　hadn't　noticed…like　the　emergency　escape　＇＇298＇＇　hatch　in　the　domed　ceiling　of　the　lab。　And　the　fact　that　there　was　a　second　foldout　bunk　near　the　floor　entrance。　And　a　black　anodized　descending　staircase。
You're　in　a　panic；　he　thought。　And　it　has　nothing　to　do　with　sunlamps　and　architectural　drawings。　It　doesn't　e　even　　have　to　do　with　sex。　You're　in　a　panic　because　Beth　is　the　only　one　left　besides　you；　and　Beth　isn't　acting　like　herself。
In　the　corner　of　the　screen；　he　watched　the　small　　clock　tick　backward；　the　seconds　clicking　off　with　agonizing　slowness。　Twelve　more　hours；　he　thought。　I've　just　got　to　last　twelve　more　hours；　and　everything　will　be　all　right。
He　was　hungry；　but　he　knew　there　wasn't　any　food。　He　was　tired；　but　there　wasn't　anyplace　for　him　to　sleep。　Both　E　and　C　Cylinders　were　flooded；　and　he　didn't　want　to　go　upstairs　with　Beth。　Norman　lay　down　on　the　floor　of　D　Cyl；　beside　Harry　on　the　couch。　It　was　cold　and　damp　on　the　floor。　For　a　long　time　he　couldn't　sleep。

0900　HOURS

The　pounding；　that　terrifying　pounding；　and　the　shaking　of　the　floor　awakened　him　abruptly。　He　rolled　over　and　got　to　his　feet；　instantly　alert。　He　saw　Beth　standing　by　the　monitors。　〃What　is　it？〃　he　cried。　〃What　is　it？〃
〃What　is　what？〃　Beth　said。
She　seemed　calm。　She　smiled　at　him。　Norman　looked　around。　The　alarms　hadn't　gone　off；　the　lights　weren't　flashing。
〃I　don't　know；　I　thought…I　don't　know　。。。〃　He　trailed　off。
〃You　thought　we　were　under　attack　again？〃　she　said。
He　nodded。
＇＇299＇＇　〃Why　would　you　think　that；　Norman？〃　she　said。
Beth　was　looking　at　him　again　in　that　odd　way。　An　appraising　way；　her　stare　very　direct　and　cool。　There　was　no　hint　of　seductiveness　to　her。　If　anything；　she　conveyed　the　suspiciousness　of　the　old　Beth：　You're　a　man；　and　you're　a　problem。
〃Harry's　still　unconscious；　isn't　he？　So　why　would　you　think　we　were　being　attacked？〃
〃I　don't　know。　I　guess　I　was　dreaming。〃
Beth　shrugged。　〃Maybe　you　felt　the　vibration　of　me　walking　on　the　floor；〃　she　said。　〃Anyway；　I'm　glad　you　decided　to　sleep。〃
That　same　appraising　stare。　As　if　there　were　something　wrong　with　him。
〃You　haven't　slept　enough；　Norman。〃
〃None　of　us　have。〃
〃You；　particularly。〃
〃Maybe　you're　right。〃　He　had　to　admit　he　felt　better　now　that　he　had　slept　for　a　couple　of　hours。　He　smiled。　〃Did　you　eat　all　the　coffee　and　Danish？〃
〃There　isn't　any　coffee　and　Danish；　Norman。〃
〃I　know。〃
〃Then　why　would　you　say　that？〃　she　asked　seriously。
〃It　was　a　joke；　Beth。〃
〃Oh。〃
〃Just　a　joke。　You　know；　a　humorous　reflection　on　our　condition？〃
〃I　see。〃　She　was　working　with　the　screens。　〃By　the　way；　what　did　you　find　out　about　the　balloon？〃
〃The　balloon？〃
〃The　surface　balloon。　Remember　we　talked　about　it？〃　He　shook　his　head。　He　didn't　remember。
〃Before　I　went　out　to　the　sub；　I　asked　about　the　control　codes　to　send　a　balloon　to　the　surface；　and　you　said　you'd　look　in　the　puter　and　see　if　you　could　find　how　to　do　it。〃
〃I　did？〃
〃Yes；　Norman。　You　did。〃
He　thought　back。　He　remembered　how　he　and　Beth　had　＇＇300＇＇　lifted　Harry's　inert；　surprisingly　heavy　body　off　the　floor；　setting　him　on　the　couch；　and　how　they　had　staunched　the　flow　of　blood　from　his　nose　while　Beth　had　started　an　intravenous　line；　which　she　knew　how　to　do　from　her　work　with　lab　animals。　In　fact；　she　had　made　a　joke；　saying　she　hoped　Harry　fared　better　than　her　lab　animals；　since　they　usually　ended　up　dead。　Then　Beth　had　volunteered　to　go　to　the　sub；　and　he　had　said　he'd　stay　with　Harry。　That　was　what　he　remembered。　Nothing　about　any　balloons。
〃Sure；〃　Beth　said。　〃Because　the　munication　said　we　were　supposed　to　acknowledge　transmission；　and　that　means　a　radio　balloon　sent　to　the　surface。　And　we　figured；　with　the　storm　abating；　the　surface　conditions　must　be　calm　enough　to　allow　the　balloon　to　ride　without　snapping　the　wire。　So　it　was　a　question　of　how　to　release　the　balloons。　And　you　said　you'd　look　for　the　control　mands。〃
〃I　really　don't　remember；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　sorry。〃
〃Norman；　we　have　to　work　together　in　these　last　few　hours；〃　Beth　said。
〃I　agree；　Beth。　Absolutely。〃
〃How　are　you　feeling　now？〃　she　said。
〃Okay。　Pretty　good；　in　fact。〃
〃Good；〃　she　said。　〃Hang　in　there；　Norman。　It's　only　a　few　more　hours。〃
She　hugged　him　warmly；　but　when　she　released　him；　he　saw　in　her　eyes　that　same　detached；　appraising　look。


An　hour　later；　they　figured　out　how　to　release　the　balloon。　They　distantly　heard　a　metallic　sizzle　as　the　wire　unwound　from　the　outside　spool；　trailing　behind　the　inflated　balloon　as　it　shot　toward　the　surface。　Then　there　was　a　long　pause。
〃What's　happening？〃　Norman　said。
〃We're　a　thou