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〃I　understand；　sir；　but　I　have　to　finish　your　workup　in　time　for　your　next　briefing　at　seventeen　hundred　hours。〃


Norman　lay　on　his　back；　and　technicians　stuck　needles　in　both　arms；　and　another　in　his　leg　at　the　groin。　He　yelled　in　sudden　pain。
〃That's　the　worst　of　it；　sir；〃　the　corpsman　said；　packing　the　syringes　in　ice。　〃If　you　will　just　press　this　cotton　against　it；　here　。。。〃

*　*　*
＇＇42＇＇　There　was　a　clip　over　his　nostrils；　a　mouthpiece　between　his　teeth。
〃This　is　to　measure　your　CO2〃　the　corpsman　said。　〃Just　exhale。　That's　right。　Big　breath；　now　exhale。　。。。〃
Norman　exhaled。　He　watched　a　rubber　diaphragm　inflate；　pushing　a　needle　up　a　scale。
〃Try　it　again；　sir。　I'm　sure　you　can　do　better　than　that。〃　Norman　didn't　think　he　could；　but　he　tried　again　anyway。　Another　corpsman　entered　the　room；　with　a　sheet　of　paper　covered　with　figures。　〃Here　are　his　BC's；〃　he　said。
The　first　corpsman　frowned。　〃Has　Barnes　seen　this？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃And　what'd　he　say？〃
〃He　said　it　was　okay。　He　said　to　continue。〃
〃Okay；　fine。　He's　the　boss。〃　The　first　corpsman　turned　back　to　Norman。　〃Let's　try　one　more　big　breath；　Dr。　Johnson；　if　you　would。　。。。〃


Metal　calipers　touched　his　chin　and　his　forehead。　A　tape　went　around　his　head。　Now　the　calipers　measured　from　his　ear　to　his　chin。
〃What's　this　for？〃　Norman　said。　
〃Fitting　you　with　a　helmet；　sir。〃
〃Shouldn't　I　be　trying　one　on？〃
〃This　is　the　way　we　do　it；　sir。〃


Dinner　was　macaroni　and　cheese；　burned　underneath。　Norman　pushed　it　aside　after　a　few　bites。
The　corpsman　appeared　at　his　door。　〃Time　for　the　seventeen…hundred…hours　briefing；　sir。〃
〃I'm　not　going　anywhere；〃　Norman　said；　〃until　I　get　some　answers。　What　the　hell　is　all　this　you're　doing　to　me？〃
〃Routine　deepsat　workup；　sir。　Navy　regs　require　it　before　you　go　down。〃
〃And　why　am　I　off　the　graph？〃
〃Sorry；　sir？〃
〃You　said　I　was　off　the　graph。〃
〃Oh；　that。　You're　a　bit　heavier　than　the　Navy　tables　figure　for；　sir。〃
〃Is　there　a　problem　about　my　weight？〃
〃Shouldn't　be；　no；　sir。〃
〃And　the　other　tests；　what　did　they　show？〃
〃Sir；　you　are　in　very　good　health　for　your　age　and　lifestyle。〃
〃And　what　about　going　down　there？〃　Norman　asked；　half　hoping　he　wouldn't　be　able　to　go。
〃Down　there？　I've　talked　with　Captain　Barnes。　Shouldn't　be　any　problem　at　all；　sir。　If　you'll　just　e　this　way　to　the　briefing；　sir　。。。〃


The　others　were　sitting　around　in　the　briefing　room；　with　Styrofoam　cups　of　coffee。　Norman　felt　glad　to　see　them。　He　dropped　into　a　chair　next　to　Harry。　〃Jesus；　did　you　have　the　damn　physical？〃
〃Yeah；〃　he　said。　〃Had　it　yesterday。〃
〃They　stuck　me　in　the　leg　with　this　long　needle；〃　Norman　said。
〃Really？　They　didn't　do　that　to　me。〃
〃And　how　about　breathing　with　that　clip　on　your　nose？〃
〃I　didn't　do　that；　either；〃　Harry　said。　〃Sounds　like　you　got　some　special　treatment；　Norman。〃
Norman　was　thinking　the　same　thing；　and　he　didn't　like　the　implications。　He　felt　suddenly　tired。
〃All　right；　men；　we've　got　a　lot　to　cover　and　just　three　hours　to　do　it；〃　a　brisk　man　said；　turning　off　the　lights　as　he　came　into　the　room。　Norman　hadn't　even　gotten　a　good　look　at　him。　Now　it　was　just　a　voice　in　the　dark。　〃As　you　know；　Dalton's　law　governs　partial　pressures　of　mixed　gases；　or；　as　represented　here　in　algebraic　form　。。。〃
The　first　of　the　graphs　flashed　up。

PPa　=　Ptot　x　％　Vola

＇＇44＇＇　〃Now　let's　review　how　calculation　of　the　partial　pressure　might　be　done　in　atmospheres　absolute；　which　is　the　most　mon　procedure　we　employ…〃
The　words　were　meaningless　to　Norman。　He　tried　to　pay　attention；　but　as　the　graphs　continued　and　the　voice　droned　on；　his　eyes　grew　heavier　and　he　fell　asleep。
〃…be　taken　down　in　the　submarine　and　once　in　the　habitat　module　you　will　be　pressurized　to　thirty…three　atmospheres。　At　that　time　you　will　be　switched　over　to　mixed　gases；　since　it　is　not　possible　to　breathe　Earth　atmosphere　beyond　eighteen　atmospheres…〃
Norman　stopped　listening。　These　technical　details　only　filled　him　with　dread。　He　went　back　to　sleep；　awakening　only　intermittently。
〃…since　oxygen　toxicity　only　occurs　when　the　PO2　exceeds　point　7　ATA　for　prolonged　periods…
〃…nitrogen　narcosis；　in　which　nitrogen　behaves　like　an　anesthetic；　will　occur　in　mixed…gas　atmospheres　if　partial　pressures　exceeds　1。5　ATA　in　the　DDS…
〃…demand　open　circuit　is　generally　preferable；　but　you　will　be　using　semiclosed　circuit　with　inspired　fluctuations　of　608　to　760　millimeters…〃
He　went　back　to　sleep。
When　it　was　over；　they　walked　back　to　their　rooms。　〃Did　I　miss　anything？〃　Norman　said。
〃Not　really。〃　Harry　shrugged。　〃Just　a　lot　of　physics。〃
In　his　tiny　gray　room；　Norman　got　into　bed。　The　glowing　wall　clock　said　2300。　It　took　him　a　while　to　figure　out　that　that　was　11：00　p。m。　In　nine　more　hours；　he　thought；　I　will　begin　the　descent。
Then　he　slept。



THE　DEEP

DESCENT

In　the　morning　light；　the　submarine　Charon　V　bobbed　on　the　surface；　riding　on　a　pontoon　platform。　Bright　yellow；　it　looked　like　a　child's　bathtub　toy　sitting　on　a　deck　of　oildrums。
A　rubber　Zodiac　launch　took　Norman　over；　and　he　climbed　onto　the　platform；　shook　hands　with　the　pilot；　who　could　not　have　been　more　than　eighteen；　younger　than　his　son；　Tim。
〃Ready　to　go；　sir？〃　the　pilot　said。
〃Sure；〃　Norman　said。　He　was　as　ready　as　he　would　ever　be。
Up　close；　the　sub　did　not　look　like　a　toy。　It　was　incredibly　massive　and　strong。　Norman　saw　a　single　porthole　of　curved　acrylic。　It　was　held　in　place　by　bolts　as　big　as　his　fist。　He　touched　them；　tentatively。
The　pilot　smiled。　〃Want　to　kick　the　tires；　sir？〃
〃No；　I'll　trust　you。〃
〃Ladder's　this　way；　sir。〃
Norman　climbed　the　narrow　rungs　to　the　top　of　the　sub；　and　saw　the　small　circular　hatch　opening。　He　hesitated。
〃Sit　on　the　edge　here；〃　the　pilot　said；　〃and　drop　your　legs　in；　then　follow　it　down。　You　may　have　to　squeeze　your　shoulders　together　a　bit　and　suck　in　your　。。。　That's　it；　sir。〃　Norman　wriggled　through　the　tight　hatch　into　an　interior　so　low　he　could　not　stand。　The　sub　was　crammed　with　dials　and　machinery。　Ted　was　already　aboard；　hunched　in　the　back；　grinning　like　a　kid。　〃Isn't　this　fantastic？〃
Norman　envied　his　easy　enthusiasm；　he　felt　cramped　and　a　little　nervous。　Above　him；　the　pilot　clanged　the　heavy　hatch　＇＇48＇＇　shut　and　dropped　down　to　take　the　controls。　〃Everybody　okay？〃
They　nodded。
〃Sorry　about　the　view；〃　the　pilot　said；　glancing　over　his　shoulders。　〃You　gentlemen　are　mostly　going　to　be　seeing　my　hindquarters。　Let's　get　started。　Mozart　okay？〃　He　pressed　a　tape　deck　and　smiled。　〃We've　got　thirteen　minutes'　descent　to　the　bottom；　music　makes　it　a　little　easier。　If　you　don't　like　Mozart；　we　can　offer　you　something　else。〃
〃Mozart's　fine；〃　Norman　said。
〃Mozart's　wonderful；〃　Ted　said。　〃Sublime。〃
〃Very　good；　gentlemen。〃　The　submarine　hissed。　There　was　squawking　on　the　radio。　The　pilot　spoke　softly　into　a　headset。　A　scuba　diver　appeared　at　the　porthole；　waved。　The　pilot　waved　back。
There　was　a　sloshing　sound；　then　a　deep　rumble；　and　they　started　down。
〃As　you　see；　the　whole　sled　goes　under；〃　the　pilot　explained。　〃The　sub's　not　stable　on　the　surface；　so　we　sled　her　up　and　down。　We'll　leave　the　sled　at　about　a　hundred　feet　or　so。
Through　the　porthole；　they　saw　the　diver　standing　on　the　deck；　the　water　now　waist…deep。　Then　the　water　covered　the　porthole。　Bubbles　came　out　of　the　diver's　scuba。
〃We're　under；〃　the　pilot　said。　He　adjusted　valves　above　his　head　and　they　heard　the　hiss　of　air；　startlingly　loud。　More　gurgling。　The　light　in　the　submarine　from　the　porthole　was　a　beautiful　blue。
〃Lovely；〃　Ted　said。
〃We'll　leave　the　sled　now；〃　the　pilot　said。　Motors　rumbled　and　the　sub　moved　forward；　the　diver　slipping　off　to　one　side。　Now　there　was　nothing　to　be　seen　through　the　porthole　but　undifferentiated　blue　water。　The　pilot　said　something　on　the　radio；　and　turned　up　the　Mozart。
〃Just　sit　back；　gentlemen；〃　he　said。　〃Descending　eighty　feet　a　minute。〃
Norman　felt　the　rumble　of　the　electric　motors；　but　there　was　no　real　sense　of　motion。　All　that　happened　was　that　it　got　darker　and　darker。
＇＇49＇＇　〃You　know；〃　Ted　said；　〃we're　really　quite　lucky　about　this　site。　Most　parts　of　the　Pacific　are　so　deep　we'd　never　be　able　to　visit　it　in　person。〃　He　explained　that　the　vast　Pacific　Ocean；　which　amounted　to　half　the　total　surface　area　of　the　Earth；　had　an　average　depth　of　two　miles。　〃There　are　only　a　few　places　where　it　is　less。　One　is　the　relatively　small　rectangle　bounded　by　Samoa；　New　Zealand；　Australia；　and　New　Guinea；　which　is　actually　a　great　undersea　plain；　like　the　plains　of　the　American　West；　except　it's　at　an　average　depth　of　two　thousand　feet。　That's　what　we　are　doing　now；　descending　to　that　plain。〃
Ted　spoke　rapidly。　Was　he　nervous？　Norman　couldn't　tell：　he　was　feeling　his　own　heart　pound。　Now　it　was　quite　dark　outside；　the　instruments　glowed　green。　The　pilot　flicked　on　red　interior　lights。
Their　descent　continued。　〃Four　hundred　feet。〃　The　submarine　lurched；　then　eased　forward。　〃This　is　the　river。〃
〃What　river？〃　Norman　said。
〃Sir；　we　are　in　a　current　of　different　salinity　and　temperature；　it　behaves　like　a　river　inside　the　ocean。　We　traditionally　stop　about　here；　sir；　the　sub　sticks　in　the　river；　takes　us　for　a　little　ride。〃
〃Oh　yes；〃　Ted　said；　reaching　into　his　pocket。　Ted　handed　the　pilot　a　ten…dollar　bill。
Norman　glanced　questioningly　at　Ted。
〃Didn't　they　mention　that　to　you？　Old　tradition。　You　always　pay　the　pilot　on　your　way　down；　for　good　luck。〃
〃I　can　use　some　luck；〃　Norman　said。　He　fumbled　in　his　pocket；　found　a　five…dollar　bill；　thought　better　of　it；　took　out　a　twenty　instead。
〃Thank　you；　gentlemen；　and　have　a　good　bottom　stay；　both　of　you；〃　the　pilot　said。
The　electric　motors　cut　back　in。
The　descent　continued。　The　water　was　dark。　〃Five　hundred　feet；〃　he　said。　〃Halfway　there。〃
The　submarine　creaked　loudly；　then　made　several　explosive　pops。　Norman　was　startled。
〃That's　normal　pressure　adjustment；〃　the　pilot　said。　〃No　problem。〃
＇＇50＇＇　〃Uh…huh；〃　Norman　said。　He　wiped　sweat　on　his　shirtsleeve。　It　seemed　that　the　interior　of　the　submarine　was　now　much　smaller；　the　walls　closer　to　his　face。
〃Actually；〃　Ted　said；　〃if　I　remember；　this　particular　region　of　the　Pacific　is　called　the　Lau　Basin；　isn't　that　right？〃
〃That's　right；　sir；　the　Lau　Basin。〃
〃It's　a　plateau　between　two　undersea　ridges；　the　South　Fiji　or　Lau　Ridge　to　the　west；　and　the　Tonga　Ridge　to　the　east。〃
〃That's　correct；　Dr。　Fielding。〃
Norman　glanced　at　the　instruments。　They　were　covered　with　moisture。　The　pilot　had　to　rub　the　dials　with　a　cloth　to　read　them。　Was　the　sub　leaking？　No；　he　thought。　Just　condensation。　The　interior　of　the　submarine　was　growing　colder。　Take　it　easy；　he　told　himself。
〃Eight　hundred　feet；〃　the　pilot　said。　It　was　now　pletely　black　outside。
〃This　is　very　exciting；〃　Ted　said。　〃Have　you　ever　done　anything　like　this　before；　Norman？〃
〃No；〃　Norman　said。
〃Me；　neither；〃　Ted　said。　〃What　a　thrill。〃　Norman　wished　he　would　shut　up。
〃You　know；〃　Ted　said；　〃when　we　open　this　alien　craft　up　and　make　our　first　contact　with　another　form　of　life；　it's　going　to　be　a　great　moment　in　the　history　of　our　species　on　Earth。　I've　been　wondering　about　what　we　should　say。〃
〃Say？〃
〃You　know；　what　words。　At　the　threshold；　with　the　cameras　rolling。〃
〃Will　there　be　cameras？〃
〃Oh；　I'm　sure　there'll　be　all　sorts　of　documentation。　It's　only　proper；　considering。　So　we　need　something　to　say；　a　memorable　phrase。　I　was　thinking　of　〃This　is　a　momentous　moment　in　human　history。'　〃
〃Momentous　moment？〃　Norman　said；　frowning。
〃You're　right；〃　Ted　said。　〃Awkward；　I　agree。　Maybe　'A　turning　point　in　human　history'？〃
Norman　shook　his　head。
〃How　about　'A　crossroads　in　the　evolution　of　the　human　species'？〃
＇＇51＇＇　〃Can　evolution　have　a　crossroads？〃
〃I　don't　see　why　not；〃　Ted　said。
〃Well；　a　crossroads　is　a　crossing　of　roads。　Is　evolution　a　road？　I　thought　it　wasn't；　I　thought　evolution　was　undirected。〃
〃You're　being　too　literal；〃　Ted　said。
〃Reading　the　bottom；〃　the　pilot　said。　〃Nine　hundred　feet。〃　He　slowed　the　descent。　They　heard　the　intermittent　ping　of　sonar。
Ted　said；　〃　'A　new　threshold　in　the　evolution　of　the　human　species'？〃
〃Sure。　Think　it　will　be？〃
〃Will　be　what？〃
〃A　new　threshold。〃
〃Why　not？〃　Ted　said。
〃What　if　we　open　it　up　and　it's　just　a　lot　of　rusted　junk　inside；　and　nothing　valuable　or　enlightening　at　all？〃
〃Good　point；〃　Ted　said。
〃Nine　hundred　fifty