第8部分(第1/7 頁)

een　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　sc