第8部分(第3/7 頁)

ousand　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　und