第8部分(第6/7 頁)

to　the　passing　sub。　The　pilot　honked　a　toy　horn。

〃They　can　hear　that？〃

〃Oh　sure。　Water's　a　great　conductor。〃

〃My　God；〃　Ted　said。

Directly　ahead　the　giant　titanium　fin　rose　sharply　above　the　ocean　floor。　Norman　was　pletely　unprepared　for　its　dimension；　as　the　submarine　moved　to　port；　the　fin　blocked　their　entire　field　of　view　for　nearly　a　minute。　The　metal　was　dull　gray　and；　except　for　small　white　speckles　of　marine　growth；　entirely　unmarked。

〃There　isn't　any　corrosion；〃　Ted　said。

〃No；　sir；〃　the　pilot　said。　〃Everybody's　mentioned　that。　They　think　it's　because　it's　a　metal…plastic　alloy；　but　I　don't　think　anybody　is　quite　sure。〃

The　fin　slipped　away　to　the　stern；　the　submarine　again　turned。　Directly　ahead；　more　lights；　arranged　in　vertical　rows。　Norman　saw　a　single　cylinder　of　yellow…painted　steel；　and　bright　portholes。　Next　to　it　was　a　low　metal　dome。

〃That's　DH…7；　the　divers'　habitat；　to　port；〃　the　pilot　said。　〃It's　pretty　utilitarian。　You　guys　are　in　DH…8；　which　is　much　nicer；　believe　me。〃

He　turned　starboard；　and　after　a　momentary　blackness；　they　saw　another　set　of　lights。　ing　closer；　Norman　counted　five　different　cylinders；　some　vertical；　some　horizontal；　interconnected　in　a　plex　way。

〃There　you　are。　DH…8；　your　home　away　from　home；〃　the　pilot　said。　〃Give　me　a　minute　to　dock。〃

Metal　clanged　against　metal；　there　was　a　sharp　jolt；　and　then　the　motors　cut　off。　Silence。　Hissing　air。　The　＇＇53＇＇　pilot　scrambled　to　open　the　hatch；　and　surprisingly　cold　air　washed　down　on　them。

〃Airlock's　open；　gentlemen；〃　he　said；　stepping　aside。　Norman　looked　up　through　the　lock。　He　saw　banks　of　red　lights　above。　He　climbed　up　through　the　submarine；　and　into　a　round　steel　cylinder　approximately　eight　feet　in