第2部分(第2/7 頁)

〃　the　technician　said。　〃Present　MainOps　is　working　north　of　there；　in　quadrant　seven。〃

〃Ah。　Quad　seven's　almost　half　a　mile　away　from　the　fin；〃　the　officer　said　to　Norman。　〃Too　bad：　it's　a　hell　of　a　thing　to　see。　But　you'll　see　it　later；　I'm　sure。　This　way　to　Captain　Barnes。〃

They　walked　for　a　moment　down　the　corridor；　then　the　officer　said；　〃Do　you　know　the　Captain；　sir？〃

〃No；　why？〃

〃Just　wondered。　He's　been　very　eager　to　see　you。　Calling　up　the techs　every　hour；　to　find　out　when　you're　arriving。〃

〃No；〃　Norman　said；　〃I've　never　met　him。〃

〃Very　nice　man。〃

〃I'　m　sure。〃

The　officer　glanced　over　his　shoulder。　〃You　know；　they　have　a　saying　about　the　Captain；〃　he　said。

〃Oh？　What's　that？〃

〃They　say　his　bite　is　worse　than　his　bark。〃

*　*　*

＇＇9＇＇　Through　another　door；　which　was　marked　〃Project　mander〃　and　had　beneath　that　a　sliding　plate　that　said　〃Capt。　Harold　C。　Barnes；　USN。〃　The　officer　stepped　aside；　and　Norman　entered　a　paneled　stateroom。　A　burly　man　in　shirtsleeves　stood　up　from　behind　a　stack　of　files。

Captain　Barnes　was　one　of　those　trim　military　men　who　made　Norman　feel　fat　and　inadequate。　In　his　middle　forties；　Hal　Barnes　had　erect　military　bearing；　an　alert　expression；　short　hair；　a　flat　gut；　and　a　politician's　firm　handshake。

〃Wele　aboard　the　Hawes；　Dr。　Johnson。　How're　you　feeling？〃

〃Tired；〃　Norman　said。

〃I'm　sure；　I'm　sure。　You　came　from　San　Diego？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃So　it's　fifteen　hours；　give　or　take。　Like　to　have　a　rest？〃

〃I'd　like　to　know　what's　going　on；〃　Norman　said。

〃Perfectly　understandable。〃　Barnes　nodded。　〃What'd　they　tell　you？〃

〃Who？〃

〃The　men　who　picked　you　up　in　San　Diego；　the　men　who　flew　you　out　here；　the　men