第43部分(第3/7 頁)

le　of　water　from　somewhere　within　the　habitat。

Beth　moved　swiftly；　reading　one　screen　after　another。

〃Inner　off。　Peripherals　off。　Everything　off。　All　right！　No　readings！〃

Norman　ran　to　the　porthole。　The　squid　had　disappeared。　The　sea　bottom　outside　was　deserted。

〃Damage　report！〃　Beth　shouted。　〃Main　power　out！　E　Cylinder　out！　C　Cylinder　out！　B　Cylinder　。。。〃

Norman　spun；　looked　at　her。　If　B　Cyl　was　gone；　their　life　support　would　be　gone；　they　would　certainly　die。　〃B　Cylinder　holding；〃　she　said　finally。　Her　body　sagged。　〃We're　okay；　Norman。〃

Norman　collapsed　on　the　carpet；　exhausted；　suddenly　feeling　the　strain　and　tension　in　every　part　of　his　body。

It　was　over。　The　crisis　had　passed。　They　were　going　to　be　all　right；　after　all。　Norman　felt　his　body　relax。

It　was　over。

1230　HOURS

The　blood　had　stopped　flowing　from　Harry's　broken　nose　and　now　he　seemed　to　be　breathing　more　regularly；　more　easily。　Norman　lifted　the　icepack　to　look　at　the　swollen　face；　and　adjusted　the　flow　of　the　intravenous　drip　in　Harry's　arm。　Beth　had　started　the　intravenous　line　in　Harry's　hand　after　several　unsuccessful　attempts。　They　were　dripping　an　anesthetic　mixture　into　him。　Harry's　breath　smelled　sour；　like　tin。　But　otherwise　he　was　okay。　Out　cold。

The　radio　crackled。　〃I'm　at　the　submarine；〃　Beth　said。　〃Going　aboard　now。〃

Norman　glanced　out　the　porthole　at　DH…7；　saw　Beth　climbing　up　into　the　dome　beside　the　sub。　She　was　going　to　press　the　〃Delay〃　button；　the　last　time　such　a　trip　would　be　necessary。　He　turned　back　to　Harry。

The　puter　didn't　have　any　information　about　the　effects　of　keeping　a　person　asleep　for　twelve　hours　straight；　but　that　was　what　they　would　have　to　do。　Either　Harry　would　make　it；　or　he　wou