第52部分(第5/7 頁)

〃Here。　Here　she　is　again。〃

〃Attention；　please。　Five　minutes　and　counting。〃

The　alarm　was　now　high…pitched；　beeping　insistently。　They　had　to　shout　over　it　to　be　heard。

〃Harry；　give　her　to　me…〃

〃Well；　here；　take　her…〃

〃Missed…〃

＇＇355＇＇　〃Here…〃

Norman　finally　caught　Beth's　air　hose　in　his　hand；　just　behind　the　helmet。　He　wondered　if　it　would　pull　out；　but　he　had　to　risk　it。　Gripping　the　hose；　he　hauled　Beth　up；　until　she　lay　on　her　back　on　the　top　of　the　sub。　Then　he　eased　her　down　into　the　hatch。

〃Four　twenty…nine　。。。　four　twenty…eight　。。。〃

Norman　had　trouble　keeping　his　balance。　He　got　one　of　Beth's　legs　into　the　hatch；　but　the　other　knee　was　bent；　jammed　against　the　lip　of　the　hatch。　He　couldn't　get　her　down。　Every　time　he　leaned　forward　to　unbend　her　leg；　the　whole　submarine　tipped；　and　he　would　start　to　lose　his　balance　again。

〃Four　sixteen　。。。　four　fifteen　。。。〃

〃Would　you　stop　counting　and　do　something！〃

Harry　pressed　his　body　against　the　side　of　the　submarine；　countering　the　rolling　with　his　weight。　Norman　leaned　forward　and　pressed　Beth's　knee　straight；　she　slid　easily　into　the　open　hatch。　Norman　climbed　in　after　her。　It　was　a　one…man　airlock；　but　Beth　was　unconscious；　and　could　not　work　the　controls。

He　would　have　to　do　it　for　her。

〃Attention；　please。　Four　minutes　and　counting。〃

He　was　cramped　in　the　airlock；　his　body　pressed　up　against　Beth；　chest　to　chest；　her　helmet　banging　against　his。　With　difficulty　he　pulled　the　hatch　closed　over　his　head。　He　blew　out　the　water　in　a　furious　rush　of　pressed　air；　unsupported　by　the　water；　Beth's　body　now　sagged　heavily　against　him。

He　reached　around　her　for　the　handle　to　the　inner　hatch。　Beth's　body　blocked　his　way。