第33部分(第1/7 頁)

zed　off　in　the　console　chair；　because　he　looked　up　abruptly；　startled　to　see　a　trim　black　seaman　in　uniform　standing　just　behind　him；　looking　over　his　shoulder　at　the　screens。

〃How's　it　going；　sir？〃　the　seaman　asked。　He　was　very　calm。　His　uniform　was　crisply　pressed。

Norman　felt　a　burst　of　tremendous　elation。　This　man's　arrival　at　the　habitat　could　mean　only　one　thing…the　surface　ships　must　be　back！　The　ships　had　returned；　and　the　subs　had　been　sent　down　to　retrieve　them！　They　were　all　going　to　be　saved！

〃Sailor；〃　Norman　said；　pumping　his　hand；　〃I'm　very　damn　glad　to　see　you。〃

〃Thank　you；　sir。〃

〃When　did　you　get　here？〃　Norman　asked。

〃Just　now；　Sir。〃

〃Do　the　others　know　yet？〃

〃The　others；　sir？〃

＇＇220＇＇　〃Yes。　There's；　uh；　there's　six　of　us　left。　Have　they　been　told　you're　here？〃

〃I　don't　know　the　answer　to　that；　sir。〃

There　was　a　flatness　to　this　man　that　Norman　found　odd。　The　sailor　was　looking　around　the　habitat；　and　for　a　moment　Norman　saw　the　environment　through　his　eyes…the　damp　interior；　the　wrecked　consoles；　the　foam…spattered　walls。　It　looked　like　they　had　fought　a　war　in　here。

〃We've　had　a　rough　time；〃　Norman　said。

〃I　can　see　that；　sir。〃

〃Three　of　us　have　died。〃

〃I'm　sorry　to　hear　that；　sir。〃

That　flatness　again。　Neutrality。　Was　he　being　proper？　Was　he　worried　about　a　pending　court…martial？　Was　it　something　else　entirely？

〃Where　have　you　e　from？〃　Norman　said。

〃e　from；　sir？〃

〃What　ship。〃

〃Oh。　The　Sea　Hornet；　sir。〃

〃It's　topside　now？〃

〃Yes；　sir；　it　is。〃

〃Well；　let's　get　moving；〃　Norman　said。　〃Tell　the　others　you're　here。〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

The　seaman　went　away。　Norman　stood　and　shouted；　〃Yahoo！