第31部分(第2/7 頁)

in　removed。　The　lights　still　flashed；　the　alarm　still　shrieked。

〃What　is　it？〃　Norman　shouted。

〃Equipment　breakdown！〃

〃What　equipment　breakdown？〃

〃We　can't　turn　the　damn　alarm　off！〃　Barnes　shouted。　〃It　turned　it　on；　but　we　can't　turn　it　off！　Teeny…〃

〃…W　orking　on　it；　sir！〃

The　big　engineer　was　crouched　behind　the　puter；　Norman　saw　the　broad　curve　of　her　back。

〃Get　that　damn　thing　off！〃

〃Getting　it　off；　sir！〃

〃Get　it　off；　I　can't　hear！〃

Hear　what？　Norman　wondered；　and　then　Harry　stumbled　into　the　room；　colliding　with　Norman。　〃Jesus。。。〃

〃This　is　an　emergency！〃　Barnes　was　shouting。　〃This　is　an　＇＇207＇＇　emergency！　Seaman　Chan！　Sonar！〃　Tina　was　next　to　him；　calm　as　always；　adjusting　dials　on　side　monitors。　She　slipped　on　headphones。

Norman　looked　at　the　sphere　on　the　video　monitor。　The　sphere　was　closed。

Beth　went　to　one　of　the　portholes　and　looked　closely　at　the　white　material　that　blocked　it。　Barnes　spun　like　a　dervish　beneath　the　flashing　red　lights；　shouting；　swearing　in　all　directions。

And　then　suddenly　the　alarm　stopped；　and　the　red　lights　stopped　flashing。　Everyone　was　silent。　Fletcher　straightened　and　sighed。

Harry　said；　〃I　thought　you　got　that　fixed…〃

〃…Shhh。〃

They　heard　the　soft　repetitive　pong！　of　the　sonar　impulses。　Tina　cupped　her　hands　over　the　headphones；　frowning；　concentrating。

Nobody　moved　or　spoke。　They　stood　tensely；　listening　to　the　sonar　as　it　echoed　back。

Barnes　said　quietly　to　the　group；　〃A　few　minutes　ago；　we　got　a　signal。　From　outside。　Something　very　large。〃

Finally　Tina　said；　〃I'm　not　getting　it　now；　sir。〃　〃Go　passive。〃

〃Aye　aye；　sir。　Going　passive。〃

The　pinging　sonar　stopped。　In　its　place　they　hear