第31部分(第7/7 頁)

ng　for　handholds；　but　his　hands　were　wet；　and　he　couldn't　seem　to　grasp　anything。

〃Now　hear　this；〃　Barnes　said　over　the　inter。　〃Chan　and　I　are　going　outside！　Fletcher　assumes　mand！〃

〃Don't　go　out！〃　Harry　shouted。　〃Don't　go　out　there！〃

〃Opening　hatch　now；〃　Barnes　said　laconically。　〃Tina；　you　follow　me。〃

〃You'll　be　killed！〃　Harry　shouted；　and　then　he　was　thrown　against　Beth。　Norman　was　on　the　floor　again；　he　banged　his　head　on　one　of　the　couch　legs。

〃We're　outside；〃　Barnes　said。

And　abruptly　the　banging　stopped。　The　habitat　was　motionless。　They　did　not　move。　With　the　water　streaming　in　through　a　dozen　fine；　misty　leaks；　they　looked　up　at　the　inter　speaker；　and　listened。

*　*　*

＇＇212＇＇　〃Clear　of　the　hatch；〃　Barnes　said。　〃Our　status　is　good。　Armament；　J…9　exploding　head　spears　loaded　with　Taglin…50　charges。　We'll　show　this　bastard　a　trick　or　two。〃

Silence。

〃Water　。。。　Visibility　is　poor。　Visibility　under　five　feet。　Seems　to　be　。。。　stirred…up　bottom　sediment　and　。。。　very　black；　dark。　Feeling　our　way　along　buildings。〃

Silence。

〃North　side。　Going　east　now。　Tina？〃

Silence。

〃Tina？〃

〃Behind　you；　sir。〃

〃All　right。　Put　your　hand　on　my　tank　so　you…Good。　Okay。〃

Silence。

Inside　the　cylinder；　Ted　sighed。　〃I　don't　think　they　should　kill　it；〃