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第31部分（第2页）

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；　〃Im　not　getting　it　now；　sir。〃　〃Go　passive。〃

〃Aye　aye；　sir。　Going　passive。〃

The　pinging　sonar　stopped。　In　its　place　they　heard　a　slight　hiss。　Tina　adjusted　the　speaker　volume。

〃Hydrophones？〃　Harry　said　quietly。

Barnes　nodded。　〃Polar　glass　transducers。　Best　in　the　world。〃

They　all　strained　to　listen；　but　heard　nothing　except　the　undifferentiated　hiss。　To　Norman　it　sounded　like　tape　noise；　with　an　occasional　gurgle　of　the　water。　If　he　wasnt　so　tense；　he　would　have　found　the　sound　irritating。

Barnes　said；　〃Bastards　clever。　Hes　managed　to　blind　us；　cover　all　our　ports　with　goo。〃

〃Not　goo；〃　Beth　said。　〃Eggs。〃

〃Well；　theyre　covering　every　damn　port　in　the　habitat。〃　The　hissing　continued；　unchanging。　Tina　twisted　the　＇＇208＇＇　hydrophone　dials。　There　was　a　soft　continuous　crackling；　like　cellophane　being　crumpled。

〃Whats　that？〃　Ted　said。

Beth　said；　〃Fish。　Eating。〃

Barnes　nodded。　Tina　twisted　the　dials。　〃Tuning　it　out。〃　They　again　heard　the　undifferentiated　hiss。　The　tension　in　the　room　lessened。　Norman　felt　tired　and　sat　down。　Harry　sat　next　to　him。　Norman　noticed　that　Harry　looked　more　thoughtful　than　concerned。　Across　the　room；　Ted　stood　near　the　hatch　door　and　bit　his　lip。　He　looked　like　a　frightened　kid。

There　was　a　soft　electronic　beep。　Lines　on　the　gas…plasma　screens　jumped。

Tina　said；　〃I　have　a　positive　on　peripheral　thermals。〃

Barnes　nodded：　〃Direction？〃

〃East。　ing。〃

They　heard　a　metallic　clank！　Then　another　clank！

〃Whats　that？〃

〃The　grid。　Hes　hitting　the　grid。〃

〃Hitting　it？　Sounds　like　hes　dismantling　it。〃

Norman　remembered　the　grid。　It　was　made　of　three…inch　pipe。

〃A　big　fish？　A　shark？〃　Beth　said。

Barnes　shook　his　head。　〃Hes　not　moving　like　a　shark。　And　hes　too　big。〃

Tina　said；　〃Positive　thermals　on　in…line　perimeter。　Hes　still　ing。〃

Barnes　said；　〃Go　active。〃

The　pong！　of　the　sonar　echoed　in　the　room。

Tina　said；　〃Target　acquired。　One　hundred　yards。〃

〃Image　him。〃

〃FAS　on；　sir。〃