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第44部分（第2页）

In　the　corner　of　the　screen；　he　watched　the　small　　clock　tick　backward；　the　seconds　clicking　off　with　agonizing　slowness。　Twelve　more　hours；　he　thought。　Ive　just　got　to　last　twelve　more　hours；　and　everything　will　be　all　right。

He　was　hungry；　but　he　knew　there　wasnt　any　food。　He　was　tired；　but　there　wasnt　anyplace　for　him　to　sleep。　Both　E　and　C　Cylinders　were　flooded；　and　he　didnt　want　to　go　upstairs　with　Beth。　Norman　lay　down　on　the　floor　of　D　Cyl；　beside　Harry　on　the　couch。　It　was　cold　and　damp　on　the　floor。　For　a　long　time　he　couldnt　sleep。

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The　pounding；　that　terrifying　pounding；　and　the　shaking　of　the　floor　awakened　him　abruptly。　He　rolled　over　and　got　to　his　feet；　instantly　alert。　He　saw　Beth　standing　by　the　monitors。　〃What　is　it？〃　he　cried。　〃What　is　it？〃

〃What　is　what？〃　Beth　said。

She　seemed　calm。　She　smiled　at　him。　Norman　looked　around。　The　alarms　hadnt　gone　off；　the　lights　werent　flashing。

〃I　dont　know；　I　thought…I　dont　know　。。。〃　He　trailed　off。

〃You　thought　we　were　under　attack　again？〃　she　said。

He　nodded。

＇＇299＇＇　〃Why　would　you　think　that；　Norman？〃　she　said。

Beth　was　looking　at　him　again　in　that　odd　way。　An　appraising　way；　her　stare　very　direct　and　cool。　There　was　no　hint　of　seductiveness　to　her。　If　anything；　she　conveyed　the　suspiciousness　of　the　old　Beth：　Youre　a　man；　and　youre　a　problem。

〃Harrys　still　unconscious；　isnt　he？　So　why　would　you　think　we　were　being　attacked？〃

〃I　dont　know。　I　guess　I　was　dreaming。〃

Beth　shrugged。　〃Maybe　you　felt　the　vibration　of　me　walking　on　the　floor；〃　she　said。　〃Anyway；　Im　glad　you　decided　to　sleep。〃

That　same　appraising　stare。　As　if　there　were　something　wrong　with　him。

〃You　havent　slept　enough；　Norman。〃

〃None　of　us　have。〃

〃You；　particularly。〃

〃Maybe　youre　right。〃　He　had　to　admit　he　felt　better　now　that　he　had　slept　for　a　couple　of　hours。　He　smiled。　〃Did　you　eat　all　the　coffee　and　Danish？〃

〃There　isnt　any　coffee　and　Danish；　Norman。〃

〃I　know。〃

〃Then　why　would　you　say　that？〃　she　asked　seriously。

〃It　was　a　joke；　Beth。〃

〃Oh。〃

〃Just　a　joke。　You　know；　a　humorous　reflection　on　our　condition？〃

〃I　see。〃　She　was　working　with　the　screens。　〃By　the　way；　what　did　you　find　out　about　the　balloon？〃

〃The　balloon？〃

〃The　surface　balloon。　Remember　we　talked　about　it？〃　He　shook　his　head。　He　didnt　remember。

〃Before　I　went　out　to　the　sub；　I　asked　about　the　control　codes　to　send　a　balloon　to　the　surface；　and　you　said　youd　look　in　the　puter　and　see　if　you　could　find　how　to　do　it。〃

〃I　did？〃

〃Yes；　Norman。　You　did。〃

He　thought　back。　He　remembered　how　he　and　Beth　had　＇＇300＇＇　lifted　Harrys　inert；　surprisingly　heavy　body　off　the　floor；　setting　him　on　the　couch；　and　how　they　had　staunched　the　flow　of　blood　from　his　nose　while　Beth　had　started　an　intravenous　line；　which　she　knew　how　to　do　from　her　work　with　lab　animals。　In　fact；　she　had　made　a　joke；　saying　she　hoped　Harry　fared　better　than　her　lab　animals；　since　they　usually　ended　up　dead。　Then　Beth　had　volunteered　to　go　to　the　sub；　and　he　had　said　hed　stay　with　Harry。　That　was　what　he　remembered。　Nothing　about　any　balloons。

〃Sure；〃　Beth　said。　〃Because　the　munication　said　we　were　supposed　to　acknowledge　transmission；　and　that　means　a　radio　balloon　sent　to　the　surface。　And　we　figured；　with　the　storm　abating；　the　surface　conditions　must　be　calm　enough　to　allow　the　balloon　to　ride　without　snapping　the　wire。　So　it　was　a　question　of　how　to　release　the　balloons。　And　you　said　youd　look　for　the　control　mands。〃

〃I　really　dont　remember；〃　he　said。　〃Im　sorry。〃