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第10部分（第1页）

rs；　illuminated　like　fireflies；　moved　over　the　glowing　grid　surface。

Norman　thought：　I　am　a　thousand　feet　beneath　the　surface　of　the　ocean；　and　we　are　talking　about　whether　we　should　have　strawberry　shortcake　for　dessert。　But　the　more　he　thought　about　it；　the　more　it　made　sense。　The　best　way　to　make　somebody　fortable　in　a　new　environment　was　to　give　him　familiar　food。

〃Strawberries　make　me　break　out；〃　Ted　said。

〃Ill　make　your　shortcake　with　blueberries；〃　Levy　said；　not　missing　a　beat。

〃And　whipped　cream？〃　Ted　said。

〃Well　。。。〃

＇＇60＇＇　〃You　cant　have　everything；〃　Barnes　said。　〃And　one　of　the　things　you　cant　have　at　thirty　atmospheres　of　mixed　gas　is　whipped　cream。　Wont　whip。　Lets　move　on。〃

Beth　and　Harry　were　waiting　in　the　small；　padded　conference　room；　directly　above　the　mess。　They　both　wore　jumpsuits　and　heated　jackets。　Harry　was　shaking　his　head　as　they　arrived。　〃Like　our　padded　cell？〃　He　poked　the　insulated　walls。　〃Its　like　living　in　a　vagina。〃

Beth　said；　〃Dont　you　like　going　back　to　the　womb；　Harry？〃

〃No；〃　Harry　said。　〃Ive　been　there。　Once　was　enough。〃

〃These　jumpsuits　are　pretty　bad；〃　Ted　said；　plucking　at　the　clinging　polyester。

〃Shows　your　belly　nicely；〃　Harry　said。

〃Lets　settle　down；〃　Barnes　said。

〃A　few　sequins；　you　could　be　Elvis　Presley；〃　Harry　said。

〃Elvis　Presleys　dead。〃

〃Nows　your　chance；〃　Harry　said。

Norman　looked　around。　〃Wheres　Levine？〃

〃Levine　didnt　make　it；〃　Barnes　said　briskly。　〃He　got　claustrophobic　in　the　sub　ing　down；　and　had　to　be　taken　back。　One　of　those　things。〃

〃Then　we　have　no　marine　biologist？〃

〃Well　manage　without　him。〃

〃I　hate　this　damn　jumpsuit；〃　Ted　said。　〃I　really　hate　it。〃

〃Beth　looks　good　in　hers。〃

〃Yes；　Beth　works　out。〃

〃And　its　damp　in　here；　too；〃　Ted　said。　〃Is　it　always　so　damp？〃

Norman　had　noticed　that　humidity　was　a　problem；　everything　they　touched　felt　slightly　wet　and　clammy　and　cold。　Barnes　warned　them　of　the　danger　of　infections　and　minor　colds；　and　handed　out　bottles　of　skin　lotion　and　ear　drops。

〃I　thought　you　said　the　technology　was　all　worked　out；〃　Harry　said。

〃It　is；〃　Barnes　said。　〃Believe　me；　this　is　plush　pared　to　the　habitats　ten　years　ago。〃

＇＇61＇＇　〃Ten　years　ago；〃　Harry　said；　〃they　stopped　making　habitats　because　people　kept　dying　in　them。〃

Barnes　frowned。　〃There　was　one　accident。〃

〃There　were　two　accidents；〃　Harry　said。　〃A　total　of　four　people。〃

〃Special　circumstances；〃　Barnes　said。　〃Not　involving　Navy　technology　or　personnel。〃

〃Great；〃　Harry　said。　〃How　long　did　you　say　we　going　to　be　down　here？〃

〃Maximum；　seventy…two　hours；〃　Barnes　said。

〃You　sure　about　that？〃

〃Its　Navy　regs；〃　Barnes　said。