沸腾文学

第33部分（第1页）

zed　off　in　the　console　chair；　because　he　looked　up　abruptly；　startled　to　see　a　trim　black　seaman　in　uniform　standing　just　behind　him；　looking　over　his　shoulder　at　the　screens。

〃Hows　it　going；　sir？〃　the　seaman　asked。　He　was　very　calm。　His　uniform　was　crisply　pressed。

Norman　felt　a　burst　of　tremendous　elation。　This　mans　arrival　at　the　habitat　could　mean　only　one　thing…the　surface　ships　must　be　back！　The　ships　had　returned；　and　the　subs　had　been　sent　down　to　retrieve　them！　They　were　all　going　to　be　saved！

〃Sailor；〃　Norman　said；　pumping　his　hand；　〃Im　very　damn　glad　to　see　you。〃

〃Thank　you；　sir。〃

〃When　did　you　get　here？〃　Norman　asked。

〃Just　now；　Sir。〃

〃Do　the　others　know　yet？〃

〃The　others；　sir？〃

＇＇220＇＇　〃Yes。　Theres；　uh；　theres　six　of　us　left。　Have　they　been　told　youre　here？〃

〃I　dont　know　the　answer　to　that；　sir。〃

There　was　a　flatness　to　this　man　that　Norman　found　odd。　The　sailor　was　looking　around　the　habitat；　and　for　a　moment　Norman　saw　the　environment　through　his　eyes…the　damp　interior；　the　wrecked　consoles；　the　foam…spattered　walls。　It　looked　like　they　had　fought　a　war　in　here。

〃Weve　had　a　rough　time；〃　Norman　said。

〃I　can　see　that；　sir。〃

〃Three　of　us　have　died。〃

〃Im　sorry　to　hear　that；　sir。〃

That　flatness　again。　Neutrality。　Was　he　being　proper？　Was　he　worried　about　a　pending　court…martial？　Was　it　something　else　entirely？

〃Where　have　you　e　from？〃　Norman　said。

〃e　from；　sir？〃

〃What　ship。〃

〃Oh。　The　Sea　Hornet；　sir。〃

〃Its　topside　now？〃

〃Yes；　sir；　it　is。〃

〃Well；　lets　get　moving；〃　Norman　said。　〃Tell　the　others　youre　here。〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

The　seaman　went　away。　Norman　stood　and　shouted；　〃Yahoo！　Were　saved！〃

〃At　least　he　wasnt　an　illusion；〃　Norman　said；　staring　at　the　screen。　〃There　he　is；　big　as　life；　on　the　monitor。〃

〃Yes。　There　he　is。　But　whered　he　go？〃　Beth　said。　For　the　last　hour；　they　had　searched　the　habitat　thoroughly。　There　was　no　sign　of　the　black　crewman。　There　was　no　sign　of　a　submarine　outside。　There　was　no　evidence　of　surface　ships。　The　balloon　they　had　sent　up　registered　eighty…knot　winds　and　thirty…foot　waves　before　the　wire　snapped。

So　where　had　he　e　from？　And　where　had　he　gone？　Fletcher　was　working　the　consoles。　A　screen　of　data　came　＇＇221＇＇　up。　〃How　about　this？　Log　of　ships　in　active　service　shows　no　vessel　currently　designated　Sea　Hornet。〃

Norman　said；　〃What　the　hell　is　going　on　here？〃

〃Maybe　he　was　an　illusion；〃　Ted　said。

〃Illusions　dont　register　on　videotape；〃　Harry　said。　〃Besides；　I　saw　him；　too。〃

〃You　did？〃　Norman　said。

〃Yeah。　I　had　just　woken　up；　and　I　had　had　this　dream　about　being　rescued；　and　I　was　lying　in　bed　when　I　heard　footsteps　and　he　walked　into　the　room。〃

〃Did　you　talk　to　him？〃

〃Yes。　But　he　was　funny。　He　was　dull。　Kind　of　boring。〃

Norman　nodded。　〃You　could　tell　something　wasnt　right　about　him。〃

〃Yes；　you　could。〃

〃But　where　did　he　e　from？〃　Beth　said。