第一小说网

手机浏览器扫描二维码访问

第43部分（第3页）

What　the　hell　was　F8？　He　looked　around；　finally　saw　a　row　of　keys　on　the　keyboard；　numbered　F1　to　F20。　He　pushed　F8　and　the　alarms　stopped。　The　sub　was　now　very　close；　lights　shining　into　the　porthole　windows。　In　the　high　bubble；　Beth　was　clearly　visible；　instrument　lights　shining　up　on　her　face。　Then　the　sub　descended　out　of　view。

He　went　to　the　porthole　and　looked　out。　Deepstar　III　was　resting　on　the　bottom；　depositing　more　boxes　from　its　claw　hands。　Now　he　could　read　the　lettering　on　the　boxes：

CAUTION　NO　SMOKING　NO　ELECTRONICS　TEVAC　EXPLOSIVES

〃Beth？　What　the　hell　are　you　doing？〃

〃Later；　Norman。〃

He　listened　to　her　voice。　She　sounded　okay。　Was　she　cracking　up？　No；　he　thought。　Shes　not　cracking　up。　She　sounds　okay。　Im　sure　shes　okay。

But　he　wasnt　sure。

The　sub　was　moving　again；　its　lights　blurred　by　the　cloud　of　sediment　churned　up　by　the　propellors。　The　cloud　drifted　up　past　the　porthole；　obscuring　his　vision。

〃Beth？〃

〃Everythings　fine；　Norman。　Back　in　a　minute。〃

As　the　sediment　drifted　down　to　the　bottom　again；　he　saw　the　sub；　heading　back　to　DH…7。　Moments　later；　it　docked　beneath　the　dome。　Then　he　saw　Beth　climb　out；　and　tether　the　sub　fore　and　aft。

1100　HOURS

〃Its　very　simple；〃　Beth　said。

〃Explosives？〃　He　pointed　to　the　screen。　〃It　says　here；　Tevacs　are；　weight　for　weight；　the　most　powerful　conventional　explosives　known。　What　the　hell　are　you　doing　putting　them　around　the　habitat？〃

〃Norman；　take　it　easy。〃　She　rested　her　hand　on　his　shoulder。　Her　touch　was　soft　and　reassuring。　He　relaxed　a　little；　feeling　her　body　so　close。

〃We　should　have　discussed　this　together　first。〃

〃Norman；　Im　not　taking　any　chances。　Not　any　more。〃

〃But　Harry　is　unconscious。〃

〃He　might　wake　up。〃

〃He　wont；　Beth。〃

〃Im　not　taking　any　chances；〃　she　said。　〃This　way；　if　something　starts　to　e　out　of　that　sphere；　we　can　blow　the　hell　out　of　the　whole　ship。　Ive　put　explosives　along　the　whole　length　of　it。〃

〃But　why　around　the　habitat？〃

〃Defense。〃

〃How　is　it　defense？〃

〃Believe　me；　it　is。〃

〃Beth；　its　dangerous　to　have　that　stuff　so　close　to　us。〃

〃Its　not　wired　up；　Norman。　In　fact；　its　not　wired　up　around　the　ship；　either。　I　have　to　go　out　and　do　that　by　hand。〃　She　glanced　at　the　screens。　〃I　thought　Id　wait　a　while　first；　maybe　take　a　nap。　Are　you　tired？〃

〃No；〃　Norman　said。

〃You　havent　slept　in　a　long　time；　Norman。〃

〃Im　not　tired。〃

She　gave　him　an　appraising　look。　〃Ill　keep　an　eye　on　Harry；　if　thats　what　youre　worried　about。〃

〃Im　just　not　tired；　Beth。〃

〃Okay；〃　she　said；　〃suit　yourself。〃　She　brushed　her　luxuriant　hair　back　from　her　face　with　her　fingers。　〃Personally；　Im　exhausted。　Im　going　to　get　a　few　hours。〃　She　started　up　the　＇＇296＇＇　stairs　to　her　lab；　then　looked　down　at　him。　〃Want　to　join　me？〃

〃What？〃　he　said。

She　smiled　at　him　directly；　knowingly。　〃You　heard　me；　Norman。〃

〃Maybe　later；　Beth。〃

〃Okay。　Sure。〃

She　ascended　the　staircase；　her　body　swinging　smoothly；　sensuously　in　the　tight　jumpsuit。　She　looked　good　in　that　jumpsuit。　He　had　to　admit　it。　She　was　a　good…lookin