第一小说网

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第1部分（第4页）

〃What　happens　then？〃

〃Everybody　clears　the　hell　out。　Weather　can　be　tough　in　this　part　of　the　world；　sir。　Im　from　Florida　and　I　saw　some　hurricanes　when　I　was　a　kid；　but　youve　never　seen　anything　like　a　Pacific　cyclone；　sir。〃

Norman　nodded。　〃How　much　longer　until　we　get　there？〃

〃Any　minute　now；　sir。〃

After　two　hours　of　monotony；　the　cluster　of　ships　appeared　unusually　interesting。　There　were　more　than　a　dozen　vessels　of　various　kinds；　formed　roughly　into　concentric　circles。　On　the　outer　perimeter；　he　counted　eight　gray　Navy　destroyers。　Closer　to　the　center　were　large　ships　that　had　wide…spaced　double　hulls　and　looked　like　floating　＇＇6＇＇　dry…docks；　then　nondescript　boxy　ships　with　flat　helicopter　decks；　and　in　the　center；　amid　all　the　gray；　two　white　ships；　each　with　a　flat　pad　and　a　bulls…eye。

The　pilot　listed　them　off：　〃You　got　your　destroyers　on　the　outside；　for　protection；　RVSs　further　in；　thats　Remote　Vehicle　Support；　for　the　robots；　then　MSS；　Mission　Support　and　Supply；　and　OSRVs　in　the　center。〃

〃OSRVs？〃

〃Oceanographic　Survey　and　Research　Vessels。〃　The　pilot　pointed　to　the　white　ships。　〃John　Hawes　to　port；　and　William　Arthur　to　starboard。　Well　put　down　on　the　Hawes。〃　The　pilot　circled　the　formation　of　ships。　Norman　could　see　launches　running　back　and　forth　between　the　ships；　leaving　small　white　wakes　against　the　deep　blue　of　the　water。

〃All　this　for　an　airplane　crash？〃　Norman　said。

〃Hey；〃　the　pilot　grinned。　〃I　never　mentioned　a　crash。　Check　your　seat　belt　if　you　would；　sir。　Were　about　to　land。〃

BARNES

The　red　bulls…eye　grew　larger；　and　slid　beneath　them　as　the　helicopter　touched　down。　Norman　fumbled　with　his　seat　belt　buckle　as　a　uniformed　Navy　man　ran　up　and　opened　the　door。

〃Dr。　Johnson？　Norman　Johnson？〃

〃Thats　right。〃

〃Have　any　baggage；　sir？〃

〃Just　this。〃　Norman　reached　back；　pulled　out　his　day　case。　The　officer　took　it。

〃Any　scientific　instruments；　anything　like　that？〃

〃No。　Thats　it。〃

〃This　way；　sir。　Keep　your　head　down；　follow　me；　and　dont　go　aft；　sir。〃

＇＇7＇＇　Norman　stepped　out；　ducking　beneath　the　blades。　He　followed　the　officer　off　the　helipad　and　down　a　narrow　stairs。　The　metal　handrail　was　hot　to　the　touch。　Behind　him；　the　helicopter　lifted　off；　the　pilot　giving　him　a　final　wave。　Once　the　helicopter　had　gone；　the　Pacific　air　felt　still　and　brutally　hot。

〃Good　trip；　sir？〃

〃Fine。〃

〃Need　to　go；　sir？〃

〃Ive　just　arrived；〃　Norman　said。

〃No；　I　mean：　do　you　need　to　use　the　head；　sir。〃

〃No；〃　Norman　said。

〃Good。　Dont　use　the　heads；　theyre　all　backed　up。〃

〃All　right。〃

〃Plumbings　been　screwed　up　since　last　night。　Were　working　on　the　problem　and　hope　to　have　it　solved　soon。〃　He　peered　at　Norman。　〃We　have　a　lot　of　women　on　board　at　the　moment；　sir。〃

〃I　see；〃　Norman　said。

〃Theres　a　chemical　john　if　you　need　it；　sir。〃

〃Im　okay；　thanks。〃

〃In　that　case；　Captain　Barnes　wants　to　see　you　at　once；　sir。〃

〃Id　like　to　call　my　family。〃

〃You　can　mention　that　to　Captain　Barnes；　sir。〃

They　ducked　through　a　door；　moving　out　of　the　hot　sun　into　a