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。
〃I'll make your shortcake with blueberries；〃 Levy said； not missing a beat。
〃And whipped cream？〃 Ted said。
〃Well 。。。〃
＇＇60＇＇ 〃You can't have everything；〃 Barnes said。 〃And one of the things you can't have at thirty atmospheres of mixed gas is whipped cream。 Won't whip。 Let's 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。 〃It's like living in a vagina。〃
Beth said； 〃Don't you like going back to the womb； Harry？〃
〃No；〃 Harry said。 〃I've been there。 Once was enough。〃
〃These jumpsuits are pretty bad；〃 Ted said； plucking at the clinging polyester。
〃Shows your belly nicely；〃 Harry said。
〃Let's settle down；〃 Barnes said。
〃A few sequins； you could be Elvis Presley；〃 Harry said。
〃Elvis Presley's dead。〃
〃Now's your chance；〃 Harry said。
Norman looked around。 〃Where's Levine？〃
〃Levine didn't 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？〃
〃We'll manage without him。〃
〃I hate this damn jumpsuit；〃 Ted said。 〃I really hate it。〃
〃