Beth looks good in hers。〃
〃Yes； Beth works out。〃
〃And it's 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？〃
〃It's Navy regs；〃 Barnes said。
〃Why？〃 Norman asked； puzzled。
Barnes shook his head。 〃Never；〃 he said； 〃never ask a reason for Navy regulations。〃
The inter clicked； and Tina Chan said； 〃Captain Barnes； we have a signal from the divers。 They are mounting the airlock now。 Another few minutes to open。〃
The feeling in the room changed immediately； the excitement was palpable。 Ted rubbed his hands together。 〃You realize； of course； that even without opening that spacecraft； we have already made a major discovery of profound importance。〃
〃What's that？〃 Norman said。
〃We've shot the unique event hypothesis to hell；〃 Ted said； glancing at Beth。
〃The unique event hypothesis？〃 Barnes said。
〃He's referring；〃 Beth said； 〃to the fac