ed。 He watched a rubber diaphragm inflate； pushing a needle up a scale。
〃Try it again； sir。 I'm sure you can do better than that。〃 Norman didn't think he could； but he tried again anyway。 Another corpsman entered the room； with a sheet of paper covered with figures。 〃Here are his BC's；〃 he said。
The first corpsman frowned。 〃Has Barnes seen this？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃And what'd he say？〃
〃He said it was okay。 He said to continue。〃
〃Okay； fine。 He's the boss。〃 The first corpsman turned back to Norman。 〃Let's try one more big breath； Dr。 Johnson； if you would。 。。。〃
Metal calipers touched his chin and his forehead。 A tape went around his head。 Now the calipers measured from his ear to his chin。
〃What's this for？〃 Norman said。
〃Fitting you with a helmet； sir。〃
〃Shouldn't I be trying one on？〃
〃This is the way we do it； sir。〃
Dinner was macaroni and cheese； burned underneath。 Norman pushed it aside after a few bites。
The corpsman appeared at his door。 〃Time for the seventeen…hundred…hours briefing； sir。〃
〃I'm not going anywhere；〃 Norman said； 〃until I get some answers。 What the hell is all this you're doing to me？〃
〃Routine deepsat workup； sir。 Navy regs require it before you go down。〃
〃And why am I off the graph？〃
〃Sorry； sir？〃
〃You said I was off the graph。〃
〃Oh； that。 You're a bit heavier than the Navy tables figure for； sir。〃
〃Is there a problem about my weight？〃
〃Shouldn't be； no； sir。〃
〃And the other tests； what did they show？〃
〃Sir； you are in very good health for your age and lifestyle。〃
〃And what about going down there？〃 Norman asked； half hoping he wouldn't be able to go。
〃Down there？ I've talked with Captai