〃Here we go；〃 Tina said。
The monitor showed jagged lines； and then resolved。 On the screen； Tina was saying； 〃…hours the tapes are transferred to the submarine。〃
Beth： 〃What for？〃
Tina： 〃That's so； if anything happens down here； the submarine will automatically go to the surface。〃
Beth： 〃Oh； great。 I won't think about that too much。 Where is Dr。 Fielding now？〃
Tina： 〃He gave up on the sphere； and went into the main flight deck with Edmunds。〃
On the screen； Tina stepped out of view。 Beth remained alone in the chair； eating the cake； her back to the monitor。
Onscreen； Tina was saying； 〃Do you think they'll ever get the sphere open？〃
Beth ate her cake。 〃Maybe；〃 she said。 〃I don't know。〃
There was a short pause； and then on the monitor behind Beth； the door of the sphere slid open。
〃Hey！ It did open！〃
〃Keep the tape running！〃
Onscreen； Beth didn't notice the monitor。 Tina； still somewhere offscreen； said； 〃It scares me。〃
Beth： 〃I don't think there's a reason to be scared。〃
Tina： 〃It's the unknown。〃
〃Sure；〃 Beth said； 〃but an unknown thing is not likely to be dangerous or frightening。 It's most likely to be just inexplicable。〃
〃I don't know how you can say that。〃
〃You afraid of snakes？〃 Beth said； onscreen。
All during this conversation； the sphere remained open。
Watching； Harry said； 〃Too bad we can't see inside it。〃
〃I may be able to help that；〃 Tina said。 〃I'll do some image…intensification work with the puter。〃
〃It almost looks like there are little lights；〃 Harry said。 〃Little moving lights inside the sphere 。。。〃
Onscreen； Tina came back into view。 〃Snakes don't bother me。〃
＇＇120＇＇ 〃Well； I can't stand snakes