and…picked； crack team；〃 Barnes said； needling them。 〃And all they can do is stand around and stare at it。〃
＇＇123＇＇ 〃What do you want us to do； Hal？ Nuke it？〃
〃If you don't get it open； there are people who will try that； eventually。〃 He glanced at his watch。 〃Meanwhile； you got any other bright ideas？〃
Nobody did。
〃Okay；〃 Barnes said。 〃Our time is up。 Let's go back to the habitat and get ready to be ferried to the surface。〃
DEPARTURE
Norman pulled the small navy…issue bag from beneath his bunk in C Cylinder。 He got his shaving kit from the bathroom； found his notebook and his extra pair of socks； and zipped the bag shut。
〃I'm ready。〃
〃Me； too；〃 Ted said。 Ted was unhappy； he didn't want to leave。 〃I guess we can't delay it any longer。 The weather's getting worse。 They've got all the divers out from DH…7； and now there's only us。〃
Norman smiled at the prospect of being on the surface again。 I never thought I'd look forward to seeing Navy battleship gray on a ship； but I do。
〃Where're the others？〃 Norman said。
〃Beth's already packed。 I think she's with Barnes in munication。 Harry； too； I guess。〃 Ted plucked at his jumpsuit。 〃I'll tell you one thing； I'll be glad to see the last of this suit。
They left the sleeping quarters； heading down to munications。 On the way； they squeezed past Teeny Fletcher； who was going toward B Cylinder。
〃Ready to leave？〃 Norman said。
〃Yes； sir； all squared away；〃 Fletcher said； but her features were tense； and she seemed rushed； under pressure。
＇＇124＇＇ 〃Aren't you going the wrong way？〃 Norman asked。
〃Just checking the diesel backups。〃
Backups？ Norman thought。 Why check the backups now that they were leaving？
〃She probabl