zed off in the console chair； because he looked up abruptly； startled to see a trim black seaman in uniform standing just behind him； looking over his shoulder at the screens。
〃How's it going； sir？〃 the seaman asked。 He was very calm。 His uniform was crisply pressed。
Norman felt a burst of tremendous elation。 This man's arrival at the habitat could mean only one thing…the surface ships must be back！ The ships had returned； and the subs had been sent down to retrieve them！ They were all going to be saved！
〃Sailor；〃 Norman said； pumping his hand； 〃I'm very damn glad to see you。〃
〃Thank you； sir。〃
〃When did you get here？〃 Norman asked。
〃Just now； Sir。〃
〃Do the others know yet？〃
〃The others； sir？〃
＇＇220＇＇ 〃Yes。 There's； uh； there's six of us left。 Have they been told you're here？〃
〃I don't know the answer to that； sir。〃
There was a flatness to this man that Norman found odd。 The sailor was looking around the habitat； and for a moment Norman saw the environment through his eyes…the damp interior； the wrecked consoles； the foam…spattered walls。 It looked like they had fought a war in here。
〃We've had a rough time；〃 Norman said。
〃I can see that； sir。〃
〃Three of us have died。〃
〃I'm sorry to hear that； sir。〃
That flatness again。 Neutrality。 Was he being proper？ Was he worried about a pending court…martial？ Was it something else entirely？
〃Where have you e from？〃 Norman said。
〃e from； sir？〃
〃What ship。〃
〃Oh。 The Sea Hornet； sir。〃
〃It's topside now？〃
〃Yes； sir； it is。〃
〃Well； let's get moving；〃 Norman said。 〃Tell the others you're here。〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
The seaman went away。 Norman stood and shouted； 〃Yahoo！