We're saved！〃
〃At least he wasn't an illusion；〃 Norman said； staring at the screen。 〃There he is； big as life； on the monitor。〃
〃Yes。 There he is。 But where'd he go？〃 Beth said。 For the last hour； they had searched the habitat thoroughly。 There was no sign of the black crewman。 There was no sign of a submarine outside。 There was no evidence of surface ships。 The balloon they had sent up registered eighty…knot winds and thirty…foot waves before the wire snapped。
So where had he e from？ And where had he gone？ Fletcher was working the consoles。 A screen of data came ＇＇221＇＇ up。 〃How about this？ Log of ships in active service shows no vessel currently designated Sea Hornet。〃
Norman said； 〃What the hell is going on here？〃
〃Maybe he was an illusion；〃 Ted said。
〃Illusions don't register on videotape；〃 Harry said。 〃Besides； I saw him； too。〃
〃You did？〃 Norman said。
〃Yeah。 I had just woken up； and I had had this dream about being rescued； and I was lying in bed when I heard footsteps and he walked into the room。〃
〃Did you talk to him？〃
〃Yes。 But he was funny。 He was dull。 Kind of boring。〃
Norman nodded。 〃You could tell something wasn't right about him。〃
〃Yes； you could。〃
〃But where did he e from？〃 Beth said。
〃I can think of only one possibility；〃 Ted said。 〃He came from the sphere。 Or at least； he was made by the sphere。 By Jerry。〃
〃Why would Jerry do that？ To spy on us？〃
Ted shook his head。 〃I've been thinking about this；〃 he said。 〃It seems to me that Jerry has the ability to create things。 Animals。 I don't think that Jerry is a giant squid； but Jerry created the giant squid that attacked us。 I don't think Jerry wants to attack us； but； from what Beth was telling us；