in removed。 The lights still flashed； the alarm still shrieked。
〃What is it？〃 Norman shouted。
〃Equipment breakdown！〃
〃What equipment breakdown？〃
〃We can't turn the damn alarm off！〃 Barnes shouted。 〃It turned it on； but we can't turn it off！ Teeny…〃
〃…W orking on it； sir！〃
The big engineer was crouched behind the puter； Norman saw the broad curve of her back。
〃Get that damn thing off！〃
〃Getting it off； sir！〃
〃Get it off； I can't hear！〃
Hear what？ Norman wondered； and then Harry stumbled into the room； colliding with Norman。 〃Jesus。。。〃
〃This is an emergency！〃 Barnes was shouting。 〃This is an ＇＇207＇＇ emergency！ Seaman Chan！ Sonar！〃 Tina was next to him； calm as always； adjusting dials on side monitors。 She slipped on headphones。
Norman looked at the sphere on the video monitor。 The sphere was closed。
Beth went to one of the portholes and looked closely at the white material that blocked it。 Barnes spun like a dervish beneath the flashing red lights； shouting； swearing in all directions。
And then suddenly the alarm stopped； and the red lights stopped flashing。 Everyone was silent。 Fletcher straightened and sighed。
Harry said； 〃I thought you got that fixed…〃
〃…Shhh。〃
They heard the soft repetitive pong！ of the sonar impulses。 Tina cupped her hands over the headphones； frowning； concentrating。
Nobody moved or spoke。 They stood tensely； listening to the sonar as it echoed back。
Barnes said quietly to the group； 〃A few minutes ago； we got a signal。 From outside。 Something very large。〃
Finally Tina said； 〃I'm not getting it now； sir。〃 〃Go passive。〃
〃Aye aye； sir。 Going passive。〃
The pinging sonar stopped。 In its place they hear