There was no answer from Beth。 She probably couldn't hear him； surrounded by all this metal。 He looked around the sub； thinking； I'm dripping wet。 But what was he supposed to do； wipe his shoes before entering？ He smiled at the thought。 He found the tapes secured in an aft partment。 There was plenty of room for more； and plenty of room for three people。 But Beth was right about going to the surface： the interior of the sub was crammed with instruments and sharp edges。 If you got banged around in here it wouldn't be pleasant。
Where was the delay button？ He looked at the darkened instrument panel； and saw a single flashing red light above a button marked 〃TIMER HOLD。〃 He pressed the button。
The red light stopped flashing； and now remained steadily on。 A small amber video screen glowed：
Timer Reset … Counting 12：00：00
As he watched； the numbers began to run backward。 He must have done it； he thought。 The video screen switched off。 Still looking at all the instruments； a thought occurred to him： in an emergency； could he operate this sub？ He slipped into the pilot's chair； faced the bewildering dials and switches of the instrument array。 There didn't seem to be any steering ＇＇240＇＇ apparatus； no wheel or joystick。 How did you work the damned thing？
The video screen switched on：
DEEPSTAR III … MAND MODULE
Do you require help？
Yes No Cancel
Yes； he thought。 I require help。 He looked around for a 〃YES〃 button near the screen； but there wasn't any that he could see。 Finally he thought to touch the screen； pressing 〃YES。〃
DEEPSTAR III … CHECKLIST OPTIONS
Descend Ascend
Secure Shutdown
Monitor Cancel
He pressed 〃ASCEND。〃 The screen changed to a small drawing of the instrume