ldn't。
Same as the rest of us； Norman thought。 He glanced at the monitor clocks。 They showed 1230 hours； and counted backward。 He put a blanket over Harry and went over to the console。
The sphere was still there； with its changed pattern of grooves。 In all the excitement he had almost forgotten his initial fascination with the sphere； where it had e from； what it meant。 Although they understood now what it meant。 What had Beth called it？ A mental enzyme。 An enzyme was something that made chemical reactions possible without actually participating in them。 Our bodies needed to perform chemical reactions； but our body temperatures were too cold for most chemical reactions to proceed smoothly。 So we had enzymes to help the process along； speed it up。 The enzymes made it all possible。 And she had called the sphere a mental enzyme。
Very clever； he thought。 Clever woman。 Her impulsiveness ＇＇293＇＇ had turned out to be just what was needed。 With Harry unconscious； Beth still looked beautiful； but Norman was relieved to find that his own features had returned to pudgy normalcy。 He saw his own familiar reflection in the screen as he stared at the sphere on the monitor。
That sphere。
With Harry unconscious； he wondered if they would ever know exactly what had happened； exactly what it had been like。 He remembered the lights； like fireflies。 And what had Harry said？ Something about foam。 The foam。 Norman heard a whirring sound； and looked out the porthole。
The sub was moving。
Freed of its tethers； the yellow minisub glided across the bottom； its lights shining on the ocean floor。 Norman pushed the inter button： 〃Beth？ Beth！〃
〃I'm here； Norman。〃
〃What're you doing？〃
〃Just take it easy； Norman。〃
〃What're you d