ible； instrument lights shining up on her face。 Then the sub descended out of view。
He went to the porthole and looked out。 Deepstar III was resting on the bottom； depositing more boxes from its claw hands。 Now he could read the lettering on the boxes：
CAUTION NO SMOKING NO ELECTRONICS TEVAC EXPLOSIVES
〃Beth？ What the hell are you doing？〃
〃Later； Norman。〃
He listened to her voice。 She sounded okay。 Was she cracking up？ No； he thought。 She's not cracking up。 She sounds okay。 I'm sure she's okay。
But he wasn't sure。
The sub was moving again； its lights blurred by the cloud of sediment churned up by the propellors。 The cloud drifted up past the porthole； obscuring his vision。
〃Beth？〃
〃Everything's fine； Norman。 Back in a minute。〃
As the sediment drifted down to the bottom again； he saw the sub； heading back to DH…7。 Moments later； it docked beneath the dome。 Then he saw Beth climb out； and tether the sub fore and aft。
1100 HOURS
〃It's very simple；〃 Beth said。
〃Explosives？〃 He pointed to the screen。 〃It says here； 'Tevacs are； weight for weight； the most powerful conventional explosives known。' What the hell are you doing putting them around the habitat？〃
〃Norman； take it easy。〃 She rested her hand on his shoulder。 Her touch was soft and reassuring。 He relaxed a little； feeling her body so close。
〃We should have discussed this together first。〃
〃Norman； I'm not taking any chances。 Not any more。〃
〃But Harry is unconscious。〃
〃He might wake up。〃
〃He won't； Beth。〃
〃I'm not taking any chances；〃 she said。 〃This way； if something starts to e out of that sphere； we can blow the hell out of the whole ship。 I've put explosives along the whole leng