y'll be here in a little more than sixteen hours。〃
〃And autoset？〃
They had the answer immediately。 Every screen in the habitat flickered。 In the upper right corner of each appeared a small box with numbers： 16：20：00。 The numbers ran backward。
〃It's automatically counting down for us。〃
〃Is there some kind of countdown we're supposed to follow for leaving the habitat？〃 Beth said。
Norman watched the numbers。 They were rolling backward； just as they had on the submarine。 Then he said； 〃What about the submarine？〃
〃Who cares about the submarine；〃 Harry said。
〃I think we should keep it with us；〃 Beth said。 She checked her watch。 〃We have another four hours before it has to be reset。〃
〃Plenty of time。〃
＇＇278＇＇ 〃Yes。〃
Privately； Norman was trying to gauge whether they could survive for sixteen more hours。
Harry said； 〃Well； this is great news！ Why are you two so hangdog？〃
〃Just wondering if we'll make it；〃 Norman said。
〃Why shouldn't we make it？〃 Harry said。
〃Jerry might do something first；〃 Beth said。 Norman felt a burst of irritation with her。 Didn't she realize that by saying that； she was planting the idea in Harry's mind？
〃We can't survive another attack on the habitat；〃 Beth said。
Norman thought； Shut up； Beth。 You're making suggestions。
〃An attack on the habitat？〃 Harry said。
Quickly； Norman said； 〃Harry； I think you and I should talk to Jerry again。〃
〃Really？ Why？〃
〃I want to see if I can reason with him。〃
〃I don't know if you can；〃 Harry said。 〃Reason with him。〃
〃Let's try anyway；〃 Norman said； with a glance at Beth。 〃It's worth a try。〃
Norman knew he would not really be talking to Jerry。 He would be talking to