he felt strong and confident； setting the controls； preparing for his ascent。 He felt better than he had felt for days。
〃Norman；〃 she said。
〃Please help us。 Please。〃
Her words struck him at some deep level； arousing feelings ＇＇345＇＇ of caring； of professional petence； of simple human kindness。 For a moment he felt confusion； his strength and conviction weakened。 But then he got a grip on himself； and shook his head。 The strength flew back into his body。
〃Sorry； Beth。 It's too late for that。〃
And he pressed the 〃ASCEND〃 button； heard the roar as the ballast tanks blew； and Deepstar III swayed。 The habitat slipped away below him； and he started toward the surface； a thousand feet above。
Black water； no sense of movement except for the readings on the glowing green instrument panel。 He began to review the events in his mind； as if he were already facing a Navy inquiry。 Had he done the right thing； leaving the others behind？
Unquestionably； he had。 The sphere was an alien object which gave a person the power to manifest his thoughts。 Well and good； except that human beings had a split in their brains； a split in their mental processes。 It was almost as if men had two brains。 The conscious brain could be consciously controlled； and presented no problem。 But the unconscious brain； wild and abandoned； was dangerous and destructive when its impulses were manifested。
The trouble with people like Harry and Beth was that they were literally unbalanced。 Their conscious brains were overdeveloped； but they had never bothered to explore their unconscious。 That was the difference between Norman and them。 As a psychologist； Norman had some acquaintance with his unconscious。 It held no surprises for him。
That was why Harry a