Ungibbering, I made it to green water and fled back to the nest.
As soon as they hauled me aboard I made my mask a necklace, shaded myeyes, and monitored for surface turbulence. My first question, of course,was "Where is he?"
"Nowhere," said a crewman; "we lost him right after you went over.Can't pick him up on the scope now. Musta dived."
"Too bad."
The squiggler stayed down, enjoying its bath. My job ended for the timebeing, I headed back to warm my coffee with rum.
From behind me, a whisper: "Could you laugh like that afterwards?"
Perceptive Answer: "Depends on what he's laughing at."
Still chuckling, I made my way into the center blister with twocupfuls.
"Still hell and gone?"
Mike nodded. His big hands were shaking, and mine were steady as asurgeon's when I set down the cups.
He jumped as I shrugged off the tanks and looked for a bench.
"Don't drip on that panel! You want to kill yourself and blow expensivefuses?"
I toweled down, then settled down to watching the unfilled eye on thewall. I yawned happily; my shoulder seemed good as new.
The little box that people talk through wanted to say something, soMike lifted the switch and told it to go ahead.
"Is Carl there, Mister Dabis?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Then let me talk to him."
Mike motioned and I moved.
"Talk," I said.
"Are you all right?"
"Yes, thanks. Shouldn't I be?"
"That was a long swim. I--I guess I overshot my cast."
"I'm happy," I said. "More triple-time for me. I really clean up onthat hazardous duty clause."
"I'll be more careful next time," she apologized. "I guess I was tooeager. Sorry--" Something happened to the sentence, so she ended it there,