〃All right;〃 Norman said。 〃Lets agree on what happened。 Why did we e here?〃
〃I thought it was going to be an airplane crash。〃
〃Me; too。〃
〃Okay; suppose it was an airplane crash。〃
〃Fine。 And what happened?〃
''367'' 〃The Navy sent some people down to investigate the crash; and a problem developed…〃
〃…Wait a minute; what problem?〃
〃The squid?〃
〃No。 Better a technical problem。〃
〃Something to do with the storm?〃
〃Life…support systems failed during the storm?〃
〃Yes; good。 Life…support systems failed during the storm。〃
〃And several people died as a result?〃
〃Wait a minute。 Lets not go so fast。 What made the lifesupport systems fail?〃
Beth said; 〃The habitat developed a leak; and sea water corrupted the scrubber canisters in B Cyl; releasing a toxic gas。〃
〃Could that have happened?〃 Norman said。
〃Yes; easily。〃
〃And several people died as a result of that accident。〃
〃Okay。〃
〃But we survived。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Why?〃 Norman said。
〃We were in the other habitat?〃
Norman shook his head。 〃The other habitat was destroyed; too。
〃Maybe it was destroyed later; with the explosives。〃
〃Too plicated;〃 Norman said。 〃Lets keep it simple。 It was an accident which happened suddenly and unexpectedly。 The habitat sprang a leak and the scrubbers failed; and as a result most of the people died; but we didnt because…〃
〃We were in the sub?〃
〃Okay;〃 Norman said。 〃We were in the sub when the systems failed; so we survived and the others didnt。〃
〃Why were we in the sub?〃
〃We were transferring the tapes according to the schedule。〃
〃And what about the tapes?〃 Harry said。 〃What will they show?〃
〃The tapes will confirm our story;〃 Norman said。 〃Everything will be consistent with the story; including the Navy ''368'' people who sent us down in the first place; and including us; too…we wont remember anything but this story。〃
〃And we wont have the power any more?〃 Beth said; frowning。
〃No;〃 Norman said。 〃Not any more。〃
〃Okay;〃 Harry said。
Beth seemed to think about it longer; biting her lip。 But finally she nodded。 〃Okay。〃
Norman took a deep breath; and looked at Beth and Harry。 〃Are we ready to forget the sphere; and the fact that we once had the power to make things happen by thinking them?〃
They nodded。