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Gunn moved to the bow and lay down on the rubber sheathed floor He stared out of one of the four forward viewports together with Merker and Spencer They all saw the object almost immediately It was as Munk had described it simply an inverted bell-shaped funnel about five inches in dialy, its condition was good The exterior surface of the metal was tarnished, to be sure, but it appeared to be sound and solid, with no indication of flaking or heavy rust layers

"Holding steady," Giordino said, "but I can't guarantee for how long"

Without turning from the viewport, Gunn motioned to Woodson, as bent over a pair of ca their lenses toward the object on the sea floor "Omar?"

"Focused and shooting"

Merker twisted around and looked at Gunn "Let's rab for it"

Gunn re the port He seemed lost in concentration

Merker's eyes narrowed questioningly "What about it, Rudi? I say let's grab it"

The words finally penetrated Gunn's thoughts "Yes, yes, by all uely

Merker unhooked a metal box that was attached to the forward bulkhead by a five-foot cable and positioned himself at the center viewport The box contained a series of toggle switches that surrounded a small circular knob It was the control unit for the rotesquely from the lower bow of the Sappho I

Merker pushed a switch that activated the arers over the controls as the mechanism hummed and the arht inches shy of the funnel in the sediment outside

"I need another foot," Merker said

"Get ready," Giordino replied "The forward movement may break my position"

The funnel see slowness under the ently eased the pincers over the lip of the funnel, and then he pressed another switch and they closed, but his tian swinging it broadside The claw ether empty

"She's breaking to port," Giordino yelled, "I can't hold her"

Quickly, Merker's fingers danced over the control box He would have to try for a second grab on the fly If he ain, it would be next to impossible to relocate the funnel under the li on his brow, and his hands grew tense