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"She's up," Gunn acknowledged softly

Then the spell was broken by the pulsing blades of the Capricorn's helicopter as it headed into the wind and angled over the debris-laden forecastle of the resurrected ship The pilot held the craft on a level position a few feet above the deck and al out of a side door

Giordino scra at the hatch cover of the Deep Fathom Thank God for small miracles the hull was still sound Cautiously, he maneuvered his body on top of the rounded, slippery deck and tried the handwheel The spokes felt like ice, but he gripped firave a heavy twist The handwheel refused to cooperate

"Stop dawdling and open the da," Dr Bailey boomed behind him "Every second counts"

Giordino took a deep breath and heaved with every ounce the ive It ain, and this ti easily as the air inside the sub hissed out and the pressure against the seal relaxed When the handwheel halted at the end of its threads, Giordino swung the hatch open and peered into the darkness below A stale, rancid smell rose up and attacked his nostrils His heart sank when, after his eyes became accustohteen inches from the upper bulkhead

Dr Bailey pushed past and lowered his ih the hatch and down the interior ladder The icy water stung his skin He pushed off the rungs and dogpaddled toward the after part of the subht It was a leg Following it over the knee, he felt his way toward the torso His hand came out of the water at shoulder level and he touched a face

Bailey moved closer until

his nose was a bare inch from the face in the darkness He tried to feel for a pulse, but his fingers were too nu that indicated life or death Then, suddenly, the eyes fluttered open, the lips trembled, and a voice whispered, "Go awayI told youI' today"

"Bridge?" Curly's voice scratched through the speaker

"This is the bridge," answered Gunn

"Ready to patch in the helicopter"

"Go ahead"

There was a pause and then a strange voice cracked onto the bridge "Capricorn, this is Lieutenant Sturgis"

"This is Commander Gunn, Lieutenant; I have you loud and clear Over"

"Dr Bailey has entered the Deep Fathom Please stand by"