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At last Thayer's voice cae icy calm

"I regret to report that Ensign Murphy and Lieutenant Lawrence are dead I can find no life signs Whatever the cause it will strike me before I can escape You must quarantine this boat Do you understand, Amos?"

Dover found it irasp that he was suddenly about to lose his old friend "Do not understand, but will comply"

"Good I'll describe the syht-headed already Pulse increasing to one fifty May have contracted the cause by skin absorption Pulse one seventy"

Thayer paused His next words caly

"Growing nausea Legs Can no longerSupport Intense burning sensation In sinus region Internal organs feel like they're exploding"

As one, everybody on the bridge of the Catawba leaned closer to the speaker, unable to co a short distance away

"Pulse Over two hundred Painexcruciating

Blackness closing vision" There was an audible moan "Tell

Tell my wife the speaker went silent

You could smell the shock; see it in the widened eyes of the crew standing in stricken horror

Dover stared numbly at the tomb named the Arnie Marie, his hands clenched in helplessness and despair

"What's happening?" Heeveryone?"

"I SAY HANG THE BASTARD,

"Oscar, irls"