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He twisted his hands to align the card against a taut section of rope and began to saw Though it wasn’t a hot knife through butter, he could feel the sharpened badge slowly cut through the nylon fibers

“I’ll be taking a rather large drink soon, just so you know,” Giordino said as the water splashed about his chin

Pitt stepped up his efforts He could feel the rope begin to give and he pressed harder Finally, the rope snapped free

“Got it, Al,” he said

It was only one section of rope, and he struggled to loosen the wrist bindings and slip his hands free Then he pulled his arms clear of the rope that pinned his elbows to the ladder

Giordino said nothing, but Pitt could hear his strains and gasps to keep his face above water

Pitt reached around to Giordino’s elbows and felt for a free end of the wet line It had been drawn tight Pitt, ducking underwater to get better leverage, quickly freed it fro Giordino’s hands

“Thanksbrother” Giordino said, coughing and gasping “I was almost pickled”

Pitt had already moved on to Perkins, who stood a head taller than Giordino Pitt released the scientist’s bindings as the water approached his chin The three , for a few moments

“Noe need to get the door open,” Pitt said

They swa with their hands to find the hatch Pitt felt it first and again ducked underwater to reach the wheel lock He rotated the dog lever to unlock the hatch, then pulled on it The door didn’t budge He popped back to the surface to take a breath

“The hatch is here I need soainst the force of all this water”

Giordino splashed alongside an instant later “Ready when you are”

They ducked under and grabbed the lever Pitt braced a foot against the tank wall, and together they pulled on the hatch The door inched open, then slammed back from the force of the liquid They returned to the surface to catch their breath

“We need,” Pitt said, “to wedge so until the pressure can be relieved”