Part 58 (1/2)

Its hull was reinforced duralloy, the same material that made up the skin of stars.h.i.+ps.

It could dive all the way to the bottom of the can- yon, and considerably farther if need be. Usually it

carried no weapons, being a creature of science and not of war. But along with the usual complement of exploratory devices, it also carried several small but ^ powerfully shaped charges for rock detonation. One ( such charge properly placed could dent the submers- ibie's own incredibly tough epidermis. Several prop- erly placed could breach it. Or any similar hull.

Hwos.h.i.+en insisted on joining the exploration. Sam Mataroreva would go along in his capacity as the local authority's princ.i.p.al representative. Merced, Cora, and Rachael all were able to handle deep- diving submersibles, and in any case, had not come so far to be denied a look at their tormentors. The only argument over procedure arose when Rachael insisted on taking her neurophon. There was some acrimonious discussion between her and her mother in which ”neuronics” and ”neurotic” became con- fused, but eventually Rachael had her way.

Cora had gained no support from her companions.

The submersible was surprisingly roomy, designed for a crew of six. While it could not be called s.p.a.cious, the five of them managed to move about without b.u.mping into one another. And the gentle music pro- vided by Rachael was welcomed by most as they commenced a long descent into total darkness.

Mataroreva and Cora operated the controls. At three hundred meters Wenkoseemansa and Lateboht gave wishes and farewells before turning back. A cl.u.s.ter of large catodons continued to descend with the craft, turning back one by one as the air left them.

But by now the submersible had long since entered the realm of night.

Instrumentation continually probed the depths be- low, and continued to reveal nothing. Powerful lights flashed only on startled fish and other denizens of the dark.

Lumpjaw strained muscles and lung capacity to ac- company them to nearly twenty-one hundred meters

246.

CACHALOT.

CACHALOT.

247.

before he was forced to turn surfaceward. He startled them all by wis.h.i.+ng them unmistakable, if indirect, good luck. It was the first kind word one of the great whales had spoken to them since Cora had been on Cachalot. Extraordinary circ.u.mstances, she re- flected, always prompted extraordinary reactions.

Darkness reached its limits, pressure did not. Yet despite the inhospitable surroundings, life continued to thrive, further testament to the burgeoning fe- cundity of Cachalot's world-ocean. Fantastically il- luminated life-forms swarmed around the submersible, alternately drawn to or frightened and confused by its

lights.

”Four thousand meters.” Merced hovered near

Cora's shoulders, studying the console.

An incredible ribbon of pale blue and green lumi- nescence spasmed a path past the thick ports. It seemed endless, though she estimated its length at about twenty-five meters. It was perhaps five centi- meters thick save near the bulging jaws that were filled with dozens of thin needle teeth.

Star-dotted balloons drifted by, avoiding relatives with stomachs larger than mouths. Others possessed more teeth than seemed reasonable for such small creatures, while a couple mooned at the sub with eyes larger than the rest of their bodies.

At forty-five hundred meters Cora thought she heard distant antique church bells. At forty-eight hun- dred meters the ringing had become a steady hum.

At five thousand meters it was as if she had people seated on either side of her, whispering frantic non- sense into her ears. The sounds were not words, nor were they spoken by people.

”Trying to control us, whoever they are,” Merced declared. ”Irritating, but nothing more. Like listening to loud music for too long.”

”I agree.” Mataroreva eased back on his controls.

”It's not working for them, though.”

Five thousand six hundred meters.

”We're practically on bottom here,” Mataroreva grumbled. ”Our scan's been omnidirectional since we started down. Even if they were hiding in some cave or beneath an overhang, we'd have detected them by now. There's nothing here.”