Part 63 (2/2)

Mataroreva started to comply, then turned away disgustedly from the console. ”Forget it. They're gen- erating enough distortion at this range to jam any kind of broadcast we can make. I juggled frequencies like mad, but they're too fast. We're not getting through to the surface.”

265.

”Let me see. I remember a few broadcast tricks.”

While Hwos.h.i.+en and Mataroreva worked at the console, Merced divided his time between studying the internal galaxy of the CunsnuC outside the ports and watching his companions for signs of illogical action.

Time pa.s.sed. Mataroreva and Hwos.h.i.+en were un- able to punch a word past the watchful CunsnuC. An hour of life remained to the inhabitants of the sub- mersible. Outside, despite the brightness supplied by the CunsnuC, the watery dark and cold pressed close on the five travelers trapped in their metal bubble.

Cora found pleasure in those last minutes by watch- ing her daughter, studying every smooth curve of her face and form. She listened to the soft music, won- dered that it could ever have troubled her. A little understanding, and it would never have gotten on her nerves. She had pushed Rachael too hard in her own image. Let her have fun. You've spent twenty years not having any. Why deprive someone so full of life as she? Of course, it is likely that opportunity will now never be granted. So let her enjoy the music, and pre- tend you enjoy it even more than you do. Pretend-

She s.h.i.+fted so rapidly in the chair that Merced moved toward her from the port.

”No, Pucara, I'm okay. Rachael, show me how you work that thing.”

”It's a little late to begin music lessons. Mother.”

”It's not music I'm interested in, and the less musi- cal I can be, the better I'll like it.”

A puzzled Rachael explained the workings. ”Be careful with these two, Mother. Amplitude on axonics is dangerous. These have a built-in override, of course.

Otherwise you could seriously injure someone.”

”Can you take out the override?”

”What? I-I don't know. I never considered it ...

I guess you could, but the failsafe might keep the instrument from playing.”

”Then we'll just have to try it this way first.” She

CACHALOT.

266.

snugged the device in her arms, trying to match Ra- chael's actions. Then she gritted her teeth and com- menced a most distressing and atonal song. Her teeth screamed. Her legs twitched. One time the pain in her head was so great it felt as if her eyes would burst

from the pressure.

But several minutes later the submersible tumbled sharply and they felt themselves rolling toward the ceiling. Mataroreva fought his way into a chair, worked frantically at the overwrought stabilizers. With his help, the automatics soon leveled them out.

Cora had not let go of the neurophon. She located the same setting, struck it once more. Again the sub- mersible was jolted by outside forces, though not as severely as before. She pushed the power to maximum and held down the combination of controls she had

located by chance.

Outsid& flowed an amazing display of energy and light. Colors far deeper than the gently pulsing pastels they had originally observed rippled through the CunsnuC. The chromatic storm raged through its sub- stance as internal structures quivered and swelled.

Then the creature was moving away, the violent dis- play fading only slightly.

Mataroreva jabbed several switches hopefully. Mo- tion possessed the craft. ”They're no longer above us.”

”Fifty-five hundred meters. Fifty-four.” Merced spoke triumphantly from his seat. ”We're ascending!”

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