Under Pressure (Jerry eBooks) by Frank Herbert

Author:Frank Herbert [Herbert, Frank]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Jerry eBooks
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Ramsey looked to the big static pressure gauge. “Outside pressure twenty-nine hundred pounds.” He glanced at Bonnett. “Skipper.”

“We have only one skipper,” said Bonnett. “He’s aft in sickbay.”

“No, I’m not!”

They whirled. Sparrow stood in the aft doorway, hand on the metal rim, face pale and beaded with perspiration. “What is the situation, Les?”

Bonnett told him.

Sparrow turned a searching look on Ramsey. “This was your idea?” Ramsey nodded. How long was he standing there? he wondered.

“What are your orders?” asked Bonnett.

“Carry on,” said Sparrow. “You are in command.”

Bonnett turned back to the pressure controls. “Helium below detection range,” he said. “Shall we go sit in the mud, Joe?”

Garcia increased the dive angle. “The medics say it’s theoretically possible for the human body to take four hundred pounds under pure oxy and carbonic anhydrase conditions,” said Ramsey.

“Do all of them say that?” asked Bonnett.

“No, only some of them.”

“I can see it now,” said Garcia. “An account of the reactions of four human bodies to four hundred atmospheric pressure in a Hell Diver Class Submarine, with technical commentary on the autopsies.”

Ramsey shivered, looked at the red center dial on the static pressure gauge showing the Ram’s internal pressure: one hundred and ninety-seven pounds to the square inch. He glanced at the vampire gauge on his wrist, said, “CO2 diffusion is now two sixty-six. We have fifty-four thousandths to go under present conditions.”

Bonnett said, “I’ll give us two hundred and fifty pounds internal as a starter.” He opened a valve, increased the anhydrase pump setting, “Two minutes to bottom,” said Ramsey. “It’s a long thin seamount, ridge running parallel with our course. About ten miles.”

“Pressure is holding,” said Bonnett. “How long until that pack ranges us?”

“Fifteen minutes.”

Behind them, Sparrow said, “Now we’re going to find out how well these Hell Divers are built.”

“I’m more interested in how well I’m built,” said Garcia.

“I’d say the good Lord did an excellent job, all things considered,” said Bonnett.

Ramsey thought, Now, that was a strange remark from him. More what I’d have expected from Sparrow.

“Lord, we beg your indulgence upon us,” said Sparrow. “We who have no right to ask it. Amen.”

“Flatten the glide angle,” said Bonnett.

Garcia brought up the nose.

“Give us the nose eyes and two searchlights.”

The main screen above them came alive, showing a path of light through green water. Pale phosphorescent shapes ranged beyond the limits of the light.

Ramsey looked at the internal pressure reading: 400 pounds even. “Ease her down,” said Bonnett. The deck tipped.

Outside pressure passed through 3400 pounds . . . 3420 . . . 3440. . .

Ramsey found himself unable to tear his gaze away from the dial.

3500 . . . 3520 . . . 3540 . . .

“Diffusion is normal,” said Bonnett. “Is anyone feeling ill effects?”

“I feel silly,” said Garcia.

“Steady,” said Bonnett.

“Be alert for oxygen intoxication,” said Sparrow.

The pressure dial passed 3600 pounds . . . 3620 . . .

“Flatten the glide,” said Bonnett.

Garcia complied.

“Depth?”

Ramsey forced himself to look at his instruments.

“Fifty feet.”

“Down,” said Bonnett.

Again the deck tipped.

Now, they watched the big screen below the pressure gauge.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.