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as shivering constantly。
〃We must do something； Captain；〃 he said hoarsely。 He spoke as much when inhaling as when exhaling； when your breathing is sufficiently distressed； one is as easy as the other。 〃We've got seven men passed out now between the for'ard torpedo room and the crew's mess。 They're pretty sick men； Captain。〃
〃Thank you； chief。〃 Swanson； also without a mask； was in as bad a way as Patterson； his chest heaving； his breath hoarsely rasping； tears and sweat rolling down the grayness of his face。 〃We'll be as quick as possible。〃
〃More oxygen；〃 I said。 〃Bleed more oxygen into the ship。〃
〃Oxygen？ More oxygen？〃 He shook his head。 〃The pressure is too high as it is。〃
〃Pressure won't kill them。〃 I was dimly aware； through my cold and misery and burning chest and eyes； that my voice sounded just as strange as did those of Swanson and Patterson。 〃Carbon monoxide will kill them。 Carbon monoxide is what is killing them now。 It's the relative proportion of CO2 to oxygen that matters。 It's too high； it's far too high。 That's what's going to finish us all off。〃
〃More oxygen；〃 Swanson ordered。 Even the unnecessary acknowledgment of my words would have cost too much。 〃More oxygen。〃
Valves were turned and oxygen hissed into the control room and； I knew； into the crew spaces。 I could feel my ears pop as the pressure swiftly built up but that was all I could feel。 I certainly couldn't feel any improvement in my breathing； a feeling that was borne out when Patterson； noticeably weaker this time； crawled back and croaked out the bad news that he now had a dozen unconscious men on his hands。
I went for'ard with Patterson and a closed…circuit oxygen apparatusone of the few unexhausted sets leftand clamped it for a minute or so onto the face of each unconscious man in turn； but I knew it was but a temporary palliative。 The oxygen revived them； but within a few minutes of the mask being removed； most of them slipped back into unconsciousness again。 I made my way back to the control room； a dark dungeon of huddled men nearly all lying down； most of them barely conscious。 I was barely conscious myself。 I wondered vaguely if they felt as I did； if the fire from the lungs had now spread to the remainder of the body； if they could see the first slight changes in color in their hands and faces； the deadly blush of purple； the first unmistakable signs of a man beginning to die from carbon…monoxide poisoning。 Jolly； I noticed； still hadn't returned from the engine room； he was keeping himself permanently on hand； it seemed； to help those men who were in ever…increasingly greater danger of hurting themselves and their rades as their weakness increased； as their level of care and attention and concentration slid down toward zero。
Swanson was where I'd left him； propped on the desk against the plotting table。 He smiled faintly as I sank down beside him and Hansen。
〃How are they； Doctor？〃 he whispered。 A whisper； but a rock…steady whisper。 The man's monolithic calm had never cracked； and I realized dimly that here was a man who could never crack： you do find people like that； once in a million or once in a lifetime。 Swanson was such a man。
〃Far gone；〃 I said。 As a medical report； it might have lacked a thought in detail； but it contained the gist of what I wanted to say and it saved me energy。 〃You will have your first deaths for carbon…monoxide poisoning within the hour。〃
〃So soon？〃 The surprise was in his red； swollen； streaming eyes as well as in his voice。 〃Not so soon； Doctor。 It's hardlywell； it's hardly started to take effect。〃
〃So soon；〃 I said。 〃Carbon…monoxide poisoning is very rapidly progressive。 Five dead within the hour。 Within two hours； fifty。 At least fifty。〃
〃You take the choice out of my hands；〃 he murmured。 〃For which I am grateful。 John； where is our main propulsion officer？ His hour has e。〃
〃I'll get him。〃 Hansen hauled himself wearily to his feet； an old man making his last struggle to rise from his death bed； and at that moment the engine…room door opened and blackened； exhausted men staggered into the' control room。 Waiting men filed out to take their place。 Swanson said to one of the men who had just entered； 〃Is that you； Will？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃 Lieutenant Raeburn； the navigating officer； pulled off his mask and began to cough； rackingly； painfully。 Swanson waited until he had quieted a little。
〃How are things down there； Will？〃
〃We've stopped making smoke； skipper。〃 Raeburn wiped his streaming face； swayed dizzily； and lowered himself groggily to the floor。 〃I think we've drowned out the sheathing pletely。〃
〃How long to get the rest of it off？〃
〃God knows。 Normally； ten minutes。 The way we are； an hour。 Maybe longer。〃
〃Thank you。 Ah！〃 He smiled faintly as Hansen and Cartwright appeared out of the smoke…filled gloom。 〃Our main propulsion officer。 Mr。 Cartwright； I would be glad if you would put the kettle on to boil。 What's the record for activating the plant； getting steam up and spinning the turbo generators？〃
〃I couldn't say； skipper。〃 Red…eyed； coughing； smokeblackened； and obviously in considerable pain； Cartwright nevertheless straightened his shoulders and smiled slowly。 〃But you may consider it broken。〃
He left。 Swanson heaved himself to his feet with obvious weaknessexcept for two brief inspection trips to the engine room； he had not once worn any breathing apparatus during those interminable and pain…filled hours。 He called for power on the broadcast circuit； unhooked a microphone； and spoke in a calm； clear； strong voice： it was an amazing exhibition in self…control； the triumph of a mind over agonized lungs still starving for air。
〃This is your captain speaking；〃 he said。 〃The fire in the engine room is out。 We are already reactivating our power plant。 Open all water…tight doors throughout the ship。 They are to remain open until further orders。 You may regard the worst of our troubles as lying behind us。 Thank you for all you have done。〃 He hooked up the microphone and turned to Hansen。 〃The worst 〃is〃 behind； Johnif we have enough power left to reactivate the plant。〃
〃Surely the worst is still to e；〃 I said。 〃It'll take you how longthree quarters of an hour； maybe an hour？to get your turbo generators going and your air…purifying equipment working again。 How long do you think it will take your air cleaners to make any noticeable effect on this poisonous air？〃
〃Half an hour。 At least that。 Perhaps more。〃
〃There you are； then。〃 My mind was so woolly and doped now that I had difficulty in finding words to frame my thoughts； and I wasn't even sure that my thoughts were worth thinking。 〃An hour and a half at leastand you said the worst was over。 The worst hasn't even begun。〃 I shook my head； trying to remember what it was that I had been going to say next； then remembered。 〃In an hour and a half； one out of every four of your men will be gone。〃
Swanson smiled。 He actually； incredibly； smiled。 He said； 〃As Sherlock used to say to Moriarty； 'I think not； Doctor。' Nobody's going to die of monoxide poisoning。 In fifteen minutes' time we'll have fresh； breathable air throughout the ship。〃
Hansen glanced at me just a