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〃When my momentum brings me in past the outcroppings； there's a chance the cable will be severed。〃
〃If that happens； the robot and the objective will be lost。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃What are the odds of us making it across intact？〃
〃About even。〃
〃Alternatives？〃
Abramanov sighed。 〃I'm very much； afraid there are none。 As we have seen； no diver can possibly make it to the aircraft； let alone return with the cargo。 The robot's every chance we have。〃
Rock took a deep breath。 〃Initiate the procedure。〃
Abramanov surprised him； this was the moment that； looking back； he began to like and to trust the Russian。 〃The calculations are already plete。 I am feeding them into the puters。〃
The captain was plucking anxiously at Rock's sleeve； 〃What the hell is this data ing on…line？〃
〃Never mind；〃 Rock said。 〃Just keep an eye on the storm and hold us steady at our present position。〃
''But； sir …〃
Rock hefted his black magic。 〃If we move even a centimeter off…line； I'll shoot you。〃 To Abramanov； he said； 〃Are you ready？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Do it now；〃 Rock said； feeling his heart seem to stop as he watched Abramanov hit the button。
The image blew out against the edges of the screen。 Diadems danced crazily in the light as the image swung； shifting radically； illuminating a larger section of the ledge as the robot was hurled outward into the sea； overhanging the abyss。
Darkness below； and an eerie sense of weightlessness； then the image shifted again as the robot was hurled forward。 The light fanned outward； careening over the phalanx of lethal…looking shale； bunched like the frowning brow of a giant sea god。
And then they were ing in quickly with the shale spears looming like the weapons of an execution squad。
Are we far enough forward？ Rock asked himself。 Has Abramanov made the right calculations？ It looks like we're heading right for those spears； they're so close。 Tiny creatures milled around their points； transfixed by the alien light； then blown away by the fierce displacement of water as the heavy robot swung inward。
Whoomp！
〃The cable is intact。〃
Rock felt light…headed as his fingers gripped the Russian's shoulder。
〃On the ledge；〃 Abramanov said。
The image on the monitor faded for a moment； then reassembled； as the robot continued its descent along the edge of the abyss。 After a time； the image became stationary； and Rock knew that the robot had stopped。
〃What's happening？〃
He was shown the view forward。 The pitch of the shale ledge was now near to vertical。 At the far end of the shaft cut into the shale the light illuminated something cold； hard； shiny beneath the silty biological casing that was encrusting it。
〃Primary objective。〃
Rock's heart leapt。 〃Any problems negotiating the underwater chimney？〃
〃None。〃
The image remained unchanged。
〃Then what's the matter？〃
Abramanov partially unhooked himself from the telemetry； turned to Rock。 〃I think at this point we must consider abandoning the project。〃
〃Why？ Can you see any cracks in the casings？ Is there any sign of gamma radiation leakage？〃
〃Telemetry indicates no radiation leakage whatsoever。〃
〃Do you have moral misgivings； then？〃
Abramanov sighed。 〃I wouldn't be human if I didn't。〃
〃Then try to be more like me。 I have no misgivings whatsoever。 We've got to get your 114m out of this danger area。 I told you there was a quake here of major proportions just last year。 Almost every month； there's a minor one。〃
〃Yes； this is why we are here today。 As I have told you； 114m was created by massive and repeated bombardment of plutonium by a high…energy； high…flux neutron field in an inert atmosphere of argon gas。
〃The inert atmosphere was necessary in part because 114m is an exceedingly energetic gamma…ray emitter； and exposure for even one minute is lethal to humans。〃
Abramanov had explained that all radioactive isotopes emitted three kinds of radiation： alpha； the slowest and therefore most easily stopped； beta； and gamma。 Gamma rays moved at the speed of light and were therefore the most difficult to deflect。 Lead or DU； depleted uranium…238； both very dense metals； were most often used to contain the emissions。 Isotope 114m was an exceedingly intense gamma ray emitter； and it was yet to be determined whether the DU casings would be adequate in keeping the deadly radiation contained。
〃Quite apart from that；〃 Abramanov continued； 〃114m is more chemically toxic than its parent element； plutonium； and let me tell you that plutonium is a nightmare to deal with。 Contact with fine particles by inhalation； ingestion； or absorption through the skin is lethal to humans。 The argon atmosphere minimizes oxidation and surface instability。 However； I must emphasize that even with the best containment measures； participates of 114m can and will migrate out of confinement zones。〃
Rock stared implacably at the Russian。 〃What's your point？〃
The Russian shook his head sadly。 〃If I am required to explain further； it is useless。〃 He turned back to his telemetry。 〃Let's get on with it。〃
Rock felt his stomach lurch upward into his throat as the image on the monitor canted over and down。 The robot sank into the chimney of shale； alighting on the floor of the lowest section of the ledge。
There was the Russian aircraft that had brought Abramanov into his lap。
〃Beginning fuselage penetration。〃
The robot's sophisticated mechanical arms emerged from its squat torso； its delicate fingers probing the side of the aircraft。 They worked industriously for some time。
Rock waited； his heart pounding painfully against his rib cage。 The turbulence caused by the robot's armor…piercing blades made it impossible to follow the procedure visually。
〃Fuselage breached。 Going in。〃
A riot of images exploded on the monitor as the robot's spots illuminated the interior of the plane in disjointed segments。
Rock could not bear the tension。 〃Do you see them？〃
The images … flaring white light； unpenetrable darkness … were impossible to decipher。 Maybe the aircraft had shifted with the tectonic activity； spilling the 114m into the abyss； maybe they hadn't made it all the way into the water with the plane； maybe …
〃Cargo located。〃
Rock squinted at the screen； could make out the dull metallic boxes the robot's articulated arms were handling。
〃Yes！ e to mama！〃 Rock was too elated at this moment to feel any fear。 He hand…signaled to the crewmen standing by to be ready to deploy the automatic nets that would capture the robot and its extraordinary prize when it emerged on the surface。 But already the image had shattered； re…forming in a kind of slow…motion free…fall as the robot； having backed out of the rent fuselage； was teetering on the shale ledge。 The movement was putting it in danger of dropping down into the abyss that seemed limitless。
〃Fucker； I told you to keep this damn boat steady！〃 Rock； shouted at the captain as he hefted his black magic。
〃It isn't the storm；〃 Abramanov said as his fingers worked frenziedly over the robot's remote controls。 〃There's a tectonic shift in progress。〃
〃An undersea quake！〃
The images on the screen shuddered； then splintered like sparks from a burning log。
〃I'v