Uncomfortable Truth For a few minutes, Captain Hanlon watched Jake Swann breathe in calm repose. Who was this guy? He would write him off as a madman except for the weird circumstances that heralded his arrival. The mystery was like a chipped tooth. His mind -- like a tongue -- continually returned to that irritating spot. Hanlon forced the puzzle of Swann out of his thoughts. He might know more when he had a response to his transmission. Instead he thought of his boat -- always a pleasant pastime. He moved through the plastic barrier, and began stripping off his mask and gown. Within the infirmary Maryland was soundless except for a steady vibration that was barely audible --more felt than heard. The SSN-774 Virginia-class boomers had pump-jets which created a stream of water for propulsion. These significantly reduced cavitation, that noisy formation of millions of bubbles caused by conventional propellers. It resulted in quieter and faster operation. Hanlon felt five degrees cooler as he stuffed his disposable protective gear in the yellow bag.
