Sphere (深海圆疑) 原版小说-第30部分

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＇＇199＇＇　〃I　don't　know。　They　might　be。〃
〃Let's　get　going；〃　Norman　said。


He　tasted　the　dry　metallic　pressed　air　inside　his　helmet　and　felt　the　numbing　cold　of　the　water　as　he　slid　through　the　floor　hatch　and　fell　in　darkness　to　the　soft　muddy　bottom。　Moments　later；　Beth　landed　just　behind　him。
〃Okay？〃　she　said。
〃Fine。〃
〃I　don't　see　any　jellyfish；〃　she　said。
〃No。　Neither　do　I。〃
They　moved　out　from　beneath　the　habitat；　turned；　and　looked　back。　The　habitat　lights　shone　harshly　into　their　eyes；　obscuring　the　outlines　of　the　cylinders　rising　above。　They　could　clearly　hear　the　rhythmic　thumping；　but　they　still　could　not　locate　the　source　of　the　sound。　They　walked　beneath　the　stanchions　to　the　far　side　of　the　habitat；　squinting　into　the　lights。
〃There；〃　Beth　said。
Ten　feet　above　them；　a　blue…suited　figure　was　wedged　in　a　light　stand　bracket。　The　body　moved　loosely　in　the　current；　the　bright…yellow　helmet　banging　intermittently　against　the　wall　of　the　habitat。
〃Can　you　see　who　it　is？〃　Beth　said。
〃No。〃　The　lights　were　shining　directly　in　his　face。　Norman　climbed　up　one　of　the　heavy　supporting　stanchions　that　anchored　the　habitat　to　the　bottom。　The　metal　surface　was　covered　with　a　slippery　brown　algae。　His　boots　kept　sliding　off　the　pipes　until　finally　he　saw　that　there　were　built…in　indented　footholds。　Then　he　climbed　easily。
Now　the　feet　of　the　body　were　swinging　just　above　his　head。　Norman　climbed　another　step；　and　one　of　the　boots　caught　in　the　loop　of　the　air　hose　that　ran　from　his　tank　pack　to　his　helmet。　He　reached　behind　his　helmet；　trying　to　free　himself　from　the　body。　The　body　shivered；　and　for　an　awful　moment　he　thought　it　was　still　alive。　Then　the　boot　came　free　in　his　hand；　and　a　naked　foot…gray　flesh；　purple　toenails…kicked　his　faceplate。　A　moment　of　nausea　quickly　passed：　＇＇200＇＇　Norman　had　seen　too　many　airplane　crashes　to　be　bothered　by　this。　He　dropped　the　boot；　watched　it　drift　down　to　Beth。　He　tugged　on　the　leg　of　the　corpse。　He　felt　a　mushy　softness　to　the　leg；　and　the　body　came　free；　it　gently　drifted　down。　He　grabbed　the　shoulder；　again　feeling　softness。　He　turned　the　body　so　he　could　see　the　face。
〃It's　Levy。〃
Her　helmet　was　filled　with　water；　behind　the　faceplate　he　saw　staring　eyes；　open　mouth；　an　expression　of　horror。
〃I　got　her；〃　Beth　said；　pulling　the　body　down。　Then　she　said；　〃Jesus。〃
Norman　climbed　back　down　the　stanchion。　Beth　was　moving　the　body　away　from　the　habitat；　into　the　lighted　area　beyond。
〃She's　all　soft。　It's　like　every　bone　in　her　body　was　broken。〃
〃I　know。〃　He　moved　out　into　the　light；　joined　her。　He　felt　a　strange　detachment；　a　coldness　and　a　remove。　He　had　known　this　woman；　she　had　been　alive　just　a　short　time　before；　now　she　was　dead。　But　it　was　as　if　he　were　viewing　it　all　from　a　great　distance。
He　turned　Levy's　body　over。　On　the　left　side　was　a　long　tear　in　the　fabric　of　the　suit。　He　had　a　glimpse　of　red　mangled　flesh。　Norman　bent　to　inspect　it。　〃An　accident？〃
〃I　don't　think　so；〃　Beth　said。
〃Here。　Hold　her。〃　Norman　lifted　up　the　edges　of　suit　fabric。　Several　separate　tears　met　at　a　central　point。　〃It's　actually　torn　in　a　star　pattern；〃　he　said。　〃You　see？〃
She　stepped　back。　〃I　see；　yes。〃　
〃What　would　cause　that；　Beth？〃
〃I　don't…I'm　not　sure。〃
Beth　stepped　farther　back。　Norman　was　looking　into　the　tear；　at　the　body　beneath　the　suit。　〃The　flesh　is　macerated。〃
〃Macerated？〃
〃Chewed。〃
〃Jesus。〃
Yes；　definitely　chewed；　he　thought；　probing　inside　the　tear。　The　wound　was　peculiar：　there　were　fine；　jagged　serrations　in　＇＇201＇＇　the　flesh。　Thin　pale…red　trickles　of　blood　drifted　up　past　his　faceplate。
〃Let's　go　back；〃　Beth　said。
〃Just　hang　on。〃　Norman　squeezed　the　body　at　legs；　hips；　shoulders。　Everywhere　it　was　soft；　like　a　sponge。　The　body　had　been　somehow　almost　entirely　crushed。　He　could　feel　the　leg　bones；　broken　in　many　places。　What　could　have　done　that？　He　went　back　to　the　wound。
〃I　don't　like　it　out　here；〃　Beth　said；　tense。
〃Just　a　second。〃
At　first　inspection；　he　had　thought　Levy's　wound　represented　some　sort　of　bite；　but　now　he　wasn't　sure。　〃Her　skin；〃　Norman　said。　〃It's　like　a　rough　file　has　gone　over　it…〃
He　jerked　his　head　back；　startled；　as　something　small　and　white　drifted　past　his　faceplate。　His　heart　pounded　at　the　thought　that　it　was　a　jellyfish…but　then　he　saw　it　was　perfectly　round　and　almost　opaque。　It　was　about　the　size　of　a　golf　ball。　It　drifted　past　him。
He　looked　around。　There　were　thin　streaks　of　mucus　in　the　water。　And　many　white　spheres。
〃What're　these；　Beth？〃
〃Eggs。〃　Over　the　inter；　he　heard　her　take　deep　slow　breaths。　〃Let's　get　out　of　here；　Norman。　Please。〃
〃Just　another　second。〃
〃No；　Norman。　Now。〃
On　the　radio；　they　heard　an　alarm。　Distant　and　tinny；　it　seemed　to　be　transmitted　from　inside　the　habitat。　They　heard　voices；　and　then　Barnes's　voice；　very　loud。　〃What　the　hell　are　you　doing　out　there？〃
〃We　found　Levy；　Hal；〃　Norman　said。
〃Well；　get　back　on　the　double；　damn　it；〃　Barnes　said。　〃The　sensors　have　activated。　You're　not　alone　out　there…and　whatever's　with　you　is　very　damn　big。〃


Norman　felt　dull　and　slow。　〃What　about　levy's　body？〃
〃Drop　the　body。　Get　back　here！〃
But　the　body；　he　thought　sluggishly。　They　had　to　do　＇＇202＇＇　something　with　the　body。　He　couldn't　just　leave　the　body。
〃What's　the　matter　with　you；　Norman？〃　Barnes　said。
Norman　mumbled　something；　and　he　vaguely　felt　Beth　grab　him　strongly　by　the　arm；　lead　him　back　toward　the　habitat。　The　water　was　now　clouded　with　white　eggs。　The　alarms　were　ringing　in　his　ears。　The　sound　was　very　loud。　And　then　he　realized：　a　new　alarm。　This　alarm　was　ringing　inside　his　suit。
He　began　to　shiver。　His　teeth　chattered　uncontrollably。　He　tried　to　speak　but　bit　his　tongue；　tasted　blood。　He　felt　numb　and　stupid。　Everything　was　happening　in　slow　motion。
As　they　approached　the　habitat；　he　could　see　that　the　eggs　were　sticking　to　the　cylinders；　clinging　densely；　making　a　nubbly　white　surface。
〃Hurry！〃　Barnes　shouted。　〃Hurry！　It's　ing　this　way！〃　They　were　under　the　airlock；　and　he　began　to　feel　surging　currents　of　water。　There　was　something　very　big　out　there。　Beth　was　pushing　him　upward　and　then　his　helmet　burst　above　the　waterline　and　Fletcher　gripped　him　with　strong　arms；　and　a　moment　after　that　Beth　was　pulled　up　and　the　hatch　slammed　shut。　Somebody　took　off　his　helmet　and　he　heard　the　alarm；　shrieking　loud　in　his　ears。　By　now　his　whole　body　was　shaking　in　spasms；　thumping　on　the　deck。　They　stripped　off　his　suit　and　wrapped　him　in　a　silver　blanket　and　held　him　until　his　shivering　lessened；　then　finally　stopped。　And　abruptly；　despite　the　alarm；　he　went　to　sleep。

MILITARY　CONSIDERATIONS

〃It's　not　your　goddamned　job；　that's　why；〃　Barnes　said。　〃You　had　no　authorization　to　do　what　you　did。　None　whatsoever。〃
＇＇203＇＇　〃Levy　might　have　still　been　alive；〃　Beth　said；　calm　in　the　face　of　Barnes's　fury。
〃But　she　wasn't　alive；　and　by　going　outside　you　risked　the　lives　of　two　civilian　expedition　members　unnecessarily。〃
Norman　said；　〃It　was　my　idea；　Hal。〃　Norman　was　still　wrapped　in　blankets；　but　they　had　given　him　hot　drinks　and　made　him　rest；　and　now　he　felt　better。
〃And　you；〃　Barnes　said。　〃You're　lucky　to　be　alive。〃
〃I　guess　I　am；〃　Norman　said。　〃But　I　don't　know　what　happened。〃
〃This　is　what　happened；〃　Barnes　said；　waving　a　small　fan　in　front　of　him。　〃Your　suit　circulator　shorted　out　and　you　experienced　rapid　central　cooling　from　the　helium。　Another　couple　of　minutes　and　you　would　have　been　dead。〃
〃It　was　so　fast；〃　Norman　said。　〃I　didn't　realize…〃
〃…You　goddamn　people；〃　Barnes　said。　〃I　want　to　make　something　clear。　This　is　not　a　scientific　conference。　This　is　not　the　Underwater　Holiday　Inn；　where　you　can　do　whatever　you　please。　This　is　a　military　operation　and　you　will　damn　well　follow　military　orders。　Is　that　clear？〃
〃This　is　a　military　operation？〃　Ted　said。
〃It　is　now；〃　Barnes　said。
〃Wait　a　minute。　Was　it　always？〃
〃It　is　now。〃
〃You　haven't　answered　the　question；〃　Ted　said。　〃Because　if　it　is　a　military　operation；　I　think　we　need　to　know　that。　I　personally　do　not　wish　to　be　associated　with…〃
〃…Then　leave；〃　Beth　said。
〃…a　military　operation　that　is…〃
〃…Look；　Ted；〃　Barnes　said。　〃You　know　what　this　is　costing　the　Navy？〃
〃No；　but　I　don't　see…〃
〃…I'll　tell　you。　A　deep…placement；　saturated　gas　environment　with　full　support　runs　about　a　hundred　thousand　dollars　an　hour。　By　the　time　we　all　get　out　of　here；　the　total　project　cost　will　be　eighty　to　a　hundred　million　dollars。　You　don't　get　that　kind　of　appropriations　from　the　military　without　what　they　call　'a　serious　expectation　of　military　benefit。'　It's　that　simple。　No　expectation；　no　money。　You　following　me？〃
＇＇204＇＇　〃You　mean　like　a　weapon？〃　Beth　said。
〃Possibly；　yes；〃　Barnes　said。
〃Well；〃　Ted　said；　〃I　personally　would　never　have　joined…〃
〃…Is　that　right？　You'd　fly　all　the　way　to　Tonga　and　I'd　say；　'Ted；　there's　a　spacecraft　down　there　that　might　contain　life　from　another　galaxy；　but　it's　a　military　operation；'　and　you'd　say；　'Gosh；　sorry　to　hear　that；　count　me　out'？　Is　that　what　you'd　have　done；　Ted？〃
〃Well　。。。〃　Ted　said。
〃Then　you　better　shut　up；〃　Barnes　said。　〃Because　I've　had　it　with　your　posturing。〃
〃Hear；　hear；〃　Beth　said。
〃I　personally　feel　you're　overwrought；〃　Ted　said。
〃I　personally　feel　you're　an　egomaniacal　asshole；〃　Barnes　said。
〃Just　a　minute；　everybody；〃　Harry　said。　〃Does　anybody　know　why　Levy　went　outside　in　the　first　place？〃
Tina　said；　〃She　was　on　a　TRL。〃
〃A　what？〃
〃A　Timeclock　Required　Lockout；〃　Barnes　said。　〃It's　the　duty　schedule。　Levy　was　Edmunds's　backup。　After　Edmunds　died；　it　became　Levy's　job　to　go　to　the　submarine　every　twelve　hours。〃
〃Go　to　the　sub？　Why？〃　Harry　said。
Barnes　pointed　out　the　porthole。　〃You　see　DH…7　over　there？　Well；　next　to　the　single　cylinder　is　an　inverted　dome　hangar；　and　beneath　the　dome　is　a　minisub　that　the　divers　left　behind。
〃In　a　situation　like　this；〃　Barnes　said；　〃Navy　regs　require　that　all　tapes　and　records　be　transferred　to　the　sub　every　twelve　hours。　The　sub　is　on　TBDR　Mode…Timed　Ballast　Drop　and　Release…set　on　a　timer　every　twelve　hours。　That　way；　if　somebody　doesn't　get　there　every　twelve　hours；　transfer　the　latest　tapes；　and　press　the　yellow　'Delay'　button；　the　sub　will　automatically　drop　ballast；　blow　tanks；　and　go　to　the　surface　unattended。〃
〃Why　is　that？〃
〃If　there's　a　disaster　down　here…say　something　happened　＇＇　205＇＇　to　all　of　us…then　the　sub　would　automatically　surface　after　twelve　hours；　with　all　the　tapes　accumulated　thus　far。　The　Navy'd　recover　the　sub　at　the　surface；　and　they'd　have　at　least　a　partial　record　of　what　happened　to　us　down　here。〃
〃I　see。　The　sub's　our　flight　recorder。〃
〃You　could　say　that；　yes。　But　it's　also　our　way　out；　our　only　emergency　exit。〃
〃So　Levy　was　going　to　the　sub？〃
〃Yes。　And　she　must　have　made　it；　because　the　sub　is　still　here。〃
〃She　transferred　the　tapes；　pressed　the　'Delay'　button；　and　then　she　died　on　the　way　back。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃How　did　she　die？〃　Harry　said；　looking　carefully　at　Barnes。
〃We're　not　sure；〃　Barnes　said。
〃Her　entire　body　was　crushed；〃　Norman　said。　〃It　was　like　a　sponge。〃
Harry　said　to　Barnes；　〃An　hour　ago　you　ordered　the　EPSA　sensors　to　be　reset　and　adjusted。　Why　was　that？〃
〃We　had　gotten　a　strange　reading　in　the　previous　hour。〃
〃What　sort　of　a　reading？〃
〃Something　out　there。　Something　very　large。〃
〃But　it