Sphere (深海圆疑) 原版小说-第31部分

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〃We　had　gotten　a　strange　reading　in　the　previous　hour。〃
〃What　sort　of　a　reading？〃
〃Something　out　there。　Something　very　large。〃
〃But　it　didn't　trigger　the　alarms；〃　Harry　said。
〃No。　This　thing　was　beyond　alarm…set　parameters。〃
〃You　mean　it　was　too　big　to　set　off　the　alarms？〃
〃Yes。　After　the　first　false　alarm；　the　settings　were　all　cranked　down。　The　alarms　were　set　to　ignore　anything　that　large。　That's　why　Tina　had　to　readjust　the　settings。〃
〃And　what　set　off　the　alarms　just　now？〃　Harry　said。　〃When　Beth　and　Norman　were　out　there？〃
Barnes　said；　〃Tina？〃
〃I　don't　know　what　it　was。　Some　kind　of　animal；　I　guess。　Silent；　and　very　big。〃
〃How　big？〃
She　shook　her　head。　〃From　the　electronic　footprint；　Dr。　Adams；　I　would　say　the　thing　was　almost　as　big　as　this　habitat。〃

BATTLE　STATIONS

Beth　slipped　one　round　white　egg　onto　the　stage　of　the　scanning　microscope。　〃Well；〃　she　said；　peering　through　the　eyepiece；　〃it's　definitely　marine　invertebrate。　The　interesting　feature　is　this　slimy　coating。〃　She　poked　at　it　with　forceps。
〃What　is　it？〃　Norman　said。
〃Some　kind　of　proteinaceous　material。　Sticky。〃
〃No。　I　mean；　what　is　the　egg？〃
〃Don't　know　yet。〃　Beth　continued　her　examination　when　the　alarm　sounded　and　the　red　lights　began　to　flash　again。　Norman　felt　a　sudden　dread。
〃Probably　another　false　alarm；〃　Beth　said。
〃Attention；　all　hands；〃　Barnes　said　on　the　inter。　〃All　hands；　battle　stations。〃
〃Oh　shit；〃　Beth　said。
Beth　slid　gracefully　down　the　ladder　as　if　it　were　a　fire　pole；　Norman　followed　clumsily　back　down　behind　her。　At　the　munications　section　on　D　Cyl；　he　found　a　familiar　scene：　everyone　clustered　around　the　puter；　and　the　back　panels　again　removed。　The　lights　still　flashed；　the　alarm　still　shrieked。
〃What　is　it？〃　Norman　shouted。
〃Equipment　breakdown！〃
〃What　equipment　breakdown？〃
〃We　can't　turn　the　damn　alarm　off！〃　Barnes　shouted。　〃It　turned　it　on；　but　we　can't　turn　it　off！　Teeny…〃　
〃…W　orking　on　it；　sir！〃
The　big　engineer　was　crouched　behind　the　puter；　Norman　saw　the　broad　curve　of　her　back。
〃Get　that　damn　thing　off！〃
〃Getting　it　off；　sir！〃
〃Get　it　off；　I　can't　hear！〃
Hear　what？　Norman　wondered；　and　then　Harry　stumbled　into　the　room；　colliding　with　Norman。　〃Jesus。。。〃
〃This　is　an　emergency！〃　Barnes　was　shouting。　〃This　is　an　＇＇207＇＇　emergency！　Seaman　Chan！　Sonar！〃　Tina　was　next　to　him；　calm　as　always；　adjusting　dials　on　side　monitors。　She　slipped　on　headphones。
Norman　looked　at　the　sphere　on　the　video　monitor。　The　sphere　was　closed。
Beth　went　to　one　of　the　portholes　and　looked　closely　at　the　white　material　that　blocked　it。　Barnes　spun　like　a　dervish　beneath　the　flashing　red　lights；　shouting；　swearing　in　all　directions。
And　then　suddenly　the　alarm　stopped；　and　the　red　lights　stopped　flashing。　Everyone　was　silent。　Fletcher　straightened　and　sighed。
Harry　said；　〃I　thought　you　got　that　fixed…〃　
〃…Shhh。〃
They　heard　the　soft　repetitive　pong！　of　the　sonar　impulses。　Tina　cupped　her　hands　over　the　headphones；　frowning；　concentrating。
Nobody　moved　or　spoke。　They　stood　tensely；　listening　to　the　sonar　as　it　echoed　back。
Barnes　said　quietly　to　the　group；　〃A　few　minutes　ago；　we　got　a　signal。　From　outside。　Something　very　large。〃
Finally　Tina　said；　〃I'm　not　getting　it　now；　sir。〃　〃Go　passive。〃
〃Aye　aye；　sir。　Going　passive。〃
The　pinging　sonar　stopped。　In　its　place　they　heard　a　slight　hiss。　Tina　adjusted　the　speaker　volume。
〃Hydrophones？〃　Harry　said　quietly。
Barnes　nodded。　〃Polar　glass　transducers。　Best　in　the　world。〃
They　all　strained　to　listen；　but　heard　nothing　except　the　undifferentiated　hiss。　To　Norman　it　sounded　like　tape　noise；　with　an　occasional　gurgle　of　the　water。　If　he　wasn't　so　tense；　he　would　have　found　the　sound　irritating。
Barnes　said；　〃Bastard's　clever。　He's　managed　to　blind　us；　cover　all　our　ports　with　goo。〃
〃Not　goo；〃　Beth　said。　〃Eggs。〃
〃Well；　they're　covering　every　damn　port　in　the　habitat。〃　The　hissing　continued；　unchanging。　Tina　twisted　the　＇＇208＇＇　hydrophone　dials。　There　was　a　soft　continuous　crackling；　like　cellophane　being　crumpled。
〃What's　that？〃　Ted　said。　
Beth　said；　〃Fish。　Eating。〃
Barnes　nodded。　Tina　twisted　the　dials。　〃Tuning　it　out。〃　They　again　heard　the　undifferentiated　hiss。　The　tension　in　the　room　lessened。　Norman　felt　tired　and　sat　down。　Harry　sat　next　to　him。　Norman　noticed　that　Harry　looked　more　thoughtful　than　concerned。　Across　the　room；　Ted　stood　near　the　hatch　door　and　bit　his　lip。　He　looked　like　a　frightened　kid。
There　was　a　soft　electronic　beep。　Lines　on　the　gas…plasma　screens　jumped。
Tina　said；　〃I　have　a　positive　on　peripheral　thermals。〃
Barnes　nodded：　〃Direction？〃
〃East。　ing。〃
They　heard　a　metallic　clank！　Then　another　clank！
〃What's　that？〃
〃The　grid。　He's　hitting　the　grid。〃
〃Hitting　it？　Sounds　like　he's　dismantling　it。〃
Norman　remembered　the　grid。　It　was　made　of　three…inch　pipe。
〃A　big　fish？　A　shark？〃　Beth　said。
Barnes　shook　his　head。　〃He's　not　moving　like　a　shark。　And　he's　too　big。〃
Tina　said；　〃Positive　thermals　on　in…line　perimeter。　He's　still　ing。〃
Barnes　said；　〃Go　active。〃
The　pong！　of　the　sonar　echoed　in　the　room。
Tina　said；　〃Target　acquired。　One　hundred　yards。〃
〃Image　him。〃
〃FAS　on；　sir。〃
There　was　a　rapid　succession　of　sonar　sounds：　pong！　pong！　pong！　pong！　Then　a　pause；　and　it　came　again：　pong！　pong！　pong！　pong！
Norman　looked　puzzled。　Fletcher　leaned　over　and　whispered；　〃False…aperture　sonar　makes　a　detailed　picture　from　several　senders　outside；　gives　you　a　good　look　at　him。〃　He　smelled　liquor　on　her　breath。　He　thought：　Where'd　she　get　liquor？
＇＇209＇＇　Pong！　pong！　pong！　pong！　
〃Building　image。　Ninety　yards。〃　
Pong！　pong！　pong！　pong！　
〃Image　up。〃
They　turned　to　the　screens。　Norman　saw　an　amorphous；　streaky　blob。　It　didn't　mean　much　to　him。
〃Jesus；〃　Barnes　said。　〃Look　at　the　size　of　him！〃
Pong！　pong！　pong！　pong！　
〃Eighty　yards。〃
Pong！　pong！　pong！　pong！　
Another　image　appeared。　Now　the　blob　was　a　different　shape；　the　streaks　in　another　direction。　The　image　was　sharper　at　the　edges；　but　it　still　meant　nothing　to　Norman。　A　big　blob　with　streaks　。。。
〃Jesus！　He's　got　to　be　thirty；　forty　feet　across！〃　Barnes　said。　〃No　fish　in　the　world　is　that　big；〃　Beth　said。
〃Whale？〃
〃It's　not　a　whale。〃
Norman　saw　that　Harry　was　sweating。　Harry　took　off　his　glasses　and　wiped　them　on　his　jumpsuit。　Then　he　put　them　back　on；　and　pushed　them　up　on　the　bridge　of　his　nose。　They　slipped　back　down。　He　glanced　at　Norman　and　shrugged。
Tina：　〃Fifty　yards　and　closing。〃
Pong！　pong！　pong！　pong！　
〃Thirty　yards。〃
Pong！　pong！　pong！　pong！　
〃Thirty　yards。〃
Pong！　pong！　pong！　pong！　
〃Holding　at　thirty　yards；　sir。〃
Pong！　pong！　pong！　pong！　
〃Still　holding。〃
〃Active　off。〃
Once　again；　they　heard　the　hiss　of　the　hydrophones。　Then　a　distinct　clicking　sound。　Norman's　eyes　burned。　Sweat　had　rolled　into　his　eyes。　He　wiped　his　forehead　with　his　jumpsuit　sleeve。　The　others　were　sweating；　too。　The　tension　was　unbearable。　He　glanced　at　the　video　monitor　again。　The　sphere　was　still　closed。
He　heard　the　hiss　of　the　hydrophones。　A　soft　scraping　＇＇210＇＇　sound；　like　a　heavy　sack　being　dragged　across　a　wooden　floor。　Then　the　hiss　again。
Tina　whispered；　〃Want　to　image　him　again？〃
〃No；〃　Barnes　said。
They　listened。　More　scraping。　A　moment　of　silence；　followed　by　the　gurgle　of　water；　very　loud；　very　close。
〃Jesus；〃　Barnes　whispered。　〃He's　right　outside。〃
A　dull　thump　against　the　side　of　the　habitat。
The　screen　flashed　on。
I　AM　HERE。


The　first　impact　came　suddenly；　knocking　them　off　their　feet。　They　tumbled；　rolling　on　the　floor。　All　around　them；　the　habitat　creaked　and　groaned；　the　sounds　frighteningly　loud。　Norman　scrambled　to　his　feet…he　saw　Fletcher　bleeding　from　her　forehead…and　the　second　impact　hit。　Norman　was　thrown　sideways　against　the　bulkhead。　There　was　a　metallic　clang　as　his　head　struck　metal；　a　sharp　pain；　and　then　Barnes　landed　on　top　of　him；　grunting　and　cursing。　Barnes　pushed　his　hand　in　Norman's　face　as　he　struggled　to　his　feet；　Norman　slid　back　to　the　floor　and　a　video　monitor　crashed　alongside　him；　spitting　sparks。
By　now　the　habitat　was　swaying　like　a　building　in　an　earthquake。　They　clutched　consoles；　panels；　doorways　to　keep　their　balance。　But　it　was　the　noise　that　Norman　found　most　frightening…the　incredibly　loud　metallic　groans　and　cracks　as　the　cylinders　were　shaken　on　their　moorings。
The　creature　was　shaking　the　entire　habitat。
Barnes　was　on　the　far　side　of　the　room；　trying　to　make　his　way　to　the　bulkhead　door。　He　had　a　bleeding　gash　along　one　arm　and　he　was　shouting　orders；　but　Norman　couldn't　hear　anything　except　the　terrifying　sound　of　rending　metal。　He　saw　Fletcher　squeeze　through　the　bulkhead；　and　then　Tina；　and　then　Barnes　made　it　through；　leaving　behind　a　bloody　handprint　on　the　metal。
Norman　couldn't　see　Harry；　but　Beth　lurched　toward　him；　holding　her　hand　out；　saying　〃Norman！　Norman！　We　have　to…〃　and　then　she　slammed　into　him　and　he　was　knocked　＇＇211＇＇　over　and　he　fell　onto　the　carpet；　underneath　the　couch；　and　slid　up　against　the　cold　outer　wall　of　the　cylinder；　and　he　realized　with　horror　that　the　carpet　was　wet。
The　habitat　was　leaking。
He　had　to　do　something；　he　struggled　back　to　his　feet；　and　stood　right　in　a　fine　sizzling　spray　from　one　of　the　wall　seams。　He　glanced　around；　saw　other　leaks　spurting　from　the　ceiling；　the　walls。
This　place　is　going　to　be　torn　apart。
Beth　grabbed　him；　pulled　her　head　close。　〃We're　leaking！〃　she　shouted。　〃God；　we're　leaking！〃
〃I　know；〃　Norman　said；　and　Barnes　shouted　over　the　inter；　〃Positive　pressure！　Get　positive　pressure！〃　Norman　saw　Ted　on　the　floor　just　before　he　tripped　over　him　and　fell　heavily　against　the　puter　consoles；　his　face　near　the　screen；　the　glowing　letters　large　before　him：
DO　NOT　BE　AFRAID。
〃Jerry！〃　Ted　was　shouting。　〃Stop　this；　Jerry！　Jerry！〃
Suddenly　Harry's　face　was　next　to　Ted；　glasses　askew。　〃Save　your　breath；　he's　going　to　kill　us　all！〃
〃He　doesn't　understand；〃　Ted　shouted；　as　he　fell　backward　onto　the　couch；　flailing　arms。
The　powerful　wrenching　of　metal　on　metal　continued　without　pause；　throwing　Norman　from　one　side　to　the　other。　He　kept　reaching　for　handholds；　but　his　hands　were　wet；　and　he　couldn't　seem　to　grasp　anything。
〃Now　hear　this；〃　Barnes　said　over　the　inter。　〃Chan　and　I　are　going　outside！　Fletcher　assumes　mand！〃
〃Don't　go　out！〃　Harry　shouted。　〃Don't　go　out　there！〃
〃Opening　hatch　now；〃　Barnes　said　laconically。　〃Tina；　you　follow　me。〃
〃You'll　be　killed！〃　Harry　shouted；　and　then　he　was　thrown　against　Beth。　Norman　was　on　the　floor　again；　he　banged　his　head　on　one　of　the　couch　legs。
〃We're　outside；〃　Barnes　said。
And　abruptly　the　banging　stopped。　The　habitat　was　motionless。　They　did　not　move。　With　the　water　streaming　in　through　a　dozen　fine；　misty　leaks；　they　looked　up　at　the　inter　speaker；　and　listened。

*　*　*
＇＇212＇＇　〃Clear　of　the　hatch；〃　Barnes　said。　〃Our　status　is　good。　Armament；　J…9　exploding　head　spears　loaded　with　Taglin…50　charges。　We'll　show　this　bastard　a　trick　or　two。〃
Silence。
〃Water　。。。　Visibility　is　poor。　Visibility　under　five　feet。　Seems　to　be　。。。　stirred…up　bottom　sediment　and　。。。　very　black；　dark。　Feeling　our　way　along　buildings。〃
Silence。
〃North　side。　Going　east　now。　Tina？〃
Silence。
〃Tina？〃
〃Behind　you；　sir。〃
〃All　right。　Put　your　hand　on　my　tank　so　you…Good。　Okay。〃
Silence。
Inside　the　cylinder；　Ted　sighed。　〃I　don't　think　they　should　kill　it；〃