Sphere (深海圆疑) 原版小说-第34部分

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〃Ten　yards。〃
For　a　moment；　the　great　creature　turned　sideways　to　the　habitat；　and　they　could　see　its　profile…the　enormous　glowing　body；　thirty　feet　long；　with　the　huge　unblinking　eye；　the　circle　of　arms；　waving　like　evil　snakes；　the　two　long　tentacles；　each　terminating　in　a　flattened；　leaf…shaped　section。
The　squid　continued　to　turn　until　its　arms　and　tentacles　stretched　toward　the　habitat；　and　they　glimpsed　the　mouth；　the　sharp…edged　chomping　beak　in　a　mass　of　glowing　green　muscle。
〃Oh　God。。。〃
The　squid　moved　forward。　They　could　see　each　other　in　the　glow　through　the　portholes。　It's　starting；　Norman　thought。　It's　starting；　and　this　time　we　can't　survive　it。
There　was　a　thump　as　a　tentacle　swung　against　the　habitat。　〃Jerry！〃　Ted　shouted。　His　voice　was　high；　strained　with　tension。
The　squid　paused。　The　body　moved　laterally；　and　they　could　see　the　huge　eye　staring　at　them。
〃Jerry！　Listen　to　me！〃
The　squid　appeared　to　hesitate。
〃He's　listening！〃　Ted　shouted；　and　he　grabbed　a　flashlight　off　a　wall　bracket　and　shined　it　out　the　porthole。　He　blinked　the　light　once。
The　great　body　of　the　squid　glowed　green；　then　went　momentarily　dark；　then　glowed　green　again。
〃He's　listening；〃　Beth　said。
〃Of　course　he's　listening。　He's　intelligent。〃　Ted　blinked　his　light　twice　in　rapid　succession。
The　squid　blinked　back；　twice。　〃How　can　he　do　that？〃　Norman　said。
〃It's　a　kind　of　skin　cell　called　a　chromatophore；〃　Beth　said。　〃The　animal　can　open　and　close　these　cells　at　will；　and　block　the　light。〃
Ted　blinked　three　times。
＇＇227＇＇　The　squid　blinked　three　times。　〃He　can　do　it　fast；〃　Norman　said。
〃Yes；　fast。〃
〃He's　intelligent；〃　Ted　said。　〃I　keep　telling　you。　He's　intelligent　and　he　wants　to　talk。〃
Ted　blinked　long；　short；　short。
The　squid　matched　the　pattern。
〃That's　a　baby；〃　Ted　said。　〃You　just　keep　talking　to　me；　Jerry。〃
He　flashed　a　more　plex　pattern；　and　the　squid　answered；　but　then　moved　off　to　the　left。
〃I've　got　to　keep　him　talking；〃　Ted　said。
As　the　squid　moved；　Ted　moved；　skipping　from　porthole　to　porthole；　shining　his　light。　The　squid　still　blinked　its　glowing　body　in　reply；　but　Norman　sensed　it　had　another　purpose　now。
They　all　followed　Ted；　from　D　into　C　Cyl。　Ted　flashed　his　light。　The　squid　answered；　but　still　moved　onward。　〃What's　he　doing？〃
〃Maybe　he's　leading　us。　。。。〃
〃Why？〃
They　went　to　B　Cyl；　where　the　life…support　equipment　was　located；　but　there　were　no　portholes　in　B。　Ted　moved　on　to　A；　the　airlock。　There　were　no　portholes　here；　either。　Ted　immediately　jumped　down　and　opened　the　hatch　in　the　floor；　revealing　dark　water。
〃Careful；　Ted。〃
〃I'm　telling　you；　he's　intelligent；〃　Ted　said。　The　water　at　his　feet　glowed　a　soft　green。　〃Here　he　es　now。〃　They　could　not　see　the　squid　yet；　only　the　glow。　Ted　blinked　his　light　into　the　water。
The　green　blinked　back。
〃Still　talking；〃　Ted　said。　〃And　as　long　as　he's　talking…〃　With　stunning　swiftness；　the　tentacle　smashed　up　through　the　open　water　and　swung　in　a　great　arc　around　the　airlock。　Norman　had　a　glimpse　of　a　glowing　stalk　as　thick　as　a　man's　body；　and　a　great　glowing　leaf　five　feet　long；　swinging　blindly　past　him；　and　as　he　ducked　he　saw　it　hit　Beth　and　knock　her　sideways。　Tina　was　screaming　in　terror。　Strong　ammonia　fumes　burned　their　eyes。　The　tentacle　swung　back　toward　＇＇228＇＇　Norman。　He　held　up　his　hands　to　protect　himself；　touched　slimy；　cold　flesh　as　the　giant　arm　spun　him；　slammed　him　against　the　airlock's　metal　walls。　The　animal　was　incredibly　strong。
〃Get　out；　everybody　out；　away　from　the　metal！〃　Fletcher　was　shouting。　Ted　was　scrambling　up；　away　from　the　hatch　and　the　twisting　arm；　and　he　had　almost　reached　the　door　when　the　leaf　swung　back　and　wrapped　around　him；　covering　most　of　his　body。　Ted　grunted；　pushed　at　the　leaf　with　his　hands。　His　eyes　were　wide　with　horror。
Norman　ran　forward　but　Harry　grabbed　him。　〃Leave　him！　You　can't　do　anything　now！〃
Ted　was　being　swung　back　and　forth　in　the　air　across　the　airlock；　banging　from　wall　to　wall。　His　head　dropped；　blood　ran　down　his　forehead　onto　the　glowing　tentacle。　Still　the　arm　swung　him　back　and　forth；　the　cylinder　ringing　like　a　gong　with　each　impact。
〃Get　out！〃　Fletcher　was　shouting。　〃Everybody　out！〃　Beth　scrambled　past　them。　Harry　tugged　at　Norman　just　as　the　second　tentacle　burst　above　the　surface　to　hold　Ted　in　a　pincer　grip。
〃Off　the　metal！　Damn　it；　off　the　metal！〃　Fletcher　was　shouting；　and　they　stepped　onto　the　carpet　of　B　Cyl　and　she　threw　the　switch　on　the　Green　Box　and　there　was　a　hum　from　the　generators　and　the　red　heater　banks　dimmed　as　two　million　volts　of　electricity　surged　through　the　habitat。
The　response　was　instantaneous。　The　floor　rocked　under　their　feet　as　the　habitat　was　struck　by　an　enormous　force；　and　Norman　swore　he　heard　a　scream；　though　it　might　have　been　rending　metal；　and　the　tentacles　quickly　drew　down　out　of　the　airlock。　They　had　a　last　glimpse　of　Ted's　body　as　it　was　pulled　into　the　inky　water　and　Fletcher　yanked　down　the　lever　on　the　Green　Box。　But　the　alarms　had　already　begun　to　sound；　and　the　warning　boards　lit　up。
〃Fire！〃　Fletcher　shouted。　〃Fire　in　E　Cyl！〃


Fletcher　gave　them　gas　masks；　Norman's　kept　slipping　down　his　forehead；　obscuring　his　vision。　By　the　time　＇＇229＇＇　they　reached　D　Cylinder；　the　smoke　was　dense。　They　coughed　and　stumbled；　banged　into　the　consoles。
〃Stay　low；〃　Tina　shouted；　dropping　to　her　knees。　She　was　leading　the　way；　Fletcher　had　stayed　behind　in　B。
Up　ahead；　an　angry　red　glow　outlined　the　bulkhead　door　leading　to　E。　Tina　grabbed　an　extinguisher　and　went　through　the　door；　Norman　right　behind　her。　At　first　he　thought　the　entire　cylinder　was　burning。　Fierce　flames　licked　up　the　side　padding；　dense　clouds　of　smoke　boiled　toward　the　ceiling。　The　heat　was　almost　palpable。　Tina　swung　the　extinguisher　cylinder　around；　began　to　spray　white　foam。　In　the　light　of　the　fire　Norman　saw　another　extinguisher；　grabbed　it；　but　the　metal　was　burning　hot　and　he　dropped　it　to　the　floor。
〃Fire　in　D；〃　Fletcher　said　over　the　inter。　〃Fire　in　D。〃　Jesus；　Norman　thought。　Despite　the　mask；　he　coughed　in　the　acrid　smoke。　He　picked　the　extinguisher　off　the　floor　and　began　to　spray；　it　immediately　became　cooler。　Tina　shouted　to　him；　but　he　heard　nothing　except　the　roar　of　the　flames。　He　and　Tina　were　getting　the　fire　out；　but　there　was　still　a　large　burning　patch　near　one　porthole。　He　turned　away；　spraying　the　floor　burning　at　his　feet。
He　was　unprepared　for　the　explosion；　the　concussion　pounding　his　ears　painfully。　He　turned　and　saw　that　a　firehose　had　been　unleashed　in　the　room；　and　then　he　realized　that　one　of　the　small　portholes　had　blown　or　burned　out；　and　the　water　was　rushing　in　with　incredible　force。
He　couldn't　see　Tina；　then　he　saw　she　had　been　knocked　down；　she　got　to　her　feet；　shouting　something　at　Norman；　and　then　she　slipped　and　slid　back　into　the　hissing　stream　of　water。　It　picked　her　up　bodily　and　flung　her　so　hard　against　the　opposite　wall　that　he　knew　at　once　she　must　be　dead；　and　when　he　looked　down　he　saw　her　floating　face…down　in　the　water　rapidly　filling　the　room。　The　back　of　her　head　was　cut　open；　he　saw　the　pulpy　red　flesh　of　her　brain。
Norman　turned　and　fled。　Water　was　already　trickling　over　the　lip　of　the　bulkhead　as　he　slammed　the　heavy　door　shut；　spun　the　wheel　to　lock　it。
He　couldn't　see　anything　in　D；　the　smoke　was　worse　than　before。　He　saw　dim　patches　of　red　flame；　hazy　through　the　＇＇230＇＇　smoke。　He　heard　the　hiss　of　the　extinguishers。　Where　was　his　own　extinguisher？　He　must　have　left　it　in　E。　Like　a　blind　man　he　felt　along　the　walls　for　another　extinguisher；　coughing　in　the　smoke。　His　eyes　and　lungs　burned；　despite　the　mask。
And　then；　with　a　great　groan　of　metal；　the　pounding　started；　the　habitat　rocking　under　jolts　from　the　squid　outside。　He　heard　Fletcher　on　the　inter　but　her　voice　was　scratchy　and　unclear。　The　pounding　continued；　and　the　horrible　wrenching　of　metal。　And　Norman　thought；　We're　going　to　die。　This　time；　we're　going　to　die。
He　couldn't　find　a　fire　extinguisher　but　his　hands　touched　something　metal　on　the　wall　and　Norman　felt　it　in　the　smoky　darkness；　wondering　what　it　was；　some　kind　of　protrusion；　and　then　two　million　volts　surged　through　his　limbs　into　his　body　and　he　screamed　once；　and　fell　backward。

AFTERMATH

He　was　staring　at　a　bank　of　lights　in　some　odd；　angled　perspective。　He　sat　up；　feeling　a　sharp　pain；　and　looked　around　him。　He　was　sitting　on　the　floor　in　D　Cylinder。　A　faint　smoky　haze　hung　in　the　air。　The　padded　walls　were　blackened　and　charred　in　several　places。
There　must　have　been　a　fire　here；　he　thought；　staring　at　the　damage　in　astonishment。　When　had　this　happened？　Where　had　he　been　at　the　time？
He　got　slowly　to　one　knee；　and　then　to　his　feet。　He　turned　to　E　Cylinder；　but　for　some　reason　the　bulkhead　door　to　E　was　shut。　He　tried　to　spin　the　wheel　to　unlock　it；　it　was　jammed　shut。
He　didn't　see　anybody　else。　Where　were　the　others？　Then　he　remembered　something　about　Ted。　Ted　had　died。　The　＇＇231＇＇　squid　swinging　Ted's　body　in　the　airlock。　And　then　Fletcher　had　said　to　get　back；　and　she　had　thrown　the　power　switch。　。。。
It　was　starting　to　e　back　to　him。　The　fire。　There　had　been　a　fire　in　E　Cylinder。　He　had　gone　into　E　with　Tina　to　put　out　the　fire。　He　remembered　going　into　the　room；　seeing　the　flames　lick　up　the　side　of　the　walls。　。。。　After　that；　he　wasn't　sure。
Where　were　the　others？
For　an　awful　moment　he　thought　he　was　the　only　survivor；　but　then　he　heard　a　cough　in　C　Cyl。　He　moved　toward　the　sound。　He　didn't　see　anybody　so　he　went　to　B　Cyl。
Fletcher　wasn't　there。　There　was　a　large　streak　of　blood　on　the　metal　pipes；　and　one　of　her　shoes　on　the　carpet。　That　was　all。
Another　cough；　from　among　the　pipes。
〃Fletcher？〃
〃Just　a　minute　。。。〃
Beth　emerged；　grease…streaked；　from　the　pipes。　〃Good；　you're　up。　I've　got　most　of　the　systems　going；　I　think。　Thank　God　the　Navy　has　instructions　printed　on　the　housings。　Anyway；　the　smoke's　clearing　and　the　air　quality　is　reading　all　right…not　great；　but　all　right…and　all　the　vital　stuff　seems　to　be　intact。　We　have　air　and　water　and　heat　and　power。　I'm　trying　to　find　out　how　much　power　and　air　we　have　left。〃
〃Where's　Fletcher？〃
〃I　can't　find　her　anywhere。〃　Beth　pointed　to　the　shoe　on　the　carpet；　and　the　streak　of　blood。
〃Tina？〃　Norman　asked。　He　was　alarmed　at　the　prospect　of　being　trapped　down　here　without　any　Navy　people　at　all。　〃Tina　was　with　you；〃　Beth　said；　frowning。
〃I　don't　seem　to　remember；〃　Norman　said。
〃You　probably　got　a　jolt　of　current；〃　Beth　said。　〃That　would　give　you　retrograde　amnesia。　You　won't　remember　the　last　few　minutes　before　the　shock。　I　can't　find　Tina；　either；　but　according　to　the　status　sensors　E　Cyl　is　flooded　and　shut　down。　You　were　with　her　in　E。　I　don't　know　why　it　flooded。〃
〃What　about　Harry？〃
〃He　got　a　jolt；　too；　I　think。　You're　lucky　the　amperage　＇＇232＇＇　wasn't　higher　or　you'd　both　be　fried。　Anyway；　he's　lying　on　the　floor　in　C；　either　sleeping　or　unconscious。　You　might　want　to　take　a　look　at　him。　I　didn't　want　to　risk　moving　him；　so　I　just　left　him　there。〃
〃Did　he　wake　up？　Talk　to　you？〃
〃No；　but　he　seems　to　be　breathing　fortably。　Color's　good；　all　that。　Anyway；　I　thought　I　better　get　the　life…support　systems　going。〃　She　wiped　grease　on　her　cheek。　〃I　mean；　it's　just　the　three　of　us　now；　Norman。〃
〃You；　me；　and　Harry？〃
〃That's　right