Sphere (深海圆疑) 原版小说-第36部分

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There　was　no　answer　from　Beth。　She　probably　couldn't　hear　him；　surrounded　by　all　this　metal。　He　looked　around　the　sub；　thinking；　I'm　dripping　wet。　But　what　was　he　supposed　to　do；　wipe　his　shoes　before　entering？　He　smiled　at　the　thought。　He　found　the　tapes　secured　in　an　aft　partment。　There　was　plenty　of　room　for　more；　and　plenty　of　room　for　three　people。　But　Beth　was　right　about　going　to　the　surface：　the　interior　of　the　sub　was　crammed　with　instruments　and　sharp　edges。　If　you　got　banged　around　in　here　it　wouldn't　be　pleasant。
Where　was　the　delay　button？　He　looked　at　the　darkened　instrument　panel；　and　saw　a　single　flashing　red　light　above　a　button　marked　〃TIMER　HOLD。〃　He　pressed　the　button。
The　red　light　stopped　flashing；　and　now　remained　steadily　on。　A　small　amber　video　screen　glowed：

Timer　Reset　…　Counting　12：00：00

As　he　watched；　the　numbers　began　to　run　backward。　He　must　have　done　it；　he　thought。　The　video　screen　switched　off。　Still　looking　at　all　the　instruments；　a　thought　occurred　to　him：　in　an　emergency；　could　he　operate　this　sub？　He　slipped　into　the　pilot's　chair；　faced　the　bewildering　dials　and　switches　of　the　instrument　array。　There　didn't　seem　to　be　any　steering　＇＇240＇＇　apparatus；　no　wheel　or　joystick。　How　did　you　work　the　damned　thing？
The　video　screen　switched　on：

DEEPSTAR　III　…　MAND　MODULE

Do　you　require　help？
Yes No　 Cancel

Yes；　he　thought。　I　require　help。　He　looked　around　for　a　〃YES〃　button　near　the　screen；　but　there　wasn't　any　that　he　could　see。　Finally　he　thought　to　touch　the　screen；　pressing　〃YES。〃

DEEPSTAR　III　…　CHECKLIST　OPTIONS

Descend Ascend
Secure Shutdown
Monitor Cancel

He　pressed　〃ASCEND。〃　The　screen　changed　to　a　small　drawing　of　the　instrument　panel。　One　particular　section　of　the　drawing　blinked　on　and　off。　Beneath　the　picture　were　the　words：

DEEPSTAR　III　…　ASCEND　CHECKLIST

1。　Set　Ballast　Blowers　To：　On　
Proceed　To　Next Cancel

So　that　was　how　it　worked；　Norman　thought。　A　step…by…step　checklist　stored　in　the　sub's　puter。　All　you　had　to　do　was　follow　directions。　He　could　do　that。
A　small　surge　of　current　moved　the　sub；　swaying　it　at　its　tether。
He　pressed　the　〃CANCEL〃　and　the　screen　went　blank。　It　flashed：

Timer　Reset　…　Counting　11：53：04

＇＇241＇＇　The　counter　was　still　running　backward。　He　thought；　Have　I　really　been　here　seven　minutes？　Another　surge　of　current；　and　the　sub　swayed　again。　It　was　time　to　go。
He　moved　to　the　hatch；　climbed　out　into　the　dome；　and　closed　the　hatch。　He　lowered　himself　down　the　side　of　the　sub；　touched　the　bottom。　Out　from　beneath　the　shielding　metal；　his　radio　immediately　crackled。
〃…you　there？　Norman；　are　you　there？　Answer；　please！〃
It　was　Harry；　on　the　radio。
〃I'm　here；〃　Norman　said。
〃Norman；　for　God's　sake…〃
In　that　moment；　Norman　saw　the　greenish　glow；　and　he　knew　why　the　sub　had　surged　and　rocked　at　its　moorings。　The　squid　was　just　ten　yards　away；　its　glowing　tentacles　writhing　out　toward　him；　churning　up　the　sediment　along　the　ocean　floor。
〃…Norman；　will　you…〃
There　was　no　time　to　think。　Norman　took　three　steps；　jumped；　and　pulled　himself　through　the　open　hatch　into　DH…7。


He　slammed　the　hatch　door　down　behind　him　but　the　flat；　spade…like　tentacle　was　already　reaching　in。　He　pinned　the　tentacle　in　the　partially　closed　hatch；　but　the　tentacle　didn't　withdraw。　It　was　incredibly　strong　and　muscular；　writhing　as　he　watched；　the　suckers　like　small　puckered　mouths　opening　and　closing。　Norman　stomped　down　on　the　hatch；　trying　to　force　the　tentacle　to　withdraw。　With　a　muscular　flip；　the　hatch　flew　open；　knocking　him　backward；　and　the　tentacle　reached　up　into　the　habitat。　He　smelled　the　strong　odor　of　ammonium。
Norman　fled；　climbing　higher　into　the　cylinder。　The　second　tentacle　appeared；　splashing　up　through　the　hatch。　The　two　tentacles　swung　in　circles　beneath　him；　searching。　He　came　to　a　porthole　and　looked　out；　saw　the　great　body　of　the　animal；　the　huge　round　staring　eye。　He　clambered　higher；　getting　away　from　the　tentacles。　Most　of　the　cylinder　seemed　to　be　given　over　to　storage；　it　was　crammed　with　equipment；　＇＇242＇＇　boxes；　tanks。　Many　of　the　boxes　were　bright　red　with　stencils：　〃CAUTION　NO　SMOKING　NO　ELECTRONICS　TEVAC　EXPLOSIVES。〃　There　were　a　hell　of　a　lot　of　explosives　in　here；　he　thought；　stumbling　upward。
The　tentacles　rose　higher　behind　him。　Somewhere；　in　a　detached；　logical　part　of　his　brain；　he　thought：　The　cylinder　is　only　forty　feet　high；　and　the　tentacles　are　at　least　forty　feet　long。　There　will　be　no　place　for　me　to　hide。
He　stumbled；　banged　his　knee；　kept　going。　He　heard　the　slap　of　the　tentacles　as　they　struck　the　walls；　swung　upward　toward　him。
A　weapon；　he　thought。　I　have　to　find　a　weapon。
He　came　to　the　small　galley；　metal　counter；　some　pots　and　pans。　He　pulled　the　drawers　open　hastily；　looking　for　a　knife。　He　could　find　only　a　small　paring　knife；　threw　it　away　in　disgust。　He　heard　the　tentacles　ing　closer。　The　next　moment　he　was　knocked　down；　his　helmet　banging　on　the　deck。　Norman　scrambled　to　his　feet；　dodged　the　tentacle；　moved　up　the　cylinder。
A　munications　section：　radio　set；　puter；　a　couple　of　monitors。　The　tentacles　were　right　behind　him；　slithering　up　like　nightmarish　vines。　His　eyes　burned　from　the　ammonia　fumes。
He　came　to　the　bunks；　a　narrow　space　near　the　top　of　the　cylinder。
No　place　to　hide；　he　thought。　No　weapons；　and　no　place　to　hide。
The　tentacles　reached　the　top　of　the　cylinder；　slapped　against　the　upper　curved　surface；　swung　sideways。　In　a　moment　they　would　have　him。　He　grabbed　the　mattress　from　one　bunk；　held　it　up　as　flimsy　protection。　The　two　tentacles　were　swinging　erratically　around　him。　He　dodged　the　first。
And　then　with　a　whump　the　second　tentacle　coiled　around　him；　holding　both　him　and　the　mattress　in　a　cold；　slimy　grip。　He　felt　a　sickening　slow　squeeze；　the　dozens　of　suckers　gripping　his　body；　cutting　into　his　skin。　He　moaned　in　horror。　The　second　tentacle　swung　back　to　grip　him　along　with　the　first。　He　was　trapped　in　a　vise。
Oh　God；　he　thought。
＇＇243＇＇　The　tentacles　swung　away　from　the　wall；　lifting　him　high　in　the　air；　into　the　middle　of　the　cylinder。　This　is　it；　he　thought；　but　in　the　next　moment　he　felt　his　body　sliding　downward　past　the　mattress；　and　he　slipped　through　the　grip　and　fell　through　the　air。　He　grabbed　the　tentacles　for　support；　sliding　down　the　giant　evil…smelling　vines；　and　then　he　crashed　down　onto　the　deck　near　the　galley；　his　head　banging　on　the　metal　deck。　He　rolled　onto　his　back。
He　saw　the　two　tentacles　above；　gripping　the　mattress；　squeezing　it；　twisting　it。　Did　the　squid　realize　what　had　happened；　that　he　had　gotten　free？
Norman　looked　around　desperately。　A　weapon；　a　weapon。　This　was　a　Navy　habitat。　There　must　be　a　weapon　somewhere。
The　tentacles　tore　the　mattress　apart。　Shreds　of　white　padding　drifted　down　through　the　cylinder。　The　tentacles　released　the　mattress；　the　big　pieces　falling。　Then　the　tentacles　started　swinging　around　the　habitat　again。
Searching。
It　knows；　he　thought。　It　knows　I　have　gotten　away；　and　that　I　am　still　in　here　somewhere。　It　is　hunting　me。
But　how　did　it　know？
Norman　ducked　behind　the　galley　as　one　of　the　flat　tentacles　came　crashing　through　the　pots　and　pans；　sweeping　around；　feeling　for　him。　Norman　scrambled　back；　ing　up　against　a　large　potted　plant。　The　tentacle　was　still　searching；　moving　restlessly　across　the　floor；　banging　the　pans。　Norman　pushed　the　plant　forward；　and　the　tentacle　gripped　it；　uprooted　it　easily；　sweeping　it　away　into　the　air。
The　distraction　allowed　Norman　to　scramble　forward。　A　weapon；　he　thought。　A　weapon。
He　looked　down　to　where　the　mattress　had　fallen；　and　he　saw；　lining　the　wall　near　the　bottom　hatch；　a　series　of　silver　vertical　bars。　Spear　guns！　Somehow　he　had　missed　them　on　the　way　up。　Each　spear　gun　was　tipped　in　a　fat　bulb　like　a　hand　grenade。　Explosive　tips？　He　started　to　climb　down。
The　tentacles　were　sliding　down；　too；　following　him。　How　did　the　squid　know　where　he　was？　And　then；　as　he　passed　a　＇＇244＇＇　porthole；　he　saw　the　eye　outside　and　he　thought；　He　can　see　me；　for　God's　sake。
Stay　away　from　the　portholes。
Not　thinking　clearly。　Everything　happening　fast。　Crawling　down　past　the　explosive　crates　in　the　storage　hold；　thinking；　I　better　not　miss　in　here；　and　he　landed　with　a　clang　on　the　airlock　deck。
The　arms　were　slithering　down；　moving　down　the　cylinder　toward　him。　He　tugged　at　one　of　the　spear　guns。　It　was　strapped　to　the　wall　with　a　rubber　cord。　Norman　pulled　at　it；　tried　to　release　it。　The　tentacles　drew　closer。　He　yanked　at　the　rubber；　but　it　wouldn't　release。　What　was　wrong　with　these　snaps？
The　tentacles　were　closer。　ing　down　swiftly。
Then　he　realized　the　cords　had　safety　catches：　you　had　to　pull　the　guns　sideways；　not　out。　He　did；　the　rubber　popped　free。　The　spear　gun　was　in　his　hand。　He　turned；　and　the　tentacle　knocked　him　down。　He　flipped　onto　his　back　and　saw　the　great　flat　suckered　palm　of　the　tentacle　ing　straight　down　on　him；　and　the　tentacle　wrapped　over　his　helmet；　everything　was　black；　and　he　fired。
There　was　tremendous　pain　in　his　chest　and　abdomen。　For　a　horrified　moment　he　thought　he　had　shot　himself。　Then　he　gasped　and　he　realized　it　was　just　the　concussion；　his　chest　was　burning；　but　the　squid　released　him。
He　still　couldn't　see。　He　pulled　the　palm　off　his　face　and　it　fell　heavily　onto　the　deck；　writhing；　severed　from　the　squid　arm。　The　interior　walls　of　the　habitat　were　splattered　with　blood。　One　tentacle　was　still　moving；　the　other　was　a　bloody；　ragged　stump。　Both　arms　pulled　out　through　the　hatch；　slipped　into　the　water。
Norman　ran　for　the　porthole；　the　squid　moved　swiftly　away；　the　green　glow　diminishing。　He　had　done　it！　He'd　beaten　it　off。
He'd　done　it。

DH…8

〃How　many　did　you　bring？〃　Harry　said；　turning　the　spear　gun　over　in　his　hands。
〃Five；〃　Norman　said。　〃That　was　all　I　could　carry。〃
〃But　it　worked？〃　He　was　examining　the　bulbous　explosive　tip。
〃Yeah；　it　worked。　Blew　the　whole　tentacle　off。〃
〃I　saw　the　squid　going　away；〃　Harry　said。　〃I　figured　you　must　have　done　something。〃
〃Where's　Beth？〃
〃I　don't　know。　Her　suit's　gone。　I　think　she　may　have　gone　to　the　ship。〃
〃Gone　to　the　ship？〃　Norman　said；　frowning。
〃All　I　know　is；　when　I　woke　up　she　was　gone。　I　figured　you　were　over　at　the　habitat；　and　then　I　saw　the　squid；　and　I　tried　to　get　you　on　the　radio　but　I　guess　the　metal　blocked　the　transmission。〃
〃Beth　left？〃　Norman　said。　He　was　starting　to　get　angry。　Beth　was　supposed　to　stay　at　the　munications　console；　watching　the　sensors　for　him　while　he　was　outside。　Instead；　she　had　gone　to　the　ship？
〃Her　suit's　gone；〃　Harry　said　again。
〃Son　of　a　bitch！〃　Norman　said。　He　was　suddenly　furious…really；　deeply　furious。　He　kicked　the　console。
〃Careful　there；〃　Harry　said。
〃Damn　it！〃
〃Take　it　easy；〃　Harry　said；　〃e　on；　take　it　easy；　Norman。〃
〃What　the　hell　does　she　think　she's　doing？〃
〃e　on；　sit　down；　Norman。〃　Harry　steered　him　to　a　chair。　〃We're　all　tired。〃
〃Damn　right　we're　tired！〃
〃Easy；　Norman；　easy　。。。　Remember　your　blood　pressure。〃
〃My　blood　pressure's　fine！〃
〃Not　now；　it's　not；〃　Harry　said。　〃You're　purple。〃
〃How　could　she　let　me　go　outside　and　then　just　leave？〃
＇＇246＇＇　〃Worse；　go　out　herself；〃　Harry　said。
〃But　she　wasn't　watching　out　for　me　any　more；〃　Norman　said。　And　then　it　came　to　him；　why　he　was　so　angry…he　was　angry　because