Sphere (深海圆疑) 原版小说-第42部分

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ou。〃
ENOUGH。
〃He's　not　going　to　talk　to　you　any　more；〃　Harry　said。　〃He's　really　mad；　Norman。〃
And　then　the　screen　printed：
I　WILL　KILL　YOU　ALL。


Norman　was　sweating；　he　wiped　his　forehead；　turned　away　from　the　words　on　the　screen。
〃I　don't　think　you　can　talk　to　this　guy；〃　Beth　said。　〃I　don't　think　you　can　reason　with　him。〃
〃You　shouldn't　have　made　him　angry；〃　Harry　said。　He　was　almost　pleading。　〃Why　did　you　make　him　angry　like　that；　Norman？〃
〃I　had　to　tell　him　the　truth。〃
＇＇282＇＇　〃But　you　were　so　mean　to　him；　and　now　he's　angry。〃
〃It　doesn't　matter；　angry　or　not；〃　Beth　said。　〃Harry　attacked　us　before；　when　he　wasn't　angry。〃
〃You　mean　Jerry；〃　Norman　said　to　her。　〃Jerry　attacked　us。〃
〃Yes；　right；　Jerry。〃
〃That's　a　hell　of　a　mistake　to　make；　Beth；〃　Harry　said。
〃You're　right；　Harry。　I'm　sorry。〃
Harry　was　looking　at　her　in　an　odd　way。　Norman　thought；　Harry　doesn't　miss　a　trick；　and　he　isn't　going　to　let　that　one　go　by。
〃I　don't　know　how　you　could　make　that　confusion；〃　Harry　said。
〃I　know。　It　was　a　slip　of　the　tongue。　It　was　stupid　of　me。〃
〃I'll　say。〃
〃I'm　sorry；〃　Beth　said。　〃Really　I　am。〃
〃Never　mind；〃　Harry　said。　〃It　doesn't　matter。〃
There　was　a　sudden　flatness　in　his　manner；　a　plete　indifference　in　his　tone。　Norman　thought：　Uh…oh。
Harry　yawned　and　stretched。　〃You　know；〃　he　said；　〃I'm　suddenly　very　tired。　I　think　I'll　take　a　nap　now。〃
And　he　went　off　to　the　bunks。

1600　HOURS

〃We　have　to　do　something；〃　Beth　said。　〃We　can't　talk　him　out　of　it。〃
〃You're　right；〃　Norman　said。　〃We　can't。〃
Beth　tapped　the　screen。　The　words　still　glowed：　I　WILL　KILL　YOU　ALL。
〃Do　you　think　he　means　it？〃
〃Yes。〃
＇＇283＇＇　Beth　stood；　clenched　her　fists。　〃So　it's　him　or　us。〃
〃Yes。　I　think　so。〃
The　implications　hung　in　the　air；　unspoken。
〃This　manifesting　process　of　his；〃　Beth　said。　〃Do　you　think　he　has　to　be　pletely　unconscious　to　prevent　it　from　happening？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Or　dead；〃　Beth　said。
〃Yes；〃　Norman　said。　That　had　occurred　to　him。　It　seemed　so　improbable；　such　an　unlikely　turn　of　events　in　his　life；　that　he　would　now　be　a　thousand　feet　under　the　water；　contemplating　the　murder　of　another　human　being。　Yet　that　was　what　he　was　doing。
〃I'd　hate　to　kill　him；〃　Beth　said。
〃Me；　too。〃
〃I　mean；　I　wouldn't　even　know　how　to　begin　to　do　it。〃
〃Maybe　we　don't　have　to　kill　him；〃　Norman　said。　〃Maybe　we　don't　have　to　kill　him　unless　he　starts　some　thing；〃　Beth　said。　Then　she　shook　her　head。　〃Oh　hell；　Norman；　who're　we　kidding？　This　habitat　can't　survive　another　attack。　We've　got　to　kill　him。　I　just　don't　want　to　face　up　to　it。〃
〃Neither　do　I；〃　Norman　said。
〃We　could　get　one　of　those　explosive　spear　guns　and　have　an　unfortunate　accident。　And　then　just　wait　for　our　time　to　be　up；　for　the　Navy　to　e　and　get　us　out　of　here。〃
〃I　don't　want　to　do　that。〃
〃I　don't；　either；〃　Beth　said。　〃But　what　else　can　we　do？〃　〃We　don't　have　to　kill　him；〃　Norman　said。　〃Just　make　him　unconscious。〃　He　went　to　the　first…aid　cabinet；　started　going　through　the　medicines。
〃You　think　there　might　be　something　there？〃　Beth　said。
〃Maybe。　An　anesthetic；　I　don't　know。〃
〃Would　that　work？〃
〃I　think　anything　that　produces　unconsciousness　will　work。　I　think。〃
〃I　hope　you're　right；〃　Beth　said；　〃because　if　he　starts　dreaming　and　then　manifests　the　monsters　from　his　dreams；　that　wouldn't　be　very　good。〃
＇＇284＇＇　〃No。　But　anesthesia　produces　a　dreamless；　total　state　of　unconsciousness。〃　Norman　was　looking　at　the　labels　on　the　bottles。　〃Do　you　know　what　these　things　are？〃
〃No；〃　Beth　said；　〃but　it's　all　in　the　puter。〃　She　sat　down　at　the　console。　〃Read　me　the　names　and　I'll　look　them　up　for　you。〃
〃Diphenyl　paralene。
Beth　pushed　buttons；　scanned　a　screen　of　dense　text。　〃It's；　uh　。。。　looks　like　。。。　something　for　burns。〃
〃Ephedrine　hydrochloride。〃
Another　screen。　〃It's　。。。　I　guess　it's　for　motion　sickness。〃
〃Valdomet。〃
〃It's　for　ulcers。〃
〃Sintag。〃
〃Synthetic　opium　analogue。　It's　very　short…acting。〃
〃Produces　unconsciousness？〃　Norman　asked。
〃No。　Not　according　to　this。　Anyway；　it　only　lasts　a　few　minutes。〃
〃Tarazine。〃
〃Tranquilizer。　Causes　drowsiness。〃
〃Good。〃　He　set　the　bottle　to　one　side。
〃　'And　may　also　cause　bizarre　ideation。'　〃
〃No；〃　he　said；　and　put　the　bottle　back。　They　didn't　need　to　have　any　bizarre　ideation。　〃Riordan？〃
〃Antihistamine。　For　bites。〃
〃Oxalamine？〃
〃Antibiotic。〃
〃Chloramphenicol？〃
〃Another　antibiotic。〃
〃Damn。〃　They　were　running　out　of　bottles。　〃Parasolutrine？〃
〃It's　a　soporific。　。。。〃
〃What's　that？〃
〃Causes　sleep。〃
〃You　mean　it's　a　sleeping　pill？〃
〃No；　it's…it　says　you　can　give　it　in　bination　with　paracin　trichloride　and　use　it　as　an　anesthetic。〃
〃Paracin　trichloride　。。。　Yes。　I　have　it　here；〃　Norman　said。　Beth　was　reading　from　the　screen。　〃Parasolutrine　twenty　＇＇285＇＇　cc's　in　bination　with　paracin　six　cc's　given　IM　produces　deep　sleep　suitable　for　emergency　surgical　procedures　。。。　no　cardiac　side　effects　。。。　sleep　from　which　the　subject　can　be　awakened　only　with　difficulty　。。。　REM　activity　is　suppressed。　。。。〃
〃How　long　does　it　last？〃
〃Three　to　six　hours。〃
〃And　how　fast　does　it　take　effect？〃
She　frowned。　〃It　doesn't　say。　'After　appropriate　depth　of　anesthesia　is　induced；　even　extensive　surgical　procedures　may　be　begun　。。。'　But　it　doesn't　say　how　long　it　takes。〃
〃Hell；〃　Norman　said。
〃It's　probably　fast；〃　Beth　said。
〃But　what　if　it　isn't？〃　Norman　said。　〃What　if　it　takes　twenty　minutes？　And　can　you　fight　it？　Fight　it　off？〃
She　shook　her　head。　〃Nothing　about　that　here。〃
In　the　end　they　decided　on　a　mixture　of　parasolutrine；　paracin；　dulcinea；　and　sintag；　the　opiate。　Norman　filled　a　large　syringe　with　the　clear　liquids。　The　syringe　was　so　big　it　looked　like　something　for　horses。
〃You　think　it　might　kill　him？〃　Beth　said。
〃I　don't　know。　Do　we　have　a　choice？〃
〃No；〃　Beth　said。　〃We've　got　to　do　it。　Have　you　ever　given　an　injection　before？〃
Norman　shook　his　head。　〃You？〃
〃Only　lab　animals。〃
〃Where　do　I　stick　it？〃
〃Do　it　in　the　shoulder；〃　Beth　said。　〃While　he's　asleep。〃　Norman　turned　the　syringe　up　to　the　light；　and　squirted　a　few　drops　from　the　needle　into　the　air。　〃Okay；〃　he　said。
〃I　better　e　with　you；〃　Beth　said；　〃and　hold　him　down。〃
〃No；〃　Norman　said。　〃If　he's　awake　and　sees　both　of　us　ing；　he'll　be　suspicious。　Remember；　you　don't　sleep　in　the　bunks　any　more。〃
〃But　what　if　he　gets　violent？〃
〃I　think　I　can　handle　this。〃
〃Okay；　Norman。　Whatever　you　say。〃

*　*　*
＇＇286＇＇　The　lights　in　the　corridor　of　C　Cyl　seemed　unnaturally　bright。　Norman　heard　his　feet　padding　on　the　carpet；　heard　the　constant　hum　of　the　air　handlers　and　the　space　heaters。　He　felt　the　weight　of　the　syringe　concealed　in　his　palm。　He　came　to　the　door　to　the　sleeping　quarters。
Two　female　Navy　crewmen　were　standing　outside　the　bulkhead　door。　They　snapped　to　attention　as　he　approached。　〃Dr。　Johnson；　sir！〃
Norman　paused。　The　women　were　handsome；　black；　and　muscular…looking。　〃At　ease；　men；〃　Norman　said　with　a　smile。
They　did　not　relax。　〃Sorry；　sir！　We　have　our　orders；　sir！〃　〃I　see；〃　Norman　said。　〃Well；　carry　on；　then。〃　He　started　to　move　past　them　into　the　sleeping　area。
〃Beg　your　pardon；　Dr。　Johnson；　sir！〃　They　barred　his　way。
〃What　is　it？〃　Norman　asked；　as　innocently　as　he　could　manage。
〃This　area　is　off…limits　to　all　personnel；　sir！〃
〃But　I　want　to　go　to　sleep。〃
〃Very　sorry；　Dr。　Johnson；　sir！　No　one　may　disturb　Dr。　Adams　while　he　sleeps；　sir！〃
〃I　won't　disturb　Dr。　Adams。〃
〃Sorry；　Dr。　Johnson；　sir！　May　we　see　what　is　in　your　hand；　sir！〃
〃In　my　hand？〃
〃Yes；　there　is　something　in　your　hand；　sir！〃
Their　snapping；　machine…gun　delivery；　always　punctuated　by　the　〃sir！〃　at　the　end；　was　getting　on　his　nerves。　He　looked　at　them　again。　The　starched　uniforms　covered　powerful　muscles。　He　didn't　think　he　could　force　his　way　past　them。　Beyond　the　door　he　saw　Harry；　lying　on　his　back；　snoring。　It　was　a　perfect　moment　to　inject　him。
〃Dr。　Johnson；　may　we　see　what　is　in　your　hand；　sir！〃
〃No；　damn　it；　you　may　not。〃
〃Very　good；　Sir！〃
Norman　turned；　and　walked　back　to　D　Cyl。

*　*　*
〃I　saw；〃　Beth　said；　nodding　to　the　monitor。
Norman　looked　at　the　monitor；　at　the　two　women　in　the　corridor。　Then　he　looked　at　the　adjacent　monitor；　which　showed　the　sphere。
〃The　sphere　has　changed！〃　Norman　said。
The　convoluted　grooves　of　the　doorway　were　definitely　altered；　the　pattern　more　plex；　and　shifted　farther　up。　Norman　felt　sure　it　was　changed。
〃I　think　you're　right；〃　Beth　said。　〃When　did　that　happen？〃
〃We　can　run　the　tapes　back　later；〃　she　said。　〃Right　now　we'd　better　take　care　of　those　two。〃
〃How？〃　Norman　said。
〃Simple；〃　Beth　said；　bunching　her　fists　again。　〃We　have　five　explosive　spearheads　in　B　Cyl。　I'll　go　into　B；　get　two　of　them；　blow　the　guardian　angels　away。　You　run　in　and　jab　Harry。〃
Her　cold…blooded　determination　would　have　been　chilling　if　she　didn't　look　so　beautiful。　There　was　a　refined　quality　to　her　features　now。　She　seemed　to　grow　more　elegant　by　the　minute。
〃The　spear　guns　are　in　B？〃　Norman　said。
〃Sure。　Look　on　video。〃　She　pressed　a　button。　〃Hell。〃　In　B　Cyl　the　spearguns　were　missing。
〃I　think　the　son　of　a　bitch　has　covered　his　bases；〃　Norman　said。　〃Good　old　Harry。〃
Beth　looked　at　him　thoughtfully。　〃Norman；　are　you　feeling　okay？〃
〃Sure；　why？〃
〃There's　a　mirror　in　the　first…aid　kit。　Go　look。〃
He　opened　the　white　box　of　the　kit　and　looked　at　himself　in　the　mirror。　He　was　shocked　by　what　he　saw。　Not　that　he　expected　to　look　good；　he　was　accustomed　to　the　pudgy　contours　of　his　own　face；　and　the　gray　stubble　of　his　beard　when　he　didn't　shave　on　weekends。
But　the　face　staring　back　at　him　was　lean；　with　a　coarse；　jet…black　beard。　There　were　dark　circles　beneath　smoldering；　＇＇288＇＇　bloodshot　eyes。　His　hair　was　lank　and　greasy；　hanging　over　his　forehead。　He　looked　like　a　dangerous　man。
〃I　look　like　Dr。　Jekyll；〃　he　said。　〃Or；　rather；　Mr。　Hyde。〃
〃Yeah。　You　do。〃
〃You're　getting　more　beautiful；〃　he　said　to　Beth。　〃But　I'm　the　man　who　was　mean　to　Jerry。　So　I'm　getting　meaner。〃
〃You　think　Harry's　doing　this？〃
〃I　think　so；〃　Norman　said。　Adding　to　himself：　I　hope　so。　〃You　feel　different；　Norman？〃
〃No；　I　feel　exactly　the　same。　I　just　look　like　hell。〃
〃Yes。　You　look　a　little　frightening。〃
〃I'm　sure　I　do。〃
〃You　really　feel　fine？〃
〃Beth　。。。〃
〃Okay；〃　Beth　said。　She　turned；　looked　back　at　the　monitors。　〃I　have　one　last　idea。　We　both　get　to　A　Cyl；　put　on　our　suits；　get　into　B　Cyl；　and　shut　down　the　oxygen　in　the　rest　of　the　habitat。　Make　Harry　unconscious。　His　guards　will　disappear；　we　can　go　in　and　jab　him。　What　do　you　think？〃
〃Worth　a　try。〃
Norman　put　down　the　syringe。　They　headed　off　toward　A　Cyl。
In　C　Cyl；　they　passed　the　two　guards；　who　again　snapped　to　attention。
〃Dr。　Halpern；　sir！〃
〃Dr。　Johnson；　sir！〃
〃Carry　on；　men；〃　Beth　said。
〃Yes；　sir！　May　we　ask　where　you　are　going；　sir！〃
〃Routine　inspection　tour；〃　Beth　said。
There　was　a　pause。　〃Very　good；　sir！〃
They　were　allowed　to　pass。　They　moved　into　B　Cyl；　with　its　array　of　pipes　and　machinery。　Norman　glanced　at　it　nervously；　he　didn't　like　screwing　around　with　the　life…support　systems；　but　he　didn't　see　what　else　they　could　do。
In　A　Cyl；　there　were　three　suits　left。　Norman　reached　for　his。　〃You　know　what　you're　doing？〃　he　asked。
〃Yes；〃　Beth　said。　〃Trust　me。〃
She　slipped　her　foot　into　her　suit；　and　started　zipping　it　up。
＇＇289＇＇　And　then　the　alarms　began　to　sound　throughout　the　habitat；　and　the　red　lights