Sphere (深海圆疑) 原版小说-第43部分

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〃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　flashed　again。　Norman　knew；　without　being　told；　that　it　was　the　peripheral　alarms。
Another　attack　was　beginning。

1520　HOURS

They　ran　back　through　the　lateral　connecting　corridor　directly　from　B　Cyl　into　D。　Norman　noticed　in　passing　that　the　crewmen　had　gone。　In　D；　the　alarms　were　clanging　and　the　peripheral　sensor　screens　glowed　bright　red。　Norman　glanced　at　the　video　monitors。
I　AM　ING。
Beth　quickly　scanned　the　screens。
〃Inner　thermals　are　activated。　He's　ing；　all　right。〃
They　felt　a　thump；　and　Norman　turned　to　look　out　the　porthole。　The　green　squid　was　already　outside；　the　huge　suckered　arms　coiling　around　the　base　of　the　habitat。　One　great　arm　slapped　flat　against　the　porthole；　the　suckers　distorted　against　the　glass。
I　AM　HERE。
〃Harryyy！〃　Beth　shouted。
There　was　a　tentative　jolt；　as　squid　arms　gripped　the　habitat。　The　slow；　agonizing　creak　of　metal。
Harry　came　running　into　the　room。　〃What　is　it？〃
〃You　know　what　it　is；　Harry！〃　Beth　shouted。
〃No；　no；　what　is　it？〃
〃It's　the　squid；　Harry！〃
〃Oh　my　God；　no；〃　Harry　moaned。
The　habitat　shook　powerfully。　The　room　lights　flickered　and　went　out。　There　was　only　flashing　red　now；　from　the　emergency　lights。
＇＇290＇＇　Norman　turned　to　him。　〃Stop　it；　Harry。〃
〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃　he　cried　plaintively。　〃You　know　what　I'm　talking　about；　Harry。〃
〃I　don't！〃
〃Yes；　you　do；　Harry。　It's　you；　Harry；〃　Norman　said。　〃You're　doing　it。〃
〃No；　you're　wrong。　It's　not　me！　I　swear　it's　not　me！〃
〃Yes；　Harry；〃　Norman　said。　〃And　if　you　don't　stop　it；　we'll　all　die。〃
The　habitat　shook　again。　One　of　the　ceiling　heaters　exploded；　showering　fragments　of　hot　glass　and　wire。　〃e　on；　Harry。　。。。〃
〃No；　no！〃
〃There's　not　much　time。　You　know　you're　doing　it。〃
〃The　habitat　can't　take　much　more；　Norman；〃　Beth　said。
〃It　can't　be　me！〃
〃Yes；　Harry。　Face　it；　Harry。　Face　it　now。〃
Even　as　he　spoke；　Norman　was　looking　for　the　syringe。　He　had　left　it　somewhere　in　this　room；　but　papers　were　sliding　off　the　desktops；　monitors　crashing　to　the　floor；　chaos　all　around　him。　。。。
The　whole　habitat　rocked　again；　and　there　was　a　tremendous　explosion　from　another　cylinder。　New；　rising　alarms　sounded；　and　a　roaring　vibration　that　Norman　instantly　recognized…water；　under　great　pressure；　rushing　into　the　habitat。
〃Flooding　in　C！〃　Beth　shouted；　reading　the　consoles。　She　ran　down　the　corridor。　He　heard　the　metal　clang　of　bulkhead　doors　as　she　shut　them。　The　room　was　filled　with　salty　mist。
Norman　pushed　Harry　against　the　wall。　〃Harry！　Face　it　and　stop　it！〃
〃It　can't　be　me；　it　can't　be　me；〃　Harry　moaned。　Another　jolting　impact；　staggering　them。
〃It　can't　be　me！〃　Harry　cried。　〃It　has　nothing　to　do　with　me！〃
And　then　Harry　screamed；　and　his　body　twisted；　and　Norman　saw　Beth　withdraw　the　syringe　from　his　shoulder；　the　needle　tipped　with　blood。
＇＇291＇＇　〃What　are　you　doing？〃　Harry　cried；　but　already　his　eyes　were　glassy　and　vacant。　He　staggered　at　the　next　impact；　fell　drunkenly　on　his　knees　to　the　floor。　〃No；〃　he　said　softly。　〃No　。。。〃
And　he　collapsed；　falling　face…down　on　the　carpet。　Immediately　the　wrenching　of　metal　stopped。　The　alarms　stopped。　Everything　became　ominously　silent；　except　for　the　soft　gurgle　of　water　from　somewhere　within　the　habitat。


Beth　moved　swiftly；　reading　one　screen　after　another。
〃Inner　off。　Peripherals　off。　Everything　off。　All　right！　No　readings！〃
Norman　ran　to　the　porthole。　The　squid　had　disappeared。　The　sea　bottom　outside　was　deserted。
〃Damage　report！〃　Beth　shouted。　〃Main　power　out！　E　Cylinder　out！　C　Cylinder　out！　B　Cylinder　。。。〃
Norman　spun；　looked　at　her。　If　B　Cyl　was　gone；　their　life　support　would　be　gone；　they　would　certainly　die。　〃B　Cylinder　holding；〃　she　said　finally。　Her　body　sagged。　〃We're　okay；　Norman。〃
Norman　collapsed　on　the　carpet；　exhausted；　suddenly　feeling　the　strain　and　tension　in　every　part　of　his　body。
It　was　over。　The　crisis　had　passed。　They　were　going　to　be　all　right；　after　all。　Norman　felt　his　body　relax。
It　was　over。

1230　HOURS

The　blood　had　stopped　flowing　from　Harry's　broken　nose　and　now　he　seemed　to　be　breathing　more　regularly；　more　easily。　Norman　lifted　the　icepack　to　look　at　the　swollen　face；　and　adjusted　the　flow　of　the　intravenous　drip　in　Harry's　arm。　Beth　had　started　the　intravenous　line　in　Harry's　hand　after　several　unsuccessful　attempts。　They　were　dripping　an　anesthetic　mixture　into　him。　Harry's　breath　smelled　sour；　like　tin。　But　otherwise　he　was　okay。　Out　cold。
The　radio　crackled。　〃I'm　at　the　submarine；〃　Beth　said。　〃Going　aboard　now。〃
Norman　glanced　out　the　porthole　at　DH…7；　saw　Beth　climbing　up　into　the　dome　beside　the　sub。　She　was　going　to　press　the　〃Delay〃　button；　the　last　time　such　a　trip　would　be　necessary。　He　turned　back　to　Harry。
The　puter　didn't　have　any　information　about　the　effects　of　keeping　a　person　asleep　for　twelve　hours　straight；　but　that　was　what　they　would　have　to　do。　Either　Harry　would　make　it；　or　he　wouldn't。
Same　as　the　rest　of　us；　Norman　thought。　He　glanced　at　the　monitor　clocks。　They　showed　1230　hours；　and　counted　backward。　He　put　a　blanket　over　Harry　and　went　over　to　the　console。
The　sphere　was　still　there；　with　its　changed　pattern　of　grooves。　In　all　the　excitement　he　had　almost　forgotten　his　initial　fascination　with　the　sphere；　where　it　had　e　from；　what　it　meant。　Although　they　understood　now　what　it　meant。　What　had　Beth　called　it？　A　mental　enzyme。　An　enzyme　was　something　that　made　chemical　reactions　possible　without　actually　participating　in　them。　Our　bodies　needed　to　perform　chemical　reactions；　but　our　body　temperatures　were　too　cold　for　most　chemical　reactions　to　proceed　smoothly。　So　we　had　enzymes　to　help　the　process　along；　speed　it　up。　The　enzymes　made　it　all　possible。　And　she　had　called　the　sphere　a　mental　enzyme。
Very　clever；　he　thought。　Clever　woman。　Her　impulsiveness　＇＇293＇＇　had　turned　out　to　be　just　what　was　needed。　With　Harry　unconscious；　Beth　still　looked　beautiful；　but　Norman　was　relieved　to　find　that　his　own　features　had　returned　to　pudgy　normalcy。　He　saw　his　own　familiar　reflection　in　the　screen　as　he　stared　at　the　sphere　on　the　monitor。
That　sphere。
With　Harry　unconscious；　he　wondered　if　they　would　ever　know　exactly　what　had　happened；　exactly　what　it　had　been　like。　He　remembered　the　lights；　like　fireflies。　And　what　had　Harry　said？　Something　about　foam。　The　foam。　Norman　heard　a　whirring　sound；　and　looked　out　the　porthole。
The　sub　was　moving。
Freed　of　its　tethers；　the　yellow　minisub　glided　across　the　bottom；　its　lights　shining　on　the　ocean　floor。　Norman　pushed　the　inter　button：　〃Beth？　Beth！〃
〃I'm　here；　Norman。〃
〃What're　you　doing？〃
〃Just　take　it　easy；　Norman。〃
〃What're　you　doing　in　the　sub；　Beth？〃
〃Just　a　precaution；　Norman。〃
〃Are　you　leaving？〃
She　laughed　over　the　inter。　A　light；　relaxed　laugh。　〃No；　Norman。　Just　take　it　easy。〃
〃Tell　me　what　you're　doing。〃
〃It's　a　secret。〃
〃e　on；　Beth。〃　This　was　all　he　needed；　he　thought；　to　have　Beth　crack　up　now。　He　thought　again　of　her　impulsiveness；　which　moments　before　he　had　admired。　He　did　not　admire　it　any　more。　〃Beth？〃
〃Talk　to　you　later；〃　she　said。
The　sub　turned　in　profile；　and　he　saw　red　boxes　in　its　claw　arms。　He　could　not　read　the　lettering　on　the　boxes；　but　they　looked　vaguely　familiar。　As　he　watched；　the　sub　moved　past　the　high　fin　of　the　spacecraft；　and　then　settled　to　the　bottom。　One　of　the　boxes　was　released；　plumping　softly　on　the　muddy　floor。　The　sub　started　up　again；　churning　sediment；　and　glided　forward　a　hundred　yards。　Then　it　stopped　again；　and　released　another　box。　It　continued　this　way　along　the　length　of　the　spacecraft。
＇＇294＇＇　〃Beth？〃
No　answer。　Norman　squinted　at　the　boxes。　There　was　lettering　on　them；　but　he　could　not　read　them　at　this　distance。　The　sub　had　turned　now；　and　was　ing　directly　toward　DH…8。　The　lights　shone　at　him。　It　moved　closer　and　the　sensor　alarms　went　off；　clanging　and　flashing　red　lights。　He　hated　these　alarms；　he　thought；　going　over　to　the　console；　looking　at　the　buttons。　How　the　hell　did　you　turn　them　off？　He　glanced　at　Harry；　but　Harry　remained　unconscious。
〃Beth？　Are　you　there？　You　set　off　the　damn　alarms。〃
〃Push　F8。〃
What　the　hell　was　F8？　He　looked　around；　finally　saw　a　row　of　keys　on　the　keyboard；　numbered　F1　to　F20。　He　pushed　F8　and　the　alarms　stopped。　The　sub　was　now　very　close；　lights　shining　into　the　porthole　windows。　In　the　high　bubble；　Beth　was　clearly　visible；　instrument　lights　shining　up　on　her　face。　Then　the　sub　descended　out　of　view。
He　went　to　the　porthole　and　looked　out。　Deepstar　III　was　resting　on　the　bottom；　depositing　more　boxes　from　its　claw　hands。　Now　he　could　read　the　lettering　on　the　boxes：

CAUTION　NO　SMOKING　NO　ELECTRONICS　TEVAC　EXPLOSIVES

〃Beth？　What　the　hell　are　you　doing？〃
〃Later；　Norman。〃
He　listened　to　her　voice。　She　sounded　okay。　Was　she　cracking　up？　No；　he　thought。　She's　not　cracking　up。　She　sounds　okay。　I'm　sure　she's　okay。
But　he　wasn't　sure。
The　sub　was　moving　again；　its　lights　blurred　by　the　cloud　of　sediment　churned　up　by　the　propellors。　The　cloud　drifted　up　past　the　porthole；　obscuring　his　vision。
〃Beth？〃
〃Everything's　fine；　Norman。　Back　in　a　minute。〃
As　the　sediment　drifted　down　to　the　bottom　again；　he　saw　the　sub；　heading　back　to　DH…7。　Moments　later；　it　docked　beneath　the　dome。　Then　he　saw　Beth　climb　out；　and　tether　the　sub　fore　and　aft。

1100　HOURS

〃It's　very　simple；〃　Beth　said。
〃Explosives？〃　He　pointed　to　the　screen。　〃It　says　here；　'Tevacs　are；　weight　for　weight；　the　most　powerful　conventional　explosives　known。'　What　the　hell　are　you　doing　putting　them　around　the　habitat？〃
〃Norman；　take　it　easy。〃　She　rested　her　hand　on　his　shoulder。　Her　touch　was　soft　and　reassuring。　He　relaxed　a　little；　feeling　her　body　so　close。
〃We　should　have　discussed　this　together　first。〃
〃Norman；　I'm　not　taking　any　chances。　Not　any　more。〃
〃But　Harry　is　unconscious。〃
〃He　might　wake　up。〃
〃He　won't；　Beth。〃
〃I'm　not　taking　any　chances；〃　she　said。　〃This　way；　if　something　starts　to　e　out　of　that　sphere；　we　can　blow　the　hell　out　of　the　whole　ship。　I've　put　explosives　along　the　whole　length　of　it。〃
〃But　why　around　the　habitat？〃
〃Defense。〃
〃How　is　it　defense？〃
〃Believe　me；　it　is。〃
〃Beth；　it's　dangerous　to　have　that　stuff　so　close　to　us。〃
〃It's　not　wired　up；　Norman。　In　fact；　it's　not　wired　up　around　the　ship；　either。　I　have　to　go　out　and　do　that　by　hand。〃　She　glanced　at　the　screens。　〃I　thought　I'd　wait　a　while　first；　maybe　take　a　nap。　Are　you　tired？〃
〃No；〃　Norman　said。
〃You　haven't　slept　in　a　long　time；　Norman。〃
〃I'm　not　tired。〃
She　gave　him　an　appraising　look。　〃I'll　keep　an　eye　on　Harry；　if　that's　what　you're　worried　about。〃
〃I'm　just　not　tired；　Beth。〃
〃Okay；〃　she　said；　〃suit　yourself。〃　She　brushed　her　luxuriant　hair　back　from　her　face　with　her　fingers。　〃Personally；　I'm　exhausted。　I'm　going　to　get　a　few　hours。〃　She　started　up　the　＇＇296＇＇　stairs　to　her　lab；　then　looked　down　at　him。　〃Want　to　join　me？〃
〃What？〃　he　said。
She　smiled　at　him　directly；　knowingly。　〃You　heard　me；　Norman。〃
〃Maybe　later；　Beth。〃
〃Okay。　Sure。〃
She　ascended　the　staircase；　her　body　swinging　smoothly；　sensuously　in　the　tight　jumpsuit。　She　looked　good　in　that　jumpsuit。　He　had　to　admit　it。　She　was　a　good…lookin