Sphere (深海圆疑) 原版小说-第45部分

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the　inter。
〃Can　you　see　anything；　Norman？〃
〃No；　nothing。〃　He　was　straining　to　look　toward　the　horizon；　where　the　squid　had　always　appeared。　The　first　thing　had　always　been　a　green　glow　on　the　horizon。　But　he　saw　no　glow　now。
Beth　was　panting。
〃I　can　feel　something；　Norman。　I　feel　the　water　。。。　surging　。。。　strong。　。。。〃
The　screen　flashed：
I　WILL　KILL　YOU。
〃Don't　you　see　anything　out　here？〃　Beth　said。
〃No。　I　don't　see　anything　at　all。〃　He　saw　Beth；　alone　on　the　muddy　bottom。　Her　light　the　solitary　focus　of　his　attention。
＇＇304＇＇　〃I　can　feel　it；　Norman。　It's　close。　Jesus　God。　What　about　the　alarms？〃
〃Nothing；　Beth。〃
〃Jesus。〃　Her　breath　came　in　hissing　gasps　as　she　ran。　Beth　was　in　good　shape；　but　she　couldn't　exert　herself　like　that　in　this　atmosphere。　Not　for　long；　he　thought。　Already　he　could　see　she　was　moving　more　slowly；　the　helmet　lamp　bobbing　more　slowly。
〃Norman？〃
〃Yes；　Beth。　I'm　here。〃
〃Norman；　I　don't　know　if　I　can　make　it。〃
〃Beth；　you　can　make　it。　Slow　down。〃
〃It's　here；　I　can　feel　it。〃
〃I　don't　see　anything；　Beth。〃
He　heard　a　rapid　sharp　clicking　sound。　At　first　he　thought　it　was　static　on　the　line；　and　then　he　realized　it　was　her　teeth　chattering　as　she　shivered。　With　this　exertion　she　should　be　getting　overheated；　but　instead　she　was　getting　cold。　He　didn't　understand。
〃…cold；　Norman。〃
〃Slow　down；　Beth。〃
〃Can't…talking…close…〃
She　was　slowing　down；　despite　herself。　She　had　e　into　the　area　of　the　habitat　lights；　and　she　was　no　more　than　ten　yards　from　the　hatch；　but　he　could　see　her　limbs　moving　slowly；　clumsily。
And　now　at　last　he　could　see　something　swirling　the　muddy　sediment　behind　her；　in　the　darkness　beyond　the　lights。　It　was　like　a　tornado；　a　swirling　cloud　of　muddy　sediment。　He　couldn't　see　what　was　inside　the　cloud；　but　he　sensed　the　power　within　it。
〃Close…Nor…〃
Beth　stumbled；　fell。　The　swirling　cloud　moved　toward　her。
I　WILL　KILL　YOU　NOW。
Beth　got　to　her　feet；　looked　back；　saw　the　churning　cloud　bearing　down　on　her。　Something　about　it　filled　Norman　with　a　deep　horror；　a　horror　from　childhood；　the　stuff　of　nightmares。
〃Normannnnnn　。。。〃
＇＇305＇＇　Then　Norman　was　running；　not　really　knowing　what　he　was　going　to　do；　but　propelled　by　the　vision　he　had　seen；　thinking　only　that　he　had　to　do　something；　he　had　to　take　some　action；　and　he　went　through　B　into　A　and　looked　at　his　suit　but　there　wasn't　time　and　the　black　water　in　the　open　hatch　was　spitting　and　swirling　and　he　saw　Beth's　gloved　hand　below　the　surface；　flailing；　she　was　right　there　beneath　him；　and　she　was　the　only　other　one；　and　without　thinking　he　jumped　into　the　black　water　and　went　down。


The　shock　of　the　cold　made　him　want　to　scream；　it　tore　at　his　lungs。　His　whole　body　was　instantly　numb；　and　he　felt　a　second　of　hideous　paralysis。　The　water　churned　and　tossed　him　like　a　great　wave；　he　was　powerless　to　fight　it；　his　head　banged　on　the　underside　of　the　habitat。　He　could　see　nothing　at　all。
He　reached　for　Beth；　throwing　his　arms　blindly　in　all　directions。　His　lungs　burned。　The　water　spun　him　in　circles；　upended　him。
He　touched　her；　lost　her。　The　water　continued　to　spin　him。　He　grabbed　her。　Something。　An　arm。　He　was　already　losing　feeling；　already　feeling　slower　and　stupider。　He　pulled。　He　saw　a　ring　of　light　above　him：　the　hatch。　He　kicked　his　legs　but　he　did　not　seem　to　move。　The　circle　came　no　closer。
He　kicked　again；　dragging　Beth　like　a　dead　weight。　Perhaps　she　was　dead。　His　lungs　burned。　It　was　the　worst　pain　he　had　ever　felt　in　his　life。　He　fought　the　pain；　and　he　fought　the　angry　churning　water　and　he　kept　kicking　toward　the　light；　that　was　his　only　thought；　to　kick　to　the　light；　to　e　closer　to　the　light；　to　reach　the　light；　the　light；　the　light。　。。。
The　light。
The　images　were　confusing。　Beth's　suited　body　clanging　on　the　metal；　inside　the　airlock。　His　own　knee　bleeding　on　the　metal　of　the　hatch；　the　drops　of　blood　spattering。　Beth's　shaking　hands　reaching　for　her　helmet；　twisting　it；　trying　to　get　the　helmet　unlocked。　Hands　shaking。　Water　in　the　hatch；　sucking；　surging。　Lights　in　his　eyes。　A　terrible　pain　＇＇306＇＇　somewhere。　Rust　very　close　to　his　face；　a　sharp　edge　of　metal。　Cold　metal。　Cold　air。　Lights　in　his　eyes；　dimming。　Fading。　Blackness。


The　sensation　of　warmth　was　pleasant。　He　heard　a　hissing　roar　in　his　ears。　He　looked　up　and　saw　Beth；　out　of　her　suit；　looming　large　above　him；　adjusting　the　big　space　heater；　turning　the　power　up。　She　was　still　shivering；　but　she　was　turning　up　the　heat。　He　closed　his　eyes。　We　made　it；　he　thought。　We're　still　together。　We're　still　okay。　We　made　it。　He　relaxed。
There　was　a　crawly　sensation　over　his　body。　From　the　cold；　he　thought；　his　body　warming　from　the　cold。　The　crawly　sensation　was　not　pleasant。　And　the　hissing　was　not　pleasant；　either；　it　was　sibilant；　intermittent。
Something　slithered　softly　under　his　chin　as　he　lay　on　the　deck。　He　opened　his　eyes　and　saw　a　silvery　white　tube；　and　then　he　focused　and　saw　the　tiny　beady　eyes；　and　the　flicking　tongue。　It　was　a　snake。
A　sea　snake。
He　froze。　He　looked　down；　moving　only　his　eyes。　His　entire　body　was　covered　with　white　snakes。
The　crawly　sensation　came　from　dozens　of　snakes；　coiling　around　his　ankles；　sliding　between　his　legs；　over　his　chest。　He　felt　a　cool　slithering　motion　across　his　forehead。　He　closed　his　eyes；　feeling　horror　as　the　snake　body　moved　over　his　face；　down　his　nose；　brushed　over　his　lips；　then　moved　away。
He　listened　to　the　hissing　of　the　reptiles　and　thought　of　how　poisonous　Beth　had　said　they　were。　Beth；　he　thought；　where　is　Beth？
He　did　not　move。　He　felt　snakes　coiling　around　his　neck；　slipping　over　his　shoulder；　sliding　between　the　fingers　of　his　hands。　He　did　not　want　to　open　his　eyes。　He　felt　a　surge　of　nausea。
God；　he　thought。　I'm　going　to　throw　up。
He　felt　snakes　under　his　armpit；　and　felt　snakes　slipping　past　his　groin。　He　burst　into　a　cold　sweat。　He　fought　nausea。　Beth；　he　thought。　He　did　not　want　to　speak。　Beth　。。。
＇＇307＇＇　He　listened　to　the　hissing　and　then；　when　he　couldn't　stand　it　any　more；　he　opened　his　eyes　and　saw　the　mass　of　coiling；　writhing　white　flesh；　the　tiny　heads；　the　flicking　forked　tongues。　He　closed　his　eyes　again。
He　felt　one　crawling　up　the　leg　of　his　jumpsuit；　moving　against　his　bare　skin。
〃Don't　move；　Norman。〃
It　was　Beth。　He　could　hear　the　tension　in　her　voice。　He　looked　up；　could　not　see　her；　only　her　shadow。
He　heard　her　say；　〃Oh　God；　what　time　is　it？〃　and　he　thought；　The　hell　with　the　time；　who　cares　what　time　it　is？　It　didn't　make　any　sense　to　him。　〃I　have　to　know　the　time；〃　Beth　was　saying。　He　heard　her　feet　moving　on　the　deck。　〃The　time　。。。〃
She　was　moving　away；　leaving　him！
The　snakes　slid　over　his　ears；　under　his　chin；　past　his　nostrils；　the　bodies　damp　and　slithering。
Then　he　heard　her　feet　on　the　deck；　and　a　metallic　clang　as　she　threw　open　the　hatch。　He　opened　his　eyes　to　see　her　bending　over　him；　grabbing　the　snakes　in　great　handfuls；　throwing　them　down　the　hatch　into　the　water。　Snakes　writhed　in　her　hands；　twisted　around　her　wrists；　but　she　shook　them　off；　tossed　them　aside。　Some　of　the　snakes　didn't　land　in　the　water　and　coiled　on　the　deck。　But　most　of　the　snakes　were　off　his　body　now。
One　more　crawling　up　his　leg；　toward　his　groin。　He　felt　it　moving　quickly　backward…she　was　pulling　it　out　by　the　tail！
〃Jesus；　careful…〃
The　snake　was　out；　flung　over　her　shoulder。
〃You　can　get　up；　Norman；〃　she　said。
He　jumped　to　his　feet；　and　promptly　vomited。

0700　HOURS

He　had　a　murderous；　pounding　headache。　It　made　the　habitat　lights　seem　unpleasantly　bright。　And　he　was　cold。　Beth　had　wrapped　him　in　blankets　and　had　moved　him　next　to　the　big　space　heaters　in　D　Cyl；　so　close　that　the　hum　of　the　electrical　elements　was　very　loud　in　his　ears；　but　he　was　still　cold。　He　looked　down　at　her　now；　as　she　bandaged　his　cut　knee。
〃How　is　it？〃　he　said。
〃Not　good；〃　she　said。　〃It's　right　down　to　the　bone。　But　you'll　be　all　right。　It's　only　a　few　more　hours　now。〃
〃Yes；　I…ouch！〃
〃Sorry。　Almost　done。〃　Beth　was　following　first…aid　directions　from　the　puter。　To　distract　his　mind　from　the　pain；　he　read　the　screen。

MINOR　MEDICAL　（NON…LETHAL）　PLICATIONS

7。113　Trauma　
7。115　Microsleep
7。118　Helium　Tremor
7。119　Otitis
7。121　Toxic　Contaminants
7。143　Synovial　Pain

Choose　one：

〃That's　what　I　need；〃　he　said。　〃Some　microsleep。　Or　better　yet；　some　serious　macrosleep。〃
〃Yes；　we　all　do。〃
A　thought　occurred　to　him。　〃Beth；　remember　when　you　were　pulling　the　snakes　off　me？　What　was　all　that　you　were　saying　about　the　time　of　day？〃
〃Sea　snakes　are　diurnal；〃　Beth　said。　〃Many　poisonous　snakes　are　alternately　aggressive　and　passive　in　twelve…hour　cycles；　corresponding　to　day　and　night。　During　the　day；　when　they're　passive；　you　can　handle　them　and　they　will　＇＇309＇＇　never　bite。　For　example；　in　India；　the　highly　poisonous　banded　krait　has　never　been　known　to　bite　during　the　day；　even　when　children　play　with　them。　But　at　night；　watch　out。　So　I　was　trying　to　determine　which　cycle　the　sea　snakes　were　on；　until　I　decided　that　this　must　be　their　passive　daytime　cycle。〃
〃How'd　you　figure　that？〃
〃Because　you　were　still　alive。〃　Then　she　had　used　her　bare　hands　to　remove　the　snakes；　knowing　that　they　wouldn't　bite　her；　either。
〃With　your　hands　full　of　snakes；　you　looked　like　Medusa。〃
〃What　is　that；　a　rock　star？〃
〃No；　it's　a　mythological　figure。〃
〃The　one　who　killed　her　children？〃　she　asked；　with　a　quick　suspicious　glance。　Beth；　ever　alert　to　a　veiled　insult。
〃No；　that's　somebody　else。　That　was　Medea。　Medusa　was　a　mythical　woman　with　a　head　full　of　snakes　who　turned　men　to　stone　if　they　looked　at　her。　Perseus　killed　her　by　looking　at　her　reflection　in　his　polished　shield。〃
〃Sorry；　Norman。　Not　my　field。〃
It　was　remarkable；　he　thought；　that　at　one　time　every　educated　Western　person　knew　these　figures　from　mythology　and　the　stories　behind　them　intimately…as　intimately　as　they　knew　the　stories　of　families　and　friends。　Myths　had　once　represented　the　mon　knowledge　of　humanity；　and　they　served　as　a　kind　of　map　of　consciousness。
But　now　a　well…educated　person　such　as　Beth　knew　nothing　of　myths　at　all。　It　was　as　if　men　had　decided　that　the　map　of　human　consciousness　had　changed。　But　had　it　really　changed？　He　shivered。
〃Still　cold；　Norman？〃
〃Yeah。　But　the　worst　thing　is　the　headache。〃
〃You're　probably　dehydrated。　Let's　see　if　I　can　find　something　for　you　to　drink。〃　She　went　to　the　first…aid　box　on　the　wall。
〃You　know；　that　was　a　hell　of　a　thing　you　did；〃　Beth　said。　〃Jumping　in　like　that　without　a　suit。　That　water's　only　a　couple　of　degrees　above　freezing。　It　was　very　brave。　Stupid；　but　brave。〃　She　smiled。　〃You　saved　my　life；　Norman。〃
＇＇310＇＇　〃I　didn't　think；〃　Norman　said。　〃I　just　did　it。〃　And　then　he　told　her　how；　when　he　had　seen　her　outside；　with　the　churning　cloud　of　sediment　approaching　her；　he　had　felt　an　old　and　childish　horror；　something　from　distant　memory。
〃You　know　what　it　was？〃　he　said。　〃It　reminded　me　of　the　tornado　in　The　Wizard　of　Oz。　That　tornado　scared　the　bejesus　out　of　me　when　I　was　a　kid。　I　just　didn't　want　to　see　it　happen　again。〃
And　then　he　thought；　Perhaps　these　are　our　new　myths。　Dorothy　and　Toto　and　the　Wicked　Witch；　Captain　Nemo　and　the　giant　squid　。。。
〃Well；〃　Beth　said；　〃whatever　the　reason；　you　saved　my　life。　Thank　you。〃
〃Any　time；〃　Norman　said。　He