Sphere (深海圆疑) 原版小说-第52部分

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h。
〃Your　attention；　please。　Ten　minutes　and　counting。〃　Norman　opened　the　bulkhead　door　to　D　Cyl；　and　stepped　through；　into　the　habitat。


The　light　was　dim。　A　strange　green；　slimy　mold　covered　the　walls。
On　the　couch；　Harry　lay　unconscious；　the　intravenous　line　still　in　his　arm。　Norman　pulled　the　needle　out　with　a　spurt　of　blood。　He　shook　Harry；　trying　to　rouse　him。
Harry's　eyelids　fluttered；　but　he　was　otherwise　unresponsive。　Norman　lifted　him；　put　him　over　his　shoulder；　carried　him　through　the　habitat。
On　the　inter；　Beth　was　still　crying。　〃Norman；　you　shouldn't　have　e。〃
〃Where　are　you；　Beth？〃
On　the　monitors；　he　read：
DETONATION　SEQUENCE　09：32。
Counting　backward。　The　numbers　seemed　too　to　move　fast。
＇＇351＇＇　〃Take　Harry　and　go；　Norman。　Both　of　you　go。　Leave　me　behind。〃
〃Tell　me　where　you　are；　Beth。〃
He　was　moving　through　the　habitat；　from　D　to　C　Cyl。　He　didn't　see　her　anywhere。　Harry　was　a　dead　weight　on　his　shoulder；　making　it　difficult　to　get　through　the　bulkhead　doors。
〃It　won't　do　any　good；　Norman。〃
〃e　on；　Beth。　。。。〃
〃I　know　I'm　bad；　Norman。　I　know　I　can't　be　helped。〃
〃Beth　。。。〃　He　was　hearing　her　through　the　helmet　radio；　so　he　could　not　locate　her　by　the　sound。　But　he　could　not　risk　removing　his　helmet。　Not　now。
〃I　deserve　to　die；　Norman。〃
〃Cut　it　out；　Beth。〃
〃Attention；　please。　Nine　minutes　and　counting。〃
A　new　alarm　sounded；　an　intermittent　beeping　that　became　louder　and　more　intense　as　the　seconds　ticked　by。
He　was　in　B　Cyl；　a　maze　of　pipes　and　equipment。　Once　clean　and　multicolored；　now　the　slimy　mold　coated　every　surface。　In　some　places　fibrous　mossy　strands　hung　down。　B　Cyl　looked　like　a　jungle　swamp。
〃Beth　。。。〃
She　was　silent　now。　She　must　be　in　this　room；　he　thought。　B　Cyl　had　always　been　Beth's　favorite　place；　the　place　where　the　habitat　was　controlled。　He　put　Harry　on　the　deck；　propped　him　against　a　wall。　But　the　wall　was　slippery　and　Harry　slid　down；　banged　his　head。　He　coughed；　opened　his　eyes。
〃Jesus。　Norman？〃
Norman　held　his　hand　up；　signaling　Harry　to　be　quiet。
〃Beth？〃　Norman　said。
No　answer。　Norman　moved　among　the　slimy　pipes。
〃Beth？〃
〃Leave　me；　Norman。〃
〃I　can't　do　that；　Beth。　I'm　taking　you；　too。〃
〃No。　I'm　staying；　Norman。〃
〃Beth；〃　he　said；　〃there's　no　time　for　this。〃
〃I'm　staying；　Norman。　I　deserve　to　stay。〃
＇＇352＇＇　He　saw　her。
Beth　was　huddled　in　the　back；　wedged　among　pipes；　crying　like　a　child。　She　held　one　of　the　explosive…tipped　spear　guns　in　her　hand。　She　looked　at　him　tearfully。
〃Oh；　Norman；〃　she　said。　〃You　were　going　to　leave　us。　。。。〃
〃I'm　sorry。　I　was　wrong。〃
He　started　toward　her；　holding　out　his　hands　to　her。　She　swung　the　spear　gun　around。　〃No；　you　were　right。　You　were　right。　I　want　you　to　leave　now。〃
Above　her　head　he　saw　a　glowing　monitor；　the　numbers　clicking　inexorably　backward：　08：27　。。。　08：26　。。。
He　thought；　I　can　change　this。　I　want　the　numbers　to　stop　counting。
The　numbers　did　not　stop。
〃You　can't　fight　me；　Norman；〃　she　said；　huddled　in　the　corner。　Her　eyes　blazed　with　furious　energy。
〃I　can　see　that。〃
〃There　isn't　much　time；　Norman。　I　want　you　to　leave。〃　She　held　the　gun；　pointed　firmly　toward　him。　He　had　a　sudden　sense　of　the　absurdity　of　it　all；　that　he　had　e　back　to　rescue　someone　who　didn't　want　to　be　rescued。　What　could　he　do　now？　Beth　was　wedged　back　in　there；　beyond　his　reach；　beyond　his　help。　There　was　barely　enough　time　for　him　to　get　away；　let　alone　to　take　Harry。　。。。
Harry；　he　thought　suddenly。　Where　was　Harry　now？　I　want　Harry　to　help　me。
But　he　wondered　if　there　was　time；　the　numbers　were　clicking　backward；　there　was　hardly　more　than　eight　minutes；　now。　。。。
〃I　came　back　for　you；　Beth。〃
〃Go；〃　she　said。　〃Go　now；　Norman。〃
〃But；　Beth…〃
〃…No；　Norman！　I　mean　it！　Go！　Why　don't　you　go？〃　And　then　she　began　to　get　suspicious；　she　started　to　look　around；　and　at　that　moment　Harry　stood　up　behind　her；　and　swung　the　big　wrench　down　on　her　head；　and　there　was　a　sickening　thud；　and　she　fell。
〃Did　I　kill　her？〃　Harry　said。
＇＇353＇＇　And　the　deep　male　voice　said；　〃Attention；　please。　Eight　minutes　and　counting。〃


Norman　concentrated　on　the　clock　as　it　ticked　backwards。　Stop。　Stop　the　countdown。
But　when　he　looked　again；　the　clock　was　still　ticking　backwards。　And　the　alarm：　Was　the　alarm　interfering　with　his　concentration？　He　tried　again。
Stop　now。　The　countdown　will　stop　now。　The　countdown　has　stopped。
〃Forget　it；〃　Harry　said。　〃It　won't　work。〃
〃But　it　should　work；〃　Norman　said。
〃No；〃　Harry　said。　〃Because　she's　not　pletely　unconscious。〃
On　the　floor　at　their　feet；　Beth　groaned。　Her　leg　moved。　〃She's　still　able　to　control　it；　somehow；〃　Norman　said。　〃She's　very　strong。〃
〃Can　we　inject　her？〃
Norman　shook　his　head。　There　was　no　time　to　go　back　for　the　syringe。　Anyway；　if　they　injected　her　and　it　didn't　work；　it　would　be　time　wasted…
〃Hit　her　again？〃　Harry　said。　〃Harder？　Kill　her？〃
〃No；〃　Norman　said。
〃Killing　her　is　the　only　way…〃
〃…No；〃　Norman　said；　thinking；　We　didn't　kill　you；　Harry；　when　we　had　the　chance。
〃If　you　won't　kill　her；　then　you　can't　do　anything　about　that　timer；〃　Harry　said。　〃So　we　better　get　the　hell　out。〃
They　ran　for　the　airlock。


〃How　much　time　is　left'？〃　Harry　said。　They　were　in　the　A　Cyl　airlock；　trying　to　put　the　suit　on　Beth。　She　was　groaning；　blood　was　matted　on　the　back　of　her　head。　Beth　struggled　a　little；　making　it　more　difficult。
〃Jesus；　Beth…how　much　time；　Norman？〃
〃Seven　and　a　half　minutes；　maybe　less。〃
Her　legs　were　in；　they　quickly　pushed　her　arms　in；　zipped　＇＇354＇＇　up　the　chest。　They　turned　on　her　air。　Norman　helped　Harry　with　his　suit。
〃Attention；　please。　Seven　minutes　and　counting。〃
Harry　said；　〃How　much　time　you　figure　to　get　to　the　surface？〃
〃Two　and　a　half　minutes；　after　we　get　inside　the　sub；〃　Norman　said。
〃Great；〃　Harry　said。
Norman　snapped　Harry's　helmet　locked。　〃Let's　go。〃　Harry　descended　into　the　water；　and　Norman　lowered　Beth's　unconscious　body。　She　was　heavy　with　the　tank　and　weights。
〃e　on；　Norman！〃
Norman　plunged　into　the　water。


At　the　submarine；　Norman　climbed　up　to　the　hatch　entrance；　but　the　untethered　sub　rolled　unpredictably　with　his　weight。　Harry；　standing　on　the　bottom；　tried　to　push　Beth　up　toward　Norman；　but　Beth　kept　bending　over　at　the　waist。　Norman；　grabbing　for　her；　fell　off　the　sub　and　slid　to　the　bottom。
〃Attention；　please。　Six　minutes　and　counting。〃
〃Hurry；　Norman！　Six　minutes！〃
〃I　heard；　damn　it。〃
Norman　got　to　his　feet；　climbed　back　on　the　sub；　but　now　his　suit　was　muddy；　his　gloves　slippery。　Harry　was　counting：　〃Five　twenty…nine　。。。　five　twenty…eight　。。。　five　twentyseven。。。〃　Norman　caught　Beth's　arm；　but　she　slipped　away　again。
〃Damn　it；　Norman！　Hold　on　to　her！〃
〃I'm　trying！〃
〃Here。　Here　she　is　again。〃
〃Attention；　please。　Five　minutes　and　counting。〃
The　alarm　was　now　high…pitched；　beeping　insistently。　They　had　to　shout　over　it　to　be　heard。
〃Harry；　give　her　to　me…〃
〃Well；　here；　take　her…〃
〃Missed…〃
＇＇355＇＇　〃Here…〃
Norman　finally　caught　Beth's　air　hose　in　his　hand；　just　behind　the　helmet。　He　wondered　if　it　would　pull　out；　but　he　had　to　risk　it。　Gripping　the　hose；　he　hauled　Beth　up；　until　she　lay　on　her　back　on　the　top　of　the　sub。　Then　he　eased　her　down　into　the　hatch。
〃Four　twenty…nine　。。。　four　twenty…eight　。。。〃
Norman　had　trouble　keeping　his　balance。　He　got　one　of　Beth's　legs　into　the　hatch；　but　the　other　knee　was　bent；　jammed　against　the　lip　of　the　hatch。　He　couldn't　get　her　down。　Every　time　he　leaned　forward　to　unbend　her　leg；　the　whole　submarine　tipped；　and　he　would　start　to　lose　his　balance　again。
〃Four　sixteen　。。。　four　fifteen　。。。〃
〃Would　you　stop　counting　and　do　something！〃
Harry　pressed　his　body　against　the　side　of　the　submarine；　countering　the　rolling　with　his　weight。　Norman　leaned　forward　and　pressed　Beth's　knee　straight；　she　slid　easily　into　the　open　hatch。　Norman　climbed　in　after　her。　It　was　a　one…man　airlock；　but　Beth　was　unconscious；　and　could　not　work　the　controls。
He　would　have　to　do　it　for　her。
〃Attention；　please。　Four　minutes　and　counting。〃
He　was　cramped　in　the　airlock；　his　body　pressed　up　against　Beth；　chest　to　chest；　her　helmet　banging　against　his。　With　difficulty　he　pulled　the　hatch　closed　over　his　head。　He　blew　out　the　water　in　a　furious　rush　of　pressed　air；　unsupported　by　the　water；　Beth's　body　now　sagged　heavily　against　him。
He　reached　around　her　for　the　handle　to　the　inner　hatch。　Beth's　body　blocked　his　way。　He　tried　to　twist　her　around　sideways。　In　the　confined　space；　he　couldn't　get　any　leverage　on　the　body。　Beth　was　like　a　dead　weight；　he　tried　to　shift　her　body　around；　to　get　to　the　hatch。
The　whole　submarine　began　to　sway：　Harry　was　climbing　up　the　side。
〃What　the　hell's　going　on　in　there？〃
〃Harry；　will　you　shut　up！〃
〃Well；　what's　the　delay？〃
＇＇356＇＇　Norman's　hand　closed　on　the　inner　latch　handle。　He　shoved　it　down；　but　the　door　didn't　move：　the　door　was　hinged　to　swing　inward。　He　couldn't　open　it　with　Beth　in　the　hatch　with　him。　It　was　too　crowded；　her　body　blocked　the　movement　of　the　door。
〃Harry；　we've　got　a　problem。〃
〃Jesus　Christ　。。。　Three　minutes　thirty。〃
Norman　began　to　sweat。　They　were　really　in　trouble　now。
〃Harry；　I've　got　to　pass　her　out　to　you；　and　go　in　alone。〃
〃Jesus；　Norman　。。。〃
Norman　flooded　the　airlock；　opened　the　upper　hatch　once　again。　Harry's　balance　atop　the　submarine　was　precarious。　He　grabbed　Beth　by　the　air　hose；　dragged　her　up。
Norman　reached　up　to　close　the　hatch。
〃Harry；　can　you　get　her　feet　out　of　the　way？〃
〃I'm　trying　to　keep　my　balance　here。〃
〃Can't　you　see　her　feet　are　blocking…〃　Irritably；　Norman　pushed　Beth's　feet　aside。　The　hatch　clanged　down。　The　air　blasted　past　him。　The　hatch　pressurized。
〃Attention；　please。　Two　minutes　and　counting。〃
He　was　inside　the　submarine。　The　instruments　glowed　green。
He　opened　the　inner　hatch。
〃Norman？〃
〃Try　and　get　her　down；〃　Norman　said。　〃Do　it　as　fast　as　you　can。〃
But　he　was　thinking　they　were　in　terrible　trouble：　at　least　thirty　seconds　to　get　Beth　into　the　hatch；　and　thirty　seconds　more　for　Harry　to　e　down。　A　minute　all　together…
〃She's　in。　Vent　it。〃
Norman　jumped　for　the　air　vent；　blew　out　the　water。
〃How'd　you　get　her　in　so　fast；　Harry？〃
〃Nature's　way；〃　Harry　said；　〃to　get　people　through　tight　spaces。〃　And　before　Norman　could　ask　what　that　meant；　he　had　opened　the　hatch　and　saw　that　Harry　had　pushed　Beth　into　the　airlock　head　first。　He　grabbed　her　shoulders　and　eased　her　onto　the　floor　of　the　submarine；　then　slammed　the　＇＇357＇＇　　hatch　shut。　Moments　later；　he　heard　the　blast　of　air　as　Harry；　too；　vented　the　airlock。


The　submarine　hatch　clanged。　Harry　came　forward。　〃Christ；　one　minute　forty；〃　Harry　said。　〃Do　you　know　how　to　work　this　thing？〃
〃Yes。〃
Norman　sat　in　the　seat；　placed　his　hands　on　the　controls。　They　heard　the　whine　of　the　props；　felt　the　rumble。　The　sub　lurched；　moved　off　the　bottom。
〃One　minute　thirty　seconds。　How　long　did　you　say　to　the　surface？〃
〃Two　thirty；〃　Norman　said；　cranking　up　the　ascent　rate。　He　pushed　it　past　6。6；　to　the　far　end　of　the　dial。
They　heard　a　high…pitched　shriek　of　air　as　the　ballast　tanks　blew。　The　sub　nosed　up　sharply；　began　to　rise　swiftly。
〃Is　this　as　fast　as　it　goes？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Jesus。〃
〃Take　it　easy；　Harry。〃
Looking　back　down；　they　could　see　the　habitat　with　its　lights。　And　then　the　long　lines　of　explosives　set　over　the　spaceship　itself。　They　rose　past　the　high　fin