Sphere (深海圆疑) 原版小说-第41章

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iss　of　the　hydrophones　in　the　room。
It　was　all　happening　again。
Ted　was　standing　by　the　monitor；　saying；　〃Jerry；　can　you　hear　me？　Jerry；　are　you　listening？〃　But　he　wasn't　getting　through。
Beth　came　up　as　Norman　peered　out　the　porthole。　〃You　see　anything？〃
〃Not　yet。〃
Behind　them；　Tina　said；　〃Eighty　yards　and　closing　。。。　Sixty　yards。　You　want　sonar？〃
〃No　sonar；〃　Fletcher　said。　〃Nothing　to　make　ourselves　interesting　to　him。〃
〃Then　should　we　kill　the　electronics？〃
〃Kill　everything。〃
All　the　console　lights　went　out。　Now　there　was　just　the　red　glow　of　the　space　heaters　above　them。　They　sat　in　darkness　and　stared　out。　Norman　tried　to　remember　how　long　dark…vision　acmodation　required。　He　remembered　it　might　be　as　long　as　three　minutes。
He　began　to　see　shapes：　the　outline　of　the　grid　on　the　bottom　and；　dimly；　the　high　fin　of　the　spaceship；　rising　sharply　up。
Then　something　else。
A　green　glow　in　the　distance。　At　the　horizon。
〃It's　like　a　green　sunrise；〃　Beth　said。
The　glow　increased　in　intensity；　and　then　they　saw　an　amorphous　green　shape　with　lateral　streaks。　Norman　＇＇225＇＇　thought；　It's　just　like　the　image　we　saw　before。　It　looks　just　like　that。　He　couldn't　really　make　out　the　details。
〃Is　it　a　squid？〃　he　said。　〃Yes；〃　Beth　said。
〃I　can't　see。　。。。〃
〃You're　looking　at　it　end…on。　The　body　is　toward　us；　the　tentacles　behind；　partially　blocked　by　the　body。　That's　why　you　can't　see　it。〃
The　squid　grew　larger。　It　was　definitely　ing　toward　them。
Ted　ran　from　the　portholes　back　to　the　consoles。　〃Jerry；　are　you　listening？　Jerry？〃
〃Electronics　are　off；　Dr。　Fielding；〃　Fletcher　said。　〃Well；　let's　try　and　talk　to　him；　for　God's　sake。〃
〃I　think　we're　past　the　talking　stage　now；　sir。〃
The　squid　was　faintly　luminous；　the　entire　body　a　deep　green。　Now　Norman　could　see　a　sharp　vertical　ridge　in　the　body。　The　moving　tentacles　and　arms　were　clear。　The　outline　grew　larger。　The　squid　moved　laterally。
〃It's　going　around　the　grid。〃
〃Yes；〃　Beth　said。　〃They're　intelligent　animals；　they　have　the　ability　to　learn　from　experience。　It　probably　didn't　like　hitting　the　grid　before；　and　it　remembers。〃
The　squid　passed　the　spacecraft　fin；　and　they　could　gauge　its　size。　It's　as　big　as　a　house；　Norman　thought。　The　creature　slid　smoothly　through　the　water　toward　them。　He　felt　a　sense　of　awe；　despite　his　pounding　heart。
〃Jerry？　Jerry！〃
〃Save　your　breath；　Ted。〃
〃Thirty　yards；〃　Tina　said。　〃Still　ing。〃
As　the　squid　came　closer；　Norman　could　count　the　arms；　and　he　saw　the　two　long　tentacles；　glowing　lines　extending　far　beyond　the　body。　The　arms　and　tentacles　seemed　to　move　loosely　in　the　water；　while　the　body　made　rhythmic　muscular　contractions。　The　squid　propelled　itself　with　water；　and　did　not　use　the　arms　for　swimming。
〃Twenty　yards。〃
〃God；　it's　big；〃　Harry　said。
〃You　know；〃　Beth　said；　〃we're　the　first　people　in　human　＇＇226＇＇　history　to　see　a　free…swimming　giant　squid。　This　should　be　a　great　moment。〃
They　heard　the　gurgling；　the　rush　of　water　over　the　hydrophones；　as　the　squid　came　closer。
〃Ten　yards。〃
For　a　moment；　the　great　creature　turned　sideways　to　the　habitat；　and　they　could　see　its　profile…the　enormous　glowing　body；　thirty　feet　long；　with　the　huge　unblinking　eye；　the　circle　of　arms；　waving　like　evil　snakes；　the　two　long　tentacles；　each　terminating　in　a　flattened；　leaf…shaped　section。
The　squid　continued　to　turn　until　its　arms　and　tentacles　stretched　toward　the　habitat；　and　they　glimpsed　the　mouth；　the　sharp…edged　chomping　beak　in　a　mass　of　glowing　green　muscle。
〃Oh　God。。。〃
The　squid　moved　forward。　They　could　see　each　other　in　the　glow　through　the　portholes。　It's　starting；　Norman　thought。　It's　starting；　and　this　time　we　can't　survive　it。
There　was　a　thump　as　a　tentacle　swung　against　the　habitat。　〃Jerry！〃　Ted　shouted。　His　voice　was　high；　strained　with　tension。
The　squid　paused。　The　body　moved　laterally；　and　they　could　see　the　huge　eye　staring　at　them。
〃Jerry！　Listen　to　me！〃
The　squid　appeared　to　hesitate。
〃He's　listening！〃　Ted　shouted；　and　he　grabbed　a　flashlight　off　a　wall　bracket　and　shined　it　out　the　porthole。　He　blinked　the　light　once。
The　great　body　of　the　squid　glowed　green；　then　went　momentarily　dark；　then　glowed　green　again。
〃He's　listening；〃　Beth　said。
〃Of　course　he's　listening。　He's　intelligent。〃　Ted　blinked　his　light　twice　in　rapid　succession。
The　squid　blinked　back；　twice。　〃How　can　he　do　that？〃　Norman　said。
〃It's　a　kind　of　skin　cell　called　a　chromatophore；〃　Beth　said。　〃The　animal　can　open　and　close　these　cells　at　will；　and　block　the　light。〃
Ted　blinked　three　times。
＇＇227＇＇　The　squid　blinked　three　times。　〃He　can　do　it　fast；〃　Norman　said。
〃Yes；　fast。〃
〃He's　intelligent；〃　Ted　said。　〃I　keep　telling　you。　He's　intelligent　and　he　wants　to　talk。〃
Ted　blinked　long；　short；　short。
The　squid　matched　the　pattern。
〃That's　a　baby；〃　Ted　said。　〃You　just　keep　talking　to　me；　Jerry。〃
He　flashed　a　more　plex　pattern；　and　the　squid　answered；　but　then　moved　off　to　the　left。
〃I've　got　to　keep　him　talking；〃　Ted　said。
As　the　squid　moved；　Ted　moved；　skipping　from　porthole　to　porthole；　shining　his　light。　The　squid　still　blinked　its　glowing　body　in　reply；　but　Norman　sensed　it　had　another　purpose　now。
They　all　followed　Ted；　from　D　into　C　Cyl。　Ted　flashed　his　light。　The　squid　answered；　but　still　moved　onward。　〃What's　he　doing？〃
〃Maybe　he's　leading　us。　。。。〃
〃Why？〃
They　went　to　B　Cyl；　where　the　life…support　equipment　was　located；　but　there　were　no　portholes　in　B。　Ted　moved　on　to　A；　the　airlock。　There　were　no　portholes　here；　either。　Ted　immediately　jumped　down　and　opened　the　hatch　in　the　floor；　revealing　dark　water。
〃Careful；　Ted。〃
〃I'm　telling　you；　he's　intelligent；〃　Ted　said。　The　water　at　his　feet　glowed　a　soft　green。　〃Here　he　es　now。〃　They　could　not　see　the　squid　yet；　only　the　glow。　Ted　blinked　his　light　into　the　water。
The　green　blinked　back。
〃Still　talking；〃　Ted　said。　〃And　as　long　as　he's　talking…〃　With　stunning　swiftness；　the　tentacle　smashed　up　through　the　open　water　and　swung　in　a　great　arc　around　the　airlock。　Norman　had　a　glimpse　of　a　glowing　stalk　as　thick　as　a　man's　body；　and　a　great　glowing　leaf　five　feet　long；　swinging　blindly　past　him；　and　as　he　ducked　he　saw　it　hit　Beth　and　knock　her　sideways。　Tina　was　screaming　in　terror。　Strong　ammonia　fumes　burned　their　eyes。　The　tentacle　swung　back　toward　＇＇228＇＇　Norman。　He　held　up　his　hands　to　protect　himself；　touched　slimy；　cold　flesh　as　the　giant　arm　spun　him；　slammed　him　against　the　airlock's　metal　walls。　The　animal　was　incredibly　strong。
〃Get　out；　everybody　out；　away　from　the　metal！〃　Fletcher　was　shouting。　Ted　was　scrambling　up；　away　from　the　hatch　and　the　twisting　arm；　and　he　had　almost　reached　the　door　when　the　leaf　swung　back　and　wrapped　around　him；　covering　most　of　his　body。　Ted　grunted；　pushed　at　the　leaf　with　his　hands。　His　eyes　were　wide　with　horror。
Norman　ran　forward　but　Harry　grabbed　him。　〃Leave　him！　You　can't　do　anything　now！〃
Ted　was　being　swung　back　and　forth　in　the　air　across　the　airlock；　banging　from　wall　to　wall。　His　head　dropped；　blood　ran　down　his　forehead　onto　the　glowing　tentacle。　Still　the　arm　swung　him　back　and　forth；　the　cylinder　ringing　like　a　gong　with　each　impact。
〃Get　out！〃　Fletcher　was　shouting。　〃Everybody　out！〃　Beth　scrambled　past　them。　Harry　tugged　at　Norman　just　as　the　second　tentacle　burst　above　the　surface　to　hold　Ted　in　a　pincer　grip。
〃Off　the　metal！　Damn　it；　off　the　metal！〃　Fletcher　was　shouting；　and　they　stepped　onto　the　carpet　of　B　Cyl　and　she　threw　the　switch　on　the　Green　Box　and　there　was　a　hum　from　the　generators　and　the　red　heater　banks　dimmed　as　two　million　volts　of　electricity　surged　through　the　habitat。
The　response　was　instantaneous。　The　floor　rocked　under　their　feet　as　the　habitat　was　struck　by　an　enormous　force；　and　Norman　swore　he　heard　a　scream；　though　it　might　have　been　rending　metal；　and　the　tentacles　quickly　drew　down　out　of　the　airlock。　They　had　a　last　glimpse　of　Ted's　body　as　it　was　pulled　into　the　inky　water　and　Fletcher　yanked　down　the　lever　on　the　Green　Box。　But　the　alarms　had　already　begun　to　sound；　and　the　warning　boards　lit　up。
〃Fire！〃　Fletcher　shouted。　〃Fire　in　E　Cyl！〃


Fletcher　gave　them　gas　masks；　Norman's　kept　slipping　down　his　forehead；　obscuring　his　vision。　By　the　time　＇＇229＇＇　they　reached　D　Cylinder；　the　smoke　was　dense。　They　coughed　and　stumbled；　banged　into　the　consoles。
〃Stay　low；〃　Tina　shouted；　dropping　to　her　knees。　She　was　leading　the　way；　Fletcher　had　stayed　behind　in　B。
Up　ahead；　an　angry　red　glow　outlined　the　bulkhead　door　leading　to　E。　Tina　grabbed　an　extinguisher　and　went　through　the　door；　Norman　right　behind　her。　At　first　he　thought　the　entire　cylinder　was　burning。　Fierce　flames　licked　up　the　side　padding；　dense　clouds　of　smoke　boiled　toward　the　ceiling。　The　heat　was　almost　palpable。　Tina　swung　the　extinguisher　cylinder　around；　began　to　spray　white　foam。　In　the　light　of　the　fire　Norman　saw　another　extinguisher；　grabbed　it；　but　the　metal　was　burning　hot　and　he　dropped　it　to　the　floor。
〃Fire　in　D；〃　Fletcher　said　over　the　inter。　〃Fire　in　D。〃　Jesus；　Norman　thought。　Despite　the　mask；　he　coughed　in　the　acrid　smoke。　He　picked　the　extinguisher　off　the　floor　and　began　to　spray；　it　immediately　became　cooler。　Tina　shouted　to　him；　but　he　heard　nothing　except　the　roar　of　the　flames。　He　and　Tina　were　get