Sphere (深海圆疑) 原版小说-第43章

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　sky　and　breathe　some　normal　earth　air。
〃We　have　to　depress；〃　Beth　said。　〃Your　bloodstream　is　saturated　with　helium　gas　in　solution。　Right　now　you're　under　pressure；　so　everything　is　fine。　But　if　you　release　that　pressure　suddenly；　it's　just　the　same　as　when　you　pop　the　top　off　a　soda　bottle。　The　helium　will　bubble　explosively　out　of　your　system。　You'll　die　instantly。〃
〃Oh；〃　Norman　said。
＇＇235＇＇　〃Ninety…six　hours；〃　Beth　said。　〃That's　how　long　it　takes　to　get　the　helium　out　of　you。〃
〃Oh。〃
Norman　went　to　the　porthole　and　looked　across　at　DH…7；　and　the　minisub。　It　was　a　hundred　yards　away。　〃You　think　the　squid　will　e　back？〃
She　shrugged。　〃Ask　Jerry。〃
Norman　thought；　No　more　of　that　Geraldine　stuff　now。　Or　did　she　prefer　to　think　of　this　malevolent　entity　as　masculine？
〃Which　monitor　is　it？〃
〃This　one。〃　She　flicked　it　on。　The　screen　glowed。
Norman　said；　〃Jerry？　Are　you　there？〃
No　answer。
He　typed；　JERRY？　ARE　YOU　THERE？　
There　was　no　response。
〃I'll　tell　you　something　about　Jerry；〃　Beth　said。　〃He　can't　really　read　minds。　When　we　were　talking　to　him　before；　I　sent　him　a　thought　and　he　didn't　respond。〃
〃I　did；　too；〃　Norman　said。　〃I　sent　both　messages　and　images。　He　never　responded。〃
〃If　we　speak；　he　answers；　but　if　we　just　think；　he　doesn't　answer；〃　Beth　said。　〃So　he's　not　all…powerful。　He　actually　behaves　as　if　he　hears　us。〃
〃That's　right；〃　Norman　said。　〃Although　he　doesn't　seem　to　be　hearing　us　now。〃
〃No。　I　tried　earlier；　too。〃
〃I　wonder　why　he　isn't　answering。〃
〃You　said　he　was　emotional。　Maybe　he's　sulking。〃
Norman　didn't　think　so。　Child　kings　didn't　sulk。　They　were　vindictive　and　whimsical；　but　they　didn't　sulk。
〃By　the　way；〃　she　said；　〃you　might　want　to　look　at　these。〃　She　handed　him　a　stack　of　printouts。　〃They're　the　record　of　all　the　interactions　we've　had　with　him。〃
〃They　may　give　us　a　clue；〃　Norman　said；　thumbing　through　the　sheets　without　any　real　enthusiasm。　He　felt　suddenly　tired。
〃Anyway；　it'll　occupy　your　mind。〃
〃True。〃
〃Personally；〃　Beth　said；　〃I'd　like　to　go　back　to　the　ship。〃
＇＇236＇＇　〃What　for？〃
〃I'm　not　convinced　we've　found　everything　that's　there。〃
〃It's　a　long　way　to　the　ship；〃　Norman　said。
〃I　know。　But　if　we　get　a　clear　time　without　the　squid；　I　might　try　it。〃
〃Just　to　occupy　your　mind？〃
〃I　guess　you　could　say　that。〃　She　glanced　at　her　watch。　〃Norman；　I'm　going　to　get　a　couple　of　hours　of　sleep；〃　she　said。　〃Then　we　can　draw　straws　to　see　who　goes　to　the　submarine。〃
〃Okay。〃
〃You　seem　depressed；　Norman。〃
〃I　am。〃
〃Me；　too；〃　she　said。　〃This　place　feels　like　a　tomb…and　I've　been　prematurely　buried。〃
She　climbed　the　ladder　to　her　laboratory；　but　apparently　she　didn't　go　to　sleep；　because　after　a　few　moments；　he　heard　Tina's　recorded　voice　on　videotape　saying；　〃Do　you　think　they'll　ever　get　the　sphere　open？〃
And　Beth　replied；　〃Maybe。　I　don't　know。〃
〃It　scares　me。〃
The　whirr　of　rewinding　and　a　short　delay；　then：　〃Do　you　think　they'll　ever　get　the　sphere　open？〃
〃Maybe。　I　don't　know。〃
〃It　scares　me。〃
The　tape　was　being　an　obsession　with　Beth。
He　stared　at　the　printouts　on　his　lap；　and　then　he　looked　at　the　screen。　〃Jerry？〃　he　said。　〃Are　you　there？〃
Jerry　did　not　answer。

THE　SUB

She　was　shaking　his　shoulder　gently。　Norman　opened　his　eyes。
〃It's　time；〃　Beth　said。
〃Okay。〃　He　yawned。　God；　he　was　tired。　〃How　much　time　is　left？〃
〃Half　an　hour。〃
Beth　switched　on　the　sensory　array　at　the　munications　console；　adjusted　the　settings。
〃You　know　how　to　work　all　that　stuff？〃　Norman　said。　〃The　sensors？〃
〃Pretty　well。　I've　been　learning　it。〃
〃Then　I　should　go　to　the　sub；〃　he　said。　He　knew　Beth　would　never　agree；　that　she　would　insist　on　doing　the　active　thing；　but　he　wanted　to　make　the　effort。
〃Okay；〃　she　said。　〃You　go。　That　makes　sense。〃
He　covered　his　surprise。　〃I　think　so；　too。〃
〃Somebody　has　to　watch　the　array；〃　she　said。　〃And　I　can　give　you　warning　if　the　squid　is　ing。〃
〃Right；〃　he　said。　Thinking；　Hell；　she's　serious。　〃I　don't　think　this　is　one　for　Harry；〃　Norman　said。
〃No；　Harry's　not　very　physical。　And　he's　still　asleep。　I　say；　let　him　sleep。〃
〃Right；〃　Norman　said。
〃You'll　need　help　with　your　suit；〃　Beth　said。
〃Oh；　that's　right；　my　suit；〃　Norman　said。　〃The　fan　is　broken　in　my　suit。〃
〃Fletcher　fixed　it　for　you；〃　Beth　said。
〃I　hope　she　did　it　right。〃
〃Maybe　I　should　go　instead；〃　Beth　said。
〃No；　no。　You　watch　the　consoles。　I'll　go。　It's　only　a　hundred　yards　or　so；　anyway。　It　can't　be　a　big　deal。〃
〃All　clear　now；〃　she　said；　glancing　at　the　monitors。
〃Right；〃　Norman　said。


＇＇238＇＇　His　helmet　clicked　in　place；　and　beth　tapped　his　faceplate；　gave　him　a　questioning　look：　was　everything　all　right？
Norman　nodded；　and　she　opened　the　floor　hatch　for　him。　He　waved　goodbye　and　jumped　into　the　chilly　black　water。　On　the　sea　floor；　he　stood　beneath　the　hatch　for　a　moment　and　waited　to　make　sure　he　could　hear　his　circulating　fan。　Then　he　moved　out　from　beneath　the　habitat。
There　were　only　a　few　lights　on　in　the　habitat；　and　he　could　see　many　thin　lines　of　bubbles　streaming　upward；　from　the　leaking　cylinders。
〃How　are　you？〃　Beth　said；　over　the　inter。　〃Okay。　You　know　the　place　is　leaking？〃
〃It　looks　worse　than　it　is；〃　Beth　said。　〃Trust　me。〃　Norman　came　to　the　edge　of　the　habitat　and　looked　across　the　hundred　yards　of　open　sea　floor　that　separated　him　from　DH…7。　〃How　does　it　look？　Still　clear？〃
〃Still　clear；〃　Beth　said。
Norman　set　out。　He　walked　as　quickly　as　he　could；　but　he　felt　as　if　his　feet　were　moving　in　slow　motion。　He　was　soon　short　of　breath；　he　swore。
〃What's　the　matter？〃
〃I　can't　go　fast。〃　He　kept　looking　north；　expecting　at　any　moment　to　see　the　greenish　glow　of　the　approaching　squid；　but　the　horizon　remained　dark。
〃You're　doing　fine；　Norman。　Still　clear。〃
He　was　now　fifty　yards　from　the　habitat…halfway　there。　He　could　see　DH…7；　much　smaller　than　their　own　habitat；　a　single　cylinder　forty　feet　high；　with　very　few　portholes。　Alongside　it　was　the　inverted　dome；　and　the　minisub。
〃You're　almost　there；〃　Beth　said。　〃Good　work。〃
Norman　began　to　feel　dizzy。　He　slowed　his　pace。　He　could　now　see　markings　on　the　gray　surface　of　the　habitat。　There　were　all　sorts　of　block…printed　Navy　stencils。
〃Coast　is　still　clear；〃　Beth　said。　〃Congratulations。　Looks　like　you　made　it。〃
He　moved　under　the　DH…7　cylinder；　looked　up　at　the　hatch。　It　was　closed。　He　spun　the　wheel；　pushed　it　open。　He　couldn't　see　much　of　the　interior；　because　most　of　the　lights　＇＇239＇＇　were　out。　But　he　wanted　to　have　a　look　inside。　There　might　be　something；　some　weapon；　they　could　use。
〃Sub　first；〃　Beth　said。　〃You've　only　got　ten　minutes　to　push　the　button。〃
〃Right。〃
Norman　moved　to　the　sub。　Standing　behind　the　twin　screws；　he　read　the　name：　Deepstar　III。　The　sub　was　yellow；　like　the　sub　that　he　had　ridden　down；　but　its　configuration　was　somewhat　different。　He　found　handholds　on　the　side；　pulled　himself　up　into　the　pocket　of　air　trapped　inside　the　dome。　There　was　a　large　acrylic　bubble　canopy　on　top　of　the　sub　for　the　pilot；　Norman　found　the　hatch　behind；　opened　it；　and　dropped　inside。
〃I'm　in　the　sub。〃
There　was　no　answer　from　Beth。　She　probably　couldn't　hear　him；　surrounded　by　all　this　metal。　He　looked　around　the　sub；　thinking；　I'm　dripping　wet。　But　what　was　he　supposed　to　do；　wipe　his　shoes　before　entering？　He　smiled　at　the　thought。　He　found　the　tapes　secured　in　an　aft　partment。　There　was　plenty　of　room　for　more；　and　plenty　of　room　for　three　people。　But　Beth　was　right　about　going　to　the　surface：　the　interior　of　the　sub　was　crammed　with　instruments　and　sharp　edges。　If　you　got　banged　around　in　here　it　wouldn't　be　pleasant。
Where　was　the　delay　button？　He　looked　at　the　darkened　instrument　panel；　and　saw　a　single　flashing　red　light　above　a　button　marked　〃TIMER　HOLD。〃　He　pressed　the　button。
The　red　light　stopped　flashing；　and　now　remained　steadily　on。　A　small　amber　video　screen　glowed：

Timer　Reset　…　Counting　12：00：00

As　he　watched；　the　numbers　began　to　run　backward。　He　must　have　done　it；　he　thought。　The　video　screen　switched　off。　Still　looking　at　all　the　instruments；　a　thought　occurred　to　him：　in　an　emergency；　could　he　operate　this　sub？　He　slipped　into　the　pilot's　chair；　faced　the　bewildering　dials　and　switches　of　the　instrument　array。　There　didn't　seem　to　be　any　steering　＇＇240＇＇　apparatus；　no　wheel　or　joystick。　How　did　you　work　the　damned　thing？
The　video　screen　switched　on：

DEEPSTAR　III　…　MAND　MODULE

Do　you　require　help？
Yes No　 Cancel

Yes；　he　thought。　I　require　help。　He　looked　around　for　a　〃YES〃　button　near　the　screen；　but　there　wasn't　any　that　he　could　see。　Finally　he　thought　to　touch　the　screen；　pressing　〃YES。〃

DEEPSTAR　III　…　CHECKLIST　OPTIONS

Descend Ascend
Secure Shutdown
Monitor Cancel

He　pressed　〃ASCEND。〃　The　screen　changed　to　a　small　drawing　of　the　instrument　panel。　One　particular　section　of　the　drawing　blinked　on　and　off。　Beneath　the　picture　were　the　words：

DEEPSTAR　III　…　ASCEND　CHECKLIST

1。　Set　Ballast　Blowers　To：　On　
Proceed　To　Next Cancel

So　that　was　how　it　worked；　Norman　thought。　A　step…by…step　checklist　stored　in　the　sub's　puter。　All　you　had　to　do　was　follow　directions。　He　could　do　that。
A　small　surge　of　current　moved　the　sub；　swaying　it　at　its　tether。
He　pressed　the　〃CANCEL〃　and　the　screen　went　blank。　It　flashed：

Timer　Reset　…　Counting　11：53：0