Sphere (深海圆疑) 原版小说-第52章

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〃The　sphere　has　changed！〃　Norman　said。
The　convoluted　grooves　of　the　doorway　were　definitely　altered；　the　pattern　more　plex；　and　shifted　farther　up。　Norman　felt　sure　it　was　changed。
〃I　think　you're　right；〃　Beth　said。　〃When　did　that　happen？〃
〃We　can　run　the　tapes　back　later；〃　she　said。　〃Right　now　we'd　better　take　care　of　those　two。〃
〃How？〃　Norman　said。
〃Simple；〃　Beth　said；　bunching　her　fists　again。　〃We　have　five　explosive　spearheads　in　B　Cyl。　I'll　go　into　B；　get　two　of　them；　blow　the　guardian　angels　away。　You　run　in　and　jab　Harry。〃
Her　cold…blooded　determination　would　have　been　chilling　if　she　didn't　look　so　beautiful。　There　was　a　refined　quality　to　her　features　now。　She　seemed　to　grow　more　elegant　by　the　minute。
〃The　spear　guns　are　in　B？〃　Norman　said。
〃Sure。　Look　on　video。〃　She　pressed　a　button。　〃Hell。〃　In　B　Cyl　the　spearguns　were　missing。
〃I　think　the　son　of　a　bitch　has　covered　his　bases；〃　Norman　said。　〃Good　old　Harry。〃
Beth　looked　at　him　thoughtfully。　〃Norman；　are　you　feeling　okay？〃
〃Sure；　why？〃
〃There's　a　mirror　in　the　first…aid　kit。　Go　look。〃
He　opened　the　white　box　of　the　kit　and　looked　at　himself　in　the　mirror。　He　was　shocked　by　what　he　saw。　Not　that　he　expected　to　look　good；　he　was　accustomed　to　the　pudgy　contours　of　his　own　face；　and　the　gray　stubble　of　his　beard　when　he　didn't　shave　on　weekends。
But　the　face　staring　back　at　him　was　lean；　with　a　coarse；　jet…black　beard。　There　were　dark　circles　beneath　smoldering；　＇＇288＇＇　bloodshot　eyes。　His　hair　was　lank　and　greasy；　hanging　over　his　forehead。　He　looked　like　a　dangerous　man。
〃I　look　like　Dr。　Jekyll；〃　he　said。　〃Or；　rather；　Mr。　Hyde。〃
〃Yeah。　You　do。〃
〃You're　getting　more　beautiful；〃　he　said　to　Beth。　〃But　I'm　the　man　who　was　mean　to　Jerry。　So　I'm　getting　meaner。〃
〃You　think　Harry's　doing　this？〃
〃I　think　so；〃　Norman　said。　Adding　to　himself：　I　hope　so。　〃You　feel　different；　Norman？〃
〃No；　I　feel　exactly　the　same。　I　just　look　like　hell。〃
〃Yes。　You　look　a　little　frightening。〃
〃I'm　sure　I　do。〃
〃You　really　feel　fine？〃
〃Beth　。。。〃
〃Okay；〃　Beth　said。　She　turned；　looked　back　at　the　monitors。　〃I　have　one　last　idea。　We　both　get　to　A　Cyl；　put　on　our　suits；　get　into　B　Cyl；　and　shut　down　the　oxygen　in　the　rest　of　the　habitat。　Make　Harry　unconscious。　His　guards　will　disappear；　we　can　go　in　and　jab　him。　What　do　you　think？〃
〃Worth　a　try。〃
Norman　put　down　the　syringe。　They　headed　off　toward　A　Cyl。
In　C　Cyl；　they　passed　the　two　guards；　who　again　snapped　to　attention。
〃Dr。　Halpern；　sir！〃
〃Dr。　Johnson；　sir！〃
〃Carry　on；　men；〃　Beth　said。
〃Yes；　sir！　May　we　ask　where　you　are　going；　sir！〃
〃Routine　inspection　tour；〃　Beth　said。
There　was　a　pause。　〃Very　good；　sir！〃
They　were　allowed　to　pass。　They　moved　into　B　Cyl；　with　its　array　of　pipes　and　machinery。　Norman　glanced　at　it　nervously；　he　didn't　like　screwing　around　with　the　life…support　systems；　but　he　didn't　see　what　else　they　could　do。
In　A　Cyl；　there　were　three　suits　left。　Norman　reached　for　his。　〃You　know　what　you're　doing？〃　he　asked。
〃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；