Sphere (深海圆疑) 原版小说-第58部分

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〃Three　to　six　hours。〃
〃And　how　fast　does　it　take　effect？〃
She　frowned。　〃It　doesn't　say。　'After　appropriate　depth　of　anesthesia　is　induced；　even　extensive　surgical　procedures　may　be　begun　。。。'　But　it　doesn't　say　how　long　it　takes。〃
〃Hell；〃　Norman　said。
〃It's　probably　fast；〃　Beth　said。
〃But　what　if　it　isn't？〃　Norman　said。　〃What　if　it　takes　twenty　minutes？　And　can　you　fight　it？　Fight　it　off？〃
She　shook　her　head。　〃Nothing　about　that　here。〃
In　the　end　they　decided　on　a　mixture　of　parasolutrine；　paracin；　dulcinea；　and　sintag；　the　opiate。　Norman　filled　a　large　syringe　with　the　clear　liquids。　The　syringe　was　so　big　it　looked　like　something　for　horses。
〃You　think　it　might　kill　him？〃　Beth　said。
〃I　don't　know。　Do　we　have　a　choice？〃
〃No；〃　Beth　said。　〃We've　got　to　do　it。　Have　you　ever　given　an　injection　before？〃
Norman　shook　his　head。　〃You？〃
〃Only　lab　animals。〃
〃Where　do　I　stick　it？〃
〃Do　it　in　the　shoulder；〃　Beth　said。　〃While　he's　asleep。〃　Norman　turned　the　syringe　up　to　the　light；　and　squirted　a　few　drops　from　the　needle　into　the　air。　〃Okay；〃　he　said。
〃I　better　e　with　you；〃　Beth　said；　〃and　hold　him　down。〃
〃No；〃　Norman　said。　〃If　he's　awake　and　sees　both　of　us　ing；　he'll　be　suspicious。　Remember；　you　don't　sleep　in　the　bunks　any　more。〃
〃But　what　if　he　gets　violent？〃
〃I　think　I　can　handle　this。〃
〃Okay；　Norman。　Whatever　you　say。〃

*　*　*
＇＇286＇＇　The　lights　in　the　corridor　of　C　Cyl　seemed　unnaturally　bright。　Norman　heard　his　feet　padding　on　the　carpet；　heard　the　constant　hum　of　the　air　handlers　and　the　space　heaters。　He　felt　the　weight　of　the　syringe　concealed　in　his　palm。　He　came　to　the　door　to　the　sleeping　quarters。
Two　female　Navy　crewmen　were　standing　outside　the　bulkhead　door。　They　snapped　to　attention　as　he　approached。　〃Dr。　Johnson；　sir！〃
Norman　paused。　The　women　were　handsome；　black；　and　muscular…looking。　〃At　ease；　men；〃　Norman　said　with　a　smile。
They　did　not　relax。　〃Sorry；　sir！　We　have　our　orders；　sir！〃　〃I　see；〃　Norman　said。　〃Well；　carry　on；　then。〃　He　started　to　move　past　them　into　the　sleeping　area。
〃Beg　your　pardon；　Dr。　Johnson；　sir！〃　They　barred　his　way。
〃What　is　it？〃　Norman　asked；　as　innocently　as　he　could　manage。
〃This　area　is　off…limits　to　all　personnel；　sir！〃
〃But　I　want　to　go　to　sleep。〃
〃Very　sorry；　Dr。　Johnson；　sir！　No　one　may　disturb　Dr。　Adams　while　he　sleeps；　sir！〃
〃I　won't　disturb　Dr。　Adams。〃
〃Sorry；　Dr。　Johnson；　sir！　May　we　see　what　is　in　your　hand；　sir！〃
〃In　my　hand？〃
〃Yes；　there　is　something　in　your　hand；　sir！〃
Their　snapping；　machine…gun　delivery；　always　punctuated　by　the　〃sir！〃　at　the　end；　was　getting　on　his　nerves。　He　looked　at　them　again。　The　starched　uniforms　covered　powerful　muscles。　He　didn't　think　he　could　force　his　way　past　them。　Beyond　the　door　he　saw　Harry；　lying　on　his　back；　snoring。　It　was　a　perfect　moment　to　inject　him。
〃Dr。　Johnson；　may　we　see　what　is　in　your　hand；　sir！〃
〃No；　damn　it；　you　may　not。〃
〃Very　good；　Sir！〃
Norman　turned；　and　walked　back　to　D　Cyl。

*　*　*
〃I　saw；〃　Beth　said；　nodding　to　the　monitor。
Norman　looked　at　the　monitor；　at　the　two　women　in　the　corridor。　Then　he　looked　at　the　adjacent　monitor；　which　showed　the　sphere。
〃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　s