Sphere (深海圓疑) 原版小說

第7部分 (第4/7頁)

〃Do　you　get　much　exercise；　Dr。　Johnson？〃

〃Some。〃　He　was　feeling　defensive　now。　And　the　towel　was　too　small　to　wrap　around　his　waist。　Why　did　the　Navy　use　such　small　towels？

〃Do　you　drink？〃

〃Some。〃　He　was　feeling　distinctly　defensive。　No　question　about　it。

〃May　I　ask　when　you　last　consumed　an　alcoholic　beverage；　sir？〃

〃I　don't　know。　Two；　three　days　ago。〃　He　was　having　trouble　thinking　back　to　San　Diego。　It　seemed　so　far　away。　〃Why？〃

〃That's　fine；　Dr。　Johnson。　Any　trouble　with　joints；　hips　or　knees？〃

〃No；　why？〃

〃Episodes　of　syncope；　faintness　or　blackouts？〃

〃No　。。。〃

〃If　you　would　just　sit　over　here；　sir。〃　The　corpsman　pointed　to　a　stool；　next　to　an　electronic　device　on　the　wall。　〃I'd　really　like　some　answers；〃　Norman　said。

〃Just　stare　at　the　green　dot；　both　eyes　wide　open。　。。。〃

He　felt　a　brief　blast　of　air　on　both　eyes；　and　blinked　instinctively。　A　printed　strip　of　paper　clicked　out。　The　corpsman　tore　it　off；　glanced　at　it。

〃That's　fine；　Dr。　Johnson。　If　you　would　e　this　way　。。。〃　〃I'd　like　some　information　from　you；〃　Norman　said。　〃I'd　like　to　know　what's　going　on。〃

〃I　understand；　sir；　but　I　have　to　finish　your　workup　in　time　for　your　next　briefing　at　seventeen　hundred　hours。〃

Norman　lay　on　his　back；　and　technicians　stuck　needles　in　both　arms；　and　another　in　his　leg　at　the　groin。　He　yelled　in　sudden　pain。

〃That's　the　worst　of　it；　sir；〃　the　corpsman　said；　packing　the　syringes　in　ice。　〃If　you　will　just　press　this　cotton　against　it；　here　。。。〃

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＇＇42＇＇　There　was　a　clip　over　his　nostrils；　a　mouthpiece　between　his　teeth。

〃This　is　to　measure　your　CO2〃　the　corpsman　said。　〃Just　exhale。　That's　right。　Big　breath；　now　exhale。　。。。〃

Norman　exhal