Sphere (深海圓疑) 原版小說

第53部分 (第2/7頁)

t　blue。　He　pushed　buttons；　slowing　the　ascent。　They　were　going　up　very　fast。

Harry　was　screaming；　pounding　Norman　on　the　back。　〃We　did　it！　God　damn　it；　you　son　of　a　bitch；　we　did　it！　We　survived！　I　never　thought　we　would！　We　survived！〃

Norman　was　having　trouble　seeing　the　instruments　for　tears　in　his　eyes。

And　then　he　had　to　squint　as　bright　sunlight　streamed　into　the　bubble　canopy　as　they　surfaced；　and　they　saw　calm　seas；　sky；　and　fluffy　clouds。

〃Do　you　see　that？〃　Harry　cried。　He　was　screaming　in　Norman's　ear。　〃Do　you　see　that？　It　is　a　perfect　goddamned　day！〃

0000　HOURS

Norman　awoke　to　see　a　brilliant　shaft　of　light；　streaming　through　the　single　porthole；　shining　down　on　the　chemical　toilet　in　the　corner　of　the　depression　chamber。　He　lay　on　his　bunk　and　looked　around　the　chamber；　a　horizontal　cylinder　fifty　feet　long：　bunks；　a　metal　table　and　chairs　in　the　center　of　the　cylinder；　toilet　behind　a　small　partition。　Harry　snored　in　the　bunk　above　him。　Across　the　chamber；　Beth　slept；　one　arm　flung　over　her　face。　Faintly；　from　a　distance；　he　heard　men　shouting。

Norman　yawned；　and　swung　off　the　bunk。　His　body　was　sore　but　he　was　otherwise　all　right。　He　walked　to　the　shining　porthole　and　looked　out；　squinting　in　the　bright　Pacific　sun。

He　saw　the　rear　deck　of　the　research　ship　John　Hawes：　the　white　helicopter　pad；　heavy　coiled　cables；　the　tubular　metal　frame　of　an　underwater　robot。　A　Navy　crew　was　lowering　a　second　robot　over　the　side；　with　a　lot　of　shouting　and　swearing　and　waving　of　hands；　Norman　had　heard　their　voices　faintly　through　the　thick　steel　walls　of　the　chamber。

Near　the　chamber　itself；　a　muscular　seaman　rolled　a　large　green　tank　marked　〃Oxygen〃　alongside　a　dozen　other　tanks　on　the　deck。　The　three…man　m