Sphere (深海圓疑) 原版小說

第34部分 (第3/7頁)

；　slammed　him　against　the　airlock's　metal　walls。　The　animal　was　incredibly　strong。

〃Get　out；　everybody　out；　away　from　the　metal！〃　Fletcher　was　shouting。　Ted　was　scrambling　up；　away　from　the　hatch　and　the　twisting　arm；　and　he　had　almost　reached　the　door　when　the　leaf　swung　back　and　wrapped　around　him；　covering　most　of　his　body。　Ted　grunted；　pushed　at　the　leaf　with　his　hands。　His　eyes　were　wide　with　horror。

Norman　ran　forward　but　Harry　grabbed　him。　〃Leave　him！　You　can't　do　anything　now！〃

Ted　was　being　swung　back　and　forth　in　the　air　across　the　airlock；　banging　from　wall　to　wall。　His　head　dropped；　blood　ran　down　his　forehead　onto　the　glowing　tentacle。　Still　the　arm　swung　him　back　and　forth；　the　cylinder　ringing　like　a　gong　with　each　impact。

〃Get　out！〃　Fletcher　was　shouting。　〃Everybody　out！〃　Beth　scrambled　past　them。　Harry　tugged　at　Norman　just　as　the　second　tentacle　burst　above　the　surface　to　hold　Ted　in　a　pincer　grip。

〃Off　the　metal！　Damn　it；　off　the　metal！〃　Fletcher　was　shouting；　and　they　stepped　onto　the　carpet　of　B　Cyl　and　she　threw　the　switch　on　the　Green　Box　and　there　was　a　hum　from　the　generators　and　the　red　heater　banks　dimmed　as　two　million　volts　of　electricity　surged　through　the　habitat。

The　response　was　instantaneous。　The　floor　rocked　under　their　feet　as　the　habitat　was　struck　by　an　enormous　force；　and　Norman　swore　he　heard　a　scream；　though　it　might　have　been　rending　metal；　and　the　tentacles　quickly　drew　down　out　of　the　airlock。　They　had　a　last　glimpse　of　Ted's　body　as　it　was　pulled　into　the　inky　water　and　Fletcher　yanked　down　the　lever　on　the　Green　Box。　But　the　alarms　had　already　begun　to　sound；　and　the　warning　boards　lit　up。

〃Fire！〃　Fletcher　shouted。　〃Fire　in　E　Cyl！〃

Fletcher　gave　them　gas　masks；　Norman's