Sphere (深海圓疑) 原版小說

第45部分 (第2/7頁)

darkness　beyond　the　lights。　It　was　like　a　tornado；　a　swirling　cloud　of　muddy　sediment。　He　couldn't　see　what　was　inside　the　cloud；　but　he　sensed　the　power　within　it。

〃Close…Nor…〃

Beth　stumbled；　fell。　The　swirling　cloud　moved　toward　her。

I　WILL　KILL　YOU　NOW。

Beth　got　to　her　feet；　looked　back；　saw　the　churning　cloud　bearing　down　on　her。　Something　about　it　filled　Norman　with　a　deep　horror；　a　horror　from　childhood；　the　stuff　of　nightmares。

〃Normannnnnn　。。。〃

＇＇305＇＇　Then　Norman　was　running；　not　really　knowing　what　he　was　going　to　do；　but　propelled　by　the　vision　he　had　seen；　thinking　only　that　he　had　to　do　something；　he　had　to　take　some　action；　and　he　went　through　B　into　A　and　looked　at　his　suit　but　there　wasn't　time　and　the　black　water　in　the　open　hatch　was　spitting　and　swirling　and　he　saw　Beth's　gloved　hand　below　the　surface；　flailing；　she　was　right　there　beneath　him；　and　she　was　the　only　other　one；　and　without　thinking　he　jumped　into　the　black　water　and　went　down。

The　shock　of　the　cold　made　him　want　to　scream；　it　tore　at　his　lungs。　His　whole　body　was　instantly　numb；　and　he　felt　a　second　of　hideous　paralysis。　The　water　churned　and　tossed　him　like　a　great　wave；　he　was　powerless　to　fight　it；　his　head　banged　on　the　underside　of　the　habitat。　He　could　see　nothing　at　all。

He　reached　for　Beth；　throwing　his　arms　blindly　in　all　directions。　His　lungs　burned。　The　water　spun　him　in　circles；　upended　him。

He　touched　her；　lost　her。　The　water　continued　to　spin　him。　He　grabbed　her。　Something。　An　arm。　He　was　already　losing　feeling；　already　feeling　slower　and　stupider。　He　pulled。　He　saw　a　ring　of　light　above　him：　the　hatch。　He　kicked　his　legs　but　he　did　not　seem　to　move。　The　circle　came　no　closer。

He　kicked　again；　dragging　B