Sphere (深海圓疑) 原版小說

第41部分 (第4/7頁)

y'll　be　here　in　a　little　more　than　sixteen　hours。〃

〃And　autoset？〃

They　had　the　answer　immediately。　Every　screen　in　the　habitat　flickered。　In　the　upper　right　corner　of　each　appeared　a　small　box　with　numbers：　16：20：00。　The　numbers　ran　backward。

〃It's　automatically　counting　down　for　us。〃

〃Is　there　some　kind　of　countdown　we're　supposed　to　follow　for　leaving　the　habitat？〃　Beth　said。

Norman　watched　the　numbers。　They　were　rolling　backward；　just　as　they　had　on　the　submarine。　Then　he　said；　〃What　about　the　submarine？〃

〃Who　cares　about　the　submarine；〃　Harry　said。

〃I　think　we　should　keep　it　with　us；〃　Beth　said。　She　checked　her　watch。　〃We　have　another　four　hours　before　it　has　to　be　reset。〃

〃Plenty　of　time。〃

＇＇278＇＇　〃Yes。〃

Privately；　Norman　was　trying　to　gauge　whether　they　could　survive　for　sixteen　more　hours。

Harry　said；　〃Well；　this　is　great　news！　Why　are　you　two　so　hangdog？〃

〃Just　wondering　if　we'll　make　it；〃　Norman　said。

〃Why　shouldn't　we　make　it？〃　Harry　said。

〃Jerry　might　do　something　first；〃　Beth　said。　Norman　felt　a　burst　of　irritation　with　her。　Didn't　she　realize　that　by　saying　that；　she　was　planting　the　idea　in　Harry's　mind？

〃We　can't　survive　another　attack　on　the　habitat；〃　Beth　said。

Norman　thought；　Shut　up；　Beth。　You're　making　suggestions。

〃An　attack　on　the　habitat？〃　Harry　said。

Quickly；　Norman　said；　〃Harry；　I　think　you　and　I　should　talk　to　Jerry　again。〃

〃Really？　Why？〃

〃I　want　to　see　if　I　can　reason　with　him。〃

〃I　don't　know　if　you　can；〃　Harry　said。　〃Reason　with　him。〃

〃Let's　try　anyway；〃　Norman　said；　with　a　glance　at　Beth。　〃It's　worth　a　try。〃

Norman　knew　he　would　not　really　be　talking　to　Jerry。　He　would　be　talking　to