Sphere (深海圓疑) 原版小說

第38部分 (第3/7頁)

　conceived　of　himself　as　a　man　of　action。　At　least；　nothing　beyond　the　occasional　game　of　golf。　Now；　holding　the　spear　gun　ready；　he　found　he　rather　liked　the　feeling。

As　he　walked　he　noticed　the　profusion　of　sea　fans　on　the　path　between　the　spacecraft　and　the　habitat。　They　were　obliged　to　walk　around　the　fans；　which　were　sometimes　four　and　five　feet　tall；　gaudy　purple　and　blue　in　their　lights。　Norman　was　quite　sure　that　the　fans　had　not　been　down　here　when　they　first　arrived　at　the　habitat。

Now　there　were　not　only　colorful　fans；　but　schools　of　large　fish；　too。　Most　of　the　fish　were　black　with　a　reddish　stripe　across　the　back。　Beth　said　they　were　Pacific　surgeonfish；　normal　for　the　region。

Everything　is　changing；　he　thought。　It's　all　changing　around　us。　But　he　wasn't　sure　about　that。　He　didn't　really　trust　his　memory　down　here。　There　were　too　many　other　things　to　alter　his　perceptions…the　high…pressure　atmosphere；　the　injuries　he　had　received；　and　the　nagging　tension　and　fear　he　lived　with。

Something　pale　caught　his　eye。　Shining　his　light　down　on　the　bottom；　he　saw　a　wriggling　white　streak　with　a　long　thin　fin　and　black　stripes。　At　first　he　thought　it　was　an　eel。　Then　he　saw　the　tiny　head；　the　mouth。

〃Just　wait；〃　Beth　said；　putting　her　arm　on　him。　〃What　is　it？〃

〃Sea　snake。〃

〃Are　they　dangerous？〃

＇＇255＇＇　〃Not　usually。〃

〃Poisonous？〃　Harry　said。

〃Very　Poisonous。〃

The　snake　stayed　close　to　the　bottom；　apparently　looking　for　food。　The　snake　ignored　them　entirely；　and　Norman　found　it　quite　beautiful　to　watch；　particularly　as　it　moved　farther　away。

〃It　gives　me　the　creeps；〃　Beth　said。

〃Do　you　know　what　kind　it　is？〃　Norman　said。

〃It　may　be　a　Belcher's；〃　Beth　said。　〃Pacific　sea　snak