Sphere (深海圓疑) 原版小說

第51部分 (第5/7頁)

tat。　The　Tevac　explosives'　cones　with　their　blinking　red　lights　looked　oddly　festive。

〃Your　attention；　please。　Fourteen　minutes　and　counting。〃　He　estimated　the　time　he　would　need。　One　minute　to　get　inside。　Five；　maybe　six　minutes　to　dress　Beth　and　Harry　in　＇＇348＇＇　the　suits。　Another　four　minutes　to　reach　the　sub　and　get　them　aboard。　Two　or　three　minutes　to　make　the　ascent。

It　was　going　to　be　close。　He　moved　beneath　the　big　support　pylons；　under　the　habitat。

〃So　you　came　back；　Norman；〃　Beth　said；　over　the　inter。

〃Yes；　Beth。〃

〃Thank　God；〃　she　said。　She　started　to　cry。　He　was　beneath　A　Cyl；　hearing　her　sobs　over　the　inter。　He　found　the　hatch　cover；　spun　the　wheel　to　open　it。　It　was　locked　shut。

〃Beth；　open　the　hatch。〃

She　was　crying　over　the　inter。　She　didn't　answer　him。

〃Beth；　can　you　hear　me？　Open　the　hatch。〃

Crying　like　a　child；　sobbing　hysterically。　〃Norman；〃　she　said。　〃Please　help　me。　Please。〃

〃I'm　trying　to　help　you；　Beth。　Open　the　hatch。〃

〃I　can't。〃

〃What　do　you　mean；　you　can't？〃

〃It　won't　do　any　good。〃

〃Beth；〃　he　said。　〃e　on；　now。。。　。〃

〃I　can't　do　it；　Norman。〃

〃Of　course　you　can。　Open　the　hatch；　Beth。〃

〃You　shouldn't　have　e　back；　Norman。〃

There　was　no　time　for　this　now。　〃Beth；　pull　yourself　together。　Open　the　hatch。〃

〃No；　Norman；　I　can't。〃

And　she　began　crying　again。

He　tried　all　the　hatches；　one　after　another。　B　Cyl；　locked。　C　Cyl；　locked。　D　Cyl；　locked。

〃Your　attention；　please。　Thirteen　minutes　and　counting。〃　He　was　standing　by　E　Cyl；　which　had　been　flooded　in　an　earlier　attack。　He　saw　the　gaping；　jagged　tear　in　the　outer　cylinder　surface。　The　hole　was　large　enough　for　him　to　climb　through；　but　the　edges　were　sh