Sphere (深海圓疑) 原版小說

第19部分 (第6/7頁)

y　left　something　on　that　she　shouldn't　have；〃　Ted　said；　shaking　his　head。

In　the　munications　console；　the　mood　was　grim。　Barnes　was　on　the　phone　with　the　surface　vessels。　〃Say　that　again；〃　he　said。　〃I　want　to　hear　who's　authorized　that。〃　He　was　frowning；　angry。

They　looked　at　Tina。　〃How's　the　weather　on　the　surface？〃

〃Deteriorating　fast；　apparently。〃

Barnes　spun：　〃Will　you　idiots　keep　it　down？〃

Norman　dropped　his　day　bag　on　the　floor。　Beth　was　sitting　near　the　portholes；　tired；　rubbing　her　eyes。　Tina　was　turning　off　the　monitors；　one　after　another；　when　she　suddenly　stopped。

〃Look。〃

On　one　monitor；　they　saw　the　polished　sphere。　Harry　was　standing　next　to　it。

〃What's　he　doing　there？〃

〃Didn't　he　e　back　with　us？〃

〃I　thought　he　did。〃

〃I　didn't　notice；　I　assumed　he　did。〃

〃God　damn　it；　I　thought　I　told　you　people…〃　Barnes　began；　and　then　stopped。　He　stared　at　the　monitor。

On　the　screen；　Harry　turned　toward　the　video　camera　and　made　a　short　bow。

〃Ladies　and　gentlemen；　your　attention；　please。　I　think　you　will　find　this　of　interest。〃

Harry　turned　to　face　the　sphere。　He　stood　with　his　arms　at　his　sides；　relaxed。　He　did　not　move　or　speak。　He　closed　his　eyes。　He　took　a　deep　breath。

The　door　to　the　sphere　opened。

〃Not　bad；　huh？〃　Harry　said；　with　a　sudden　grin。

Then　Harry　stepped　inside　the　sphere。　The　door　closed　behind　him。

*　*　*

＇＇125＇＇　They　all　began　talking　at　once。　Barnes　was　shouting　over　everyone　else；　shouting　for　quiet；　but　no　one　paid　any　attention　until　the　lights　in　the　habitat　went　out。　They　were　plunged　into　darkness。

Ted　said；　〃What's　happened？〃

The　only　light　came　through　the　portholes；　faintly；　from　the　grid　lights