Sphere (深海圓疑) 原版小說

第19部分 (第7/7頁)

。　A　moment　later；　the　grid　went　out；　too。

〃No　power　。。。〃

〃I　tried　to　tell　you；〃　Barnes　said。

There　was　a　whirring　sound；　and　the　lights　flickered；　then　came　back　on。　〃We　have　internal　power；　we're　running　on　our　diesels　now。〃

〃Why？〃

〃Look；〃　Ted　said；　pointing　out　the　porthole。

Outside　they　saw　what　looked　like　a　wriggling　silver　snake。　Then　Norman　realized　it　was　the　cable　that　linked　them　to　the　surface；　sliding　back　and　forth　across　the　porthole　as　it　coiled　in　great　loops　on　the　bottom。

〃They've　cut　us　free！〃

〃That's　right；〃　Barnes　said。　〃They've　got　full　gale…force　conditions　topside。　They　can　no　longer　maintain　cables　for　power　and　munications。　They　can　no　longer　use　the　submarines。　They've　taken　all　the　divers　up；　but　the　subs　can't　e　back　for　us。　At　least　not　for　a　few　days；　until　the　seas　calm　down。〃

〃Then　we're　stuck　down　here？〃

〃That's　correct。〃

〃For　how　long？〃

〃Several　days；〃　Barnes　said。

〃For　how　long？〃

〃Maybe　as　long　as　a　week。〃

〃Jesus　Christ；〃　Beth　said。

Ted　tossed　his　bag　onto　the　couch。　〃What　a　fantastic　piece　of　luck；〃　he　said。

Beth　spun。　〃Are　you　out　of　your　mind？〃

〃Let's　all　stay　calm；〃　Barnes　said。　〃Everything's　under　control。　This　is　just　a　temporary　delay。　There's　no　re