Sphere (深海圓疑) 原版小說

第24部分 (第6/7頁)

r　these　animals　to　be　alive。　No　stomach。　No　reproductive　apparatus。　This　animal　is　like　a　bad　imitation　of　a　shrimp。〃

〃Yet　the　shrimps　are　alive；〃　Norman　said。

〃Yeah；〃　she　said。　〃They　are。〃　She　seemed　unhappy　about　it。

〃And　the　squid　were　perfectly　normal　inside。　。。。〃

＇＇158＇＇　〃Actually；　they　weren't。　When　I　dissected　one；　I　found　that　it　lacked　several　important　structures。　There's　a　nerve　bundle　called　the　stellate　ganglion　that　wasn't　there。〃

〃Well　。。。〃

〃And　there　were　no　gills；　Norman。　Squid　possess　a　long　gill　structure　for　gas　exchange。　This　one　didn't　have　one。　The　squid　had　no　way　to　breathe；　Norman。〃

〃It　must　have　had　a　way　to　breathe。〃

〃I'm　telling　you；　it　didn't。　We're　seeing　impossible　animals　down　here。　All　of　a　sudden；　impossible　animals。〃

She　turned　away　from　the　high…intensity　lamp；　and　he　saw　that　she　was　close　to　tears。　Her　hands　were　shaking；　she　quickly　dropped　them　into　her　lap。　〃You're　really　worried；〃　he　said。

〃Aren't　you？〃　She　searched　his　face。　〃Norman；〃　she　said；　〃all　this　started　when　Harry　came　out　of　the　sphere；　didn't　it？〃

〃I　guess　it　did。〃

〃Harry　came　out　of　the　sphere；　and　now　we　have　impossible　sea　life。　。。。　I　don't　like　it。　I　wish　we　could　get　out　of　here。　I　really　do。〃　Her　lower　lip　was　trembling。

He　gave　her　a　hug　and　said　gently；　〃We　can't　get　out　of　here。〃

〃I　know；〃　she　said。　She　hugged　him　back；　and　began　to　cry；　pushing　her　face　into　his　shoulder。

〃It's　all　right。　。。。〃

〃I　hate　it　when　I　get　this　way；〃　she　said。　〃I　hate　this　feeling。〃

〃I　know。　。。。。。　。

'And　I　hate　this　place。　I　hate　everything　about　it。　I　hate　Barnes　and　I　hate　Ted's　lectures　and　I　hate　Levy's　stupid　desserts。　I　wish　I　wasn't　here。〃

〃I