Sphere (深海圓疑) 原版小說

第26部分 (第3/7頁)

mething　that　was　previously　inside　the　sphere；　and　that　is　now　released；　and　is　free　to　act。　That's　what　it　is。〃

THE　MONSTER

ALARM

Norman　awoke　to　a　shrieking　alarm　and　flashing　red　lights。　He　rolled　out　of　his　bunk；　pulled　on　his　insulated　shoes　and　his　heated　jacket；　and　ran　for　the　door；　where　he　collided　with　Beth。　The　alarm　was　screaming　throughout　the　habitat。

〃What's　happening！〃　he　shouted；　over　the　alarm。

〃I　don't　know！〃

Her　face　was　pale；　frightened。　Norman　pushed　past　her。　In　the　B　Cylinder；　among　all　the　pipes　and　consoles；　a　flashing　sign　winked：　〃LIFE　SUPPORT　EMERGENCY。〃　He　looked　for　Teeny　Fletcher；　but　the　big　engineer　wasn't　there。

He　hurried　back　toward　C　Cylinder；　passing　Beth　again。

〃Do　you　know？〃　Beth　shouted。

〃It's　life　support！　Where's　Fletcher？　Where's　Barnes？〃

〃I　don't　know！　I'm　looking！〃

〃There's　nobody　in　B！〃　he　shouted；　and　scrambled　up　the　steps　into　D　Cylinder。　Tina　and　Fletcher　were　there；　working　behind　the　puter　consoles。　The　back　panels　were　pulled　off；　exposing　wires；　banks　of　chips。　The　room　lights　were　flashing　red。

The　screens　all　flashed　〃EMERGENCY…LIFE　SUPPORT　SYSTEMS。〃

〃What's　going　on？〃　Norman　shouted。

Fletcher　waved　a　hand　dismissingly。

〃Tell　me！〃

He　turned；　saw　Harry　sitting　in　the　corner　near　Edmunds's　video　section　like　a　zombie；　with　a　pencil　and　a　pad　of　paper　on　his　knee。　He　seemed　pletely　indifferent　to　the　sirens；　the　lights　flashing　on　his　face。

〃Harry！〃

＇＇174＇＇　Harry　didn't　respond；　Norman　turned　back　to　the　two　women。

〃For　God's　sake；　will　you　tell　me　what　it　is？〃　Norman　shouted。

And　then　the　sirens　stopped。　The　screens　went　blank。　There　was　silence；　except　for　soft　classical　musi