Sphere (深海圓疑) 原版小說

第32部分 (第3/7頁)

　the　middle　of　the　room；　the　spray　can　in　hand。　〃Not　as　pretty　as　it　was；〃　she　said。

〃Will　it　hold？〃

〃Sure；　but　I　guarantee　you：　we　can't　survive　another　one　of　those　attacks。〃

〃What　about　the　electronics。　They　working？〃

〃I　haven't　checked；　but　it　should　be　okay。　It's　all　waterproofed。〃

Norman　nodded。　〃Any　sign　of　Captain　Barnes？〃　He　looked　at　the　bloody　handprint　on　the　wall。

〃No；　sir。　No　sign　of　the　Captain　at　all。〃　Fletcher　followed　his　eyes　to　the　wall。　〃I'll　clean　the　place　up　in　a　minute；　sir。〃

〃Where's　Tina？〃　Norman　asked。

〃Resting。　In　E　Cyl。〃

Norman　nodded。　〃E　Cyl　any　drier　than　this？〃

〃Yes；〃　Fletcher　said。　〃It's　a　funny　thing。　There　was　＇＇215＇＇　nobody　in　E　Cyl　during　the　attack；　and　it　stayed　pletely　dry。〃

〃Any　word　from　Jerry？〃

〃No　contact；　sir；　no。〃

Norman　flicked　on　one　of　the　puter　consoles。

〃Jerry；　are　you　there？〃

The　screen　remained　blank。

〃Jerry？〃

He　waited　a　moment；　then　turned　the　console　off。

Tina　said；　〃look　at　it　now。〃　She　sat　up；　and　drew　the　blanket　back　to　expose　her　left　leg。

The　injury　was　much　worse　than　when　they　had　heard　her　screaming　and　had　run　through　the　habitat　and　pulled　her　up　through　the　A　Cyl　hatch。　Now；　running　diagonally　down　her　leg　was　a　series　of　saucer…shaped　welts；　the　center　of　each　puffed　and　purple。　〃It's　swollen　a　lot　in　the　last　hour；〃　Tina　said。

Norman　examined　the　injuries。　Fine　tooth…marks　ringed　swollen　areas。　〃Do　you　remember　what　it　felt　like？〃　he　said。　〃It　felt　awful；〃　Tina　said。　〃It　felt　sticky；　you　know；　like　sticky　glue　or　something。　And　then　each　one　of　these　round　places　burned。　Very　strong。〃

〃And　what　could　you　see？　Of　the　creature　itself。〃　〃Just…it　was　a　long　fl