Sphere (深海圓疑) 原版小說

第32部分 (第5/7頁)

d　snakes；〃　Beth　said。

Beth　stopped　the　tape；　turned　to　Norman。　〃Seems　like　a　long　time　ago；　doesn't　it。〃

〃I　was　just　thinking　that；〃　Norman　said。

〃Does　this　mean　we're　living　life　to　the　fullest？〃

〃I　think　it　means　we're　in　mortal　peril；〃　Norman　said。　〃Why　are　you　so　interested　in　this　tape？〃

〃Because　I　have　nothing　better　to　do；　and　if　I　don't　keep　＇＇217＇＇　busy　I'm　going　to　start　screaming　and　make　one　of　those　traditional　feminine　scenes。　You've　already　seen　me　do　it　once；　Norman。〃

〃Have　I？　I　don't　remember　any　scene。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　she　said。

Norman　noticed　a　blanket　on　a　couch　in　the　corner　of　her　lab。　And　Beth　had　unclipped　one　of　the　workbench　lamps　and　mounted　it　on　the　wall　above　the　blankets。　〃You　sleeping　here　now？〃

〃Yeah；　I　like　it　here。　Up　at　the　top　of　the　cylinder…I　feel　like　the　queen　of　the　underworld。〃　She　smiled。　〃Sort　of　like　a　tree　house　when　you　were　a　kid。　Did　you　ever　have　a　tree　house　when　you　were　a　kid？〃

〃No；〃　Norman　said；　〃I　never　did。〃

〃Neither　did　I；〃　Beth　said。　〃But　it's　what　I　imagine　it　would　be；　if　I　had。〃

〃Looks　very　cozy；　Beth。〃

〃You　think　I'm　cracking　up？〃

〃No。　I　just　said　it　looks　cozy。〃

〃You　can　tell　me　if　you　think　I'm　cracking　up。〃

〃I　think　you're　fine；　Beth。　What　about　Tina？　You've　seen　her　injury？〃

〃Yes。〃　Beth　frowned。　〃And　I've　seen　these。〃　She　gestured　to　some　white　eggs　in　a　glass　container　on　the　lab　bench。

〃More　eggs？〃

〃They　were　clinging　to　Tina's　suit　when　she　came　back　in。　Her　injury　is　consistent　with　these　eggs。　Also　the　smell：　you　remember　the　smell　when　we　pulled　her　back　in？〃

Norman　remembered　very　well。　Tina　had　smelled　strongly　of　ammonia。　It　was　almost　as　if　she'd　been　doused　i