Sphere (深海圓疑) 原版小說

第32部分 (第6/7頁)

n　smelling　salts。

Beth　said；　〃As　far　as　I　know；　there's　only　one　animal　that　smells　of　ammonia　that　way。　Architeuthis　sanctipauli。〃

〃Which　is？〃

〃One　of　the　species　of　giant　squid。〃

〃That's　what　attacked　us？〃

〃I　think　so；　yes。〃

She　explained　that　little　was　known　about　the　giant　squid；　because　the　only　specimens　studied　were　dead　animals　that　＇＇218＇＇　washed　ashore；　generally　in　a　state　of　advanced　decay；　and　reeking　of　ammonia。　For　most　of　human　history；　the　giant　squid　was　considered　a　mythical　sea　monster；　like　the　kraken。　But　in　1861　the　first　reliable　scientific　reports　appeared；　after　a　French　warship　managed　to　haul　in　fragments　of　one　dead　animal。　And　many　killed　whales　which　showed　scars　from　giant　suckers；　testimony　of　undersea　battles。　Whales　were　the　only　known　predator　of　the　giant　squid…the　only　animals　large　enough　to　be　predators。

〃By　now；〃　Beth　said；　〃giant　squid　have　been　observed　in　every　major　ocean　of　the　world。　There　are　at　least　three　distinct　species。　The　animals　grow　very　large　and　can　weigh　a　thousand　pounds　or　more。　The　head　is　about　twenty　feet　long；　with　a　crown　of　eight　arms。　Each　arm　is　about　ten　feet　long；　with　long　rows　of　suckers。　In　the　center　of　the　crown　is　a　mouth　with　a　sharp　beak；　like　a　parrot's　beak；　except　the　jaws　are　seven　inches　long。〃

〃Levy's　torn　suit？〃

〃Yes。〃　She　nodded。　〃The　beak　is　mounted　in　a　ring　of　muscle　so　it　can　twist　in　circles　as　it　bites。　And　the　radula…the　tongue　of　the　squid…has　a　raspy；　file…like　surface。〃

〃Tina　mentioned　something　about　a　leaf；　a　brown　leaf。〃　〃The　giant　squid　has　two　tentacles　that　extend　out　much　further　than　the　arms；　as　long　as　forty　feet。　Each　tentacle　ends　in　a　flattened　'manus'　or　'palm；'　which　looks　very　much　like　a