Sphere (深海圓疑) 原版小說

第32部分 (第7/7頁)

　big　leaf。　The　manus　is　what　the　squid　really　uses　to　catch　prey。　The　suckers　on　the　manus　are　surrounded　by　a　little　hard　ring　of　chitin；　which　is　why　you　see　the　circular　toothmarks　around　the　injury。〃

Norman　said；　〃How　would　you　fight　one？〃

〃Well；〃　Beth　said；　〃in　theory；　although　giant　squid　are　very　large；　they　are　not　particularly　strong。〃

〃So　much　for　theory；〃　Norman　said。

She　nodded。　〃Of　course；　nobody　knows　how　strong　they　are；　since　a　living　specimen　has　never　been　encountered。　We　have　the　dubious　distinction　of　being　first。〃

〃But　it　can　be　killed？〃

〃I　would　think　rather　easily。　The　squid's　brain　is　located　behind　the　eye；　which　is　about　fifteen　inches　across；　the　size　＇＇219＇＇　of　a　big　dinner　plate。　If　you　directed　an　explosive　charge　into　the　animal　anywhere　in　that　area；　you　would　almost　certainly　disrupt　the　nervous　system　and　it　would　die。〃

〃Do　you　think　Barnes　killed　the　squid？〃

She　shrugged。　〃I　don't　know。〃

〃Is　there　more　than　one　in　an　area？〃

〃I　don't　know。〃

〃Will　we　see　one　again？〃

〃I　don't　know。〃

THE　VISITOR

Norman　went　downstairs　to　the　munications　center　to　see　if　he　could　talk　to　Jerry；　but　Jerry　was　not　responding。　Norman　must　have　dozed　off　in　the　console　chair；　because　he　l