小说园

第43部分（第1页）

〃Yes；〃　Beth　said。　〃Trust　me。〃

She　slipped　her　foot　into　her　suit；　and　started　zipping　it　up。

＇＇289＇＇　And　then　the　alarms　began　to　sound　throughout　the　habitat；　and　the　red　lights　flashed　again。　Norman　knew；　without　being　told；　that　it　was　the　peripheral　alarms。

Another　attack　was　beginning。

1520　HOURS

They　ran　back　through　the　lateral　connecting　corridor　directly　from　B　Cyl　into　D。　Norman　noticed　in　passing　that　the　crewmen　had　gone。　In　D；　the　alarms　were　clanging　and　the　peripheral　sensor　screens　glowed　bright　red。　Norman　glanced　at　the　video　monitors。

I　AM　ING。

Beth　quickly　scanned　the　screens。

〃Inner　thermals　are　activated。　Hes　ing；　all　right。〃

They　felt　a　thump；　and　Norman　turned　to　look　out　the　porthole。　The　green　squid　was　already　outside；　the　huge　suckered　arms　coiling　around　the　base　of　the　habitat。　One　great　arm　slapped　flat　against　the　porthole；　the　suckers　distorted　against　the　glass。

I　AM　HERE。

〃Harryyy！〃　Beth　shouted。

There　was　a　tentative　jolt；　as　squid　arms　gripped　the　habitat。　The　slow；　agonizing　creak　of　metal。

Harry　came　running　into　the　room。　〃What　is　it？〃

〃You　know　what　it　is；　Harry！〃　Beth　shouted。

〃No；　no；　what　is　it？〃

〃Its　the　squid；　Harry！〃

〃Oh　my　God；　no；〃　Harry　moaned。

The　habitat　shook　powerfully。　The　room　lights　flickered　and　went　out。　There　was　only　flashing　red　now；　from　the　emergency　lights。

＇＇290＇＇　Norman　turned　to　him。　〃Stop　it；　Harry。〃

〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃　he　cried　plaintively。　〃You　know　what　Im　talking　about；　Harry。〃

〃I　dont！〃

〃Yes；　you　do；　Harry。　Its　you；　Harry；〃　Norman　said。　〃Youre　doing　it。〃

〃No；　youre　wrong。　Its　not　me！　I　swear　its　not　me！〃

〃Yes；　Harry；〃　Norman　said。　〃And　if　you　dont　stop　it；　well　all　die。〃

The　habitat　shook　again。　One　of　the　ceiling　heaters　exploded；　showering　fragments　of　hot　glass　and　wire。　〃e　on；　Harry。　。。。〃

〃No；　no！〃

〃Theres　not　much　time。　You　know　youre　doing　it。〃

〃The　habitat　cant　take　much　more；　Norman；〃　Beth　said。

〃It　cant　be　me！〃

〃Yes；　Harry。　Face　it；　Harry。　Face　it　now。〃

Even　as　he　spoke；　Norman　was　looking　for　the　syringe。　He　had　left　it　somewhere　in　this　room；　but　papers　were　sliding　off　the　desktops；　monitors　crashing　to　the　floor；　chaos　all　around　him。　。。。

The　whole　habitat　rocked　again；　and　there　was　a　tremendous　explosion　from　another　cylinder。　New；　rising　alarms　sounded；　and　a　roaring　vibration　that　Norman　instantly　recognized…water；　under　great　pressure；　rushing　into　the　habitat。

〃Flooding　in　C！〃　Beth　shouted；　reading　the　consoles。　She　ran　down　the　corridor。　He　heard　the　metal　clang　of　bulkhead　doors　as　she　shut　them。　The　room　was　filled　with　salty　mist。

Norman　pushed　Harry　against　the　wall。　〃Harry！　Face　it　and　stop　it！〃

〃It　cant　be　me；　it　cant　be　me；〃　Harry　moaned。　Another　jolting　impact；　staggering　them。

〃It　cant　be　me！〃　Harry　cried。　〃It　has　nothing　to　do　with　me！〃

And　then　Harry　screamed；　and　his　body　twisted；　and　Norman　saw　Beth　withdraw　the　syringe　from　his　shoulder；　the　needle　tipped　with　blood。