小说园

第46部分（第3页）

〃Yes；　it　did。　And　as　you　yourself　pointed　out；　the　person　causing　it　was　afraid　that　the　real　name　would　e　out　on　the　screen。〃

〃Harry；〃　Norman　said。　〃The　name　was　Harry。〃

〃And　whats　your　name？〃

〃Norman　Johnson。〃

〃Your　full　name。〃

He　paused。　Somehow　his　mouth　wasnt　working。　His　brain　was　blank。

〃Ill　tell　you　what　it　is；〃　Beth　said。　〃I　looked　it　up。　Its　Norman　Harrison　Johnson。〃

No；　he　thought。　No；　no；　no。　She　cant　be　right。

〃Its　hard　to　accept；〃　Beth　was　saying　in　her　slow；　patient；　almost　hypnotic　voice。　〃I　understand　that。　But　if　you　think　about　it；　youll　realize　you　wanted　it　to　e　to　this。　You　wanted　me　to　figure　it　out；　Norman。　Why；　just　a　few　minutes　ago；　you　even　told　me　about　The　Wizard　of　Oz；　didnt　you？　You　helped　me　along　when　I　wasnt　getting　the　point…or　at　least　your　unconscious　did。　Are　you　still　calm？〃

〃Of　course　Im　calm。〃

〃Good。　Stay　calm；　Norman。　Lets　consider　this　logically。　Will　you　cooperate　with　me？〃

〃What　do　you　want　to　do？〃

〃I　want　to　put　you　under；　Norman。　Like　Harry。〃

He　shook　his　head。

〃Its　only　for　a　few　hours；　Norman；〃　she　said；　and　then　she　seemed　to　decide；　she　moved　swiftly　toward　him；　and　he　saw　the　syringe　in　her　hand；　the　glint　of　the　needle；　and　he　twisted　away。　The　needle　plunged　into　the　blanket；　and　he　threw　it　off　and　ran　for　the　stairs。

〃Norman！　e　back　here！〃

He　was　climbing　the　stairs。　He　saw　Beth　running　forward　＇＇316＇＇　with　the　needle。　He　kicked　with　his　foot；　got　upstairs　into　her　lab；　and　slammed　the　hatch　down　on　her。

〃Norman！〃

She　pounded　on　the　hatch。　Norman　stood　on　it；　knowing　that　she　could　never　lift　his　weight。　Beth　continued　to　pound。

〃Norman　Johnson；　you　open　that　hatch　this　minute！〃

〃No；　Beth；　Im　sorry。〃

He　paused。　What　could　she　do？　Nothing；　he　thought。　He　was　safe　here。　She　couldnt　get　to　him　up　here；　she　couldnt　do　anything　to　him　as　long　as　he　remained　here。

Then　he　saw　the　metal　pivot　move　in　the　center　of　the　hatch　between　his　feet。　On　the　other　side　of　the　hatch；　Beth　was　spinning　the　wheel。

Locking　him　in。

0600　HOURS

The　only　lights　in　the　laboratory　shone　on　the　bench；　next　to　a　row　of　neatly　bottled　specimens：　squid；　shrimps；　giant　squid　eggs。　He　touched　the　bottles　absently。　He　turned　on　the　laboratory　monitor　and　punched　buttons　until　he　saw　Beth；　downstairs；　on　the　video。　Beth　was　working　at　the　main　D　Cyl　console。　To　one　side；　he　saw　Harry；　still　lying　unconscious。

〃Norman；　can　you　hear　me？〃

He　said　aloud；　〃Yes；　Beth。　I　hear　you。〃

〃Norman；　you　are　acting　irresponsibly。　You　are　a　menace　to　this　entire　expedition。〃

Was　that　true？　he　wondered。　He　didnt　think　he　was　a　menace　to　the　expedition。　It　didnt　feel　true　to　him。　But　how　often　in　his　life　had　he　confronted　patients　who　refused　to　acknowledge　what　was　happening　in　their　lives？　Even　tr