小说园

第52部分（第2页）

Beth　was　huddled　in　the　back；　wedged　among　pipes；　crying　like　a　child。　She　held　one　of　the　explosive…tipped　spear　guns　in　her　hand。　She　looked　at　him　tearfully。

〃Oh；　Norman；〃　she　said。　〃You　were　going　to　leave　us。　。。。〃

〃Im　sorry。　I　was　wrong。〃

He　started　toward　her；　holding　out　his　hands　to　her。　She　swung　the　spear　gun　around。　〃No；　you　were　right。　You　were　right。　I　want　you　to　leave　now。〃

Above　her　head　he　saw　a　glowing　monitor；　the　numbers　clicking　inexorably　backward：　08：27　。。。　08：26　。。。

He　thought；　I　can　change　this。　I　want　the　numbers　to　stop　counting。

The　numbers　did　not　stop。

〃You　cant　fight　me；　Norman；〃　she　said；　huddled　in　the　corner。　Her　eyes　blazed　with　furious　energy。

〃I　can　see　that。〃

〃There　isnt　much　time；　Norman。　I　want　you　to　leave。〃　She　held　the　gun；　pointed　firmly　toward　him。　He　had　a　sudden　sense　of　the　absurdity　of　it　all；　that　he　had　e　back　to　rescue　someone　who　didnt　want　to　be　rescued。　What　could　he　do　now？　Beth　was　wedged　back　in　there；　beyond　his　reach；　beyond　his　help。　There　was　barely　enough　time　for　him　to　get　away；　let　alone　to　take　Harry。　。。。

Harry；　he　thought　suddenly。　Where　was　Harry　now？　I　want　Harry　to　help　me。

But　he　wondered　if　there　was　time；　the　numbers　were　clicking　backward；　there　was　hardly　more　than　eight　minutes；　now。　。。。

〃I　came　back　for　you；　Beth。〃

〃Go；〃　she　said。　〃Go　now；　Norman。〃

〃But；　Beth…〃

〃…No；　Norman！　I　mean　it！　Go！　Why　dont　you　go？〃　And　then　she　began　to　get　suspicious；　she　started　to　look　around；　and　at　that　moment　Harry　stood　up　behind　her；　and　swung　the　big　wrench　down　on　her　head；　and　there　was　a　sickening　thud；　and　she　fell。

〃Did　I　kill　her？〃　Harry　said。

＇＇353＇＇　And　the　deep　male　voice　said；　〃Attention；　please。　Eight　minutes　and　counting。〃

Norman　concentrated　on　the　clock　as　it　ticked　backwards。　Stop。　Stop　the　countdown。

But　when　he　looked　again；　the　clock　was　still　ticking　backwards。　And　the　alarm：　Was　the　alarm　interfering　with　his　concentration？　He　tried　again。

Stop　now。　The　countdown　will　stop　now。　The　countdown　has　stopped。

〃Forget　it；〃　Harry　said。　〃It　wont　work。〃

〃But　it　should　work；〃　Norman　said。

〃No；〃　Harry　said。　〃Because　shes　not　pletely　unconscious。〃

On　the　floor　at　their　feet；　Beth　groaned。　Her　leg　moved。　〃Shes　still　able　to　control　it；　somehow；〃　Norman　said。　〃Shes　very　strong。〃

〃Can　we　inject　her？〃

Norman　shook　his　head。　There　was　no　time　to　go　back　for　the　syringe。　Anyway；　if　they　injected　her　and　it　didnt　work；　it　would　be　time　wasted…

〃Hit　her　again？〃　Harry　said。　〃Harder？　Kill　her？〃

〃No；〃　Norman　said。

〃Killing　her　is　the　only　way…〃

〃…No；〃　Norman　said；　thinking；　We　didnt　kill　you；　Harry；　when　we　had　the　chance。

〃If　you　wont　kill　her；　then　you　cant　do　anything　about　that　timer；〃　Harry　said。　〃So　we　better　get　the　hell　out。〃

They　ran　for　the　airlock。

〃How　much　time　is　left？〃　Harry　said。　They　were　in　the　A　Cyl　airlock；　trying　to　put　the　suit　on　Beth。　She　was　groaning；　blood　was　matted　on　the　back　of　her　head。　Beth　struggled　a　little；　making　it　more　difficult。

〃Jesus；　Beth…how　much　time；　Norman？〃