第一小说网

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第30部分（第2页）

He　jerked　his　head　back；　startled；　as　something　small　and　white　drifted　past　his　faceplate。　His　heart　pounded　at　the　thought　that　it　was　a　jellyfish…but　then　he　saw　it　was　perfectly　round　and　almost　opaque。　It　was　about　the　size　of　a　golf　ball。　It　drifted　past　him。

He　looked　around。　There　were　thin　streaks　of　mucus　in　the　water。　And　many　white　spheres。

〃Whatre　these；　Beth？〃

〃Eggs。〃　Over　the　inter；　he　heard　her　take　deep　slow　breaths。　〃Lets　get　out　of　here；　Norman。　Please。〃

〃Just　another　second。〃

〃No；　Norman。　Now。〃

On　the　radio；　they　heard　an　alarm。　Distant　and　tinny；　it　seemed　to　be　transmitted　from　inside　the　habitat。　They　heard　voices；　and　then　Barness　voice；　very　loud。　〃What　the　hell　are　you　doing　out　there？〃

〃We　found　Levy；　Hal；〃　Norman　said。

〃Well；　get　back　on　the　double；　damn　it；〃　Barnes　said。　〃The　sensors　have　activated。　Youre　not　alone　out　there…and　whatevers　with　you　is　very　damn　big。〃

Norman　felt　dull　and　slow。　〃What　about　levys　body？〃

〃Drop　the　body。　Get　back　here！〃

But　the　body；　he　thought　sluggishly。　They　had　to　do　＇＇202＇＇　something　with　the　body。　He　couldnt　just　leave　the　body。

〃Whats　the　matter　with　you；　Norman？〃　Barnes　said。

Norman　mumbled　something；　and　he　vaguely　felt　Beth　grab　him　strongly　by　the　arm；　lead　him　back　toward　the　habitat。　The　water　was　now　clouded　with　white　eggs。　The　alarms　were　ringing　in　his　ears。　The　sound　was　very　loud。　And　then　he　realized：　a　new　alarm。　This　alarm　was　ringing　inside　his　suit。

He　began　to　shiver。　His　teeth　chattered　uncontrollably。　He　tried　to　speak　but　bit　his　tongue；　tasted　blood。　He　felt　numb　and　stupid。　Everything　was　happening　in　slow　motion。

As　they　approached　the　habitat；　he　could　see　that　the　eggs　were　sticking　to　the　cylinders；　clinging　densely；　making　a　nubbly　white　surface。

〃Hurry！〃　Barnes　shouted。　〃Hurry！　Its　ing　this　way！〃　They　were　under　the　airlock；　and　he　began　to　feel　surging　currents　of　water。　There　was　something　very　big　out　there。　Beth　was　pushing　him　upward　and　then　his　helmet　burst　above　the　waterline　and　Fletcher　gripped　him　with　strong　arms；　and　a　moment　after　that　Beth　was　pulled　up　and　the　hatch　slammed　shut。　Somebody　took　off　his　helmet　and　he　heard　the　alarm；　shrieking　loud　in　his　ears。　By　now　his　whole　body　was　shaking　in　spasms；　thumping　on　the　deck。　They　stripped　off　his　suit　and　wrapped　him　in　a　silver　blanket　and　held　him　until　his　shivering　lessened；　then　finally　stopped。　And　abruptly；　despite　the　alarm；　he　went　to　sleep。

MILITARY　CONSIDERATIONS

〃Its　not　your　goddamned　job；　thats　why；〃　Barnes　said。　〃You　had　no　authorization　to　do　what　you　did。　None　whatsoever。〃

＇＇203＇＇　〃Levy　might　have　still　been　alive；〃　Beth　said；　calm　in　the　face　of　Barness　fury。

〃But　she　wasnt　alive；　and　by　going　outside　you　risked　the　lives　of　two　civilian　expedition　members　unnecessarily。〃

Norman　said；　〃It　was　my　idea；　Hal。〃　Norman　was　still　wrapped　in　blankets；　but　they　had　given　him　hot　drinks　and　made　him　rest；　and　now　he　felt　better。

〃And　you；〃　Barnes　said。　〃Youre　lucky　to　be　alive。〃

〃I　guess　I　am；〃　Norman　said。　〃But　I　dont　know　what　happened。〃

〃This　is　what　happened；〃　Barnes　said；　waving　a　small　fan　in　front　of　him。　〃Your　suit　circulator　shorted　out　and　you　experienced　rapid　central　cooling　from　the　helium。　Another　couple　of　minutes　and　you　would　have　been　dead。〃

〃It　was　so　fast；〃　Norman　said。　〃I　didnt　realize…〃

〃…You　goddamn　people；〃　Barnes　said。　〃I　want　to　make　something　clear。　This　is　not　a　scientific　conference。　This　is　not　the　Underwater　Holiday　Inn；　where　you　can　do　whatever　you　please。　This　is　a　military　operation　and　you　will　damn　well　follow　military　orders。　Is　that　clear？〃

〃This　is　a　military　operation？〃　Ted　said。

〃It　is　now；〃　Barnes　said。

〃Wait　a　minute。　Was　it　always？〃

〃It　is　now。〃

〃You　havent　answered　the　question；〃　Ted　said。　〃Because　if　it　is　a　military　operation；　I　think　we　need　to　know　that。　I　personally　do　not　wish　to　be　associated　with…〃

〃…Then　leave；〃　Beth　said。

〃…a　military　operation　that　is…〃

〃…Look；　Ted；〃　Barnes　said。　〃You　know　what　this　is　costing　the　Navy？〃