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第34部分（第1页）

〃Ten　yards。〃

For　a　moment；　the　great　creature　turned　sideways　to　the　habitat；　and　they　could　see　its　profile…the　enormous　glowing　body；　thirty　feet　long；　with　the　huge　unblinking　eye；　the　circle　of　arms；　waving　like　evil　snakes；　the　two　long　tentacles；　each　terminating　in　a　flattened；　leaf…shaped　section。

The　squid　continued　to　turn　until　its　arms　and　tentacles　stretched　toward　the　habitat；　and　they　glimpsed　the　mouth；　the　sharp…edged　chomping　beak　in　a　mass　of　glowing　green　muscle。

〃Oh　God。。。〃

The　squid　moved　forward。　They　could　see　each　other　in　the　glow　through　the　portholes。　Its　starting；　Norman　thought。　Its　starting；　and　this　time　we　cant　survive　it。

There　was　a　thump　as　a　tentacle　swung　against　the　habitat。　〃Jerry！〃　Ted　shouted。　His　voice　was　high；　strained　with　tension。

The　squid　paused。　The　body　moved　laterally；　and　they　could　see　the　huge　eye　staring　at　them。

〃Jerry！　Listen　to　me！〃

The　squid　appeared　to　hesitate。

〃Hes　listening！〃　Ted　shouted；　and　he　grabbed　a　flashlight　off　a　wall　bracket　and　shined　it　out　the　porthole。　He　blinked　the　light　once。

The　great　body　of　the　squid　glowed　green；　then　went　momentarily　dark；　then　glowed　green　again。

〃Hes　listening；〃　Beth　said。

〃Of　course　hes　listening。　Hes　intelligent。〃　Ted　blinked　his　light　twice　in　rapid　succession。

The　squid　blinked　back；　twice。　〃How　can　he　do　that？〃　Norman　said。

〃Its　a　kind　of　skin　cell　called　a　chromatophore；〃　Beth　said。　〃The　animal　can　open　and　close　these　cells　at　will；　and　block　the　light。〃

Ted　blinked　three　times。

＇＇227＇＇　The　squid　blinked　three　times。　〃He　can　do　it　fast；〃　Norman　said。

〃Yes；　fast。〃

〃Hes　intelligent；〃　Ted　said。　〃I　keep　telling　you。　Hes　intelligent　and　he　wants　to　talk。〃

Ted　blinked　long；　short；　short。

The　squid　matched　the　pattern。

〃Thats　a　baby；〃　Ted　said。　〃You　just　keep　talking　to　me；　Jerry。〃

He　flashed　a　more　plex　pattern；　and　the　squid　answered；　but　then　moved　off　to　the　left。

〃Ive　got　to　keep　him　talking；〃　Ted　said。

As　the　squid　moved；　Ted　moved；　skipping　from　porthole　to　porthole；　shining　his　light。　The　squid　still　blinked　its　glowing　body　in　reply；　but　Norman　sensed　it　had　another　purpose　now。

They　all　followed　Ted；　from　D　into　C　Cyl。　Ted　flashed　his　light。　The　squid　answered；　but　still　moved　onward。　〃Whats　he　doing？〃

〃Maybe　hes　leading　us。　。。。〃

〃Why？〃

They　went　to　B　Cyl；　where　the　life…support　equipment　was　located；　but　there　were　no　portholes　in　B。　Ted　moved　on　to　A；　the　airlock。　There　were　no　portholes　here；　either。　Ted　immediately　jumped　down　and　opened　the　hatch　in　the　floor；　revealing　dark　water。

〃Careful；　Ted。〃

〃Im　telling　you；　hes　intelligent；〃　Ted　said。　The　water　at　his　feet　glowed　a　soft　green。　〃Here　he　es　now。〃　They　could　not　see　the　squid　yet；　only　the　glow。　Ted　blinked　his　light　into　the　water。

The　green　blinked　back。

〃Still　talking；〃　Ted　said。　〃And　as　long　as　hes　talking…〃　With　stunning　swiftness；　the　tentacle　smashed　up　through　the　open　water　and　swung　in　a　great　arc　around　the　airlock。　Norman　had　a　glimpse　of　a　glowing　stalk　as　thick　as　a　mans　body；　and　a　great　glowing　leaf　five　feet　long；　swinging　blindly　past　him；　and　as　he　ducked　he　saw　it　hit　Beth　and　knock　her　sideways。　Tina　was　screaming　in　terror。　Strong　ammonia　fumes　burned　their　eyes。　The　tentacle　swung　back　toward　＇＇228＇＇　Norman。　He　held　up　his　hands　to　protect　himself；　touched　slimy；　cold　flesh　as　the　giant　arm　spun　him；　slammed　him　against　the　airlocks　metal　walls。　The　animal　was　incredibly　strong。

〃Get　out；　everybody　out；　away　from　the　metal！〃　Fletcher　was　shouting。　Ted　was　scrambling　up；　away　from　the　hatch　and　the　twisting　arm；　and　he　had　almost　reached　the　door　when　the　leaf　swung　back　and　wrapped　around　him；　covering　most　of　his　body。　Ted　grunted；　pushed　at　the　leaf　with　his　hands。　His　eyes　were　wide　with　horror。

Norman　ran　forward　but　Harry　grabbed　him。　〃Leave　him！　You　cant　do　anything　now！〃

Ted　was　being　swung　back　and　forth　in　the　air　across　the　airlock；　banging　from　wall　to　wall。　His　head　dropped；　blood　ran　down　his　forehead　onto　the　glowing　tentacle。　Still　the　arm　swung　him　back　and　forth；　the　cylinder　ringing　like　a　gong　with　each　impact。

〃Get　out！〃　Fletcher　was　shouting。　〃Everybody　out！〃　Beth　scrambled　past　them。　Harry　tugged　at　Norman　just　as　the　second　tentacle　burst　above　the　surface　to　hold　Ted　in　a　pincer　grip。