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第45部分（第1页）

the　inter。

〃Can　you　see　anything；　Norman？〃

〃No；　nothing。〃　He　was　straining　to　look　toward　the　horizon；　where　the　squid　had　always　appeared。　The　first　thing　had　always　been　a　green　glow　on　the　horizon。　But　he　saw　no　glow　now。

Beth　was　panting。

〃I　can　feel　something；　Norman。　I　feel　the　water　。。。　surging　。。。　strong。　。。。〃

The　screen　flashed：

I　WILL　KILL　YOU。

〃Dont　you　see　anything　out　here？〃　Beth　said。

〃No。　I　dont　see　anything　at　all。〃　He　saw　Beth；　alone　on　the　muddy　bottom。　Her　light　the　solitary　focus　of　his　attention。

＇＇304＇＇　〃I　can　feel　it；　Norman。　Its　close。　Jesus　God。　What　about　the　alarms？〃

〃Nothing；　Beth。〃

〃Jesus。〃　Her　breath　came　in　hissing　gasps　as　she　ran。　Beth　was　in　good　shape；　but　she　couldnt　exert　herself　like　that　in　this　atmosphere。　Not　for　long；　he　thought。　Already　he　could　see　she　was　moving　more　slowly；　the　helmet　lamp　bobbing　more　slowly。

〃Norman？〃

〃Yes；　Beth。　Im　here。〃

〃Norman；　I　dont　know　if　I　can　make　it。〃

〃Beth；　you　can　make　it。　Slow　down。〃

〃Its　here；　I　can　feel　it。〃

〃I　dont　see　anything；　Beth。〃

He　heard　a　rapid　sharp　clicking　sound。　At　first　he　thought　it　was　static　on　the　line；　and　then　he　realized　it　was　her　teeth　chattering　as　she　shivered。　With　this　exertion　she　should　be　getting　overheated；　but　instead　she　was　getting　cold。　He　didnt　understand。

〃…cold；　Norman。〃

〃Slow　down；　Beth。〃

〃Cant…talking…close…〃

She　was　slowing　down；　despite　herself。　She　had　e　into　the　area　of　the　habitat　lights；　and　she　was　no　more　than　ten　yards　from　the　hatch；　but　he　could　see　her　limbs　moving　slowly；　clumsily。

And　now　at　last　he　could　see　something　swirling　the　muddy　sediment　behind　her；　in　the　darkness　beyond　the　lights。　It　was　like　a　tornado；　a　swirling　cloud　of　muddy　sediment。　He　couldnt　see　what　was　inside　the　cloud；　but　he　sensed　the　power　within　it。

〃Close…Nor…〃

Beth　stumbled；　fell。　The　swirling　cloud　moved　toward　her。

I　WILL　KILL　YOU　NOW。

Beth　got　to　her　feet；　looked　back；　saw　the　churning　cloud　bearing　down　on　her。　Something　about　it　filled　Norman　with　a　deep　horror；　a　horror　from　childhood；　the　stuff　of　nightmares。

〃Normannnnnn　。。。〃

＇＇305＇＇　Then　Norman　was　running；　not　really　knowing　what　he　was　going　to　do；　but　propelled　by　the　vision　he　had　seen；　thinking　only　that　he　had　to　do　something；　he　had　to　take　some　action；　and　he　went　through　B　into　A　and　looked　at　his　suit　but　there　wasnt　time　and　the　black　water　in　the　open　hatch　was　spitting　and　swirling　and　he　saw　Beths　gloved　hand　below　the　surface；　flailing；　she　was　right　there　beneath　him；　and　she　was　the　only　other　one；　and　without　thinking　he　jumped　into　the　black　water　and　went　down。

The　shock　of　the　cold　made　him　want　to　scream；　it　tore　at　his　lungs。　His　whole　body　was　instantly　numb；　and　he　felt　a　second　of　hideous　paralysis。　The　water　churned　and　tossed　him　like　a　great　wave；　he　was　powerless　to　fight　it；　his　head　banged　on　the　underside　of　the　habitat。　He　could　see　nothing　at　all。

He　reached　for　Beth；　throwing　his　arms　blindly　in　all　directions。　His　lungs　burned。　The　water　spun　him　in　circles；　upended　him。