第36部分(第5/7 页)

ng　around　the　habitat　again。

Searching。

It　knows；　he　thought。　It　knows　I　have　gotten　away；　and　that　I　am　still　in　here　somewhere。　It　is　hunting　me。

But　how　did　it　know？

Norman　ducked　behind　the　galley　as　one　of　the　flat　tentacles　came　crashing　through　the　pots　and　pans；　sweeping　around；　feeling　for　him。　Norman　scrambled　back；　ing　up　against　a　large　potted　plant。　The　tentacle　was　still　searching；　moving　restlessly　across　the　floor；　banging　the　pans。　Norman　pushed　the　plant　forward；　and　the　tentacle　gripped　it；　uprooted　it　easily；　sweeping　it　away　into　the　air。

The　distraction　allowed　Norman　to　scramble　forward。　A　weapon；　he　thought。　A　weapon。

He　looked　down　to　where　the　mattress　had　fallen；　and　he　saw；　lining　the　wall　near　the　bottom　hatch；　a　series　of　silver　vertical　bars。　Spear　guns！　Somehow　he　had　missed　them　on　the　way　up。　Each　spear　gun　was　tipped　in　a　fat　bulb　like　a　hand　grenade。　Explosive　tips？　He　started　to　climb　down。

The　tentacles　were　sliding　down；　too；　following　him。　How　did　the　squid　know　where　he　was？　And　then；　as　he　passed　a　＇＇244＇＇　porthole；　he　saw　the　eye　outside　and　he　thought；　He　can　see　me；　for　God's　sake。

Stay　away　from　the　portholes。

Not　thinking　clearly。　Everything　happening　fast。　Crawling　down　past　the　explosive　crates　in　the　storage　hold；　thinking；　I　better　not　miss　in　here；　and　he　landed　with　a　clang　on　the　airlock　deck。

The　arms　were　slithering　down；　moving　down　the　cylinder　toward　him。　He　tugged　at　one　of　the　spear　guns。　It　was　strapped　to　the　wall　with　a　rubber　cord。　Norman　pulled　at　it；　tried　to　release　it。　The　tentacles　drew　closer。　He　yanked　at　the　rubber；　but　it　wouldn't　release。　What　was　wrong　with　these　snaps？

The　tentacles　were　closer。　ing　down　swiftly。