第44部分(第2/7 页)

　back　down　the　stairs　quickly。

In　fact；　the　staircase　was　new；　too。　It　was　black　anodized　metal。　It　hadn't　been　that　way　before。　This　was　a　new　descending　staircase。

〃Norm？〃

〃In　a　minute；　Beth。〃

He　went　to　the　console　and　started　punching　buttons。　He　had　seen　a　file　before；　on　habitat　parameters　or　something　like　that。　He　finally　found　it：

DEEPHAB…8　MIPPR　DESIGN　PARAMETERS

5。024A　Cylinder　A

5。024B　Cylinder　B

5。024C　Cylinder　C

5。024D　Cylinder　D

5。024E　Cylinder　E

Choose　one：

He　chose　Cyl　D；　and　another　screen　appeared。　He　chose　design　plans。　He　got　page　after　page　of　architectural　drawings。　He　flicked　through　them；　stabbing　at　the　keys；　until　he　came　to　the　detail　plans　for　the　biological　laboratory　at　the　top　of　D　Cyl。

Clearly　shown　in　the　drawings　was　a　large　sunlamp　bank；　hinged　to　fold　back　against　the　wall。　It　must　have　been　there　all　the　time；　he　just　hadn't　ever　noticed　it。　There　were　lots　of　other　details　he　hadn't　noticed…like　the　emergency　escape　＇＇298＇＇　hatch　in　the　domed　ceiling　of　the　lab。　And　the　fact　that　there　was　a　second　foldout　bunk　near　the　floor　entrance。　And　a　black　anodized　descending　staircase。

You're　in　a　panic；　he　thought。　And　it　has　nothing　to　do　with　sunlamps　and　architectural　drawings。　It　doesn't　e　even have　to　do　with　sex。　You're　in　a　panic　because　Beth　is　the　only　one　left　besides　you；　and　Beth　isn't　acting　like　herself。

In　the　corner　of　the　screen；　he　watched　the　small clock　tick　backward；　the　seconds　clicking　off　with　agonizing　slowness。　Twelve　more　hours；　he　thought。　I've　just　got　to　last　twelve　more　hours；　and　everything　will　be　all　right。

He　was　hungry；　but　he　knew　there　wasn't　any　food。　He　was　tired；　but　there　wasn't　anypla