第45部分(第1/7 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。

〃Don't　you　see　anything　out　here？〃　Beth　said。

〃No。　I　don't　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。　It's　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　couldn't　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。　I'm　here。〃

〃Norman；　I　don't　know　if　I　can　make　it。〃

〃Beth；　you　can　make　it。　Slow　down。〃

〃It's　here；　I　can　feel　it。〃

〃I　don't　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　didn't　understand。

〃…cold；　Norman。〃

〃Slow　down；　Beth。〃

〃Can't…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