第46部分(第1/7 页)

〃Well；〃　Beth　said；　〃whatever　the　reason；　you　saved　my　life。　Thank　you。〃

〃Any　time；〃　Norman　said。　He　smiled。　〃Just　don't　do　it　again。〃

〃No；　I　won't　be　going　out　again。〃

She　brought　back　a　drink　in　a　paper　cup。　It　was　syrupy　and　sweet。

〃What　is　this？〃

〃Isotonic　glucose　supplement。　Drink　it。〃

He　sipped　it　again；　but　it　was　unpleasantly　sweet。　Across　the　room；　the　console　screen　still　said　I　WILL　KILL　YOU　NOW。　He　looked　at　Harry；　still　unconscious；　with　the　intravenous　line　running　into　his　arm。

Harry　had　been　unconscious　all　this　time。

He　hadn't　faced　the　implications　of　that。　It　was　time　to　do　it　now。　He　didn't　want　to　do　it；　but　he　had　to。　He　said；　〃Beth；　why　do　you　think　all　this　is　happening？〃

〃All　what？〃

〃The　screen；　printing　words。　And　another　manifestation　ing　to　attack　us。〃

Beth　looked　at　him　in　a　flat；　neutral　way。　〃What　do　you　think；　Norman？〃

〃It's　not　Harry。〃

〃No。　It's　not。〃

〃Then　why　is　it　happening？〃　Norman　said。　He　got　up；　pulling　the　blankets　tighter　around　him。　He　flexed　his　bandaged　knee；　it　hurt；　but　not　too　badly。　Norman　moved　to　the　porthole　and　looked　out　the　window。　In　the　distance　he　could　＇＇311＇＇　see　the　string　of　red　lights；　from　the　explosives　Beth　had　set　and　armed。　He　had　never　understood　why　she　had　wanted　to　do　that。　She　had　acted　so　strangely　about　the　whole　thing。　He　looked　down　toward　the　base　of　the　habitat。

Red　lights　were　glowing　there；　too；　just　below　the　porthole。　She　had　armed　the　explosives　around　the　habitat。

〃Beth；　what　have　you　done？〃

〃Done？〃

〃You　armed　the　explosives　around　DH…8。〃

〃Yes；　Norman；〃　she　said。　She　stood　watching　him；　very　still；　very　calm。

〃Beth；　you　promised　you　wouldn't　do　t