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第31部分（第4页）

The　first　impact　came　suddenly；　knocking　them　off　their　feet。　They　tumbled；　rolling　on　the　floor。　All　around　them；　the　habitat　creaked　and　groaned；　the　sounds　frighteningly　loud。　Norman　scrambled　to　his　feet…he　saw　Fletcher　bleeding　from　her　forehead…and　the　second　impact　hit。　Norman　was　thrown　sideways　against　the　bulkhead。　There　was　a　metallic　clang　as　his　head　struck　metal；　a　sharp　pain；　and　then　Barnes　landed　on　top　of　him；　grunting　and　cursing。　Barnes　pushed　his　hand　in　Normans　face　as　he　struggled　to　his　feet；　Norman　slid　back　to　the　floor　and　a　video　monitor　crashed　alongside　him；　spitting　sparks。

By　now　the　habitat　was　swaying　like　a　building　in　an　earthquake。　They　clutched　consoles；　panels；　doorways　to　keep　their　balance。　But　it　was　the　noise　that　Norman　found　most　frightening…the　incredibly　loud　metallic　groans　and　cracks　as　the　cylinders　were　shaken　on　their　moorings。

The　creature　was　shaking　the　entire　habitat。

Barnes　was　on　the　far　side　of　the　room；　trying　to　make　his　way　to　the　bulkhead　door。　He　had　a　bleeding　gash　along　one　arm　and　he　was　shouting　orders；　but　Norman　couldnt　hear　anything　except　the　terrifying　sound　of　rending　metal。　He　saw　Fletcher　squeeze　through　the　bulkhead；　and　then　Tina；　and　then　Barnes　made　it　through；　leaving　behind　a　bloody　handprint　on　the　metal。

Norman　couldnt　see　Harry；　but　Beth　lurched　toward　him；　holding　her　hand　out；　saying　〃Norman！　Norman！　We　have　to…〃　and　then　she　slammed　into　him　and　he　was　knocked　＇＇211＇＇　over　and　he　fell　onto　the　carpet；　underneath　the　couch；　and　slid　up　against　the　cold　outer　wall　of　the　cylinder；　and　he　realized　with　horror　that　the　carpet　was　wet。

The　habitat　was　leaking。

He　had　to　do　something；　he　struggled　back　to　his　feet；　and　stood　right　in　a　fine　sizzling　spray　from　one　of　the　wall　seams。　He　glanced　around；　saw　other　leaks　spurting　from　the　ceiling；　the　walls。

This　place　is　going　to　be　torn　apart。

Beth　grabbed　him；　pulled　her　head　close。　〃Were　leaking！〃　she　shouted。　〃God；　were　leaking！〃

〃I　know；〃　Norman　said；　and　Barnes　shouted　over　the　inter；　〃Positive　pressure！　Get　positive　pressure！〃　Norman　saw　Ted　on　the　floor　just　before　he　tripped　over　him　and　fell　heavily　against　the　puter　consoles；　his　face　near　the　screen；　the　glowing　letters　large　before　him：

DO　NOT　BE　AFRAID。

〃Jerry！〃　Ted　was　shouting。　〃Stop　this；　Jerry！　Jerry！〃

Suddenly　Harrys　face　was　next　to　Ted；　glasses　askew。　〃Save　your　breath；　hes　going　to　kill　us　all！〃

〃He　doesnt　understand；〃　Ted　shouted；　as　he　fell　backward　onto　the　couch；　flailing　arms。

The　powerful　wrenching　of　metal　on　metal　continued　without　pause；　throwing　Norman　from　one　side　to　the　other。　He　kept　reaching　for　handholds；　but　his　hands　were　wet；　and　he　couldnt　seem　to　grasp　anything。

〃Now　hear　this；〃　Barnes　said　over　the　inter。　〃Chan　and　I　are　going　outside！　Fletcher　assumes　mand！〃

〃Dont　go　out！〃　Harry　shouted。　〃Dont　go　out　there！〃

〃Opening　hatch　now；〃　Barnes　said　laconically。　〃Tina；　you　follow　me。〃

〃Youll　be　killed！〃　Harry　shouted；　and　then　he　was　thrown　against　Beth。　Norman　was　on　the　floor　again；　he　banged　his　head　on　one　of　the　couch　legs。

〃Were　outside；〃　Barnes　said。

And　abruptly　the　banging　stopped。　The　habitat　was　motionless。　They　did　not　move。　With　the　water　streaming　in　through　a　dozen　fine；　misty　leaks；　they　looked　up　at　the　inter　speaker；　and　listened。

*　*　*

＇＇212＇＇　〃Clear　of　the　hatch；〃　Barnes　said。　〃Our　status　is　good。　Armament；　J…9　exploding　head　spears　loaded　with　Taglin…50　charges。　Well　show　this　bastard　a　trick　or　two。〃

Silence。

〃Water　。。。　Visibility　is　poor。　Visibility　under　five　feet。　Seems　to　be　。。。　stirred…up　bottom　sediment　and　。。。　very　black；　dark。　Feeling　our　way　along　buildings。〃

Silence。

〃North　side。　Going　east　now。　Tina？〃

Silence。

〃Tina？〃

〃Behind　you；　sir。〃

〃All　right。　Put　your　hand　on　my　tank　so　you…Good。　Okay。〃

Silence。

Inside　the　cylinder；　Ted　sighed。　〃I　dont　think　they　should　kill　it；〃

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