第30部分(第1/7 页)

＇＇199＇＇　〃I　don't　know。　They　might　be。〃

〃Let's　get　going；〃　Norman　said。

He　tasted　the　dry　metallic　pressed　air　inside　his　helmet　and　felt　the　numbing　cold　of　the　water　as　he　slid　through　the　floor　hatch　and　fell　in　darkness　to　the　soft　muddy　bottom。　Moments　later；　Beth　landed　just　behind　him。

〃Okay？〃　she　said。

〃Fine。〃

〃I　don't　see　any　jellyfish；〃　she　said。

〃No。　Neither　do　I。〃

They　moved　out　from　beneath　the　habitat；　turned；　and　looked　back。　The　habitat　lights　shone　harshly　into　their　eyes；　obscuring　the　outlines　of　the　cylinders　rising　above。　They　could　clearly　hear　the　rhythmic　thumping；　but　they　still　could　not　locate　the　source　of　the　sound。　They　walked　beneath　the　stanchions　to　the　far　side　of　the　habitat；　squinting　into　the　lights。

〃There；〃　Beth　said。

Ten　feet　above　them；　a　blue…suited　figure　was　wedged　in　a　light　stand　bracket。　The　body　moved　loosely　in　the　current；　the　bright…yellow　helmet　banging　intermittently　against　the　wall　of　the　habitat。

〃Can　you　see　who　it　is？〃　Beth　said。

〃No。〃　The　lights　were　shining　directly　in　his　face。　Norman　climbed　up　one　of　the　heavy　supporting　stanchions　that　anchored　the　habitat　to　the　bottom。　The　metal　surface　was　covered　with　a　slippery　brown　algae。　His　boots　kept　sliding　off　the　pipes　until　finally　he　saw　that　there　were　built…in　indented　footholds。　Then　he　climbed　easily。

Now　the　feet　of　the　body　were　swinging　just　above　his　head。　Norman　climbed　another　step；　and　one　of　the　boots　caught　in　the　loop　of　the　air　hose　that　ran　from　his　tank　pack　to　his　helmet。　He　reached　behind　his　helmet；　trying　to　free　himself　from　the　body。　The　body　shivered；　and　for　an　awful　moment　he　thought　it　was　still　alive。　Then　the　boot　came　free　in　his　hand；　and　a　na