第43部分(第1/7 页)

〃Yes；〃　Beth　said。　〃Trust　me。〃

She　slipped　her　foot　into　her　suit；　and　started　zipping　it　up。

＇＇289＇＇　And　then　the　alarms　began　to　sound　throughout　the　habitat；　and　the　red　lights　flashed　again。　Norman　knew；　without　being　told；　that　it　was　the　peripheral　alarms。

Another　attack　was　beginning。

1520　HOURS

They　ran　back　through　the　lateral　connecting　corridor　directly　from　B　Cyl　into　D。　Norman　noticed　in　passing　that　the　crewmen　had　gone。　In　D；　the　alarms　were　clanging　and　the　peripheral　sensor　screens　glowed　bright　red。　Norman　glanced　at　the　video　monitors。

I　AM　ING。

Beth　quickly　scanned　the　screens。

〃Inner　thermals　are　activated。　He's　ing；　all　right。〃

They　felt　a　thump；　and　Norman　turned　to　look　out　the　porthole。　The　green　squid　was　already　outside；　the　huge　suckered　arms　coiling　around　the　base　of　the　habitat。　One　great　arm　slapped　flat　against　the　porthole；　the　suckers　distorted　against　the　glass。

I　AM　HERE。

〃Harryyy！〃　Beth　shouted。

There　was　a　tentative　jolt；　as　squid　arms　gripped　the　habitat。　The　slow；　agonizing　creak　of　metal。

Harry　came　running　into　the　room。　〃What　is　it？〃

〃You　know　what　it　is；　Harry！〃　Beth　shouted。

〃No；　no；　what　is　it？〃

〃It's　the　squid；　Harry！〃

〃Oh　my　God；　no；〃　Harry　moaned。

The　habitat　shook　powerfully。　The　room　lights　flickered　and　went　out。　There　was　only　flashing　red　now；　from　the　emergency　lights。

＇＇290＇＇　Norman　turned　to　him。　〃Stop　it；　Harry。〃

〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃　he　cried　plaintively。　〃You　know　what　I'm　talking　about；　Harry。〃

〃I　don't！〃

〃Yes；　you　do；　Harry。　It's　you；　Harry；〃　Norman　said。　〃You're　doing　it。〃

〃No；　you're　wrong。　It's　not　me！　I　swear　it's　not　me！〃

〃Yes；