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第42部分（第4页）

〃Okay；　Norman。　Whatever　you　say。〃

*　*　*

＇＇286＇＇　The　lights　in　the　corridor　of　C　Cyl　seemed　unnaturally　bright。　Norman　heard　his　feet　padding　on　the　carpet；　heard　the　constant　hum　of　the　air　handlers　and　the　space　heaters。　He　felt　the　weight　of　the　syringe　concealed　in　his　palm。　He　came　to　the　door　to　the　sleeping　quarters。

Two　female　Navy　crewmen　were　standing　outside　the　bulkhead　door。　They　snapped　to　attention　as　he　approached。　〃Dr。　Johnson；　sir！〃

Norman　paused。　The　women　were　handsome；　black；　and　muscular…looking。　〃At　ease；　men；〃　Norman　said　with　a　smile。

They　did　not　relax。　〃Sorry；　sir！　We　have　our　orders；　sir！〃　〃I　see；〃　Norman　said。　〃Well；　carry　on；　then。〃　He　started　to　move　past　them　into　the　sleeping　area。

〃Beg　your　pardon；　Dr。　Johnson；　sir！〃　They　barred　his　way。

〃What　is　it？〃　Norman　asked；　as　innocently　as　he　could　manage。

〃This　area　is　off…limits　to　all　personnel；　sir！〃

〃But　I　want　to　go　to　sleep。〃

〃Very　sorry；　Dr。　Johnson；　sir！　No　one　may　disturb　Dr。　Adams　while　he　sleeps；　sir！〃

〃I　wont　disturb　Dr。　Adams。〃

〃Sorry；　Dr。　Johnson；　sir！　May　we　see　what　is　in　your　hand；　sir！〃

〃In　my　hand？〃

〃Yes；　there　is　something　in　your　hand；　sir！〃

Their　snapping；　machine…gun　delivery；　always　punctuated　by　the　〃sir！〃　at　the　end；　was　getting　on　his　nerves。　He　looked　at　them　again。　The　starched　uniforms　covered　powerful　muscles。　He　didnt　think　he　could　force　his　way　past　them。　Beyond　the　door　he　saw　Harry；　lying　on　his　back；　snoring。　It　was　a　perfect　moment　to　inject　him。

〃Dr。　Johnson；　may　we　see　what　is　in　your　hand；　sir！〃

〃No；　damn　it；　you　may　not。〃

〃Very　good；　Sir！〃

Norman　turned；　and　walked　back　to　D　Cyl。

*　*　*

〃I　saw；〃　Beth　said；　nodding　to　the　monitor。

Norman　looked　at　the　monitor；　at　the　two　women　in　the　corridor。　Then　he　looked　at　the　adjacent　monitor；　which　showed　the　sphere。

〃The　sphere　has　changed！〃　Norman　said。

The　convoluted　grooves　of　the　doorway　were　definitely　altered；　the　pattern　more　plex；　and　shifted　farther　up。　Norman　felt　sure　it　was　changed。

〃I　think　youre　right；〃　Beth　said。　〃When　did　that　happen？〃

〃We　can　run　the　tapes　back　later；〃　she　said。　〃Right　now　wed　better　take　care　of　those　two。〃

〃How？〃　Norman　said。

〃Simple；〃　Beth　said；　bunching　her　fists　again。　〃We　have　five　explosive　spearheads　in　B　Cyl。　Ill　go　into　B；　get　two　of　them；　blow　the　guardian　angels　away。　You　run　in　and　jab　Harry。〃

Her　cold…blooded　determination　would　have　been　chilling　if　she　didnt　look　so　beautiful。　There　was　a　refined　quality　to　her　features　now。　She　seemed　to　grow　more　elegant　by　the　minute。

〃The　spear　guns　are　in　B？〃　Norman　said。

〃Sure。　Look　on　video。〃　She　pressed　a　button。　〃Hell。〃　In　B　Cyl　the　spearguns　were　missing。

〃I　think　the　son　of　a　bitch　has　covered　his　bases；〃　Norman　said。　〃Good　old　Harry。〃