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第24部分（第4页）

＇＇158＇＇　〃Actually；　they　werent。　When　I　dissected　one；　I　found　that　it　lacked　several　important　structures。　Theres　a　nerve　bundle　called　the　stellate　ganglion　that　wasnt　there。〃

〃Well　。。。〃

〃And　there　were　no　gills；　Norman。　Squid　possess　a　long　gill　structure　for　gas　exchange。　This　one　didnt　have　one。　The　squid　had　no　way　to　breathe；　Norman。〃

〃It　must　have　had　a　way　to　breathe。〃

〃Im　telling　you；　it　didnt。　Were　seeing　impossible　animals　down　here。　All　of　a　sudden；　impossible　animals。〃

She　turned　away　from　the　high…intensity　lamp；　and　he　saw　that　she　was　close　to　tears。　Her　hands　were　shaking；　she　quickly　dropped　them　into　her　lap。　〃Youre　really　worried；〃　he　said。

〃Arent　you？〃　She　searched　his　face。　〃Norman；〃　she　said；　〃all　this　started　when　Harry　came　out　of　the　sphere；　didnt　it？〃

〃I　guess　it　did。〃

〃Harry　came　out　of　the　sphere；　and　now　we　have　impossible　sea　life。　。。。　I　dont　like　it。　I　wish　we　could　get　out　of　here。　I　really　do。〃　Her　lower　lip　was　trembling。

He　gave　her　a　hug　and　said　gently；　〃We　cant　get　out　of　here。〃

〃I　know；〃　she　said。　She　hugged　him　back；　and　began　to　cry；　pushing　her　face　into　his　shoulder。

〃Its　all　right。　。。。〃

〃I　hate　it　when　I　get　this　way；〃　she　said。　〃I　hate　this　feeling。〃

〃I　know。　。。。。。　。

And　I　hate　this　place。　I　hate　everything　about　it。　I　hate　Barnes　and　I　hate　Teds　lectures　and　I　hate　Levys　stupid　desserts。　I　wish　I　wasnt　here。〃

〃I　know。　。。。〃

She　sniffled　for　a　moment；　then　abruptly　pushed　him　away　with　her　strong　arms。　She　turned　away；　wiped　her　eyes。　〃Im　all　right；〃　she　said。　〃Thanks。〃

〃Sure；〃　he　said。

She　remained　turned　away；　her　back　to　him。　〃Wheres　the　＇＇159＇＇　damn　Kleenex？〃　She　found　one；　blew　her　nose。　〃You　wont　say　anything　to　the　others。　。。。〃

〃Of　course　not。〃

A　bell　rang；　startling　her。　〃Jesus；　whats　that？〃

〃I　think　its　dinner；〃　Norman　said。

DINNER

〃I　dont　know　how　you　can　eat　those　things；〃　Harry　said；　pointing　to　the　squid。

〃Theyre　delicious；〃　Norman　said。　〃Sautéed　squid。〃　As　soon　as　he　had　sat　at　the　table；　he　became　aware　of　how　hungry　he　was。　And　eating　made　him　feel　better；　there　was　a　reassuring　normalcy　about　sitting　at　a　table；　with　a　knife　and　fork　in　his　hands。　It　was　almost　possible　to　forget　where　he　was。

〃I　especially　like　them　fried；〃　Tina　said。

〃Fried　calamari；〃　Barnes　said。　〃Wonderful。　My　favorite。〃

〃I　like　them　fried；　too；〃　Edmunds；　the　archivist；　said。　She　sat　primly；　very　erect；　eating　her　food　precisely。　Norman　noticed　that　she　put　her　knife　down　between　bites。

〃Why　arent　these　fried？〃　Norman　said。

〃We　cant　deep…fry　down　here；〃　Barnes　said。　〃The　hot　oil　forms　a　suspensi