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第45部分（第2页）

He　touched　her；　lost　her。　The　water　continued　to　spin　him。　He　grabbed　her。　Something。　An　arm。　He　was　already　losing　feeling；　already　feeling　slower　and　stupider。　He　pulled。　He　saw　a　ring　of　light　above　him：　the　hatch。　He　kicked　his　legs　but　he　did　not　seem　to　move。　The　circle　came　no　closer。

He　kicked　again；　dragging　Beth　like　a　dead　weight。　Perhaps　she　was　dead。　His　lungs　burned。　It　was　the　worst　pain　he　had　ever　felt　in　his　life。　He　fought　the　pain；　and　he　fought　the　angry　churning　water　and　he　kept　kicking　toward　the　light；　that　was　his　only　thought；　to　kick　to　the　light；　to　e　closer　to　the　light；　to　reach　the　light；　the　light；　the　light。　。。。

The　light。

The　images　were　confusing。　Beths　suited　body　clanging　on　the　metal；　inside　the　airlock。　His　own　knee　bleeding　on　the　metal　of　the　hatch；　the　drops　of　blood　spattering。　Beths　shaking　hands　reaching　for　her　helmet；　twisting　it；　trying　to　get　the　helmet　unlocked。　Hands　shaking。　Water　in　the　hatch；　sucking；　surging。　Lights　in　his　eyes。　A　terrible　pain　＇＇306＇＇　somewhere。　Rust　very　close　to　his　face；　a　sharp　edge　of　metal。　Cold　metal。　Cold　air。　Lights　in　his　eyes；　dimming。　Fading。　Blackness。

The　sensation　of　warmth　was　pleasant。　He　heard　a　hissing　roar　in　his　ears。　He　looked　up　and　saw　Beth；　out　of　her　suit；　looming　large　above　him；　adjusting　the　big　space　heater；　turning　the　power　up。　She　was　still　shivering；　but　she　was　turning　up　the　heat。　He　closed　his　eyes。　We　made　it；　he　thought。　Were　still　together。　Were　still　okay。　We　made　it。　He　relaxed。

There　was　a　crawly　sensation　over　his　body。　From　the　cold；　he　thought；　his　body　warming　from　the　cold。　The　crawly　sensation　was　not　pleasant。　And　the　hissing　was　not　pleasant；　either；　it　was　sibilant；　intermittent。

Something　slithered　softly　under　his　chin　as　he　lay　on　the　deck。　He　opened　his　eyes　and　saw　a　silvery　white　tube；　and　then　he　focused　and　saw　the　tiny　beady　eyes；　and　the　flicking　tongue。　It　was　a　snake。

A　sea　snake。

He　froze。　He　looked　down；　moving　only　his　eyes。　His　entire　body　was　covered　with　white　snakes。

The　crawly　sensation　came　from　dozens　of　snakes；　coiling　around　his　ankles；　sliding　between　his　legs；　over　his　chest。　He　felt　a　cool　slithering　motion　across　his　forehead。　He　closed　his　eyes；　feeling　horror　as　the　snake　body　moved　over　his　face；　down　his　nose；　brushed　over　his　lips；　then　moved　away。

He　listened　to　the　hissing　of　the　reptiles　and　thought　of　how　poisonous　Beth　had　said　they　were。　Beth；　he　thought；　where　is　Beth？

He　did　not　move。　He　felt　snakes　coiling　around　his　neck；　slipping　over　his　shoulder；　sliding　between　the　fingers　of　his　hands。　He　did　not　want　to　open　his　eyes。　He　felt　a　surge　of　nausea。

God；　he　thought。　Im　going　to　throw　up。

He　felt　snakes　under　his　armpit；　and　felt　snakes　slipping　past　his　groin。　He　burst　into　a　cold　sweat。　He　fought　nausea。　Beth；　he　thought。　He　did　not　want　to　speak。　Beth　。。。

＇＇307＇＇　He　listened　to　the　hissing　and　then；　when　he　couldnt　stand　it　any　more；　he　opened　his　eyes　and　saw　the　mass　of　coiling；　writhing　white　flesh；　the　tiny　heads；　the　flicking　forked　tongues。　He　closed　his　eyes　again。

He　felt　one　crawling　up　the　leg　of　his　jumpsuit；　moving　against　his　bare　skin。

〃Dont　move；　Norman。〃

It　was　Beth。　He　could　hear　the　tension　in　her　voice。　He　looked　up；　could　not　see　her；　only　her　shadow。

He　heard　her　say；　〃Oh　God；　what　time　is　it？〃　and　he　thought；　The　hell　with　the　time；　who　cares　what　time　it　is？　It　didnt　make　any　sense　to　him。　〃I　have　to　know　the　time；〃　Beth　was　saying。　He　heard　her　feet　moving　on　the　deck。　〃The　time　。。。〃

She　was　moving　away；　leaving　him！

The　snakes　slid　over　his　ears；　under　his　chin；　past　his　nostrils；　the　bodies　damp　and　slithering。

Then　he　heard　her　feet　on　the　deck；　and　a　metallic　clang　as　she　threw　open　the　hatch。　He　opened　his　eyes　to　see　her　bending　over　him；　grabbing　the　snakes　in　great　handfuls；　throwing　them　down　the　hatch　into　the　water。　Snakes　writhed　in　her　hands；　twisted　around　her　wrists；　but　she　shook　them　off；　tossed　them　aside。　Some　of　the　snakes　didnt　land　in　the　water　and　coiled　on　the　deck。　But　most　of　the　snakes　were　off　his　body　now。

One　more　crawling　up　his　leg；　toward　his　groin。　He　felt　it　moving　quickly　backward…she　was　pulling　it　out　by　the　tail！

〃Jesus；　careful…〃

The　snake　was　out；　flung　over　her　shoulder。

〃You　can　get　up；　Norman；〃　she　said。

He　jumped　to　his　feet；　and　promptly　vomited。

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He　had　a　murderous；　pounding　headache。　It　made　the　habitat　lights　seem　unpleasantly　bright。　And　he　was　cold。　Beth　had　wrapped　him　in　blankets　and　had　moved　him　next　to　the　big　space　heaters　in　D　Cyl；　so　close　that　the　hum　of　the　electrical　elements　was　very　loud　in　his　ears；　but　he　was　still　cold。　He　looked　down　at　her　now；　as　she　bandaged　his　cut　knee。

〃How　is　it？〃　he　said。

〃Not　good；〃　she　said。　〃Its　right　down　to　the　bone。　But　youll　be　all　right。　Its　only　a　few　more　hours　now。〃

〃Yes；　I…ouch！〃