第34部分(第2/7 頁)

igent　and　he　wants　to　talk。〃

Ted　blinked　long；　short；　short。

The　squid　matched　the　pattern。

〃That's　a　baby；〃　Ted　said。　〃You　just　keep　talking　to　me；　Jerry。〃

He　flashed　a　more　plex　pattern；　and　the　squid　answered；　but　then　moved　off　to　the　left。

〃I've　got　to　keep　him　talking；〃　Ted　said。

As　the　squid　moved；　Ted　moved；　skipping　from　porthole　to　porthole；　shining　his　light。　The　squid　still　blinked　its　glowing　body　in　reply；　but　Norman　sensed　it　had　another　purpose　now。

They　all　followed　Ted；　from　D　into　C　Cyl。　Ted　flashed　his　light。　The　squid　answered；　but　still　moved　onward。　〃What's　he　doing？〃

〃Maybe　he's　leading　us。　。。。〃

〃Why？〃

They　went　to　B　Cyl；　where　the　life…support　equipment　was　located；　but　there　were　no　portholes　in　B。　Ted　moved　on　to　A；　the　airlock。　There　were　no　portholes　here；　either。　Ted　immediately　jumped　down　and　opened　the　hatch　in　the　floor；　revealing　dark　water。

〃Careful；　Ted。〃

〃I'm　telling　you；　he's　intelligent；〃　Ted　said。　The　water　at　his　feet　glowed　a　soft　green。　〃Here　he　es　now。〃　They　could　not　see　the　squid　yet；　only　the　glow。　Ted　blinked　his　light　into　the　water。

The　green　blinked　back。

〃Still　talking；〃　Ted　said。　〃And　as　long　as　he's　talking…〃　With　stunning　swiftness；　the　tentacle　smashed　up　through　the　open　water　and　swung　in　a　great　arc　around　the　airlock。　Norman　had　a　glimpse　of　a　glowing　stalk　as　thick　as　a　man's　body；　and　a　great　glowing　leaf　five　feet　long；　swinging　blindly　past　him；　and　as　he　ducked　he　saw　it　hit　Beth　and　knock　her　sideways。　Tina　was　screaming　in　terror。　Strong　ammonia　fumes　burned　their　eyes。　The　tentacle　swung　back　toward　＇＇228＇＇　Norman。　He　held　up　his　hands　to　protect　himself；　touched　slimy；　cold　flesh　as　the　giant　arm　spun　him