第52部分(第6/7 頁)

　He　tried　to　twist　her　around　sideways。　In　the　confined　space；　he　couldn't　get　any　leverage　on　the　body。　Beth　was　like　a　dead　weight；　he　tried　to　shift　her　body　around；　to　get　to　the　hatch。

The　whole　submarine　began　to　sway：　Harry　was　climbing　up　the　side。

〃What　the　hell's　going　on　in　there？〃

〃Harry；　will　you　shut　up！〃

〃Well；　what's　the　delay？〃

＇＇356＇＇　Norman's　hand　closed　on　the　inner　latch　handle。　He　shoved　it　down；　but　the　door　didn't　move：　the　door　was　hinged　to　swing　inward。　He　couldn't　open　it　with　Beth　in　the　hatch　with　him。　It　was　too　crowded；　her　body　blocked　the　movement　of　the　door。

〃Harry；　we've　got　a　problem。〃

〃Jesus　Christ　。。。　Three　minutes　thirty。〃

Norman　began　to　sweat。　They　were　really　in　trouble　now。

〃Harry；　I've　got　to　pass　her　out　to　you；　and　go　in　alone。〃

〃Jesus；　Norman　。。。〃

Norman　flooded　the　airlock；　opened　the　upper　hatch　once　again。　Harry's　balance　atop　the　submarine　was　precarious。　He　grabbed　Beth　by　the　air　hose；　dragged　her　up。

Norman　reached　up　to　close　the　hatch。

〃Harry；　can　you　get　her　feet　out　of　the　way？〃

〃I'm　trying　to　keep　my　balance　here。〃

〃Can't　you　see　her　feet　are　blocking…〃　Irritably；　Norman　pushed　Beth's　feet　aside。　The　hatch　clanged　down。　The　air　blasted　past　him。　The　hatch　pressurized。

〃Attention；　please。　Two　minutes　and　counting。〃

He　was　inside　the　submarine。　The　instruments　glowed　green。

He　opened　the　inner　hatch。

〃Norman？〃

〃Try　and　get　her　down；〃　Norman　said。　〃Do　it　as　fast　as　you　can。〃

But　he　was　thinking　they　were　in　terrible　trouble：　at　least　thirty　seconds　to　get　Beth　into　the　hatch；　and　thirty　seconds　more　for　Harry　to　e　down。　A　minute　all　together…

〃She's　in。　Vent　it。