第51部分(第1/7 頁)

uickly；　effortlessly…he　would　reach　the　surface　in　two　and　a　half　minutes。

There　was　plenty　of　time。

He　moved　the　submarine　close　to　DH…8。　The　exterior　＇＇344＇＇　habitat　floodlights　were　yellow　and　pale。　Power　must　be　dropping。　He　could　see　the　damage　to　the　cylinders…streams　of　bubbles　rising　from　the　weakened　A　and　B　Cylinders；　the　dents　in　the　D；　and　the　gaping　hole　in　E　Cyl；　which　was　flooded。　The　habitat　was　battered；　and　dying。

Why　had　he　e　so　close？　He　squinted　at　the　portholes；　then　realized　he　was　hoping　to　catch　sight　of　Harry　and　Beth；　one　last　time。　He　wanted　to　see　Harry；　unconscious　and　unresponsive。　He　wanted　to　see　Beth　standing　at　the　window；　shaking　her　fist　at　him　in　maniacal　rage。　He　wanted　confirmation　that　he　was　right　to　leave　them。

But　he　saw　only　the　fading　yellow　light　inside　the　habitat。　He　was　disappointed。

〃Norman。〃

〃Yes；　Beth。〃　He　felt　fortable　answering　her　now。　He　had　his　hands　on　the　controls　of　the　submarine；　ready　to　make　his　ascent。　There　was　nothing　she　could　do　to　him　now。　〃Norman；　you　really　are　a　son　of　a　bitch。〃

〃You　tried　to　kill　me；　Beth。〃

〃I　didn't　want　to　kill　you。　I　had　no　choice；　Norman。〃

〃Yeah；　well。　Me；　too。　I　have　no　choice。〃　As　he　spoke；　he　knew　he　was　right。　Better　for　one　person　to　survive。　Better　than　nothing。

〃You're　just　going　to　leave　us？〃

〃That's　right；　Beth。〃

His　hand　moved　to　the　ascent…rate　dial。　He　set　it　to　6。6　feet。　Ready　to　ascend。

〃You're　just　going　to　run　away？〃　He　heard　the　contempt　in　her　voice。

〃That's　right；　Beth。〃

〃You；　the　one　who　kept　talking　about　how　we　had　to　stay　together　down　here？〃

〃Sorry；　Beth。〃

〃You　must　be　very　afraid；　Norman。〃

〃I'm　not　afraid　at　all。〃　And　indeed