第48部分(第1/7 頁)

Do　something；　he　thought；　feeling　a　surge　of　panic。

But　there　was　nothing　he　could　do。　He　was　locked　in　the　upper　chamber　of　D　Cyl。　He　could　not　get　out。　Beth　had　control　of　the　entire　facility；　and　she　knew　how　to　run　the　life…support　systems。　She　had　shut　off　his　power；　she　had　shut　off　his　heat；　and　now　she　had　shut　off　his　air。　He　was　trapped。

As　the　pressure　fell；　the　sealed　specimen　bottles　exploded　like　bombs；　shooting　fragments　of　glass　across　the　room。　He　ducked　under　the　blankets；　feeling　the　glass　rip　and　tug　at　the　cloth。　Breathing　was　harder　now。　At　first　he　thought　it　was　tension；　and　then　he　realized　that　the　air　was　thinner。　He　would　lose　consciousness　soon。

Do　something。

He　couldn't　seem　to　catch　his　breath。

Do　something。

But　all　he　could　think　about　was　breathing。　He　needed　air；　needed　oxygen。　Then　he　thought　of　the　first…aid　cabinet。　Wasn't　there　emergency　oxygen　in　the　cabinet？　He　wasn't　sure。　He　seemed　to　remember。　。。。　As　he　got　up；　another　specimen　bottle　exploded；　and　he　twisted　away　from　the　flying　glass。

He　was　gasping　for　breath；　chest　heaving。　He　started　to　see　gray　spots　before　his　eyes。

He　fumbled　in　the　darkness；　looking　for　the　cabinet；　his　hands　moving　along　the　wall。　He　touched　a　cylinder。　Oxygen？　No；　too　large…it　must　be　the　fire　extinguisher。　Where　was　the　cabinet？　His　hands　moved　along　the　wall。　Where？

He　felt　the　metal　case；　the　embossed　cover　with　the　raised　cross。　He　pulled　it　open；　thrust　his　hands　inside。

More　spots　swam　before　his　eyes。　There　wasn't　much　time。　His　fingers　touched　small　bottles；　soft　bandage　packs。　＇＇324＇＇　There　was　no　air　bottle。　Damn！　The　bottles　fell　to　the　floor；　and　then　something　large　and　heavy　landed　on　his　foot　with　a　thud。　He　bent