第31部分(第6/7 頁)

Barnes　was　on　the　far　side　of　the　room；　trying　to　make　his　way　to　the　bulkhead　door。　He　had　a　bleeding　gash　along　one　arm　and　he　was　shouting　orders；　but　Norman　couldn't　hear　anything　except　the　terrifying　sound　of　rending　metal。　He　saw　Fletcher　squeeze　through　the　bulkhead；　and　then　Tina；　and　then　Barnes　made　it　through；　leaving　behind　a　bloody　handprint　on　the　metal。

Norman　couldn't　see　Harry；　but　Beth　lurched　toward　him；　holding　her　hand　out；　saying　〃Norman！　Norman！　We　have　to…〃　and　then　she　slammed　into　him　and　he　was　knocked　＇＇211＇＇　over　and　he　fell　onto　the　carpet；　underneath　the　couch；　and　slid　up　against　the　cold　outer　wall　of　the　cylinder；　and　he　realized　with　horror　that　the　carpet　was　wet。

The　habitat　was　leaking。

He　had　to　do　something；　he　struggled　back　to　his　feet；　and　stood　right　in　a　fine　sizzling　spray　from　one　of　the　wall　seams。　He　glanced　around；　saw　other　leaks　spurting　from　the　ceiling；　the　walls。

This　place　is　going　to　be　torn　apart。

Beth　grabbed　him；　pulled　her　head　close。　〃We're　leaking！〃　she　shouted。　〃God；　we're　leaking！〃

〃I　know；〃　Norman　said；　and　Barnes　shouted　over　the　inter；　〃Positive　pressure！　Get　positive　pressure！〃　Norman　saw　Ted　on　the　floor　just　before　he　tripped　over　him　and　fell　heavily　against　the　puter　consoles；　his　face　near　the　screen；　the　glowing　letters　large　before　him：

DO　NOT　BE　AFRAID。

〃Jerry！〃　Ted　was　shouting。　〃Stop　this；　Jerry！　Jerry！〃

Suddenly　Harry's　face　was　next　to　Ted；　glasses　askew。　〃Save　your　breath；　he's　going　to　kill　us　all！〃

〃He　doesn't　understand；〃　Ted　shouted；　as　he　fell　backward　onto　the　couch；　flailing　arms。

The　powerful　wrenching　of　metal　on　metal　continued　without　pause；　throwing　Norman　from　one　side　to　the　other。　He　kept　reachi