文书楼

手机浏览器扫描二维码访问

第42部分（第5页）

Beth　looked　at　him　thoughtfully。　〃Norman；　are　you　feeling　okay？〃

〃Sure；　why？〃

〃Theres　a　mirror　in　the　first…aid　kit。　Go　look。〃

He　opened　the　white　box　of　the　kit　and　looked　at　himself　in　the　mirror。　He　was　shocked　by　what　he　saw。　Not　that　he　expected　to　look　good；　he　was　accustomed　to　the　pudgy　contours　of　his　own　face；　and　the　gray　stubble　of　his　beard　when　he　didnt　shave　on　weekends。

But　the　face　staring　back　at　him　was　lean；　with　a　coarse；　jet…black　beard。　There　were　dark　circles　beneath　smoldering；　＇＇288＇＇　bloodshot　eyes。　His　hair　was　lank　and　greasy；　hanging　over　his　forehead。　He　looked　like　a　dangerous　man。

〃I　look　like　Dr。　Jekyll；〃　he　said。　〃Or；　rather；　Mr。　Hyde。〃

〃Yeah。　You　do。〃

〃Youre　getting　more　beautiful；〃　he　said　to　Beth。　〃But　Im　the　man　who　was　mean　to　Jerry。　So　Im　getting　meaner。〃

〃You　think　Harrys　doing　this？〃

〃I　think　so；〃　Norman　said。　Adding　to　himself：　I　hope　so。　〃You　feel　different；　Norman？〃

〃No；　I　feel　exactly　the　same。　I　just　look　like　hell。〃

〃Yes。　You　look　a　little　frightening。〃

〃Im　sure　I　do。〃

〃You　really　feel　fine？〃

〃Beth　。。。〃

〃Okay；〃　Beth　said。　She　turned；　looked　back　at　the　monitors。　〃I　have　one　last　idea。　We　both　get　to　A　Cyl；　put　on　our　suits；　get　into　B　Cyl；　and　shut　down　the　oxygen　in　the　rest　of　the　habitat。　Make　Harry　unconscious。　His　guards　will　disappear；　we　can　go　in　and　jab　him。　What　do　you　think？〃

〃Worth　a　try。〃

Norman　put　down　the　syringe。　They　headed　off　toward　A　Cyl。

In　C　Cyl；　they　passed　the　two　guards；　who　again　snapped　to　attention。

〃Dr。　Halpern；　sir！〃

〃Dr。　Johnson；　sir！〃

〃Carry　on；　men；〃　Beth　said。

〃Yes；　sir！　May　we　ask　where　you　are　going；　sir！〃

〃Routine　inspection　tour；〃　Beth　said。

There　was　a　pause。　〃Very　good；　sir！〃

They　were　allowed　to　pass。　They　moved　into　B　Cyl；　with　its　array　of　pipes　and　machinery。　Norman　glanced　at　it　nervously；　he　didnt　like　screwing　around　with　the　life…support　systems；　but　he　didnt　see　what　else　they　could　do。

In　A　Cyl；　there　were　three　suits　left。　Norman　reached　for　his。　〃You　know　what　youre　doing？〃　he　asked。

〃Yes；〃　Beth　said。　〃Trust　me。〃

She　slipped　her　foot　into　her　suit；　and　started　zipping　it　up。

＇＇289＇＇　And　then　the　alarms　began　to　sound　throughout　the　habitat；　and　the　red　lights