第50部分(第1/7 页)

Back；　one　at　a　time。

The　crew　members　popped　back　in　the　tubes；　materializing　on　demand。

All　men。

The　women　were　changed　into　men。

All　women。

They　all　became　women。

He　had　the　power。

0200　HOURS

〃Norman。〃

Beth's　voice　over　the　loudspeakers；　hissing　through　the　empty　spacecraft。

〃Where　are　you；　Norman？　I　know　you're　there　somewhere。　I　can　feel　you；　Norman。〃

Norman　was　moving　through　the　kitchen；　past　the　empty　cans　of　Coke　on　the　counter；　then　through　the　heavy　door　and　into　the　flight　deck。　He　saw　Beth's　face　on　all　the　console　screens；　Beth　seeming　to　see　him；　the　image　repeated　a　dozen　times。

〃Norman。　I　know　where　you've　been。　You've　been　inside　the　sphere；　haven't　you；　Norman？〃

He　pressed　the　consoles　with　the　flat　of　his　hand；　trying　to　turn　off　the　screens。　He　couldn't　do　it；　the　images　remained。

〃Norman。　Answer　me；　Norman。〃

He　moved　past　the　flight　deck；　going　toward　the　airlock。　〃It　won't　do　you　any　good；　Norman。　I'm　in　charge　now。　Do　you　hear　me；　Norman？〃

In　the　airlock；　he　heard　a　click　as　his　helmet　ring　locked；　the　air　from　the　tanks　was　cool　and　dry。　He　listened　to　the　even　sound　of　his　own　breathing。

〃Norman。〃　Beth；　on　the　inter　in　his　helmet。　〃Why　don't　you　speak　to　me；　Norman？　Are　you　afraid；　Norman？〃　The　repetition　of　his　name　irritated　him。　He　pressed　the　buttons　to　open　the　airlock。　Water　began　to　flood　in　from　the　floor；　rising　swiftly。

〃Oh；　there　you　are；　Norman。　I　see　you　now。〃　And　she　began　to　laugh；　a　high；　cackling　laugh。

Norman　turned　around；　saw　the　video　camera　mounted　on　the　robot；　still　inside　the　airlock。　He　shoved　the　camera；　spinning　it　away。

〃That　won't　do　any　good；　Norman。〃

He　was　back　out